Here is an amazing themed mini album idea that was orginally posted by Jess Duerksen. I still look back at this fun and adorable album often.

Themed Mini Album ~ Jess Duerksen

We’ll be making a themed / shaped mini-book for our project today! So find your “theme” pics and all your supplies and we’ll get started!

Supplies you will need:

• a group of 6 - 10 pics on a similiar theme

• 4 - 5 pieces of two sided paper or cardstock

• good scissors or an exacto knife

• coordinating ribbon, fibre, etc

• matching embellies, rub-ons, etc

• beads and/or charms

STEP 1 : Choose a “shape” for your mini-book. I chose the shape of a barn for pics of my boys. You can get all kinds online.
Here is a link to give you some ideas for shapes
STEP 2 : Fold your double sided paper or cardstock in half and place your template on the fold (left hand side or top) and trace it and cut it out. Here’s mine unfolded…

Now do three or four more…depending on how many pages you want in your book..

STEP 3 : Put all your pages together (you may have to trim them slightly to fit once they’re folded together).
Punch holes through the fold so you can tie the pages together with ribbon or string….LEAVE A LONG END SO YOU CAN ATTACH BEADS AFTER IT’S TIED

STEP 4: Decorate the cover and add your pics, embellies and journalling…..here’s my cover…

Step 5: For the final step of your project, tie beads to the ends of your ribbon or string used to bind your book! It gives such a fun feel!

To see the entire album please check out the Resource section of the site!!

I plan on creating a themed album soon. I have some great pics in mind. If you make one and email your completed project to me at thynner5@yahoo.ca I will give you THREE ballots for this months Blog Prize Draw!!

~Tara~

This week I wanted to show you how to use those gorgeous Cuttlebug embossing dies in other way other than just embossing.

Supplies:

1. cardstock
2. ink
3. embossing folder
4. brayer
5. die cut machine

Steps to a Cool Effect

1. Gather your supplies together.



2. Evenly load the brayer with ink.  Try rolling it across the pad in multiple directions for more even coverage.
3. Roll the inked brayer across the surface of the RAISED side of the Cuttlebug die.  The brayer works great in this case because it gives you even coverage of the raised surfaces and doesn’t allow excess ink to drip into the grooves.

   

4. Carefully lay your piece of cardstock on top of the inked surface.
5. Send the sandwiched folder through your die cut machine.
6. Use the inked and embossed cardstock to create a card of your own design.

Supplies: Cardstock; Bazzill, Prism, Doodlebug.  Stamp: BasicGrey.  Inks; Ranger,  Tsukineko.  Pearls: Hero Arts.  Pen; Creative Imaginations. Ribbon; Must Be Sold-by-Spool.  Die Cuts; Spellbinders (Nestabilities).  Tools; Cuttlebug embossing die.

Since a new month has begun, don’t forget if you complete a challenge, use a spot lighted font, create a page using our word of the week or complete any of the other challenges during the month, link us up or send your projects to Tara at thynner5@yahoo.ca for a chance to win.

Good luck!  I would love to see what kind of creations you create with the technique.

I came across this great tutorial while reading the Scrapbook and Cards Today Blog. I wanted to share it with our CCAS readers. Have you ever wanted to make your own gel letters?? Thanks to the wonderfully talented Jen Backler….. now you can too.

Make sure to scroll down to “3T’s Make Your Own Gel Letters”. You will be glad you did!!

Scrapbook and Cards Today Blog

If you happen to use this technique on a layout or card email it to me at thynner5@yahoo.ca and you will earn a ballot for this month’s Blog Prize Draw!!

~Tara~

By Renee Zieglmeier - Design Team Member

April 2007

I love cardmaking, but sometimes I just get in a rut. Thats when I switch things up a bit and print about a dozen or so copies of my current favorite photos. I love photographing flowers, leaves and everyday objects. These photos would just be beautiful card fronts. To make it a little more personable to the recepient, why not use up some of those leftover stickers and rub ons you’ve been hoarding for months?
Supplies needed:

Multiple copies of photographic prints

Leftover Stickers, Saying stickers/Quote, themed, alphas (you know you all have a stash!)

Misc Rub Ons

Photo Corners

Cardstock

Adhesive
Step 1- Find a photo to create your card with, find some stickers/rub ons that would work well with the picture.

Step 2- Make copies of the favored print or find a variety of photos that will comply with your sticker sentiments. Place your sticker/rub on in desired position on photograph.

Step 3- Adhere your photo to cardstock and add photo corner and embellish as you wish.

Here are my 3 favorite cards I made using this technique.

Birthday Boy- Train Photograph Card- Sticker placed vertically, thin white border around photo, misc. cardstock for card base

Crisp and Cool- Crispy leaf dusted with some snow; Clear EK Success Sticker, Quickutz Photo Corners cut out of Bazzill Bling Cardstock, Misc Cardstock for card base

Happy Birthday- Photo of Crazy Daisies- “Happy” metal embellishment and clear “Birthday” sticker, Quickutz Photo Corner Dies cut out of Chatterbox Paper, Misc Cardstock for card base

On the backs of the cards, I printed up some small ‘Photography by Renee’ labels along with my email address should the recipient want to get their hands on more of my cards! This is a great way to advertise your photography and papercrafting talents!

This tutorial and many others can be found in the CCAs Resources Wiki.

Here is a fun and easy project to do.

I love to alter things and I also love to include my kids in some of my projects. We sat down a while back and created fridge magnets from coasters. You can purchase coasters in bulk and most LSS’s or online. You can collect them when you go out to supper or at the bars. You also have the option of making your own out of chipboard!!

Pick some patterned papers and a wallet size photo. Adhere the paper to your coaster/chipboard. The girls inked the edges of the coaster. We then added thier photos and some flowers and ribbon. They found these neat alpha brads in my stash and we added their names to it. We also applied some rub ons as well. Next we adhered a magnet to the back of the coaster.

Viola….. some fun and simple fridge magnets!

I plan on making some more this weekend with the girls.

If you create any magnets please email me at thynner5@yahoo.ca and put “CCAS Magnets” in the subject line. You may also link it here on the blog. You will earn a ballot for this month’s Blog Prize!!

~Tara~

Here at CCAS, we have a fabulous Resources section and I found this great tutorial today that I wanted to share.

Carrie Bolduc’s: “Altered Box”

To see how Carrie made this gorgeous little altered box, check her step by step tutorial here.

Enjoy!

I just finished making an adorable gift card holder for one of the teachers helpers in Paige’s JK Class. I based my card on these easy to follow instructions by Jess:

Gift Card Holder by By Jess Duerksen

OK girls…we’re making this quick and easy money holder today!

Cut a piece of CS or double sided pp to 7”h X 9”w.

Score vertically at 3” and 6” so you have 3 equal sections of 3” X 7”

Measure down 2” on the first score and cut out to there

Now measure over 1” and down the side 2.5” and cut off the angle

You’ve got your holder made! You can tape the bottom shut to make sure nothing gets lost… The cash or GC gets tucked in here.

Now add your stamp or sentiment to the front and embellish as desired!

Have fun!

~Tara~

This tutorial was created by Kristin.

Curling Chipboard

Submitted by Kristin

Here is a neat technique that I’ve tried and really enjoyed. I can’t wait to try it again!

Chipboard graces most scrapbooking layouts these days. Whether it is alphabets or an embellishment, chipboard is everywhere!

For something different try soaking your chipboard in a dish of water. I tried this with Fancy Pants chipboard flowers. Once the flower was in the water for a couple of minutes it separated into 4 thin layers. I laid the layers out on a paper towel and let them dry overnight. When they were dry, I was able to cover them with patterned paper and curl the petals with a pencil. I love the look of the thin layers of chipboard. I can’t wait to try this again with alphabets!

Don’t forget to check out the CCAS Resource Wiki. We have LOTS of fabulous tutorials.

I have been searching around for some ideas for teachers gifts that the girls can have fun decorating and making. I came across this while searching through CCAS Resources. My girls want to make some of these for the teachers helpers and fill them with handmade toffees. Yummy!!

Make a Festive Fry Box - By Renee

Fry Template by Tammy Matta

Supplies Needed:

Glue Stick or other adhesive

Patterned Paper, Cardstock or other (I used double sided sturdy Patterned Paper)

Scissors or X-acto knife

Bone folder

Size this template to your size liking in an editing program or print program.

Print the template on regular printer paper.

I printed at full size on an 8.5×11 sheet of paper. I will link my enlarged template here-
Step 1- Take template printed on a standard sheet of 8.5×11 paper. Place on top of a double sided sheet of cardstock/patterned paper. The side of the cardstock that is facing up will be the outside of the box

Step 2- Using an X-acto Knife, cut through the template and cardstock at the same time.

Step 3- Holding the cutout template and cardstock together, make the first fold on template line. Make folds so template stays to the outside of the box.

Step 4- Once the four side folds are done; gradually pinch the arc folds at the base of the box using both thumbs and index finger.

Step 5- Once folds are made, remove template

Step 6- Tape/adhere flaps to hold the box together.

Adhere the sides together; you may want to temporarily use paper clips or other methods to hold it tight until the adhesive dries completely.
Embellish and fill the box as you wish!

~Tara~

Here at CCAS, we have always highlighted the fact that most of us have kids and the need to teach our kids that crafts can be fun!

So today, we’re highlighting a fun favourite…. PLAY DOUGH.

I found this tutorial in our CCAS Resources section.

Recipe:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• food colouring (optional)
• glitter (optional)

Mix together flour, salt, water and oil in a large bowl.

Using your hands (not a beater), mix together the dough until it starts to turn into a dough ball.

Separate into smaller batches in order to create different colours.

Add food colouring and glitter to create a fun dough.

Using a roller and cookie cutters, or your fists on a board, create your masterpieces.

Put aside to dry.

There are many ways to dry your creations.

You can leave them out in the air in a room with good warm air circulation if you don’t mind waiting 7-10 days for your pieces to dry.

You can dry your pieces in the oven after a brief rest in warmly circulated air. After the pieces are partially dried, place the items into a oven at 50 degrees F for about a half an hour. If the pieces are still moist, increase the temp to 100 degrees F for an additional half an hour and remove to the counter.

Where possible, it is best to not move the piece back and forth from the oven as the change in air temperature can lead to cracking of the dough.

The last option is the fastest. Place your creation in a 200 degree F oven and bake for about 10 minutes.

Be sure to keep the temperature of the oven low to avoid the clay browning.

Once completely dry, you can paint the pieces.

Have a great Thursday!