Product Round-Up - Paper Crafts Must-Haves

It’s time for another product round-up. Take a look at some exciting cool tools and innovative products you shouldn’t be without.

Rollagraph StamPress: Create quick embellishments for your artist trading cards, greeting cards and polymer clay projects. Using interchangeable rubber stamp wheels and different inks, the StamPress machine can apply rubber stamp designs to ribbon, foils, paper strips and more. I never seem to get consistent ink coverage when I stamp and I worry about slippage, too. No more of that because this gadget does the work for you. StamPress comes with an instructional DVD that includes a 120 minute demo. For more info, go to clearsnap.com.

Perfect Printing Pouch: Vellum and other specialty papers always seem to slip in my inkjet printer and I’m rarely satisfied with the results. I've had friends suggest that I iron vellum to freezer paper and run it through the printer, but that always takes too much time. The Perfect Printing Pouch allows me to print on more than just paper -- try it for printing on vellum, textured paper, transparencies, and twill ribbon. It will help you avoid that awful smearing or bleeding and your paper will dry faster, too. For more info, go to scraperfect.com.

Fiskars Squeeze Punch: Whenever I use paper punches, I have to guess where my design will appear on the reverse side of decorative paper after I punch. Even worse, sometimes I don’t apply enough pressure so the hole ends up half-punched. Fiskar makes "reversed" punches – you see the punch mechanism while you’re working – and because you squeeze the punches, you can use them while you’re sitting down. Now I see where my punch hole is lined up and whether or not I’m using the punch correctly. Plus, I don’t have to stand up, lean on the table and apply brute force to get a perfect punch, either. For more info, go to fiskars.com.

Words and Crafts Stamps: These sets of alphabet stamps have small individual handles, rather than bulky wood blocks. I hate those ghost shadows that appear from my rocking the stamp or from stamp rubber that's been trimmed poorly, so I was glad to find these. The stamps store away in a minimum amount of room and are better for positioning your stamp exactly where you’d like it on your project. No guessing! The sets come in several letter fonts: traditional, breezy, classic and smarty. For more info, go to wordsandcrafts.com.

Article Description: Here are more cool tools and innovative products that you night want to add to your crafts room wish list.

Project - Slip a Tiny Love Note Inside a Decorative Matchbox

For this Valentine's Day, tell a significant other how much you care by creating a miniature accordion-fold card nestled inside a romantic matchbox. Write your own sentiments on the hand-made insert or collage it with rubber stamps and paper scraps. Slip a tiny square of wrapped chocolate inside or tell a story with tiny photos.


Secret Lover Matchbox Valentine (click to enlarge)

Materials & Tools
· Empty cardboard matchbox, small pocket size
· Shimmering Metallic Acrylic Paint in Rose Pearl, by Plaid/FolkArt
· Small Foam Paint Brushes
· 2-inch square of gold metallic sticker paper
· Armada Corner Punch Set, scalloped with tiny heart punch
· 2-inch piece of Gold Metallic Fancy Ribbon, 1/8" Wide
· Craft knife
· Terrifically Tacky Tape, by Provo Craft
· Black solvent inkpad, like Jet Black by StazOn
· Scrap of gold metallic card stock
· Bone folder
· Good pair of comfortable, teflon-like coated scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada
· Metal ruler or straight edge
· Two toned paper shopping bag from your Victoria's Secret purchase
· Face Set Rubber Stamp Set, Stamp #1, by Hampton Art Stamps
· Stampin' Words Rubber Stamp Set, Item #333 (Hold/Kiss/Thrill) by Rubber Stampede
· Heart shaped Rubber Stamp
· Scraps from paper sewing pattern
· White paper glue



The Steps
(Click to enlarge images. Click back button to return to article.)

1. Using the rose acrylic paint and a foam sponge brush, paint both the inside and outside of an empty cardboard matchbox. Let it air dry.

2. Cut a 2-inch square out of gold metallic paper. I used left-over sticker paper, but you can use any gold paper you like, including decorative paper or foil.

3. Using the corner heart punch, punch three corners of the gold paper. Save the small hearts. Cut one corner off (about 1.5 inch piece) Apply the gold paper at an angle to the top of the matchbox, pushing the loose ends under and inside. Apply two of the saved hearts, aligned underneath the heart cut-out.

4. Using a craft knife, cut a 1/8-inch slit in one end of the matchbox tray. Now fold the gold ribbon in half and push it through the slot from the inside. I used a coffee stirrer to push my ribbon through the tiny slit. Hold the ribbon in place on the matchbox tray bottom using tacky tape. Now put your index finger inside the looped ribbon to create a handle of sorts -- if your ribbon has a wire edge, it will hold its shape.

5. Using the black solvent ink, rubber stamp a face onto a small piece of gold card stock. You can emboss the image with clear embossing powder if you like to add some dimension. After the image dries, cut around it until the cardstock is about 1.25 x 1.75 inches. Adhere the stamped image inside the matchbox bottom using tacky tape.

6. After you shop at your favorite Victoria's Secret store, save the paper shopping bag. Cut a strip from the bag that measures 1.25 x 9 inches -- you'll use this as the base for your accordion fold insert. By the way, you can use any paper for the insert -- I like to recycle all kinds of paper and the VS bag seemed like the perfect fit.

7. Fold one end of the strip to create a 1/2-inch or less tab to fit inside the matchbox tray. Now fold the remaining bag scrap back and forth to create an accordion-style insert. Use a bone folder to crease the folds for best results. Finish off the card base using the heart corner punch.

8. Flip the accordion insert over and start decorating. On my insert, I stamped words and a heart in black ink. To create a light collage effect, I applied torn scraps of left-over sewing pattern paper on top of the words using white paper glue. If you collage, let it dry overnight. You might also consider writing a love note on the insert, using gel or calligraphy pens.

9. Attach a small piece of tacky tape to the short accordion tab and affix it inside the matchbox tray. Now slip the accordion inside the matchbox tray and slide the tray into the cover. Happy Valentine's Day!

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Product Resource Guide
· Most project photos taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera
· Metallic Acrylic Paint in Rose Pearl
· Small Foam Paint Brushes
· Small piece of gold metallic edged ribbon
· Bone folder
· Tacky tape
· Staz-On Ink Pad in Jet Black
· Browse for Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: For this Valentine's Day, tell a significant other how much you care by creating a miniature accordion-fold card nestled inside a romantic matchbox.

Project - Embellish a Small Paper Tag Purse

You can do more with tag punches and tag dies than stop after making a paper tag. You can take it a step further by folding those tags into cute little paper purses for use as 3D embellishments. This project makes a finished paper purse that measures about 2 inches by 3 inches, without the handle.


Paper Tag Purse (click to enlarge)

Materials & Tools
• Thickly textured decorative paper or wallpaper scrap in Turquoise
• Sizzix System - Die Cutting Machine
• Sizzix Large Scalloped Tag Die
• Wide gold opaque ribbon, torn at an angle (purse edges)
• Turquoise blue feathers (small broken pieces to stick here and there)
• Silver-colored metal initial charm (attach to purse flap with a brad)
• Glass beads (add with wire woven through the tag holes)
• Blue scrapbooking brad (to affix the letter charm)
• Dark blue wire, wrapped around a bamboo stick to make it "spring"
• Short metal bead (or ball) keychain in blue (to create a purse handle)
• Bead chain connectors (to connect the purse handle to the tag top)
• Purse-shaped plastic button in gold
• Glue or Tacky tape (to seal the purse edges and attach the wide ribbon)
• Gold glitter glue (to decorate the outside edge)
• Tiny hole paper punch (to create extra holes for securing charms, beads or chains)
• Pop-dots or foam adhesive squares (to attach the purse button)

The Steps
1. Cut a large tag from thickly textured decorative paper. My sample uses blue paper made from Tyvek material, but you can use any thick paper of your choice. The thicker and more textured, the better. In fact, if you have any wallpaper scraps laying around, these are a great substitute.
2. Fold the tag in uneven threes, using the top of the tag as the opening flap for the paper purse. Essentially, you fold the bottom of the tag up, crease the bottom, then fold the tag top down.
3. Secure edges of the purse with glue or tacky tape on the inside edges. For a different look, consider stitching the edges instead.
4. Embellish the front of the purse as you wish. My embellishments are noted in the materials list above. You can apply glitter, beads or anything else you like.
5. When applying the wire, beads and letter charm to the top of the tag, I punched a small hole near the big tag hole for stringing and added stability.
6. Punch holes on each side of the top flap for your purse handle. I used a short metal bead chain from a discarded keychain. Check your local plumbing or hardware store for the chains. You can cut a chain that's too long, if you can't find a short chain. You can also spray paint a nickel chain to match your paper. Alternately, fashion a handle out of ribbon, fiber or rope.
7. Keep the chain from falling out of the purse flap holes by adding the clasps or connectors that come with bead chain. If you use ribbon, fiber or rope, knot the ends to hold it in place.
8. Using pop-dots or adhesive squares, add the finished paper purse to the front of a handmade greeting card, the top of a cardboard box or an altered book page. Or give it to your favorite little girl for use in her doll collection.

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Product Resource Guide
· Project photo taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera
· Decorative Paper at Amazon.com
· Sizzix System - Die Cutting Machine at Amazon.com
· Browse for Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: You can do more with tag punches and tag dies than just make a paper tag.

Product Round-Up - Paper Crafts Goodies To Die For

While browsing paper crafts magazines and visiting crafts shows, I came across some cool tools and products that I wanted to share with you, along with some ideas on how to use them. Check these out:

Magnet Tape: This struck me as a great way to get a new look continuously from my coffee table art. By attaching a piece of scrap ferrous metal to the cover of an altered book or journal, I can make movable embellishments using magnet tape. Just cut or tear off a piece of magnet and stick it to the back of a photo, tag or letters and watch while house guests have fun during a get-together. Hint: Keep a digital camera nearby to record your friends' creativity. I like to work with a magnet tape roll that's about .75 inch wide, but you can find them in half-inch widths, too. No matter, there’s plenty of length for several projects. For more info, go to Amazon.com.

MyBook – The Adaptable Planner: Ever look back and wonder what you were doing the week you created a certain project? What inspired you to use a certain paper crafts technique or explore a certain theme? MyBook can help. With its blank and calendar pages, it’s a great way to combine journaling, scrapbooking and altered art into one. And you can work on it all year long while you note your activities at the same time. MyBook has see-through covers and archival pockets, so use it to store theatre tickets and other memorabilia. It comes in two sizes (Small 4" x 6"; Large 6" x 8"). Included are ink jet inserts that enable you to print digital art or just add three dimensional tags, letters, and pictures to the pages to make it truly a one-of-a-kind creation. Rubber stampers and scrapbook fans will love this planner, too. For more info, go to mybookplanner.com.

Paper Tagger: This handheld plastic gun uses those thin plastic tabs you see on retail store apparel, but with a twist – the tabs are colored. Use it to attach letters, tags, soft charms, and whatnot to your altered books or other paper arts projects. One nice thing is that you can just as easily remove embellishments attached with this tool, should you ever change your mind or want to revamp a project. The needle is extra fine so you shouldn't have to worry about holes left from moving items around. A starter set comes with the gun, 1000 tagger tails, assorted eyelets, charms and tags. By the way, it won a Craft and Hobby Association Innovations Award. For more info, go to aroundtheblockproducts.com

Castaway Stamp Pad: This winter, I’ve been experimenting with several different techniques for creating snowflakes on paper. Well, here’s the best way I’ve seen yet. With this product, you can change the color of your colored paper by applying heat. First stamp your snowflake design on colored paper using the special inkpad then simply run over your paper with a heated iron. Just like magic, the color in the stamped area fades away and you have the soft, subtle look of a winter snowfall. I'm so glad I don't have to tolerate those smelly and messy bleach incidents anymore. And the results with the Castaway are more dramatic than using clear embossing powder. I don't have to wait for the paper to dry, either. For more info, go to jacquardproducts.com.

That’s it for my paper crafts product round-up. Do you have products you can't live without? Share the wealth and tell a friend.

Article Description: While browsing paper crafts magazines and visiting crafts shows, I came across several cool tools and innovative products that I wanted to share with you.

Best Practices in Paper Crafts – Tips from the Experts

There are dozens of books available for both the budding and experienced paper crafter. But which book do you buy? In addition to the types of projects found in each, how about evaluating books based on the real world advice they provide? Here is a sampling of tips that you can use immediately in your next paper crafts projects, complete with credit for the talented and insightful authors who penned them.

"When making a multi-material book, be sure to take into consideration the thickness of your pages. A combination of thick and thin pages is preferable to avoid making the book so thick that it can’t be closed and always yawns open."
"Cardboard is very easy to alter and is extremely lightweight. Experiment with inks, embossing powders or fabric dyes to give your chipboard and cardboard a facelift."
Expert Source: Carol Winger and Tena Sprenger, in their book "Artful Memories: Create One of a Kind Scrapbook Pages, Memory Books and Framed Art." North Light Books, 2006. ISBN 1-58180-810-0

"You may wish to apply glaze to brass eyelets to hold them in place once they have been inserted."
"When punching shapes from Washi paper, "place a piece of scrap paper underneath for stability and ease of punching."
Expert Source: Laurie Goodson and Betsey McLoughlin, in their book "Altered Books: Special Effects." Design Originals. ISBN 1-57421-478-0.

"It’s O.K. if your words or images fall off the page! Whether purposely or accidentally, having only half a stamped image, at the edge of your page can suggest repetition, continuous movement, or fragmented or harried feelings."
"When in doubt, make it big. Use bigger lettering and make a bold statement!"
Expert Source: Karen Dinino and Linda Woods, in their book "Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Creating Art Journals, Creative Manifestos & Altered Books." North Light Books, 2006. ISBN 1-58180-770-8

"Using short, jabbing motions will help you get good coverage over the surface of (a) brayer."
"Stippling uses very little paint. Always apply the paint to your stipple brush and then tap off the excess paint onto scrap paper."
Expert Source: Alisa Harkless, in her book "Incredible Ink Techniques." Grace Publications, 2003.

Project - Make a Wintery Artist Trading Card

Winter sends chills down my spine while bringing out the kid in me at the same time. Join me in embracing the cold with this quick and easy artist trading card or ATC.


Tiny Snowflakes Grace an Artist Trading Card (click to enlarge)

Materials & Tools
· White Card Stock, 2.5 by 3.5-inch
· Turquoise or Other Blue Card Stock, 2.5 by 3.5-inch
· White Vellum Scrap
· 1 piece of silver metallic or hologram style ribbon, 1/2-inch wide by roughly 3 inches long
· 3 tiny (1/2-inch) plastic snowflake ornaments, the kind used to decorate miniature desktop Christmas trees
· Scrap piece of card stock, any color, about the width of the ribbon
· Glue stick, double-stick tape or your adhesive of choice for applying the paper layers
· 1/4-inch diameter pop dots by All Night Media, for adhering the snowflakes to the ribbon
· Good pair of comfortable, teflon-like coated scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada
· Fiskars Paper Edgers, with the postage stamp edging
· Paper trimmer, like 12" Portable Paper Trimmer by Fiskars
· 1 fl. oz. bottle of Scribbles 3D Paint in Glittering Crystal

The Steps

1. Using the paper trimmer, cut two identically-sized pieces of card stock -- one white, the other blue.

2. Tear one of them lengthwise -- your choice, depending on which color you'd like to layer on top.

3. Mount the torn card stock on top of the other piece. Using your fingers, rub the torn edge to make it roll back a bit.

4. Tear and crumble the piece of vellum then wrap it around the layered ATC base. Tape the vellum on the back of the card to secure it in place.

5. Cut a 3.5 inch piece of metallic holiday ribbon. Tape it to a piece of card stock.

6. Mount the snowflakes on the front of the mounted ribbon using the adhesive dots. If the snowflakes are for tree decor, remember to cut off holes and threads first.

7. Using the Fiskars scissors, cut the metallic ribbon at an angle in between the snowflakes.

8. Mount the individual snowflake embellishments onto the front of the artist trading card using double-stick tape.

9. Using the 3D glittery paint, paint blustery swirls on the top of the vellum scrap. Be careful not to add too much paint or your vellum will bubble and warp. Be creative. Think about swirling winter breezes and Old Man Winter. Let dry overnight.

10. Share your finished ATC with a friend on a chilly winter evening.

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Product Resource Guide
· Project photo taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera
· White Card Stock - 8-1/2"x11" 50 Sheet Pack
· Riverside Paper Array® 65-lb. Card Stock, 8-1/2 x 11, Assorted Parchment Colors, 100 Sheets/Pk 01235 / RIV01235
· Vellum Paper Packs by DMD
· Scrap piece of card stock the width of the ribbon
· Glue Stick, Disappearing, Acid Free, .77, Purple
· Fiskars Paper Edgers, with the postage stamp edging
· Fiskars 12-Inch Euro Paper Trimmer
· Browse for Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: Here is a simple artist trading card to make with leftover bits of vellum and holiday decor.

Book Review - Collage Lost and Found by Giuseppina Cirincione

reviewed on papercrafts.bellaonline.com

Collage Lost And Found: Creating Unique Projects With Vintage Ephemera

by Giuseppina "Josie" Cirincione
Publisher: North Light Books (May 2006)
ISBN:1581807872; Paperback book: 128 pages
Reviewed By Kim M. Bayne, Paper Crafts Editor for BellaOnline.comproduct
Rating: ★★★★★

Whether you prefer to manipulate metal, glass or paper or express your creativity through jewelry, home décor or greeting cards, you’ll find something new to oogle in this paperback by Josie Cirincione. It expands one's definition of paper crafts and collage beyond the ordinary.

Like many vintage collage artists, Josie is fond of layering imagery from the early to mid-20th Century, and I couldn’t help but notice her "Rosie the Riveter" obsession with hardware and electrical store finds. Then there are the enticing works in need of soldering irons. Projects range from a short 30 minutes for pulling together a simple domino pendant (page 86) to an afternoon mulling over vintage photos to embellish an elaborate metal family album (page 66).

One of my favorite projects is "A Preference for Leather" (page 116), a set of framed images mounted on a leather band. By sewing soldered microscope slides to an eyeleted scrap of leather, you can create a unique wristband for a night out with the girls. I pondered the idea of collaging photos of my daughter’s female relatives; aunts and grandmas and maybe even me, to combine the stories of one’s heritage with the timelessness of leather. It’s a thoughtful gift, whether the recipient is partial to Bohemian couture or loves sporting a wearable scrapbook.

Another fave project is "Magnetic Attraction" (page 118), a message center built of galvanized sheet metal and glass. In search of wall art to fill those odd and bare places? Create a thin horizontal familial grouping, complete with small magnets for posting notes. I do wish the author had provided dimensions of the pieces of metal and glass she used, since I wanted to follow her example. I’ll have to take a wild guess based on the pictures and proportions. If you decide to make this, be mindful of glass thickness, since magnets may not adhere if the overlay is too thick. While making the magnets, consider substituting adhesive page pebbles for the glaze, depending on the look you wish to achieve.

On pages 120 and 121, the author reproduces some vintage photographs, postcards and playing cards for use in assemblage. Although this section is titled "Collage Clippings," I wouldn’t suggest cutting out the ephemera. Take your book to the nearest copy center and make high quality single copies for your personal use, as suggested by the publisher. Photocopies are more versatile anyway, especially if you like playing with image transfers (pages 48-49).

Most collage is made for telling a story, and you’ll find several examples of artistic pictorials in "Collage Lost and Found." From paper shipping tags masquerading as historical bookmarks to tiny mint tins recycled into ancestral pocket shrines, this book is fun to browse even if a glue bottle is nowhere in sight. Dying for an excuse to rummage through your father’s desk drawers for old receipts? Go buy this book.

Product Resource Guide
· Buy Collage Lost And Found: Creating Unique Projects With Vintage Ephemera at Amazon.com
· Making Memories Clear Page Pebbles - Large Round
· Black & Decker CI500S Dual-Temp Soldering & Craft Iron
· Lead-Free Solder
· Browse for more Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: Breathe life into your paper crafts style by expanding your definition of collage.

Project - Celebrate Fall with a Faux Copper Card Topper

I love the fall. Leaves turning colors. Greens blending into coppers and tans. It's the deep, rich palette of the season that calms me. Thanksgiving in the United States will soon be here and I'm inspired to create a few handmade invitations for a dinner party.

Copper is one of my favorite ways to express autumn, and I love its look as leaves. Unfortunately, when I use real copper -- even a small bit -- for an embellishment, the greeting card often feels heavy, floppy or lopsided. I've decided to fake it by substituting mirrored paper. Here's how I did it.


Fake Copper Leaves Embellish a Fall Card (click to enlarge)

Materials & Tools
· White Ink Jet Textured Note Cards with Envelopes, 4.25 by 5.5-inch, Heavyweight, by Avery
· Copper or burnt orange metallic or mirror-finish paper
· Scrap piece of card stock for mounting the stamped leaves
· Muted green handmade textured paper
· Deep purple or maroon colored card stock
· Woodblock Stripe Decorative Paper - Copper on Sienna, as found at Paper Mojo
· Gray cardstock
· Small leaf skeleton rubber stamp, like 1.5-inch size by Susan's Delusions
· Black solvent inkpad, like Jet Black by StazOn
· Glue stick
· Good pair of comfortable, teflon-like coated scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada
· Paper trimmer, like 12" Portable Paper Trimmer by Fiskars
· Craft knife
· Metal ruler or straight edge
· 1/2-inch black foam adhesive squares, Peel and Stick, by Therm O Web

The Steps
(Click to enlarge images. Click back button to return to article.)

1. Using a template program to line up your text and an inkjet printer, add a Thanksgiving or other seasonal greeting to the inside of a note card.
2. Cut a small piece of copper-colored mirror paper, no bigger than 4 by 4 inches. Using permanent black ink, rubber stamp three small skeleton leaves on the paper...yes, you're looking at unmounted stamps. Notice that I stamped a bigger leaf on the paper, too. I wanted to compare the looks to see which leaf size and shape I preferred.


3. Mount the copper paper on card stock for stability then carefully cut out the leaves. There's something about the stark black ink on the coppery paper that fools the eye into seeing real metal.
4. Cut a 5 by 6 inch piece of muted green handmade textured paper. Glue to the front of the note card, using a straight edge and craft knife to trim the excess. For more texture, try decorative paper with bamboo or falling leaves designs.
5. Cut a 3 by 4.5 inch piece of deep purple or maroon colored card stock, depending on your color preference. Glue to the front of the green paper.
6. Cut a piece of 1.75 by 4.5 inch piece of copper striped sienna colored decorative paper. Glue to the front of the purple card stock.
7. Cut a piece of 3 by 3 inch gray cardstock. Glue to the front of the copper striped paper.
8. Gently tear the edges of the layered papers. You can also tear before gluing, but I liked the odd edges that came from peeling and tearing the glued layers.
9. Using foam squares, mount each of the leaves in place on top of the gray cardstock. I positioned the cut-outs in a circle to give the feeling of wind blowing fallen leaves.
10. Now slip your finished card into the envelope and send it on its way.

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Product Resource Guide
· Most project photos taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera
· Note Cards with Envelopes
· Mirror-finish paper
· Stripe Decorative Paper
· Black solvent inkpad
· Foam adhesive squares
· Bamboo leaf paper
· Falling leaves paper
· Browse for Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: Like the look of copper but not the weight? Adorn the front of a Thanksgiving card with lightweight leaves made of your favorite metallic paper.

Book Review - Greeting Cards Using Digital Photos by Cheryl Owen

reviewed on papercraftseditor.blogspot.com

Greeting Cards Using Digital Photos: 18 Step-by-Step Projects for Uniquely Personal Greeting Cards

by Cheryl Owen
Publisher: Martingale and Company (August 2006)
ISBN:1564777162; Paperback book: 96 pages
Reviewed By Kim M. Bayne, Paper Crafts Editor for BellaOnline.comproduct
Rating: ★★★★

If you’re into quick and easy cards yet still wondering what to do with the hundreds of digital photos you’ve snapped this year, buy a copy of “Greeting Cards using Digital Photos.” Paper crafter Cheryl Owens outlines eighteen step-by-step projects that take little time but produce pleasing results. Relying on basic card-making techniques throughout (templates and deckling edges, for example), the 95-page paperback is a solid introduction for the beginning digital paper crafter. As a refresher for the experienced card maker, the book includes reminders of how to enlarge shapes using templates, properly use a craft knife, and create a deckle edge.

For the most part, Owen sticks to standard uses for typical embellishments, like using thin wire, instead of thread, for beading on the “Beaded Celebration Card” (pg. 42). On rare occasions, the author uses something new. For example, the Row of Rectangles hole punch, used in the “Filmstrip Bookmark” (pg. 50), isn’t in my collection, but it might be in yours.

“Bookmark,” you say? That’s not a card. Granted, there are few fun deviations from the primary task, and you can always incorporate them into scrapbook pages or mount them on a card. The “3D Specs” (pg. 46) are really cute, so think about transforming them into a beach party invitation.

The author has a sense of humor, too. One of my favorite card creations was the “Bobble-head Pet” (pg.54). Owen used a wound piece of wire to create a spring on which to mount the head of a white dog. Suspended over a checkerboard-like green and yellow background, the pup’s head completes the three-dimension look while wiggling hilariously over a body cut from a duplicate photo.

For a future edition of this paperback, I’d suggest a few enhancements.
1. I’d like to see more card variations pictured at each project end. For example, the “Birthday Truck” (pg. 32), “New Baby” (pg. 66) and “Retirement Landscape” (pg. 78) cards each show one variation on a theme, but I hungered for more.
2. The materials and tools lists are a bit generic, short of most details needed to procure the exact items featured in these projects. Who makes that cute tulip paper punch used in the “Mother’s Day Garden” (pg. 26)? The book doesn’t say. The one-page resource list on page 94 lacks the same attention to detail. Sure, I could probably search for something similar on the Web, but the author could have saved me some time. Owen encourages substitutions, but I can imagine wanting to have some of the real stuff on hand in a few cases in order to reproduce certain treatments, regardless of the card design.

If you’ve done any amount of paper crafting at all, you already own most of the supplies (scissors, rulers, paper and cardstock, adhesives and paint) needed to make more than a few of the cards in Owen's book, so don’t worry – you won’t need to make a major investment in new accessories to get started. Most of the projects can be completed in an hour or less. If you favor a more ornate style, like shabby chic, don’t discount this book. Think of each of the projects as the perfect starting point for something more elaborate, using it to jump-start an enjoyable paper crafting afternoon.

Product Resource Guide
· Buy Greeting Cards Using Digital Photos by Cheryl Owen at Amazon.com
· Browse for more Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: Try something different with your digital photos. Print them out to use in your next greeting card project.

Project - Alter a Spiral Notebook

Spruce up a small spiral notebook by replacing and decorating the cover.
by Kim M. Bayne



Has this ever happened to you? You're out shopping and you suddenly think of a great crafts project. But you don't have anything to write on. So you buy the nearest thing -- a boring-looking spiral with plain notebook paper so you can jot down and remember your idea.

Several years back, I did just that. Now I keep that notebook in the car so I can sketch ideas anytime during car trips when a family member is driving.

But the other day, I looked at it closely. It was dog-eared, worn and sorry-looking. I didn't want to start over with a new sketchbook and I felt this one needed a bit of sprucing up.

My style? Very eclectic. I love mixing earth-tones with a surprising splash of modern metal -- so you'll notice I added silver beads and silver ribbon.

And while I stuck mostly with blues and neutrals, I couldn't resist throwing in a bit of olive-drab satin ribbon on the spiral plus a hint of gold with a star-shaped paper clip.

Here's what I did to my sketch book's front cover. Enjoy.

Altered Spiral Notebook

Materials & Tools
* Mead Fat Lil' Notebook, spiral-bound with 200 ruled sheets, sheet size 5.5 by 3.5 inch
* 1 piece of heavy-duty plain cardboard, discarded from packaging
* 1 piece of 80 lb. uncoated scrapbooking paper, like packages of 12 by 12-inch sheets by Provo Craft
* 1 piece indigo blue 80 lb. cardstock
* 1 piece of imprinted beige canvas ribbon with the word "inspire", 3/4-inch wide by 4.5 inches long
* 1 piece of silver metallic wire-edged ribbon, 1/2-inch wide by 5.5 inches long
* Assorted decorative, shaped metallic paper clips, with shapes like spirals, stars, etc.
* 1 scrap of brown rope netting
* 5 tarnished, flat silver beads or bead spacers, averaging 1/4-inch diameter each
* 3 discarded, dirty keys
* Assorted ribbons and strings, each about 4 inches long
* An extra 10-inch piece of brown string, for weaving through the netting
* Permanent bond glue stick, like Glue Stick Clear .70 oz by MANCO
* 1/2-inch wide double-stick tape, like Terrifically Tacky Tape by Art Accentz/Provo Craft
* 3/16-inch diameter mini glue dots by Glue Dots International
* 1/4-inch diameter pop dots by All Night Media, for adhering the silver beads
* Handheld paper punch, like 1/8-inch Round Punchline Punch Item #52400 by McGill
* Ordinary pencil, for marking where to cut on the cardboard and paper
* Jewelry pliers for bending the notebook spiral, for both removal and reattachment
* Good pair of comfortable, teflon-like coated scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada, or a craft knife and a straight edge

The Steps
(Click to enlarge images. Click the back button to return to this article.)
1. Using the pliers, bend and remove the spiral from the notebook. Carefully put the notebook aside so you're able to put it back together later.


2. Use the original notebook cover to measure and cut a replacement cover out of the plain heavy cardboard, which you'll decorate. You can also decorate your original cover, if you wish. I chose to replace mine because it was plastic and I wanted a paper surface to work on.

3. Apply glue stick to the back of the scrapbook paper and adhere to your new cover.

4. Tear across the indigo blue cardstock to create an artsy edge. Use the glue stick to attach the cardstock on top of the scrapbook paper.


5. Turn over the notebook cover and use your scissors to trim the extra paper and card stock to fit the cover.

6. Use the hole punch to create holes in the new cover -- use the old cover to help line up where the holes need to go. Remember to hold steady and punch hard so you can go through all layers.


7. Apply flat ribbons to the front of the cover with the tacky double-stick tape.


8. Add the paper clips to the cover edge.


9. Position the keys on the cover over selected holes. Once you decide where you want to position the keys, put the notebook back together.


10. Wind the spiral through the new cover, stopping to put the keys on the spiral to hold them in place. Remember to use the jewelry pliers to bend the ends of the spiral again so the cover stays in place.

11. Hold the keys on the cover using the glue dots -- see the photo for a close-up of one key with the tiny glue dots on its back.


12. Randomly tie pieces of ribbon and string to the spiral -- one or more pieces of ribbon for each cover hole. To hold them securely, use a square knot. If you're concerned about the fibers coming loose, use a tiny dot of tacky glue on each knot.


13. Using the pop dots, attach the silver beads to the cover. If you don't like the 3D look of the pop dots, use flatter glue dots to adhere the beads.


14. To tie the scrap of brown netting to the cover, punch a few holes through the cover (close together) and tie off with brown string. You can untie/re-tie a few pieces of ribbon or string near the spiral to anchor the left-hand side of the netting, too. Finally, if you have any left-over brown
string, you can weave it through one edge of the netting, like I did here.


Remember to go back up to the top of this article to see the finished notebook again. For a variation on the same theme, look below.

---

Credits
* Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Project - Alter a Spiral Notebook

Has this ever happened to you? You're out shopping and you suddenly think of a great crafts project. But you don't have anything to write on. So you buy the nearest thing -- a boring-looking spiral with plain notebook paper so you can jot down and remember your idea.

Several years back, I did just that. Now I keep that notebook in the car so I can sketch ideas anytime during car trips when a family member is driving.

But the other day, I looked at it closely. It was dog-eared, worn and sorry-looking. I didn't want to start over with a new sketchbook and I felt this one needed a bit of sprucing up.

My style? Very eclectic. I love mixing earth-tones with a surprising splash of modern metal -- so you'll notice I added silver beads and silver ribbon.

And while I stuck mostly with blues and neutrals, I couldn't resist throwing in a bit of olive-drab satin ribbon on the spiral plus a hint of gold with a star-shaped paper clip.

Here's what I did to my sketch book's front cover. Enjoy.

Altered Spiral Notebook

Materials & Tools
· Mead Fat Lil' Notebook, spiral-bound with 200 ruled sheets, sheet size 5.5 by 3.5 inch
· 1 piece of heavy-duty plain cardboard, discarded from packaging
· 1 piece of 80 lb. uncoated scrapbooking paper, like packages of 12 by 12-inch sheets by Provo Craft
· 1 piece indigo blue 80 lb. cardstock
· 1 piece of imprinted beige canvas ribbon with the word "inspire", 3/4-inch wide by 4.5 inches long
· 1 piece of silver metallic wire-edged ribbon, 1/2-inch wide by 5.5 inches long
· Assorted decorative, shaped metallic paper clips, with shapes like spirals, stars, etc.
· 1 scrap of brown rope netting
· 5 tarnished, flat silver beads or bead spacers, averaging 1/4-inch diameter each
· 3 discarded, dirty keys
· Assorted ribbons and strings, each about 4 inches long
· An extra 10-inch piece of brown string, for weaving through the netting
· Permanent bond glue stick, like Glue Stick Clear .70 oz by MANCO
· 1/2-inch wide double-stick tape, like Terrifically Tacky Tape by Art Accentz/Provo Craft
· 3/16-inch diameter mini glue dots by Glue Dots International
· 1/4-inch diameter pop dots by All Night Media, for adhering the silver beads
· Handheld paper punch, like 1/8-inch Round Punchline Punch Item #52400 by McGill
· Ordinary pencil, for marking where to cut on the cardboard and paper
· Jewelry pliers for bending the notebook spiral, for both removal and reattachment
· Good pair of comfortable, teflon-like coated scissors, like Velvet Touch Scissors by Armada, or a craft knife and a straight edge

The Steps
(Click to enlarge images. Click the back button to return to this article.)
1. Using the pliers, bend and remove the spiral from the notebook. Carefully put the notebook aside so you're able to put it back together later.


2. Use the original notebook cover to measure and cut a replacement cover out of the plain heavy cardboard, which you'll decorate. You can also decorate your original cover, if you wish. I chose to replace mine because it was plastic and I wanted a paper surface to work on.

3. Apply glue stick to the back of the scrapbook paper and adhere to your new cover.

4. Tear across the indigo blue cardstock to create an artsy edge. Use the glue stick to attach the cardstock on top of the scrapbook paper.


5. Turn over the notebook cover and use your scissors to trim the extra paper and card stock to fit the cover.

6. Use the hole punch to create holes in the new cover -- use the old cover to help line up where the holes need to go. Remember to hold steady and punch hard so you can go through all layers.


7. Apply flat ribbons to the front of the cover with the tacky double-stick tape.


8. Add the paper clips to the cover edge.


9. Position the keys on the cover over selected holes. Once you decide where you want to position the keys, put the notebook back together.


10. Wind the spiral through the new cover, stopping to put the keys on the spiral to hold them in place. Remember to use the jewelry pliers to bend the ends of the spiral again so the cover stays in place.

11. Hold the keys on the cover using the glue dots -- see the photo for a close-up of one key with the tiny glue dots on its back.


12. Randomly tie pieces of ribbon and string to the spiral -- one or more pieces of ribbon for each cover hole. To hold them securely, use a square knot. If you're concerned about the fibers coming loose, use a tiny dot of tacky glue on each knot.


13. Using the pop dots, attach the silver beads to the cover. If you don't like the 3D look of the pop dots, use flatter glue dots to adhere the beads.


14. To tie the scrap of brown netting to the cover, punch a few holes through the cover (close together) and tie off with brown string. You can untie/re-tie a few pieces of ribbon or string near the spiral to anchor the left-hand side of the netting, too. Finally, if you have any left-over brown
string, you can weave it through one edge of the netting, like I did here.


Remember to go back up to the top of this article to see the finished notebook again. For a variation on the same theme, look below.

---

Credits
· Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera
· Browse for Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: Spruce up a small spiral notebook by replacing and decorating the cover.

Book Review - Art Stamping Workshop by Gloria Page

reviewed on papercrafts.bellaonline.com

Art Stamping Workshop: Create Hand-Carved Stamps for Unique Projects on Paper, Fabric, Polymer Clay and More

by Gloria Page
Publisher: F & W Publications, 2006
ISBN: 1581806965; Paperback: 128 pages
Reviewed By Kim M. Bayneproduct
Rating: ★★★★★

These days, with so many books on the market, it’s rare when I can pick up a new paper crafts title and actually see myself doing the majority of projects. Even rarer when I actually start doing most of them shortly after browsing.

Before I came across “Art Stamping Workshop” by Gloria Page, I was my usual skeptical self. My paper crafts style is an eclectic mix of shabby chic and whatever found art I almost threw away. In other words, it’s unlikely that some cutesy project book will appeal to me. Guess what? Gloria’s projects are anything but “cute.” Think simple yet stylish, creative yet uncluttered, and best of all, you’ll come away with a ton of new ideas. For example, I loved her Magnetic Bookmark Card project (page 48) -- the card incorporates two paper bookmarks into its design, so this work of art is practical as well.

Gloria’s Workshop demonstrates everything from how to carve your own stamps out of soft-block carving material – her photographs make these 20 projects look so simple, even the novice won’t be shy about carving – to rubber stamping with Staz-On Ink right on rocks. I was so inspired; I started gathering rocks outside my home so I could decorate the yard. My creations, based on the River Rock project (page 90) must have looked great because a few of them went missing in a few hours. Oh, well!

Gloria didn’t stop at altering rocks, either. A ceramic white tile, a plain wooden frame from the crafts store, and miscellaneous fabrics all became the recipients of Gloria’s unique stamping style. And no corner was left unexplored...literally. Gloria even decorated scrapbook photo corners with stamped triangles. There’s enough in this book to keep an altered art mind busy for weeks, if not months.

Now about the images in this book…all very clear and well photographed, with great lighting. I had no problem seeing the up-close details of an artist’s journal embellished with stamped craft sticks or a star ornament stamped out of polymer clay. Gloria’s pages left nothing to the imagination, except of course, for how you’ll apply her wonderful techniques and style to your own original projects. And if you're at a loss for how to outfit your crafts area for these projects, the author has included a few pages with more than a dozen material ideas for carving your own stamps.

If you’re a paper person, fabric fanatic or altered artist at heart, take heart! There’s something here for you. From the beginner to the advanced crafter, you’ll find a new way to look at rubber stamping. Gloria’s book is well worth the time and price. But beware – once you pick it up, nothing in your house will be safe from rubber and ink.

Product Resource Guide
· Buy Art Stamping Workshop at Amazon.com
· Browse for more Paper Crafts Books at Amazon.com

Article Description: Learn how to carve your own stamps for unusual projects on a variety of surfaces