Love Letters: Daily Diary Heart of Gold 'A Tutorial'

Hello everyone!

Today I am going to take a different spin on my post this week.

I thought I would show one off one of my favourite tools to use with  you all, considering this week is all about "love letters". 

It was the perfect fit for the story I wanted to tell.

I love how each Daily Diary kit comes with at least 1 12x12 sheet.  It is awesome to have the option to use this in it's entirety, or cut up since most of them can be trimmed on their one side into adorable pocket cards.

So this week, because it is all about "love letters" I wanted to use this double sided paper from this kit and transform it into a super cute envelope to place inside my planner using my favourite tool...the We R Memory Keeper Envelope Punch Board!

This board is SO easy to use...and makes SO many different sizes of envelopes. How awesome right?!? It is the perfect way to create extra storage for your projects or a great way to create super cute envelopes from our overflowing paper stashes...I know we all have em! ;)

Ok...so let's get down to how this little beauty works.

When you purchase your board it comes with a full sheet of easy step by step directions....as well as photo directions so you cannot go wrong!

I will give you a basic low down...and if you are still unsure, you can always check out amazing video demos on you tube showing this fabulous tool in action.

So, to begin. 

Decide on what size of envelope you are wishing to create by reviewing all of the possible sizes listed on the board.  When you choose your size, it will also tell you what dimensions your paper needs to be in order to create that envelope.

So next step, trim your 12x12 sheet of paper down according to the size you require.

Next, when you chose your desired size of envelope...it also stated not only the paper dimensions in correspondence with that, but it also showed the designated "score line".

This is important because the edge of your paper will always have to line up with that number when you are scoring and punching to create your score lines.

So here you can see I am aligning my paper along the designated score line.

Once I have it lined up, I can go ahead and push this blue knob down.  It will punch my paper to begin creating the envelope template.

Then, once I am done punching...take the scoring tool and starting at the scoring edge, create a score line down your paper.

You will repeat these steps 4 times to achieve the envelope template as seen below.

You can see where the "punch" actually creates the little notches that will form our envelope and allow our score lines to fold.

Next apply adhesive to the two side flaps.

Fold up the bottom portion and secure in place.

Fold over the top half and voila!

You have a gorgeous custom DIY envelope ready to go!

So cute, right?!?

Now, to create my letter.

I simply typed it up in a word processor and then printed it onto the back of one of the 4x6 gold foiled cards from the kit.

I added a decorate edge onto the top from one of the 6x6 papers from the kit for a little extra!

I then slipped it inside of my envelope.

Added some holes to my envelope and included it in my planner this month.

I love how cute this paper is....and in envelope form?!? Even better!

Now I will always have my love letter safely tucked away and will carry it with me for the remainder of 2016.  I love having this envelope on board in that I can add even more notes inside or additional photos if I want.

The envelope punch board is such a great tool and I loved incorporating it with this months kit!
See you all next week. Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

Getting Busy!

Happy Monday!

I have a couple of projects for you today, using a mix of the Happy Go Lucky and Pack Your Bags kits. I am loving how well they go together!

The first is this layout of my little big boy, Reed. We had such a great, random morning, and I am always so grateful to get those recorded.

I love building up clusters of small embellies - those Simple Stories Bradz and Jillibean wood buttons are perfect together, with layers of enamel hearts and puffy star stickers in there, too.

I carried the circles through the page, and here's a smaller cluster of them, layered over the little journaling spot I made.

There are so many different arrows between these two kits, so I grabbed a few and added them to the circle theme I had going, using some pop dots to give a little more dimension :)

The second project I have for you is a little one that I made to help myself out! I have so many different little pieces of fluff for my little Jamberry business, and I was in dire need of a place to organize them in a cute way. Enter the kits and my new We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 Punch Board that makes awesome envelopes, boxes, and bows. AND File Folders!

These are the perfect solution for me - everything fits perfectly inside them!

Then I just used one of the adorable paper clips from the kits to secure the contents in place - like my extra Happy Go Lucky coordinating wraps! That feather paper makes me a happy woman...

So now that I'm all organized in that department, I'm off to get things ready for our next kit reveal party. Don't miss it! We'll be showing you the new Pool Party kit, as well as revealing the new and exclusive Jamberry wraps that coordinate with them! Join the group here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/NoelMignonRevealParty/

And did you know that Virginia is designing coordinating wraps to the limited edition Disney kit - Main Street Magic? The reveal party for that is this Thursday night : https://www.facebook.com/events/777701839018067/

Be sure to be at both parties for the first peek of these awesome new kits, and their super cute coordinating wraps! See you soon!

Fall Banner

Good morning to you!!! I can't believe it is Friday already! It is my last official day off before I head back to school on Monday! EEK! This summer has flown by at the speed of light! Since starting school is right around the corner, my thoughts naturally turn to fall. I created this banner to hand on my fireplace for the change of season! I used Noel's Office Party kit and my Cricut machine to cut the triangles and the letters.

I wanted to add some pretty trims to the triangles, so I added bits of lace..........

.........and you know that tape that comes in your kit? I used that as a trim as well! While the banner triangle was not sealed shut yet, I did an accordion fold on the left side of the triangle, the right side of the triangle, and clipped the ends where they met in the middle. Glue the triangle shut to keep those trims in place. : )

This one uses the pom pom balls......... : )

Don't forget to order Noel's newest kit, Sweet Sue! They start shipping TODAY!!! It is another incredible kit!!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Tool Play- Old Fashioned Style

I believe I mentioned on my last "Tool Play" post that I'm not much of a "tool" kind of girl. You could even say that I'm rather old fashioned in my limited style of tools that I use for scrapping.

I'd like to share a technique I've been using lately with a very simple tool- the ol' paintbrush.

I was inspired by Michelle Clements' style of inking & painting with walnut ink, but as I am a rather impatient kind of girl, I decided if I could cheat my way into getting a similar look without having to wait for the drying time with walnut ink, etc. I bought a lovely color of Shimmerz from Noel, called Mud Pie, and instead of spraying, I unscrew the lid and dip my paintbrush in.

I'm using a little ticket from the Office Party kit. It's very cute, but it needs some aging. So- I brush on a thin layer of Mud Pie around the edges.
Once that dries (a few seconds later), I do another few swipes of the brush to layer shades.
I then dip my brush in a third time, and then splatter the paint by flicking the paintbrush. (Imagine it a la Harry Potter- swish and flick! It's all in the wrist.) ;)
I then use the most old-fashioned and ancient of all tools: my fingernail! I just rub it along the edges of the ticket and gently fold up the edges. They give way fairly easily since they have been dampened by the Shimmerz.
Pretty cool, eh?

I also used that technique on the newest "no patterned paper challenge". Using the chipboard shape included in the Office Party kit, I sprayed enough light blue (I think I used the color, "Twilight," from Glimmer Mists) to cover the whole piece, and then painted the edges with the Mud Pie color from Shimmerz. I did a layer of the blue, painted around the edges, too.

You can see how they all layer together. I also drew with a white gel pen to make the edges pop.
Here's a few more closeups of the layout: I hope you try out this old-fashioned tool! :)

Tool Play: Acrylic Blocks!

Warning! The audio on this video is WONKY! You might want to turn the volume down a bit. I'm not a crazy yeller, I promise, I'm just havin' some issues with my webcam settings. Bear with me, ladies!

White Space Challenge and Trying Out a New Tool

I came across these scissors by complete accident. I was waiting in line to check out at my craft store when I spotted them randomly discarded on the shelf by a previous shopper. I picked them up, thought they were interesting and threw them in my basket to give them a try.



And I am soooo glad that I did! The Precision Snips by EK Success have become one of my latest favorite tools! They make fussy cutting a BREEZE! Before now I have relied solely on my Fiskars Micro-Tip scissors, which did a fantastic job . . . but the Precision Snips make getting into tight corners a lot easier. LOVE them!



You can see how I used them to cut out a few elements on this next page. I handcut the blue floral border from the Cosmo Cricket Strips sheet and the row of Japanese Lanterns from the Jillibean Soup paper.




Page created with the Noel Mignon Sunkissed kit for the new White Space Challenge going up today on the Noel Mignon Challenge blog. Be sure to pop over and see what the rest of the Noel Mignon Design Team created!

Have a great week!
Jana

Tool Play Time! (Quikutz Silhouette Machine)

When I first got the assignment for blogging about my favorite tool, I got a little bit nervous, because I am NOT much of a tool girl.

I often don't use my trimmer to cut paper... I just eyeball it and use the ol' scissors.

It took me nearly a year to decide if I wanted to buy a Crop-a-Dile.

I just bought an edge distresser not too long ago, instead of just using the edge of my scissors or a nail file.

Yeah. So. Not much of a tool girl, indeed.

On that note, I hope you can really see why I am totally convinced that the Quikutz Silhouette is an AWESOME tool to have! I love love love mine and am so glad I have it!

What got me to the point to actually get one? My Grams has one! She's had one for a few years and I loved trying hers out and quickly saw that it was something that I wanted- no NEEDED- to have.

The cool thing is, you can find them on ebay at pretty great prices. I found mine (the regular one, not the SD one) for a little over $100. When you compare what all it can do, and the price of punches (that's like 10 punches!)... well, it's a no-brainer to me!

I have only had mine for a few months, and I feel like the options are limitless with it.

Some of my favorite tips I've learned so far:

1. Use spray adhesive on the cutting mats (if you have the older ones- they are not as sticky). This is the kind I use:
It helps keep all those little bits stuck down when you are pulling off your design.

2. When you are placing your design, go ahead and click the copy & paste buttons at least once for patterned paper, and twice for textured cardstock. It's basically telling the machine to cut the design in the same place 2 or 3 times- and it makes sure you get a good clean cut!


3. Finally, organize your images as soon as you download them! Those little suckers seem to get out of hand quickly, so do it right away and categorize them in folders that will make them easy to find later.
*I've learned nearly all my tips from Nichol Magouirk. You should check out her blog for more tips!

Here's a layout I made with the new Sunkissed kit, using my Silhouette machine.

(Some of you who have seen my little videos may remember that I wanted to do an all cardstock layout... this one isn't quite an all cardstock one, but it is close enough!)

That giant scalloped circle (which I can cut in any size on my Silhouette) and the little eyelet border on the top- yep, cut on my machine!
Here's the larger version of the same eyelet border, on the bottom of the layout, next to my title... all cut with the machine.
I cut the title twice so I could pop up the word "button" and highlight it in a different color.

*******************
I have another layout to share, but this one is with my old fashioned punches. ;) It's for the latest challenge, Double Trouble.

Man, this one was so fun to make!
(Made with the Playdate Kit & Lemonade Stand Kit.)

Look, I stamped! Woohoo!

I used the chipboard letters in the kit, but I peeled off the pattern and then added Stickles on top. I love the look!