We Bling You This Important Update . . .

Hello Crafty Friends....... as promised we have one more project featuring our January Kit.
Today Lolly shows us how you can take just one element from the kit and add it to other projects for that extra bit of sparkle.

Ok Lolly...... Bling it on!!.......

Hello, lovelies!

I had a blast at a creative reuse center last night.  A creative reuse center only sells donated goods which can be made into arts and crafts projects.   How cool is that??    When I have unwanted craft supplies, I bling them to that store, too.  Our creative reuse center also offers classes in which we use goods that have been donated there.

So I went to a class about decorating a framed image; the frame, the mat, the papers, etc., were all donated to the store.   So THAT was a challenge!    I think I did a decent job with it, and it reminds me of many of our crafting goals for 2017:  use what you have on hand!

I did cheat, however, when I got home. . .  I wanted to bling something extra to the project and use some trim that came in our January Creative Team kit from Aunty Vera!  




That top edge seemed to need me to bling something special to the project, so I did.  This trim is amazing, and I wish you could see it in person.   It's available in Aunty Vera's shop HERE.

The package contains a generous yard of trim, which is good because this is already a favorite.  

Here's a closeup of the top edge.  I adhered it with E6000 glue, but hot glue would also work well with this trim.

I also tucked one piece of the trim into the bottom to bling some happiness down there, too.

Is that gorgeous, or what?   Reminds me of "something old, something new."    Combining the "what we have on hand" with something new to bling the two together in harmony.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out our creative projects for Aunty Vera.  You truly bling happiness to all our activities!

Blessings,
Lolly

Christmas in July - Christmas Card 'Junk Journal'

Hi everyone and Happy Weekend!

Today I'd like to introduce Design Team Member Sarah who is making her debut on the blog *throws balloons and streamers in the air* by showing us how to make a Junk Journal out of Christmas cards. What a fabulous way to recycle those old cards and create, create, create.........

Christmas Card Journal with Sarah:

 1. Choose a selection of Christmas cards. These may be new, leftover and unused, or used ones you’ve received. Whether you use ones all the same size, or different is up to you.

2. Choose the card that you would like as a cover and lay it out flat. Lay ribbon or twine across the centre of the card and choose some sort of tape (such as deco or duct tape) to run down the spine of your journal. Adhere the tape over the ribbon and wrap to the inside so that you have a nice finished edge. You now have a reinforced spine and ribbon closure for your journal.

 If you don’t like the edge of your tape showing, adhere some ribbon along the edge like I have done.

3. Choose the cards you would like to use as pages and stack them inside one another. Once you have decided on the innermost card, lay it out flat and measure along the fold line of the card. Mark the centre of the line, as well as either side of this mark at 1 inch intervals.

4. Place this card back inside the rest and flatten them. Keep the cards together with bull-dog clips or large paper clips. Using a paper piercer (or similar) make a hole on each of the marks on the crease line of the innermost card, punching through all of the cards to the cover.

5. Select thin ribbon, twine, or strong thread to bind your journal together. Thread a needle and knot the end, leaving a long tail. Starting at the top of the book, thread the ribbon/twine/thread through the top hole, from the outside to the inside. This will leave the knot and tail on the outside of the book.

6. Weave in and out of the holes in a 'zigzag' pattern. Inside to outside hole 2, outside to inside hole 3 etc until you reach the bottom.

7. Once you've reached the bottom, do the same thing back to the top. Knot the end of your binding inside the journal before threading back out the top hole. Knot again here, leaving two tails hanging out the top hole (the start and end of your thread). Finish the binding how you choose - I've tied two bells to my journal but you might finish with a bow, or leave some twine hanging.

8. Now your journal is bound together. Remove the bull-dog/ paper clips and un-flatten your journal. Now get to decorating! Use washi tape, stickers, stamping, and anything else you can think of to cover up logos or sentiments. I've fussy cut and coloured some stamped images to cover the backs of some cards, while sticking three sides of scrap card stock down creates a nice pocket on the inside of some pages.

9. Finally, the edge of your journal may be uneven like mine. If you like a nice finished edge, use a craft knife, scissors or a guillotine to trim off the excess. And presto - your Christmas journal is complete and ready to use!

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Isn't this the most fabulous idea! I know I'll be giving it a try.
Thank you Sarah!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Aunty Vera :)