creating a foofy Valentine album with Ellen

I am soooo thrilled to be able to be a part of this ultra fun blog...talented ladies creating...could it get any better? I will be showing you how to create an altered foofy photo album to give as a gift or create for your very own Valentine treat. These are the supplies you will need to get started:

1. an inexpensive plastic photo album (you can find them at Dollar Stores, Walmart and Target for around $1)

2. any embellishments you wish to apply to the front of your album

3. a piece of white card stock paper

4. a piece of ribbon, seam binding or lace trim measuring around 24-26 inches long (something to tie your album shut)

5. a sewing machine

6. a glue gun (go ahead and start preheating your glue gun)

7. glue ( I used Mod Podge Matte)

8. a sponge style paint brush for applying the glue

9. paper cutter and scissors

The first thing you will need to do is start creating anything you want to add to the outside. I like to sketch my ideas out first...then start laying everything out. I used an inexpensive foil covered cardboard frame and covered it with glue on the silver foil portions and sprinkled fine silver glass glitter over the glued areas. After the glue had dried and the glitter had set up the way I wanted I was ready to start the creative process.

Here is the picture after the frame was finished ...ohhh la la...such a huge difference! Now my frame is ready.

Now you will need to measure the inserts that are in the front and back of your album...mine measured around 4.25 x 6.25. You will need to cut your piece of white card stock in the same size as the insert pieces you removed....you should cut 2 pieces. Next place them in the front and back portions of your album. You will also need to remove the outside cover of your album leaving the outside separate from the portion that holds all your photos. Cut your fabric to a size slightly larger than your album outside. I chose a vintage, slightly sheer flocked pink dotted fabric..perfect for Valentine's Day. I then sewed the fabric to the entire outside portion...stitching along the outside edges. Next you will need to trim any excess fabric around the edges..to give your album a nice clean appearance.

Now you will need to stitch your ribbon, seam binding or lace trim to the edges of your album (front and backsides). I used some vintage satin blanket binding and stained mine with tea.

Now...open your album up to the middle portion...mine was visible where the center was...if yours doesn't you can count the pages and separate half way through. Now stitch all the way from top to bottom (back stitch to ensure that everything will hold securely).

Now you are ready for the most delightful part...the embellishments! I decided to keep mine fairly simplistic with the glittered photo frame, a petite vintage velvet millinery flower and a pic of my sweet pea. I added the picture inside the frame, glued the outside edges shut then glued it down to the center portion of my album with the hot glue gun. Once that was dry and secure I went ahead and glued the flower down with hot glue. Next add photos to your inside pages if you wish and tie your album shut...viola'....a beautiful album to enjoy for years to come.

I hope you enjoyed creating with me today...I had a blast! Try this same concept for various holidays and occasions. These altered albums make wonderful bridal shower gifts and wedding gifts....guaranteed to be loved!

Enjoy....Ellen

She Loves Hearts !! (Tutorial)

So since I love hearts and have found a new love in felting , I thought I would share an easy and fun way to felt a heart . The basic supplies needed are:
felting needle , wool felt ( cream ) , foam to felt on , wool roving in color of choice , seed beads and metallic thread
First I cut out simple wool felt heart templates to felt on. Remember the template will shrink as you are felting on it so make template a bit larger to allow for shrinkage.
Put your template on the foam and begin felting your wool roving onto the template by punching the needle up and down on the heart over the wool . You will keep punching the wool until it is punched down into the fabric , you will get a feel for what you like and how much you want to keep working the wool . It can be left a little fuzzy if you like the look.
here is the finished felted heart before beading on it .....

Finally I love to add embellishments to the end product and the ideas could go on and on..... here i sewed seed beeds on with metallic thread ...

Don't be limited by what you can do , you could add silk ribbons , other beads , dangles from the bottom , oh the list goes on and on !!!! I can't wait to see what you come up with so please be sure to share with the group !!!!
if you have any questions please feel free to email me at bethquinndesigns.com
xo,
beth quinn

Thank you!

I just wanted to thank you all that shopped and supported the artists yesterday! I hope you had fun hopping around and picking out some kits to play with, aren't there some great ones?

As a little token of thanks, I thought you might like a few Valentine images to use?

I hope you enjoy them!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cerri xo

PS, I think most of the gals have a few kits left if you haven't had a chance to shop yet!

Sale Day!

Don't forget today is kit sale day! There are some wonderful kits to get you creating. You can find all the previews and sale links here. Don't forget to post your completed projects in the Flickr Group. We want to see what you make!

Happy Shopping!

Cindy

Previews!

Hello everyone! Are you ready for some previews of all of the Valentine kits? They're super cute and I think you will like them! All kits will go on sale tomorrow, and each artist will be selling their kits in their own shops, so please see the links.

Cindy's kits will be sold in her web boutique here.

Jeanne kits will be sold in her etsy shop.

Cerri's kits will be sold in her web boutique.

Tiffany's kits will be sold in her web boutique.

Lilia's kits will be sold in her Etsy shop.

Brandy's kits will be sold in her etsy shop.

Ellen's kits will be sold in her etsy shop.

Angelina's kits will be sold in her web boutique.

Beth's kit will be sold in her web boutique.

I told you, pretty fabulous, right? Thank you so much for joining us in our Joli Paquet event! Happy Shopping!

Cerri xo

Don't MISS...

our kit preview tomorrow!!! The peeks I've seen are just wonderful!!! So please be sure and stop by tomorrow to see them all. Kits will go on sale at each artist's shop on Friday!

And speaking of artists, please help us welcome Lilia from Flea Market Studio! Lilia will be doing a tutorial in February!

I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful tutorials. Please be sure and post your Joli inspired creations in the Flickr group (link in the left sidebar).

Happy Wednesday,

Cindy

Bits & Pieces Frame

Good morning everyone. . .it's Jeanne here and it's my turn to share some Valentine fun with you. One of my all-time favorite swaps I participated in was a "Bits & Pieces Collage Swap." Recently I was re-admiring the collage I received from my swap partner when I was rearranging the inspiration board in my studio. I love the idea of using up all the little scraps I save from other projects. I can't seem to throw anything away because I always think I'll be able to use the leftovers to make something else. This philosophy, which my husband refers to as more of a "pack-rat" syndrome, led me to create this Bits and Pieces Collage Frame project. So let's get started, shall we?

BASIC SUPPLIES:
8"x10" Photo Mat Board with rectangular opening
8"x10" Sheet of black and cream decorative paper
8"x10" piece of cardboard
9"x11" Sheet of pink decorative paper
8"x10" Sheet of pink decorative paper
Small scraps of 6 coordinating pink papers.
Glue stick
Craft knife
Bone folder (optional)
Black chalk inkpad
1-1/2” square punch
Other various shaped punches such as circle, oval, heart, etc. (optional)
Double-sided foam tape
Crop-a-dile (optional)
Twill tape, seam binding or ribbon for hanger
Graphite pencil (optional)

*All or any of the following supplies of your choice:
Scraps of paper, rhinestones, buttons, braided trim, book text, sheet music, ledger paper, ribbon, Flowers, crepe paper, tulle, vintage images, tinsel trim, glitter, pearls and/or beads.

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

Place photo mat board on top of wrong side of an 8"x10" sheet of black & cream decorative paper and trace around inside edges.

Using craft knife, cut an “X” in the center of traced section, connecting opposite corners as shown in the photo below.

Apply glue to front side of mat board and reposition back onto decorative paper, matching it up with traced lines.

Rolling a brayer over the paper smooths out air bubbles and helps the glue adhere to the surface better.

Score along the inside edges of frame using a bone folder which helps create a crisp edge when folding paper.

Bend and crease flaps through mat board opening and fold towards the back.

Adhere to back of mat board using gluestick.

Trim excess paper using craft knife.

Turn mat board over to right side.

Using a black chalk inkpad, distress both inside and outside edges. Set aside.
Using a 1-1/2" square punch, cut out 6 squares from coordinating pink decorative papers.

Embellish each square using bits and pieces of various supplies.* Adhere one square to each of the 4 corners of mat board. Position remaining 2 squares midway between the top and bottom squares on left and right side of mat board frame. (Refer to sketch below for placement)
Here's how I embellished my squares:
Vintage wallpaper square, pink heart pin, polka dot circular flower embellishment outlined with graphite pencil, book text, and pink braided trim.

Pink & white glitter polka dot paper, filmy flower, paper flower, and daisy braided trim.

Pink scalloped paper circle with inked edges and white paper heart - both cut using Martha Stewart punches. Vintage pink wallpaper, tiny flower punched from rose scrapbook paper, typewritten "amour" on vintage book paper and outlined with graphite pencil.

Pink paisley paper, pink fabric circle, vintage book text with inked edges, pink crocheted flower, and tiny white pearl.

Two of my squares were punched from cabbage rose patterned paper and I chose to let the rose design be the decoration instead of embellishing them. This of course is entirely your choice – really anything goes with this type of project.

In the spaces between where you placed the embellished squares on the mat board frame, create and adhere some layered embellishments of your own design. Select shapes other than squares to add contrast. Here are some of mine:

Pink flocked paper circle, millinery flower, heart shaped button, tiny acrylic flower, and white pearl bead.

Cream crepe paper rosette edged with silver glass glitter, scalloped edged circle cut from vintage sheet music, circle punched from graph paper and edged with pink ink, polka-dot circular flower, rhinestone brad embellishment.

Scalloped edge oval pink toile paper edged with brown ink, scrap of graph paper trimmed with pinking shears and edged with brown ink, vintage buttons sewn on a scrap of pink velvet ribbon.

Gathered vintage crepe paper, colored with pink distress ink and edged with glass glitter. Pink tinsel trim tied around the center and embellished with vintage pink bead.

Gather a piece of tulle by sewing a few stitched in the center:

Adhere to top center of mat board. Top with a large flower and embellish with a favorite decorative button.

Layer oval shaped papers to the bottom center of mat board. Embellish with ribbon and a sweet vintage image. Add glitter for a finishing touch.

Punch holes at the top left and right corners using Crop-a-dile or awl. Thread ribbon through each hole from back of mat board to front and knot ends. Tie the other ends of the two ribbon pieces into a bow.

Here’s what the front of my frame looks like:

Now let's finish the back of the frame. . .

Glue a 9"x11" sheet of pink patterned paper to the center of an 8"x10" piece of cardboard.

Clip corners as shown in photo below:
Fold and glue flaps towards the back. Glue a matching 8"x10” sheet of pink patterned paper to the back of cardboard to cover these edges. At this point cardboard is covered entirely in this pink paper.

Apply double-sided foam tape to sides and bottom edges of paper covered cardboard and attach to the back of mat board. (Note: Do not apply foam tape along the top edge, as this is where you will insert photo into frame.)

Insert a favorite photo of your Valentine honey or a vintage image and your frame is complete!

The vintage image shown in my frame is from Sandra Evertson's book, "Memories of a Lifetime:Weddings."

I hope you enjoy making this fun project. Try making these using smaller mat boards and apply to the front of a note card or attach a cardboard easel to the back and create a table top frame. Or make some tiny Valentine cards using the embellishment ideas individually. Have fun with it and let your imagination run wild!

xoxo ~ Jeanne