Inside a True Travel Journal–Pockets & Covering Notebooks, Pt. 2

I wanted to make a travel journal that is a true travel journal. I didn’t put in anything but lined notebooks (signatures) so I can write what we did every day and I bought a Fuji Instax Mini Camera that is like the old Polaroid cameras and produces photos that are maybe 2 1/2″ tall by 1 1/2″ wide and its photos will fit perfectly in the journal. I also bought some stickers that are travel inspired and put them in the outer pocket of the journal. I bought charms representing the countries we’re going to as well as ship charms and put them on large paper clips and will use them as book marks so you know if the charm hanging from the top is the Eifel Tower, I wrote all about Paris on that page.

In the first video I show you how to cover a premade album and here’s a link to that video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0btGM8lUDB4

In this video, we’re going to cover the inside of the journal and I’ll show you how to cover the signatures which are the individual notebooks I put inside. I used basic Tacky Glue to cover the inside covers of the journal and then cut paper to cover it. Your two papers need to be 8 5/8″ tall by 4 5/8″ wide to decorate the inside covers. My journal measures 4.75″ wide x 8.75 tall. Make sure if your paper has a design, that it faces toward the top of the journal. Make two pockets, 3″ tall by 4 5/8″ wide. I added 1/8″ wide tear tape to three sides then added a thin line of Tacky Glue on the same three sides, leaving the top edge without any glue or tear tape. I used a blending brush and Distress Oxide Brushed Corduroy ink to cover all of the edges of the pockets, notebook covers and the journal. When I glued the pocket in, I pinched the sides a little so there’s a small gap at the top of the pocket so when you put things in the pocket, the gap allows the items to be put inside. To cover the individual notebooks (signatures) that go in the journal, you’ll need 12 x 12″ scrapbook paper. If your paper has a pattern with a direction to it, make sure it’s facing the top of the scoreboard and score at 6″ then score one line to the left of 6″ and score one to the right of 6″..Score also at 1 1/2″ and 10 1/2″ then turn the paper one turn and score at 1 3/4 and 10 1/4″ then fold and burnish all of these scores. Then put the book into the center of the paper so the spine of the book is butted against the 6″ score and tuck the ends of the notebook into the end pockets and the notebook should close easily. The notebooks (signatures) I used were 4.25 x 8.25″ and the scoring I give is specific to this size notebook. Once my signatures (notebooks) were covered, I put the brass corner covers on the corners. If you have pliers that are made to not damage metal, use those, but I just put a piece of foam and used a jewelry tool to squeeze the corners shut. You’ll want to put some glue inside the corner cover before you slide it over a corner so it’s glued and pinched into place. You’ll want to go to the center page of your signatures (notebooks) and cut a small notch out of the center at the top and bottom so when you put the signatures into your journal, they stay in place.

Here are the products I used:

Graphic 45 journal and 3 notebooks: https://tinyurl.com/4sny7hxm

DCWV World Map 12 x 12″ paper link: https://tinyurl.com/mr3pjf4w

Temu:

Large silver paper clips: https://tinyurl.com/mtxmbp83

Silver ship charms: https://tinyurl.com/mwfn8p3x

Travel charms (Eifel tower, Big Ben etc) https://tinyurl.com/bdv65r9t

Pin for side of album: https://tinyurl.com/3curudbb

Key chain for dangle: https://tinyurl.com/4nyps3a6

Stickers of London and Paris landmarks: https://tinyurl.com/yckake7t

Stickers of old stamps: https://tinyurl.com/yckae9h8

Metal brass looking corners for journal: https://tinyurl.com/26zfkvh4

I took the elastic strap out of the front of the journal, you definitely need to do this, and if I didn’t mention it in this video, you’ll want to poke a hole through the paper in that hole once you’ve covered the front, but BEFORE you cover the inside of the journal with paper, otherwise you’ll lose track of where that hole is. NOTE: I replaced the elastic with one that’s 24″ long knotted on the open end and after the trip’s over, I’ll know how long it needs to be and will shorten it.

If you want to make your own journals, no require sewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqU50Z6zSyY&t=0s

DIY: Refillable leather journal cover. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yju82AwTb_M&t=0s

Travel journal signature inserts premade: https://tinyurl.com/ykv727y7

Making your own travel journal notebook inserts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJiCT9E6Ofc&t=0s.

Travel Journal DIY Embellishment Charms, Pt. 1 Cover

We’re going on a two week cruise to celebrate me walking again and I wanted to make a special travel journal to commemorate the trip. I bought a Fuji Instant Camera that instantly produces small photos that will fit perfectly in this journal, here’s a link to one. https://tinyurl.com/2v2rbhxz. As always, I’m not affiliated with any companies and only provide links to products so you know exactly what I bought in case you are interested in buying it.

Products used:

Graphic 45 journal and 3 notebooks: https://tinyurl.com/4sny7hxm

DCWV World Map 12 x 12″ paper link: https://tinyurl.com/mr3pjf4w

Temu:

Large silver paper clips: https://tinyurl.com/mtxmbp83

Silver ship charms: https://tinyurl.com/mwfn8p3x

Travel charms (Eifel tower, Big Ben etc) https://tinyurl.com/bdv65r9t

Pin for side of album: https://tinyurl.com/3curudbb

Key chain for dangle: https://tinyurl.com/4nyps3a6

Stickers of London and Paris landmarks: https://tinyurl.com/yckake7t

Stickers of old stamps: https://tinyurl.com/yckae9h8

Metal brass looking corners for journal: https://tinyurl.com/26zfkvh4

Before I covered the journal, I put each of the charms I bought on their own paper clips so when we spend a day in Paris, I can put the Eifel Tower charm paper clip on the page where I discuss that day. I bought the ship charms for the 6 days we’re at sea so we can put a ship charm on each day’s page for the days at sea.

To cover the outside journal cover, I cut the bottom of the world map page off at 10 1/2″ and left the 12″ width. I scored the paper on the 12″ length at 5 1/8, 5 1/4″ and 6 3/4 and 6 7/8″. I poked holes for the pin on the spine by using my pokey tool, and poked two holes in the center of the spine to accommodate the pin. I had to make them a lot bigger so I could push the pin through the holes.

I added tear tape and wet glue. Tombow Mono Aqua glue, to the journal cover, then centered the paper on the spine and attached the paper making sure I had enough paper on the bottom and top. On one side, I didn’t have extra paper, but I’m going to use metal covers for the corners and will use paper on the inside to the edges. The excess paper at the top and bottom of the journal, I glued to the inside, but the paper that covers the spine needs to be trimmed so it doesn’t cover the elastic strings inside, so I snipped at my score lines up to the journal and then trimmed off the excess and laid tear tape beneath the eyelets that the elastic comes through, then lay the paper over the tear tape and make sure it’s well adhered. You’ll do this at the top and bottom of the spine. Then you’ll want to glue down the paper that overlaps the sides, top and bottom, and at each corner, trim off on an angle the excess paper so when you fold both pieces down, there isn’t a lot of paper you don’t need. If you cut off too much like I did, add a little piece of paper under the two papers and glue it in place underneath.

I’ll be putting up the rest of the videos this week.

If you want to make your own journals here are some options for you that don’t require sewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqU50Z6zSyY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yju82AwTb_M

Travel journal signature inserts premade: https://tinyurl.com/ykv727y7

Making your own travel journal signature inserts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJiCT9E6Ofc

Sewing on Die Cuts w/ Globeland Dies

I was sent the dies from Globeland, but am not affiliated with them in any way. They are offering a discount to my viewers. It is a 10% discount using sandy10.

Globleland homepage link: https://globleland.com/?s=sandy10

Globleland product link info: This is a great deal for $8.09 minus 10%, as you get three sets of layering dies…two sets have seven dies and one has eight, and all three have a different shape so your imagination can run wild. I realize the link has my coupon code in it, but I think it’s their way of tracking if any viewers bought something from my video and doesn”t mean I get any money in return. I think you still need to use the coupon code sandy10 when you check out to get the 10% off.

Dies link: https://globleland.com/products/cutting-dies-diy-wh0309-778?s=sandy10

The decorator paper I used for both cards came from Joanns from their brand Park Lane and the pad is 6 x 8″ and is called Old World. Here’s the link to it. https://www.joann.com/park-lane-stack-6×8-old-world/18684936.html.

For the card I made onscreen, I started with a 5 x 7″ card base in beige and took the largest die from this set from Globleland and die cut it from the Old World paper pad (link is above.) I cut one of the smaller dies from the same set to lay the sentiment on out of beige paper. I used three strands of brown embroidery thread link: https://tinyurl.com/zwrzkp88 with an embroidery needle link: https://tinyurl.com/bdh4fenb. I think the next time I do this, I’ll use all six strands that come when you get embroidery thread so it’s easier to see.

Start by threading your needle and putting a line of tear tape on the back of the die cut paper near where you want to start stitching, then lay the very end of your embroidery thread on the tear tape to hold it in place and so you don’t have to tie a knot at the end of your thread. Then starting at the back of your paper, go through the first hole closest to your tear tape and pull the thread through then go down through the next hole, up through the next and continue until you’ve made a loop on the papers’ edge for each hole with thread. It helps if you hold the thread on the back to the left of where you are stitching so the thread is out of the way of your needle. Once finished, put another piece of tear tape down and lay the end of the thread in it and cut off the excess thread. I used the same stitching technique for the large die cut and the small one.

I had an outlined thanks die from Temu that’s no longer available and die cut the same background paper out of the die and then some green paper out of it so I could use the green paper for the words. I didn’t think the green really showed up well, so used a white gel pen and made dashes and dots on the left edge of each letter. I added some crystal sticky backed embellishments to add to the surround of Thanks. I then put thin foam strips link: https://tinyurl.com/5bf4z3n5 under the sentiment beige paper to adhere it to the center of the decorated paper. I used Tacky Glue on the back of the Old World paper and attached it centered near the right side of the card base. I added two 1/4″ strips of brown ribbon to the left of the Old World paper and called the card finished.

I used the same Old World paper on the other card with orange cardstock and the dies that have diamond cut outs in them. Because the diamonds are further apart than the other card’s die, I used a different technique where I brought the needle up through from under the paper through one diamond and down through the next diamond then up through the next diamond and down through the diamond I just came up through as there’s a gap if you don’t, and then continue around the card in this manner until you’ve completed the stitching. If you’d like to see me do this on camera, I’d be happy to.

Finn’s 3 D Easter Card: Simple & Cute

I wanted to make a simple but fun card for our great nephew Finn, who just turned 2. I bought this paper pad last year from Echo Park, called Hello Easter. I was surprised to find that it is still available on Amazon and here’s the link: https://tinyurl.com/b74czmpd

I used one of the 12 x 12″ pages with a lot of smaller images on it and cut out a lot of them and then cut a matching 12 x 12″ paper down to 10″ wide by 7″ tall (make sure when you are cutting the 10″ length that the pattern is facing up and when you are cutting the 7″ length, the pattern is facing sideway. You’ll score the 10″ length at 5″ to create a 5 x 7″ card front. I found a cut out in the paper pad (link to see the cut out sheet https://tinyurl.com/4nf9d772 if you move your cursor over the images near the bottom of the cover sheet, you’ll see the pages that have rectangular shaped sentiments and those are called cut outs.) that I liked and cut it out then rounded the corners with my Kadomaru Pro corner rounder from Amazon. I love this tool, it works like a dream even cutting through two layers of paper. I also rounded the two right corners on the card front.

I laid the cut out (which is the sentiment for the front of the card that comes in the paper pad that I explained in the info above) in the center of the card so I know which pieces I want to put on foam tape to surround this cut out. I added foam tape under all of the images that surround the cut out and made sure some were raised and still covered a little of the cut out like the rabbit at the bottom and the basket on the right side. The card is really cute in person because of all of the dimension, but kind of boring on camera since you can’t see how fun it is. For chicks with thin legs, I cut it without the legs and then by laying it in the right spot, the legs look like they are meant to be that way.

This paper pad comes with an entire sheet of stickers and I used one of those for the inside of the card as well as the sentiment “Hello Easter” that was at the top of each page in the pad in the section we normally discard.

I used a combination of thin foam tape link: https://tinyurl.com/52pauw37 and small foam hexagons link: https://tinyurl.com/mr2enmvs to raise the images. Wet glue was Tombow Mono Aqua Glue link: https://tinyurl.com/2c8zyph6.

Lifescraft Dies: Cute Cards

The kind people at Lifescraft sent me three dies to try and I made three fun and frisky cards with them. They are offering my viewers a 25% discount code for orders made.

Link: https://lifescraft.com/

Discount code: SANDY25 for a 25% discount on your order

Lifescraft Metal Cutting Dies with Foldable Sunflower: https://lifescraft.com/products/lifescraft-metal-cutting-dies-with-foldable-sunflower

Lifescraft Circle of Wreath Flower Metal Cutting Die: https://lifescraft.com/products/lifescraft-circle-of-flowers-metal-cutting-dies

Lifescraft Happy Birthday to You Word Metal Cutting Dies: https://lifescraft.com/products/lifescraft-happy-birthday-to-you-word-metal-cutting-dies

Sunflower card: I cut the sunflower die with gold cardstock and then again with black cardstock. I folded the sunflower on the score lines the die already has cut into it, and then using the black cardstock, cut out the petal portion of the die cut on both ends. Adding glue to the front of the black petals (not all the way to the tips as you’ll want the ends to show), I attached the black petals behind the gold ones, making sure the black tips stick out over the ends. The center of the sunflower die has a ticket shape that comes out. I removed that ticket shaped piece and added a scrap behind it that is larger so I can glue it to the back of the ticket area to hold the ticket in place. I also glued a sentiment piece onto the center of the ticket before gluing it in place. I also took the centers of the sunflower from the black paper and glued them under the gold center of the flower. I took a matching A2 sized pre-made card base and glued the sunflower to the center and added a few black crystals to add more interest to the front of the card. I don’t know where I bought these as they’ve been in my stash for a long time.

Floral Wreath Card: I cut the floral wreath die out of off white and pink cardstock and laid them on Press ‘n Seal link: https://tinyurl.com/bdf4s8nj so the small pieces would stay in place once I pushed them out of the die. I glued the pink cardstock cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″ to the front of a pre-made card base 4 1/4 x 5 1/2″. It took a while, but I alternated gluing pink and off white die cuts back into their respective spots. Once all were in place, I added crystal flat back pieces into the centers of the flowers and added more into the center of the wreath. I used a sentiment that I fussy cut around to the center of the wreath then added some 3d flat back resin flowers (couldn’t find the exact ones I used but these are close to them, link: https://tinyurl.com/3m8949f8) using Glue Dots link: https://tinyurl.com/hpxw7pvu to adhere them. I added a strip of retired ribbon from Stampin’ Up to the left side of the card to complete it.

Happy Birthday card: I used two glittery cardstocks to create the die cut layer and cut the die from both. I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to separate the letters from the background as the paper has a plastic liner that even though the die cleanly cut through it, you can only take it apart by using scissors. I fussy cut “Happy” and “to you” as the word birthday was too small to cut out. I did not remove any of the letters from the lighter colored glitter cardstock, and glued the whole die cut to a piece of silver mirror cardstock cut to 7″ tall by 10″ wide and scored on the 10″ length at 5″ to make a 5 x 7″ card. I tear taped the entire die cut near the top of the front of the card base then using Tombow Mono Aqua glue, attached the letters I’d cut out. Then using a black Sharpie, I wrote over the word birthday and once it was dry, I used Glossy Accents on top to make the word birthday stand out. I took a piece of 5/8″ wide red glitter ribbon and glued it across the bottom portion of the front of the card and then took a piece of silver rick rack ribbon and glued it to the center of the red ribbon. I added another piece of the silver rick rack ribbon down the left side of the inside of the card to finish it off.

Thanks again to the nice people at Lifescraft, for sending me these dies and for offering a discount code for my viewers. As always, I’m not affiliated with Lifescraft and receive no monies from the sales of their products to my viewers.

Making Cards For Cubs–How I Make Lots of Cards Fast!

Each year I participate in Cards for Cubs and encourage you to do the same. I’ve come up with a system to make as many unique cards as fast as possible. If I forget to list something, please email me saundralparker@yahoo.com, and I’ll try to figure out where I bought it..

It’s not too late to participate in Cards for Cubs, here’s their link: http://www.cardsforcubs.org If you aren’t familiar, Cards for Cubs gives encouraging and birthday cards for kids in foster care. I forgot to mention in my video that I focus on older girls as I think they benefit the most from encouragement, and I primarily make encouraging cards. You don’t write anything inside, as they are to be given to the kids from people working in the foster care system. We are there to provide cards. If you have a stockpile of birthday cards, I know they would appreciate them. The minimum number of cards you can send is ten and they ask to have them in quantities of tens.

The stamped lady images are all from Unity Stamps from their Angiegirl collection. I didn’t realize until today that they make Angie men, so I might add some men to my collection for next year’s Cards for Cubs. Here’s a link to find them easier..they have 117 stamps in the Angiegirl stamps. Link: https://tinyurl.com/22emz4pd

To make the process of making cards easier, I get all of the components I’m using out and put them in piles. On the left side of my desk is the stack of card bases from Michaels and Hobby Lobby. The card bases I wanted to use this year are primarily pink and navy blue, so I colored my girls so they all wear either pink or dark blue. I colored them on card stock and ran them through my copier and keep the originals to use again next year. This is a HUGE time savings. NOTE: Don’t use colored cardstock for copies as it changes the colors and makes them splotchy. I don’t know why, but cream colored cardstock created splotchy images…Only use white cardstock for coloring, is the lesson I learned this year.

I found embellishments that would look good on the card bases I’m using and put them in a stack along with sentiment stickers I got from Temu, links are below.

Sentiment Stickers: https://tinyurl.com/mry9cjdb

Butterfly stickers for envelopes: https://tinyurl.com/2nepr4rf

Flower stickers: https://tinyurl.com/ms5d4brp

Women fashion stickers: https://tinyurl.com/556tpukr I couldn’t find any of the vellum ladies fashion stickers online now, sorry.

To make tea dyed papers, I took an old, brittle book, and Walnut Stain Distress Oxide ink and laid the ink pad on the book on pages that had only writing to ink them, and then sprayed it with water and used a blending brush to move the ink around, then let it dry.

I used a variety of ribbons and gem stickers to add to the cards.

Dollar Tree links:

Shiny gem stickers: https://tinyurl.com/mrxa2r6z

3d butterfly stickers: https://tinyurl.com/58j7zjea

Joann: Rose trim: https://tinyurl.com/4nuy45mb This isn’t exactly like the trim I used, but it’s close.

Spinning bird card: I took an A2 sized card base and laid a piece of patterned paper that is 5 1/4″ x 4″ on top and then laid a larger die over them near the center. Don’t attach the patterned paper as you’ll need to put string under it later. I put a small piece of washi tape to hold the patterned paper where I wanted it then die cut the sun shaped die out of the center by opening the card base when running it through my machine. Once the sun was cut out, I took a piece of gold string and glued the front and back of the bird to it. My stamps are specific to this kind of card but any image that can mirror itself like a tree, hot air balloon, butterflies link: https://tinyurl.com/39hbbm5z or dragonflies that are the same shape if you attach them back to back like this one, link: https://tinyurl.com/2abxnab5 will work. Color your image and cut them out then put them back to back to make sure they are the same shape and size and then put glue on them and run the string through the center of the stamps and make sure they are well adhered to themselves and the string. The string needs to be long enough to run through the center of the card from top to bottom. Then lay the string in the center of the opening under the designer paper and glue the designer paper down with the string laying taut. To make it spin, you’ll turn it a bunch of times and then close the card. When the recipient opens the card, the image will spin.

I used a Happy Birthday sentiment die from Temu on this card. Link: https://tinyurl.com/2s439tw2

Alcohol Markers on Vellum

I made a card for my friend who was turning 90 and was under impressed with the way it turned out, so decided to make one that was more fitting for a woman of 90. Her birthday party had to be postponed because we got covid and then she got a compression fracture in her back. By the time we had the party, I was walking again (after my fall in July and surgery that didn’t heal.) I think seeing me walk made her day special, and she talked about it then and called me later to tell me how much it meant to her, which made the day special for me.

To make this 5 x 7″ card, I started by cutting gold mirror cardstock link: https://tinyurl.com/mwbxm4xk measured 5 x 7″ and cut the inside to 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ so I had a frame to cover the outside of the card. I used a card base that is 5 x 7″ and off white, then added a piece of rust designed paper cut to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4″ from Joanns Park Lane Old World 6 x 8″ link:.https://tinyurl.com/ypdajnm4. I used vellum link: https://tinyurl.com/yfb8mrjt cut to 4 7/8 x 6 7/8″ and put it in my Misti with a Stampendous Jumbo Rose stamp link: https://tinyurl.com/3p5mj4zf and Ranger Dorado Gold embossing power. I couldn’t find it online, but their gold embossing powder works great too…link: https://www.joann.com/ranger-embossing-powder/13812920.html I stamped and heat embossed the image three times on the corners of my vellum, then filled in the places I accidentally wiped away with my brush with a Versamark marker link: https://www.joann.com/versamarker-watermark-resist-marker/6605828.html. I originally intended to use three colors of alcohol markers but in the end, decided to use only one color, a dark red. The darker the color you use, the better. You’ll color on the underside of the embossing, and this is really crucial. If you have any issues with too much ink or lines in your image, use some rubbing alcohol and a brush or a piece of cloth to dab it to clean it up. I die cut a 90 in gold mirror cardstock from this die set https://tinyurl.com/y2s5ubn4 and a tree limb die link: https://tinyurl.com/2p5a94t5 NOTE: This die is similar to mine but not the same. I put foam tape under the 90 and before placing it, added tree branches wherever there was room and then laid the 90 on top. I put tear tape on the four sides of the back of the vellum then laid it on the card base, then added the gold frame I cut on top using tear tape behind it. I used a big Happy Birthday die cut sentiment link:https://tinyurl.com/32h5rw69 in gold foil paper to the inside of the card and used my Xyron link: https://tinyurl.com/3zu5c52n to glue the back. If you like the idea of the Xyron, you might want to go with the 3″ version, as it’s still being made, whereas the 1 1/2″ wide doesn’t seem to be. Here’s the link: https://tinyurl.com/5n6d722x.

I’m sure you already know this, but I’m not affiliated with any company and only give you links so you know exactly what tools/products I’m using.

I’m sorry that I’ve had these dies for a while and am just making the video now as my broken leg delayed my video making.

The nice people at Lifescraft.com sent me these dies and have offered my viewers a great discount of 22% off with code S22.

I’m not affiliated with them but love it when a company sends me products to try and offers a discount code for my viewers.

lifescraft.com

Discount 22% with code S22

Here are the links to the dies I used:

Puzzle Dies: http://tinyurl.com/h97pxw34

Hug Dies: http://tinyurl.com/yr6wj9sa

Birds on a wire die: http://tinyurl.com/bde3dwwm

Woven Bamboo Background die: http://tinyurl.com/3cejwfdm

Paint Brush dies: http://tinyurl.com/5abtj5u7

Making the first cards, I used the woven bamboo background die for four different colored cardstocks to use and attached them to an A2 sized 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ white card base. I cut the birds on a wire die in white cardstock and glued it to the bottom 1/3rd of the card on the 5 1/2″ length. I added thanks link: http://tinyurl.com/255rmcjb or hello link: http://tinyurl.com/3scma2ktin varying colors of cardstock and on the red card woven bamboo background I added a big butterfly sticker I bought on Temu, link: http://tinyurl.com/3h3ey62b.

I used a syringe I bought on Temu for a glue applicator and although it works, it’s messy and I didn’t think about how the glue would ooze out and how it would dry in the needle when I’m not using it. If you want to try it, here’s the link to the syringes I bought. Link: http://tinyurl.com/3mv3d8ma

The second card I made I used the HUG die and using alcohol markers, colored the HUG in a green that matched a plaid green background paper I cut to 4 x 5 1/4″, and the arms in a flesh tone. I put small hexagon shaped foam adhesive (Link: http://tinyurl.com/3a2avp6b) under the HUG and the elbows of the arms and then laid the HUG in the center of the card and put the arms so they are encircling the HUG. I added an enamel dot in green I had in my stash and called it done.

I die cut the puzzle in a patterned paper and yellow fun foam and laid the patterned paper pieces onto the yellow fun foam with the exception of one piece of the puzzle that I die cut in green and replaced that piece once I stamped Thinking of you (from a very old Hero Arts stamp set) on it. I laid them on an a piece of green paper that is 2 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ and glued it to silver mirror cardstock that measured 2 3/4″ x 5″. I used a yellow A2 sized card base and laid a piece of purple grosgrain ribbon that is 5/8″ wide (from my stash) about 1/8″ from the left edge of the card and attached three yellow enamel dots to the top part of the ribbon then laid the puzzle centered on the rest of the card.

My final card is using the paintbrush dies and a “Just Because” die cut (I couldn’t remember where I got this die, sorry) I cut the entire set in green, blue, purple, red and brown and then cut the small strips that go across the paintbrushes in silver and then glued the silver strips to the brown paintbrushes and cut the blue, green, purple and red brush part of the paintbrushes off and then glued them to the brown paintbrushes so it looked like the brush part is the color of the paint swatches. I used the coordinating paint swatches and tear taped them to the back of the paint brush that matches and then glued them to a green card base that is an A2 sized card. I added “Just Because” to the top that I put through my Xyron link: http://tinyurl.com/56fbj7yk. If you use a die cut that has a surround to it, keep all of the small pieces inside the letters as you’ll need to fill those back in once you’ve laid down the sentiment. I added three small green enamel dots (one to replace the dot in the “J” in Just Because and two on an angle to the left of it. I added the red paintbrush to the inside of the card.

Don’t forget the discount of 22% using S22

Globleland Dies, Tag Punch & Wax Seal Stamp, I FINALLY Figured Out the Best Way To Melt Wax!

The nice people at Globleland.com sent me these products to try and I’m truly grateful. As always, I’m not affiliated with Globleland, but they were kind enough to send me some products to try and gave me discounts for my viewers, which is what I always ask for when trying out new products…

Globleland homepage link: https://globleland.com/?s=sandy10

Coupon code: sandy10

Globleland product links:

Layered die sets: https://globleland.com/products/cutting-dies-diy-wh0309-778?s=sandy10

Tag Punch: https://globleland.com/products/tools-ajew-wh0188-06?s=sandy10

Cat & Mouse wax stamp: https://globleland.com/products/stamp-collection-wax-stamps-ajew-wh0183-1080?s=sandy10

To make the card, I took the largest die with circles cut into it and cut a piece of striped paper with this die. I used a green card base that is 8 1/2″ long by 5 1/2″ wide, scored on the 8 1/2′ length at 4 1/4″ creating an A2 sized card. I put glue on the back of the die cut striped paper and laid it on the card base. Then I took a navy blue scrap that was 1 1/2″ wide so fits the narrowest setting for the tag punch. I used a sentiment from a magazine that says “with sympathy” and stamped it with Versamark ink on the navy blue paper. I used a small container of Nuvo embossing powder in a yellow color and then heat set the sentiment. I punched one end of the strip then cut the scrap so it’s 5 1/4″ and then punched the other end to turn it from a tag into more of a banner…not sure what I’d call that shape, sorry.

I used beige grosgrain ribbon and looped it in half and pushed it through one of the holes and pushed the ends of the ribbon through the loop and pulled them tight, then did the same to the other end. I added tear tape to the back and laid the ends of the ribbon in the tear tape. I used some thin foam tape strips I bought on Amazon, link: http://tinyurl.com/5bf4z3n5 I added a butterfly I bought at the Dollar Tree link: http://tinyurl.com/mryrk8uz

I FINALLY figured out how to melt wax melts and it’s so much simpler than the candle system. I used my heat tool instead and held the little spoon without having it get too hot (which was surprising) and figured out how to scrape the wax out of the spoon with a silicone tool I bought on Temu, link: http://tinyurl.com/4ptk4cwa

I used 5-7 of the little wax melts to create the perfect circle. I used a marble scrap to pour the wax onto and stamped with the cat and mouse stamp. I show a mold I bought to create the perfect wax seal circle, but I think it’s too big and I didn’t show using it as it took too many wax melts to fill and then the stamp got buried in the wax. Just so you know, the mold was a big disappointment. I did use it for the heart seal that is in this video so you can see just how large the seal becomes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqBdgRIkkUI. I probably won’t be using it again unless I figure out what else I can do with it besides using it for wax melts.

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Card

I made Rich’s Valentine’s Day card, naturally at the last minute..

I started with an A2 sized card base out of white Recollections Heavyweight card stock. I ran a piece of mirror silver cardstock (if you don’t have this, you can glue a piece of aluminum foil to any color cardstock instead) through the Simon Says Stamp Kaleidoscope embossing folder link: http://tinyurl.com/3uzwzbd8 to get a great background. I cut this down to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and put tear tape on the back. I buy mine on Amazon and here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/4s8zrwpt

I used Stampin’ Up retired stamp called Good Greetings set and found one on ebay, here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/bdh66v7u I used Happy Valentine’s Day from this set and stamped it in Archival Carnation Red Ink from Ranger Wendy Vecchi link: http://tinyurl.com/28caeuy8. I stamped my sentiment, then used a hole punch (you can use any regular hole punch as mine is no longer made) and I made marks where I wanted the holes then punched them. I used two glittery red brads I had in my stash, I found similar ones at Walmart.com link: http://tinyurl.com/y6vdctj4. I attached one to either end of my banner from a scrap of white cardstock. I put foam strips on the back of the banner that I got on Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/5bf4z3n5 I used some red organza ribbon that was 5/8″ wide and put the 1/2″ tear tape I referenced above on the back of the ribbon so it would make the ribbon completely adhered to the card. I wrapped the ribbon around the top 1/3rd of the embossed mirror cardstock and put tear tape on the back of the mirror cardstock and adhered this to the card base. Next I attached the banner to the bottom left side third of the card and added a red wax sealed heart from this set from Temu, link: http://tinyurl.com/37e3zrhj with more tear tape on the back and stuck it to the right side of the ribbon.