Declare and Dash

Hey, Froggers. I'm putting myself on an actual schedule today! I really am! So, here's a Declare and Dash post. I have LOTS of new stencils in the shop, so feel free to check them out in my Etsy shop here.

This tag stencil is super for Bible journaling, midori journals, personal planners, and a variety of other mixed media projects.

This one is particularly fun with the Gelli® plate. I hope to have some samples to show you in the next few days.

This "Fanned" stencil comes in 6x6, 8x8, or 10x10 inches.

Sorry to say it, Froggers, but this is another one of my faves. You can all of it or just parts of this "Filigree Arrow" stencil in your journals, doodling, midori notebooks, Bible journals, etc. 

And I'll say it again, these tag stencils are PERFECT for traveling, like waiting in the Drs.' office, riding in the car, flying in a plane, or just pretending you're on an island in the tropics. Yeah, I like that last one.

And, here is my "Surround" tag stencil.

I'm having way too much fun.

That's it for today. 

And again, thanks for visiting! 

Now, on to keeping my schedule. Yups. I'm gonna do it! I swear!

Fondly, Tami

Leather Mini Gelli Journal

Hey, Froggers. Whoo-wee! It's been a busy time. 

I'm sorry for the delay for the Part II of "Clean Your Craft Mat With Skin Peelings." Part I can be found here, and I promise to try to get Part II written within the next few days. However, it did turn out really COOL!

I've been wanting to try my hand at sewing a simple binding on a journal, and I came up with this little Gelli Print journal. 

I had a leather sample that was the perfect size- about 5x7". 

I made a signature of 4 pieces of mixed media paper of Gelli prints that I had printed a few weeks ago.

Two pieces were smaller than the other two, but I was OK with that. I just put them in the center.

There was no rhyme or reason to my patterns. I mainly just used colors that I liked and my stencils that can be found in my Etsy shop here. If you haven't visited my shop, I encourage you to look at some of the very cool designs that I have created, especially the mask medallions that I made especially for the plate. Here's a sample:

I wanted to do a very simple stitch since this was my first stitched journal. The one I ended up doing is called a 5-hole pamphlet stitch. I found some instructions here. This is absolutely the simplest stitch. I didn't have linen thread, so I used waxed thread that I bought in the jewelry section of my local crack craft store.

Since the mixed media paper is quite sturdy, the book doesn't stay closed on its own, so I tucked a long piece of hand-dyed crinkle ribbon into one of the loops to secure it. That way, I can tie the book closed.

Because there was a big grommet in the front (after all, it WAS a sample), I covered it up with a die cut leather flower, added a vintage button, and swiped it with a little bit of white gesso. Of course, I just HAD to stamp it with a hand carved stamp. This one is my key logo for my shop. 

So, what would YOU put in this little journal? I'm thinking a few fave scriptures with a little bit of embellishing, drawing, or doodling, perhaps about God's promises, or things He is teaching me about myself. Hmmm?

Thanks again for stopping by!

Fondly, Tami

Book Paper Tassels Tutorial

Hey, Peeps. I should have been working on an entirely different project, but I was quite distracted and wanted to make these today. No, I haven't planned on doing them for a long time. As a matter of fact, as I was sitting down to work on the other project, I looked over to my right and what did I see...oh look- SQUIRREL!

I have SUCH a problem staying on track once I sit down. RARELY do I accomplish what I set out to do. I guess you can call me an Artiste.

Start with an old book page. This one was about 6x9" or so.

Fold your page in half so that you can cut two tassels at once.

Shhhh!!! Don't tell my daughter, but the herb snipping scissors she bought me don't work well in the kitchen, so I decided to employ them in the craft room. If you don't have this type of scissors (I believe Martha Stewart has them at Michaels), just use single blade scissors.

Before I started cutting, I pulled my paper gently on the edge of my table. This helps later with rolling because it breaks up the fibers. 

Start cutting toward the fold from the open edge, stopping about 1/2 inch from the folded edge.

Do this all the way across the paper. Since it's still folded, you'll be cutting through two layers of paper.

This is what it will look like after the cutting.

Tear the pieces apart at the fold, ending up with two strips of fringed paper. 

Take one piece (reserve the other piece for the next tassel) and line the torn edge close to the edge with some glue. I do like Glossy Accents because it is strong and it dries quickly. Start rolling from the edge, using something round to get it started (I used a skewer).

Keep rolling, and after you've rolled about an inch or so, take a piece of string, ribbon, lace, or jute and add the end of the tie to the area that you're rolling. I usually like to add another dab of glue for extra hold at this point.

Keep rolling, and when you get to about 1" from the end, take the other end of your tie and insert it again, making a loop. Add another extra drop of glue. Finish rolling to the end.

Once you're done, hold it while the glue sets. After it starts to become a little more secure, wrap the end with your choice of Washi tape or ribbon.

After I made the first one, I thought of a variation. Before rolling the paper (don't tell anyone that you "rolled papers" today, or you might get some dirty looks), cut some of the edges on an angle, about 1/2 inch from the end. Don't go overboard. When the tassel is rolled, this will give a more organic look.

Once the end is taped, take your tassel and beat it up a little bit. Here, I flayed the ends by pushing them down onto my table a bit. This will also make it look a little more natural and not quite as stuffy.

Here's another "undressed" tassel.

The real fun is to embellish them. This is a little flower from the dollar bin at Michaels.

Here's a hand-dyed, die cut flower, made from drop cloth. Love me some drop cloths.

I just added a pin to this one.

I took the edges of one and swished them into some gesso that I spread out on a piece of plastic.

It just dressed the edges up a little more.

With this one, I just brushed the edges onto a distress ink pad and spritzed them with water.

This one was going to have a heart embellie, so I swished the ends into a red ink pad.

Here is my lovely little collection. I'm thinking of using them to dress my altered journals, hang on my tree (yes, my tree(s) are still up), dress up a cute little package, hang onto my cloche, hang from a lamp switch, etc. etc. 

What would YOU do with these? 

And, as always, thanks for reading!

Fondly, Tami

I'm linking to :

Funky Junk Interiors

Love of Home

Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Getting My December Daily Challenge ON!

Hey again, Peeps. Whew! The holidays sure are ramping up, but I'm excited to participate in the December Daily because it keeps me focused on what is REALLY important- spending time in the Craft Room!!!

So, here are my first two pages. The first one was a white on white "suggestion". Since I love white on white, it wasn't a problem at all.

It's always hard for me to start a new journal. I have to get over several things:
1. That it has to be perfect.
2. That there has to be a cohesive theme.
3. That it has to be perfect.

So, with this journal, I'm embracing imperfection. I have several things I want to journal about, and if one doesn't jive with the other, that's OK. This is my PLAY time.

I've gone through some revelations lately, so I'm going to include them this month. I've had to re-define some boundaries concerning some relationships, so I'm going to write about that, as well as celebrating every-day life. I'm also including some materials from this month's Brave Girls Club Soul School, which is a fabulous course. So. Many. Good. Things.

So, in keeping with my new-found love of hand-carved stamps (see blog post here), I wanted to have a lined area for my journaling, so I made a stamp.

So, here is my first page in the journal. Pretty self-explanatory.

Ha! I did end up covering up some mistakes. Kinda ironic.

I often over-think my work. I think it's because since I'm in the business of designing and selling my crafts, that I think everything has to be perfect (like I endeavor to do for my customers). However, sometimes I need to just sit back and have fun.

And here's the page for Dec. 2. I included some interactive journaling cards that open up. This might become a trend.

Here are the cards.

And inside, I wrote about places where I'm peaceful.

Card 2

And inside, how I can seek peace:

And, here is the layout. I've never really liked my handwriting, but it's all a part of who I am, so I'm going to write more instead of relying on a cute font from my printer.

Of course, I had to do a little painting and doodling.

And I included the cute pin that came with my Brave Girls Soul School subscription.

And, I even sat at the sewing machine, which isn't my fave thing to do, but I love the effect. A few pearl embellies later, and I was done. I do have to remember to punch my holes in my pages before I start adding junque, so that I don't cover over those areas. After all, it DOES need to be somewhat functional and put together, not unlike me.

Thanks for looking! Stay tuned for the next few days' layouts!

Fondly, Tami