Faux Cloisonne Paper Frame Technique.

I recently ordered some beautiful Cloisonne beads from Ebay that got my creative juices going. As I was examining each bead it occurred to me that this same technique could be easily duplicated on paper! I dug through my stash and came up with some inexpensive paper frames from the dollar store.

The technique is fast and extremely easy and I was able to create something almost identical to my inspiration bead. This technique can be applied to almost anything and I will be trying all kinds of new surfaces. Take a look at the video below to see this easy technique for yourself.

*Please Remember To Pause The Music Below Before Starting Video.

Great New Class!

This is an awesome opportunity to learn a new skill and to make something beautiful at the same time! Nataliebramasole is offering a class on Mixed Media Workshops that will teach you how to create her beautiful and one of a kind bookcards! I have seen her bookcards on Youtube and believe me when I say there is nothing else like them out there. She uses beautiful embellishments placed with intricate detail and the results are just stunning.

She mentions in the video that she is offering the class to show how to make them because shipping from Belgium to America is so expensive and has been a barrier for some who would like to have had one of her bookcards. You can sign up for the class directly from the "Mixed Media" link above if you are interested. Also, check out the video below for more information and visit her Youtube channel to see an awesome assortment of her bookcard creations.

*Please remember to pause music below before watching video.

A Few Projects and A Bit Of Shopping.

A Post Worth Repeating!

You have seen them everywhere. You will find them at office supply stores, scrapbook parties and most recently in craft stores. They are tag guns and although they can add a lot of really cool things to your cards, layouts, and paper crafts; they can also add years of heartache and illness to your life if not used correctly.

Tag guns or paper taggers as they are more commonly known to the craft world are used to attach and affix any number of items to a surface using flexible plastic "T" tags that penetrate and catch the surface of whatever you are attaching it to. The tags are widely available in a variety of colors.

The use of these fun tag guns will come at a high price for many if they are not used properly. This is because a tag gun needle stick is no different than a hypodermic needle stick! Now that I have your attention let me explain why this can be so extremely dangerous. When you accidentally prick your finger with a tag gun (which is guaranteed to happen at some time or another) you expose the needle tip to bio hazardous material, namely your blood. The pricked area usually stops bleeding after a quick second but the danger is by no means over. It is when you then share your tag gun with others that the real danger presents itself.

For instance, you are at a scrapbook party and you bring your tag gun along. You accidentally stick your finger and set it down. Someone else picks it up and uses it and sticks themselves. Yet another person uses it and does the same thing! Finally you go to use it again and stick yourself once more. You have now been exposed to the possible blood borne pathogens of the two others that just used your gun!

Blood borne pathogens can include such things as hepatitis, MRSA, HIV and AIDS! Remember, tag gun needle sticks are no different than hypodermic needle sticks. You may think that cleaning the gun with alcohol or bleach after each person would remedy the problem but you would be wrong. Tag guns have a 3 part mechanism that does not allow for them to be cleaned at all three points (the inside of the needle barrel) with a simple household cleaner. Although you can purchase specialty cleaners ; most people are not aware that they will need one when sharing their gun and they inadvertently put themselves and others at risk.

So how can you enjoy the use of a tagging gun in your arts and crafts while remaining safe at the same time? The best practice would be to never share your gun with another person. Make sure that everyone present respects your decision not to share your gun as well. The other option would be to purchase one of the specialty cleaners designed specifically for the cleaning of tag gun needles and mechanisms.

This post was very important to me as I was recently stuck by one of these guns. Later that night I began to think about it and decided to do a bit of research. I was floored by what I found and therefore wanted to share my findings with you. I have since been to the Dr. and everything has turned out fine but WOW what a scare. I urge you all to be safe, be alert, and be educated about the potential risks of using these tag guns. They can be wonderful tools for your arts and crafts when used safely and correctly.

Stick Pins and Hatpins.

*Please pause music below before watching.

A Beautiful Mess!

My hubby and I have been the messiest and laziest we have ever been in our lives but we have a great exscuse, I promise! Take a peek at the video below and you'll understand why. :)

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Welcome Laura!

Hello Laura and thank you for the lovely comments about The Vintage Vignette! I very much appreciate reader feedback and I was glad to gather the info about the mini album closure technique for you.

However, I can't take credit for the technique because I learned it from the fabulous "Weezie" from Youtube. I deviated from her technique just a wee bit by using a hitch fastener instead of a button and looped and knotted my hair tie from the inside back cover first.

Looped and knotted band inserted from the inside back cover through to the back cover. (photo above).

View of the hair band from the back cover (photo above).

View of the cover with the hair band pulled from the back cover and

wrapped around the hitch fastener on the front cover.

So that you have a choice of both techniques check out Weezie's tutorial below. I hope this helps you to finish out your first mini in grand style!

*Please remember to pause the music below before watching the video.

A Victorian Journal.

I've found myself in desperate need of some serious stress relief so I have been spending more time than usual in my craft room. You can tell by my projects how I am feeling. The more intricate and detailed the project, the more stressed out I really am...lol!

My craft room is a place for me to escape from everything and I'm sure I'm not the alone in this. As soon as I open the door to it and step one foot inside, everyone who is inevitably trailing behind me is banished to the other side of the door. My pug dog who snorts and chews her nails is given the 'ol' heave ho! My cat who insists on laying across all papers and projects in progress is ushered out to the hallway immediately and even my well intentioned hubby is relegated to very brief visits while I am inside.

As I create I listen to old radio programs on my computer. Currently I am listening to all the old Dragnet episodes. When my my mother calls she teases me and wants to know what kind of 36 year old listens to Dragnet! I reply with "Its my space and my rules!" With that said here is another project just completed during my last stint of "Me Time" in my craft room.

*Please pause music below before watching the video.

2010 CHA Summer Release Tour - Prima Marketing.

Yes! It's that time of year again! It's the Craft and Hobby Association-or CHA as its more commonly called- Summer release trade show in Rosemont Illinois. This is where all of the great companies and industustry leaders in the art and crafting world gather to show off the new products they will be releasing. Vendors fly in from all over the country and the world for that matter to display their new product lines.

One of the companies that I am always interested to see there is Prima Marketing. They are the makers of those gorgeous paper flowers and beautiful art and scrapbooking papers that you see in many artist's creations.

Scott, from BlueMoonScrapbooking.com an industry leader in scrapbooking and art supplies visited the Prima Marketing booth at this summer's session of CHA. Take a peek at his video to see some of the new products slated to hit the stores soon.

*Please pause music below before watching the video.

One Happy Camper!

Yay! For the first time in a very long time I am floored by the quality of an online purchase. Please watch the video below where I tell you all about it and then visit the links below to check them out for yourself.

Crafta.com
32NorthSupplies.etsy.com