This week I was transfixed by a stamping video (see right) featuring Jennifer McGuire of Hero Arts. Jen demonstrates a technique she refers to as “kissed backgrounds” – ie pressing a un-inked stamp onto an inked stamp and then stamping the original stamp onto paper for a textured looking image. (For a stamping novice like myself, fascinating stuff!) There are also a couple of other tricks Jen shows – putting two different coloured inks on the same stamp and colouring the heads of some brads with permanent markers.

The video’s about 3 minutes long.

If you’re reading this post via RSS, you can access the video in the relevant post at the Hero Arts blog. (Scroll down the post a tiny bit and you’ll see it.)

A few days ago I came across a video by Kristina Werner demonstrating the use of a Kreate-A-Lope template to make your own envelopes. What a fantastic product I thought! In days past, I’d have Googled the manufacturer, found out where to buy the product locally and made my online purchase in a matter of seconds.

Unfortunately, with the effect of the economic downturn, I can’t justify such a purchase these days on a mere whim. An idea formed in my mind as I watched Kristina make her envelope for a second time. That template (though no doubt a fantastic product) looked easy enough to duplicate.

So this afternoon I set about that very task. I resolved to make a similar template out of cardstock. I measured the size of the inner rectangle first, as this determines what sized cards will ultimately fit inside the envelope. I plan to make 10cm x 15cm cards, so I sized my inner rectangle at 10.3cm x 15.4cm to allow a little room to ease the card inside the finished envelope.

Here’s the steps I took to make an cardstock envelope template to fit a 10cm x 15cm card:

Outer Square

1. Select a sheet of 12″  x 12″ cardstock.
2. Rule up a square that measures 20cm x 20cm. Cut the square out from the 12×12 sheet with your paper trimmer or Exacto knife.
3. Rule up a second square, inside the first square, that measures 19cm x 19cm (centre the inner square within the outer one).
4. Rotate your sheet 45° to the left (so that your square becomes a diamond).

Inner Rectangle Window

1. From the top tip of your INNER diamond, measure 10.8cm down the left edge and place a pencil dot. Do the same along the right edge. Draw a horizontal line from left to right connecting the two dots. (The line should measure approx. 15.4cm.)
2. Rotate your diamond 180° so that the top becomes the bottom. Repeat step 1. You should now have two horizontal lines forming the top and bottom edges of your inner rectangle.
3. Rule a vertical line between the two dots on the left edges of your diamond, to form the left edge of your rectangle. Do the same on the right side of your diamond.
4. Cut out the rectangle carefully with an Exacto knife (or equivalent tool). Keep the rectangle that you’ve cut out. Don’t throw it away…you’ll need it!

Bevelled Edge Outer Diamond

1. From the bottom tip of your OUTER diamond, measure 4cm along the left edge and place a pencil dot. Do the same on the right. Rule a horizontal line connecting the two dots. Cut along this line with your paper trimmer or knife (in effect beveling the corner).
2. Your template is done! Watch Kristina’s video to learn how to make an envelope with your new template.

If you’re reading via RSS, you can access the video from this post on Kristina’s blog. Otherwise you can watch by clicking on the video on top right of your screen. The video’s 7 mins 20 secs long.

At this point, I have to confess that I drew my template with software (Adobe Illustrator to be exact) and then got my trusty Craft Robo electronic cutter to cut it all out for me…*blush*. I wrote the above instructions for scrappers who may not have access to an electronic cutter.

Above is what my template looked like when it was finished. (I’ve laid it on a sheet of 12×12 white cardstock so you can see it a bit better.) I tested the template out in the same way that Kristina shows us in her video and I found it works perfectly! I’m very pleased with the results. Here’s a test envelope I made out of spare patterned paper to show you (below).

Here’s the same envelope shown with the flap open (below).

So, what do you think? Not bad?

Tip: I strongly suggest cutting the template out of 2-3 sheets of cardstock and gluing the layers together for added firmness.

I highly recommend making your own envelope template if you’re on a tight scrapping budget like myself. Good luck!

Pickleberrypop has a free downloadable desktop wallpaper for November 2009.

It comes in 3 convenient sizes:

• 1024×768
• 1280×800
• 1280×1024

Download the desktop wallpaper here.

To be eligible register in the forum and await further details. Benefits include:

• Generous store discount
• Monthly box of goodies to create your projects with
• Input into the selection of products

12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza – The Designers at Scrapbook Divas have been working very hard on some exciting new projects to share. There will be store vouchers and prize packs up for grabs. Check the forum for further details.

This morning my eyes have fallen on a Christmas challenge blog aimed at cardmakers and scrapbookers. An excerpt from the blog’s about description says:

Take the stress and strain out of Christmas by joining us on a creative and fun journey. Each Sunday a new theme will be set for you to go and make something in preparation for the holiday. It needn’t necessarily be a card; you could make a decoration, a tag, a scrap layout – whatever takes your fancy…

It’s a sweet little blog. This week’s challenge is to use the card sketch provided and/or to use the theme “pantomime”.

You’ll find many example projects from the resident design team, as well as reader submitted Christmas cards and a sprinkling of beyond-the-page projects. For example I saw a couple of fabulous advent calendars, a christmas decoration and an insanely georgeous chipboard sleigh holding chocolates created by Teri S (below).

You’ll find the Winter Wonderland blog here:  http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com. If you’re in need of Christmas themed ideas, I highly recommend checking it out.

This morning I’ve amused myself by mooching around in my dressing gown (bad visual sorry about that) checking out what some of the scrapbooking manufacturers are up to:

• KI Memories has a Christmas To Do List project you can download (there’s a Hanukkah version too). The creator suggests you sew the pages together at the top, and then cover the seam with patterned paper. Read the related blog post here.
• Maya Road features some instructions on making a quick ribbon flower. It looks very easy and you only need 5 x 3^1/2 strips of ribbon,  needle and thread to do it.
• 7Gypsies mentions something they refer to as textured rubbings. What is a textured rubbing? Apparently it’s a something like a two step rub-on. First a transparent  “glue” image that you rub off onto your target surface. Next add your “texture” glitter, foil (or any other suitable materials you have in your stash I suspect).  Naturally 7G has a range of products you can buy for exactly this purpose. The glue images are fascinating nonetheless.
• If you’re running short of card ideas, Bobunny has a Christmas card sketch for you to try out. They’ll also show you how to make some stamped shrink plastic embellishments.
• A nice little Christmas gift idea from Upsy Daisy – check out this Hark The Angel Frame by Grace Tolman – she provides instructions on how to make it as well.
• Spellbinders shares some of their Christmas card tips with us.
• Imaginisce announced their new design team. Fabulous to see Aussies Melinda Spinks and Samantha Hauzer making the team. (Congratulations ladies!)
• At Graphic 45 you’ll discover a double page sketch with provision for six photos.
• Another Saturday sketch can be found over at Kaisercraft. This sketch allows room for a 5×7 photo.
• Finally, I’ll leave you with this article on how Creative Memories is progressing after their brush with bankruptcy. An interesting read on their transformation from direct sales to focusing on becoming an online digital scrapbooking company.

Have a great Sunday (it’s nice and hot here in Melbourne, Australia – 31°C). Enjoy!

I’ve been looking at all the new scrapbooking sketches available in November 2009. Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far:

• First up is a 3 photo sketch from CIS Stylish Sketches
• Got Sketch? has Sketch #92 for one or more photos.
• My Sketch World’s Nov 09 Sketch features space for a large single photo.
• At Sketch This you’ll find Sketch #94, also for a single photo.
• Pink Sketches has Sketch #52 providing for three photos.
• So Sketchy’s Nov 09 Card Sketch features a window pane.
• More card sketches can be found at 2Sketches4You – Kazan’s Sketch #38 and Laura’s Sketch #38.
• Over at Creative Scrappers, there’s Sketch #76 with room for two photos.
• Ed’s Sketch offers up a Nov 09 Sketch suitable for one photo.
• Twisted Sketches provides yet another single photo option – Sketch#22.
• At Let’s Capture These Sketches you’ll discover Sketch #15 with room for two photos.
• Nuts About Sketches is up to Week #81. The sketch is a double layout featuring space for up to 10 photos!
• Sketchy Thursdays serves up this Sketch (dated 5th Nov) for a single photo.
• A further card sketch can be found at Tuesday Morning Sketches. This one’s designated Sketch #18.
• Offering up a layout sketch is Scrapbooking Gems with Sketch #30. It has space for two photos.
• Another single photo sketch is available at Inspired Blueprints. It’s designated Sketch #35.
• Rusty Pickle’s Nov 09 Sketch has space for four photos.
• I spotted this Saturday Sketch over at Pink Paislee. It’s also got room for four photos. Cool!

Phew! I think I’m all sketched out. Until next month that is. Enjoy!

Digital scrapbooking store, Pickleberrypop, is currently holding a sale in honour of Digital Scrapbooking Day. The sale runs from Nov 6th-8th, 2009. For anyone who can’t view the image, PBP are offering 30-50% off personal use items and 20% off most commercial items.  Visit PBP at: www.pickleberrypop.com.

Time to take a look at some of the scrapbooking tutorials and classes available this week:

• Steph Devlin tipped me off to some mixed media tips on her blog. If you’re new to mixed media techniques (my hand is up) these six fabulous tips are well worth a read.  Thanks Steph!
• Shimelle has an online class called Journal Your Christmas. The class provides 37 email prompts from 1st Dec through to 6th Jan 2010, a Christmas  notebook planner to download and print, materials for digital/hybrid scrappers and also a guide to improving your Xmas happy snaps.
• Kenner Road shows you how to make a handmade background using tissue paper, ink, cardstock and paper towels. Sounds a tad messy but the end result is…WOW!!!
• Ali Edwards is doing the 2009 version of her December Daily album project on her blog. Follow along with Ali and document the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Prepare now so you’re ready for when it all starts in December. Ali’s first step is to…”gather & organize your materials”.
• Studio Calico has a video tutorial by April Foster (above right if you’re reading via the website) showing you how to layer mists (Maya Mists in this case). If you’re reading via RSS you can access the video via the blog post I’ve linked you to.
• Jessica Sprague has a new online class called Holidays In Hand. According to the class description you’ll…”Make a December album project to tell your holiday stories past and present”. The class is free, registration is already open, and it runs from Nov 16th-23rd, 2009.
• Fancy Pants features a tutorial by Amy Peterson on making your own wrapping paper using craft paper, glitter mist, chipboard die cuts, inks and stamps. Just lovely.

That should keep us all occupied for a little while. No excuses for sitting around not doing anything crafty!

This week I’ve enjoyed watching a video by Makeesha Byl demonstrating how to make a photo wallet.  The finished project is a great idea for a Xmas gift and it reminds me somewhat of an explosion album.

A small warning, the video’s about 9 minutes long, so you should probably  make yourself a nice hot cuppa before sitting down to watch this one. It’s quite a complex project to put together – my head’s still spinning a little bit after watching it. I think I need to watch it a few more times to get everything clear in my mind. Or maybe it’s the noise distraction  from the next room – my eldest daughter home from school today (supposedly sick) singing “Jingle Bells” into a microphone at the top of her voice!

If you’re reading his post on the website, click the arrow on the video image to right of your screen to play. For those reading via RSS, visit the related blog post here to view the video there.

There’s also a step-by-step version of the tutorial with still photos at Split Coast Stampers here. (For those who need to be shown s-l-o-w-l-y like myself! ) Enjoy!

Kaisercraft are offering scrappers the opportunity to help design a new rub-on! From 1st -20th Nov 2009 you can submit your own unique quote or phrase that could end up being made into a real life rub-on for sale through the Kaisercraft blog! Up to 60 people will have their quotes selected.

To Enter:

1. Write a unique quote/phrase with the following themes in mind:
   • Friendship/love
   • Gift/Card/Greeting
   • Everyday
2. Email up to 3 unique quotes or phrases to competitions<at>kaisercraft.com.au before 20th Nov 2009 to be in the draw. (ONE entry per email address is permitted. Entries must indicate which heading each of the quotes falls under. Entry emails must also contain your full name, a contact phone number and email address.)

Prizes:
Entrants who submit a winning quote or phrase will receive one pack of rub-ons (in which their quote is featured). The best three quote authors will win any collection of their choice, as well as 3x each rub-on pack they’re featured in. They’ll also have their name displayed on the rub-on packaging.

For further details, read this post at the Kaisercraft blog. Good luck everyone!