Tutorial: 1-2-3 Cardmaking

There's a new line of cardmaking products now available at JoAnn's that I think you're going to love!!  It's David Tutera Paper Crafts, which includes David Tutera's Celebrate cardmaking line.

Today I'm going to share an incredibly easy card tutorial that incorporates these super cool supplies.  I'll also show you some additional cards made using this line and I'll even share how you can enter to win a bunch free supplies from David Tutera Paper Crafts!!

SUPPLIES

Card & Envelope

Layer(s)

Embellishment(s)

Step 1: SELECT A CARD

Select a card from the huge selection of sizes, colors, and finishes available in the David Tutera Paper Crafts line.  I chose a matte silver A7 card for this particular project.

Step 2: ADD A LAYER

Select at least one layer to add to the card.

There are so many pre-cut and pre-embossed layers to choose from in this line!!  I love the fact that you don't need any special craft machines to cut or emboss your layers because they're already done for you!!

I chose a dark pink layer that's not only textured cardstock, but it's been embossed with flowers too!!

Simply attach the layer to the card using your favorite adhesion method.

Step 3: EMBELLISH

Choose one or more embellishments.

I really liked this "Thank You:" embellishment as well as the die-cut matte silver border.

Just attach the embellishment(s) to the layer and you're...

FINISHED!!

As promised, here's how you can enter to win supplies from this super cardmaking line...

Three lucky winners will receive a $300 grand prize pack of supplies from

David Tutera’s Celebrate cardmaking line AND a personally signed book from David!

20 additional winners will receive a $50 Celebrate prize pack.

Sign up here for a chance to win: http://pages.exacttarget.com/tutera-optin-blog/.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

Here are some additional cards that I made, as well as a card made by my friend, Brook!!

An elegant black & white Thank You card...

A super shiney Christmas Card...

Brook's earthy Sympathy card...

My favorite one so far is this Autumn Birthday Card with built-in gift card holder...

WANT MORE?!?
Check out the links below for more great tutorials using David Tutera Paper Crafts supplies!!

I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Darice-Core’dinations David Tutera Paper Crafts and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

Thanks for reading!!  Until next time...

Shopping Show & Tell #3

As you may have heard, I'm opening an Etsy shop in July where I'll be listing various vintage inspiration kits, vintage supplies, and other vintage items.  In order to start this endevour, I've had to buy some things to include in the assortment packs.  While purchasing these items, I've met some really nice people with great online shops.

In this post, I just want to share some a few of these resources with you!!  I think everyone wants affordable craft supplies from reliable sellers, don't you agree?

Come July, I'll be offering vintage sewing inspiration kits packed full of fabric, trim, embellishments and more.  In order for me to put these packs together, I needed vintage fabric!!

I found Nikole's shop, Happy Notions, and decided she could probably put together a nice assortment for me.  I convo'ed her and she really went the extra mile to help!!  She ended up providing me with over 50 different patterns of reclaimed sheet fabric!!  Just check out the assortment she sent...

Here are a couple of the other items in her shop that I really like...

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Bundle - You Pick 15

Vintage Sheet Scrap Pack - 1 Pound Assorted Fabrics

Next, I wanted some colorful items to add to my ephemera assortment packs.  I figured vintage wallpaper would be amazing, but new it was usually kind of pricey.  However, I really lucked out when I found Donna's shop, Under The Red Roof.

Donna was so generous and sent me a huge assortment of 8x10 wallpaper sheets and some scraps I'd asked for.  Although this picture doesn't do it justice, here's a photo of my order...

Here's a couple items you can find at Under The Red Roof...

Vintage Wallpaper Mega Pack

Bingo Advent Calendar Kit 

~ Chrystelle's ~

I still wanted more colorful things to include so when I found  Chrystelle's listing for some bright vintage carnival tickets, I knew they'd be perfect!!

I placed a custom order for a large assortment of tickets and ended up getting over 400 carnival tickets!!  Here's a picture...

Here are a couple of my top picks from Chrystelle's shop...

200 Vintage Carnival Tickets - 4 Colors, 50 Tickets Each Color

Vintage Scrapbooking Kit - Chocolate

These 3 shops are owned by wonderful ladies who are willing to go the extra mile to help you find what you need.  I've had great experiences with all of them and know you will too!!

I am not getting any form of compensation for mentioning these shops!!  I simply purchased items from each of them and was so pleased with their products and services that I wanted to share them with my readers.

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...

Tutoral: Altered Trinket Box with Faux Wood Grain

This Altered Trinket Box is a great (inexpensive) project for those that what to learn how to "alter" things.  I've made sure to add in many small details that will help you obtain this great vintage look!!

Let's get to the tutorial!!

SUPPLIES

Paper Mache Trinket Box

Hymnal Pages or Sheet Music

Acrylic Craft Paints (browns, black, & gold)

Gloss Decoupauge Medium

Lace (optional)

Miscellaneous decorations (optional)

Step 1: DECOUPAGE & AGE OUTSIDE TOP

Cover the box top's outside using thin pages of music, such as old hymnal pages.

Note: If you don't have old hymnals or sheet music available, another great option would be old sewing pattern paper.

Using a fine mist bottle, spray the decoupauged top with an aging/distressing ink.

Gently wipe away the excess and cover any missed areas and let dry.

Step 2: DECORATE INSIDE THE TOP

Cut a piece of music to fit inside the top.  If you're anything like me, this will come out sorta "wonky".

To cover any cutting mishaps and to hide the paper mache, paint the inside rim with dark brown acrylic craft paint.

Using a strong tacky glue, glue lace to the inside edge of the box top.  Set aside to dry completely.

Step 3: PAINT A FAUX WOOD GRAIN

I didn't care for the paper mache's appearance so I decided to create a faux wood grain on the bottom part of the box.

Paint a coat of light/medium brown over your entire surface.

Add a tiny bit of gold onto a foam brush, dab off the excess until the bruss is almost dry, then gently dry brush the gold paint onto the surface very sparingly and always in the same direction..

Repeat the dry brush technique using a medium/dark brown, then black, then light/medium brown again.

To finish the look and to seal the outside of the box, just add a couple coats of glossy decoupage medium.  In my opinion this gives the faux wood grain a varnished type of look!!

Note: I chose to add little wooden feet to my trinket box, but this is totally optional.

Step 4: PAINT THE INSIDE OF THE BOX

Paint a couple coats of gold (or other color) acrylic craft paint over the inside of the box. Seal with decoupage medium.

I think the trinket box looks great at this stage, so you may choose to leave it as is.

However, I chose to decorate the top so I've included those instructions as well - just keep reading!

Step 5: FOWER WITH MUSIC LEAVES

(optional)

Find a paper flower with a realitively long stem.

Cut the flower's stem to the desired length, but do not throw away the extra stem!

Cut 2 leaf shapes out of sheet music and glue them back to back over one end of the excess stem.

Using a strong tacky glue, attach the flower stem to the leaf stem.

Decoupauge over the attachment point to seal.

Step 6: DECORATE TOP

Gather up miscellaneous items to use on your top.  I used cheesecloth, my paper flower, buttons, a decorated puzzle piece, old stamps, an old key, and a filigree finding.

If you choose to add cheesecloth, just decoupauge it to the top before you add your other embellishments.

Layout your items before gluing them down to make sure you're happy with their placement.

Once you find a layout you like, simply glue them down using a strong non-yellowing tacky glue.

FINISHED!!

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...

Shopping Show & Tell #2

I'm so excited and I need to share it with all of you!!  I recently ordered a mixed lot of vintage rhinestones and findings from 1000Dragonflies' Etsy shop and when I got my package, I was simply blown away at what I received!!

First of all, here's what I found inside the box...

Those are all handmade origami boxes made out of scrapbook paper so they're really sturdy!!  Isn't that some great packaging!!

Before digging through all of the goodies, I opened all of the boxes and this is what it looked like...

I could already tell there was a ton of rhinestones in those boxes and boy, was I right!!

These are the photos from the original listing which does a wonderful job at showing what was included...

Notice how BIG the rhinestones are!!  These aren't the itsy-bitsy ones; these are perfect for using in jewelry and so many other projects!!  Not only that the quality is impressive, to say the least!!

I'm not going to tell you how much I paid, because this was a custom order, but I got WAY more than I paid for!!

I've NEVER seen vintage rhinestones at prices as low as she offers them, so be sure to visit her shop ASAP!!

Leslie, the shop owner, is super helpful and always willing to put together special orders!!  

Plus, she's offering some AWESOME coupons right now!!  Here are the codes...

30% off ALL orders!!  Use code WELCOME

50% off orders over $150!!  Use code TAKE50

Here are a few of the items in her shop right now...

10x5mm Vintage German Ruby Iridescent Siam Navettes, AB Finish Glass, Aged Brass Sew-on Settings, 30 pcs. ($22.70)

1 Pound of Jewelry Supplies!! Settings, Stampings, Ear Wires & Hooks, Chain, Earring Connectors, Rhinestone Settings. ($37.85)

15x7mm De-Foilded Navette Rhinestone Assortment, 55 pcs. ($24.95)

Just so you know, I wasn't paid or given freebies for writing this post!!  This is just me sharing a great resource with you!!  I sincerely hope you'll at least visit Leslie's Etsy shop!!

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...