Desktop Calendar Class!

Desktop Calendar that you can use for years to come! Come learn about the awesome Zutter and how you can bind your own projects. Class is January 21st at 2PM at The Baby Store Toys & More. Awesome products will be available from Scraptique Boutique as well.

Technique Tuesday

Hello! So I decided to share with you one of my FAVORITE techniques... Distressing.
No, this isn't what your mother in law does, or even how you feel after consuming that big holiday feast. It's this super awesome thing that's really trendy right now, so why not incorporate it into your crafts?

Check out the bird. He's my fave. Wanna know what makes him SO super awesome? He's distressed of course!

This card is so simple. I backed the pretty printed paper- Fancy-Pants Summer's End in a solid color of cardstock. I'm somewhat of a compulsive corner rounder, so I did that with my corner chomper. Then, put some of this super cute printed ribbon, and cut the bird from my new Cricut cartridge "Straight From the Nest". The bird was cut from Coredinations cardstock which has a colored "core" (the blue). The big paper-packs from JoAnn's also come with a white "core", and are a more budget friendly option for those spending savvy scrappers. Then, use a piece of sandpaper, or a sanding block, or even an old nail file block. Don't get too crazy, it is paper folks.

Ta-Da! Not a Cricut user? You can find most places online already cut die-cut shapes. These are fun, quick, elements to add to your layouts & cards.

Happy Scrapping!

By the way, if you haven't yet Liked Scrappy Pants on Facebook, DO IT! We're doing a giveaway as soon as we reach 100 Likes!

http://www.facebook.com/akscrappypants

Give Thanks

I only have a minute before my own Black Friday Shopping Adventure starts, but I thought I'd share this little guy...

Gobble Gobble :)

Creative Chaos

I have control issues. In many ways, they could be considered genetic. But scrap-booking and crafting is the main area of my life that I surrender control in. There are no boundaries, no laws or rules, there is no right way, or wrong way to be creative. Anything goes.

I am *almost* sad to say this canvas sold. I kinda adored it. My good friend Frieda painted it, and I made all the random flowers. A collaborative effort of sorts. Also, a prime example of a project that one person had hit a wall with, then fresh eyes were able to breathe new life into it. What sorts of projects do you have laying around, waiting to be "re-inspired"?

Mixed Media Canvas

These are hands down my fave project. The first time I made one, I thought, I can't do this. I'm not an artist, I play with paper. I'm no painter.

Not bad for a non-painter ehh?

This project was created with a $5 canvas from JoAnn Fabrics. I painted it with an array of bronze, purple, and green. I like to go all "Bob Ross" with it, and commentate as I paint. I find this part crucial to the over-all success of the project. I truly am not a painter, so don't be intimidated. I just swirl some pretty colors around, and when it gets too poopy brown, I know I went too far, so throw something metallic or glittery in the mix to make it right.

After my masterpiece dried, I somewhat modge-podged my paper of choice onto the canvas. I say somewhat, because I am out of modge podge, so I mixed Elmer's glue with a bit of water to thin it, and used that instead. I'd love to take credit for the stroke of brilliance, but alas, the glory belongs to Pinterest... one of my other life loves and time thieves. The key, as with all good things, is moderation. No need for over-zealous canvas-soaking. Apply a layer, and then come back to it. Walk away. Trust me.

With each layer I applied some paper pieces, and letters I cut using my Cricut. I let each layer dry. Then comes my FAVORITE part. Embellishing. 

I wrapped a piece of gold-ish tulle I got in the dollar bin at JoAnn's. Just tied in a knot, with a decorative straight pin through it.Then, with a hot gluegun, I attached some homemade rolled flowers, made from fabric scraps from Frieda Marie. I also have some from Adornments by Amanda, but I'm hoarding them. Perhaps... I will share this knowledge of making rolled flowers with you. But only after I learn how to make more than flower okay?

You can add any embellishments you want. Rhinestones... Brads... stickles... Bling it up... whatever strikes your fancy. I was trying not to get too crazy, cause I was so darn excited about my fabric flowers, I had to keep myself from covering the whole thing in fabric flowers. I get a little out of hand sometimes, and I'm learning to use moderation.

So there ya go. You can make these as cheap, awesome, holiday gifts for people you know. Let them think you bought some pricey modern art, when really you made it yourself in a day, for under $10. 

Paper makes me happy.

Today I embark on the journey of showing my homemade, scrap-cave born, paper-mixed media- crafts...
with the internet world.
One of my challenges I feel I have been called to face head-on is to do what makes me happy.
Paper... makes me happy. As do embellishments, stickles, canvas, modge-podge, and any other fun little scrap I get my hands on.
Since it's 2 days post-Halloween... I'd like to share with you a super fun project I did, a mini-album out of toilet paper rolls...

Now this fun little project consists of 5 toilet paper rolls, flattened, and painted. Then I cut paper fit my Halloween theme. I layered 2 pieces per side, per TP roll. I inked the edges, and punched holes for jump rings to "bind" my book all together. I eyelet'ed mine, you don't have to though. Then, I embellished ;) The I tied ribbons on the rings, and tucked tags inside the TP rolls, as a fun "pull out" element. 

Super fun for a project you can finish fast. Paint the TP rolls one day, and finish the album the next!