StarLitStudio

brad maker - imaginisce i-top

This gadget is hands-down one of my favorite tools to date.  Create custom covered brads - just like covered buttons only these have brad shanks.  Dang I love brads to begin with, but by golly this tool makes me want to marry it.

I pulled sentimental fabric from my stashes:  I've saved swatches from my favorite clothing - jeans, skirts, shirts, and so forth, from over the years.  I took some of the fabric swatches and created covered brads from them!  Using wool felt I recently purchased I created some gorgeous felt brads as well.

The tool even comes with an instructional DVD, which I watched - I recommend watching the DVD for speedy learning , unless you saw someone else use this product and are familiar with how it works/what it can do (I didn't - the DVD helped).

Storage tip:  save those empty foam Basic Grey glazed brad containers to store your covered brads in - easy to see & store.

When using lightweight fabric, you don't need to notch the fabric edges.  I figured out which Nestabilities circles work with which size brad, and marked them with a Sharpie so I can quickly use them with fabric. (lightweight:  I didn't notch the thin cotton, but did have to notch the wool felt.)

If you're wondering what I am storing the Nestabilites dies in when viewing the above photo, I get these magnetic storage folders at Ellen's here, and Ellen did a write up on this storage concept here.

how to speed dry

Desperate times call for desperate measures.   Needing to speed dry my crack...Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint that is... I came up with this contraption. 

I keep one of those dollar-store, battery-operated mini fans at my workstation to cool UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) quickly, and I paired it with a jumbo clothespin that I plan to alter in the near future. 

This speed drying method dried the Rock Candy Crackle in about 4 minutes.  Normal air drying time for product (at this time of the year) is around 15 minutes.

A Glue Dot is temporarily holding the bird diecut in place, preventing it from literally flying away.

my little s-hook

This will be my last non-stamping post for a while - but I wanted to share this:

I, like most of you, have been disciplining myself to carry my cloth sacks to the grocery store... and Target, and Home Depot...

However, the cloth sacks take up a TON of space in the shopping cart - especially for those big shopping trips to the market. 

So I carry a little wrought-iron S-hook in my purse.  It's about three or four inches in length.  I simply attach the S-hook to the front of the shopping cart and hang my bags off of it.

I have used one of these wrought iron hooks for about eight years now - I originally used it for my purse:  I needed something to hold my purse near me when the kids were toddlers and sitting in that front basket of the shopping cart. 

I purchased my last S-hooks from fmartin on etsy.com. 

linen closet organization

AFTER SHOT.  Today's post is non-stamping related and deals with organization.   I'm an organizational freak, and thankfully married to one too. 

I recently re-organized my linen closet in my bathroom, and wanted to share what I did to make life easier.

The closet is an unusual shape.  There are two of them - one flanks each side of the vanity in the master bathroom.  So funky are the closet shapes that the two national closet companies that came out to quote another project kindly declined to tackle them.

BEFORE.  So I was left with four shelves.  And a mess.  This is the before shot.  Imagine knocking over one bottle of lotion - it was a domino effect!!  aaaagh!!  My towels needed to be higher to be avoid getting bumped.  Neatly stacked towels are a must in this house - I'll openly admit I have OCD  with certain things.

The clear storage bins with blue lids on the top shelf worked for a while, but most of those items didn't fit into one clear bin - I needed baskets - one per function.  I found these purtty celery ones at Pottery Barn Kids a few months ago.  I can't find this color online now so you want this color you might try calling stores in your area.

I moved the dirty laundry at the bottom into a huge wicker hamper in our master bedroom closet - which is off of the bathroom versus bedroom - my preference for speed when getting ready.

Then I created soldered labels using 7gypsies paper (Saratoga) as the background.  I printed the trimmed 12x12 patterned paper down to 8.5x11 sheets and ran through my printer, incorporating a vintage font called Grunge Caltek.  May Arts ribbon ties the soldered glass labels to each basket.

The baskets' soldered labels consist of: 

• cotton (cotton balls, cotton swabs and backup packages)
• extras (all those backups of shampoo, razors, deodorant)
• face
• hair
• nails
• tools (hair dryer, diffuser, etc)
• travel
• washcloths (there are so many and don't stack well, so they are assigned a basket)

Most of the baskets have a custom cut piece of 1/2" plywood in the base so bottled items stand upright easily.

Underpinnings are stored in clear drawers from Hold Everything (now West Elm - but they only carry the smaller size - check ebay or other storage sites for the larger size). 

Because I get fully dressed in the bathroom to save time, I have my handmade, everyday jewelry in this linen closet too.  Storage consists of lined jewerly trays and and bracelet trays from firemountaingems.com.

I wear decorative, funky rings on the middle finger of my right hand.  The ring display is also from firemountaingems.com.  The earrings I wear frequently are displayed and easily plucked on a Southern Living at Home urn I bought at a neighbor's home party a few years ago.  I never used it in the kitchen so why not as storage in the bath!  hee...

The decorative pins and pendants are hooked directly into, or mounted with pins that are stuck into a Michaels' frame - I removed the glass and inserted a cloth covered corkboard.  A layer of cotton batting lays between the fabric and corkboard for extra plushness.

(Decorative barettes are from Joan Miller, bead artist extraordinaire.)

The last storage solution idea I had was to use 7gypsies knobs as hangers for my many pendant necklaces.  The knobs were mounted onto small pieces of painted plywood (thanks to my wonderful handyman Bob the Builder who built my ribbon armoire and the plywood basket inserts) then mounted onto the interior door frame molding. 

I'm off to organize my husband's side next!!

edited to add:  soldering supplies available at Ellen Hutson; color of bathroom walls is Behr Fossil Butte (#350F-6)

organization ideas

Today's post highlights a few organizational ideas.

I have learned I am not a digger.  While watching Tim Holtz at CHA, I was amazed to see him digging through a treasure-trove of his embellishments in a vintage mini-trunk.  I came home and tried this, thinking it would make me more creative - spawning ideas as I rummaged through the metal goodies. 

So I dumped all my Tim Treasures into a large, special glass bowl that was my grandmas, but kept some of the smaller components (snaps, brads, etc.) together in glass-lidded watchmaker tins.

This method made me frustrated, and I learned I am not a digger. 

So I sorted all my Tim Treasures into hinged compartments that open individually. 

For Tim's long keys I used my Dremel and removed the divider between two adjoining compartments (lower center of photo). 

**edited to add:  These are the 3XL Locking Caddies from Apothecary.  We can order these from www.papercraftsource.com and extend free domestic shipping for anything from this site.  This is a direct link.

Now for ribbon - this was how I used to store ribbon snippets - neatly wrapped around a wooden clothes pin...secured with a tiny pin, in a glass candy jar. 

But I am not a digger.

I need to see what I have - right away.  I don't want to waste valuable crafting time digging.

...and I found something that truly works:  It is called the Ribbon Ring, and my ribbon now looks like this:

I can see in a mere flash what I have, the color, width, and quantity.

Weaving the ribbon through the ribbon rings is simple and speedy.

I still use the clothespins and glass cookie jar though - to hold additional yardage.  The Ribbon Ring kit comes with 'inventory dots' - I use these dots to mark on the plastic ribbon holder if I have more of that ribbon in the candy jar.  If you are looking to use your ribbon - use a Ribbon Ring!

And lastly, buttons.

I find old Ball jars at auctions here in NJ.  I like to get the old ones that have typos!  Quirky I know, but it makes them more interesting to me.  I pulled a few of my favorites, and sorted the buttons by color. 

The jars are arranged on a table in my studio, and are easy to see, plus they add a bit of color and interest to the room.

Hope today's post spawns storage ideas for your supplies!

decorated binder clips

While in Staples Office Supply store the other day, I spied some pretty fancy binder clips - with a fancy price tag to match - $5.99 for six! - YES, SIX!  I put them back... of course...  Good GRIEF!!

Jessica Jones covered some of hers in fabric - gorgeous texture!

I decided to try it with paper - with success!  Using a decorative flocked paper and good adhesive (I used an ATC gun - I'd also recommend Kokuyo Permanent Tape 'n' Roller PLUS.  You want a good, strong adhesive.

Packaged them up in a clear cello bag and a simple topper - instant gift!  This package would have been prettier with some of the smaller binder clips mixed in  - in a coordinating paper - oh the ideas are flowing... I'm off to hunt for some small naked binder clips around here!

binder clips - Staples; We R Memory Keepers flocked paper - StarLitStudio

ribbon storage

This piece of furniture is 84" x 36" x 7" and is housed in my studio. 

I am fortunate to have a wonderful neighbor and handyman named Bob Deichler.  Or Bob the Builder, as my kids call him .  Bob does not have a website at the moment, but his email is r.deichler@comcast.net.  Cost would be about the same as two pairs of Manolo Blahniks.

I asked Bob to build me something that would hold a few spools of ribbon, and gave him my biggest empty plastic spool to use as a guide.  Bob knows a little about my fetish with ribbon, so he came up with this fabulous piece.  It does not hold everything - more like 30-40%.

It's chained at the top to a stud in the wall for safety.... so a wee one does not mistake it for a ladder.

Bob has invested some major time with projects around here, but this one by far is my favorite.

new embellishments

Ellen has new embellishments that coordinate with the Memory Box cardstock line!!!   

Now, if you are asking me, "You use Memory Box papers all the time - why?" 

Well, I'd tell you that I love that their cardstock is a color on one side and white on the other.  I make lots of cards, and having that white interior is awesome!

Second, Memory Box cardstock is acid free and archival. 

Third, the colors are printed with soy-based inks.  They love the earth as much as I do... :)

And lastly, the mill that makes their paper uses pulp from certified sustainable forests. 

Forgot one:  Their product packaging is biodegradable.  And...they are an Angel Company!

Their patterned paper makes my soul MELT!  And the new paper releases look fabulous - Provence and Grove - view them on Dave's blog here!  Plus, if you go to Ellen's store, she lists what Memory Box solid cardstocks go with each pack of 6x6 patterned papers.  This removes guesswork and saves me time!  Love that.

Back to the embellishments - and my storage for these:  You can find these new, short & squatty & adorable Ball jars at Target, Walmart, and I even saw them in my local grocery store, ShopRite.  I used a labelmaker because no matter how many self-help books I read on 'how to love your handwriting' I still would rather look at machine type than my own print.. :D

I used one jar each for Ellen's selection of Neutrals, Spring and Summer Buttons and Mulberry Flowers.

For the project, I made another notebook (instructions for this notebook design is here under teacher notebooks).  Using a strip of leftover cardstock (retired Crate paper), I adhered a random selection of Summer colored Buttons and Flowers.  I then adhered the decorated strip to the notebook front.  I did not adhere each flower and button individually - instead - here's a timesaver tip:  I ran a thick strip of adhesive down the skinny cardstock strip, then pressed the buttons and flowers into place....until all the adhesive was covered!  I did use a few glue dots for the last few buttons, just to be sure they stuck.  :)

And the white spool of thread that you see in the upper left of the photo up on the left - that is waxed linen.  I only have to tie waxed linen once and the knot stays put, and seeing how it is hidden under the buttons why tie a double knot?  I have NO time for double knots!  ha ha!  :D

Thank you for stopping by - I have more teacher/gift ideas to inspire you!! :)

sources:  Hero Arts embellishments - buttons and flowers - Ellen Hutson, LLC.  waxed linen - StarLItStudio.

the notebookie

Sally Jean Alexander has a creative notebook with her at all times, and she calls it her 'book-book'.

I call my card idea book my 'notebookie'. My friend Michelle Wooderson, whom I call 'Mishie', encourages card crafters to keep a journal of sketches, and I followed her advice.

Having a notebook with card layouts saves time: find a layout, then pick a color scheme. Try letting the patterned paper of your choosing do the work - let the colors within the patterned paper dictate your color scheme!

My Mishie Notebookie is from Michaels Craft Store, and I decorated the front (it's the front to me - lol). Chipboard letters from Ellen's store were painted with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint Crackle Paint. Bo Bunny and 7gypsies papers (yeah it's that Catania paper...again...lol) were used with some 7gypsies brads. The round typewriter style alphabet is from Creative Imaginations and the other caps one is Hero Arts - Legacy.

Now if you are wondering why this photo looks like the back of the journal - it is really the front to me. I am left-handed and always had a love-hate relationship with spiral notebooks. Using them backwards makes it easier for me to write in them, as most of the time I use just the left side, spiral on the right.

But, my notebookie is full on the left side so I am going back and using the other, 'right' side too to save paper. :) I use the term 'right' very loosely here...lol...

I record not only a quick sketch of the card layout, detailing what I determine to be aspects I want to recall, but also from where I found the layout. Sometimes I get ideas from the Pottery Barn catalog (great for color trends), but most ideas come from other paper crafters...and yes, Val, many, many layouts in the notebookie have your name on them - I promise to stop stalking you...someday... ;D

Lastly, I usually sketch the layout lightly in pencil, then go over neatly in a black felt pen, allow to dry and erase the pencil lines...yes my mother potty-trained me too early and I'm anal, but the end result looks nicer/neater than if I tried to do it with pen first. :D

My other journal is an Inchie Notebookie. Would you want to see inside that one? If so I'll detail it in another post along with a few Inchie ideas!! :)

Thank you for stopping by! Clear cards coming up next time! :)

inchie notebook

What better way to keep track of inchies than a notebook! Ellen Hutson is releasing an ABC of Inchies on her blog, and for B I wanted to show you this binder decorated - Ellen is up to B today, and today, B is for Binder! :)

The photo you are looking at here is a close up of the cute inchie on the binder spine.

This binder is available from Ellen's store in her new Inchies section, along with other items to make creating Inchies easy and fun! Ellen also has in matboard, cut into 1" squares, in two colors - white and black. The matboard cut for these inchie segments uses a high-end product (Alpharag Artcare 100% cotton museum quality archival 4 ply is what is used) - all cut to 1" squares for you! These matboard squares make it very easy to create your inchies - a quality base to start layering or directly stamp onto.

Inside the notebook is a sheet of plastic holders....you guessed it! ...all sized perfectly for Inchies!! (Karen Lockhart's Inchie collection in binder.)

For more info on Inchies you can click on Ellen's blog link (there's a nice Q & A format), or go here to Inchie Arts.

For the binder - it is sturdy corrugated cardboard, and the neat aspect of this notebook is the three-ring part inside can be removed - you can alter this notebook 100 percent!

I chose a few new papers from 7gypsies Nottinghill collection, along with a 7g knob and elastic. Adhered papers with a thin layer of ModPodge. Here's how I did the knob:

1. Decorate the cover of your binder. Then punch 1/8" or thereabouts hole with an anywhere hole punch in the desired location. I used a Big Bite here from HSN. (YouTube video on the Big Bite here). warning - the video made me buy it. :)

2. Mount the knob to the binder - it just screws into place nice & easy. Hold the elastic around the knob and see where the ends hit the back of the binder. Mark back of binder with a pencil and punch same hole size in back binder cover.

3. Slip elastic through hole - binder back cover will look like this from the inside.

4. Binder back cover will look like this from the outside. Neato!

Now for the spine, I took a liking to the black matboard 1" squares and stamped 'inchies' with alphabet stamps (Missing Link) in white pigment ink. At the top of the title, I adhered an actual inchie - one of my favorites I've made and the only one too...because I used a page from a well-loved dictionary from my Dad's school days...scans just don't look or feel the same as real dictionary pages...lol...

For the inchie inchworm on the binder spine (please see photo at top of this post), I adhered an actual piece of an old dictionary page, sponged edges with Distress ink in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen, and stamped the inchworm with black ink (Palette Noir). Colored in with Copic markers and signed. Please sign your inchies - it adds to the collectability when you trade!!

So have you made an inchie yet? Or two? Can I lookie see? :) :) :) They are fun, fun, fun, and....addictive!!!

Thank you for stopping by!!