Showing posts with label Graphic 45. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graphic 45. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Hidden Hinge Album - Graphic 45 Voyage Beneath the Sea

This is a project I did last May for my friend Yvonne for her graduation gift. She graduated with her Bachelor's degree and her and her family went on a cruise as her graduation gift and I wanted to give her something that she could use to remember the trip.

I used the Graphic 45 Voyage Beneath The Sea papers that my friend Carmen had picked up for me at Tuesday Morning, don't ask me when because I have no idea! This is the first and only hidden hinge album I've made and I found the directions on YouTube from some lady that had a wonderful English accent! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be to make.













Here is a look at the album opened up so you can see all the wonderful colors and images. I made quite a few pockets and decorated tags for the pockets and since I wanted plenty of room for pictures most of the tags had photo spaces on both the front and back of the tags. 













I tried to leave some room in place so Yvonne could write things about the pictures if she wanted. I generally try to leave journaling spaces on mini albums as I think it is nice to have written descriptions about the pictures.










There were tags in the "between" spaces of some of the pages as well. All the white spaces were included so they could be used as templates to cut the pictures to size to fit on the mat or tag in the album. This picture shows how the tags in between the pages can be pulled out. I used a variety of twine and ribbon on the tags.












This is the same pages as the picture above but I wanted to show how the tags pulled out of the pocket. It's always difficult making areas for pictures with Graphic 45 paper because I always hate covering up the beautiful paper. 















You can click on the pictures to make them bigger if you want to see more detail. There is a lot of embellishment I would have liked to have done for the album but I always tried to be mindful of not making mini albums too thick with embellishments because to me albums are suppose to be about the memories of the pictures more than just decoration.













I do like how the hidden hinge albums give the opportunity to add so many little hidden ways to add tags and photo mats so there can be more pictures. I'm not even sure if Yvonne ever even put any pictures in this album and I never thought to ask her. I did tell her I would add the pictures for her if she wanted to get them printed.














A variety of picture sizes is always best in my opinion because sometimes you might want a close up  of a person or object and the smaller photo areas allow for those kind of images. The smaller mat areas can also be used for journaling. 













As you can see the album was pretty thick by the time I finished. This picture also shows the variety of twine and ribbon I used on the large tags. Most of the cording is Maya Road cording and I love that it can be frayed out to give a bit more interest.














This is the album opened. I generally don't decorate the back of an album much because I don't like wasting great images and embellishments on something that won't be seen as much. 


Friday, March 30, 2018

Graphic 45 Life's A Circus - Envelope Album

I had never made an envelope album before and I totally messed this one up but I still ended up liking it. I messed it up by not allowing spaces to add tags and such in the pockets of the envelope. Next time I make one I won't use as many envelopes so I'll be able to do the pockets and such.


Supplies Used:

A9 Envelopes
Graphic 45 Le Cirque
Various Cardstock
Black Acrylic Paint
Various Stampin Up punches
Michaels Wedding Graffiti flowers
Hot Fix studs and rhinestones
Dollar Tree Pop Up Glitter Stickers
Various Ribbon
Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
Paper Studio Brads
and probably some other stuff I don't remember



I love looking at all the Graphic45 projects people make and I would love to do one of those super fancy projects one day but the practical side of my brain always overrides the creative side of my brain. I have the need to make sure a project is usable and not just something to look at, especially if it is going to be handled frequently. This issue causes the pages in my albums to be fairly simple and flat.







Another need I have is to have enough spots for pictures. I mean it is an album for cheez-it's sakes and there should be pictures! I do try to balance it out on the pages and think of them as a small scrapbook page. I always include the white paper so people can remove it and use it as a template for their pictures as I know not everyone is a scrapbooker and might get nervous about adding pictures. Well even my friend Carmen is like that and she is a scrapbooker. I have given her mini albums over the years and the ones that have pictures in them are the ones that I printed off the pictures and put in there. She tells me "I don't want to mess it up". 


I always say one of the great things about Graphic45 paper is that there are so many elements that can be fussy cut and used on projects. It makes it so easy to embellish whatever project you are making. The tag on this left hand side has the Maya Road Twine Cording on it. I really love that stuff! It's thicker than regular bakers twine and I have used it on several projects as "rope".





One of the difficulties I have is not covering up the picture area too much since I don't know what pictures people will be using. I try to keep the elements from overlapping that area and have to finagle an embellishment around quite often until I get it to what I think is right.








I like to mix picture sizes up on the pages so it's not just all one size through out the album. I think this allows for some good group photos or some close up shots.











When I make albums I try to keep the back as flat as possible because that is where most people are going to be holding the album when looking at it and besides no one really looks at the backs of books so why work hard to decorate something that is usually ignored. 

I actually made 4 of these *okie knows there are some folks saying "of course she did"* and did them quite some time ago but never got them posted. I have another album I'll be posting soon that is using the Graphic 45 World's Fair collection.



Saturday, March 24, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Happy Wedding

This is the last card of the Time To Celebrate series of cards and I'm quite sure you guys are all going "THANK ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!" Obviously this is a wedding card since the banner says "Happy Wedding" and there is a woman in a wedding gown.

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock
Stampin Up Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower
Mounting Foam Squares
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 









I cut the bride from the waist up and then glued the waist area down and then pop dotted the upper part to help her come off the card a bit, once again inking really helps the emphasis on this.















Ya know the drill by now about the little flowers, punched, Nuvo Drops, yada yada yada. To be honest I am getting tired of even trying to explain the cards because it seems like I just keep repeating myself so y'all aren't the only ones that are glad this is the last card of the series! And with that...GOODBYE TO THE GRAPHIC 45 TIME TO CELEBRATE SERIES!




Friday, March 23, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Congratulations Wedding

By the time I got around to doing this card I was running out of ideas on how to embellish the cards so it's pretty simple.

Supplies Used: 
Mounting Foam Squares
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 









The "congratulations" banner was added over the main image and I made the banner "wave" by slightly bending in places and to make it stay that way I glued the the lower areas to the image.

The left edge of the main image was cut from another paper and was necessary to make the image fit on the die cut frame.












I know ya are probably tired of hearing about the Nuvo Drops but I just want to show you how awesome they are! The tiny flowers on the brides veil have teeny tiny dots of Nuvo drops on the flowers. I know it's hard to see in the picture but in person they show up nicely and really made the veil pop! Oh the groom's boutonniere has the same thing done to it.

You only have to put up with one more card from this series, which posts tomorrow, and then we shall move on to something else!






Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - It's Party Time

I think this one is definitely a birthday card!

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock
Stampin Up Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower
McGill Paper Blossom Tool Kit
Fiskars Threading Water Punch
1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Mounting Foam Squares
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 


This balloon was a pain to figure out. I wanted it pop dotted but the "string" was so thin I was afraid that it might tear during handling so I glued the majority of the "string" to the paper and then pop dotted just the balloon.

This was another card that I cut out the background and replaced it with something I liked more. It's amazing how you can make things look so different with Graphic 45 papers!









I used a stamp image on this card because I need to add something besides the main image and the little stamped images seem to work well for such purposes. I used my flower making tools to add dimension to the punched flowers and the fussy cut flowers. Of course I used the Nuvo Drops!

You can't see the Fiskars Threading Water punch border in this picture but I have to tell you a story about using punches while making these cards. So like I said at the beginning of the series, these were made after my hand surgery and each one took quite awhile due to how my hand was wrapped up and then the soreness I found it impossible to use some of the punches. I tried using my left hand to punch but it was still sore and my right hand was totally out of the question, so how did I do it? Well I put the punch on the floor and use my foot! YES...MY FOOT! Ya know the old saying...where there's a will there's a way!


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Let's Party

Are you guys tired of these cards yet? I hope not because there are still 3 more after this card! I kinda like the "Let's Party" on this card because it can be used for a variety of occasions such as birthday, anniversary, wedding or just if ya wanna give your friend a card and get drunk!

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock
Spellbinders Iron Motif Die
Bazzill Swiss Dot Ribbon
Stampin Up 3 Flower Punch - retired
Stampin Up Photo Corner Punch -retired
Hotfix Rhinestones
Mounting Foam Squares
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 

This card has a bit more going on than some of the cards. I added the photo corners because without them it looked a little too plain to me and after the plain baby card I wanted to do something a bit more decorative and now that I look at this I wonder if it might be a bit too busy. If it is then it's too bad because I'm sure not taking it apart!


There is a lot of decorative layering here. I used the Spellbinders die and then a circle and then one of the postage stamp images in the collection. Since the white die cut looked a little plain, and I can't leave well enough alone, I added some hotfix rhinestones...besides, who doesn't love bling?!

I had cut the die cuts a long time ago and had them in reserve for when I might want to use them and this series of cards seemed like a good time to use them. I think I need to do that with some of my other dies because it makes it nice to have something ready and not have to get out the Cuttlebug or Gemini.







I punched out the little flowers from the vellum type paper and then inked the petals a bit. The centers are Nuvo Jewel Drops, which are different than the Nuvo Crystal Drops. The jewel drops dry translucent while the crystal are opaque. I totally serious guys when I say you need to try these things! I wish I had all the colors in both the jewel and crystal but surprisingly I do not *okie thinks that might be a good Mother's Day gift for herself in a few months*.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - New Baby

This baby card was the hardest for me to do and it is probably the most simple looking of all the cards I did out of this collection. I was trying to come up with something different and every time I did I either cut off part of the baby's head or the mother's head and that just wouldn't do so I ended up with this.

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock  
1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Mounting Foam Squares

I ended up framing the image of the baby and mother and pop dotting the frame. I honestly couldn't figure out what else to do with the image and then that took up most of the card so it's pretty dang simple.




On the tiny flowers I used the Ivory Seashell Nuvo drops on the centers and then also on the centers. Since the centers were a darker pink it gave the little flowers a whole different look than the original image. I dotted Bubblegum Nuvo Drops randomly. I think y'all can tell by now that I Crystal Nuvo Drops are one of my new addictions!










The butterfly was on the original "frame" and I and I think it adds a nice little touch up in the corner. You can tell better in this picture how the frame is pop dotted off the main image.



Sunday, March 18, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Happy Anniversary

I don't think I've ever sent out an anniversary card but if I decide to do so I at least have one in my card stash now.

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock  
Bazzill Swiss Dot Ribbon
Martha Stewart Arch Lattice Punch
Generic Paper Flowers
Fun Flock - Teddy Bear Tan
Mounting Foam Squares
Hotfix Rhinestones
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 

The lady had a fur wrap so I added a bit of glue and then put the Fun Flock on the glue so it made her mink stole look a little more life like. I'm not sure if anyone even uses flock anymore but I still like to use the stuff when I can. It just always adds a nice touch. I think the last time I used flock was when I did a mini album using Graphic 45 World's Fair collection and I just realized I never posted that project!! *bad okie, bad, bad, bad okie!!*












I had to really search through my little paper flowers to find some that matched the colors of the paper and luckily I was able to find just enough to finish the two cards I made! The centers are Buttermilk Nuvo Drops and then I also used Ivory Seashell Nuvo Drops randomly. To add a little sparkle I added a few hotfix rhinestones here and there.




Saturday, March 17, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Very Happy Birthday

And today we have yet another birthday card! I used this image on the Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate Birthday Girl but I just loved her sweet face and wanted to use her again.

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock 
Stampin Up Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower
Bazzill Swiss Dot Ribbon
Mounting Foam Squares









Is anyone else a ribbon freak? I love ribbon and use it on almost all my cards and scrapbook pages *okie tries to remember the last time she did a scrapbook page* and the organza ribbon is always so nice! You can see how I added the banner over the image and I pop dotted it for dimension.

Once again I feel the inking really made the banner stand out and that is why I'm an obsessive inker!











The little flowers were punched out of a vellum like paper with the Stampin Up Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower *okie so loves her punches but then again okie is rather attached to all her toys in her craftroom*. I used Buttermilk Nuvo Drops on the flower centers and then dropped Bubblegum and Ivory Seashell Nuvo Drops randomly for added accent.

The butterfly was a fussy cut add on and I did pop dot the wings. Y'all know good and well I am all about dimension!




Friday, March 16, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Boy With Balloons

So this is a birthday card but not sure I would give it to a boy because of the colors. I guess some boys would like the colors but most I know would be wondering why I gave them a girly looking card. 

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock  
Mini Brads
Stampin Up Marker - Chocolate Chip
Stampin Up Corner Punch
Glossy Accents
Mounting Foam Squares



To jazz the card up a bit I used Glossy Accents on the pink balloons but left the white plain and to be honest I was just too lazy to do the white and it actually seemed to work out better with giving the pink a little more dimension and make them stand out.

I always have to make sure to set things aside when I use Glossy Accents or any other product that goes on wet because I am notorious about picking it back up and sticking my finger right in the wet stuff. Anytime I show my daughter something I have to make sure it's dry because she always, ALWAYS, wants to touch whatever is sticking up, even if I tell her DON'T TOUCH THAT PART! But she does anyway...good thing she had moved out before I did this card! *okie cracks up laughing*



One of my favorite little punches is the Stampin Up Ticket Punch which was retired a few years ago and I have seen some other punches that will do this effect but not at a very good price, at least not in my book. 

After I got the sentiment all done it seemed to need something else so I got out my hotfix rhinestones and added a few of those and that seemed to do the trick. My friend Carmen sometimes tells me that I don't know when to leave things alone *okie agrees she doesn't at times* but usually after I add just a little more she likes the project even better.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Girl With Doll

Getting back to the Graphic 45 Time to Celebrate cards that I was posting...this one is definitely a birthday card!

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock  
Organza Ribbon
Ribbon Buckle
Mounting Foam Squares
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 

I should have written details after I made the cards because now it is hard for me to remember for sure what all I used and did to make the cards but I'm trying my best to remember.



I cut the frame from one image and then added the girl from another, including the banner. I pop dotted the frame on another background. I had to cut a piece of edging to go on the right hand side of the frame so it would size right. That is one of the great things with Graphic 45 papers, you can always find something to make your ideas work and people will think you are a creative genius when the credit really goes to the paper designers for always making sure there are different images that can be cut out and used in other ways.

I double matted the frame on white and then pink paper because the base paper was busy and I didn't want main image to just wash into the background.

Inking always seems to make a world of difference to me. I always complain about doing it and I do try not to ink at times but with these type of cards it seems to really help the images stand out a little more. *okie raises her hand, stands up and says "Hi, I'm okieladybug and I'm an obsessive inker*.


I've had ribbon buckles for quite a few years and I always forget to use them and actually found them while digging through my embellishment drawer looking for something to use with this card. I have a hard time using them on cards because I always wonder if it's too thick to go through the regular mail but I'm trying to get over that issue. The ribbon is actually from one of those instant bow things and I cut it apart to use just as regular ribbon for cards. I think I got them for like a nickel a piece or some ridiculously low amount at the local bargain store. 

The white doily looking paper is cut from one of the Spellbinders Moroccan Accents die set and it just kinda gives the ribbon and buckle a nice little center.

Hope you guys aren't tired of seeing these because I have several more from this paper collection to post!

Friday, March 9, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Dancing Couple

While I was thinking anniversary for this card I think it could possibly pass for a wedding card and maybe even a birthday card. 

Supplies Used: 
Various Cardstock  
Bazzill Swiss Dot Ribbon
EK Success Border Punch
Mounting Foam Squares
Queen & Company Pearls


The image was very large and took up a lot of the card so I did cut off part of the bottom so it fit better and then incorporated the ribbon and banner to camouflage how I had to cut the image off. I actually had to talk myself into cutting off the bottom because....well, OCD ya know! But I think it worked out in the end.


I picked up the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland the last time I was in Houston and this is the first time I've been able to use it. My friend Carmen actually said "You know you don't need that" and while I wanted to smack her for saying such words I just told her "I may not need it but I want it" and so I got it! *okie thinks she sure showed Carmen*

I did use my McGill Flower Blossom Kit to help shape the flowers. If you like to make flowers and don't have tools to help shape them I highly recommend them! It really helps bring the flowers to life, as much life as there can be in paper flowers anyway. I generally use some Glimmer Spray to wet the flowers a little for shaping but this time I just spritzed with water. 

I think I have another birthday card for tomorrow but I really can't remember. But it is a card using the same paper collection. 

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Woman With Rose

I have a hard time coming up with what to title posts at times and "Woman With Rose" was the best I could come up with for this card.

Supplies Used:
Various Cardstock
Bazzill Swiss Dot Ribbon
1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Stampin Up Eyelet Border Punch - retired
Mounting Foam Squares
Thermoweb Super Tape Double Sided
Westcott Titanium Non Stick Scissors 

The reason the Westcott Titanium Non-Stick Scissors are mentioned is because I use them to cut my mounting foam and Super Double Sided tape and let me tell ya folks...they are a game changer!! Neither of those products will stick to these scissors and if you cut a lot of that stuff you know how often you have to clean your scissors because they get gummed up! They have the OKIE 5 STAR APPROVAL for sure!

As most of you know I am totally addicted to inking and I wasn't going to ink with these cards but what I found was the images that I fussy cut seemed to stand out a little better when I did ink the edges so inking I did! The lady was cut from one image and then layered on a different image because and I did that with quite a few of the cards. I started to pop dot the lady but didn't want too much bulk...the envelope issues I have ya know, but I think she looks fine just glued on top of the paper.

I liked how this one just simply says "Time To Celebrate" as it can be used for birthday, congratulations or any celebration type occasion. It's always nice to have some multi-purpose cards in the old card stash box.





I did pop dot the rose bud but the stem is glued down. As you can see I added some random Nuvo Crystal Drops here and there. It always amazes me how such little things can add so much more to a project. I am willing to admit at this point I am addicted to the Nuvo Crystal Drops and you will likely see them on every card from this collection. I might need to start buying them by the quart *okie wonders if such thing is even possible*.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate - Birthday Girl

I did do a little crafting during the time of my hand surgeries and it was slow going and typing up posts for the projects were impossible at the time because I would have been beyond frustrated but now that I can type I thought I would start posting some of the things I have done.

I'll be posting a series of cards I did using Graphic 45 Time To Celebrate. I got a couple of these paper pads sometime back during one of my trips to Houston and just knew they would make easy cards. Easy is not a word I would use now since they required a fair amount of fussy cutting and I only made 2 of each card...yes TWO! My hands wouldn't let me do the labor required to make 6 of each.


Supplies Used:

Various Cardstock
EK Success Medallion Chain Punch
Hotfix Rhinestones
Mounting Foam Squares

Instead of the regular A2 size card I made this series bigger and opted for 5x7" since some of the images were too large for the 4.25x5.5" area of the A2 cards. This also gave me more room for layering some of the gorgeous paper. The border at the bottom of the card is actually cut in half from the Medallion Chain Punch. Since half of it was going to be mostly covered I didn't see the sense in wasting it *okie knows she is such a cheap azz sometimes*.

I believe the colors of ribbon are Moss and Deep Mauve, I'm too lazy to get up and check right now. Even though the pink looks too dark there is some darker pink on the plaid paper and I tried some lighter pink but it just looked a bit washed out. I had to stagger the length so the bows wouldn't over lap too much and cause the card not to fit in an envelope well.

I absolutely love some of the cards I see with all the embellishment but my practical mind won't let me partake in such things because I always think "well that won't fit in an envelope" and if I would allow my mind to think further I would realize that I rarely send out the cards I make and they sit in a box in my craftroom closet so embellishment probably wouldn't be a problem! Please tell me that other people have the same thought about embellishment and then not sending out cards. I do give a lot of my cards away for others to use so maybe I am justified after all.


If you look closely at the little flowers you can see the centers are done with the Nuvo Crystal Drops. People if you have not tried the Nuvo Crystal Drops then you are missing out! I have tried many different type products such as the Viva Decor and the Liquid Pearls but the Nuvo are the best I've ever worked with! The bottle squeezes nicely and instead of the pointy tops like I tend to get with the Liquid Pearls I get nice round tops.

 I think I still have 11 different cards from this paper that I will be posting so be sure to come back and see the rest of them!