Playing with Denim

My helper and I tore up a pair of smaller sized bluejeans, among many other materials, to make all sorts of clothing for Bear, a muchly loved "baby."  At the end, there was still a small basket filled with bluejeans scraps.  Since I'm in the midst of creating a little boy's mini, denim might come in right handy for the project.  Before today I'd cut strips of the material as "ribbons" for Martin's ABC Primer mini;  but that was the limit of my experimentation with denim and scrapping.


Pulling out a couple of items/tools close by I first attached a scrap onto a piece of chipboard, and brayed it tightly down to dry. Once relatively dried, I ran the chipboard/material through the Cuttlebug with very impressive results.  Finally, I used the Big Bite to punch a small hole in one corner and then set an eyelet.  Wa-la!  Instant tag.  This has huge potential!  If denim worked this nicely, there's no end to adaptation possibilities.

Denim applied to rough-cut chipboard

The question remains as to what process will best keep the material from fraying.

I haven't taken photos of a denim related experiment yet.  One would think by looking at others work, flowers are as key to scrapbooking as paper.  Flowers have their place, but not so much on more masculine pages.  I've cut circles out of the material at 1/2 to 1/4 inch decreasing increments and stacked the pile to make lollipop flowers. The stacks can be as simple as 2 layers glued upon one another or as many as the creator wants to apply. Apply a proportional button or other embellishment to the center, and wow-za! Not-so-feminine flower embellishments.  The next chance to sit down and play again, my great helper and I will cut circles out of a contrasting fabric and build the floral embellishment with layers of a daintier material sandwiched between the denim. 

Pictures forthcoming.  Also included with be Bear's new fashion wardrobe!

Leaping Tall Buildings in a Single Bound

I knocked out a mini this weekend!  The construction was heavily guided by professional construction techniques, but that I was able to quickly follow the instructions and pull it together is nothing short of miracle material!  There's hope yet.  

The album still lacks tags/photo mats.  Tags are proving to be a creative millstone.  Since the event for which the album was designed hasn't taken place yet, how is one to know how many to make and at what sizes?  Intuitively, one would think to design for the standard 4x6 photo; yet, not many of the photos I work with end up without a bit of cropping.  Further, does the album serve to showcase the photos, or do the photos work to fill out the album?  Two of the minis in the planning stages at present are being constructed with all the photos I want to exhibit, so say I need to create six 3.5x3.5 mats and four 3x5's.  This knowledge makes it more, or less, of a challenge depending on perspective.  I'm planning on making one mini as a Christmas present for someone this year and until I can figure out how to solve this puzzle, it's going to create all sorts of anxiety.

I spent over an hour looking for a product made by a company based in the U.K.  Magnetic clasps, of all things.  I love the way these closures look on the videos; so classy and professional.  The first problem was not knowing the product's description.  Then on to find a company selling this style of magnets in the U.S.  And finally, to find it reasonably priced.  Described, found, and bought... all only a few mouse clicks away.

Something solid clicked in this marginally functioning brain.  I'm suddenly able to see not only how the paper will look on the page, but able to visualize the background work needed before mounting the page to maximize function; setting eyelets, brads, stitching, ribbons, pockets, etc.  Best yet, this is happening before it's too late... that's kind of key to the point.  Before this, I would realize "something" needed to happen, but not the when and where, and quite frequently slap myself upside the head realizing the task one step too late, forcing less than impressive corrections.  I get so excited upon discovery of another hurdle successfully jumped.


I've come to believe the more page construction techniques available to assembling mini-albums, the better and quicker the project goes.  I'm currently creating a library of different page design templates.  I had an "ah ha!" moment a few days ago, when thinking about a page style not seen before.  It was based on the memo boards constructed with latticed ribbon.  Of all the scores upon scores of YouTube videos watched, I'd never seen one.  Then last night I happened upon the exact design I had pictured.  At least I now know it's perfectly feasible.  I digress, back to page design resources.  The more the better, but I wonder at this point if there might be a magic formula to how certain designs work with others.  Beyond that, I suspect a repetition of a few patterns within a project would present far better than a random selection; perhaps too chaotic and showing off.  It's easy getting the impression I'm re-inventing the wheel when it comes to many of the technique and design issues as they arise.  No doubt.


Another hard-earned tip to share.  The Fiskars personal trimmer began putting out very unreliable cuts.  Were the guidelines somehow knocked askew?  But then, not having any idea why, it would randomly put out perfect cuts.  I finally concluded the inconsistency had to do with the angle the blade was being pushed down the wire.  Sitting down, working from the right or left created a slight pull to the guide wire when cutting.  Standing up straight (or at least paying attention to hand placement) over the top of the cutter made a precision cut.  And to think I was ready to toss the tool in the trash due to sheer frustration.

So much detail never explained to the novice... as if the novice could take all the vast body of knowledge in over a couple of settings.  Maybe there's a book in here somewhere.

Stuff

My husband began a new diabetic medication, though while not insulin, does require two injections each day.  He handles the morning dose just fine, but not so much with the pre-dinner shot.

I've decided to venture beyond scrapbooking proper and make a cute little 9x9 framed page to hopefully prompt his memory before dinner.  Going all out, I'm working with colours and sizes never used before.  It should do the trick; if not as a visual reminder, then as new splash of colour in a very monochromatic kitchen.

When I first began using the Cricut I counted a well-cut image miraculous. I stayed very, very basic with the cuts, and came to the point of frustration where I almost decided to sell the kit and kaboodle. Time and practice has refined enough to get the image I want every time.  There's enough confidence to now have fun and play around.  And... I no longer fear cutting the pattern on 15 different pages to get the results desired.  The differences between the first successful cuts and what's put out today is remarkable!  While still plenty of room to improve, it ain't half bad.

A Cricut Rooster

Thus far, I've given the mini-albums a mile-wide divide between them and me.  No way, never going to happen!  (That pesky word: never)  Finally, at long last, I saw one of these, putting to great use the beautiful Graphic 45 paper.  To put it simply, I was awestruck.  This is what scrapbooking is all about!

Graphic 45 Mini Album  at YouTube.  I am going to shamelessly copy every little detail demonstrated in the video.  I'll practice all the different techniques on less expensive paper, so maybe there will be two in the end... maybe three or twenty before getting it right?

During a total mental meltdown last night, I created a list of all the scrapbook paper/card stock packs.  The list includes the manufacturer, size, dominate colours, coordinating accessories on hand, and special features such as maps, stamps, tickets, etc.  There were almost 50 packs accumulated thus far... this is on the frightening side of paper obsession.  This list does not include single patterned, themed papers, or special bonuses like vellum and transparencies.  There must be a totally different approach to the 7 inch stack of primarily unsorted paper.  Perhaps tomorrow I'll inventory the paper kits on hand; another 5 inch stack I've lost the ability to instantly recall.  Stamps will have to follow at some point soon; just trying to think of the most effective way to accomplish/organize the system.

It doesn't get any simpler than this, but the dowel rod was finally hung in the closet (amazing dead space remains!) with three evenly spaced curtain rod support screws.  Most ribbons fit on the rod, but a couple more spools will necessitate another row.

I ordered my first Cricut Cartridge since December.  It was on the list and at the right price.  What's up with eBay charging as much, or more, for these cartridges as can be bought in stores?  I wouldn't have nearly the collection if most of these were bought at (usually) less than $20.

At long last, I want to offer praise to our Lord Jesus for answering a prayer thought unanswerable.  Well, I knew He would!  The answer came in the form of yet another miracle, but my God always does it in style.  Thank you so very much, eternal praise for your faithfulness.

Next Steps Organization: Stickers

I demonstrated the new sticker organizational system on another blog, late 2011.  The post ended with a promise to attach labels to the file dividers I'd created out of cereal boxes.  I've began this final process in earnest.

From the whole box comes a hefty divider and tabs...

To the raw tab and decorative paper scraps:

To the tab mounted on the divider, constructed using eyelets:

The system doesn't look half as bad as I thought it might!  The best part of all is knowing each element used in the project are parts recycled from other sources... it is virtually free!

It took no time at all to cut down enough boxes to file stickers by category, and I now have extra space dividers.  Because I didn't notice in time that the inside flap made a right pretty folder top, I must continue collecting cereal boxes in order to produce enough tabs for each divider.

The last issue with the cereal boxes involves a lack of knowledge:  is the cardboard collected equal, or superior, to chipboard?  If so, there's no end to the uses I'll find with this material.  It may be that all I need for a free and endless supply of raw material for sturdy Cricut cutouts is the deep cut blade assembly housing.

AS ORIGINALLY POSTED TO MYSPACE BLOG 28 NOVEMBER 2011.

Stickers. Got 'em. Not, mind you, as much as many dedicated scrapbookers who've been at this for years, but I've built up quite a collection.

It started simply enough. I converted an underused plastic file sorter box (12x12) into a sticker box. I could even file the stickers under a general heading. Several 50% off sticker sales later and I adapted yet another plastic sorter previously used for coupons. All was still very manageable, and this I believed until one day I looked in the closet and discovered there were four different filing systems for stickers and I didn't even know what the inventory was anymore. This indicated a looming crisis.

For all that I am, or am not, one personal characteristic I cannot abide is disorganization. My mind simply shuts down until I can get a situation under control. (This applies only to me, what works for others are for them to decide.) Another characteristic is that I'm thrifty… I never pay full price for anything. And if it can be made instead of bought, this works even better.

It took a couple of days to think this problem out, but I came up with a very workable solution. There are still drawers available from the steal of a purchase a few weeks ago concerning multi-drawer rolling bins. At first I thought to use manila file folders, but foresaw a problem with bulkiness. Maybe cut them in half? Ack, a waste of good material. Then I thought of all the cereal boxes we go through; each box would provide two dividers. A solution to the problem without spending an extra penny, not to mention a great way to recycle goods. This is taking some time to build enough dividers to neatly categorize each sticker by type, but I've already emptied three of the boxes and the last container is quickly emptying.

The next move is to create tabs to label each division. Sub-folders may come in handy at some point.