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Build A Scene OR Paper Piecing Card – Creativity Prompt

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Paper Piecing Card

Way back, when I was a wee kid, my sister used to tell me the most wonderful made-up stories. I was completely mesmerized by her stories, not to mention extremely gullible…

My favorite stroy was about a magic typewriter, hidden in a secret compartment inside the wall (I used to spend HOURS looking for it). Everything you type on it with the words: “I wish” at the beginning, comes true. You could write short sentences such as ‘I wish I had ice-cream with hot chocolate sauce…‘ and immediately enjoy the treat, or you may materialize imaginary worlds, built from scratch with the power of your words (These were my favorite types of stories).

In crafts, as in creative writing or story telling, you may build imaginary worlds from scratch and go as far as your imagination and creativity go.

Go ahead and build a scene. Let your inner creative child guide you through the labyrinth of your vast imagination.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Adhere a vintage text paper onto a plain, non-textured cardstock using glue stick.
  2. Stamp your image a few times on different patterned papers, including on the vintage text paper. Use as many patterned papers as the number of pieces you want to combine together.
  3. Cut each piece of your image with precision scissors.
  4. Start assembling the “scene”: Adhere the “flat” pieces with a glue pen and the dimensional pieces with foam dots.
  5. For the “hill” – cut a piece of patterned paper in a curve.
  6. Draw some freehand clouds on your leftover text paper and cut the out with precision scissors.
  7. Spritz your “clouds” with Glimmer Mist.
  8. Stamp or punch the little heart on a reddish patterned paper. Apply some Glossy Accent. Let dry and cut out. Adhere to the image with a foam dot.
  9. Stamp the greeting in a curve, by laying it that way on the acrylic block.
  10. Add some gems for the finishing touches.

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If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)


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Check out Creativity Prompt’s self paced workshop: “Capture Your Dream”. In this workshop you will capture, follow and make your dream come true as well as document your journey in a mixed media mini album.




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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 3 Comments »

The 10 Best Creativity Prompts in 2009

Friday, January 1st, 2010

In light of the coming new year, I backtracked a little bit and gathered the most popular posts on creativity Prompt in 2009.

Without further ado, here are the posts which attracted most of your attention and sparked a wonderful conversation – either on the blog or privately, via e-mails.

  1. Make a Hybrid Board Book.
  2. Chunky Mini-Album.
  3. Waterfall Mini-Album.
  4. Make A Notebook With A Simple Stapler.
  5. Make A Fabric Covered Hardbound Journal.
  6. Embellishing Paper Flowers.
  7. How To Use Those Paper Scraps.
  8. How To Make A Cute Box Of Drawers.
  9. How To Make a Drier Sheet Flower.
  10. How To Make THE QUICKEST Mini Album – EVER.

&

Another favorite compilation post was the holiday handmade gift guide: 10 Handmade Gifts Under 10 Minutes.

Share

What Creativity Prompt did you like the best? What types of projects are pulling you to create?

What project have you tried yourself? Share a link!

Happy New Year!!!


Make Your Own Planner Workshop
This year you can really make your dream come true!

“Capture Your Dream” workshop is a self-paced, six weeks long workshop, that will walk you through a journey of capturing your biggest dream and making it come true.

In the process of making your dream happen – with lots of inspiration and guided self-exploration, you will also create a mixed media mini album from scratch and learn many tips and techniques – including some photography pointers that will add character to your photos and will help you take better pictures of your projects.


The workshop includes 30 printable PDF lessons with step-by-step pictures and instructions as well as several printable templates you may use in other projects too.

I am confident you will enjoy it and find it helpful so I also offer full money back guarantee while the workshop lasts.



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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 4 Comments »

Make A Simple Notebook With Ribbon Binding – Creativity Prompt

Friday, December 25th, 2009

Notebook With Ribbon Binding

This project is also an easy one you can whip up in under 10 minutes. I love those type of projects and I can never have enough notebooks to sketch, doodle and write in. Can you?

I used the ribbon for the binding, as an alternative to the linen thread or embroidery floss I normally use for binding and as an added bonus, the ends of the ribbon also provide a nifty closure for the notebook.

If you are interested in making this sweet and simple notebook, then keep on reading for the supply, video how to and step-by-step instructions. Enjoy!

Tools & Supply

How To

[Watch on YouTube. While you're there, please comment, rate & subscribe]

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Cut your papers 8″ wide and 5½” tall. Fold in half to 5½” by 4″.
  2. Straighten the edges of the paper stack with a grid ruler, aligned with the edge of the paper and a craft knife.
  3. Cut your cardstock 8½” wide and 5½” tall and wrap around the paper stack to adjust the spine.
  4. Lay the paper stack over the cardstock cover and mark the piercing holes: one at the center and one to each side – 1″ apart.
  5. Pierce the papers and cardstock following the marks you created before.
  6. Thread the ribbon through the needle so both ends would meet and start the binding stitching from the inside out, through one of the outer holes.
  7. Then go in through the opposite hole.
  8. Tie the ends together in a double knot and thread the needle out through the center hole and in again through the same hole.
  9. Thread the needle through the loop the tied ends create and then underneath the first stitch.
  10. Thread the needle out through the center hole again.
  11. Cut the ribbon off the needle and use the ends to close the notebook.
  12. To embellish the notebook I adhered 3 buttons with a dab of Diamond Glaze to the center of the notebook’s cover and adhered three punched out circles of patterned paper to the button. I then secured the patterned paper with another layer of Diamond Glaze.

Share

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)


Make Your Own Planner Workshop
 “Capture Your Dream” workshop is relaunching as a self-paced workshop. Isn’t this the perfect time for you to capture your dream and make it happen?



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Posted in Tutorial, Video Tutorial, creativity prompt | 5 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – Whip Up Quick Handmade Holiday Gifts – 10 Gifts In Under 10 Minutes

Friday, December 11th, 2009
Quick Handmade Holiday Gifts
[Photo by: Ginny]

The holidays are practically here and with all the preparations involved you may feel a little bit behind. As the holidays get closer, the lines at the stores get longer and the stress level – higher.

Let me help you by compiling a list of 10 handmade gifts that can be whipped up in less than 10 minutes. That is even quicker than driving to the store or than browsing online stores.

Each image is linked to the full video + step by step tutorial:

10 minute book - openedA Cute Box Of DrawersSimple Stitched Notebook
A SIMPLE Fabric Covered Mini AlbumStapled NotebookGate Fold Mini-AlbumHow To make An Accordion Brag Book
THE QUICKEST Mini AlbumHow To Make An Art JournalKraft No-Stitch NotebookWhat are you making this year?

…and one more gift idea -

Make Your Own Planner Workshop
Do you have last minute gift giving challenges? Check out the new “Make Your Own Planner” workshop and you may solve them…



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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 12 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – A Simple Stitched Notebook

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Simple Stitched Notebook

This week I have a cool project – super duper simple and the results are fabulous. For a no bulk notebook that you can carry around freely, without worrying about wear & tear, I have a cool masking technique for you with a color spray and some chipboard letters.

I also have a fantastic tip for threading your embroidery floss through the needle in a split second, you wouldn’t want to miss that… :)

Tools & Supply

How To


[Watch on You Tube. Please rate & comment.]

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Cut your papers and cardstock to size & fold in half. Burnish the crease with a bone folder.
  2. Lay the paper stack over the cardstock piece and center it.
  3. Mark the placement of your piercing holes. Find the center and mark at ½” on each side and then go on and mark in 1″ increments.
  4. Pierce all your marked holes, all the way through the papers and the cardstock. Make sure they are aligned together and that the piercer goes through the crease.
  5. Thread your needle with the embroidery floss. TIP - To thread your needle in a split second (no exaggeration here) simply stick a small piece of tape to the end of your floss, fold it over and cut the excess. That will prevent the fraying of the floss and will also provide a slight stiffening effect for a quick and smooth threading.
  6. Start stitching your notebook from the top hole, from the inside – out. Make a simple running stitch, going through each hole – once in and once out. After you go through all the holes, go back through the holes, switching direction, so the stitch will look like a backstitch. When you go through the last hole, tie the ends together in a strong knot.
  7. For a no-bulk embellishment, adhere the chipboard letters with a temporary adhesive. Make sure the adhesive isn’t protruding outside or it will affect the impression of the letters.
  8. Lightly spray from about 10″ above your notebook cover. Spritz the color mist as many times you want until you get the effect you are looking for. [The chipboard letters may be reused in another project, by the way...]
  9. Before removing the letters go over them with a black or white marker, that will create a nice outline and will add visual interest. Just make sure to hold your letters tight, as the temporary adhesive isn’t strong enough and they may move around.

Simple Stitched NotebookSimple Stitched Notebook


Share

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)



Make Your Own Planner Workshop
Check out the new “Make Your Own Planner” workshop and you may solve this year’s holiday gift shopping problem. An affordable workshop that keeps on giving…


Make Your Own Planner Workshop
 “Capture Your Dream” workshop is relaunching as a self-paced workshop. Isn’t this the perfect time for you to capture your dream and make it happen?




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Posted in Tutorial, Video Tutorial, creativity prompt | 8 Comments »

Cards. Cards. Cards.

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

This week I was determined to dig deep into my stash and make stuff with forgotten products, side by side with some new products and toys I bought lately. Mix old with the new and get into the holidays’ spirit…

Card
Old: Chatterbox patterned paper, Scalloped circle punch, ink: Palette hybrid in Pure Poppy and vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink.

New: American Crafts cardstock, Bazzill kraft cardstock, Apron Lace border punch by Fiskars, Stamps: Papertrey Ink “Retro Basic Backgrounds”, Ali Edwards “You” for Technique Tuesday, Glitz Design “distress 2″.

Techniques: 1. The striped paper was cut diagonally for a diagonal design. 2. For the flower I punched a gazillion scalloped circles (ok, just 10) and attached them together with a brad. Then I crumpled each layer to create a super-dimensional flower.

Card
Old: Chatterbox patterned paper, wire rimmed ribbon, ink: Palette hybrid in Dark Chocolate and vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink, red felt marker, white gel pen.

New: American Crafts cardstock, Bazzill kraft cardstock, Corner Chomper, stamps: Ali Edwards “You” for Technique Tuesday, Glitz Design “distress 2″.

Techniques: 1. I pleated the ribbon, the wire rim helps it stay put. Then I took a strip of a strong double-sided adhesive and attached it to the cardstock and adhered the pleated ribbon to it. 2. For the layered, distressed background, I first stamped a generic houndstooth pattern in a cream colored ink, let it dry and then stamped a text pattern with brown ink over it.

Card
Old: Cream card, red-brown thread, Palette hybrid ink in Pure Poppy by Papertrey Ink, Kaiser Craft’s clear rhinestones, Fiskars 2″ circle squeeze punch.

New: Brother LS2125I Sewing Machine, American Crafts cardstock, Stamp: Papertrey Ink “Mixed Messages”.

Techniques: This is my first trial ever at sewing, so I’m pretty proud of the semi-straight border :) 1. The border is sewn with a zig-zag stitch. 2. the circle was punched with a 2″ circle punch and adhered to the card with temporary adhesive. Then I sewed freely inside and around the circle to create a rose-like abstract pattern. I also made one run with no thread, for a dotted-punctured effect.

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Have you been hoarding products that has been collecting dust in the back of the shelf? Have you used your scraps/old supply lately? What have you been doing? Have you been experimenting with a new toy or technique? Share! I love a good discussion :)


Make Your Own Planner Workshop
 “Capture Your Dream” workshop is relaunching as a self-paced workshop. Isn’t this the perfect time for you to capture your dream and make it happen?


Make Your Own Planner Workshop
Check out the new “Make Your Own Planner” workshop and you may solve this year’s holiday gift shopping problem. An affordable workshop that keeps on giving…



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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 2 Comments »

For This I Am Thankful…

Thursday, November 26th, 2009
For This I Am Thankful
[Photo by: Capture Queen ™]

I am dedicating this post to you, my dear readers. I am grateful for you!

I am thankful for you following my blog.

I am thankful for you leaving heartfelt comments and messages – encouraging me and sharing your stories, your thoughts and sometimes even your struggles.

I am thankful for you spreading out the word through your personal blogs, Twitter and Facebook and sharing posts and ideas you like with your friends and followers.

I am thankful for your patience on weeks in which life happens.

I am thankful for your participation in my workshops and the lovely feedback you are leaving and warming my heart with.

I am thankful for your support in Creativity Prompt via buying the products you need through the links I provide.

I am thankful for you!

Thank you so much!

As a token of my appreciation I am giving you two printable files with labels and journaling tags (you can punch out the tags with a 2″ circle punch):

  1. Lables
  2. Circular Journaling Tags

[To download the files: either click on the links above OR right-click and opt for "Save Target as..." or "Save Link as..."; Print with no scaling on a letter-size cardstock or sticker sheet]

Photoshop Elements Tip – Adding A Hand Drawn Element

Here is how I added the hand-drawn flowers to my tags:

  1. Draw your elements with a black marker on a plain white paper.
  2. Scan your element in high resolution.
  3. Open the scanned file in Photoshop Elements.
  4. Press Ctrl+L or Command+L and tweak your levels, so the white is bright white and the black is pitch black.
  5. You can also use the eye-drop tool on the Levels Menu.
  6. Open a new layer beneath your scanned elements.
  7. With the Quick Selection tool select all the white areas and press Delete. Make sure you are working on the scanned elements’ layer. The checkerboard pattern means this part is transparent.
  8. Save the file as a PNG file – that will keep the transparency attributes.
  9. With the rectangle selection tool select the element you want to use and then press on the Move tool.
  10. Open the file you wish to insert the hand drawn element to, drag and drop your hand drawn element into the file you have just opened. Re-size as needed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Due to the holiday - and my limited access to my husband's MAC... - there will not be a Creativity Prompt this week, but I have included the tutorial above, enjoy! :) ]


Make Your Own Planner Workshop
 “Capture Your Dream” workshop is relaunching as a self-paced workshop. Isn’t it the perfect time for you to capture your dream and make it happen?




Make Your Own Planner Workshop
Check out the new “Make Your Own Planner” workshop and you may solve this year’s holiday gift shopping problem. An affordable workshop that keeps on giving…



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Posted in General Notifications | 4 Comments »

Creativiy Prompt – Super Quick Christmas Cards + Free Template

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Super Quick Christmas Cards

Sending handmade cards is a wonderful and well appreciated gesture, but with a recipients list as long as eternity, who has the time to make them?

What if most of the work was already done? The basic design has been laid down. The greeting has been “stamped” and all you had to do is cut, score, punch and paste? That would really give the push you need to accomplish your goal of sending handmade cards to all your acquaintances.

Search no more. I have sorted out your Christmas cards dilemma for this year.

Below you can find a printable template (PDF file format) that does most of the work for you. If you are interested, keep on reading.

Tools & Supply

How To


[Watch on You Tube]

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Print the template on a cardstock of your choice (8½” by 11″). Make sure your printer’s setting is on “No scaling”.
  2. Cut your cardstock at 5½” and score each half at 4¼”.
  3. Cut 1¼” by 1¼” squares from the patterned paper of your choice. Use a punch to make this step super quick.
  4. Adhere your patterned paper squares to the squares on the template, using dimensional foam adhesive.
  5. Either stop here, right a personal greeting inside and send the card OR embellish some more.

Quick Christmas CardsQuick Christmas Cards

Quick Christmas CardsQuick Christmas Cards

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If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)



Make Your Own Planner Workshop
Check out the new “Make Your Own Planner” workshop and you may solve this year’s holiday gift shopping problem. An affordable workshop that keeps on giving…



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Posted in Tutorial, Video Tutorial, creativity prompt | 9 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – Make a Hybrid Board Book

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Hybrid Board BookThis time I revisit an oldie, but a goodie – the altered board book.

This week there is a twist – I am going hybrid.

That means that part of the book is designed digitally and part of it – traditionally. Together it’s a great mix of new & old.

Using digital elements, such as patterned papers, word art and other digital embellishments helps in keeping a theme and a color scheme for the book. If you want to make this book as a gift, in multiples, then starting on your computer also allows you to include all your journaling on the pages and then printing them either once or a million times, with no extra effort.

Cool, huh?

Tools & Supply

How To


[Watch on You Tube]

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Start this project on the computer. Open your photo editing software and either crop or resize the digital patterned papers to the same width and height of your board book.

    Don’t forget to count the spine while making the pages for the cover, leave a gap the same width as your spine between them.
  2. Print your pages on cardstock. Plain paper won’t be opaque over the altered pages of the board book.

    Use the borderless printing setting, otherwise the printer will scale down your images to allow a white border around them and it’ll distort your measurement.
  3. Start working on the cover – trim off the excess paper and score your spine’s fold lines to get crisp creases. You may also go over the folds again with the bone folder, for an even crisper look.
  4. Adhere the cover by applying a generous layer of glue stick on the board book cover and burnish with a brayer. Let dry.
  5. In the meantime, start cutting the pages and your photos and any other digital element you have printed (word art, embellishments, journaling tags, etc.)
  6. Once the glue has dried, turn your page around and cut off the excess with a very sharp craft knife. If you get uneven edges, you can file them down with sand paper.
  7. Repeat the same process with the rest of the pages: adhere, go over it with a brayer, let dry and trim off the excess.

    Make sure you trim off the edges of a page before adhering the printed cardstock to the other side.
  8. Some ideas for embellishing your mini altered book:

    • Adhere your titles with foam pop-dots to give some extra dimension.
    • Stick to one type of embellishment (buttons in my case) to maintain cohesion.
    • Use different sizes of pen tips to create interesting handmade word art.
    • Outline your pictures, letter stickers and other elements with your journaling pen to anchor them to the page and add dimension.
    • Using 3D embellishments can make dents in your photos, so make sure both pages have the same “elevation” so the elements won’t touch the pictures themselves.
    • Have fun!!!

Hybrid Board BookHybrid Board BookHybrid Board BookHybrid Board Book

Hybrid Board BookHybrid Board BookHybrid Board Book

Share

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)



Make Your Own Planner Workshop
Check out the new “Make Your Own Planner” workshop and you may solve this year’s holiday gift shopping problem. An affordable workshop that keeps on giving…



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Posted in Tutorial, Video Tutorial, creativity prompt | 12 Comments »

Creativity Prompt – Make an Artist Trading Card (ATC)

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Artist Trading Card (ATC)An Artist Trading Card (aka: ATC) is basically a 2½” by 3½” piece of original artwork which is traded among artists.

Participating in an ATC swap is a great way to express yourself creatively without being overwhelmed with a huge blank canvas. It is also a great way to get to know other artists and expand your artistic world.

As soon as I heard that Hero Arts is arranging an ATC swap I knew I had to participate.

On this week’s creativity prompt I want to walk you through the process of creating my ATC for the swap.

If you want to find out how I made this ATC (plus learn some valuable tips and tricks) then keep on reading:

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Cut your cardstock to the traditional 2½” by 3½” size. To make the most out of an 8½” by 11″ sheet of cardstock, start by cutting it at 2½” lengthwise twice and then you’ll end up with a 3½” strip.
  2. Adhere a vintage text paper (from an old book. I used an old text book about Roman Law…) to another piece of non-textured cardstock with a glue stick.
  3. Color the vintage paper with distress ink using the foam applicator with a swirling motion, from the outside in. Blend a few colors together. I used: Broken China, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed.
  4. Stamp the heart winged butterfly image in dark brown ink over the colored vintage background. Try to stamp the images as close as possible, but leave a small gap between them. Let the ink dry completely.
  5. Mask off 2/3 of the ATC with a post-it note and stamp the houndstooth background stamp using one of the distress inks.
  6. Take off the post it and use it again, masking the part you’ve just stamped. Then stamp over it with the screen shadow stamp.
  7. Take a small piece of bubble wrap and apply a layer of distress crackle paint over it. Use the wet bubble wrap to “stamp” with it over the screen shadow background. Let dry.
  8. After the crackle paint is completely dry cover it with a thin layer of clear glue or glaze to prevent the paint from breaking and falling off.
  9. In the meantime stamp the circular greeting on another piece of non textured cardstock using the same dark brown ink (I used the Clear Design: Who Loves You – CL309 – stamp set by Hero Arts, but it is no longer available). Punch the greetings out with a 1″ circle punch.
  10. Cut a green textured cardstock to 2½” by ½” strips. Poke a line of holes, 1/8″ apart from each other, along the middle of the strip and “connect the dots” with a white gel pen. Adhere the strip to the border where the two different background patterns meet.
  11. Cut the butterfly images with precision scissors. I am using Fiskars spring action micro tip scissors and I absolutely love them.
  12. Cover the butterfly images with an embossing ink and dip it into a mix of 1 part glitter to 3 parts clear embossing powder. Set with a heat gun.
  13. Attach the circular greeting to the cardstock strip with a foam dot.
  14. Attach the butterfly above the strip in an angle using some mini glue dots behind its body and some pop up glue dots behind its wings.
  15. Don’t forget to add your name, date and signature on the back!

Artist Trading Card (ATC)

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Have you ever participated in an ATC swap? Are you interested in assembling an ATC swap group here on creativity prompt? If you are, please leave a comment and show your interest.

If you have any question, suggestion or remark – don’t hesitate to contact me – either leave a comment here, use the contact form or start a new thread on the Creativity Prompt Flickr Group!!!

I would also be very happy to see your own creations, so don’t be shy and share :)

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Posted in Tutorial, creativity prompt | 8 Comments »

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