For those of you who follow the Dine-O-Mite Recipe reveal, there is a minor change for this month. Since I am out of town this week and have changed the date of my February TNT meeting to February 17th, the reveal will be posted by February 18th.
In March we will be back to the regular schedule.
Sorry for the delay...look at it this way, now you have an extra week to post your vision of the challenged issued in January (see side bar for link to January's recipe). Remember, once I have at least 8 comments with a link to the completed recipe (in a given month), I will do a random draw for a most wonderful RAK:)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Frugal Scrapper's Tips 'n Techniques #1
I'm sure you are aware by now that I LOVE to recycle items for use in my paper crafting. With this in mind, I have ended up with a huge amount of buttons from old shirts being discarded...the problem...they are ALL white!
Now I know I could just use the white buttons to decorate my pages, but since I also LOVE to alter items, I was thrilled to discover I could change the color of my buttons with alcohol inks, WHOO HOO!!!!!
On the button shown, I used a Tim Holtz alcohol ink applicator, added a few drops of "lettuce" alcohol ink to the felt and dabbed it on the button. Since the alcohol ink spreads so well, the button was covered with just a few dabs. I also dabbed the color around the sides of the button.
I then added a few drops of "stream" alcohol ink to the applicator, let it dry a bit and dabbed it over the button. By letting the ink dry on the applicator a bit first, I was able to get the spotted effect as shown.
It is best to add the light color first so that it holds its color better.
I also find myself using rhinestones on my projects and have wondered why the rhinestones are not readily available in colors...most that I find are clear...lucky for me, I have found that this technique also works on rhinestones. As shown, I added the same colors of alcohol ink to clear rhinestones and got similar results.
On the rhinestones, I did add the "stream" alcohol ink first, so you may notice when I added the "lettuce", the color appears a bit darker than it did on the button.
I really like the effect on both items. Since Alcohol inks are perfect for use on non-porous surfaces, this technique also works on brads, acrylic, glass, etc.
Now I know I could just use the white buttons to decorate my pages, but since I also LOVE to alter items, I was thrilled to discover I could change the color of my buttons with alcohol inks, WHOO HOO!!!!!
On the button shown, I used a Tim Holtz alcohol ink applicator, added a few drops of "lettuce" alcohol ink to the felt and dabbed it on the button. Since the alcohol ink spreads so well, the button was covered with just a few dabs. I also dabbed the color around the sides of the button.I then added a few drops of "stream" alcohol ink to the applicator, let it dry a bit and dabbed it over the button. By letting the ink dry on the applicator a bit first, I was able to get the spotted effect as shown.
It is best to add the light color first so that it holds its color better.
On the rhinestones, I did add the "stream" alcohol ink first, so you may notice when I added the "lettuce", the color appears a bit darker than it did on the button.
I really like the effect on both items. Since Alcohol inks are perfect for use on non-porous surfaces, this technique also works on brads, acrylic, glass, etc.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thinking about a start to something FRUGAL to share:)
O.k...I'm sitting here in what should be COLD Pennsylvania since, ya know, it IS winter, lol...and it's actually been nice here!
The weather people are actually predicting 60 plus degree temperatures tomorrow...did I say it's winter here:)?
It seems I left my home in "normally sunny" southern California just in a nick of time...it's been raining...and I hear from my husband REALLY raining...pretty much since I left last Friday...now we've been living in southern California for almost 4 years...and if we total ALL the rain we've had in those 4 years, it may just measure up to the amount of rain that has fallen in the last few days!
Since I USED to have this kind of curse my family used to tease me about, I think it must finally be officially over:) It USED to always rain when I went on vacation.....but HA, it's not raining right now in "sunny" Pennsylvania...well it's not really sunny right now, but it's certainly not raining either...AND it's going to be in the 60's tomorrow...in February...in Pennsylvania:)
Now, if you're still with me...yes this is primarily a frugal scrapping blog:)...AND my "thinking" does involve frugal scrapping:) Actually for those of you still reading this post, I want to THANK YOU for doing so! I have been very blessed with many visitors AND have found my blog is actually a link from many of your blogs...I'm SO glad to know there are other frugal scrappers out there AND I don't want to disappoint:)
Because...you know..."in these times"...(I got the preceding saying from my local KUSI morning news guy)...
It's really important to be FRUGAL and even more important to keep SCRAPBOOKING and PAPERCRAFTING...what an awesome time to get out the pic's from vacations/memorable events/everyday life past and relive those memories as we scrap them. Let us spend time with family and friends AND reminisce...and journal...and create...and just get happy...I've found that it IS cheaper than taking yet another vacation "in these times", AND I don't feel guilty about not scrapping all these pic's from events past AND I do have the time to do it:)
Oops, it seems I went off on another tangent...are you still there? If so, thanks even more:) Now to the good stuff...I want to start a NEW topic on my blog...one that will have a side bar section of it's own that concentrates on the frugal tips 'n techniques I have learned and want to share...
Now I know you've probably used some of these techniques in the past and if so, use this section as a reminder...hopefully, I will also surprise you with some that will make you think "Hey, why didn't I think of that?", lol. I know I still have those moments when I come across a tip or technique I didn't think of...
WHEN my post is about a technique that did come out my little ole head, I will post it as such...now it doesn't mean that someone else hasn't also come up with it, it just means that I didn't surf the web and find it:) I know that great minds think alike, lol, so if I post an idea as my own that you've seen already, just consider it a "great minds think alike" moment...go on, just go with me on this:)
Because...for those of you who already know me...I am VERY honest!!! With that being said, I WILL sometimes post frugal ideas I HAVE found on the web AND WILL give credit where credit is due (by stating such AND adding a link to that idea when possible). Since I KNOW that I am not the only creatively frugal person out there, AND I occasionally have creative blocks, and I know it's NOT necessary to recreate the wheel, lol, I look forward to giving kudos to those that share my passion for frugal scrapbooking when I add their ideas to this list.
These posts will be separate from the "Just the Trash and my Stash" section and will be limited to one technique at a time (for those that are wondering:)
They will be weekly posts...short and sweet...(unlike this one, of course:)...and will hopefully be FRUGALLY INSPIRING...The first post will be tomorrow, February 11, 2009:)
Feel free to leave comments if you have any frugal ideas you would like to share or questions on how to do something frugally:)
Forever Frugal...
Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire
The weather people are actually predicting 60 plus degree temperatures tomorrow...did I say it's winter here:)?
It seems I left my home in "normally sunny" southern California just in a nick of time...it's been raining...and I hear from my husband REALLY raining...pretty much since I left last Friday...now we've been living in southern California for almost 4 years...and if we total ALL the rain we've had in those 4 years, it may just measure up to the amount of rain that has fallen in the last few days!
Since I USED to have this kind of curse my family used to tease me about, I think it must finally be officially over:) It USED to always rain when I went on vacation.....but HA, it's not raining right now in "sunny" Pennsylvania...well it's not really sunny right now, but it's certainly not raining either...AND it's going to be in the 60's tomorrow...in February...in Pennsylvania:)
Now, if you're still with me...yes this is primarily a frugal scrapping blog:)...AND my "thinking" does involve frugal scrapping:) Actually for those of you still reading this post, I want to THANK YOU for doing so! I have been very blessed with many visitors AND have found my blog is actually a link from many of your blogs...I'm SO glad to know there are other frugal scrappers out there AND I don't want to disappoint:)
Because...you know..."in these times"...(I got the preceding saying from my local KUSI morning news guy)...
It's really important to be FRUGAL and even more important to keep SCRAPBOOKING and PAPERCRAFTING...what an awesome time to get out the pic's from vacations/memorable events/everyday life past and relive those memories as we scrap them. Let us spend time with family and friends AND reminisce...and journal...and create...and just get happy...I've found that it IS cheaper than taking yet another vacation "in these times", AND I don't feel guilty about not scrapping all these pic's from events past AND I do have the time to do it:)
Oops, it seems I went off on another tangent...are you still there? If so, thanks even more:) Now to the good stuff...I want to start a NEW topic on my blog...one that will have a side bar section of it's own that concentrates on the frugal tips 'n techniques I have learned and want to share...
Now I know you've probably used some of these techniques in the past and if so, use this section as a reminder...hopefully, I will also surprise you with some that will make you think "Hey, why didn't I think of that?", lol. I know I still have those moments when I come across a tip or technique I didn't think of...
WHEN my post is about a technique that did come out my little ole head, I will post it as such...now it doesn't mean that someone else hasn't also come up with it, it just means that I didn't surf the web and find it:) I know that great minds think alike, lol, so if I post an idea as my own that you've seen already, just consider it a "great minds think alike" moment...go on, just go with me on this:)
Because...for those of you who already know me...I am VERY honest!!! With that being said, I WILL sometimes post frugal ideas I HAVE found on the web AND WILL give credit where credit is due (by stating such AND adding a link to that idea when possible). Since I KNOW that I am not the only creatively frugal person out there, AND I occasionally have creative blocks, and I know it's NOT necessary to recreate the wheel, lol, I look forward to giving kudos to those that share my passion for frugal scrapbooking when I add their ideas to this list.
These posts will be separate from the "Just the Trash and my Stash" section and will be limited to one technique at a time (for those that are wondering:)
They will be weekly posts...short and sweet...(unlike this one, of course:)...and will hopefully be FRUGALLY INSPIRING...The first post will be tomorrow, February 11, 2009:)
Feel free to leave comments if you have any frugal ideas you would like to share or questions on how to do something frugally:)
Forever Frugal...
Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire
Monday, February 9, 2009
Word Strip Mini Album
I spent some time this weekend re-organizing my photo files on my computer and came across this mini album I made a while back (I think it was last summer). It has some really great ideas, so I thought I would share it with everyone. I hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I enjoyed creating it:)
On the front cover, I used a sheet of paper covered in word strips including some really cute quotes. I also used some stamps, ribbon, flowers and a snap from my stash. I especially love how the wooden flourish turned out.
Above is a really great top view of the album with a sneek peak of the pages inside. Most of the pages were made by covering chipboard with patterned paper/card stock. You will see that I also included two pages using a transparency that I folded in half:)
Above and below are a few of the pages included in this mini album. For a complete view of the album, click on this link: http://s394.photobucket.com/albums/pp23/frugalscrapperphotos/Word%20Strips%20Mini%20Album/
To be in line with my "frugal scrapping" style, I have included some "frugalness", lol. The black strips as shown above are the strips attached to photo corners. I cut them away from the photo corners and was going to "toss" them, but realized they could be used to accent the pages...there are just no limits to the "trash" this Frugal Scrapper will use:)
Enjoy!
On the front cover, I used a sheet of paper covered in word strips including some really cute quotes. I also used some stamps, ribbon, flowers and a snap from my stash. I especially love how the wooden flourish turned out. Above is a really great top view of the album with a sneek peak of the pages inside. Most of the pages were made by covering chipboard with patterned paper/card stock. You will see that I also included two pages using a transparency that I folded in half:)
Above and below are a few of the pages included in this mini album. For a complete view of the album, click on this link: http://s394.photobucket.com/albums/pp23/frugalscrapperphotos/Word%20Strips%20Mini%20Album/To be in line with my "frugal scrapping" style, I have included some "frugalness", lol. The black strips as shown above are the strips attached to photo corners. I cut them away from the photo corners and was going to "toss" them, but realized they could be used to accent the pages...there are just no limits to the "trash" this Frugal Scrapper will use:)
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Fabric, embossing, and inks, oh my!
Welcome to my newest "Just the trash and my Stash" project created especially for you by the Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)
Supplies (Trash):
White cotton button down shirt
Buttons from old clothing
Ribbon scraps
Tags tossed by old company
Supplies (Stash):
Various Color Box Chalk inkers (I used three colors)
2 Stamps of your choice
Embossing folder (I used a Cuttlebug folder)
Embroidery Floss
Glossy accents (used for adhesive)
Stickles
Instructions:
- Cut fabric to cover tag
- Run tag through xyron
- Cover tag with fabric
- Stamp fabric with chalk inks
- Emboss tag with embossing folder
- Gently rub Chalk ink over embossed surfaces to add definition
- Ink edges of tag
- Add buttons and ribbon loop
- Gently rub stickles on embossed areas to add some sparkle
Finished tag:
I love the shabby chic, antiquey look of this tag. I would be great on a vintage page, a beach page, an heirloom page, family page, etc. It would also look great as an accent on altered art...hmmmm, I may have to give that a try:)
You may see this tag on a completed project in the near future....hmmmm...those creative thoughts are just jumping around in my brain right now, lol.
Enjoy, and remember to scrap responsibly (and green:)
Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire
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