Craftside

Cards, Cards, Cards....I love making cards!

At book club we were going to be celebrating two of our sistah's Birthdays and I was in the mood to make some cards.

So off to the fabulous book:

The Cardmaker's Workbook:
The Complete Guide to Design, Color, and Construction Techniques for Beautiful Cards

by Jenn Mason

The Cardmaker’s Workbook is the only book on cardmaking that a crafter will ever need, and is formatted in a sturdy volume that can kept on the desk and referred to again and again. The book is divided into chapters focusing on composition, color, theme, construction and inspiration. Instructions are clear but concise, making room for large pictures and multiple variations. It has the look of a designer's notebook with sketches and templates that show different card formats. Unlike other cardmaking books available that are occasion driven or aren’t stylized, The Cardmaker’s Workbook provides an inspiring and hands-on tool for paper addicts to use to expand their skills and stretch their imagination.

The designs cover many different styles, from detailed multi-layered beauties to simple cards that can be quickly made and given as a set of stationery.

Jenn Mason is trained in graphic design, designs products for the paper industry, and has a wonderful design sensibility. She is a popular author and designer. She is the author of The Art of the Family Tree, Pocket, Pullouts, and Hiding Places and the co-author of Celebrating Baby and Handmade Gifts.

This page called to me because I am a HUGE fan of repetition. (I think that's why I love knitting and stitching crafts)

(Click on image to enlarge and read the fine print)

So with this page as my inspiration, here is what I came up with:

I used the theme of dots as my element that I was going to repeat and the incorporation of ribbon into my card and bookmark.

I first did a search with ye old Google for "Birthday Quotes" and came up with a couple that I thought fit the two birthday girls.

I then laid them out on the computer using a fun bunny font for the first letter of the quote enlarged super big.

Next I printed them out on a coordinating paper, cut them out and mounted them onto cardstock.

This technique of layering adds another color but more importantly avoids a possible argument with the printer trying to get a piece of cardstock to feed properly. Haven't we all been there????

A quick punch of a hole at the top of the bookmark, oh did I mention that when laying out the type to leave an extra bit of space for this at the top, and thread a bit of Wright's 3/8 inch Creation Station polka dot ribbon through the hole.

To attach the book mark to the card I stapled two pieces of the same Wrights dotted ribbon onto the card.

So I hope my book club babes like their bookmark birthday card!

Jenn Mason has done it again with her new book- Altered Paper Jewelry

Altered Paper Jewelry
Artful Adornments from Beautiful Papers
By
Jenn Mason

Paper is a wonderful medium for creating jewelry: It’s lightweight, easy to work with, and comes in a dazzling array of styles, patterns, weights, and designs. By mixing relatively simple jewelry-making methods with standard paper arts techniques, Altered Paper Jewelry offers paper crafters, altered art aficionados, and jewelry makers creative new ideas for creating stylish and contemporary jewelry from gorgeous paper.

In this book, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry will be decorated and constructed with found paper, photos and beautiful scrapbook papers. Beads will be fashioned from rolled paper, covered with decoupage, and molded with paper craft accessories. Paper-like materials such as vellum, transparencies, shrink plastic, and printable fabric paper will be punched, cut, shrunk, and rolled into mini wearable masterpieces. Paper will be folded into lockets, embedded into belt buckles, and glued into unique shapes, all in the pursuit of personal adornment. Illustrated step-by-step instructions and templates are included.

Jenn Mason is a fine artist, writer, teacher, product designer, and industry consultant. She is author of Pockets, Pullouts, and Hiding Places, The Art of the Family Tree and co-author of two books, with co-authors Jennifer Francis Bitto and Linda Blinn: Paper Art Workshop: Handmade Gifts and Paper Art Workshop: Celebrating Baby.

Click on image to enlarge and read the great directions on how to make this pretty pendant!

So off to the stash and here's what I came up with:

I did mine just a tad different. I printed out a standard photo off my inkjet printer on photo paper.

Then I adhered it to the back of the crystal with a dry adhesive.

I then trimmed off the excess paper. I didn't like the white edge of the paper so I colored it with a blue Sharpie.

I really liked the multi strand look of the necklace in Altered Paper Jewelry so I doubled up a thin necklace and looped it through the large jump ring on the crystal photo pendant.

And I just had to share a close-up of the photo I used. This is my grandmother on my mom's side and I think it is a total crack-up that she is holding a skull and cross bones flag in summer. This photo is most likely in Connecticut and clearly the summer so who knows what's up. I just love the expression on her face. That's why this was the perfect photo to make a necklace with.

If you love this project you will love others from Altered Paper Jewelry. I will surely be making more of them! Be sure to pop back here to see what else I make with the help of Altered Paper Jewelry. And if you like Jenn's style click on her name below to check out more of her designs and books!

They rock! (or should I say, "they paper!")

Jenn Mason brings in the Reinforcments and some videos!

Pockets, Pullouts, and Hiding Places:
Interactive Elements for Altered Books, Memory Art, and Collage

By
Jenn Mason

More and more scrapbookers and paper artists are seeking clever ways to make their albums and paper projects more interesting and three-dimensional. One of the most exciting ways of accomplishing this is by adding interactive elements, such as doors that open and reveal hidden layers, and envelopes and pockets that hold secret text, personal letters, or special photos.

Pockets, Pull Outs and Hiding Places: A Guide to Interactive Scrapbooking, Memory Art and Paper Art teaches the paper engineering techniques for making three dimensional and interactive “paper tools” such as vellum pockets, hinged doors that reveal mini booklets underneath. These tools are applicable to scrapbookers, memory, and paper artists at any level of experience. The tools are also adjustable enough to be used in any style of work.

Jenn Mason’s scrapbook design and paper art has been published in numerous books and leading art and scrapbook magazines. She worked as co-designer for Anna Griffin’s Elegant Scrapbooking and also contributed to Sandi Genovese's Three Dimensional Scrapbooking. Her work has appeared on PBS, QVC, and HSN.

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge and printing.

So I wanted to give the cool envelope a shot and I so I needed some pretty paper. Well, I went to my Advance copy of:

Pattern Sourcebook: Japanese Style
250 Patterns for Projects and Designs

By
Shigeki Nakamura

Available Sept. 2008

Pattern design has a long history within Japanese culture. This book presents a collection of carefully selected traditional Japanese patterns in 60 categories for use by designers and artists in their projects and personal work.

An companion CD-ROM provides 250 patterns in high-definition JPEG format along with PSD format from which you can freely manipulate and modify the patterns to customize them for your own use. This is an inspirational and highly practical reference and sourcebook for anyone working in the area of visual art.

Shigeru Nakamura has started his carrier as an art director from 1964 in Japan. Established his office, cobble collaboration in 1987 and has produced design pattern books under its own brand. A member of JAGDA (Japan Graphic Designers Association).

This book will be available next month but I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at one of the beautiful patterns and it's free to download and use (as stated there are 250!!!!). I thought it would be perfect for this gift card reinforcement envelope.

So I printed out the pattern and the floral print.

I then cut out the pattern and traced it onto the back of the printed floral paper. I did kind of hold it up to the light and chose where I thought the print would look the best.

I then punched out two different size circles and punched a small hole through the centers and then through the short flaps of the envelopes. Poke the brad through all and folded the tabs back. The final step was to wrap in a figure eight pattern the envelope closed with a scrap of thin yarn.

Oh-did I mention this fits a gift card?? Be sure to pop one in before tying it closed!

And if that wasn't enough paper crafting for today check out these videos Jenn made with a product line that she did with Creative Imaginations! Sit back and watch some more great creativity!

Parts and Parcels 1 of 3

Parts and Parcels 2 of 3

Parts and Parcels 3 of 3

Paper Art Workshop: Celebrating Baby

The big question in life; "What can I make that's unique and fun for a new mom or as a new mom?"

Read on for the answer.

Paper Art Workshop: Celebrating Baby
Personalized Projects for Moms, Memories, and Gear

By

Linda Blinn, Jennifer Francis Bitto, and Jenn Mason

Paper crafts that celebrate the new baby.

It's suddenly terribly chic to have babies! The celebrities are doing it. Everyone is doing it. If you aren't a mom yourself, you’re an aunt, a grandmother, a girlfriend or a sister. Stylish baby gear, baby boutiques, and customized baby gifts are EVERYWHERE. Women everywhere are really celebrating their beautiful bellies and their beautiful babies. And this book offers a wide range of beautiful paper-based projects to help them: from lovely handmade birth announcements and baby brag books to journals, picture frames, baby memory books, ABC flashcards, and growth calendars. This inspiring new book is the first in a series of volumes targeted to the large and growing paper arts/memory/book making audience. Each book in this new series, including Handmade Gifts, features sophisticated techniques and paper art projects for stylish crafters. There are many craft books devoted to babies that cover knitting, crochet, sewing, nursery décor, and general craft gifts, but this is the first to cover all the paper-based items that new moms want and need--announcements, thank you cards, photo mailers, memory books, and more.

Linda Blinn – is an editor, teacher, writer, designer, and artist in the mixed media arena. As editor of of Somerset Studio’s Mélange she focused on current trends in art journals, collage, zines and the wide spectrum of mixed media art. Her credits also include work on True Colors, Signatures, and the Art Journal Calendar all published by Stampington & Co. Linda lives in San Clemente, CA.


Jennifer Francis Bitto - is a teacher, artist, writer, and photo stylist. She is the editor and art director for The Stampers’ Sampler, Inspirations, and Take Ten. Her work has been featured in Legacy, Somerset Studio, and Art Doll Quarterly magazines She lives in San Diego, CA with her husband and daughter.


Jenn Mason – is an accomplished and published paper and mixed media artist and author. As co-designer for Anna Griffin, Inc., Jenn created artwork for national ads, television and books. Her commissioned work has appeared in Memory Makers, Paper Crafts, Legacy, and Take Ten magazines. Her first book, Pockets, Pullouts and Hiding Places shows her wide range of talents including book making, altered art, collage and memory art. Jenn lives in Brookline, MA with her husband and two daughters.

This is a really fun page from the book. Not only does it include a super cute project made from an unusual container, is packed full of good ideas and sources.

(Click on image to enlarge)

You can score these capsules at The Container Store. But as with most things it seems...yes, I have a stash. Here are two capsules from the stash. Quite a size range, eh?

The big one is a really cool thermos! And the little one is a pill container on a key chain, ironic.  The capsule thermos was a promotional item that drug companies gave to doctors to "inspire them to prescribe the drug" My first job while I was still in college was to apply logos to objects for the sales staff to bring to the drug companies, glam-or-ous! The key chain was scored at the pharmacy counter at the local drug store.

I plan on spiffing up my capsules inspired by what The Mixed Mediums have shared with us in their insightful and creative way.

And if you liked this project and need more simple click here to see more of Jenn Mason's designs from her other books.

Craft something fun with an unusual container this weekend!

31 Days until Father's Day June 15th

Yes, I know we just celebrated Mother's Day but as a crafter it is never too soon to start thinking about the next holiday. We need all the time we can get, dontcha know.

Dad's can be a hard to craft for, but I have a solution for you!

Paper Art Workshop:
Handmade Gifts: Stylish Ideas for Journals, Stationery, and More

By
Linda Blinn, Jennifer Francis Bitto, Jenn Mason (The Mixed Mediums)

Is packed full of great ideas!

Exquisite paper-based gifts that everyone will love.

Giving handmade gifts is always in style! And these personalized gifts are more meaningful than most store-bought items, especially in today's world of homogeneous merchandise. Crafters have delved into a celebration of personalized work and this book offers a wide range of beautiful paper-based projects to help them expand their creative skills. Projects include luggage tags, a travel frame, a travel journal, collage under glass (paper weight), custom stationery items, book plates, personalized pens and tabs, a kitchen journal, tags and labels for food gifts, collage plates, paper art produce and more.

This inspiring new book is the first in a series of volumes targeted to the large and growing paper arts/memory/book making audience. Each book in the series, including Celebrating Baby, features sophisticated techniques and paper art projects for stylish crafters. Celebrating popular craft themes, from babies to home to gift giving to crafts for parties and entertaining, Handmade Gifts features projects that are contemporary, artistic and stylish, and that utilize the latest trends and techniques in paper arts.

About the Authors
Linda Blinn is an editor, teacher, writer, designer, and artist in the mixed media arena. As editor of of Somerset Studio's Melange she focused on current trends in art journals, collage, zines and the wide spectrum of mixed media art. She is the author of Making Family Journals (Quarry Books, Spring 2006). Linda lives in San Clemente, CA.

Jennifer Francis Bitto is a teacher, artist, writer, and photo stylist. She is the editor and art director for The Stampers' Sampler, Inspirations, and Take Ten. Her work has been featured in Legacy, Somerset Studio, and Art Doll Quarterly magazines She lives in San Diego, CA with her husband and daughter.

Jenn Mason is an accomplished and published paper and mixed media artist and author. As co-designer for Anna Griffin, Inc., Jenn created artwork for national ads, television and books. Her commissioned work has appeared in Memory Makers, Paper Crafts, Legacy, and Take Ten magazines. Her first book, Pockets, Pullouts and Hiding Places (Rockport, April 2005) was selected as a Finalist in the 14th Annual Craftrends Awards of Excellence. Jenn lives in Brookline, MA with her husband and two daughters.

I think this would make a great gift for Dad either packed full of custom office supplies or how about full of mementos?

(click on images to enlarge)

Here are two books that I am working on. I like using the really thick ones. A bit more work but lots more space. I also like to pick books with fun and ironic titles such as this "Bad Girls, Good Women".

And if you're looking for some quotes to craft with for Father's Day, this site, had some good ones.

Wonderful Quotes and Mother's Day Flowers

In honor of Mother's Day I thought I'd share with you the dedication page from

Jenn Mason's

The Art of the Family Tree:
Creative Family History Projects Using Paper Art, Fabric and Collage

Aren't these two sentiments just wonderful?

So in honor of all those mega-fabulous Moms- Here is a great floral arrangement from the book:

Faux Florals for All Occasions:
35 Faux Floral Arrangements for Contemporary Living

By

Camilla Svensson Burns

Covers all the basics in faux-flower arranging for the beginner -- from materials to tools to design philosophies.

Faux Florals for Every Occasion is a fresh approach to silk flower arranging. The author, a renowned floral designer, takes the reader beyond everyday expectations and inspires creativity with 40 sumptuous and contemporary designs. Remarkable advances have been made in the look and feel of silk flowers, and today hundreds of varieties are widely available. You can choose from traditional faux roses to slender lilies, delicate freesia and gossamer poppies all as vibrant and real looking as the freshest cut flowers. The benefits of using faux flowers are immediately apparent upon opening this book but readers will also be seduced by the practicality of going faux. They last longer, are less expensive, don't wilt, are allergen-free and can be used again and again in different combinations to suit the season or a special occasion. No experience is necessary to create the beautiful designs featured in this book. The author demystifies the art of flower arranging with step-by-step instruction and a simple, concise approach illustrated with gorgeous color photos. Whether novice or expert, this book will unleash your creativity and give you the resources that you will delight in and return to year after year.

Features 40 gorgeous designs and simple step-by-step illustration.
Includes seasonal arrangements for weddings, christenings and anniversaries, as well as displays for celebrations such as Valentine’s Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, and New Years.
Full of ideas and inspiration for experienced faux floral arrangers, including contemporary displays that combine silk florals with natural elements to fire your creativity.

About the Author
Camilla Svensson Burns is an internationally renowned floral designer based in California. She has over 10 years of experience working with flowers running her own flower shop and now specializing in fresh and faux floral designs for weddings and special events. Camilla is one of California's premier floral designers and her work has been featured in many premier industry magazines.

So why not make an arrangement for mom or you can follow the "teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life" philosophy and get Mom a great craft book so she can pick up some new crafting skills that will bring her continuous joy.

And hey, if you're more into the paper crafting pop over to this post:

The Art of Paper Quilling by Clair Sun-ok Choi

for a wonderful quilled flower project you could whip up in a jiffy!

Go all Moms!

 

Mother's Day Card-I Owe U

My Mom requested a cross stitch for Mother's Day and let's just say it's not quite done. So I thought I'd make an "I Owe U" card.

I went to my trusty copy of:

The Cardmaker's Workbook
The Complete Guide to Design, Color, and Construction Techniques for Beautiful Cards

by
Jenn Mason

and it didn't take long to come up with an idea.  Since I really liked how my gate fold card came out, I thought I'd use that format again, but make it a bit more personal. I had acquired a bunch of those little girl in the dunce cap stamps but haven't used them yet, so I thought now was a good time.

I seem to have misplaced my acrylic block and had to improvise-my solution was one of my quilt grid rulers. I really recommend it! It worked like a charm.

I used the same photo of my head as you might recall from this "Family Journal's Post" -it just cracks me up! I cut it out and placed it on the stamped image.

I stamped the "I owe u" and then colored in the image and background with some water colors and pens. I then ripped the edges of the paper by holding another of my quilt rulers on the top of the paper with the paper just over the edge of my desk.

To make the closure I grabbed a button and secured it with a tiny bit of ribbon. All buttoned up!

And did I mention not only is Cardmaker's Workbook packed full of card ideas there is also a whole bunch of envelope ideas and sayings in the back. When they say "complete" they mean it!

I lined the envelope with what else? A wallpaper sample. This also helped give the card a bit more padding for the dimension of the button. Form and function-gotta love that!

Thanks Jenn for the great book full of inspiration and Happy Crafty Mother's Day!

Matchbook ATC Card from The Cardmaker's Workbook

OK, it's less than 2 weeks 'till Mother's Day and I still haven't begun stitching the cross stitch my Mom requested for Mother's Day.

But, in the mean time check out this little gem of a project I whipped up inspired by Jenn Mason's latest fabu book:

The Cardmaker's Workbook:
The Complete Guide to Design, Color, and Construction Techniques for Beautiful Cards

Jenn had given me a gift of a necklace when I saw her at CHA back in February and it came in one of these great Matchbook cards. So I had on my list to try making one and what better time than Mother's Day.

I scored this great stamp from Tricia at Clubscrap.com and stamped up a whole bunch of ATC's to try out different techniques I have been learning and reading about. So I used one as my base for this matchbook card. To make the outside section I used...what else? a wallpaper sample in plaid no less! I punched 3 tiny holes and anchored the bracelet onto the ATC with a bit of thin wire twisted and then splayed out on the back. The heart charm dangle just in the center of the stamped heart and the chain framed the words perfectly!

I folded the wallpaper sample in half lengthwise and glued it together, this was necessary because both sides of the paper show when folding the matchbook cover and the back of a wallpaper sample is plain beige. This also made it a bit more rigid.

I then snipped out the words "mother" and "love" from an English to Latin dictionary that happened to be my Grandmother's but my Mom sent it to me and said it was OK if I used it in my way for art. I gave the bits of paper a light coating of copper paint just to age them a bit, I did this technique back on the bird cameo project.

To see another great card and read more about The Cardmaker's Workbook click here. And to see more of Jenn's work click on her name in the side column or below!

Earth Day Lace-up with Brads Gatefold Card from Jenn Mason

It's here just in time for Earth Day! Whoo-hoo!

The Cardmaker's Workbook
The Complete Guide to Design, Color, and Construction Techniques for Beautiful Cards

By the fabulous and prolific
Jenn Mason

The most complete volume on card making available!

The Cardmaker’s Workbook is the only book on cardmaking that a crafter will ever need, and is formatted in a sturdy volume that can kept on the desk and referred to again and again. The book is divided into chapters focusing on composition, color, theme, construction and inspiration. Instructions are clear but concise, making room for large pictures and multiple variations. It has the look of a designer's notebook with sketches and templates that show different card formats. Unlike other cardmaking books available that are occasion driven or aren’t stylized, The Cardmaker’s Workbook provides an inspiring and hands-on tool for paper addicts to use to expand their skills and stretch their imagination.

The designs cover many different styles, from detailed multi-layered beauties to simple cards that can be quickly made and given as a set of stationery.

Jenn Mason is trained in graphic design, designs products for the paper industry, and has a wonderful design sensibility. She is a popular author and designer. She is the author of The Art of the Family Tree, Pocket, Pullouts, and Hiding Places and the co-author of Celebrating Baby and Handmade Gifts.

So in honor of Earth Day I thought I'd whip up a card with some inspiration from one of the cards in The Cardmaker's Workbook. I love brads and this design uses them as the hooks to lace a ribbon around.

To start making my version of the gatefold lace-up card I got out my handy-dandy Scor-it tool, and made a score at 2 inches from each side. (The overall width of my "green" paper was 8 inches to start with.)

And then since I am so into recycling I have a huge stash of wall paper sample books. They are a great source of fun printed paper and I'm told they are acid free.

I cut a one and a half inch strip of the wall paper and then cut it down to two- 3/4 inch strips and glued them onto the edges of the card. I punched holes with a small hole punch at 1 inch from the top and bottom and the center of the card.

Here is another tool I used, this one is recycled! I cut a piece of cardboard off the top of a cereal box and then cut a tiny slit in it. I placed it between the top of the brad and the card as a spacer. There needs to be a bit of room there to allow the fiber to fit between the brad and the paper! (Kind of like when you sew a button on and use a tooth pick as a spacer to allow the thickness of the fabric to fit between the button and the backing fabric.

I went to my stash of leftover yarn and picked this nice purple cotton fiber and laced it around the brads.

I hope you all craft something "green" today!

Inspriration from Making Family Journals and Handmade Gifts

When I'm flipping through books my mind picks up the neat details contained among the projects and files them away.

I was flipping through
Making Family Journals: Projects and Ideas for Sharing and Recording Memories Together
By Linda Blinn

and I ran across this neat idea to add tags to the spiral binding of a journal.

Then I was perusing the pages of "The Mixed Medium's" (Jennifer Francis Bitto, Linda Blinn and Jenn Mason) book:

Paper Art Workshop: Handmade Gifts
Stylish Ideas for Journals, Stationery, and More
and spotted this great idea for using leftovers. (Which needless to say is my favorite concept.)

So I got out my stash of yarn leftovers. Now, I'm talking bit's that are just a few inches to a foot or so. I really don't throw anything away. Who could possibly throw these little treasures away? Well, I suppose most do, but not me.

And I'm glad I didn't because I found a great use for them combining these two ideas into this:

I cut the bits of yarn to about 4 to 6 inches and tied them to the spiral binding of a note book. I then linked a gift tag from a present that my Mom had sent me (that is in fact the two of us in about 1974ish???)

I think it will look nice either dangling on the outside or used as a book mark to keep my place inside.

So if your looking for some fresh inspiration grab yourself some new books packed full of creativity and some beautiful clip art too!