Frugal Flourish Bling:)

Don't you just LOVE all that bling out there in the market place?  The wispy goodness is just too hard to resist, isn't it?  But alas...what's a frugal scrapper to do?  Even though there are some AMAZINGLY affordable companies out there, I still find myself asking...how can I do that myself?

Over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog, they have links to some great tutorials on how to make your own flourish/swirl bling for your projects, so be sure to check it out.  Here is a direct link to the post.

I have come up with one more way to make FRUGAL flourish templates for your crafting projects.  Now, I know this isn't rocket science, lol, and you may have seen this technique before, but since I have not seen it anywhere, I AM considering this a "Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire" idea.

Using one of my flourish stamps, I stamped with black ink onto a piece of chipboard.  Then I took my trusty crop-a-dile and using the smaller of the two hole punches, I punched my way around the flourish, spacing the holes every 1/4" or so.  I realized that the "reach" on my crop-a-dile was a minor challenge when I got to the middle of the flourish, so I decided to loosely cut around the stamped image so I could more easily punch some of the holes.



Then I got out my trusty stickles and dropped just a smidge into each hole....and...VOILA...my very own FRUGAL flourish bling:)  Now you all know that the biggest complaint about stickles is how long they take to dry...so if you don't mind a more subdued blingy appearance, you can use the tip of a toothpick and dip it into some stickles you squirted out on your craft mat to drop into each hole in your template.

Whenever I use a toothpick to apply stickles, besides having more control over where it lands, it dries much quicker because there is much lighter coverage.  This is especially helpful with small projects like cards or tags where you don't want the bling to be too overwhelming anyway.

I did find that it was much easier to work from the back of my template because the stamped side was a bit distracting.  You can also consider the fact that now you can determine the direction that your flourish goes based on which side of the template you use.

I'm sure you could also use this template to place glue if you still prefer to add crystals or other bling to your project.

Once finished, just clean off any extra stickles (or glue) stuck to the template with a dry paper towel.



Of course, for those of you who are daring enough, you can also just "draw" your flourishes freehand with no template at all:)  I've tried it and it works fine...you can always practice on scrap paper first:)

Today's gonna be a GREAT day, so here's a sneek peek & StudioL3 Post:)

Whoo hoo!!!!!  Today's gonna be a GREAT day!  For those of you who live in "sunny" southern California, you know that the coast has not been so "sunny" this year!  While my hubby and I feel VERY fortunate to be living along the coast in Northern San Diego County, summer has eluded us most of this year:(

Well, that has changed today!!!!  I think May Grey, June Gloom AND July Cry has moved on out (at least for today), and the sun is comin' up over the mountains!  Whoo Hoo!!!!

I took this picture right off of my deck this morning...at 6:30 a.m.....Ahhhhhhhh, this is WHY I moved HERE!

Hey, are those actually SHADOWS I see there?  Wow, it's gonna be hard to go to work today...

I've been workin' on my newest canvas project that I will teach at Ever After Scrapbooks...It will have a Holiday theme and will be modeled after T!m's 12 tags of Christmas...with a frugal scrappin' twist, of course!  This will be part of my monthly Frugal Scrappin' monthly class, and will be a series...we will complete this canvas over 3 months in Sept, Oct, and Nov...in plenty of time for gift giving or Holiday decorating.  More details to follow...

I've already started incorporating some recycled materials into this project...think soda cans, heehee...add a little paint, a little punchin' (hey, this will help sharpen your punches, too...a frugal BONUS), and a few of my other favorite T!m things..

Now I know this project is NO WHERE near FINISHED, but I couldn't help sharin' a SNEEK PEEK, especially since I could take it on a much eluded SUNNY southern California morning!  Whoo hoo!

I think I will also use this pic as my "project" for the Studio L3 CCC#9 challenge...I'm a day late (and probably a dollar short, lol), but hey it gave me the inspiration to used my crackle paint on my new project!

EnJOY!

As always, I love comments, suggestions, and just plain ole..."hey, how ya doin'?" posts...

Have a very BLESSED and sunny DAY!

You favorite Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Calling all Frugal Scrappers:)

Well fellow bloggers....I have an announcement!  No, no, it's not an exciting scrappin' or stampin' announcement...but it's an announcement that has affected my scrappin' time none the less....so....just wanna let all you east coasters and mid westers know that SUMMER has FINALLY arrived in Sunny San Diego!  Whoo hoo!!!!!

Now that does have some down sides for those of us who JUST can't stay INDOORS when the sun is out...I haven't CRE8ed in  over a WEEK!...I'm VERY HAPPY that Mr Sun has arrived....FINALLY...but sheesh....I've gotta get back to CRE8ing ART!

Lucky for me, my FRUGAL SCRAPPIN' partner has CRE8ed some REALLY AWESOME cards for our FRUGAL SCRAPPIN' class this month:)  WHOO HOO, Karen!  You ROCK, girl!

Here's a peek at what we will be doin' this month:

Isn't this card just ADORABLE?  Karen is becoming such an AMAZING Frugal Scrapper!  She has a few FRUGAL ideas up her sleeve that she will be sharing with the class this month, so hop on over to Ever After and sign up before the class is sold out!  These classes fill up SIGHT UNSEEN, and we're already halfway full:)

We will be makin' 5...yes...FIVE awesomely CRE8ed vintage cards designed by none other than KAREN, Frugal Scrapper in training, lol...I'm just SOOOOOOO EXCITED and PROUD of KAREN!!!!

We will, of course be using some of our FAVORITE T!m products:

Distress inks (various shades of brown)

Stickles (Icicle and Diamond)

Gold Embossing powder (well, this is Ranger)

Distress Embossing Ink

Snowcap Paint Dabber (or white ink...come on T!m, make us some AMAZING white ink)

Embossing folders (the swirly one and the distressed bricks)

Come on over to Ever After for supplies:)

O.k., so if you made it this far through my rambling, there is a reward...you get to peek at the rest of the cards we will make at the August Frugal Scrappin' class.  Remember, Class is ALWAYS (well ALMOST always) the last Thursday of the Month.  So that means the August Class is on August 26th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.  Hope to see you all there!

EnJOY:)

Lori M.

A very HAPPY Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Father and Son...ahhhh...and a Little TH...

So far this has been an AMAZINGLY creative weekend for ME:)  And boy does it FEEL GOOD!!  When I visited one of my favorite inspirational sites, I found an AMAZING scrapbook page created for week 9 of Thinking Inking with Jennifer McGuire, link here.  Jennifer is just AMAZING...she does such a WONDERFUL job with VIDEO TUTORIALS.  Jennifer, you ROCK!

So anyway, as the FRUGAL Scrapper Extraordinaire:), I decided to use a minimum of products to sort of replicate Jennifer's project so I could teach it Frugal Scrappin' style:)  I had ALMOST everything I initially wanted to use...so in TRUE Frugal Scrappin' mode, I did have to make a few "2nd choices" so I could truly consider this a Frugal Scrappin' project.

Once I finished, I decided to affectionately call this project "Frugal Scrappin' on Steroids"...there is so much goin' on here that I'm not sure I"ll be able to fit this into a mere 2 hr class...with that in mind, I plan to do it as a 3 hr "Frugal Scrappin +" class, lol...

I'm just SOOOOOOO happy with the outcome!  With each separate "block" of space, a different technique is done...all using a few of my FAVORITE T!m products.  I've used:

• Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Broken China and just a little Tea Dye
• Adirondack Pain Dabbers in Sunset Orange and Sailboat Blue
• Just a little Stickles in icicles

I made these like the common scrapbook page, but will mount them on a 12 x 12 canvas so they can just be hung on the wall.  This one turned out JUST GORGEOUS!  My frugal techniques were:

• Using some old chipboard alpha letters, pulling off the top layer (the color layer) and painting with the paint dabbers.
• Using a page out of an old AAA travel book (adhered to a think piece of cardstock for strength)
• Using a strip of material I've had FOREVER, I painted it over with a paint dabber, pulled a strip of white paper through my Xyron X, and adhered the material (in a "pleated" style) to add texture.  I also frayed the edges to grunge it up a bit.

EnJOY!

Now off to see if EA has any class slots availble to teach this "bad boy, lol".

Frugal Scrappin' for LOVE:)

LOVE is in the air and there is VINTAGE everywhere:)

Now, I know, I know...it's not even 2010 yet, and I'm already pushin' Valentine's Day:)  Well, bloggers this Christmas Holiday season has filled my heart with so much joy that I just want to roll it right into the next holiday where we think of those we love...what better way to get started then to make some warm, vintage, Valentine's cards....FRUGAL SCRAPPER STYLE, of course:)

These cards are the samples for my Frugal Scrappin' class that will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Ever After Scrapbooks in Vista, Ca.  These classes have been EXTREMELY popular since I started running them in June, 2009.  Initially, I bounced them around from month to month...sometimes at the beginning of the month, and sometimes at the end....even the day of the week changed each month.

I'm very happy to say that the FRUGAL SCRAPPER (that would be me, lol) has finally settled on a specific day each month.  Starting in 2010, my monthly Frugal Scrappin' classes will be held on the 4th Thursday of every month.  Settling on the 4th Thursday does have some major advantages...you can now PLAN your schedule AROUND the frugal scrappin' classes:)  Since we have many students who attend EVERY MONTH, it will be so much easier to plan your schedule this way.  Also, by having the class at the end of the month, there is PLENTY of time for Ever After to advertise (of course, as long as I get the samples in on time, lol).

O.k.....now what HASN'T CHANGED, you ask????  The Frugal price of $15!  Whoo hoo!!!!  In addition, these classes will continue to be FILLED with awesome TECHNIQUES geared toward teaching you ways to USE your STASH...and of course, all those AWESOME scrapbooking TOOLS out there in the marketplace.

Since these pic's are samples for my upcoming class, I do not post specific instructions...HOWEVER...if you do not live in the southern California area and cannot attend the Frugal Scrappin' class, feel free to e-mail me with any questions you have about how to make these cards and I'll be happy to answer them:)

Happy NEW YEAR!!!

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Creating again...Frugal Scrapper Style:)

Whew....finally, I've had some time to create today:) I feel like it's been "forever" since I've had some time to just relax and create...whoo hoo!

Now, since my time is precious, I've had to create "with a little help from my friends"...my friends being my Paper Craft magazine and the twopeasinabucket webiste...

If you subscribe to Paper Craft magazine (or have the current copy), you may recognize my "a perfect ending to a perfect day" card...I did use my own techniques on this card, but the appearance is similar to one in the magazine. For this card, I used alcohol inks with glossy card stock. I used a few stamps (with my favorite staz on ink, of course), added some ribbon and buttons, and voila, a perfectly awesome fall card.

I also make one card with some leaves from my local dollar store...I used some stamps, stickles and some embossing powder to create a great "Thinking of You" card.

I made the card at top right and bottom left using one of the 2 Peas techniques from their fall stamping tutorials...of course, I was happy to use my distress inks and even a page from an old AAA travel book, whoo hoo for frugal scrappin'!

The tag at middle top was made using various techniques including the use of products such as distress inks, glimmer mist, staz on ink, a few stamps, some ribbon, flowers and buttons. There is alot of layering in this tag and is one of my favorite items for my upcoming Frugal Scrappin' class at Ever After Scrapbooks. This tag will make use of alot of my frugal scrappin' techniques and will allow for alot of creativity from my students.

Wow, it's good to be creating again...

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

More of...Just the Trash and my Stash

Hello fellow scrappers:) I haven't posted a "Just the Trash and my Stash" project for a while, although I still do them all the time....soooo....I realized I need to share some more projects with you:)

I made this mini album focusing on my husband's 50th birthday. Our family surprised him by having ALL of our immediate family (kids, significant others, AND grandkids) together for the very first time! Whoo hoo!!!!












I started with a Genuinely Jane Arrow book that I got from Ever After Scrapbooks. This book came with 4 wooden arrow-shaped pages, but being the frugal person I am, I used only two of the pages in the project (which means...I can make another book later:)

I did add pages by using some corregated cardboard (from a cardboard shipping box...i.e...trash). To cut the arrow shape, I just layed one of the wooden pages on top of the cardboard and roughly cut around it with an exacto knife. I then trimmed where ever needed with scissors. When I do projects like this, I always ink around the edges of each page. Since I wanted this book to be masculine, I used a black acrylic paint dabber on the edges.

Using paper from Graphic 45, 7 Gypsies, and the Paper Loft (I love to mix the manufacturers papers), I covered the wooden pages. On the corregated cardboard pages, I used some Tim Holtx masks and glimmer mist on some, and some Making Memories acrylic paint on others. You will also notice that on some of the cardboard pages, I pulled some of the top layer of cardboard off so the corregated core would show through.

I then added some rub-ons, word strips, ink and more acrylic paint (on photo edges) from my stash. Finally I "blinged" it up (in a masculine way, of course) with Stickles.

I also decided to use sepia photos on this book which pulled the theme together.

Enjoy:)

Trash and My Stash Paper Flowers

As most of you know, I've been obsessed with making my own paper flowers lately. Since I haven't seen these flowers on-line anywhere, I thought I'd share the instructions with you:)


The supplies shown above (along with some "junk mail" trash) were used to make some awesome paper flowers that I used in a layout (shown at the end of this post).

These flowers were made as follows:

• Punch 6-8 circles using scrap paper from your stash
• Fold the circles into a "cone" shape as shown below
• Distress the folded edges and rounded top of circle (these are your petals)
• Apply stickles (or some other glitter glue)...in addition to adding the glitter, the glue adds substance to the paper that helps to mold the petals
• Once petals are molded, place on paper, spacing as desired
• Add a button or another circle punch to the center

For this flower, I also used a flower technique I found on Leah Fung's blog. She has alot of great ideas, so feel free to visit her here: http://www.leahfung.typepad.com/


This is the layout I completed using the flower I made. Notice I also made a smaller one for the top of the page. I just took each circle I punched, cut it in half and folded the edges back to make a rounded triangle. The rest of the instructions are the same as above.

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire