Tuesday, September 23, 2014

A Work-In-Progress - a young musician's journal.

Working on this. It's a journal for a young musician. I'm rather pleased the way the cover turned out. I know I would enjoy this. It's a custom work for a friend.

A simple design, so that more can be added to by the recipient. Making some interior pages for it. Fun to do, made with love.
~Jillian

Thursday, September 18, 2014

For me this is THE BEST EVER CRAFT STORAGE system!

I invested in plastic drawer storage systems and filing boxes and cabinets, but being on Pinterest set my mind turning. As my filing systems were not filling any of my needs for arts and crafts.

I saw the hanging systems with ziplock bags and thought that this would work. But didn't want to be drilling holes or buying any new 'furniture' - if such furniture existed that would 'house' a hanging system. I worked out that I could stack crates, as many as I liked, or just put one crate on one worktop, dresser, or desk. Hence it would make my storage 'portable' - which it certainly wasn't with all the plastic drawers.

I bought a wooden crate from Michaels with a coupon. Then bought a curtain tension spring rod from Target. Once I fitted the rod in, I knew I was in business! It wasn't until I started filling my zip-top plastic bags with embellishments and papers, I thought of other ways to maximize this 'filing' system.

The hanging system I wasn't to sure of at first, but what I chose was perfect and inexpensive. 2 mini clips with a wire loop made from a heavy-duty Christmas ornament hanger. I clip the 2nd side on the bag when I hang them, and unclip one side to take it down. Because it's a loop, rather than a hook.

Nothing can fall off unexpectedly. I have a label, showing what is inside, but it's so easy to see what is there anyway. What will be great is being able to see when supplies are running out! You can color code the bag edges, or put a mini clip (color coded) to identify priority or project elements. If you are using things for a project. Say 8 bags - just clip them together - keeps everything close at hand and easy to find, and won't tip or spill out!

I found with drawer and boxed containers, sometimes things would tip or spill. In fact, that was a common happening. I also would think I was out of something, only to find it later. This system offers so much visibility! If you're going to a workshop or class, you can easily clip your bags of goodies together for convenient transporting. I might put dividers on the hanging rods, too, so I can keep sections together - e.g. brads, buttons, stickers. It may not work for you, but for me it is perfect.

Already I have gained SO much space, discovered so many 'lost' supplies, and been able to work easier and more effectively. The video of this is on YouTube: http://youtu.be/wN47Req3qtQ




Sunday, September 14, 2014

NEW - Naked ATC / ACEO French typography advertising ephemera backgrounds - digital download. Dreamy Papers.

Today's new digital download sheet in my Dreamy Papers Etsy store ...

Naked ACEO ATC French backgrounds digital collage sheets instant download art - great for jewelry display cards by DreamyPapers on Etsy. http://etsy.me/1oM5nwG by DreamyPapers, $3.50 Naked because they have nothing added - just scanned typography - mostly from Paris businesses. Vintage advertising art. Cards, tags, collage and altered art, or for art journals. Great ephemera. Probably from the 1800s.

Friday, September 12, 2014

A brand new instant download product from me! Domino jewelry 1x2" images.


I was inspired to make these. It's a new size for me. Collages in 1x2" rectangles (31 individual images) - to suit necklace pendants and all manner of projects - use in art journals, scrapbooking, ATCs, ACEOs, collages, glass slide jewelry, domino creations, altered arts and more.

Provided as an instant digital download from my 'DreamyPapers' shop on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/203222438/1x2-inch-domino-digital-collage-sheets?


The theme is vintage flowers overlaid on a base of old handwritten paper from the late 1800s, with scrolls printed on this background and a vignette edging. Perfect inspiration for so many creative happenings.

It takes a long time to choose and make these pages, but end up loving the results myself, so I'm happy to give you the opportunity to use them in your projects and dreams.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Inspiration for journal page, scrapbooking, greeting card - how-to. antique photo & pages.

I was wanting to use one of my antique German pages from the packs I'm offering on Etsy (http://tinyurl.com/k7rqu6m), to make a journal page, or one that might be used for a greeting card or scrapbooking.

Supplies:
Cardstock or journal/scrapbooking page (light brown)
Antique book page
Vintage photo image - sepia
Vintage floral image
Vintage German handwritten text image
Transparency film (available at office supply stores - or computer)
Computer printer

Print vintage German handwritten text using your computer printer onto cardstock page. Tear a ragged edge to the antique book page, leaving a corner intact. Glue this in desired position on the cardstock page. Print the vintage photo image onto glossy photo paper. Cut off excess border so just photo remains. Glue this on top of the antique book page shape. Print the floral image onto the transparency film. Use small curved scissors to cut around the shape - no sharp edges. I didn't cut up close to the image - I left about 1/8" clear area away from the printed image. I then adhered this where desired on the page.
I can see so much potential for this. I love that the image was toned down by the brown paper, and adds to the 'aged' look.
Enjoy!
~Jillian




How-to - old paper ACEO / ATC.

Supplies:
Cardstock (light brown)
Antique paper
round corner punch
Antique advertisement / scrap images
Glue / xyron machine

Cut cardstock and antique paper to identical ACEO / ATC size (3.5 x 2.5"). Glue cardstock and carefully align and adhere the antique paper to the glued side. (Or glue by running cardstock through xyron machine.)
Also glue and paste cut out vintage image and lettered stamp on top of the antique paper surface. Smooth down. Allow to dry.
Antique papers, and unique papers are available in my DreamyPapers shop on Etsy.

Antique German book page - used to make a simple tag.

Supplies:
Antique paper
Cardstock paper - acid free (light brown)
Tag punch, round punch (1/2") and a single hole punch (small).
Bakers twine (black)
Washi tape (black lace design)
Glue - or xyron machine

Use tag punch to punch identical shapes from antique paper and cardstock paper. Punch a round shape from the cardstock paper.
Glue the cardstock tag and small circle shape, or run it through your xyron machine to glue. (As your antique paper may be fragile, it's better to glue the cardstock.)
Carefully adhere the antique paper tag shape onto the glued cardstock. Smooth it down. Add the cardstock circle to the top of the tag, as shown in the photo. Punch a hole through the middle of this circle with your single, small hole punch.
Use twine or ribbon to finish off the tag. Cut a length, knotting the 2 ends together. Feed the bottom of the loop through the hole and pull the twine length back, through the bottom of the loop (see photo).
Cut washi tape the width of the tag, and adhere to the bottom are on the tag.



Antique German book pages - ephemera pack/bundles - now available.

I've put up some antique paper bundles on Etsy - great for art/craft projects. These are in old German font. From booklets printed late 1800s, early 1900s in the USA. Some have advertising which is interesting and unique. Great inspiration.


Ideas for using antique ephemera book pages for paper arts/crafts - ACEO, greeting cards, tags, art journals, scrapbooks and more. http://tinyurl.com/k7rqu6m  Dreamy Papers. Paper available on Etsy.