Colorful Graduation cards

Hello friends! With June just around the corner, graduation season is officially on the horizon, which means it's time to make a few special cards. To get a head start, I decided to use the versatile idea-ology Folio Folders as my base. Combining Distress Paint, Spray Stain, and beautiful Collage Paper made personalizing the covers a breeze. 

I added Palette Paper envelopes to the inside so a gift card or money can be easily added! I hope you'll come along with me today as I show you how just a few simple materials can come together to create truly memorable cards.

I started with three large Folio Folders. There are three more smaller folders in the pack, but I'll be saving them for another time.

I used a Blending Tool with a foam pad to add Lost Shadow Distress Paint to the three folders. It takes very little paint to get a great image through the stencil.  So remember, "Less is more"!

TIP: If you don't want to wipe the paint off the stencil immediately, throw it into a tray of water until you have the time to wash it.

I used three different stencils - Deco Feather, Deco Leaf, and Deco Floral. These are some of my favorite stencils!

Spray a few colors of Distress Spray Stain + enough water to help it bead up. I chose Mustard Seed, Speckled Egg, Saltwater Taffy, but many color combinations from the Distress line will work. NOTE: I also gave the Folio Folder a light spritz of water before dipping into the ink.

Here's my first go - I got a lot more yellow than I anticipated but I still like it. 

Love how the three turned out. Each different and unique! The Lost Shadow Distress Paint is perfect with the bright colors.

I'm going to add a few flowers from Collage Paper over the inked folio. I used a water brush to cut out each flower from the background. 

Super easy to add the Collage Paper to the front of the Folio with Collage Medium. Remember, a layer of Collage Medium, then the Collage Paper, then another layer of Collage Medium over the top.

Here are the three images I chose but any from the Serendipity pack would do.

Next up, use the Distress Splatter Tool to flick Picket Fence Distress Paint over the folders. It might be hard to see all the paint flicks but they really add to the overall look.

While the paint is drying, I'm going to stamp on some Cello Tape. You must use StazOn ink so it will be permanent (Archival ink will not work for this). I'm also using the Stampers Anonymous Tidbits stamp set since the size/scale works perfectly. 

#1 TIP: Make sure you are stamping on the right side of the tape that peels off! You might notice that in the upper left hand corner I stamped on the wrong side and had to turn the tape over to continue stamping!

Another tip...If you spray some Isopropyl Alcohol on to a paper towel you can remove bad stamping. Turn the tape over to stamp a new image (Example 3).

I used Collage Medium to add 8x8" Palette paper to the inside of the folders. I used Palette Teal, Palette Yellow, and Palette Pink. 

When I was working on the outside, some ink managed to make its way onto the inside. I decided to just go with it and instead of covering it up with paper, I stamped each folder using my favorite florals and black soot Archival Ink. I also added a few more splatters just to give it more color.

Now a little Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on the edges of the folders.

Now to finish the outside of the folders:

I used Postmarked stamps, Tiny Text Remnant Rubs, the pre-stamped Cello Tape Stickers to decorate each of the Folio Folders. Don't be afraid to cut up the Remnant Rubs to suit what you want it to say. For instance, I changed "Free to Fly" to "Remember to Fly".

I also added a vintage button to each little collage. Any other small embellishment could be substituted if you don't have a button!

To further decorate the folders, I gathered a few charms to hang from some string. I thought the bird would work well with "Remember to fly". I use Speckled Egg Distress Paint to paint the bird and a Picket Fence Crayon to fill the recessed portion of the idea-ology Word Tags.

Just a bit of twine to tie the charms to the folios!

Since I decided to make these cards for upcoming graduates, I thought I better add a pocket on the inside for a gift card or money. I did that by cutting Palette paper (in Teal, Pink, and Yellow) with the envelope die from the Sizzix Collector Thinlit. The size is perfect.

I used tape to add each envelope to the inside of the folder. They really are mix and match envelopes at this point!

One last idea! 

I wanted to add a note as a closure on the envelope so I looked through my stamps to find Note Quotes. It had the perfect saying, "You got this",

I sprayed a piece of Distress Watercolor paper with Antique Linen Spray Stain.

I stamped the circles and the saying using Archival Ink, then cut them out.

I made a puddle of Speckled Egg ink to hand color the circles to give it more depth and interest. The color combo looks so good in person. I wish the photo could do it justice.

I added the circles to the envelope with tape but left the bottom portion open so I could add the gift card or money.

There is enough room to slip a note inside too!

Now carry on,

paula

Cabinet of Curiosities

Hello friends,

After many requests, I have added the instructions to my Etsy shop, for the "Cabinet of Curiosities" class I taught at the Simon Says Stamp Create Event earlier this month. 

The instructions include -
- 5 page PDF of color step-out photos - these can be viewed on a computer/ipad or printed
- Written Instructions + additional notes

- Complete supply list of product used: idea-ology, Ranger, and other items

(click on photo to enlarge)

I created a list of products used in the project that Simon Says Stamp sells. I thought I would link to them since they hosted the class and brought in all the products needed. Obviously, check your stash - you may just have everything you need on hand!

Now carry on, Paula

Palette Indigo Pocket Folio

Hello friends,

I am absolutely in love with this Pocket Folio project! It gave me the perfect excuse to dive into the Palette Indigo paper pack, which honestly contains some of my favorite designs of the entire Palette series.
To bring this piece to life, I layered in several idea-ology staples, including Portraits, Collage Frames, and Memoir Ephemera. At first glance, you might notice the "sewn" details throughout the journal—but here is the best part: this is a completely no-sew project. I didn’t touch a sewing machine or a needle for a single page! Proof that you can get that beautiful tailored look by picking the right products!

Here is a Pocket Folio in the package. You can see how the Folio unfolds so the "pockets" are at the bottom. Because the covers are independent from the center zig-zag, I'm going to turn it upside down (compared to the image on the cover). So instead of having pockets, I'll have flaps. 

Now lets get started!

I'm using the 8 x 8" Indigo paper pack for this project since the scale is perfect for a journal of this size. I've cut multiple papers to cover the inside of the Folio...and of course used Collage Medium to adhere the paper. I don't think it matters what paper goes where, but I will show you the papers I've chosen. Again, notice the flaps are at the TOP.

Section 1 and 2

Section 3 and 4

Section 5 and 6

I added the very important layer of Collage Medium over the flap paper to seal it, so I could add Walnut Stain Distress Crayon once it is dry. I like the crayon color and texture, which I think adds to the overall look of the journal.

While the flaps are drying, I started to gather a few products I thought might work in this journal. I've chosen Collage Frames, Paper Doll Portraits, and three transparencies from the Transparent Things pack.

NOTE: I had two packs of the Collage Frames so I used a total of 6 large frames from this project (one Collage Frames pack has 4 large frames).

So about the Paper Doll Portraits...they were tinted by me with Distress Crayons. Since these are going into a journal, I sprayed them with a Fixative once they were tinted. This keeps the crayon secure (when the pages rub together). You can find a can of Fixative in the Fine Art department of most craft stores - near the pastels.

Set one for the Collage Fames

And another set of three for the inside of the folio.

So now lets add the first set to three Collage Frames. I used a transparency in the background.

Then added more double sided tape to add a second Collage Frame on the back. If you only have 1 pack of frames you could always cut some cardstock to mimic the frame on the back.

Here it is with the second frame attached to the tape.

When the frame is placed on the flap, you can see that you'll need about 2" of tape to add the frame.

It should look just like this. I used the grid on my glass mat as a guide for the tape length.

Now add the frame to the flap. 

Here is the inside of the flap (we'll take care of decorating this area in a minute).

Now add two more of the Portraits to Collage Frames. 

This one will be added to section 3

And this one will go on section 5.

Section 2, 4 and 6 are blank pages (other than paper). Use Collage Medium to add Memoir Ephemera to each of the three sections. Also, it is very important to add a thin layer of Collage Medium over the top of the paper and ephemera to seal.

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Once the Collage Medium is completely dry, start adding embellishments like Cello Sticker Tape, vintage trims, vintage buttons and Stitched Scraps (the sewing is already done for you!).

I scribbled the crayon on the glass mat, then picked it up with an old brush. Admittedly, I went back and adding more crayon, scribbling directly on the page.

Here are the three ephemera sections once the Distress Crayon was added:

I LOVE how you can build up the crayon on and around the Cello Tape!

So lets swing back to the underside of the flaps! 

I have added Collage Paper to cover the blank side of the flap. Here are the steps to do it:

1. Cut or rip a piece to fit flap.

2. Cover flap with Collage Medium.

3. Lay the cut piece into the glue and smooth out with brush.

4. Add another layer of Collage Medium over the top.

5. Let dry, then sand away the excess paper and add crayon to the edges.

I decided to add more Ephemera from the Memoir pack + Clippings, Postmarked stamps and Cello Sticker Tape under each flap. Of course if you want to use crayon later like I did, you must seal the paper with Collage Medium before doing so. 

The three Portraits were added with Thin 3D Foam Squares on the top half, then glued at the bottom with Collage Medium.

Inside of Section 1

Inside of Section 3

Inside of Section 5

Outside of the front and back cover. I picked my favorite Indigo floral for the cover, then use 4 different scraps on the back cover.

Inside of the two covers. Front on the left, back on the right.

Notice that the back cover on the right has a flap? This book has a reversible cover - if you want the flap on the front, you can do that. I'm keeping it on the back and will make it a pocket.

I added Large Fasteners to the corners of the flap and smashed them with the Texture Hammer. The flap was ten secured with Scor-tape at the top and bottom to make the pocket. This gave the appearance the Fasteners were securing the flap, when in fact it was just double-sided tape that was doing the job.

I added Crayon to the cover to give it an aged appearance. I also inked the twill that comes with the Pocket Folio by making a puddle of gathered Twigs ink and a bit of Antique Linen (plus water) on the glass mat. I sprayed the twill with water, then dipped it into the ink puddle soaking up the ink. Once satisfied, I dried the twill with a heat tool. 

Once dry, you can wrap the Pocket Folio with the twill and add any embellishments. I added vintage buttons and a Snippets Number Strip with Collage Medium.

The only piece I added to the cover itself was the black strip from the Memoir pack.

Here are photos of the finished Pocket Folio:

Hoping you like this project as much as I do. Grateful for Tim and his idea to bring the Palette fabric series to life as paper! It has brought so much enjoyment reminiscing about all the great designs!

Now carry on,

paula