Two for One

Two for One

A large amount of the time we put into a project is finding the perfect color cardstock,
co-ordinating papers, ribbon, brads and message or quote to pull the finished product together.

I need to remind myself of that more often and offer this suggestion.
Whenever possible make two, or more of the same card or ATC,  while you have
all the supplies out.  It makes sense and will save you going hunting
for all the same things if you decide to repeat the project another time.
You then  have one to send and one or more to keep for a future occasion.

Here are the completed cards. I can't get them to load side by side.

Origami Cranes

Here is a fun idea for a birthday card.
It is almost therapeutic folding these cranes.
I use 3 inch squares to attain this size crane.
The card is a standard size 5 1/2" X 4 1/4


I fold these when I am sitting watching TV
and now have quite an assortment I can draw on
 to whip up a nice Birthday card on a moments notice.


Folding instructions are here:

http://monkey.org/~aidan/origami/crane/

Creating a Specific Size Circle

For the last Challenge on OSA,  I needed a circle  3 ¾ “ to mat a 3 ½ “ Washi paper which  I   had cut with the largest of  the small Circle Nestabilities set ( I don't have the large circles, yet )  so I  thought of going on Google for a circle template.  My problem was it needed to be black.

I decided to make my own circle template in my Kaleidoscope program,
Dazzling Reflections.

 

I then opened it in word and re-sized it to 3 ¾” and printed it out.  I wasted less printer ink because the  washi paper layer covered the center that was white.  I cut it out with scissors and found,  I  did have to take a   black re-inker  and a brush and paint the outside of the circle to match the black card stock.    Feel free to use the template I created.

Using Parts of a Stamp

Sometimes if you look at your stamps in a different way you can use

part of them  for a project to alter the style or form, and create a whole
new look.
Most experienced stampers know how to isolate the part of a stamp they want to feature by creating a mask.  This can be a positive or a negative mask.
For my  aqua Oriental screen  I created a faux lacquered look with a Holly Berry House
House- medallion stamp, by making a negative of the arch and stamping inside it with Versamark ink.
I laid my paper on top of the stamp and pressed it all over with my fingers, making sure it didn't shift position,  then  embossed it with fine black powder.  I used a similar method of stamping as seen for stamping the background in this video.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/6010775/how_to_learn_rubber_stamping_techniques_masking/

I then ran it through a mini-crimper.  The result was quite a realistic impression of an oriental screen.  For the front image I used a Marieandme  bamboo- pine- plum- stamp and stamped  only the bamboo in  versamark ink and then stacked it where the top of the bamboo began and stamped again (just the cane) then embossed it in  fine black embossing powder.

http://mariandme.com/Catalog/AsianDesigns/AsianFlora3.html

scroll down to bottom

 Here is the finished screen plus one I made with Best Creations Inc oriental print paper.

The single crane is from a Hero Arts  stamp of multiple cranes.  I inked up one on the end

and stamped it individually.

Paper Crafter’s Optimizing PC Use

1. Using the Search Feature :

Many of us use our computers for saving images and download so many,

  it is sometimes difficult to locate the one we want without a big long
  search for it. 
 The trick is to give it a simple category name when saving it and save it to a sub-folder  in your Crafts folder that has an easily remembered name. 
So if you have a main folder called Papercrafts make a Sub folder eg.,Oriental - save all your images there  in more subfolders eg., Geishas,Cranes, Samurais, Backgrounds. etc

Now if you forget where you saved your Samuaris you can do a Search in the main Paper Crafts Folder.  Search Bar is located on top right of Window. Enter: Samauris
 There, you see your Samurai…now R Click on  the image, then Properties and

look at Location. If it is a long file name use your left arrow  to read across it.
 Now you can go and find the whole folder.
You can locate most any file this way.

 2. Customize Your Screensaver

 You can also make your main screensaver into a slide show of all your papercaft image files.

  Say, you have a folder that you have named Cut-Outs where you save all your vintage photos or collage pretties. If you would like to be reminded of what you have in there:

Go to Contol Panel:

Click on Personalization
Change Screensaver
In the drop down box select Photos
Click Settings
 then Browse
Find the folder you want to show, and click on it.
You can select the theme and speed. (I like the collage effect)
Then  Apply.

Now whenever your screensaver comes on you can be reminded of

 all the images you have saved for collage or cardmaking.
 

3. Side Bar Slideshow

  If you have Vista you can create little slideshows of your craft images.
   Once you have created these they will play on the side of your Desktop and you can be reminded of images you have saved when you see them rotate by.

Control Panel

      Click on Personalization.
      CLICK SideBar
     Add Gadgets to Sidebar
      Slideshow

The small screen will appear in your sidebar.  Now hover the mouse over the top left corner and you will see a little wrench icon. Click on that and from the drop down

 browse and choose a folder and the transition mode.

      Click OK

More info on SideBar Gadgets here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Sidebar-and-gadgets-overview

Suzanne Delaney

Don't Foget Your Eyelets

Now I have a cropodile- it is so quick and easy to add the finishing touch of eyelets.
They give your cards that extra pizzaz and you can use them in more places than just the corners.
Here are ten different ways you can use them.

1. Attaching vellum or washi paper.

2. To "hang" things from-
- Charms
- Signs
- Tags

3. Centre of flowers.

4. Corners of picture mats.
5. Attach elements on a card by wrapping wire or fibre ,
    string thread, embroidery floss, raffia, or twine, etc through eyelets

6. Ends of antenna on a butterfly or dragonfly or for dots in the wings.

 7. Making a rotating circle. Do not set as tightly as normal, so the eyelet will pivot.

 8. In the hole of a tag to thread yarn, raffia, or ribbon through.

 9. Centre of a pinwheel, or to attach a tassle to a fan.

10. Stepping stones on a garden layout .

Washi Scraps- Add A Touch of Luxury