Saturday, January 31, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Board Book

Use Digital Scrapbooking and create a Board Book

Well I thought I would try something new. I had tagged along on a fieldtrip with my son's class to the Chocolate Factory and got to ride the bus and take a bunch of photos. So after I got all the photos downloaded I decided I wanted to make a little board book for the teacher as a small thank you gift. I had seen where you could buy the blank board books, so I ordered a few and this is what developed.

I did a lot of trial and error on this project and here is a few things I did learn throughout the process:

*Do NOT dry to decoupage the pages onto the board book, they will warp horribly.
*Do NOT use liquid glue, even if specially designed for paper, it will leave 'bumps' of glue under your layout.
*You *can* use red line tape, but it uses a lot, and is very expensive.
*Spray adhesive is repositionable for awhile before it becomes permanent, very useful for this project. Make sure you buy a kind that is repositionable.
*Contact paper is somewhat repositionable, and very forgiving in this project, also makes the pages somewhat water resistant, especially nice when making a board book for a child.

Supplies:
-7in x 7in Blank board book: Oriental Trading Company
-Photo editing software
-Color printer
-plain paper
-Corner rounder
-Clear Contact paper
-Paper Trimmer
-Photo Mounter's Spray adhesive

Instructions:

1. Create (14) 7 in x 7 in digital scrapbook pages ensuring you have a front cover, and back cover using your photo editing software. Also create a title for the spine of the book.
2. Once you have all the pages created, print them out onto plain white paper.
3. Trim out all your pages leaving a half inch border.
4. Cut out 14 squares of contact paper about 8 in x 8 in. Carefully lay down the 7x7 layout onto the contact paper, working from one edge to the other, making sure to get no bubbles.
5. Using paper trimmer, trim out the 7x7 pages.
6. Take the spine piece first and apply a coat of spray adhesive. Attach to spine of book. Trim if needed.
7. You can use the corner rounder to round off corners as you put them into the book if desired, or trim with scissors around the corners.
8. Then attach the front and back covers. Once attached, run a 4x7 strip of contact paper centering over the spine and over the top of the front and back covers.
9. Attach all of the center pages.

Good luck and have fun!!

Debbie Weller
DebDuzScrappin.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

Faux Matchbook

Most all materials shown in this project are from Club Scrap.

Supply List
pattern paper (Club Scrap Science kit)
(3) 6.5x3.5 coin envelopes (Club Scrap)
Stickers, cut outs, and embellishments (Club Scrap)
Fiber (for tying book open or closed)
Ribbon (for binding project)
brads
hole punch
Rubberstamps (Club Scrap)
Inks
Bone folder or scoring tool
Circle Punch

Instructions

Coin Envelope pages:

1. Take a coin envelope, cut to top off at 4 inches.
2. Take your circle punch and punch a half hole in the top of the envelope.
3. Rubberstamp various images all over the envelope, and ink edges.
4. Repeat on other 2 envelopes, set aside.

Tags:

1. Cut 3 rectangular shapes 3.5 in x 3.25 in.
2. Punch a 1 inch circle, ink edges and mount at top of tag.
3. Decorate with pattern paper, stamps, inks, photos as desired.

Cover:

1. Cut a piece of blue pattern cardstock that is 3.75in x 11in.
2. Score lines at 4.25in, 5in, and 10in.
3. See Diagram. Ink all edges of cover.

Binding:

1. Fold cover and punch 1/8th inch (more or less depending on the size of your ribbon) holes 1/2 inch from each side through both layers of the cover.
2. Insert one of the coin envelopes, center envelope, and mark where the hole needs to go, punch the hole.
3. Repeat punching holes on other 2 envelopes.
4. Cut a 9 inch strip of ribbon. Feed the ribbon from the front through to the back going through the front cover, all three envelopes, and then the back cover, repeat on both sides. Then feed the ribbon back through but on the opposite side from the back to the front through all layers. This should hold the project together snuggly.
5. Now you can insert the tags into the envelopes.
6. Punch a 1 inch circle and attach to bottom front cover using a brad and fiber to create a closure. Decorate inside cover to cover up the brad back.
7. Punch a 1/2 in circle and attach to top front cover with a brad. Cover backside of top front cover with cutout to conceal the brad back.
8. Now you can wrap the fiber around top circle to close matchbook.

Good luck and have fun!!

Debbie Weller
DebDuzScrappin.com

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Folding Double Frame

Supplies needed:
-Kraft double frame kit (vendor??)
-Cardstock (Club Scrap Avant Garde Kit)
-Extacto knife
-Ribbon (Club Scrap Avant Garde Kit)
-Photos
-Adhesive

Embellishements (paperclips, stickers, cut outs, etc.)

The base of this project I pulled out of a kit that came with other papers and embellishements that were just too girly and cutesy for my boys and such. I can’t remember the name of the company who produced the kit.

1. Using the base of the project as my template, I traced around it onto cardstock and then trimmed out with scissors and exacto knife. There is small slits in the base that the ribbon runs through, so I used the knife to trim those out.
2. You will cover both the front and the back of the base using the same steps as step 1.
3. Ink all edges of the cardstock as desired and then adhere to the base.
4. Weave your ribbon through the holes leaving enough ribbon on each end to be able to tie the frames closed when all done. Adhere the ribbon behind the ribbon to the base.
5. Add photos and adhere to two front flaps (the ones with the openings for the photos) to the back of the base (the back of the frame.
6. Add any desired embellishments as desired.

Have fun!! Debbie Weller

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Elves Album Recap 2008

This is our 2008 Holiday Elves album recap. I made two - a green (for youngest son) and a red version (for my eldest son) - they started out as a clear plastic 3x5 card holder, that I spiffy'd up using alcohol inks, metallics, ribbons and beads...

I picked up these two plastic cases at the Dollar Tree for a buck!! Then I started by dropping drops of alchol inks inside the plastic cover and spread it around, I used multiple colors along with some of the metallic alcohol inks.

I used my cropodile to punch holes around the front flap and then threaded the metallic ribbon through the holes and tied them at the top. I also punched holes on the sides and threaded waxed thread and beads and charms.

I also used stickles to write my kids names on the front each book - let me just tell you now - that doesn't work - the plastic is just too slippery or what have ya - cuz it wouldn't stay on there!!

Each accordion album included a bunch of the photos of our busy lil 'elves' that spend the month prior to Christmas visiting (and getting into things...almost as bad as our new lil kitty). I like to do a recap every year - it is fun to look back at all the fun things the elves are involved in each year.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Mini Album - Paper Bag Book





This creates a unique mini scrapbook. One should note, that standard lunch bags may not be acid free, if that is important to you, be sure and locate acid free bags before starting your project. This is a great project to do with your older kids too. Most all rubberstamps used in this project are from Club Scrap (www.clubscrap.com)

Supplies needed:

~(3) lunch bags, brown or any color (for the book itself)
~Pattern paper
~Cardstock
~Various inks
~Various rubberstamps
~Various ribbons or fibers
~Eyelets, brads, or other book binding materials

1. Take the three paper bags and flip the middle one. So that it is open, close, open similar to drawing (diagram A). (Note: you can use more than 3 paper bags if you like)

2. Sandwich the three bags together and fold in the middle. The dimension of the book will be approximately 5.25 in x 5.25 in.
3. Bind your bags together. This can be in any number of ways. You can use eyelets and ribbon, brads, standard book binding techniques, or just staple it. If you use eyelets, you can go through all 6 layers of the paper bags if you have long shafted eyelets OR I just went through 3 layers at a time with standard eyelets and used 4 eyelets total. It is a little difficult to keep your bags all lined up while punching the holes, one easier way is to just measure each bag separately and punch the holes and then they will line up perfectly. In the project shown, I used 1 inch from the edge as my measurement. (diagram B)
4. Once you have the eyelets in, you can add your ribbon or fibers and any charms you like.
5. Now I did NOT cut the ends of my bags off, but others have to allow for more pages, so that is completely up to you and the look you are going for.
6. At this point I ran ink pads all along the edges of all the pages.
7. I cut out 4 tags (to slip into the openings of the bags) sized about 4.25 x 4.75in and added little flaps for pulling them out (you could easily use ribbon here instead) I wanted the word LOVE for this particular project. (Note: you could easily do up to 6 tags, since there is slots for that many).

8. I then cut pattern paper pieces about 4.75 in x 5 in to cover all of the pages. I inked all edges of my pattern paper.
9. I rubberstamped various sayings and images through out the book.
10. I then added my photos, matting with coordinating cardstock and inking edges.
11. I added various embellishments, such as brads, charms, stickers, metal sayings, and ribbon.

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Monday, January 26, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Serving Tray


Digital "Photo" Serving Tray

Supplies needed:

* ClubScrapDigital digital kits
* Wood serving tray with acrylic base (these particular trays shown are from Home Depot’s kid clinic project)
* Paper trimmer
* Printer
* Adhesive
* Cardboard mat
* Nails/hammer or staple gun/staples
* Hanger (optional)

1. Create a new layout in your digital photo editing program, using whatever size dimensions of your tray.
2. Using this new layout size, create a fun photo layout.
3. Print out your layout either at home on printer, or upload and have printed professionally. You can just resize your canvas size to a common size that your professional lab can process like 10x12 – when they print it professionally, the extra space will just print out as white, and you can just trim the excess off.
4. Trim out your layout to perfectly fit into the opening underneath the tray – cutting it perfectly will keep it from slipping around..
5. Trim a piece of mat board just a smidge smaller than the ‘entire back’ dimensions, including those of the wood edges.
6. Now you need to either nail or staple this mat board to the wood to help protect the photo/layout. You could use wood in place of the mat board if you want it to be even more durable.
7. Add a hanger if you want to hang the tray on the wall.

Digital elements in these layouts are from Club Scrap:
Green pattern paper - “Refresh” digital kit.
Red pattern paper – “Wheels & Sprocket” digital kit
“You & Me” transparency – “Fizz” digital kit
If you do not have a clear back tray available – you could insert the digital layout into the wooden tray and cover with a piece of plexiglass. You’d probably want to put a layer of clear adhesive or caulking of sorts down around the entire piece of plexiglass to help keep ‘stuff’ out in the event the tray is actually used as a tray.

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Necklace

Supplies needed:

~Metal pendant
~Digital layout (Club Scrap Digital Avant Garde Kit)
~Chain & clasp
~Glossy accents (Ranger)
~Beads (Club Scrap Avant Garde Kit)

I will begin by saying, I created this necklace at a class and used “their” glossy accents and was so disappointed in the number of bubbles. So if you don’t already know – do not shake or mess much with your bottle of your glossy accents. Doing so, creates loads of bubbles, which are practically impossible to get out once on your project. When using GA, always lay it on its side when you are not using it, this will also help reduce the number of bubbles in it – Lots of bubbles makes for kinda funny looking necklace. I, so wished, I had known I needed GA for the class, and I would have brought my own…

1. Create a digital scrapbook layout, reduce in size, and print to fit the metal pendant of your choice.

2. Add a small amount of glossy accents to the metal pendant trying to cover the entire area of the inside without putting too much adhesive in there.

3. Carefully place your mini digital layout onto the adhesive and press it into the pendant, some of the GA will start to flow up and over the layout, that is fine.

4. Add additional GA to cover the entire layout with a thin coat.

5. Add beads or charms as appropriate.

6. Let dry – will take a long time, probably over night. Add chain and any additional charms as desired.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial! Have fun!! Debbie Weller

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Acrylic album

Supplies needed:

* Thicker than standard acrylic (12x12) but not too thick (see note below)
* Cardstock
* Photos
* 3 zip ties
* Various fibers/Ribbons
* Various embellishments (stickers, cutouts, etc)
* adhesive
* Cropodile or Japanese hole punch
* Optional: spray adhesive or glossy accents, something that dries clear

1.Start by cutting the 12x12 sheet of acrylic sheet into (4) equal 6x6 sheets. There is one brand – can’t remember the name brand – that is real thick and you can’t cut it with your trimmer, the kind I used is cutable by a standard trimmer without too much difficulty. If there is a protective coating on your acrylic sheet – remove that now.

2. Using a large 6x6 photo for the front page gives a nice dramatic look. Embellish the initial photo with embellishments as desired.

3. Once the page is completed, you can adhere (using spray adhesive or glossy accents) the first piece of clear acrylic to that layout/photo or not, it is up to you. Having acrylic on the outside of the album over top of the first layout/photo will help protect the album.

4. You can add additional embellishments to the outside cover if you desire, especially if any adhesive shows through the acrylic.

5. Now you can flip your first page over and create another layout using cardstock, photos, and embellishments.

6. To create the two inside pages, you can print out photos of equal size and adhere them to the acrylic back to back, so that they appear to be “floating” on the page. Embellish as desired.

7. Finish up the last page, similar as to the first page so that the majority of the outside of the book is protected by the acrylic.

8. Using a cropodile, punch out 3 holes equal distance apart on all pages.

9. Put the pages in order, ensuring all are upright and such. Connect all the pages together using the zipties. BE SURE and leave a little space on the zipties, otherwise your album will not open and close easily.

10. Add ribbons and fibers to the zipties as a final embellishment.

The majority of the supplies used in the photo example above are from Club Scrap’s March 2008 “Avant Garde” kit.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial!
Have fun!!
Debbie Weller

Friday, January 23, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Quad Folding Free-standing Frame

I created this folding frame for my Mother-In-Law for Mother’s day this year. It will be great, since it folds up nicely and I can mail it to her. The majority of the supplies used in project are from ClubScrap.com.

Supplies needed:

* 7x7 matboard (4 pieces)
* 2 digital layouts (ClubScrap “Avant Garde” digital kit)
* Cardstock (ClubScrap “Avant Garde” kit)
* Adhesive
* Embellishments (ClubScrap “Avant Garde” kit)
* Zutter Bind-it-all binding machine (or you could improvise and use a hole punch)
* Metal binding for Zutter – (3 pieces) 6 prong section (cut with wire cutters)

1. Cut 8 pieces of 7x7 cardstock in coordinating colors. Adhere onto the matboard using modge podge.

2. Adhere the two digital layouts to (2) of the pages.

3. Adhere more cardstock pieces and various coordinating embellishments to the other two pages. Basically creating a 4 page spread.

4. Add embellishments or cardstock pieces to the back side of all the 4 pages if desired.

5. Once you have all the pages designed as desired. Center each page into the Zutter and cut/punch a set of 6 holes. First page will just have one set of hole on the right hand side, the next two pages will have holes on both sides, last page will just have holes on the left hand side.

6. Insert 2 of the pages together into the metal binding and bind with machine. Repeat binding all the pages as shown in the photo.

7. Once completed, the project closes very nicely and is great for shipping.

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Gift Idea - “Gift card” metal tin


“Gift card” metal tin

This makes a great birthday gift holder for that gift card!!

Supplies needed:

* Metal tin (removable lid, holds gift card perfectly)
* Various embellishments (stickers, cutouts, etc)
* Ribbon
* adhesive
* Cropodile

1. Start by removing lid of tin, and punching holes evenly spaced around the outside edge of the bottom of the tin.

2. Run ribbon in and out through all the holes around the tin. You can begin and end inside or outside of your tin, depending on what you prefer.

3. Add stickers and/cut outs as desired to the lid.

4. Insert a gift card, makes a great little gift.

The ribbon and cut out on this project example above are from Club Scrap’s March 2008 “Avant Garde” kit.

The majority of the supplies used in the photo example above are from Club Scrap’s March 2008 “Avant Garde” kit.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial! Have fun!!
Debbie Weller
DebDuzScrappin.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

"Record album" mini book

So this is a fun one - this is the ClubStamp project from the Cruisin' kit. Each page in the book in a mini record album sleeve with an extra flap that is used for the binding. The kit also includes - diecut 'records' for inserting into the record sleeves. Then the entire book is bound with ring binders and tie on some fun fibers and vola' a snazzy one of a kind lil book - so clever, so unique, so CLUB SCRAP...can't tell I luv em can ya???

Just for your reference, here is an example kit for this month from CS - you get the very fun and unique "record album" kit, papers, and rubberstamps. It is a wonderful package of goodies that I so look forward to receiving each month!!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Portable “Badge Holder” Scrapbook

Supply List:
-Patterned paper (Club Scrap)
-Decorative Chipboard (Club Scrap)
-Ribbons, various
-Fibers, various
-Flowers (Prima)
-Brads (Making Memories)
-Ink Pads (Ranger Industries)
-Rubberstamps (Club Scrap)
-2 Metal book rings (Staples)
-8 Badge holders (Staples)

Tools needed:
-Corner Rounder (Creative Memories)
-Sponge (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut 16 pieces of cardstock all 3.5 inch x 2.25 inches (verify that this size will fit inside your particular badge holders, modify size if necessary. Round all corners using a corner rounding tool.

2. Ink edges all of pieces using direct ink pad to paper (or sponge) method.

3. Ink up rubberstamp and stamp various images onto pieces.

4. Add additional decorative pieces, stickers, flowers, brads, embellishments, and photos to the pieces. Just don’t use anything that is too bulky, as it has to fit into the badge holder.

5. Insert mini pages into the badge holders.

6. Once all the mini pages are in the badge holders, stack together and insert the metal book rings through the holes.

7. Add all sorts of color coordinating ribbons and fibers, just tie them onto the metal rings.

Good luck and have fun!!
Debbie Weller
DebDuzScrappin.com

Monday, January 19, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Bookmark

Digital Bookmark

I ordered all the pieces parts from Oriental Trading Company to make these bookmarks. The plastic parts pop open for inserting a photo or the like. So I created two mini little layouts per bookmark using Club Scrap’s Refresh digi-kit and inserted into the plastic cases.

My kids loved these and are more excited than ever to use them now that they are reading more.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

I'm Back...and Academy cards...

Well I made it back home safe and sound...yeh! So it is time to get back to real life and laundry and cleaning and you know all that jazz...

I did manage to whip up a couple of bracelets while traveling, I will try and get a pic taken of those and get them posted here. It is the fantastic bracelet that Tricia showed us all - on printing the kids photos onto shrinky dink paper and shrinking them down and adding to beads and charms on a charm bracelet. These will make fantastic teacher gifts - they always love getting them.

But for now, here is a couple of "Academy" kit GTG cards I made...

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Digital-Hybrid - Coaster Brag Book

I created this brag book to bring along my latest favorite digital layouts on a trip to visit some friends. It was quick and easy, yet very cute.

Supplies needed:

* 12 digital layouts
* 6 cup coasters (I bought a box of 12 at the $1 store)
* Adhesive
* Scissors
* Zutter Bind-it-all binding machine (or you could improvise and use a hole punch)
* Metal binding for Zutter – just a 6 prong section (cut with wire cutters)
* Fibers & Ribbon

1. Print out your 12 layouts 4x4.

2. If you coaster is not square or have flat edges, flip 4x4 layouts over and trace around coaster with a pencil and then trim out to fit the coaster. Repeat for all layouts.

3. Adhere layouts to the coasters.

4. Put your coasters into the binding machine and cut/punch holes. In a 4 inch coaster – it will cut 6 holes.

5. Insert coasters into the metal binding and bind with machine.

6. Tie fibers and ribbons onto the metal binding.

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Friday, January 16, 2009

Mini Album - Rainbow Gift Album for CS owners...

I made this very fun and bright album for the wonderful owners of Club Scrap – this album showcases the rainbow of colors that I have accumulated over the years from the various kits – I combined the different shades of each color family into a set of pages, added a photo of the an element of Club Scrap along with a poem for each set of pages. I think it just turned out wonderful, of course I am a huge fan of all the rainbow colors.

Supplies needed:

* Cardstock
* Flowers/leaves & Brads
* Ribbons & Fibers
* Crafters Pick adhesive
* Metal binder rings
* Ink
* Spray adhesive
* Hole punch
* Beads

1. First of all I wrote up the poems and then printed them out onto clear acrylic transparencies.
2. Photograph and print out photos for each set of pages.
3. I chose to do the color scheme as:
-Front & First two page layout: PINK
-Second two page layout: RED
-Third two page layout: ORANGE
-Fourth two page layout: YELLOW
-Fifth two page layout: GREEN
-Sixth two page layout: BLUE
-Seventh two page layout & back cover: PURPLE
4. I chose to do different pattern schemes – just sort of to add variety. So basically I did these patterns:

* Pink pages – torn vertical strips
* Red pages – sort of a graduated triangular pyramid pattern
* Orange pages – graduated circles out from lower right hand corner
* Yellow pages – 1 inch squares pattern
* Green pages – torn angled pattern
* Blue pages – multiple rectangular matting center out
* Purple pages – ran outta ideas – standard scrapbook page

5. The album graduates from the front cover of 6x6 out to 6x8 – this allows for all of the colors of the rainbow to show when the book is closed.
6. I inked all of the pages and added flowers and brads as embellishments.
7. I used spray adhesive or brads to secure the transparencies onto the pages.
8. Once the book was fully constructed, I punched 3 holes per page and bound the book with metal rings.
9. On the metal rings I tied multitudes of colors, textures, styles of ribbons, fibers, etc.
10. I also added a few strings of beads and charms to the binding.

Here is the journaling/poem in the album:

Front cover
Do you believe in rainbows,
with pots of gold at the end?
I certainly do. My pot of gold is where creativity freely flows,
and I’ve made irreplaceable friends.

Pink pages
It all began so innocently
one cool October day.
I had just got back from my mailbox.
Honestly, I really meant to do
my housework that day--
but I just couldn’t resist
the many treasures that lay within that
special crisp white pizza box.

Many years have gone by now,
my oh-so-precious boxes
stand so high and proud!
Each time I open a new kit,
it is just WOW!!
I definitely feel
like I’m floating on a cloud.

Red pages
Club Scrap immediately
introduced me to RubberStamping
thus opening up
a whole new world of art to me!!
The possibilities were endless in both
cardmaking and scrapbooking.
I love to experiment and
now a “scramper” I be!!

Orange pages
Pounds of paper,
some are large, some are small
more commonly referred to as POPS!!
These are the perfect addition for all.
In my book, they are the TOPS!!

Yellow pages
Some stamps come mounted
on wood and ready to use,
the rest come unmounted.
So simple to use, add glue, let dry,
cut out, and storage is a breeze!!

Green pages
To meet some other requests
Club Scrap adds something
new & fun!!
Fuzzy, furry, sparkly fibers
and yummy delicious ribbons
in just about every color
under the sun!!

Blue pages
Club Scrap kicks it up a notch
and adds even more!!
Shiny sparkly new embellishments,
Tiny buckets of beads galore
I just have to add these
gorgeous goodies
to my monthly shipments!!

Purple pages
I have found my true treasure,
it lies at the Club Scrap rainbows’
beginning and end!!
You are a wonderful company that is
honest and sincere,
and brings new, fresh, creative ideas
around every bend!!

I also have to mention,
that being a part of this family
is more than a pleasure,
I even feel that I can call
the owners, Tricia & Dinah,
My friends!
Back cover
Tricia, Thank you!
Dinah, Thank you!
Everyone at ClubScrap, Thank you!!
You bring me color, textures, and goodies,
You bring me inspiration and creativity,
You bring me joy and happiness
via a pizza box 3 times a month
and the BEST yearly retreat.
You are most definitely MY pot of gold
at the Rainbow’s end!!

Thank you for everything!!

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Using & Storing Unmounted Rubberstamps

Oh this is one of my favorites.

What are unmounted rubberstamps you ask? They are just the pieces of rubber with the image and no padding or wood mount. Many places online, sell unmounted for half the price of the mounted stamps. You can buy single images or entire sheets of images for a lot cheaper than mounted images.

How do you work with unmounteds?
You find a mounting system that works for you. There are a couple of different ones that I am familiar with, there may be others but these are the ones I have some knowledge of…

1. Vinyl Clings. I believe you can buy cling sheets and attach them to your rubberstamps. I have never tried this, but have gotten a few clear vinyl rubberstamps and they work great.

2. Halos (Velcro). I started out using this, but found it difficult to use very small images or alphabet letters, as they wouldn’t stay clung tightly to the Velcro and regularly fell off. Worked fine for large images, but I do a lot of alphabet letters, so it wasn’t working for me.

3. Padding only. You can take your sheet of rubber and attach it to a sheet of padding and then trim out your images. Peel the backing off your padding and you are good to go. I have a couple of these and they work fine.

4. Aleene’s tack it over and over. This is my method of choice. Now keep in mind this doesn’t work well will all companies rubber. I have rubber from Leave Memories and Rusty Pickle and both of them do NOT work well using this method.

Most of my unmounted stamps are from Club Scrap and Club Stamp and mounted using the Aleene's Tack it over and over method and works absolutely perfect for them.

Here is how to do it:
1. Flip rubber over so the backside is up. Squeeze a little bit of the glue onto the back side, spread around the rubber using a foam paint brush. I only put enough glue on to leave a very thin white coating on the back of the rubber. Less is better, you can always add more if need be.

2. Let this dry until you no longer see white, I generally leave it over night.

3. Now it will be fairly sticky, I usually stick it to my hand (or maybe my pants, it will pick up a lil lint) a couple of times to make it not quite so sticky.

4. Now is time to cut out your images. I use a pair of non-stick scissors by Tonic. But if you do not have non-stick scissors you can use regular scissors, just rub them on some embossing ink and that will keep them from getting too sticky. If they get all gummy, you can use UN-DO to remove the goo. I trim out the images fairly close to the image but not too close. I do not want the edge showing up when I stamp my image, so I cut close enough to ensure that.

5. Now I store my "images" (that is the sheet of paper with the images that comes with your unmounted stamps) in a 3 ring binder.

6. The Unmounted stamps themselves, I store in CD cases. I label the case using my label maker, and then store them in a turn-style storage unit. Eventually I will run out of space but for now this is working for me.

So that is about it, other than if you do not have padding permanently on your rubber, I recommend doing your rubberstamping on a foam pad (like a mouse pad) or even an old magazine, just something that has a little give in it. This will allow you to get a much cleaner image when you stamp it.

Hope this step by step tutorial helps!!

DebDuzScrappin - Debbie Weller

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Digital Hybrid - Coffee Cup insert

This first example is a great project - I made these for all the grandmothers for valentine's day. I just created the digital 'layout' - printed it out and then trimmed it out - slip it into the coffee cup and vola' a great gift for the grandparents!

These make wonderful “Teacher” gifts. I love to do a ‘class’ photo and a ‘my son & teacher’ photo, with a few appropriate transparency quotes.

Supplies needed:

* ClubScrapDigital digital kits
* Acrylic Photo Mugs (these particular ones I picked up at Dollar Tree)
* Scissors
* Printer

1. Your first step is to take the paper insert that comes with your specific mug and use it as a template for creating your new layout. You can either scan it in or just draw a pencil outline around it and scan that in.
2. Using this scan you can modify it to meet your needs and begin creating a fun photo layout.
3. Print out your layout either at home on printer, or upload and have printed professionally. You can just resize your canvas size to a common size that your professional lab can process like 8x10 (or whatever is just larger than your mug design) – when they print it professionally, the extra space will just print out as white, and you can just trim the excess off.
4. Trim out your layout to perfectly fit into your mug.

Digital elements as shown in these two mugs in photo are from Club Scrap:
Green pattern paper - “Refresh” digital kit.
Red pattern paper – “Wheels & Sprocket” digital kit
“You & Me” transparency – “Fizz” digital kit

Not only do these make good seasonal gifts and teacher gifts, but I have also made them up and given as retirement gifts to co-workers, to my relatives with photos of them and their kids, would make a great new baby gift for the new mom, the possibilities are endless!!

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Outta town...and another Valentine's day project!


I made this for my hubby for Valentine's day last year. I just created this from free form writing out the letters and then adding the extra thickness at the binding to be able to add photos of my boys. I bound the book with book rings - and I attached a bunch o ribbon tied to the rings - I love all the ribbon!!

The papers used on this project are from the "from the heart kit" from ClubScrap.

Thanks for stopping by...Deb

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Greeting Card storage box

So with the two weeks off over Christmas, I made loads and loads of cards from all of the Club Stamps' Greetings to Go kits, right? Well I usually keep all of my cards in a specific drawer - but the drawer is fairly small, so I can only store cards that are roughly 4.5x5 size. Well in the GTG kits you get three different sizes each month and the sizes vary greatly depending on the kind of card we get to make. So not all of the cards fit into my desk drawer.

Now in my desk drawer, I sort the cards by category, right? So I decided last night to do a project similiar to the expandable folder project I did a few weeks ago and posted - but make it large enough to hold the larger sized cards that I have been making. And this is what became of my idea...

The box roughly measures 6x6x12 - just perfectly for using 12x12 printed cardstocks to create it. I used all the great cardstocks from Club Scrap's (They are so awesome because they are printed and thick and yummy, perfect for this kind of project!!) Gimme a Ring kit.

Supplies:
(3-4 pieces) 6x12 Mat board
12x12 plain & printed cardstocks
bookbinding glue & foam brush
bone folder
Scoring tool
Ribbon, roughly 48 inches long
Decorative elements

Instructions:
1. Cut 2 pieces of 12x12 cardstock in half to get (4) 6x12 pieces of cardstock. Using your scoring tool, score lines every 3/4 in across the length of the 12 inch piece. Fold back and forth, creating an accordion fold, reinforcing each fold with the bone folder. Once done, you will need to adhere the end of one accordion piece to another - creating just two accordion pieces. Set aside for now.

2. Take a 12x12 and mark a line at 3in and 9in. Apply bookbinding glue to one of the mat board pieces and adhere to the center of the 12x12 leaving 3 inches on each side. (This mat board piece will be the base of the box.)

3. Apply bookbinding glue to one of the 3 in sides and add another sheet of matboard (this mat board piece will be the back side of the box), leaving a small gap (size of gap depends on how thick your mat board is, thick matboard=more space, thin mat board=less space, standard matboard=apprx 1/8 in). Repeat adding mat board (this mat board piece will be the front side of the box) to other size.

4. Flip project over and apply bookbinding glue to one of the showing mat boards, this is going to be the back side of the box we are working. Adhere another 12x12 cardstock. Flip back over and fold the cardstock down over the other side of the matboard to cover it, adhere with book binding glue.

5. Cut a piece of cardstock to cover the rest of the front side of the showing mat board (3x12) and adhere with bookbinding glue.

So now we basically have the base, the front, and the back, that can fold up into a square U shape. Now we proceed to create the top with front flap.

6. Adhere a long strip of ribbon to the backside of the box, centering the middle of the strip of ribbon at the back of the box.

7. Cut a strip of cardstock (roughly 2x12) to cover the ribbon, adhere with bookbinding glue.

8. Take a piece of cardstock 12x12 and score a line at 2in and 8in. If desired (I ran out of mat board) adhere a piece of mat board in the center of the 2 and 8 in section, you will also need to cover the mat board with paper too. Adhere with bookbinding glue the 2in flap to the back side of the box.

Now you have the box basically made and it is ready for the inserts. Here you will need 12 pieces of 6x12 cardstocks.

9. If you want to cut sections out of your pieces, you need to do that now. Starting at the front, adhere one 6x12 to the first accordion fold using the bookbinding glue, repeat adding each 6x12 sheet to an accordion fold.

10. Once you add the last piece, you will still have the last fold left, adhere this to the back of your box.

11. Adhere the front section to the front of the box.

12. Now you can embellish as desired. I used my rubberstamps and stamped the a greeting for each section - and for the birthday section, I did three separate ones - one with a stamp of guy (for mens birthdays), one with a stamp of a gal (for womens birthdays), and one with a stamp of kids (for kids birthdays). I added flowers as well.

Hope you find this tutorial helpful. Good luck and have fun!
Deb Weller aka DebDuzScrappin

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Valentine's Day - Treat ideas - Mini bottles, more



"Sweet Treats” assortment
#1 – Fill cellophane baggie with candy hearts, trim a piece of dark pink cardstock the width of the baggie by about 2 inches, rubberstamp faint image onto cardstock along with “Happy Valentine’s day” and “Small heart” image (Club Scrap) in black ink, fold in half and staple onto the baggie.
#2 – Cut a piece of white cardstock, rubberstamp “Double heart” image (Club Scrap) in pink all over cardstock. Fold in half and adhere two of the sides together. Run both of the ends through a crimper, open up the package and fill with candy. Now close the open end in the opposite direction as the bottom end and adhere closed.
#3 - These tiny bottles are mini water bottles sold by the case from Target. What better way to recycle a water bottle than by filling it with yummies and decorating it?

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Digital Hybrid - PhotoCube - Valentine's Day Gift...

This is the Valentine's Day gift I made for the grand- parent's last year - I am a huge fan of doing Hybrid projects - you know what I mean - mixing digital with non-digital to create something fun and unique!!

I picked up these clear acrylic cubes at the Dollar store and then just proceeded to finish the project as described below.

Supplies needed:

~ClubScrapDigital “From the Heart” digital kit
~Acrylic photo block
~Paper trimmer
~Printer
~Adhesive

1. Create a new layout in your digital photo editing program, 3.5 x 3.5 (or whatever size your acrylic block holds).

2. Using this new layout, create a total of 6 mini layouts.

3. Print out your mini layouts either at home on printer, or upload and have printed professionally. You can just resize your canvas size to a common size like 4x6 – when they print it professionally, the extra space will just print out as white, and you can just trim the excess off.

4. Trim out your mini layouts.

5. Open up your acrylic box and adhere your mini layouts to the box inside.

6. Put your acrylic box back together for display.

All digital elements in these layouts are from Club Scrap’s January 2008 “From the Heart” digital kit.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial! Have fun!! Debbie Weller

Valentine's Day "Hanging Mobile"

Me and my boys made this fun mobile as a craft project. When we get bored, we get busy!! This hangs over our table from the light fixture. The majority of the materials used here are from ClubScrap!

Supplies needed:

~(2) 12x12 cardstocks (for mobile itself)
~Cardstock scraps (for cutting hearts)
~Red furry fibers
~Black waxed thread
~Various beads
~Ribbon
~Sizzix “Heart” diecut/machine
~Modge podge
~Crafter’s Pick adhesive
~Scissors
~Pencil
~Rubberstamps and ink
~Bone folder (score tool)
~Hole punch

Instructions:

Mobile:

1. Using modge podge adhere the (2) 12x12 pieces of cardstock together, back to back. Let dry.

2. Using a pencil, lightly draw a circle from edge of cardstock in a spiral pattern into center of the cardstock insuring to leave about 1.5-2 inch width. This doesn’t need to be perfect, you won’t notice once it is done and hanging.

3. Using scissors, cut along the lines you drew in step 2. Once cut, erase any pencil marks.

4. Rubberstamp valentine day images and/or sentiments onto the mobile.

5. Adhere fuzzy red ribbon to edge of mobile, the full length, using Crafter’s Pick liquid adhesive. Let dry.

Hearts:

1. Using the sizzix machine, cut out 5 hearts per 3D heart.

2. Using bone folder, score a line down the center of each heart, and fold along that crease.

3. Adhere all the hearts together back to back, but before you adhere the last heart, insert the end of one of the wax threads. Let each of these hearts completely dry before proceeding.

4. Add beads as desired on the waxed thread just above the 3D heart.

Add heart strings to Mobile:

1. Using hold punch, punch a hold in the center of the mobile in various locations along the mobile.

2. Run the end of the waxed thread through that hole, add a large bead, and tie off.

3. On the 3D heart located in the very center of the mobile, add a piece of ribbon at the top – to use to hang the mobile.

The majority of the supplies used in the photo example above are from Club Scrap’s January 2008 “From the Heart” kit.

Hope you enjoy this tutorial! Have fun!! Debbie Weller

Valentine's Day - Treat ideas - "Mice" treats...


We made these 3 years ago for Valentine's day exchange at school...last year we prepped them all and the kids got to make them as one of their craft projects during the valentine's day party at school.

My kids had the greatest time creating these little itty bitty mice basically out of diecut cardstock hearts and Hershey kisses. Even my 3 year old (at that time) had no problem gluing these little guys together using glue dots.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Club Scrap
Rubberstamps: Club Scrap
Inks: Ranger Industries
Heart Diecut: Sizzix
Glue dots
wiggly eyes
Chocolate candy kisses

Instructions:

1. Cut out one large heart per mouse. The sizzix diecut comes with varying sizes of hearts, so I cut both of the larger sizes of hearts in red, pink, cream, and blue, so that we could layer the "ears" with multiple colors of cardstock.
2. Layer hearts now if desired.
3. I then stamped the "handcrafted..." sentiment on the back of the heart.
4. On the front of some of the hearts, we stamped small hearts.
5. Use mini glue dots to attach wiggly eyes onto the 'face' of the mouse.
6.We used large glue dots to attach the “candy kiss” head to the diecut heart, then attach the “candy kiss” body to the other side of the diecut.

Good luck and have fun!!
Debbie Weller a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin.com

Valentine's Day - Treat ideas - "Airplanes"

Me and my kids made these last year for Valentine's day goodies. On the back end of each one of these we tied a small banner with the To/From names...

Supplies needed per treat:
(1) Stick Gum – Watermelon
(1) Smarties
(2) Lifesaver mints
(1) Rubberband
(1) small piece of red/pink paper
Adhesive
(3) Little Heart stickers (or stamps)

Banner:
Small piece of 1x4 piece of pink or red cardstock
12 inch piece of string
1/8-1/4th Hole punch

Prepare stick gum first by wrapping each piece of stick gum with red or pink paper, adhering edges together underneath gum. If you want to rubberstamp small hearts or images onto the stick gum, do that now.

Now, run rubberband throw the center of the two lifesavers, place smarties between the two lifesavers and resting on the rubberband. Insert end of stick gum into one end of rubberband, then into the other end.

If you want to decorate with little heart stickers, do that now.

Banner: Lastly punch two small holes on one end of cardstock, one at top – one at bottom. Tie the string through the two holes. Tie opposite end of string onto the tail end of the smarties/airplane. You can rubberstamp the TO/FROM onto the banner or handwritten.

Good luck and have fun!
Debbie Weller
a.k.a. DebDuzScrappin

Friday, January 9, 2009

Cruise Layout

Well I just had to play with my brand new Club Scrap kit - this one is called "GIMME A RING". Great colors - so versatile and fun prints that will work with just about anything, gotta luv that!! My kit that arrived yesterday - I just adore the kit and have been dying to dig into it. So here is a page to go in my 'cruise' album...amazing how one changes in just 8 short years!! Tata!!

A Study in Red greeting cards....

Here are some quick and easy cards to make - I have slowly been accumulating various 'sayings' for my card fronts (and insides for that matter) - well these cards a fun way to incorporate them all in a very fun way.

All of these stamps used are from Club Scrap. Once I was done with stampig the images - I spritzed the cards fronts with Red Glimmer Mist - and used the heat gun to quick dry them before mounting them. I used the card bases from Club Scrap's A Study in Red GTG card kits.

Thanks for lookin'!