Tutorial - making your paper usage stretch

For newbies asking how to make the use of your patterned paper stretch, this is for you!

We all know once we cut into a sheet of designer patterned paper, we now have "scrap paper" we don't want to waste. If you're like me, I like to use every inch of patterned paper to get my money's worth. Here's how I made this 8x8" sheet stretch in usage and therefore in value:



I was able to get 6 cards (A2 size) out of one 8"x8" sheet of "Rustic Chic" patterned paper by cutting paper into 8 different sizes. I cut the paper at 5-1/2" horizontally first. Then vertically, I cut at 3/4", 2-1/4", 2", and 3".



I could have gotten more cards out of one 8x8" sheet by cutting smaller pieces but I wanted more of the design of the paper to show.

Another way I was able to stretch my paper was to use the tags/embellishments from another paper collection and combine it with the Rustic Chic paper.

The "Hemingway" paper collection is one of our new TAC paper collections. You're gonna love it! Especially the price, $6.95 for 5 12x12" patterned paper and one full sheet of tags and embellishments! This is not the best picture since the papers are much richer in color.



Here is a slideshow of card samples where I combined "Hemingway" paper tags/embellishments with the "Rustic Chic":

I know I have a diagram of how to cut an 8x8" sheet into 10 or more different shapes so you could essentially make 10 cards! Now that's certainly a good way to make your paper stretch!! But for now, you get the idea. Cutting your paper into different angles, sizes can help you stretch out the usage of even one sheet of paper!! Try it and let me know how you did. Have a terrific day!

Here's Miss Kitty's Friend

like I said I'd show you. "Little Puppy" is one of 15 GWP (gift with purchase) free stamps you can choose from with a $30 order. I thought I'd put them together so you can see how cute they both are:





Visit me here to see TAC's stamp & paper collections. Enjoy!

Giveaway! - "Count Your Blessings"

Just a reminder, on July 31st I will be picking one of you who have left a comment on this "Count Your Blessings" post. I will be giving a way the little "Blessing Book" pictured here. If you haven't done so already, scroll down to this post and tell us what has blessed you recently! Have an awesome day!

"Paper Blessings": Faithbooking Class at TAC Seminar#links

"Paper Blessings": Faithbooking Class at TAC Seminar#links

Tutorial - Making a Faux Belt & Buckle

Click on picture for larger image to see details of card.



Here's a quick way to make a faux belt to embellish your papercrafts:
-Cut 1/4" x 4-1/4" strip of brown paper.
-Slide buckle (Sizzix die) thru paper strip. Ink the edges of buckle first.
-With 1/16" hole punch, punch holes every 1/4" to the right of the buckle.

Voila! Instant faux belt & buckle!

Miss Kitty is ready to celebrate!! Is she not too cute? You'll have to meet her friend, Puppy. Miss Kitty is a GWP - gift with purchase. For every $30 TAC purchase you can choose one free stamp when you place your order thru me instead of online store. There are 15 GWP stamps, so you can make your own choice when you place an TAC order thru me.

Treasure It

Trying out some of the new stamps. Will have more samples tomorrow. I used "Treasure It" stamp set here. A very simple card. I love the saying included in this set which reads as follows: "Be nice and smile to everyone you meet. You don't know what they are going through and they may need that smile. Treasure it." So we CAN make a difference just by smiling, girls!

Monday Mom Tip

For you Blogamamas, my tip is "teaching kids 'obedience' according to God's Word." This scrapbook layout shows what we taught our boys when they were little (and now, too, of course.) They can then pass this teaching on to their children and reap the benefits of it. Of course we know their is no guarantee for obedience but as a parent I'm doing my job to teach them the truths in God's Word to follow.

This layout is very simple so it didn't take long to do. I used "Kaleidoscope Boyz" paper and "About a boy" stamp set:

Tutorial - Coaster Photo Key Chain

Click on picture for larger view so you can see the "vinyl trading card sleeve" a bit better on the right side on coaster.

This was one of the swaps I made for our TAC seminar last month and was asked how I made them. It's really easy & fun! I used 4x4" chipboard coasters and did as follows:

-Ink a brayer with Kaleidacolor "Bouquet" rainbow ink and brayer the color onto the coaster - both sides.

-Pick a verse from "Scriptures" stamp set and stamp it with black ink on the left hand side. (MY FAVORITE SET - I USE IT ALL THE TIME!)

-Stamp flowers here and there from the "PetalPack" stamp set and color in with Tombow markers.

-Ink the "Speckle" stamp with Palette Landscape inkpad and stamp here and there over design.

-Ink the edges of the coaster with pink inkpad.

-Now you will SEW a "trading card vinyl sleeve" on the right side of coaster. (These are the vinyl sleeves the kids get for their Pokemon or baseball cards.) Remember only sew 3 sides leaving the top open to slide your stuff in. You will be sewing green rick rack on left side of vinyl sleeve.

-Adhere the rhinestone to the center of the big flower ON TOP OF THE vinyl sleeve.

-Punch a hole on top left corner & add a key chain, ribbons etc. For the circle picture, I punched the picture from a 2" circle punch and then layered it onto a 2-1/2" scalloped circle punch.

This can be used to hold your special photos, your business card, gas card or retemories (bible verses you're memorizing.) Makes a quick, fun and inspirational gift. Enjoy!

Friday Faves - Faithbooking

See below

Faithbooking Class at TAC Seminar

As some of you know, I was asked to do a "Faithbooking 101" presentation for our annual TAC seminar in Kansas City! I was honored and privileged! It was a great time, met some wonderful ladies and received some great feedback. Thank you ladies for your support, it really blessed me!

Faithbooking is scrapbooking your faith, your beliefs. So for me it's Christian scrapbooking - remembering what God has done for me and my family. It's also being able to teach my boys God's Word even after I'm gone because God's Word is weaved throughout my scrapbooking. What's neat about that is that they can then teach their kids! Awesome, huh? Here are some of the scrapbook layouts I used as samples for this class. My other displayboards are enroute to me so I will be adding more photos to my slide as I get them. Please check back and if you have any questions, leave a comment.

Count Your Blessings - Giveaway!

I've been wanting to do this for a while - just hadn't gotten it together. I will be featuring "COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS" posts. I'd like you to leave a comment with something that God has blessed your life with lately or at any time of your life. It's just a great way to be thankful and to remember our daily blessings. We can inspire one another

So at the end of the month I will draw from the comments for a winner and will giveaway this Mini Chipboard Blessing Book (whew! long title, huh?) that I just made using some of our new TAC rubber stamps and paper. There's room in it for small photos and for more embellishing.

Leave a blessing comment and get in on the drawing for this Mini Blessing Book!

v>

v>

WOW! New Catalog is Beautiful!!

I couldn't wait to show you our new catalog - so I used my own copy which you can see is written on and already has turned-up corners. Sorry. But you will definitely love this catalog and here are some reasons why:

-Brand new Hostess Sets, new "Gift with Purchase"stamps. GWP's are the free stamps YOU get to choose and will receive w/$30 purchase. These will change twice a year, yeah! (These free stamp sets are only available when I place the order for you.)

-We have 8 new paper collection sets this year and they are beautiful!

-These new paper sets have "coordinating" cardstock, hardware, inks and ribbons.

-There are 200 stamp sets that are under $12!

-We have CIRCLE Stamps which are real big right now!

-We have tins, chipboard books, coasters, chipboard alphabets, Cropodile, punches, embellishments, art supplies, flowers, paper collections, circle stamps, etc., etc.


The catalogs are $4.95 plus shipping.
They are free if you were a Hostess with me this year.
They are free when you schedule a "Funshop" with me.

I'm working on an "OPEN HOUSE" date so I can show you all the new products and samples!

Be one of the first to receive our new catalog! Email me with your correct address information or visit me at http://myleeson.ismyangel.net where YOU can start ordering out of the new catalog at YOUR convenience. Note: not all new products have been updated to our system so keep checking back!!!

Are You Here?? TAC Seminar Photos - opening day

Just returned from seminar and it was wonderful! I volunteered to be part of the "paparazzi" for the Club Med ladies. So we took lotsa pictures for TAC.They rolled out the red carpet for them, had their hollywood "stars" on the floor with their name next to it and more! Here are some photos for you to look at while I get ready to show you some of the artwork I featured at the "Faithbooking 101 Class" I was blessed to present to the ladies. Just CLICK and slide your cursor arrow on the cube - move it up, down, left, right -which ever direction you want to go to see a photo. CLICK on the picture to STOP the cube and focus in on a picture. Leave comments!