Lizzie Slothouber

Sharing: Princess Katie's Journal

Aleisha needed a birthday present pronto for Katie - 13yo birthday party summer pool sleepover and I had not budgetted for this expense .. so I thought, " ... YES, let's make a FUN customised journal .."

So roughly I planned: 6" x 6" size, able to store a few CD's, decorative Vellum sheets, use that new Martha Stewart's CROWN punch, black elastic closure ... Aleisha chose the 2pces 12"x12" dark blue paper (looked like silken cloth) and that set the colours: Blue, Black, Silver with pink accents.

 

ok so started off by covering the covers - 2pces 6"x"6 chipboard, using double sided tape. See how I fold the corners down first, then using Bone Folder (or your longer fingernail) crease it carefully .. then upon folding the other sides in .. it's neat and sharp ..

Here the inside cover page is assembled ready to adhere down with double side tape however, this is like a sandwich - there is 3 layers here - can you see it?   Silver Shimmerz paper stock, decorative Vellum (TLC discontinued range) and the sentiments/quotation printed onto a sheet of OHP (OverHead Projection) transparency

 

To secure the 3 layers seamlessly - I used a Silver Split Pin - hard to see in this photo - but I think you get the drift... it holds all 3 layers down .. then I stuck that down onto the covered chipboard with double sided adhesive.  Front cover ready to rock and roll... * smiles *

 

Aleisha's current favourite quote - printed on the OHP transparency (I use a Black & White Laser printer) however, there are OHP's that can be printed using bubblejet printers ... be careful when selecting OHP's coz you normally buy them in a box of 100 sheets .. get the right one to match your printer and you're set coz I love them.. you can use them in sooo many ways ...

See on the right .. all the Silver shimmerz paper - that's offcuts from a bulk purchase I was involved in long long ago * waves to Sharon Gray * - punched each page with the CROWN punch .. could have done it more accurately lols ... 

 

I love this series of colour printed thick vellum 12"x12" sheets TLC used to sell (sshh not telling you who has a great stack hoarded away lols) ... I had quartered ONE sheet (carefully rationed out you know * grins * ) and it's scattered through out the journal ...

 

L: Front                                                                         R: Back

The CD envelopes needed a HANDLE on the side to safely punch into and hold within the wire binding .. so just folded scraps over and adhered it with double sided tape onto the CD Envelope.  Purchased the  CD/DVD ENVELOPES - Box of 100 from Officeworks (Perth's biggest stationery retailer) - they are CD/DVD Storage with clear plastic coated window for easy viewing.  I love their versatility and always have a box or two around the house.

 

Originally I had adhered the black sewing elastic under the inside sheet that covered the back cover.  However, as it was too tight.. it was lifting .. and it need more ROOM to move.. so ripped that out .. coz it didn't work well ...

 

Ended up cutting up another length of the sewing elastic and hand sewed it into a loop, using with matching thread - so it appears in the end like a large rubber band/elastic band to hold the ends of the journal together.  I prefer the Guttermann's thread which quilters use ... won't rip easy ... you will see on the right of that silver paper - I carefully used the Coluzzle alphabet templates to cut out Katie's name.

Somewhere in my travels - I had picked up this small sheet of stickers PRINCESS theme for A$2.00 ... Bargain!  so as Katie's nickname on FaceBook is: PRINCESS_KATIE ... I chose that as the name of the journal ... garnishing it with short lengths from my ribbon collection & couple of diamantes .. here's the finished item !!  

 

Note: Apologies if the instructions aren't as step-by-step .. here I assume you have some basic knowledge of how to fold edges/corners and the such.. if you have any challenges.. drop me an email or a note here and we'll sort it out :) 

Next time I will make better journals.. learn a lot with that first practise run using the Bind-It-All ...

hugs.. lizzieS & Aleisha Slothouber  xxx

Sharing: Image Transfer Technique

OOhhh when I repeatedly asked Megan Warren to pose her creative questions to me so it'll challenge me to answer it ... I didn't think she's come up with IMAGE TRANSFER TECHNIQUE ..

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This is a very simple card using the IMAGE TRANSFER TECHNIQUE ..

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I smile because the photos for this project was taken on 13th Sep 2000 - before Nicola was born ... I was 6 months pregnant and heaven forbid... inhaling Thinners ... eeekk!!!  Suprisingly enough - never ever posted this tutorial and that's why I'm smiling .. I knew it would come in handy some day ...

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Anyways.. what we are talking about ..  was a technique really very popular amongst Rubber Stampers back in 2000 ... MargW and I were doing all sorts of experiments coz the special pens coz quite a bit .. and we wanted a less expensive option using products purchasable from Australia :) ... when we learnt about them .. we were using these 2 PENS .. which were a touch over or under A$20 ... and didn't last long ...  in comparison - the can of LAQUER THINNERS lasted.. errr it's now January 2010 and we still have it on my shelf lols hahahaha and cost was under A$8.00 from memory lols
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Ingredients:

• Olive Green & Cream cardstock
• Champagne coloured Encore stamp pad
• UNKNOWN Japanese USA unmounted rubber stamp for the background
• Adirondak dye based stamp pad for staining/aging edges with thick paint brush
• Laquer Thinners ( in Australia: Diggers Brand was most economical ) purchased at Bunnings, Mitre10 or any decent hardware store
• organza ribbon (optional - didn't end up using it on the spine as planned * grins *)

 

Note: the oriental image was a colour copied one (colour copiers that use TONER not colour laser printer)

the cardstock the image was to transferred to was BUFF/Cream coloured scrap ... using the Q-Tip/cotton bud which was dipped into the Lacquer Thinners - I rubbed in circles - the Lacquer Thinners onto the card ... a little bigger than the size of the image

Then placing the image face down .... again - applying the Q-Tip/cotton bud which was dipped into the Lacquer Thinners - I rubbed in circles - the Lacquer Thinners until the entire oriental image was wet (but not soaking/dripping)

Carefully lift up a corner to see if the image has transferred through .. if not put it back down and rub more Lacquer Thinners on ... * grins *

 

When it had all tranferred .. I pulled off the original (left side - which I still used for another project coz I like that aged look) and the right side is what we worked with for this tutorial, ok? Bit of hand tearing around the image ...

 

Using the thick paintbrush and dye based stamp pad.. stippling the edges to give the aged look further enchancement ... then set aside ...

Ink up the background image - in this case japanese fonts - a gift from a stamping USA Friend whom can't even recall who the manufacturer was.. picked up at the annual October ART CONTINUUM, Ohio, USA one year ...

 

apply image onto the cardstock and then apply the stamp pad directly onto the edges too ... for a finished look... ( always.. attention to detail )... errr.. before you ask me.. I'm a lazy stamper - so I temporarily mounted the unmounted stamp onto a Judikins large stamp (I know.. bad aren't I? Sacriledge - and I think 10 years later.. it's still stuck there lols) ... ahahahahahah

Stick on your IMAGE TRANSFERRED accent, garnish with something 3D in this case was a SCULPEY CHARM  handmade using rubber stamp, baked then stained to look oldish but that's another project lols ...

I hope this has been of help Megan * grins * .. didn't think I could do it so fast huh? I know.. I need a life.. lols...

Do leave me comments - it's boring talking to myself lols ..

hugs.. lizzieS xx

Inspiration: Sharon Skipworth

I'd like to introduce you to SHARON SKIPWORTH, Ellenbrook, Western Australia - a young lady who has inspired me for a long while .. though I should have told her * grins * but didn't want her to get a big head lols...  we met via her gorgeous sister: Tracy who's a Creative Memories consultant, in Safety Bay, Western Australia (won't hold that against her, right? lol).  Sharon also has her own blog - please go check it out Skippy's Place heaps more inspiration there ... 

Really admired Sharon's extreme focus on her CARDMAKING hobby ... a very bright lady who has been always very quick on the up take.. you just have to show her something and she's bouncing off everywhere with alternatives or how you can incorporate it with this to get that etc etc

The fact that she lives down the road and around the corner to me, invites me all the time to craft with her (talk about a dream come true) .. you'd think I'd be a permanent fixture huh?  no  * sad face * .. but that will soon change now that I'm on the up and up * smiles *

Sharon has a enviable collection of CRICUT and the amazing amount of different software (about 80% of the entire collection that Cricut made) and various die cutting systems not to mention, the to-die-for collection of cardmaking idea books which can be utilised in scrapbooking too - coz it's the LAYOUT CONCEPTS that are inspirational ...

June 2007  we attended Tracy's Space Camp, Baldivis (gives you space to do your stuff) and we weren't only limited to CM stuff either - so I felt comfy to bring my contraband (my non CM stuff to do) and was thrilled that Sharon brought her cardmaking stuff ...  Sharon had heard little Riley had fallen over and hurt himself - being a mom of 2 with an extremely active son .. she empathised and this is the card she made for him ... we all signed it :) ... note the cuttlebug embossed raised image on the silver Shimmerz cardstock that spells RILEY's name - to replicate the LEGO blocks pattern ...

 

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We all took turns sharing a tip, demo or idea .. and I loved Sharon's " simple " Butterfly embellishment ... but it wasn't that simple to me.. ended up taking pics of how to make it coz I haven't STILL gotten around to making it them ... this is the card that moved me to beg her to show HOW TO  make the butterfly to us all ... stunning eh?? again note the Cuttlebug embossed circular pattern on the number 2 that's accented with white ink pad (or was it white chalk... ) to make it stand out

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anyways.. pretend you're with us at that camp.. this is what went down lols ... hehehehehehe

 

Sharon didn't bring in her whole collection of other cards that I managed to get some snapshots of to further inspire me (and you * grins* ) are as follows .. hope you like them ... she makes them to sell (too cheap I reckon * rolls eyes * ) to fund her addiction of craft technology .. lols.. and if you want to contact her - you can do so here  email   - (not going to tell how how inspirational she is lols )

        

Recently found out that Sharon also has the Bind-It-All binder, uses Stamping  Up products and oohhh I can't wait to get Odette over coz all 3 of us will be able to brainstorm on how to use the BIA in conjunction with the Sizzix, Coluzzle, Cricut, Cuttlebug with Stamping Up products too .. woohoooo

lols...aahh I love my friends... get so much fun out of bouncing back and forth ... life is so great now that I'm out of the DEPRESSION & ANXIETY tunnel ...

warm hugs to all ... lizzieS xx

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side note: you just gotta meet Gina - cook extrodinaire !!

  

      

 

... went from blue to pink!! but the improvements .. wow!

well talking about GOALS ... this was one I had my heart set on for a long time ...  it's the Bind-It-All Binder v.2  .. belated Xmas gift from my Dad ... and this one is going to be a real keeper ...

OOohhh so excited .. will be doing stuff soon .. can't wait to play .. but have to create magic in the kitchen for dinner first * grins * ...

watch this space ... * giggles *

hugs.. lizzieS xx

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Keeping info here for those who are also doing Australian price comparison research

Purchased it at Spotlight, Midland - after hearing Odette got hers there * grins * ok not being crass here - but chose to list the prices I purchased the Bind-it-all + accessories here - coz someone else may be doing research too on it.

Was reminded that Spotlight's prices were very decent and we have to keep in mind they have BUYING POWER as they're are Singapore and all around Australia too...  www.spotlight.com.au

Reminder - you can buy over the phone and they will pack up the items you want and send to you for very reasonable flat rate ... that's GOOD ... and smart of them ... great for those who are geographically challenged or just can't get out of home for whatever reason ... 

These are Spotlight's normal prices on Bind-It-All (BIA)- have limited range so be smart :) and note - having their VIP card doesn't give you any extra discount .. I tried lols ...

BIA machine - Pink v2.0 A$ 79.95
BIA Tote (carry bag) $ 29.95
Heavy Duty Corner Rounder $ 39.95
Owire Cutter (pink) in pouche $ 13.99
Owire Space Bar Small $ 7.99
Wire Pk6 Black 12.55mm/0.5 inch $ 5.99
Wire Pk6 Red 15.62mm/5.8 inch $ 7.99
Wire Pk6 Silver 18.75mm/0.75inch $ 7.99

The Wire items and Owire items are sold under the Zutter brand name (company which makes BIA) also www.ZutterProducts.com

What I'd like to know is can you use other brand wire coils in the BIA binder ... anyone know???