Fortune Holder

I was checking out Lisa Spangler's blog the other day and she had created the best "fortune cookie fourtune holder".  Well, at work we often go out to the restaurant in town that has fortune cookies for "dessert" so I had to make one of these holders. 

Lisa even did a great tutorial on how to do the japanese binding.  Mine did not turn out as lined up as hers, but hey, it was only my 2nd time doing this kind of binding.  (If you are a long time reader, you might remember THIS card I did way back in Nov. 2007). 

The papers are oragami papers given to me from a friend.  I used it as inspiration to create the circle focal point (which uses Asian Frames by Hero Arts) colored with Copics. 

As you can see, I added various colored pages inside the book and stamped a single flower image randomly with Versamark ink.  It adds just a bit of interest on the pages. 

I can hardly wait to start adding our fortunes into this book.  I think it will be a lot of fun!!


Have a great day!!
Donelda

Christmas Present for Mom and Dad

My mom and dad live a far way from us and don't get to see their grandson! So, I try to create mini albums for them with various pictures of my son, their grandson, for them to enjoy! Here is the version I created to send them for a Christmas present.

I will leave you various pictures to peruse. I made the album myself. The cover and back are made with some light cardstock. The inside pages are made with white cardstock. I used my Fiskars cutter and template to make the pages this shape!!

Too many supplies to list them all. Stamps used include Birds of a Feather (Papertrey Ink),

Sillouettes (Stampin' Up!), Script background

(Stampin' Up!), Father Knows Best (Papertrey Ink),

Thanks for dropping in again!! Donelda

Camping Mini Album

Okay, here' s another album....

I bought a new magazine to take camping a few weeks ago and, wow, I have been so inspired!! It is called Mini Albums in an evening by Simple Scrapbooks. I have a million ideas for mini albums now! I am a total mini album fanatic and this magazine has just given me more ideas than ever. If you also like making mini albums then run, don't walk, to your nearest magazine stand and get this issue!!

So, my first inspired project is this Camping mini album. I decided to use some of the light cardboard that I have. While I could have covered it with designer paper, I decided that the cardboard was the perfect rustic look for my camping album!!

This entire book took me exactly 3 hours to pull together. One night I decided on which pictures to use and printed them out. Then the next morning, I worked on it from 8:00 until 11:00, exactly 3 hours of work and my book was finished!!

I used one of my favorite stamping sets, Fantastic Foilage (Stampin' Up!), to decorate the book. I used Old Olive and Chocolate Chip because I had camping themed embellishment sticker page I wanted to use which had olive elements in it. I added a bit of journalling but mostly just let the pictures speak for themselves.

One of my favorite parts are the circle tabs that I added to the side of the book. Each of these tabs have the date and the location of our camping adventure.

I made a number of "blank" pages so that I have room to include the many more camping trips we are sure to have in the future! I also added a

envelope with more of the tabs prepared so that I have the exact tabs to use in the future!

I bound the book with my Bind It All which made it a cinch to pull together!!

Supplies: Stamps-Fantastic Foilage (Stampin' Up!); Ink-Old Olive, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Paper - Light cardboard (unknown), Olive texture paper (bazzill); Other - camping themed stickers (7gypsies), Letter stickers (Sandylion), Chocolate Chip marker (Stampin' Up), dauber (Stampin' Up!), coluzzle, Bind It All.

Well, I hope you are inspired by my mini album. Thanks for dropping in and visiting.

Donelda

Very Sentimental Anniversary Present!

I have spent almost a year working on this project! I wanted it to be perfect. (As well, I'm a bit of a procrastonator!! LOL). It will be going to my Mom and Dad in early October. I probably should wait until next year because that will actually be their 50th Wedding Anniversary, but my Dad is not healthy and I don't want to risk the chance of waiting for the year and having it not get to him at all!! So, it is a present to celebrate their 50th year of life as Husband and Wife, a little early.

I wanted the whole book to be elegant but not overwhelmed with lots of embellishments. So the pages are fairly clean and simple. I love the little collage on the front of the book! It was so much fun to make. I did this part while I was scrapbooking with my friend Carol (Hi Carol if you are reading my blog these days!!).

The pictures are copies of original wedding pictures. These original pictures are sadly in my mom's wedding album but the tape she used (yikes!) has all let go and many of the pictures have tape marks on them! For that reason, I am even more excited to make this book! These pictures will stay attached and not deteriate like the old book. I even copied the invitation which you can see on one of these pages.

I haven't included all the pages just a few so you can get the general idea of what the book looks like.

The book is actually made from cardboard that I cut to size and then, obviously, bound using my Bind It All.

Supplies: Paper-Simply Scrappin' Kit Today and Always {which includes the inside patterned paper, Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom, and Mellow Moss} (Stampin' Up!), front cover rose paper (Amscan), inside front cover (EK Success); Ink - True Thyme, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Versamark (all Stampin' Up!); Stamps - Together Forever, Forever Flowers (Stampin' Up!), Wedding Day, Favor It Weddings (Papertrey Ink); Other - tags are from Simply Scrappin' Kit (Stampin' Up!), Rub Ons (Deja Views), Large Brad (Makin Memories), velvet flower (Maya Road), cream flower (Bazzill), 1" circle punch (Stampin' Up!), ribbon (Stampin' Up!), sponge dauber, lace and buttons (grandma Mary's stash), pearls (K&Co.), Coluzzle, Chipboard swirl(Fancy Pants), key and heart charms (Dollar Store), hemp.

Thanks for visiting.

Donelda

February 26 - Design Basics Lesson #8

Hello and welcome. This is my 8th lesson in my own exploration of design basics. I am using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. You can explore the earlier lessons by clicking on the links on the right side of my blog if you are interested!! Enjoy.

Today's lesson is on Hierarchy. Defined as "a system of graded ranks".

Jim expalins that when looking at something, we will naturally be drawn to the item at the top of this "visual hierarchy". Sometimes it is the largest item, a well placed item, or because of the color of the item, or even because it is the most conceptually intriguing element. Then, our eye should follow a "visual pathway" of supporting elements.

I like this concept!! I'm thinking back to some of my favorite cards from people like Nichole Heady, Lisa Johnson, Sharon Johnson, and Debbie Olson and I can clearly find the eye-catching element or "the element that is the highest on the visual hierarchy". Cool!!

Now my turn!! Here are some cards that I made in the past where you can (or at least I can) clearly see my eye doing that...finding the element that is at the "top of the visual hierarchy" and then moving down the elements:

See this page from the valentine I sent my parents ---->

When I look at this, I totally look at the photo first (a good sign since it is a mini scrapbook) and then I find I move to the cluster of the flowers and heart in the bottom right, then up to the word angel and finally to the vertical red ribbon.... wow!! When I made this bage back in January, I didn't realize this but I keep opening and closing this image and every time I open it, my eyes do the same thing!! Did that happen to you when you looked at it???

<--------------

And here is another card where I can really see the visual heirarchy when I look at it. I totally look at the wire swirly charm. Then I look at the tiny sentiment and then the bold black bow. I keep thinking that I would move to the bow second becasue it is so much more intense...but I don't seem to. What does your eye do with this card???

Last card ------->

When I look at this card, I instantly go to the middle of the leaves, where there is more white inside the rectangle. Then I move out to that dark brown strip and finally on to the sentiment. Maybe not the best route (shouldn't the sentiment be more important than the strip???) But that is what my eye tends to do. Does that happen to you too??

Supplies:

Angel Valentine: Paper-Blush (Basic Grey), Ribbon (Making Memories- red, Michaels dollar bin - ivory), Flowers (Primas), Buttons (sm. heart - Teresa's Hand Dyed Buttons, brown - grandma Mary's stash), letters (Blush by Basic Grey), photo corners (dollar store), dauber (Stampin' Up!), Close to Cocoa Ink (SU!) sponged around edge. Note-the red outlined heart is cut from cardboard and covered with basic grey paper.

Wire Pendent Charm Card: Paper-Tempting Turquoise, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black (all Stampin' UP), Ink-Basic Black (SU!), Versamark (Tsukineko), Stamps-Deligt in Life, Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU!), Accessories-oval chipboard(Fancy Pants), Black organdy ribbon (Michaels), Hobby knife, wire (Michaels). Note - this pendent was made based on a website that made wire pendents and the wire pendent I made by hand. I can't find the link but if I do find it, I'll edit it in here.

Masking Card: Cardstock-Whisper White (SU!), Ink-Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Stamps-Beautiful Blooms, Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink), Dauber (SU!), Post It notes (3M). Note - this card is all masked -- it is a one layer card !!

Thanks for visiting. Let me know what you think about the lesson!

Donelda

Valentine for Grandma and Grandpa

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. I've been sick, sick, sick!! Here is the valentine that I made for Grandma and Grandpa. I got the inspiration from Beth's Try a New Technique 150 where she wanted us to make a photo wallet. I had seen one forever ago on Debbie Olson's blog and have been meaning to make one ever since..... that was a long long long time ago!!

I picked the color scheme of brown, caramel and red!! and then added various buttons, ribbon, and flowers to match. It was a ton of fun and I'm sure Grandma and Grandpa will love it!!

Supplies: Cardstock-brown, caramel, red (Brazzil), Ink-Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Real REd (SU), Stamps - itty bitty backgrounds (SU), Dollar stamps from Michaels, Accessories- various buttons, various ribbon, prima lowers, SU brads, other heart shaped brad (unknown), rhinstone (dollar store), lace from Great Grandma Mary's sewing stash, brown marker.

Thanks for visiting. Donelda

Valentine for Granny and Grampy!

Well, here is the valentine that I made for my parents. It was so much fun to make!! A real labour of love. I hope they enjoy it!!

It is connected using my Bind-It-All!! I love my BIA but I don't get to use it very much. I have another project on the go that uses it which I am hoping to finally finish soon. On many of the pages you will see hearts, they are cut out of cardboard, covered with designer paper and either stamped or sewn (using my sewing machine). On one page, you will note a scallop edge on one of the pics, it is really circles cut in half with rub-ons added! Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey, Au Chocolate and Recollections (SU), gingham red (Making Memories, Bazzill cardstock (red); Ink - Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Real Red(SU) ; Stamps, Fancy Flexible Phrases, Too Terrific Tags (SU); Accessories- flowers (BazzillBasics) and (Primas), various buttons, various ribbon (Michaels and SU), hemp (SU), rub-ons (Chatterbox), acrylic paint (red, vanilla), metal photo corners (dollar store), thread, sewing machine, Bind-It-All (Zutter). Thanks for visiting.

Donelda