AlteredPaper Clips

Today I'd like to show you two altered paper clips that I made. These are just samples that I made for my sample box.  The first is made using an old dictionary page.  I masked the word that I wanted to highlight, in this case Happy, and then I sponged brown ink all over the piece.  It was then glued to a piece of cardstock.  I used a piece of ecru colored lace across the top and added 3 vintage postage stamps that had been sponged around the edges with brown ink.  A hole was punched at the center bottom and I inserted an antique brass eyelet.  Using a bulb pin with colored beads and a bee charm, I then inserted that into the eyelet.

The second one I made was using an old child's puzzle piece.  First, I peeled the puzzle picture off the piece and using collage paste, I added small pieces of dictionary pages and music paper.  I then
decopauged a piece of rice paper on the top. Once dry, I sponged brown ink around the edges and added the work love typed on vanilla cardstock. Again I punched a hole and inserted an antique pewter eyelet.  The charm is made using a bulb pin, clear beads and a bee charm.  A large paper clip was glued to the back and covered with a piece of vanilla cardstock

Give these a try!  Google altered paperclips and you'll be surprised at how many kinds there are or...use your imagination!!

New Junk Journal

I recently made a new junk journal.  I used a hardback book and gutted it, then decorated the outside using Graphics 45 "Secret Garden" papers.

Outside

This is the inside cover

Here are a couple pages I made for inside.

You should give junk journalling a try.  It's really lots of fun!

File Folder Folio

This is a photo folio that I made for a challenge on Newbie Junk Journal Makers FaceBook page.  The only requirement was that it had to be made from a file folder.  This was a lot of fun to make.

Front with belly band to keep it closed

Front without belly band

First page open

Left page opened out

Left page opened out further

Second page

Left page opened out

                                                                     Inside back

Back

I can't remember the name of the paper that I used but it's from Stampin' Up and it's older so I'm sure it's retired.   I hope you'll stop by again soon to see what else I create.

Faux Postage Stamps

I saw these little faux postage stamps online and thought they'd be cute to make.  So simple- just find a small scrap of paper and layer it on a coordinating color cardstock- or in my case, I just used Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up.  Sponge around the edges to distress and cut around the edges using a postage design patterned scissors. Use a postage cancellation stamp to stamp across the front of the "stamp" to make it look more real. 

I love these and I'm sure I'll be making loads more!!  I have LOTS of scraps just waiting to be used up!!

More Crafting

 Here are a few more things that I've been making.  The first project is an envelope tag.  It's made using an envelope- in my case, I used a legal-size envelope. This was a lot of fun to make and I think it turned out great I used Mariposa paper pack and Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in Vintage Photo (I told you it's my favorite!)

Next, I participated in the RAK event on Newbie Junk Journal Makers on FB.  The requirements were to make "twinchies"- 2" squares decorated using mermaids, a paper cutter or punch or a stencil, a napkin or tissue paper, the color purple, book pages, a soda pop-tab or wire.  I was able to use everything on these 3 twinchies.

 Remember- these are only 2" x 2" square!  Not a lot of room to work with!!

Check back soon as I catch up on more of my crafting. 

School Days

My almost 4-year old granddaughter, Anne, is starting pre-school this year.  She'll only go 2 days a week, but it's her first time in an educational setting.  I made this little journal for pictures of her as she begins her independent life.  I used Graphics 45 papers and Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up.

This paper pack is so cute and has so many little things to cut out.  There are lots of cards and books for journaling and a lot of places for pictures.  I still need to sew it together and get a closure but I'm happy how it's turning out.  The size of the closed book is 4" x 8".

Catchin Up...

Hello!  It's been a while since I've posted but I have been crafting!  The first thing I want to show you is a clutch purse envelope that I made for an RAK event on the Newbie Junk Journal Makers Facebook group that I'm in.  I didn't have a pattern but it was easy enough to figure out without one.

The requirements were to make the clutch, use a rooster somewhere on it, use orange, glassine, ribbon, and part of a tissue box.  I was able to use all of the items. Open size is 5" x 10".

Front/ closed

Inside/ open

There is a belly band on the top part, a vintage glassine envelope on the middle part, and a pocket on the bottom part.  All are filled with tags and journaling cards.

Back/ closed

I used French Country papers from Graphic 45 and Pumpkin Pie cardstock from Stamin' Up with
Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in Vintage Photo to distress the edges.  I was really pleased with how it turned out.

Next, these are Artist Trading Cards that I made for an RAK on the Newbie Junk Journal Makers.  The theme is Vintage (1900-1930).  This was another first for me but I really enjoyed making them.   I used A Ladies' Diary papers from Graphic 45, Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up, and Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in Vintage Photo (my favorite!)

Front

Back

Lastly, these are my April through August Snack Bag album pages.  The April prompt was color.  For May the prompt was to use a quote.

June's prompt was Nature and July's prompt was to do a technique I had never done before- Faux Illustration Doodles, where you pick a picture and outline it with black to make it look like you drew it and colored it in.  I was really happy with how this one turned out.

August's prompt was to make a triptych where you cut a picture into 3 sections.  The background I made using  photo paper sprayed with Dylusions Inks, then stamped a rose onto it and colored the rose with black Sharpie.  It took a long time to dry, though!

 

I hope you've enjoyed what I've been up to.  There will be more coming soon!!  Stay tuned!

Some Gave All...

Vietnam POW bracelets were very popular when I was in middle school.  Being from a military family and having a father who served in Vietnam,  I had one that I wore, never taking it off.  I wore one bracelet until it broke and my dad was able to put it back together for me…when that finally broke again and was not fixable, I got a replacement bracelet.  I watched the released POWs step off the plane and run into the arms of their waiting families…all except the man on my bracelet. 

Maj. Kurt C. McDonald
 

I continued to wear my bracelet, hoping that one day he would come home.  I finally had to take the bracelet off when the edges became sharp, but I kept that bracelet, in a safe place…still hoping…

One day, while surfing the Internet, I searched for the man on my bracelet.  I was surprised to find information on him…but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.  He was 30 years old when he went missing on 12/31/1964 when his plane went down after taking off from Da Nang, Vietnam.  In August of 1982, he was declared Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered by the US Government.  I also found photos of him online- photos of him growing up, photos of the handsome man he had become, photos of the Air Force pilot fighting for his country.  Putting a face with the name made the connection I had with the bracelet-with the man- even stronger.  I never knew this man, but he is never far from my thoughts and remains in my heart to this day.

I found that his name is engraved on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC but I have not yet been able to get a rubbing of his name from the wall.

I decided I would make a SMASH page about the man and the bracelet.  Here are those pages:

On the left side, there is an envelope that holds various pictures of Kurt, along with the picture of my bracelet, and a report from the USAF in regards to his MIA status.

Kurt would have been 89 years old this year.  Nearly 60 years have passed since he gave his all for his country, fighting for our freedoms.  Please take the time to say a prayer for those lost in battle, as well as those soldiers still fighting for those same freedoms.

New Junk Journal

I spent the day in my hide-away making a new junk journal.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  I gutted an old book and covered it inside and out with Graphics 45 Secret Garden papers.  I sewed in 5 signatures of various papers.

Here are pictures of the outside.

Here is the binding where I sewed in 5 signatures.  I really need practice doing this!

This is the inside cover.

I made several pages in this journal today., most using items that I received from Happy Mail RAKs.  Again, I need practice on this, too!

 The little brown page is made from a sheet of cork paper.  It cracked when I folded it so I just addes some Washi tape to hole it together.

The cork paper page opened.  I added a tiny vintage file folder inside. There is a mini vintage post card in the pocket with the Victorian lady.

Here the little file folder is open with some things in it that I received in Happy Mail from Lisa.

This page is made using items I received in a Happy Mail from Sherry.  We participated in an RAK event where we had to make an altered playing card and mail it to someone else in the event.  Her card is inside the doily pocket she made.

This page was made using items I received from Lisa.  The honeycomb/bee paper was what she had my package wrapped in.  I love that paper and decided to use it.  There is a journaling card inside the pocket on the left side. Lisa's altered playing card is in the center of the right side page with the balloons.

This ladt page is made using items received from Vanessa.  Her altered playing card (APC) is inside the envelope on the left side that she also made.

I'm really enjoying working in my journal.  I keep looking for stuff (junk) that I can use!  I hope you're all having a nice weekend.  Remember to take a few minutes to remember the solders who lost their lives while serving our country.