Mini Album on the Graphic 45 Blog today

When I made this Mini, I had intended it to close. But I filled it with so much stuff it just sat open...so thats the way I kept it! See it here!


Follow me on Snapguide!

Okay, have you heard of Snapguide? It's my new love. Basically it is a social networking style app that lets users upload their own Snapguide formatted  Step By Step instuctions. Little virtual how to books on anything form cooking to arts and crafts, to electronics, etc. I am now going to do all of my crafting tutorial ons Snapguide so I want to make sure all my blog readers and crafty peeps are following me- so check out my Valentines Snapguide that made the "featured Snapguides" page, and hit follow--- and let the crafty fun begin. (please don;t blame me for a new addiction though!)
-Denise
Check out How to Make a Petaloo Exploding Valentine Box by Denise Hahn on Snapguide.
 

Xyron and Graphic 45 Couture Corset Banner from Scratch

So what is crafting from Scratch? For me it means I create my own base- whether that be a box, a mini album, or whatever! I guess it's the opposite of altering where you take something already made and alter in your own style. I wanted to make a banner using Graphic 45's Couture collection and at first was going to make a string of dresses- but as I did my Google image search, I found some very cute corsets. If you think you are terrible at drawing- your not alone! I am a disaster, but when I find something I want to make the shape of, I just grab a pencil and go for it. I tend to make one side better than the other- no problem, just draw a line through the middle and cut the good half out. Flip it over and trace the good side, then flip again and trace to create one perfect piece. Works every time. I also have another great tip for using my Xyron Creative Station. Instead of cutting out my base chip board, then my paper, then adhering them. I just make one piece a little bigger than my template- adhere my paper to the chipboard, then trace and cut out. Want to see what I mean? Here is a tutorial of the whole project:

{I use Google image search to find the silhouette that I want. I just free hand drew it, then using the technique I told you about made tow even sides and traced into one}

{The I cut out 3 pieces of chipboard making sure my template would fit on each one}

{I chose my Graphic 45 Couture Prints and cut them same size as my chipboard}

{Then I ran the cardstock through my Xyron 5 Inch Creative Station with permanent adhesive}

{after I attached all of the cardstock to the chipboard, then I traced out and cut my corsets out- so easy, no matching the edges!}

{Ink it up! I am using Donna Salazar Mixed Media Chox on Bluejay and Black}

{Now take those little scraps and cut your self some shoulder straps- optional you don't have to make straps}

{I used Xyron high tack tape to attach my straps}

{now comes the fun part! Embellish away! Use bits of lace and trim. I used Xyron High Tack Tape for my trims but used hot glue for some of my heavier trim like this pearl}

{tip: Don't worry about your high tack tape getting wrinkled going around edges- it will flatten out when you add the trim}

{see!}

{I used some Recollections brads to make this little lace up detail-so cute!}

{Now I needed some clothespins to attach to my line-so I distressed these mini pins with Colorbox Spritzer in Mudslide}

{I then hot glues some vintage buttons on}

{after I hung them, I wanted a little extra, so I made these tags for each using Graphic 45 Couture Chipboard tags and some twine from May Arts}

{Now to assemble-just attach to more twine. This would look so cute on a closet door or at you make up table mirror.  Below I am adding in some detail pics for you, so you can see how I embellished them all. I hope you will have fun making something from scratch today!

-Denise



CHA Bound!

{a sneak peek of one of my projects for G45 at Booth #433}

Well at least I am bounding down the freeway! CHA is the Craft and Hobby Associations biggest trade show of the year. All of the Craft manufacturers come from all over the world to display and sell their newest lines and collections. Lucky for me it's right down the freeway in Anaheim. Today I will be helping out at the Graphic 45 Couture Class for buyers and shop owners. I love spending time with the Graphic 45 team, their personalities as beautiful as their paper- I will also be hanging around the booth at times gushing about their new Lines; Botanical Tea, Good Ol' Sport, and Sweet Sentiments their booth is #433 if you happen to be going. On Saturday from 9-1p I will be at the Petaloo booth working the make and take they are at Booth 337- right across form G45! Sunday is Funday! That's the day I roam the floor with my friend Karin-a fabulous designer for Melissa Frances and her friend Gail. We do all the make and takes and oogle over the new lines- we may even make Michele from Paper Tales drop some cash on things we like!
Yeah its fun, I will be Instagramming live so follow me on instagram  to see all my favorites from the show!


On the Graphic 45 Blog today- Welcome Botanical Tea!

Wow first post of the New Year! It's kind of a crazy time in the craft industry as the biggest trade show of the year is coming this weekend. So just when everyone is packing up their decorations and working on their New Years resolutions- crafters are creating away for Spring Summer! Today Graphic 45 is sneak peeking one of their new line Botanical Tea. I am in love with this line, it has all the vintage charm but includes some polkadots and strips, some of my classic favorite prints! Oh and the Victorian Tussy Mussy I swapped during Christmas is also featured! Click here to see them!



30 Days of Crafting! Embossed Candlelit Houses

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

Okay, so yeah... I love making little houses! I can't help it! These are super super easy and a quick way to add a special touch to a centerpiece, mantle or bookshelf. I used the super fun amber flickering battery candles, you can find these at any craft store. Now let's get to it!

You will need:

Embossalicious Christmas Elegance by Crafters Companion

4- 6x6 Pieces of sheet music or book pages (use new-vintage will not emboss or fold well)

Your Favorite Inks- Mine are Colorbox

Xyron Adhesive- Mega Runner 1/4 inch adhesive

Teresa Collins Stapler

Xacto knife

Pencil

optional:

Elmers Glue or Modge Podge

Small Paintbrush

Glitter

Xyron Creatopia w/ embossing insert

Cut out and emboss 4 pages of sheet music I used Embossalicious Christmas Elegance by Crafter Companion

I used my Creatopia to emboss and this is my "sandwich"-follow instructions for your embosser

Next I used my Colorbox memory Essentials Stylus and my Colorbox Ink to brush out the highlights on the embossed paper

next "eyeball" fold over, overlapping about 1/4 inch

Like so!

Now, watch carefully-I then meet the two folds I just made in the middle, and press down again. There is NO adhesive yet-we are simply making folds so we know where to cut our windows

Grab a piece of scrap chipboard and cut out a window template-free hand it! You can do it!

Now on each of the 4 sides-trace out your window, varying the heights-but not too low or too high!

OPTION: before you fold up take your brush and glue and LIGHTLY spread some glue on the inside and sprinkle with glitter

Now we are ready for adhesive. Run a line down the "extra" edge

now fold it back up again

fold back out to for a square

Close up the top, like wrapping a present

grab your stapler-and close her up!

When you open it back up- you can use a pencil end to straighten up the sides- you can create different house shapes by simply pushing the folds up higher or leaving them low

Finished! Now just pop it over a batter operated tea light

Or on second thought- hopefully you saw my option above and already added a little glue and glitter- I used a paintbrush and just dabbed some glue in and spinkled my glitter in- I just found it glowed a little more sparkly that way!

Look how cute they all look together!

-Have fun and Happy House Building!