Thursday, 21 April 2011

Easy Paper Basket

I can't remember if I posted this tutorial last year but I thought I would post it again because Easter is Sunday and it's time to make baskets!

 


Make sure to visit me for other tutorials and fun too!

Thanks!  Monica

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Colored Butterfly On B&W Photo...

After doing my layout with this photo technique, I thought I would do a tutorial on one of the butterfly photos from my layout yesterday... for some this may not be new... but for others, it may be something you've wanted to do but didn't know how... I think it will surprise you how simple this really is to do with your photos.

I will be using Photoshop... on a mac. But most of these simple principles will apply to whatever photo-editing application you may be using...

1. Once your photo is open, make a duplicate of this layer.
2. Rename it to whatever you'd like... I named mine is Black&White copy.
3. Go to Image, then Adjustments, then to Black & White to make this layer Black &White.
4. A window will come up for you to adjust your photo... lighter or darker in black&white... most times I leave this on the default settings... if I do adjust anything it is the reds and magenta... to make the photo lighter or darker... play around with this for making your photo darker of lighter.
5. Enlarge the area you want to have the color on.
6. On your Black&White layer... choose your Eraser Tool. Now adjust your Eraser Tool to size.
For large area choose a large eraser... for small area... choose a small eraser.
I always like to erase large parts first with a large eraser... then adjust the eraser for the detailed areas.
Now erase your image on the Black&White Copy layer.
7. After you've erased the large parts of your image... now adjust your Eraser Tool to a smaller size for the more detailed areas... the edge of the image or like mine the legs and antennas...
now erase the small areas.
8. And you're done!!! Easy right?
9. Now... SAVE this file as a layer document (.psd), just in case you want to go back and make more adjustments. I save mine as the file name + a number, but you can save it as anything you want.
10. Save your file again as a .jpg, this will flatten the layers for you and saving the .psd file.
NOW this saved .jpg file is what you will print....
I hope this has helped you... and you will try using it on some of your photos. To see how I used this photo on my scrapbook layout, please come by my blog at EverydayScrapbook.blogspot.com

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Tissue Paper Blooms... Redo... Photos fixed!!!

Don't know what happened to my Tissue Paper Blooms tutorial post... but here it is again... thanks for letting me know the photos weren't coming through.... soooo let's try this post again shall we...

While I was helping out in my daughters class with tissue paper... I was thinking what a great material to make a flower bloom for card and my scrapbooking. So I came home and started playing around with tissue paper... and here's what I came up with. For this flower I used:

1. 3 different shades of Tissue Paper.

2. Round objects (or templates) for 4 circle sizes.

3. A pencil.

4. A pair of scissors.

5. Glue dots.

6. Flower Centers - I used Pearl stickers




Making 4 different size circles. Trace your circles onto several layers of tissue paper...
Cut out your circles.
 
Use one circle from the 4 different size circles. Layer the circles... change colors for each layer
(I started & ended with the same color). Then place glue dots on the backs of the top 3 layers.
With glue dot tissue paper stacks... put on the center of your bloom.
Crinkle the tissue paper.
Start to open, then smash it up some more... the more crinkles the better.
Open up and fluff up each layer, until it exactly as you want your bloom.
And here's one of my bloom on a card. Enjoy!
I hope this comes through this time... I am sorry for any problems these photo may have had... 

Saturday, 2 April 2011

How to draw a flower with calligraphy pens

I should introduce this video. It shows you how to draw flowers using calligraphy pens that are blendable. They are available from Craft Fairy in a variety of colours. Many samples of cards using this technique can be found on my Craft Fairy Designs Blog.

Tuesday, 29 March 2011

Ribbon Spool Box Tutorial



Jill and Kelly make custom party favors and decorations, mostly out of paper.  They are beginning to add upcycled gifts and home decor items to their shop.  Jill loves to Mod Podge everything and often decorate old containers, boxes, tins, etc.  Jill also has a degree in interior design and she also upcycles old furniture and sells it locally.
They were kind enough to share a tutorial with us on making the cutest boxes out of your empty ribbon spools.  But before you download the tutorial, visit their Etsy Store where you can purchase your own and see all of the great things they make too!  
Here's a link to their store where they have so many wonderful items!
 Here's where you can download the tutorial:



Visit my website and my Facebook Page for more "green" crafty ideas too.
Thanks!  Monica

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Quick and easy vintage trinket box


 Hi Sarah here from sarahwrightdesigns.blogspot.com. I thought you might like this quick and easy tutorial that will transform a plain box blank into a vintage style box.
All you need is
  • Silver card
  • Black acrylic paint
  • old paintbrush
  • emboss folder and die cutting machine ( I used Sizzix Big Shot)
  • Sizzix dies, flowers and leaves
  • Kitchen roll or cotton wool
  • Craft mat ( optional to paint on )
Start of with a box blank

Cut strips of silver card to fit sides of box

 Emboss strips of card with an embossing folder






 Paint over card with black acrylic paint

Wipe of acrylic paint with kitchen roll or cotton wool. some of the paint will remain in the recessed parts of the embossed image



Stick pieces of card to box sides

Paint lid of box with Acrylic paint

Add the flowers and leaves that you have made, using the same process




Your box is now complete

Hugs sarah x

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Easy Paper Flower Tutorial

I had made this card for the design team I'm on and wanted to share a tutorial for the flower I made per your request!  Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my other post with the card.  It's so easy!

 I've seen many of these flowers made using a brad in the middle to hold it together.  I wanted to do something different with ribbon so here's what I came up with:

 You will need some old dictionary pages or pages from an old book.  I use pages from a huge dictionary I bought at a thrift store.  It has the thinner, lighter pages than an ordinary book.  I like the weight of those pages because they are easier to crimp and crinkle.  You also need some ribbon, a stapler and a scallop punch.

 Punch out six scallop circles.

 Stack your scallops together and lay your ribbon across them in the middle.  Staple the ribbon to the scallops.

 Tie a knot in the ribbon, the staple holds it in place.

 Trim the edges of your ribbon.

 Crinkle and fluff up each scallop until it's as fluffy as you like.
Enjoy!
Visit my website for other tutorials too!