Hi ladies,
I decided to go for it and Audition for the Graphic 45 Design Team!!! You all know that they are my favorite paper company and that I love to use their products. Some of my most popular classes have been with their paper and that must mean that you love Graphic 45 too! I absolutely loved everything they had at CHA and cannot wait for my order to hit the front porch. I am planning a Mother’s Day mini-book using “Olde Curiosity Shoppe” and an Altered Project using “Tropical Travelogue.” It is such a treat to go into their booth at convention because inspiration oozes from every corner. I told Stan, one of the gentleman working in the Graphic 45 booth "if there was a prize for the person who stood in their booth the longest I would definitely be the winner". I could not get enough of it all because there was so much to take in. So now the only question was "What do I make for the audition?".... cover a box? no it's been done. Cover a suitcase? no, not original. Then as I was driving to school to pick up my girls it hit me "I'll make curtains....I have never seen curtains made out of scrapbook paper. Ohhhh and Graphic 45 paper would make such cute curtains!!!" My mind was spinning so much so I drove right pass my daughters school and had to make a U-turn to go back and get her.LOL I almost used the Domestic Goddess line to make kitchen curtains but then I settled on Communique for some bathroom curtains. Well that is how it all got started, now I need some help from you. Please comment on this post, link to this post, and if you know how "Pin" the pictures on Pinterest. I had so much fun doing this and I hope you enjoy the new ideas!! I may not win but I was so inspired as I created all of this.
Happy Scrappin',
Traci
Project 1: Graphic 45 Curtains
I almost used the Domestic Goddess collection to make Kitchen curtains but then I settled on Communique for some bathroom curtains. I found some great tassels and beautiful trim at my local fabric store. I bought the rod and rings at Target and covered the rod with a coordinating paper from the Le' Romantique collection. It is so nice that you can mix Graphic 45 papers from various collections. I added ribbon and buttons to the top of the curtains. Along the bottom I used another coordinating paper from the Le' Romantique collection. For the finishing touches the I added the tassels. So how many of you have your own scrapbook room? You need to make you own Graphic 45 curtains!!! My scrap room is pink and so I am going to use Precious Posey from the Little Darlings Collection to make mine. If enough of you are interested I will make a video and show you how. I made these curtains in less than 4 hours. The finished product was beautiful. They look pretty from the outside too because all Graphic 45 paper is double sided.
Project 2: Table setting with Serving Tray and Napkin Rings
I love the new Tropical Travelogue collection. It just says "outdoors" as soon as you see it. It could be used for an African safari or just a relaxing day at the beach. I have been wanting to make a serving tray but then I thought why not make it a whole table setting! How many of us have sheets of left over paper from the layout we just finished. Why not use them to create some beautiful napkin rings and heck just put one under the plate...fabulous. I went to the second hand store and bought the tray for $2.99 (no Joke). I bought some napkin rings which do not match, but you cannot tell because all you are looking at are my gorgeous paper flowers. I covered all the flowers with Clear Thick Embossing Enamel so that they would keep their shape and can be used over and over again. Each napkin ring has a different vine and stamped image from the Island Jewel and Paradise Postage papers. I used 12x12 sheets of Island Jewel and Jungle Fever alternating them under each plate. Lastly, I cut out some of the 3x4 cards on the Botanica Sheet and set them inside my hurricane vases with sand and shells to create a nice visual center piece. It was perfect California weather (in the middle of winter) to do my table setting out on the Patio next to the pool. The best part is now I don't have to cook. My honey can just throw some shrimp on the Barbecue and I will pop open a bottle of wine while waiting for the guests to arrive.
Project 3: Christmas Card Mailbox
The Christmas mail box is a red enamel bread box that measures 15"L X 6"W X 6"H . I used the Christmas Emporium collection on it which gives it such a beautiful look . I also used 7 Gypsies tissue paper to make a ruffled edge and a tissue paper flower. How many of you save all the tissue from those gift bags, now you can make it into a flower...I love when you can create something so cute from stuff you already have laying around your house. The wool felt flower has been hand washed to give it a vintage look. I also used a Tim Holtz Timepiece with Game spinner, memo pin, buttons, Gold glitter, greenery and jingle bells. The Large Santa card and post cards are cut out from the Believe sheet. The small cards and borders along the bottom are from the Santa Express and Special Delivery sheets. It is perfect for all those Christmas cards you receive in the mail.
Project 4: Christmas Emporium Mini Book
I just fell in love with the Christmas Emporium Collection as soon as I saw it and have used it on so many projects. I found some large sprigs with Jingle bells at my local fabric store. I cut them apart, added some gold sprigs, and the large Santa from the Chipboard Tags 2 to make a dramatic look on the front cover. I love playing with fabrics and so I Incorporated some in this book. A Synthetic Fabric ( not a natural Fiber) when heated will react. Some fabrics will curl, some will shrink, you just have to play with it. I took the large flower on the mini page and ran heat down each petal to make them curl. Then after all the petals were done I put the heat straight over the center of the flower to draw in the petals and give the flower a realistic look. Some fabrics are very temperamental and will burn very easily . I loved Santa's nice and naughty list from the Christmas Emporium sheet. It was perfect to cut out and pop up. On the Santa page I took black lace and put heat to the edges of the fabric. This made the edges curl and gave the lace a vintage feel. I took several of the Chipboard Tags 2 and hung them on a Tim Hotlz Clasp. I found a mini wreath at a flea market. It was a little too thick so I thinned it using wire cutters. The Mica Flakes, Chipboard Tags, and red Stickles added to the festive look of the book.
l. 
Project 5: Father's Day Grunge Album
I picked 9 of the 12 papers from the Proper Gentleman collection. I used a Tim Holtz 5x7 tabbed grunge board album. There are so many fabulous images on these papers that I was able to cut out and use as embellishments. In this book I used masks and crackle paints by Tim Holtz, as well as the Adirondack Dabbers and dry brush painting on grunge board. I weathered my paper with a mini mister. I added corrugated paper here and there to add to the look of the grunge. All the great metal embellishments on the tabs just scream for you to pick up the book and touch them. Once I add photo's this will be a special gift with words of endearment.
Project 6: Mother's Day Envelope Recipe Book
In my family the best times and most memorable conversations are always around the kitchen table. I have been blessed with two of the best cooks, my mom and my grandmother. They both have those special recipes that need to be handed down to the next generation. The Domestic Goddess collection was perfect for a recipe book. It has 10 envelopes to hold your favorite family recipes but also room to still add photos. I included cute cooking sayings, along with a kitchen prayer. There are also vintage papers from old song books, cookbooks, and even a playing card! What recipe book would be complete without a Blue Chip coupon. I Incorporated Antique ads from Betty Crocker, Chef boy-R-D, and Campbell’s. No project is ever finished until you add your buttons, ribbon and lace. I can make my mother's fried chicken or cheesy potatoes following the recipe exactly and no matter what my kids will still say "this doesn't taste as good as Grandma's."
Project 7: Library Drawer with Artistic Cards
It is amazing how I can get so excited over a new project. I had so much fun creating this library drawer. This Library drawer can hold photos and mementos of everything you love in life. If you like techniques and using different scrapbook mediums then you will love this. I used 7 Gypsies and Tim Holtz tissue tape. I also made a tissue tape flower. There are several Tim Holtz stamping techniques, Dabber Resist and Wrinkle Free Distress techniques. I also used Masks with a craft sheet to create some distressed images. I have added corrugated board and wax kraft for interesting embellishments. I used 7 Gypsies 97% complete tags, 7 Gypsies mini Ephemera vintage tags, lots of Tim Holtz trinkets, with plenty of pretty bows, buttons, beads, and pins. I can't wait to set it on my coffee table for all my friends to peruse.
Project 8: Vintage card kit
Making cards is the best! You can sit down for a hour or two and produce several cards. I used all my scraps to make these. The only problem I have with the cards that I make is that I don't want to give them up. Except for one that I recently sent out these are all still hanging on the wall in my scrap room.
