September 19, 2012

A Sketchbook Project

Hi everyone - I wanted to share something I found on a video (I know...me watching a crafty video - whoda thunk?).  I was watching a video on KWernedesign.com under her video section 'Make a Card Monday' on making card sketchbooks.  I thought this was a cool idea.  See her post here.... 

http://www.kwernerdesign.com/blog/?p=8149

Here's a picture of the finished card sketchbook.  The cardstock is from an old Tim Holtz paper pad and the letters are from a QuicKutz alphabet die set called Star Dust.

On Kristina's website she has a pdf file of a blank page showing outlines of cards in both vertical and horizontal formats.  When you print them out, print them double sided so you'll be able to have more blank cards on fewer pages.  I used 5 sheets so it's 10 pages. You don't want to make it too thick.


She also has a pdf for blank scrapbook pages but I printed some out and used them for 6x6 square card formats.


The sheets have a dotted line to cut, so cut along the line and then fold each sheet in half.  I believe the size of the book ends up being 3.75 x 8.50.  The cover of the sketchbook should be cut 7.50 x 8.50, also folded in half.  Line up all your inside pages with the cover and then staple in the center.  (Tip: open up your stapler and staple into a mouse pad or a chair cushion - this will keep the prongs of the staple open so that you can manually fold them over).  Decorate the cover and viola, your book is done.  If the pages at the bottom of the sketchbook don't line up because of the number of folded papers inside the book, take a ruler and an exacto knife and just trim them evenly.

Here's an example of what the inside will look like....


When I see a sketch I like on a blog I just draw it out...if I think of a layout myself, I'll draw it out.  It's really handy and such a cool idea.....wish I'd thought of it first. 

Hope you enjoy this project.  Thanks for stopping by - see you next time.

Heidi

September 7, 2012

Happy Little Hexagons

Happy September everyone!  I know we're still having some warmer days but I also know Fall is just around the corner.  I can't wait until the leaves start changing color - I need to put a camera in my car so that as I'm driving around and happen upon those wonderful reds, oranges and yellows I can capture the moment.

Last month I happened to run across some things at PaperTrey Ink and I fell in love with them....so of course I had to order all of them...well, maybe not ALL of them...but a good portion of them.  I also happened to catch a youtube video on my favorite so I decided to do a tutorial to show y'all.  It's a bit lengthy and has lots of pictures!

The stamp set is called Happy Hexagons Mini Stamp and there is a matching die cut called Cover Plate: Hexagons.  The first thing to do is die cut the cover plate.  The cover plate template is about the size of an A2 card (5.5 x 4.25). Then you poke out the little hexagon pieces...there are full, half and quarter pieces. 


What you're left with is a template. As I poked out the pieces I put them in separate piles so that I didn't have to sort them later.  For my project I won't be using the quarter pieces.


Nicole Heady is the designer of the stamp set and cover plate.  She has also created this color template which is FABULOUS.  She has taken all the headache out of trying to put all the pieces back in the template without having too many of the same pieces side by side.  She has the color templates for using 3, 4, 5 or 6 colors.  The sheet also shows how many of each color is needed.  This is a free download from her website.


I decided to use 6 colors, so I picked 6 different hexagon stamp patterns and 6 different ink colors.  I labeled each color and pattern as A, B, C......F. The numbers by each color represent how many full hexagons and how many half hexagons are needed for each color.  (for example A, I need 6 full and 1 half).


I then counted out all the pieces I needed and put them with the stamps and inks.  Time to start stamping.



When all the pieces are stamped, it's time to take the template and begin building your pattern.  I used scotch tape to keep the template in place.  It's easier to put adhesive through the openings of the template than trying to put it on each hexagon piece.  Following the chart, put all of the A pieces in the A spots, B pieces in the B spots and so on until the entire piece is complete.

 

When you're done, you lift the template off and you're left with a beautiful pattern.  You don't have to fill in the entire template, you can just do a couple of rows for a border, or maybe create a flower, you can even cut apart some of the inside pieces to make room for a sentiment.  When you're done use the piece to make a card.


Check out all the fabulous things PaperTrey Ink has - last month was their Autumn release and they have some really cool looking stamp sets and matching die cuts. 

Thanks for visiting - see you next time.

Heidi