Distressed Ephemera for Journals

 This month Eileen Hull's team is creating journal fodder to share with you.  So what is journal fodder?  Well, the definition of fodder is dry food for livestock.  Therefore, journal fodder must be food for your journal!  Creating junk journals is so much fun and you need lots of fodder.  My approach to making a junk journal is to dig into my stash and pull out bits and pieces of past projects.  I keep bins of scraps sorted by color and I use those scraps when making junk journals.

I made a signature for a junk journal that is filled with ephemera to share with you.  Let's start with the cover.  I used old Prima leftover paper from a Cigar something collection.  The collection had a bag of ephemera which I've used throughout.  I love cardboard with the facing torn off so I've used a bit  of that on the side.

Now we need some "building" papers for our signature.  I like to use a combination of leftover design papers and coffee or tea dyed papers because I like my junk journals to look old and, well, junkie!  On the two pages below, you can see what I mean.  The left page is leftover design paper and the right paget is tea dyed mixed media paper.  Just soak some paper (you can even use copy paper) in strong dark tea or coffed for a few minutes, then place on a baking sheet and put in a 250ºF oven for 3-4 minutes.  I'll share more details and techniques on June 29 on Facebook Live with Eileen Hull.   I also distress and ink my edges to add to the vintage well used look.

For the rest of this post, I'm sharing different ideas for pockets and ephemera.  Really there is no right or wrong way to make journal fodder.  Just let your imagination run with the things you have on hand. I've listed the dies I used on each 2 page set below the photo.  In addition to dies, I used a lot of stamps from my stash,  primarily Eileen Hull stamps and Graphic 45 stamps.

ScoreBoards XL Die - Card Case by Eileen Hull (left pocket)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5PK - Library Pocket ATC Card & Tabs by Eileen Hull (right pocket)

Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mini Slimline & Tickets by Eileen Hull

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Card, Waterfall & Tags by Eileen Hull

Some of these are tags I made, others are tags I've collected, there's even one from a clothing purchase!

I have a couple of distress texture kind of stamps and I've used them liberally throughout these pages.  One stamps random splatters and the other stamps random markings.  The "Build a Door" stamps shows the effect of these two stamps.

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Card, Waterfall & Tags by Eileen Hull

Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mini Slimline & Tickets by Eileen Hull

Sizzix 3-D Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - Tablecloth by Eileen Hull (black strip on the right

Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mini Slimline & Tickets by Eileen Hull

Thinlits Die Set 6PK - Journaling Card, Envelope & Windows by Eileen Hull

Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mini Slimline & Tickets by Eileen Hull

Sizzix ScoreBoards L Die - Gift Card Folder & Label #2 by Eileen Hull

Sizzix ScoreBoards Die - Needle Book by Eileen Hull - discontinued

Sizzix Bigz Die - Recipe Card & Label by Eileen Hull - discontinued

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5PK - Library Pocket ATC Card & Tabs by Eileen Hull

Stamp - Wonderful World of Flowers - Eileen Hull - 6x8

Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mini Slimline & Tickets by Eileen Hull

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5PK - Library Pocket ATC Card & Tabs by Eileen Hull

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On the right side I made a little book of 4 x 6 journaling cards leftover from some paper collection and put them together using a tab from the Thinlits Die Set 6PK - Journaling Card, Envelope & Windows by Eileen Hull.  It's kinda funky but funky is good!

These flowers are tucked into the pocket on the left.

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves by Eileen Hull (discontinued)

I hope I've given you some ideas for making journal fodder!  Be sure to join Eileen and me on June 29 at 4 PM EST on Facebook Live with Eileen Hull where we'll be making journal fodder and dying paper!

For more ideas, take a look at this junk journal I made.  There's a flip through video with lots of ideas for making journal fodder.  Link HERE.

Thanks for joining me today!

xoxo

Maggi

Making a Layout with Die Cuts

There are lots of things you can do with your dies although it seems to me that so many dies focus on card and tag making rather than layouts.  So what else can you do with your dies?  On this layout I used the Heart Mandala die to cut out a frame for my photo of lovely flowering bushes at Kingsbrae Gardens.  Then I used the Heart Mandala die cut doily behind  my title.  I love the scalloped frame!

I simply diecut the mandala from a piece of design paper and used that as one of my layers after backing the cutout with my photo.

I used the lovely Art Options Rouge paper collection from 49 and Market to make this layout. Their paper is lucious!  Its such a nice heavy weight that it's great for mixed media applications.

Some other ideas:

• use the die-cuts as stencils, the mandala dies work great for this.
• Die-cut small tags, library cards, pockets, and use for hidden journaling
• Emboss your diecuts by diecutting, then use an embossing folder to emboss.

Thanks for joining me today!

Supplies

Sizzix Thinlits Die - Heart Mandala by Eileen Hull

49 and Market - ARToptions Rouge Collection - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Embody

Using Dies in a "Different" Way

It's Die Cut Mania this month for Eileen Hull's design team.  We're going to show you different ways to use your dies and give you tips and tricks.

Making Edgy Die Cuts

I love to give my cards a fun edge like on this easel card.

I used 49 and Market's beautiful Art Options Rouge collection to make this card.  You know red is my favorite color so this collection has my name all over it!

Here's a view from the side where you can see the easel mechanism.

Here's the card laying flat.  There's plenty of room to write a nice message inside.

Join me Tuesday, May 9 on Facebook Live with Eileen Hull and I'll show you how to cut this fun edge.  If you can't make the live, be sure to catch the replay!  You can see the Live on the Eileen Hull Designs Facebook page.

Supplies

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Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Card Caddy by Eileen Hull

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Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 5PK - Library Pocket ATC Card & Tabs by Eileen Hull

49 and Market - ARToptions Rouge Collection - 6 x 8 Collection Pack

Maker Forte Stamps by Eileen Hull Snail Mail Everyday Sentiments (sold out)

Slimline Cards with the New Mini Slimline Tickets Thinlits Set from Eileen Hull Designs by Sizzix

I'm sharing some pretty cards today that I made using Eileen Hull's new Slimline Tickets Thinlits set. 

These are simple and to make.  Simple does not mean boring.  These cards are jazzed up with a cool background layer that is a tear apart tickets that I just didn't tear them apart.

I started with a black card base topped with a red layer.  Then I die-cut tear apart tickets from cream cardstock.  Then I die-cut tickets from Graphic 45's Typography collection.  (A very old collection, but my most favorite G45 collection ever!)  I layered the diecut tickets on top of the cream cardstock, covering it for the most part.  But, I needed that layer as a template for all my torn apart tickets.  I think it makes a colorful and effective fun card for a friend.

You can see the cool effect of the tear apart tickets in this photo.

Here's another card again consisting of a dark green card base, green cardstock layer and topped with a panel of die-cut tickets from Graphic 45's Fruit & Flora collection. 

Then I added an oval die-cut with the oval die from the Journaling Card, Envelope & Window Thinlits Set. I topped the oval with a tag from the G45 collection stamped with Eileen's Happy Birthday stamp.

Supplies - Eileen Hull 

666277 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4 PK - Mini Slimline Tickets

666276 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6 PK - Journaling Card, Envelope & Window 

Maker Forte Snail Mail Stamps 

Thanks for visiting!

xoxo Maggi

Simple Cards and Envelopes with Eileen Hull's New Journaling Card, Envelope & Window Thinlits Set

 The Journaling Card, Envelope & Window Thinlits Set is so fun and makes the cutest envelopes and journaling cards.  Oh but wait!!!  You can turn that journaling card into a card and that's what I've done!

Here are the 3 cards, but, let's take a closer look.

First, here's how you how to turn the journaling card die into a card die.  Fold a piece of paper large enough for the die to cover and place the die such that the left edge is not on the paper and as such, will not cut into the paper. I always tape it down so that it doesn't move when I run it through my machine. Presto, you now have a card that opens and closes!

To make this card and envelope I first die-cut a cream envelope and decorated it with design paper and two small rectangle tags die-cut with a die from this set and topped with black rhinestones. I used my very favorite Graphic 45 collection, Typography.  Every year I suggest that this be brought back as a Collector's Edition but it hasn't happened yet.  🙁

To make the card I used black cardstock topped with a panel die-cut with Eileen's Mini Slimline Tickets.  By tearing off the two tickets at the bottom, I had a piece that perfectly fits on the card without any trimming.  I love that! I layered a design tag over that, and then topped it all with the fussy cut lady. 

Here's a simple card that I made using Graphic 45's Ephemera Queen collection.  I die-cut the envelope from cream cardstock and then added colorful design paper to make it pretty! (See this post to learn how to die-cut pieces to perfectly fit the envelope).

I adhered a G45 journaling card to my die-cut card.  Then I used one of the small rectangular dies in the set to die-cut a tag and stamped it with one of Eileen's Happy Birthday sentiment stamps and adhered near the bottom. You can't see it so much in the photo but I fussy cut the two birds and popped them up to add some dimension to the card.

Now let's get fancy and make an easel card!  

First, let's take a look at the envelope.  I die-cut the envelope from design paper and then added a couple of layers on top. I know, I'm excessive that way!  I used the Journaling Card die to cut the top piece and then I cut a window in it with one of the small rectangle tag dies.  I placed the "believe" word underneath to show through the window.  I love fancy envelopes.

Now for the card:  Cut a card in the same manner shown above.  Fold the top piece in half as shown below.

Then use the same die to cut a journaling card.  Adhere the top of the journaling card to the flap created by the fold.  Be careful to only glue it to the top half of the fold. It should look like this after gluing the two pieces together.

Now embellish the card.  I used Graphic 45's Imagine collection for this card.  This view shows the card flat.

Inside the card I created a "stop" so the easel would stand up.  I die-cut a long ticket with the Mini Slimline Tickets die and topped that with a piece of chipboard.

Here's a view showing the easel mechanism.

I think these cards are so cute at 3" x 4". Perfect size to tuck in with a gift!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Next week I'll be showing mini slimline cards, I hope you can join me.

Supplies - Eileen Hull

666276 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6 PK - Journaling Card, Envelope & Window 

666277 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4 PK - Mini Slimline Tickets

Maker Forte Snail Mail Stamps 

Envelope Mini Album Tutorial Using the New Card Case & Journaling Card, Envelope & Window from Eileen Hull Designs.

 This is a long post so get comfortable!  I made this mini using the Card Case die and the Journaling Card, Envelope & Window Thinlits Set.

Tutorial

Step 1:

We'll begin by making the cover.  Cut two covers without the side flap.  In this photo I have cut the side flap off as I won't be using that.  You can save chipboard and paper by cutting your chipboard such that it is just long enough to just cover the part we're using.

Cut two covers.  Tip:  I like to cover my chipboard before die-cutting.  It makes a cleaner look.

Step 2:

Make a bookbinding hinge spine using Eileen's Thinlet Bookbinding & Label die.  Fold and adhere the "mountains" together.

Place adhesive on the back of the bookbinding hinge.

Turn over and put adhesive on the "mountains."  (Note, I use Scortape for my assemblies, if you prefer to use liquid adhesive, wait until we're ready to attach the pages to the binding.)

Step 3:

Now set the cover and bookbinding hinge aside and let's make pages.  Use the envelope die to die-cut 5 envelopes.  Fold the tabs on the side inward and fold the bottom of the envelope up.  Adhere the tabs to the envelope back so that it looks like this.

Step 4:

Line the bottom of the envelope up on the 3 1/4" mark on your paper trimmer and cut all 5 envelope flaps off. 

Fold on the score line.  You should have 2 pieces as pictured below.

Step 5:

Turn the envelope over and adhere the flap to the top of the envelope. In the photo below, you can see both side of the envelope after assembly. The left side shows the envelope with the flap attached and the  right side shows the other side with no flap.

Step 6:

I made two different style pages. On this page, I cut a piece of paper 2 3/4" and glued it to the envelope flap creating a fold out page. With the flap folded out, adhere the bottom of the envelope to the backside of the hinge as shown in the photo.

Cut a piece of design paper 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" and adhere over the back of the envelope covering the hinge. Here you can see the finished page bound into the mini.

Step 7:

To make the other style page, use a piece of design paper at least 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".  Position the flap part of the die over the paper as shown below. (I've lined the flap up with the score line which I marked on the die with a pencil.)

Now you have a perfectly cut flap.  Trim the sides of the other piece and it fits perfectly over the open envelope side.

Envelope Side

Step 8:

Adhere the envelope side under the envelope hinge as we did above in Step 6. Now cut a piece of paper 2" x 4 1/2" and adhere to the flap side covering the hinge.  Then place adhesive at the top and bottom of the flap, press down creating a pocket.

Pocket

Flip side of page showing the envelope pocket.

Step 9:

Use the five envelopes to make five pages; attaching each one to the bookbinding hinge as completed.  You can embellish them either before or after attaching to the cover.

Step 10:

Note that on the cover one end is wider than the other end.  The wider piece has 2 score lines on it. Put red liner tape on the narrow end of the back cover. Adhere to the wide end of the front cover. See below. This forms the spine of the book. Remove the adhesive from the back of the bookbinding hinge (with the pages attached) and adhere inside the spine of the book, taking care to line up the top and bottom with the spine.

It should look something like this.

Step 11:

I used a velcro closure.  Lay the narrow side over the wider side and press velcro in place.

That's it!  If you have any questions, please put them in the comments and I'll try to help.

Thanks so much for visiting me today!

Supplies - Eileen Hull 

66278 Sizzix Scoreboards XL Die - Card Case

666276 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6 PK - Journaling Card, Envelope & Window 

666277 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4 PK - Mini Slimline Tickets

665153 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 2 PK- Bookbinding & Label  

Sizzix Sizzix Making Essential - Mat Board, 6" x 13", White, 6

Other Supplies

Graphic 45 Mon Amour Collection

Thanks for visiting me today! I hope this tutorial is useful for you.

xoxo Maggi