Small things Bright and Beautiful... StencilGirl® Zine Challenge

Hello friends! It's a new season and though it's been awhile... I'm still creating! This has been a year of putting family and home first, and getting back to painting. I have lots to catch up on in the coming days and weeks.

Today I am excited to share the "StencilGirl® Zine Challenge"... a new collaboration project in which Tina Walker posed the challenge to create a one-sheet ZINE using StencilGirl® Stencils. These collab projects are fun and really stretch my creative muscles!!

For this challenge I used things that end up in my purse and pockets... the tags with quotes from my daily cup of tea. My ZINE is fashioned from a recycled ledger paper folded to ATC size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2"), which is the perfect size and scale to properly showcase these tags. My ZINE of "Wise Words from the Tea Leaves" is made using my stash of StencilGirl® ATC stencils.

This is the inspiration we were provided for this Zine Challenge. With a simple sheet of letter size paper folded following the illustration, a mini book is created. Size it up or down, this format can be arted up in a zillion ways!

I think this will be really interesting out of a large sheet of painted up watercolor paper, but for this challenge I am working small so I can use some of my stash of StencilGirl® ATC stencils that I've never used. I love to make "Artist Trading Cards" (ATCs) for trading with artsy friends. This small art is sized at 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and making a book using this sizing proved to be quite fun!

I let the muse rule here and she always goes for the "one touch rule"... using things that I have picked up on search for other things. My base is a sheet of ledger paper on the table leftover from an altered composition book project. An interesting choice – OK why not?!

The paper is slightly larger than letter size. I want my end result to yield  ATC size pages so I do a few measurements and tear edges down to size. I want to stencil black on this greenish paper, though it is a bit thin. I'm concerned about bleed-through on this old paper. The way the paper folds to create the zine I won't be utilizing the back of sheet when folded down. I applied a light coat of black gesso to the back with an old hotel key card. Sorry no photo, I spilled my black gesso and had a mopup painting emergency. I'm happy to report that no paint went to waste! LOL!

With paper dry and reinforced, I followed the zine folding steps and went over folds with a bone folder to make them nice and sharp. Since my outer edges were torn, I also tore the center where the diagram says to cut. Fold down a quick and easy book!

Follow along as I share how I built up the layers on this spread in my Zine...

Overall I stenciled with Vicky Boutin Gold stencil paste using StencilGirl® L763 -- ATC Mixup NASSER

Wow!!! I love the shine and contrast on the ledger paper. 

Next I pounce blue acrylic through this wonky squares pattern on StencilGirl® stencil L543 -- ATC MIxup 1

Now we're getting somewhere! 

Loving this but I'm about to go crazy...

Grabbing what is on the table, I used a cheap office store brand glue stick through the star pattern on StencilGirl® L657 -- ATC Mixup DUBE

I am using a fun and messy technique – a glue stick resist. First, I apply glue stick through stencil, let dry. Then I apply a layer of black acrylic over the top. While wet, gently wipe paint away in a circular fashion to remove the glue stick with the excess paint to reveal the lovely layers below. 

This glue stick didn't mask everything like I had expected but the effect is pretty exciting! I go back with some pens and markers to complete and add some more stars. Next time I will get out my "art project" assigned glue stick, not the cheap gooey one for sealing envelopes.

I attach the tag, finish the final details with scribbles and pens. This page is the perfect backdrop for this tea tag wisdom.

"BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL"

Completed spread.

Detail of tea bag tag quote...
"The universe is withing you. Bright and beautiful."

An inspiration worthy of being a mantra.

I love the size and scale of my Zine and it fits nice in the pocket of my purse. I am enjoying making additional volumes of this to use more of my tea bag tag quotes. I have a whole baggie of them that need a home.

StencilGirl® Stencils Used :

L763 -- ATC Mixup NASSER

https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-ATC-Mixup-Mary-c-Nasser-p/l763.htm

L657 -- ATC Mixup DUBE

https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-ATC-Mixup-Dube-Carolyn-Dube-p/l657.htm

L543 -- ATC MIxup 1

https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-ATC-Mixup-1-Mary-Beth-Shaw-p/l543.htm

+ + + + + + + + +

I hope you enjoyed this project. How would you create your own ZINE? CLICK HERE to jump over to see the other zines made for the "StencilGirl® Zine Challenge".

Thanks for dropping by! :) Sb

Shapes for all Seasons... Grafix® Creative Plastic Films Bloghop

 

Greetings everyone! Today I am joining the Designer Crafts Connection for another bloghop featuring projects made with Grafix® Creative Plastic Films. You might be familar with Grafix® products such as shrink plastic, adhesive sheets or transfer paper... but they have so many other surfaces to delight artists and crafters alike!

Discover your creativity with Grafix®... is your source for specialty plastic films for Arts, Crafts, Graphics, Drafting & Design! For more than 50 years, Grafix® quality plastic films, specialty papers, and Incredible Art Products® have been inspiring artists, crafters, and designers to create the beautiful and innovative.

I was provided the Grafix® Disc Bound Mixed Media Journal and a multi-pack of Grafix® Metallic Foil Board and Paper to create with.

Grafix® Plastic Films are something I have never tried and I am excited that this Mixed Media Journal is a 6" x 9" size with an assortment of 6 surfaces pre-punched for disc-binding... ready to create!

Selections include: .010” Clear Dura-Lar; .005” Matte Dura-Lar; .004” Wet Media Dura-Lar; .010” Opaque White Dura-Bright/Craft Plastic; .010” Opaque Black Dura-Bright/ Craft Plastic; .057” Natural Chipboard; and binding Discs.

These 6 unique surfaces which are geared toward a variety of mixed media applications. Try inks, stamps, stencils, markers, embossing, painting, drawing, and more! The ideas are whirling around in my head -- I'm not sure where to begin.

Hello bling! The Grafix® Metallic Foil Board and Paper is sure to steal the show! A multi-pack of 5 colors, 2 sheets each in 10" x 13" size.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Cut the paper and plastic film with die cuts! I make an effort to support fellow creatives as much as possible. I have a set of Crafty Chica Sizzix® dies that are for celebrating Dia De Los Muertos (from 5 years ago). Where I work we have an annual Community Celebration for this Holiday and I have had these for making projects with kids at the event. I've never really made an entire project - so this is going to be fun with this fabulous metallic paper!

I will also die cut some florals using Crafty Chica Makers Movement® dies that I purchased online. These were released this summer.

All I have done is die cut my papers and plastic film (I chose the .010” Clear Dura-Lar sheets). I am loving all the bling from this metallic paper... it is true mirror card! When assembled and embellished, this sugar skull will be turned into a mini mask by mounting onto a glitter pencil.

After testing my entire bag of pens on scraps of the Dura-Lar to see which took and looked best (happy to report most pens worked fabulous), I set off on drawing and doodling in the details.

I decorated each of my sugar skulls with a few metallic markers and chalk-ink pens. The front is the Dura-Lar mounted over green foil / the reverse is Dura-Lar over gold foil.

The more layers the more personality!

Layer film sugar skull on top of the foil paper... WOW! I finished by adding details in the metallic areas too.

I also die cut a skull shape with the Grafix® Double Tack Mounting Film to mount each side back-to-back.

I aligned the Grafix® Double Tack Mounting Film to the back of one side, place pencil then layer and join surfaces together.

I used some Diamond Glaze to adhere the layered foil pieces and gem accents.

This Catrina is ready for her close-up!

The hand drawn embellishments, marks and doodles to bring these Sugar Skulls to life!

I love the contrast of the front and the back just from varying colors. The pens worked great on the Clear Dura-Lar and dried quicker than expected. I can't wait to share this at our Viva la Vida Altar Celebration this weekend. 

CLICK HERE to jump over to the beginning of the Grafix® Creative Plastic Films Bloghop at the Designer Crafts Connection blog to view more inspiration and projects using Creative Plastic Films.

For more info on Grafix® Products, project inspiration and purchase these fantastic surfaces visit Grafix® website HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting! I'd love to hear what you would create with Grafix® Creative Plastic Films.  Sb :)

** This is a sponsored post.  Grafix® provided products for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.

Create Mini Albums that Grow... with i-crafter + Designer Crafts Connection

Greetings everyone! Today I am joining the Designer Crafts Connection for another fun bloghop... making mini albums with die cuts from i-crafter -- products inspired by crafters, for crafters. If you have been following me for a while you know that I love making mini books in all shapes and sizes.

If you love papercrafting and making MINI projects... i-crafter.com is a crafters candy-land! CLICK HERE to hop on over to learn more about these fabulous products!

I was provided these i-crafter die-cut items to create with: 222113 Mini Album accordion; 222171 Mini Album Divider #1, 222712 Mini Album Divider #2, and 222173 Mini Album Divider #3 {each of which come with assortment of die-cut embellishments including florals, leafs and sentiments}; Water Lily, 3D Dimensional Embossing Folder By Lynda Kanase; Tiny Home 3D By Lynda Kanase die{this I will be using in another project}.

 

Included in the package is all pages pre-cut, ready for assembly. 

The i-crafter Mini Album, Accordion die set allows you to create a multi-page, mini album without needing to glue or stitch the binding. HELLO... no glue or stitching! This is a quick and simple way to create a 4” x 5 ¼” mini album using a paper accordion binding system that is expandable depending how many pages you desire.

With everything cut, I select a distress paint to add some shabby chic color to the edges of all the pages. I just rubbed around the edges, front and back of all the pieces, the accordions, and the page interlocking sticks.

Just a small amount of color to compliment the floral embellishments and sentiments. 

Adhere the five sections of die cut accordion using some quick-setting glue {or double-sided adhesive tape}.

Fully assembled accordion ready to add pages.

Slide the slit in the center of large page onto the first full accordion spine.

Make sure spine is fully pulled through page. Ready for some magic?! 

Slide a stick into the accordion spine and push through to opposite end. First page is attached! YES -- it is that easy! No glue needed. Makes life easy if you want to move pages around later on.

I repeat the process alternating 2-page sheets with tab divider pages.

The book grows as you add pages.

There ends up being a couple places where accordion spine meets up with tab from divider pages. 

Add a line of adhesive runner and sandwich edge of acetate page in place. Voila!

The completed book base after inserting pages and locking onto accordion spine. I am new to this type of binding and I love it!

The two remaining accordion flaps are for adhering the cover, or for adding on pages by joining on more accordion sections.

I cut two pieces of creamy white cardstock to size of other pages in preparation for embossing with the Water Lily, 3D Dimensional Embossing Folder. I quickly swiped two colors of distress paint daubers onto the folder surface, misted lightly with water and placed paper into folder.

I send the embossing folder through my Cuttlebug die cutting machine. I repeat this process to create papers for the front and back cover and extras to collage onto a recycled holiday card box.

The result is a subtle, faux watercolor texture. This pairs nicely with the colors of patterned paper accents, including i-crafter die-cut tags, pockets and envelope.

For the front cover, I glue the accordion tab to the cover base.

Glue a ribbon for a book closure that will be sandwiched within cover, then add more glue to adhere embossed painted paper. Repeat on back cover.

I add a few embellishments and its time to move on to the interior pages. I will be gifting this to a co-worker who just had a baby so I am leaving things open for her to fill in.

I am in love with the dimension of the cover and the subtle blue and green color.

The papers provided for the cover I used as lining for the inside front and inside back cover.

More i-crafter die cut accents. Tag with pocket and a paper floral paper clip, with die cut foilage on opposite page.

Close-up of the paper floral paper clip... use of metallic paper add bling while keeping things flat.

I love these monstera leaves!

This mini album has plenty of room and special places to hold things.

I added a layered butterfly as a closure for the envelope.

 

Shabby Chic Garden Accordion Mini Album

I am quite surprised how quick and easy this book came together. This mini album is perfect for use as a planner on the go or as a pocket brag book... a wonderful gift for a new mom. To complete this gift, I will enclose book in a coordinating upcycled box, paired with an adhesive runner, stickers and some clear photo corners. 

CLICK HERE to jump over to the beginning of the i-crafter Bloghop at the Designer Crafts Connection blog to view more inspiration and projects using heat transfer foils. 

For more i-crafter inspiration visit Blog HERE

Thanks so much for visiting! Sb :)

** This is a sponsored post. I-crafter provided paper products for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.