Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Palette Orange: Card File

Hello friends,

It's nice to be here today talking about Palette Orange fabric! I like the color orange, but I really don't use it much in my work. Maybe we just don't have many products that fall into the orange family? But now that is changed, because the orange Palette fabrics are beautiful! Of course they look good together, but many of them stand on their own too.
Today I'm using Freespirit Palette Orange along to create a idea-ology Card File. The neutral File Cards are the perfect backdrop for the fabric. Giving you a not only a great base, but cards that you can sew right through if you choose to. Of course the entire project can be done with Collage Medium, so there is no excuse if you are not a sewer.
I used both Card File Packs (there are two different packs)to make this project. 
It currently has 21 cards/pockets + six #5 tags used as inserts.
Working in groups of three, I sprayed each card with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain, then wiped the stain away with a paper towel to get rid of the spray pattern. I repeated the step and then dried with a heat tool. It honestly did not take much time to complete all the cards (front and back). And it made it so easy to just reach over a grab a card to work with, without have to get the spray out again.
I cut strips of fabric for the cards. Many of the fabric are directional, like the flowers in the center of the photo. I ended up cutting another piece of that one so I could have a 3 x 4" piece with the flowers going the right way. Same goes for the toadstools.  Anyway, pay attention to the direction of the fabric before cutting! "Which way do I need this to go?" is a great question to ask before cutting!
The 10 fabric names are:
Botanical
Tiny Print
Collage
Toadstools
Ephemera
Stamps
Sketchbook (orange flower)
Map
Tickets
Vintage (solid)

TABBED CARDS
I had to start with my favorite of all the prints, Botanical. It just speaks to my heart! I used a very thin layers of Collage Medium to adhere the fabric pieces to the tabbed cards. I added the Ephemera print to the one of the cards as a "patch" so I could use the strip of fabric I cut going the wrong direction (fyi: I have a thing about making things work).
I'm a sewer so I did a rough stitch around the fabric.
I cut a piece from the Ephemera fabric (it's turned over in the photo below) to sew on as a patch. I found that if you add some Collage Medium to the back of the fabric and let it dry completely, it keeps it's shape and makes it easy to sew. 
The stamps are for use later in the project, but I wanted to get them drying so they would be ready when I need them.
Quick and easy to sew on, once the glue is completely dry.
I used a Tiny Blending Tool to ink around the edges of the cards. This really helped to rough up the fabric and adding more strings to the card (I love that look).  In fact, most times I just used the tool itself, with no added ink, to go around each card. Don't underestimate the use of this Tiny Tool to fray the edges of the fabric!
#5 TAGS 
These will be used inside the pockets with the hole in the center.
I followed the same method to add the fabric to each tag and inked around the edges.
Using the Mini Blending Tool brought up so many strings, that I decided to stitch them down. So perfect.
Here are the pockets. 
I used Scor-Tape to add Transparent Layers over the front of each pocket, then cut away the excess.
I colored some 1/4" ribbon with Rusty Hinge and Crackling Campfire Distress Spray Stain for the holes at the top of tags.
Then I just inserted the fabric tags into the pockets.
LIBRARY POCKETS
I also created three more #5 tags with stencils and Opaque Texture Paste. These tags will go into the library pockets. I left the tags to dry while I worked on the pockets. 
NOTE: I cut off about a 1/2" of each tag so it would sit better in the pocket.
Once the paste was dry, I sprayed them with a variety of Distress Stains: Tattered Rose, Crackling Campfire, Rusty Hinge, Gathered Twigs + water. 
I sewed around the fabric before I added it to the pocket.

Then I added Worn Wallpaper Scraps to the top of each pocket. I don't know why I haven't used this product more in the past, because I absolutely love all the patterns we put in in the package (including this small ditsy print).
NOTE: I also used paper from Worn Wallpaper Scraps to cover the outside of the Card File box.
Then I just added a few pieces of ephemera from the Field Notes Ephemera pack. I think that looks pretty darn good.
FOLDED CARDS
I used the Collage fabric for the front of each card, then sewed along the lines between the patterns (you can see what the inside of the card looks like on the bottom left). 
I also added the stamps as "patches", that I previously painted with Collage Medium.
ENVELOPES
These envelopes were really fun to make - I love the combo of the old time images (collage paper photographic) and the fabric.
Start by adding Collage Medium to the front. Add the Collage Paper over the top with another layer of Collage Medium.
Add a little watered down ink with your fingertip.
Then flick with the ink. Dry with a heat tool and sand off the excess paper.
How I LOVE this look!
Again, I sewed around pieces of fabric I had previously added Collage Medium to, then just glued them to the envelopes.
A little Cello Sticker Tape makes it perfect!
FLAT CARDS
I needed three cards for the envelopes so I trimmed off a bit of the cards that come in the pack so they would slip into the envelopes. I also rounded the corners.
The backgrounds were stamped with Pumice Stone Oxide and images from the Stampers Anonymous Embroidery Stamp set (more on that later).
Then I just started adding patches of fabric, words from the Metallic Sticker book and Cello Sticker Tape.
The circle on the string is from the Snippets Curator pack. I used 2 pieces that were a similar size and glued them back to back with the string in the center.
The fabric tab on this card is from the Collage Fabric. I just folded it over and stitched it on.
ZIG ZAG FOLDERS
I saved my favorites for the last! The are the most involved of all the cards, but you can decide how much you want to add in.
We're going to start by stamping the zig zag cards with the three stamps from the Embroidery stamps set. Each folder uses one of the stamps + you can add any kind of text stamping - I used the text from French Garden.
Once the stamping was complete, I added the fabric and the embellishments: Photomatic, words from the Metallic Sticker book, and Cello Sticker Tape.
On one, I even added a patch.
I really liked the way they looked, but then I thought why not try coloring the flowers with Crayons? I knew it was a risk, but I thought, why not give it a go!
I started with Wild Honey and Crackling Campfire...
Then added Rustic Wilderness and Evergreen Bough for the stems and leaves.
Then the exciting part, adding the embellishments.
A different stamp from the same set was used on the next folder and of course different crayons (dusty concord, stormy sky, and tumbled glass).
And the third and final folder, I used Rustic Wilderness, Fossilized Amber, and Abandoned Coral.
For the cover, I wanted to add more fabric, so that is just what I did. I did stitch around the fabric and glue it is place, but then I had the bright idea to add a Photo Studio frame to each of the zig zag folders and that covered up the stitching. Oh well!
I used different colored Photo Studio Frames + ephemera from the Field Notes Ephemera pack.
Here is a closer look at each cover.


Honestly, you can use the fabric to make so many different cards - it's almost endless. The orange is so beautiful mixed with the neutral cards. It's the right amount of respite for the bold color. I am happy with the way this turned out and I hope you are too!
Thanks for stopping by to see Palette Orange! Now on to Palette Yellow! The perfect color for Spring!
Now carry on,
paula

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Love Notes

Hello Friends,

Have you heard of Galentine’s Day? It’s like Valentine’s Day, but for gals! Celebrated on February 13th, it’s all about honoring friendships, especially among women. I created something special that could be given as a gift for this unique holiday.

This fun project features Stampers Anonymous Love Notes along with the Simon Says Stamp matching wafer dies! Who knew you could cut out so many hearts at once? I hope you'll pop on over to the Simon Says Stamp blog to see the step-out tutorial for this project. Just click HERE and you will go right to it!
Now carry on,
Paula

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Yours Truly Display Panel

Hello friends,

Lot's going on behind the scenes here. I just finished up a project for Simon Says Stamp that will post on Sunday the 9th on their blog. I also have a Palette Orange fabric project for next week and it is so fun. Who knew how much I would love orange!
Well anyway, back to todays post...Today I'm sharing a project focused on love, featuring Salvaged Hearts and Typography! Let's get started and I'll show you how I created the Display Panel from scratch.
I chose paper from Backdrops Vol 1 for the front of the 9 x 9" Display Panel. You can also add paper or paint to the sides of the panel - totally up to you. Adhere the paper with Collage Medium, then add a layer over the top to seal the paper. Let it dry while you work on preparing the Collage Paper.
I decided to add a floral from the Collage Paper Serendipity pack to the left side, over the green paper. 
I used two methods of eliminating as much of the background as possible. First, I used small scissors to fussy-cut around the larger areas. For the areas around the small leaves, I used a Detailer Water Brush to draw a waterline and to pull the paper away from the image. Both ways are easy, but it might take a little longer to fussy-cut.
Add Collage Medium over the entire area that the Collage Paper will touch. Lay the floral into the glue. If you palm is clean (glue free) then you can press the paper right into the glue.
Pick up Collage Medium on your brush and immediately start to brush over the paper (I like to work from center out).
I add Collage Medium to my finger tip and repeat the process to embed the Collage Paper into the glue. Again, I work from the center out until it is adhered and transparent.
You can leave it as is if you like a clean look.
Or you can add Distress Ink with your finger to give it some color variation.
Here is the result.
Once the surface was dry, I used a Walnut Stain Distress Crayon to add definition the edges of the Panel and the seam between the two papers. Scribble it on, rub with a damp fingertip, then pounce over the crayon with a wet wipe. If you wipe too much away, just add more crayon.
Paper Embellishments -
This card from the Palette Ephemera Pack was very clean looking so I painted over it with Collage Medium...
And while still wet, dipped it an ink puddle I made on my Tonic Studio Mat.
I pounced over some of the really wet areas with a wet wipe as I was drying the card with a heat tool. Set aside while you work on other embellishments.
Next up, the Photobooth photos. I cut out three I had never used before + a long strip of pink Backdrop paper (about 1 3/4" wide)
Next I colored the Photobooth with Distress Crayons, using both a water brush and a cotton swab to add the crayon.
NOTE: Normally I do not seal Photobooth, Photomatic or Paper Dolls, but because these were going to be handled and sewn over, I decided to spray them with a clear Spray Fixative. You can find it at any craft store in the art department. The crayon is not effected by the spray and will not wick. Once the fixative is dry, the crayon will be permanent. Be sure to spray in a well ventilated area or outside. I put images on a paper plate and once they are sprayed, it's easy to carry them back to my craft room.
I used E-Z Dots (my favorite repositionable tape) to adhere the images to the paper strip.
Then sewed around each photo.
Next, I used a Mini Blending Tool to add ink to the edges of the paper.
I also inked a tag (found in the Palette Ephemera pack) just like the card with the pink roses.  I also added an eyelet and some string. 
Hearts -
I used hot glue to add a couple Salvaged Hearts to craft sticks 
So much easier to paint when its on the stick! And you just pop the heart off the craft stick once the paint is dry. 
I am only going to use one Salvaged Heart for this project, but I just wasn't sure which size was right at this point.
I left them to dry for quite a while, then lightly sanded the edges.
If you want a more aged heart, scribble Distress Crayon over the top and rub it around (a wet wipe will help).
Arrow - 
I used gold Mixative to color the metal arrow. You might ask why gold Mixative instead of Foundry Wax? Well, you could use Foundry Wax, but I wanted an aged looking gold over the metal and that is easily accomplished with Mixative. 
  1. Shake the bottle till you hear the mixing ball. 
  2. Add the Mixative to a Blending Tool with felt or just pour some over the arrow (I used a combination of both).
  3. Use the felt to make sure the arrow is covered.
  4. Use a paper towel to rub the arrow removing some of the gold from the arrow (It should reveal some of the metal underneath). The ability to remove some of the gold by rubbing is something you could not do with Foundry wax which is permanent.
TAKE NOTE: This next step is optional. It is dependent on the size heart you use.
Use wire cutters to clip the arrow in half if you want to "extend" the size of arrow under the heart.
Add a DOUBLE STACK of small 3D foam squares to the back of the heart. *The arrow pieces will slip in between the foam.
So let's gather all the pieces that will be added to the Display Panel.
I added a piece of chipboard to the back of the card with the roses to give it more stability before adding it to the panel with 3D foam squares. 
The tag was added with thin 3D foam squares.
I also added a thick chipboard piece to the back of the photobooth strip for stability. Then added 3D foam squares on the right side (so the foam attaches to the panel, not the roses)
Add the photo strip, the stamp from the Postmarked sticker book and the slide frame from the Palette Ephemera pack.
The Salvaged Heart goes on next.
Then slip the arrow pieces under the heart. I used Scor-tape on the tip of the arrow, along with a small 3D foam square where it leaves the photo strip. There are two small 3D foam squares under the feather end.
You can add any kind of sentiment with Typography. I thought Yours Truly was perfect for this piece. It is so easy to use...just glue it in place with Collage Medium. There is plenty of time to adjust the letters before the Collage Medium dries.
Just a couple more steps...
Cello Sticker Tape for the win! Perfect for adding a vintage touch to any project!
And last but not least, cover the photo strip with post-it notes. Then use a Distress Splatter Brush to flick Picket Fence Distress Paint over the panel.
And that's it! Let the paint dry and you're good to go!

I hope you have learned something in today's tutorial. I also hope you'll take what you learned and make something fun for February!
Now carry on,
paula