Final Mail Art Project

Here is my final mail art project. It was really fun to receive the projects each month. You never knew exactly when they would arrive and it never failed to put a smile on my face when I opened the mailbox.

My last mail art project went to my dear friend Joyce. I wanted to make something special for her that she could hang or display in her craft room.

I started out with a chipboard shape from my stash, but you could easily use a page from one of Want2Scrap’s Chipboard albums…the Grand Album Series would work especially well for this project.  I covered the chipboard piece with the polka dot side of Quick Quotes Dream Big patterned paper then I cut a 3.5″ wide strip of the striped side of Sheer Joy and adhered it to the center.  Once the adhesive was set I trimmed the edges of the paper around the chipboard.  Next, I chose my quote from the Sentiments Quote Bundle Pack and adhered it at a slight angle on the left side, leaving just enough room to add my Want2Scrap Frilly Flourish Swirl on the right.  I added a mixture of green and pink Mulberry Paper Flowersto finish it off.  Here’s a close-up view of the embellishments…

The edge of all the papers were inked with new chalk inks by Quick Quotes…Orange Slice and Caribbean Blue.  After it was all assembled, I covered the entire piece with two coats of Mod Podge so that it would be easy to dust off and keep clean.

Joyce notified me that even though this was mailed by itself with NO envelope that it arrived safely to her in GA!

Katie 

July Mail Art Project

I had this grand idea of creating something patriotic for the July project. I envisioned am American Flag and perhaps even an eagle. Each month as we receive our projects, we would email the group to show them off. Well, I received an email and the beautiful project being shared was strikingly similar to the one I had planned. I didn't want to send a project that was too similar...even though just the basic idea was the same...so I thought and thought. Then, I decided to pay a little homage to my home state of Texas. Anyone who knows me knows that even though I left the great state at the of 19, and I am much older than that now ;), I still consider myself a Texan. Yes, I realize that everyone except fellow Texans think that is irrational, but that is besides the point. Anyway, on to the Mail Art...

As I did with all of the other folders, I began by covering the entire piece with Gesso by DecoArt and allowing it to completely dry.  Then I pained the front of the folder with red, white and blue acrylic paint.  I printed out the sheet music I found online and adhered it with Mod Podge.  The little Texas stamp in the lower right corner was something I purchased over 2 years ago at a stamp show in Grapevine, TX.  I was soooooo excited to have found it and still had not used it.  So after stamping the image, I colored it with my Copics then fussy cut around the image and adhered it.  Do you see the little bluebonnets?  Those are the Texas State flower.  They were created with Flower Soft and wire, a technique I learned at the stamp show when I purchased the stamps.  The wagon wheel, boots and hat were cut with my Making Memories Slice machine...that 'ole thing is still kickin' and is one of my favorite tools to use still.  Then I wrapped some twine into a lasso and looped it around the boots and added a twine bow to the Bluebonnets.  I just painted the inside top of the folder white then stamped it with the barbed wire stamp (all the folders are sealed shut on the sides to create a pocket so we only needed to finish off the top visible section).  Here's a peek at the back...

For the back, I used my DecoArt acrylic paints and simply painted the Lone Star Flag.  I used my Spellbinders Stars Nestabilities to cut the star.  I thought it would be fun to cut out our current states for the address labels.  Please excuse the black spots, I snapped this pic after I had them addressed.

I absolutely LOVE the way this folder turned out.  Even though it was extremely simple, it was one of my favorites that I made...was difficult to let go of.  Come by on Friday to see the final Mail Art project...it is NOT a folder!!!  ;)

Katie

June Mail Art ProJuneject

It was May and it was already getting HOT.  With May comes the end of the school year, summer, and with summer comes vacation! While we don't have a real beach here in OK I couldn't help but think of the beach when I was conjuring up designs for June's project.

This mail art swap really brought out my desire to try new techniques and experiment with mixed media.  This time, I started by painting my sky.  I was trying to capture the sunset over the ocean.  After getting the sky to an acceptable point, I moved onto the water.  Before I painted, I added some DecoArt dimensional paste.  After adding the blue paint, I added some white to the tops of some of the "waves" created with the paste to give a whitecap effect.  For the sand, I adhered some Canvas Corp cork paper.  I used an old Heidi Swapp stamp for the destination and the summertime and June are rubons.  The sail boat, crab, sandcastle, umbrella and sandpail were all cut with my Making Memories Slice and the shells were leftover from a Button Farm sample kit.  Here's a peek at the waves created with the dimensional paste...

You can see all the added texture and detail using the past added!  And here's a peek at the back...

I used Mod Podge to adhere all the papers then added two coats all over both the front and back to project the elements.

May's Mail Art Project

So far we have all enjoyed the Mail Art Swap and ALL pieces have arrived in tact!!

The first thing I did was coat the entire outside of the file folder withDecoArt Gesso and allowed it to dry.  I added some blue paint then some DecoArt Pink Glamour Dust.  The pink glitter paint is very sheer so it adds a touch of color and a touch of glimmer!  This time, I added patterned papers instead of painting the entire folder.  So I chose my papers then tore them and using Mod Podge, I adhered them to the folder, then trimmed off the excess.  Next, I picked bits and pieces of embellishments and fussy cut them from the paper.  After adding the banner in the upper left corner I added a Beautiful Bling Strip WhitePearl/Black Rhinestones across the top.  Using my Spellbinders Carnation Creations dies and my Grand Calibur, I die cut hot pink tissue paper and adhered multiple layers to create the flowers.  Before adding the little banner strip on the journal piece, I tucked it through the smallest circle of the Nestabling Heart Circles Hot Pink Rhinestonecircle.   My friend, Kay, taught me a fun little trick….I used bubble wrap and white paint to create the polka dots!  So fun, right?!  I finished the front of the folder off with some rub-ons for the word blossoms and May.

Here’s a peek at the back…

For the back, I decided to use all patterned paper.  After I had them all adhered and trimmed, I finished it off with a large journal block, which I will use as my address label.  A few small tissue paper flowers and theFrilly Flourish Swirl-White Pearl were added to complete the project.  Both sides received a heavy dose of Mod Podge before it was ready to go.  I learned that if you Mod Podge before you add the mailing labels and postage, that the recipient can easily remove them without damaging the project.

Even if you didn't actually mail them, altered file folders would make a beautiful addition to your office or even your scrapbooks!

Katie

April Mail Art Swap Project

 Have you heard of the new mail art trend?  Some of my friends introduced me to it this year when I visited Indiana for a stamp show. Basically, you can mail almost anything.  So, you take something different…like other than a card or envelope…alter it and mail it.  Pretty simple.  A group of us have joined together for a fun mail art swap and here is what my April recipient will find in her mail box…

 

I started with a plain old manilla file folder, covered it with someDecoArt Gesso then painted it very abstractly.  I have to admit, my CAS brain has a hard time being this free, but it is also kinda fun.  ;)  While my Gesso and paint dried (don’t paint ’til your Gesso is completely dry!) I cut out my Easter eggs and the cute little bunny.  I used my new Graphic 45 Sweet Sentiments 8×8 paper pad for the eggs, the added some Baby Bling pearls in White to the pink egg.  After assembling the bunny and positioning my grass, I added theFrilly Flourish Swirl in White, then tucked a few of the eggs behind the one layer of grass.  After adding the rubons, I used my white Wink of Stella glitter brush pen with the Arrow Stencil and added some white arrows above the bunny.  Here’s a closer view of the eggs and swirl…

Since it was going through the mail, I covered all surfaces with two layers of Mod Podge to seal it off. 

Pretty cool, huh?!  Over the next few weeks I will share all the projects I created for our fun swap!

Katie 

Spellbinders Holiday Blog Hop

I am so excited to be one of two designers representing Want2Scrap in Spellbinders Holiday Blog Hop this year!

Be sure to visit the Spellbinders Blog for the official rules and to begin the hop!  And here's the link for the Want2Scrap blog where my projects and full details can be found.  Don't forget to hop all three days for a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

 Here's a peek at my two projects...

#Selfies

Selfies. It is crazy how popular selfies have become. I have to admit, I take selfies fairly often. My daughter loves to photo bomb me when she catches me. But, as often as I take them it is rare that I share them on social media. My hubby and I will text selfies back and forth sharing a simple smile or funny face but then they just sit in my camera roll. The #Selfies Overlay from Want2Scrap was a perfect way for me to document some of my favorite selfies.

I love the blue hues of the Quick Quotes Dream Big paper collection so I trimmed my overlay slightly so that I could mount it on a full sheet of 12×12 patterned paper.  Next I trimmed the ombre paper to fit and added it under the #Selfies title.  After trimming and adhering my photos I added embellishments from the Dream Big and Sheer Joy chipboard die cuts.  I colored my Always Fancy Chipboard Word with the clear Wink of Stella glitter brush pen and added the Love You sticker from the Quick Quotes Sheer Joy die cut sticker sheet.  A sprinkle of Silver Baby Bling finished off the page.

Here are a few close-ups of the embellishments…

Do you scrapbook your selfies?  Are you inspired to try?

Katie 

Quick & Easy Masculine Card

You probably know that when it comes to card making, I prefer quick and easy!!  I am also a CAS kinda girl. This particular card was hubby's Father's Day card this year...yes, I am that far behind on blogging!!

Anyway, here's the card...

After creating the simple, white card base I added a layer of teal grid patterned paper from the FarmHouse Paper Company 302 6×6 Paper Pad.   Next, I trimmed a piece of white cardstock and embossed it using my Spellbinders Grand Calibur machine and adhered it to the teal layer then cut a coordinating piece of patterned paper and added that to the bottom.  To help distract from the seam where the papers meet, I tied a bit of cord around the layers and closed it with a knot.  Since the patterened paper has some neutral stripes, I decided to leave my chipboard Dad Fancy Chipboard raw, adhering it to the lower right corner.  To finish the card off, I sprinkled some LeCreme 100 Count Baby Pearls around the chipboard and added a string of 3 along the top left hand corner.

What I love most about this card is that not only did it take about 10 minutes to create, you could easily adapt this layout to ANY theme.  And, this is a great design to use when creating multiples!

Katie

Me-Ology and Want2Scrap!!

I don’t often scrap pics of myself but when I received the new Me-Ology line from Fancy Pants Designs, I knew I wanted to!

I started with a piece of Fancy Pants Designs white corrugated card stock for my background.  Then I took the patterned paper with all the strips and cut them all apart and rearranged them on my background, leaving just a little space between each one.  I printed two of the same pic, one 4×6 and one smaller then mounted them both on the black paper that coordinates with the line.  I was careful with the photo placement to ensure that the one quote would become the layout title.  I added one of the mini file folders(because I am a sucker for office supplies!!) to the right of the photos.  Using a combination of stickers and a pin tin and achipboard Speech Bubble, I added a sub-title for my layout.  I added a white baby clothespin to help keep the folder closed.  This is where I will journal.  I added the Dream Fancy Chipboard Word, colored with my black Wink of Stella pen, to the left of my larger photo.  I randomly chose two of the smaller paper strips and addedChevron bling border all the way across the layout.  After tucking a sticker tab to the lower right hand corner and adding the year with stickers, I finished the layout off by sprinkling a few silver Baby Blingall around.  Here’s a closer view of the embellishments…

I don’t know about you, but it was easier to scrapbook pics of myself that I guess I thought it would be!  I am definitely inspired to do it again!

Katie

Quick & Easy cards with Want2Scrap and Fancy Pants Designs

During the month of October, Want2Scrap teamed up with Fancy Pants Designs. I love Fancy Pants and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their products along with Want2Scrap.

Here's a peek at the two cards I made...

I love the added texture of the Corrugated Cardstock background!  And here's a closer view...

Card number two also has a CAS design...

I think using black as the card base really helped make the colors of the patterned paper POP!  Here's the close-up...

For full details please visit my post on the Want2Scrap blog HERE..

Katie