Tuesday 31 January 2017

Sewing Project - Apron

The Inspirers team were recently challenged to "Try something new" and whilst I've sewn before I've not done so for a while and certainly have not sewn a wearable item before.

With this challenge in mind, I made myself a new apron to cover my clothes better when getting inky and painty!


            

I used the following materials:
         
Cotton Yarn Dyed Ticking Stripe Fabric - Duck Egg
       
Debbie Shore Scotty Dog Template
         
Cotton fabric - Black
        
25mm D-Rings
                 
Heat n Bond Lite - Iron on Adhesive
           
All products above available from
CRAFTER'S COMPANION .
              
OTHER MATERIALS
      
Fabric offcuts from stash
    
25mm Prym Tape Maker
              
          
Thank you as always for popping by
                 
xxSAMxx

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Words of Wonder - Art Journal Page

It has been a while since I've shared an Art Journal page with you! 
               
For this page I used Pebeo Studio Acrylics Dyna Paints along with the gorgeous "Words of Wonder" stamp set from the Textures range by Crafter's Companion.
                          
Art Journal Page featuring Words of Wonder stamp by Crafter's Companion & Pebeo Dyna Paints. By Sam Lewis AKA The Crippled Crafter.
                      
I used the following materials:
      
STAMPS / STENCILS
Textures Stamp Set - Words of Wonder 1
Sheena Douglass - Simply Scriptly Stamp
Sheena Douglass Groovin 60's - Circles of Your Mind
                
MEDIUMS & ADHESIVES
Pebeo White Gesso
Pebeo Dyna Paints - Set 2 
(350 Precious Gold, 354 Red Blue, 356 Violet Blue)
Pebeo Dyna Paints - Set 3 
(357 Blue Green, 359 Green Yellow)
Distress Ink - Barn Door
Distress Ink - Mustard Seed
Distress Ink - Mowed Lawn
Distress Ink - Broken China
Archival Ink - Carnation Red
Archival Ink - Tiger Lily
Archival Ink - Leaf Green
Archival Ink - Garden Patina
Spectrum Noir Marker - True Black
                       
ANYTHING ELSE
Sheena White Stamping Card
                          
All products above available from 
CRAFTER'S COMPANION
                      
OTHER MATERIALS
Posca White Paint Marker
Posca Black Paint Marker

                  
Art Journal Page featuring Words of Wonder stamp by Crafter's Companion & Pebeo Dyna Paints. By Sam Lewis AKA The Crippled Crafter.
                  
Thank you as always for popping by
       
xxSAMxx

Sunday 15 January 2017

Framed Rose - Valentines Day

Today I'd like to share a project using the Sheena Douglass stamp set called Every Rose.
                   
                                   
I used the following materials:
           
STAMPS
Sheena Douglass - Every Rose stamp
         
PAPER / CARD
Neenah Solar White
                 
MEDIUMS & ADHESIVES
Archival Ink - Jet Black
Distress Ink - Black Soot
Pebeo Black Gesso
Pebeo White Gesso
Pebeo Gilding Wax - Empire Gold 
               
ANYTHING ELSE
Spectrum Noir Markers
         
All products above available from CRAFTER'S COMPANION .
                      
OTHER MATERIALS
Frame
                                
- - - - - - - - - - -
                     
SPECTRUM NOIR - COLOUR LIST:
                     
ROSE
DR7, BP7, BP6, DR4, CR9, CR7
                  
LEAVES
BGR5, DG4, DG3, CG4, LG5, CG3
                    
THORNS
EB6, EB2
                   
 SKY
TB9, BT9, BT5, IB2, BT4, IB1
                   
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
   
Links you need to know 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  
Thank you as always for popping by
       
xxSAMxx

Thursday 12 January 2017

Autumn Morning Album - TUTORIAL 3/3 (Album Decoration)

       
Welcome back to Part 3, the FINAL part of THIS Mini Album Tutorial!
       
Today we will learn:
                
How to cover our pages with patterned paper
Some ideas for embellishing your pages
         
      Make sure to read to the very end of this post for a surprise treat!
                     
========================================
        
DECORATING THE PAGES

Autumn Morning 12X12 Paper Pad

For all 6 pages in the album you need:
   

Just a selection of the cut pieces needed!
      
Piece 21..... CUT 6 x 5” X 5” (Front of page, inside large pocket)
      
Piece 22..... CUT 3 x 5” X 3⅞” (Front of page, front of large pocket on belly band pages)
   
Piece 23….. CUT 3 x 3½” X 3⅞” (Front of page, front of large pocket on small pocket pages)
    
Piece 24….. CUT 6 x 5” X 7” (Back of page)
    
Piece 25….. CUT 12 x 5” X 5½” (Front and back of the fold out flap)
          
Piece 26..... CUT 3 x 2⅝” X 3⅞” (Front of page, small pocket)
      
       Piece 27..... CUT 3 x 5” X 1” (Front of page, belly band)
        
Piece 28..... CUT 6 x 3⅞” X 5” (Tag, piece 2)
    
Piece 29..... CUT 12 x 3⅞” X 2½” (Folding tag, piece 6)
    
Piece 30..... CUT 6 x 3⅞” X 2⅞” (Folding tag, piece 6)
    
Piece 31..... CUT 6 x 2 ” X 5” (Tag, piece 8)
    

========================================
   
PAGE DECORATION
       
A.... Ink all the long edges. 

      
B.... Attach all the pieces to the pages as shown. 

       
C.... Repeat steps A and B for the tags.

       
========================================

EMBELLISHING YOUR ALBUM
       

I feel that decorating the cover and pages of a mini album should be a personal thing, so I'm not going to give you a step by step of each page.  Instead, I'm going to share with you ideas and tips to make your album unique and personal to you.

   
1.... Use your dies to embellish the pages of your album!
    
2.... If your dies allow, make use of the embossed detail!  Sand it back or ink it up!
   
3.... Some dies have matching stamps which really give wonderful detail to the die cuts.
     
4.... Create focal pieces throughout your album, like this leaf wreath using the die cuts above!
     
5.... Keep each double page spread to one colour scheme.
    

6.... Of course you don't just have to use die cuts! 
Use stamping, and other materials such as the hessian on this cover. Anything is possible!

                         
For more ideas check out my YouTube Video where I show off each page in full!
       
========================================
          
Thank you for coming back for the final part of this tutorial!  I've had great fun.

Now time to see how many people have stayed with me until the end! 
     
 I am going to do a GIVEAWAY!  If anyone would like to be in with a chance of winning the album made during this tutorial, then first leave a comment on this blog post before heading to this Facebook Post and following the instructions there.
     
xxSAMxx

Wednesday 11 January 2017

Autumn Morning Album - TUTORIAL 2/3 (Cover Construction)

        
Thank you for joining me again today for 
Part 2 of THIS Mini Album Tutorial.
            
In this part we focus on:

Constructing the Cover
Gluing in the Hinge
Inserting the Pages
     
Part 1 of the tutorial (Page & Hinge Construction) can be found HERE.
            
==================================
                 
COVER
 
From 2 A4 sheets of Greyboard cut the following:
           
 
             
Piece 11..... CUT 2 x 5½” X 7½”
              
Piece 12..... CUT 1 x 5½” X 2”
                 
Piece 13..... CUT 1 x 5½” X 1¾”
                    
Piece 14..... CUT 1 x 5½” X 1½”
         

==================================
            
COVER CONSTRUCTION – Part 1
                     
Glue or tape together 2 scrap pieces of greyboard to use as a spacer. 

                  
Use the spacer to ensure an even gap the width of 2 pieces of greyboard, when attaching the cover pieces together.
                     
Use a wide masking tape to attach the cover pieces together and burnish the tape to each piece well.
        

A.... Affix masking tape to a short ends of one piece 11.

        
B.... Attach piece 12 to piece 11. 

 
          

C.... Affix masking tape to piece 12.
    
D.... Attach the second piece 11 to piece 12.
    
E.... Affix masking tape to piece 11.
    
F.... Attach piece 13 to piece 11.
     
G.... Affix masking tape to piece 13.
      
H.... Attach piece 14 to piece 13. 

       
                                        
==================================
               
COVER CONSTRUCTION – Part 2
      

Using Autumn Morning 12X12 Paper Pad (5 sheets)
        

     
Piece 15..... CUT 1 x 7½” X 9½” (FRONT COVER) (1 Sheet)
        
Piece 16..... CUT 1 x 7½” X 4” (SPINE) (1 Sheet)
                     
Piece 17..... CUT 1 x 7½” X 9½” (BACK COVER) (1 Sheet)
                        
Piece 18..... CUT 1 x 7½” X 4½” (FLAP) (1 Sheet)
                              

               
Piece 19….. CUT 1 x 5¼” X 7¼” (INSIDE FRONT COVER) (½ Sheet)
                
Piece 20….. CUT 1 x 5¼” X 10¾” (INSIDE BACK COVER) (½ Sheet)
           
==================================
         
A.... Using Archival or Distress Ink, ink the long edges of piece 16, one long edge of piece 18 and all the edges of pieces 19 and 20. 

    
B.... Affix wide masking tape to both sides of the greyboard cover.
    
C.... Attach pieces 15 and 17 to the greyboard cover as shown, making sure the pieces are the right way up. 

          
    
D.... Cut the corners out from the end overlapping piece (Mitre the corners). Stop about 3mm from the corner. Don’t cut too close to the corner! 

    
E.... Fold over the long edges and attach to the other side of the album. Use your bone folder to burnish the creases as you go. 

       
F.... Using your bone folder, GENTLY AND GRADUALLY ease the corner of the paper around the greyboard as shown. Repeat for the other corner.
  
         
G.... Fold this short edge and attach to the other side of the album, again using the bone folder to ensure a crisp neat edge. 

  
        
H.... Repeat steps C to G above to attach piece 18 to the other end of the cover. 

    
               
I.... Using your bone folder, GENTLY AND GRADUALLY score along the joints on the inside of the cover.
( TIP: Don’t over score, you are simply aiming to show the paper that you want it to fold into the joints when opening and closing the cover. )

              
J.... Repeat steps C and E to attach piece 16 over the spine area of the cover. Mark the centre on the reverse of piece 16 and the centre of the spine and line up these marks to ensure the spine cover is centred correctly. 

      
    
K.... Using the same method of marking the centre, attach to hinge piece to inside of the cover with strong double sided tape or wet glue. 

    
L.... Attach pieces 19 and 20 with double sided tape. 
                  
M.... Repeat step I to score the paper into the flap joints.
    
N.... Attach a magnet strip to the outside of the flap with wet glue and allow to fully dry before continuing. 

    
O.... Lay another magnet strip face down on top of the first and apply wet glue to it.
      
P.... Close the cover of the album over the glue, lining it up as you want it to close.
      
Q.... Gently prise this magnet off the first magnet, leaving it on the inside of the front cover. Allow to dry fully. 

        Optional: Apply 2 or 3 light coats of Mod Podge Matte to the spine. This makes the spine a little more hard wearing and adds a more luxurious look to the album. 
        
There’ll be plenty of paper left from these sheets which can be used to decorate the pages later.
           

==================================
          
INSERTING THE PAGES
         
A.... Apply wet glue to both sides of the first hinge piece. 

     
B.... Whilst the glue is wet, slide one of the pages over the hinge, with the sideways pocket facing forwards towards the front cover of the album. 

     
C.... Repeat for the other 5 pages. 

                     
==================================
                               
Thank you for joining me again today.  We'll leave it there for now!

Pop back tomorrow for the third and final part of this tutorial when we'll explore how to decorate the pages of the album!
    
xxSAMxx

Tuesday 10 January 2017

Autumn Morning Album - TUTORIAL 1/3 (Page/Hinge Construction)


Welcome to this 3 part TUTORIAL showing you how to make this mini album. 
       
Made using the Autumn Morning Collection from Crafter's Companion, it is perfect for your autumn and winter memories!
                                         
               
 Gather all your materials together if you haven't already! ... you can find the supply list HERE
        
Today we make the 6 pages for the album, plus the hinge system that holds the pages in place.
                                         
=======================================
                           
Cut the following pieces from
Matt Black Cardstock

 ( TIP: It helps to write the number on each piece in pencil to avoid confusion later! )
                    
             
Piece 1..... CUT 6 x 5¼” X 7¼” (PAGES)

           
Piece 2..... CUT 6 x 4⅛” X 5¼” (TAGS)

                
Piece 3..... CUT 6 x 5¾” X 4⅛” (POCKETS)
     
Piece 4..... CUT 3 x 5¾” X 1¼” (BELLY BANDS)

         
 Piece 5..... CUT 3 x 4¾” X 3⅛” (POCKETS)
                                    
Piece 6..... CUT 6 x 4⅛” X 5¾” (TAGS)
                
Piece 7….. CUT 6 x 5¼” X 6” (FLAPS)
                  
Piece 8….. CUT 6 x 5¼” X 2¼” (TAGS)
             
=======================================
                             
Piece 3..... SCORE at ¼” and 5½” (Long side against the top of the scoreboard)

                          
Piece 4..... SCORE at ¼” and 5½” (Long side against the top of the scoreboard)
 
                    
Piece 5..... SCORE at ¼” and 4⅜” (Long side against the top of the scoreboard) 
Piece 5..... SCORE at ¼” (Short side against the top of the scoreboard)
                                
Piece 5..... CUT out the corners at an angle where the score lines overlap.
                                                 
Piece 6..... SCORE at 2¾” (Long side against the top of the scoreboard)

                          
Piece 7..... SCORE at ¼” (Long side against the top of the scoreboard)
                      
======================================= 
                       
PAGE CONSTRUCTION
Use a strong double sided tape, or wet glue if preferred
                             
A.... Fold and burnish all the score lines
                          
B.... Attach piece 3 to piece 1. Repeat for all six pages.


                                 
C.... Attach piece 5 to piece 3. Repeat for three of the pages.
                              
 
D.... Attach piece 4 to piece 3 on the remaining three pages.
                                             
E.... Attach piece 7 to the reverse of piece 1. 
Repeat for all six pages.
 
          
You now have 6 pages. Put to one side.
                        
============================================
                      
HINGE
                               

A.... CUT 1 sheet of Matt Black Cardstock to 5¼” X 10¼” 
(Piece 9)
                      
B.... SCORE at 1½” then a further ....
                    

 ½” , ½” , ¼” , ½” , ½” , ¼” , ½” , ½” , ¼” , ½” , ½” , ¼” , ½” , ½” , ¼” , ½” , ½”
             
.... until 1½” of card is left!

                           
C.... From the left over card CUT 1 x 5¼” X 2" (Piece 10)
                                           
============================================
                      
HINGE CONSTRUCTION
                        
A.... Fold and burnish the score lines made in step B above.

            
B.... Turn over and attach double sided tape to one side of the wide sections only.
                   

C.... Remove the tape backing and press the wide sides together, burnishing to ensure a crisp fold with strong adhesion.
                
D.... Trim the corners from each “hinge”. This makes it easier to slide the pages on at a later stage.

              
E.... Attach piece 10 to the reverse of piece 9, centred over the reverse of the hinge.


                                        
============================================
                
Now that we have 6 completed pages and a hinge system for our album, we'll leave it there!
               
Thank you as always for popping by. 
                      
Don't forget to pop back tomorrow for part two of this tutorial when we'll explore how to construct the Cover for the album!
    
xxSAMxx