A Very Merry Unbirthday!

Hiya!

I've got another exciting announcement today...I have been invited to be part of the My Inkie Fingers design team, starting in April.

I will be creating cards following biweekly card sketches that can be found on the MIF blog and Facebook Group.

Just for fun, I created an Alice in Wonderland themed slimline card for the current challenge using sketch #8. You can click the photo below to visit the MIF blog to read more about the challenge and how you can enter.

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Looking at the sketch, I knew I wanted three characters to take the place of the green circles. So I started this card by stamping a few images from The Sassy Club's Little Alice and Sassy Queen, onto a piece of 80 lb. Neenah card stock with Gina K. black amalgam ink.

I used Copic and Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to color the images and then fussy cut them out. Then I went along the edges of each image with a Memento tuxedo black marker.

I definitely wanted to incorporate the sentiment "Have a very merry unbirthday!" with UNBIRTHDAY taking the place of the pink rectangle from the sketch. I used Hello Bluebird's Oliver Alpha dies to cut out the letters from black card stock. However, I didn't realize how large the word would be until I laid it out; that's when my card became a slimline card.

I based my color scheme on the Tess-A-Penpal paper collection from Thoughtful Studio. It included the perfect teapot patterned paper to fit the theme of my card. I cut down a piece to 8" x 3" so that it would leave a 1/4" border around the edges. Going off of the rest of the papers from the collection, I knew blue would be the perfect compliment to orange! Easy-peasy color theory! 😂

For the first part of the sentiment, I used Lawn Fawn's Pick of the Patch stamp set for the "Have a very" and Lawn Fawn's Oh What Fun set for the "merry." I heat embossed them with white detail embossing powder onto light and navy blue card stock. Then I cut down the card stock a little wonky around the words so that they looked like slightly uneven rectangles.

I took the rest of the blue card stocks and trimmed an 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece from each color. I stacked the two panels together and I used my paper trimmer to cut across the panels diagonally, from the top, all the way to the bottom.

I made a slimline card base from 110 lb. white card stock and glued down the strips, alternating between the two blue colors.

Once the strips were complete, I added the 8" x 3" teapot paper onto the card front. I added the colored images next and then centered the sentiment in the middle of the panel.

For a final bit of embellishment, I added three enamel dots in different shades of blue.

If you are interested in seeing more inspiration using Card Sketch #8, be sure to follow the hashtag #MIF008 on social media and check out the My Inkie Fingers blog to see how you can participate.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

-Jenni :)

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Supplies

Card Stock

Tess-A-Penpal: https://www.etsy.com/shop/shopthoughtfulstudio?coupon=THOUGHTFULSTUDIODT

Stamps

Little Alice: https://www.thesassyclub.com/products/little-alice?_pos=1&_sid=9c67110a2&_ss=r

Sassy Queen: https://www.thesassyclub.com/products/sassy-queen?_pos=1&_sid=ea224762e&_ss=r

Pick of the Patch: https://www.lawnfawn.com/products/pick-of-the-patch?_pos=1&_sid=0755967bd&_ss=r

Oh What Fun: https://www.lawnfawn.com/products/oh-what-fun?_pos=1&_sid=4763345f2&_ss=r

Alpha Dies

Oliver Alpha: https://shop.hellobluebird.com/collections/stand-alone-dies/products/hb-2201

Happy Name Day

Hello,

Winter is here and so is a birthday with this Game of Thrones inspired card.

My goal was to create a masculine GOT themed card for a huge fan of the series. To start, I stamped the two images from the Kindred Stamps set called Heirs to the Throne, onto a piece of 80 lb. Neenah card stock with Gina K. black amalgam ink.

I colored the characters in with a combination of Copic and Blick Studio alcohol markers. Then I used my Scan 'N Cut to cut out the images, leaving a white border.

For the wood grain background, I used the Sizzix Lumber Texture Fade embossing folder with a piece of kraft card stock. Before running the card stock through my BigKick, I spritzed it with some clean water. After I ran it through, I added some Walnut Stain Distress Oxide with a blending brush and then set it aside to dry.

I found a piece of scrapbook paper from my local craft store that worked perfectly with the theme. It was a sheet of cut-a-parts from the Reminisce Warrior Collection. I wanted to incorporate the "Happy Name Day" and "Your Birthday Is Coming" sentiments, so I used my trimmer to cut them out.

I used 110 lb. white card stock to create and A2 card base and added the first sentiment piece to the inside of the card. Then I used the larger one on the front panel, which was made up of the embossed kraft piece. I then added the colored images on top of that.

Before attaching the wood grain piece to the card base, I added metal corner embellishments. The ones I used came in a 4 pack that I found in the wood crafting section of Hobby Lobby. Because of that, they had a thickness of about 3/16", which happened to be about the same as two layers of fun foam.

I took the two sheets of fun foam and cut them down to 4 1/4" X 5 1/2" and glued them together. Then I added my main panel on top of that. I used Tombow Mono liquid adhesive and coated the insides of all the metal pieces and glued them onto each of the corners.

Each corner piece also had tiny holes for the nails that came in the pack as well. The nails were a little too long, so to make them sit flush against the card base, I used my wire trimmers to cut off the very tips of the nails. I used a nail that still had a point to pierce through all the layers and then stuck the blunt nails through.

Once all the nails were in, I glued the whole panel onto the card base.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

-Jenni :)

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Supplies

Reminisce Card Stock: https://www.scrapbook.com/store/re-war-006.html

Corner Embellishments: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Wood-Crafting/Hardware-Tools/Antique-Bronze-Plated-Leaf-Corners/p/80783624

Embossing Folder: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Scrapbook-Paper-Crafts/Die-Cut-Machines-Accessories/Dies/Lumber-Texture-Fades-Embossing-Folder/p/80874318

Stamp Set: https://www.kindredstamps.com/products/war-for-the-throne-set-1?_pos=4&_sid=020b5eaad&_ss=r

Traveler's Notebook - Thoughtful Studio

Hello again!

Today I am sharing my DIY Traveler's Notebook made entirely with the Tess-A-Penpal paper collection from Thoughtful Studio.

Since I was little, I have always loved notebooks, especially ones with cute designs on them; Tweety Bird, Lion King, and Lisa Frank covered all my school supplies. (Can you tell I'm a 90s kid! 😄) So when I discovered people were creating their own TNs, I was super excited with all the possibilities!

I particularly like them because they are completely customizable, and with the option to switch out the inserts, reusable as well. I love them for jotting down quick notes, grocery lists, sketching, organizing and memory keeping. There's just something about writing things down on paper that an iPhone can't replace.

The Tess-A-Penpal collection's theme matched perfectly with the idea of the notebook. Both encompass the movement of ideas and creativity onto paper, which was the inspiration behind this project.

Through happymail and travel, we are able to make new friends and learn new things, which has been a fun part of my design team experience so far.

So finally, I will get started with the tutorial! 😂

To begin, I have to first mention that iammama24's videos on YouTube were a big help in learning how to create a laminated personal sized TN. I have since tweaked and changed a few things when making my own.

Ok! I first start by choosing a paper collection and picking out the pattern I want for the cover, the dashboard, the pockets, the pen loop and the three inserts. I like to use double sided paper because it's a little easier to work with. However, you can definitely glue two single sided patterned papers together as well. I like to use Fabri-Tac glue because it doesn't really warp or buckle the card stock.

For the inserts, I like to use plain paper, graph paper, and lined paper; roughly seven to ten sheets of each.

Once I've gathered all my papers, I trim everything down at once.

• Cover: 7" x 8"

• Insert covers: 6 5/8" x 7 1/4"

• Insert papers: 6 5/8" x 7 1/8"

• Dashboard insert: 3 1/4" x 6 3/8"

• Pocket (x2): 3 1/2" x 4"

• Pen loop: 1 3/4" x 1 3/4"

For the cover, I chose the pattern that would be inside the notebook and added the pockets. I put the two pocket pieces back to back and cut a curve on the corner. Then I put the tiniest spot of glue in the three corners, just to hold them in place while being laminated.

I used a score board to score the spine at 3 1/4", 4", and 4 1/4".

To decorate the notebook, I used the coordinating ephemera from the Tess-A-Penpal collection. I added some to the front and back of the dashboard insert as well as the cover.

Then I used a corner punch to round the corners on all the pieces.

Next, I pulled out two Scotch laminating pouches and trimmed them down as well.

• The measurements (except for the pocket) include some allowance for trimming after laminating. You don't have to cut the pouches prior to laminating, but I like to trim the sheets before so I can save the extra bits. If you want to laminate the entire page without trimming first, you can trim after and use the extra as acetate.

I also made sure to take advantage of the side that is already sealed by making it the bottom of the cover or the side of the dashboard, so that I can butt up the papers against a straight edge.

• Cover: 8 1/2" x 7 1/2"

• Dashboard: 7 1/2" x 7"

• Dashboard pocket (x2): 3 1/4" x 6 5/8" (cut through the pouch all the way so that each pocket piece is cut at the same time)

• Pen loop: 2" x 2"

To make the dashboard and pocket, I took the two rectangles that I cut to 3 1/4" x 6 5/8", and put the shiny sides together. I put them alongside the presealed edge of the 7 1/2" x 7" pouch, and lined them up at the top. Then I left about a 3/8" gap and added the dashboard insert, lining that up with the bottom of the pocket and then put the whole thing through the laminator.

I used my envelope punch board to create the pen loop. I centered the 1 3/4" square on the board and punched the top and bottom. Then I placed it inside the laminating sheet and ran it through the laminator.

I added the card stock cover to the 8 1/2" x 7 1/2" pouch and put it through the laminator as well.

To open the pockets on the cover, I took an X-acto knife and carefully went along the edges of the pockets, making sure to not cut through the cover. Then I put it through the laminator a couple more times.

For the dashboard pocket, I just trimmed across the very top to create the opening.

I then trimmed the edges and rounded the corners on the rest of the pieces.

Next, I punched the holes where the elastic would go. I used a Crop-A-Dile Big Bite punch on the 1/8" hole setting. I punched a hole on the top and bottom of the cover on each of the score lines. The last hole was punched on the center score line half way down the cover.

I used some thin, green elastic I found in the jewelry section at Hobby Lobby to match the paper collection.

To add the elastic (blue arrows):

• feed it through the bottom right hole from behind

• take it up and through to the hole directly above it

• bring it through the center hole next to it, from the back

• take it down and through to the center hole at the bottom

• bring it through the hole on the left of center, from the back

• take up and through the final hole at the top

Before cutting anything, I made sure the elastic wasn't too tight or too loose, and that there was a tail (yellow arrows) at each end long enough to tie together in the middle.

Once I made sure the tails could be tied, I cut the end that was still connected to the roll. Then I fed each end up through the back of the center hole and tied them in the middle.

For the elastic that holds the notebook closed, I wrapped a piece around the book, making sure it wasn't too snug, and cut it from the roll. I brought the two ends together, tied them in a knot and cut away the excess.

Then I took the end, opposite the knot, and pushed it through the center hole from the inside.

Next, I folded the insert covers and filler papers in half to create three booklets.

At this point, I've seen some people staple them together, but I don't so that I can reuse the covers once the paper has been used up. Once they were together I added them to the inside of the notebook.

For the pen loop, I scored the laminated piece at every 1/8" and used a bone folder to help it curl. Then on each end I added a piece of 1/8" double sided tape. I attached it to the side of dashboard and reinforced it with staples. I then went ahead and added the dashboard to the notebook as well.

As a final bit of embellishment, I used some of the remaining card stock and ephemera to create a laminated bookmark and two matching paperclips.

-Super Quick Paperclip Tutorial-

Cut out an image you want to use

Trace around the shape you just cut out

Cut out the traced shape

Align the two cut outs so that they match up

Sandwich a paperclip between the cut outs

Secure using hot glue

You can find more creations from me and the rest of the Thoughtful Studio design team on Instagram and Facebook @thoughtfulstudio, as well as following the hashtags #madewiththoughtful and #thoughtfulstudioDT .

And of course, you can get these wonderful patterned papers here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/shopthoughtfulstudio?coupon=THOUGHTFULSTUDIODT

*Above link includes a 15% discount code, not applicable to Limited Edition item.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

-Jenni :)