Handmade Floral Pocket Notebook

Hi, Crafty Friends!! It's that time again ... 

It's time for another I Am Roses Blog Challenge!!

Today, I'll show you how I made this Handmade Pocket Notebook that I've decorated with beautiful I Am Roses Flowers.

Let's get started!

I Am Roses Products Used

Yellow Carnations

White Small Curly Flowers

Achillea Cottage Flowers

Yellow Puffy Rose

Stamen 

Other Products Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Pocket Notebook Die (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Leaves, Spring (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles (Sizzix)

Mat Board (Sizzix)

Garden Harvest Collection Pack (Jillibean Soup)

Polkadot Paper - Blue, Yellow

Gingham Paper -Light Blue 

Creative Station (Xyron)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

150 Sticker Maker (Xyron)
Square Punch (Epiphany Crafts)
Square Rhinestone Charm (Epiphany Crafts)
Paper Trimmer
Elastic Cording
Rhinestone Slide
Tassel
Acrylic Beads
2" Fine Chain
Claw Closure
Jewelry Pliers
2 mm Elastic Cording
4" x 6" Notebooks

Liquid Glue

Clothes Pins (Optional)

I started by running sheets of blue and yellow polkadotted paper through my Xyron Creative Station. Then I cut both sheets in half, making 2- 5 1/2" × 8 1/2" pieces. 

I peeled the protective film off the back and attached them onto a 2 separate pieces of Sizzix Mat Board. I covered both sides of each with one side blue and one side yellow. 

The paper comes a little short so make sure the both come up short on the same end.

Then I ran my mat board through my Big Shot using Eileen Hull's Pocket Notebook Die. I made sure the color I wanted on the outside was the color that was faced down onto the die.

This cut out 2 pieces to my pocket notebook. 

I applied a strong clear drying liquid glue to the very last segment of the spine ( the one with the hole in the center) and attached the two spines together, making sure the holes were perfectly aligned. Then I used clothes pins to hold them in place till the glue set.

I cut  a piece of light blue gingham paper to 3 3/4" × 6 1/2". I also cut this pretty floral paper, from Jillibean Soup's Garden Harvest Collection, down measure 3 1/2" × 6 1/4". Then layered and  attached the two pieces together and mounted it onto my notebook cover using my Xyron Mega Runner.

I took a 14" piece of  blue head band elastic and threaded it through the center hole of the books spine.

If you have any charms or buckles add them now before you thread the other end of your elastic through.

If your hole is not big enough to fit your elastic, take a pokey tool or ball stylus tool and wiggle it around in a circular motion to widen it.

Once both ends are through,  make sure the lay flat when wrapped around the journal and make adjustments as necessary. Then tie a simple tight knot on then side of the book to close it off.

I didn't  want my elastic to rip off any flowers I was going to add to my book so I made a makeshift guardrail using this stitched strip die from the Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles set.

I attached it onto my cover and laid it over the elastic using a strong liquid glue.

Then I die cut several leaves from assorted scrapd of green papers using Eileen Hull's  Leaves, Spring die and curled and shaped them with a stylus tool.

I attached the leaves onto the book cover. Then attached a spread of Stamen. I like to fold them in half. Because these stamens are double ended, it makes it look like I'm using twice the amount I actually am.

Then I added a single Yellow Puffy Rose to the middle of my arrangement.  And added Achillea Cottage Flowers in bunches of twos.

Next, I added Yellow Carnations & White Small Curly Flowers to plug into the huge gaps. 

Then added even more stamens to fill any remaining gaps between flowers.

This turned out even prettier than I imagined!!

But every pretty notebook and needs pretty notebook charms!!

So I made a matching charm by punching out leftover paper a tiny square punch and attached it to my charm using my Xyron "X" Sticker Maker. Then finished it off with a clear square epoxy sticker.

I mounted my charm onto chain link and attached round acrylic beads, a tassel, and a claw latch closure. Then attached it to the spine of my journal.

For the inside of my notebook, I strung 2mm elastic cording through the spine holes and tied each off. Nothing fancy. And just inserted pre-made notebooks.

And here is my finished Handmade Floral Pocket Notebook...

I hope you enjoyed my project for today and that it inspired you to join in on the fun!!

To learn more about the I Am Roses Blog Challenge, link a project, or to see more inspiration from my amazing design team sisters, head on over to the Challenge Blog HERE!!

Thank you so much for taking some time out of your day to stop by!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana 

Creepy Skull Trio- Easy Mixed Media with Xyron

Hey, Crafty Guys & Ghouls...

I'm baaaaaack!! And this time with some spooky mixed media! I created this Creepy Skull Trio Journal for Team Xyron... It will be a cringe-worthy piece to add to anyone's Halloween collection.

Let me show you how I simplify my mixed media creations with the help of my Xyron Creative Station!

Supplies Used

Creative Station (Xyron)

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Pocket Notebook Die (Sizzix)

Black Chipboard (Graffix)

Black Gesso (Golen)

Gilding Wax (Pebeo)

Black Netting

Cheesecloth

Plastic Bugs

Plastic Skulls

2mm Elastic Cording (Darice)

Strong Liquid Glue 

Tweezers

Non-Stick Scissors

Paintbrush (Prima Marketing)

4" x 6" Notebooks

Clothes Pins (Optional)

I love making little books and journals. They are great as gifts but also make wonderful home decor.

I love to display my finished pieces on my living room mantle and they are always an eyecatcher.

For this book, I used Eileen Hull's new Pocket Notebook Die to create the base and cut 2 panels from black chipboard using my Sizzix Big Shot.

I use strong liquid glue on the spine to attach the two panels together. I secure them in place with clothespins till the glue sets.

While the glue is setting, I cut 2 8"x 8" pieces of black netting. I ran each piece of netting through my Xyron Creative Station. I make sure to burnish each piece with my bone folder for maximum adhesion to the netting. 

Then, I peel them off the protective film an attach the netting to the outside my book cover.

For me, using my Creative Station and adding adhesive this way. cuts down my creative process time by at least half. A lot of wet adhesive mediums take hours and sometimes days to fully dry. By adhering my materials this way, I save myself a lot of unproductivity and unnecessary waiting.

Next, I used non-stick scissors to trim off any excess or hangovers.

I found these little plastic skulls at the dollar store... loved their dimension but their heads stuck too far out. So, I cut the back half of their skulls off. These skulls were hollow so they were very easy to cut just using scissors.

Then, I added glue along the rim an attached the skulls onto the front of my journal cover.

To hide any glue, I shrouded the skulls with little wrapped hoods.

I created each hood by running layers of cheesecloth through my Xyron Creative Station and cutting them into strips and draped the cloth over and around each head.

After I've hooded the skulls, I attache plastic insect toy figures to the front and back cover.

Then coated everything with black gesso. 

Gesso dries fairly quickly. And once my gesso was dried, I used my finger to rub gold gilding wax over the raised areas. 

I wanted to have texture on the inside of my journal cover, so I ran more cheesecloth through my Creative Station and adhered it to the inside flaps. Then covered the entire inside with more black gesso.

I threaded 2mm black elastic coring through the pre-cut holes in the journal using needle-nose tweezers. 

Then inserted premade 4"x6" notebooks under each elastic band. These books were a good-sized thickness, so I used only 3 books to fill my journal cover. 

And here is my finished book...

I absolutely love how simply painting my project completely black then rubbing a metallic wax over the raised areas can look so awesome!!

Check out all the amazing dimension...

Front Cover

Look at all that texture and detail just pop!!  Look at the texture on the fly wings and those teeth on those skulls... WOW!!

Back Cover

The Entire Outer Cover

I hope this project doesn't give you too many heebee-jeebees!!

I think it is totally wicked!!

I hope it inspires you to try this mixed media hack and create something spooktacular of your own!!

Happy Haunting!
~Mitsyana

Land That I Love Journal

Hey, Crafty Friends!!

I'm here with Team Xyron and this week we have partnered with the wonderful, American Crafts, to bring you fabulous projects. And today, I'll be sharing with you this fun RED, WHITE, &  BLUE Journal made with the newest line of papers from Pebbles Inc. Called Land That I Love. It has an awesome patriotic theme that is flexible enough to use on everyday projects.

I used these papers to make this Land That I Love Journal.  And though I love being American, I find some of these papers gave me a more tropical vibe which was reminiscent of back home in Hawaii.

Supplies Used

Land That I Love- Patriotic Blossoms, Sparkler, Oh My Stars, Patriotic Blooms,

Boom Sparkle Pop, Ephemera Die Cuts- Shapes (Pebbles /American Crafts)
Creative Station (Xyron)
9" Permanent Adhesive Refill (Xyron)
5" Permanent Adhesive Refill (Xyron)
Eileen Hull Journal Die (Sizzix)
Eileen Hull Stitchy Flowers & Leaf (Sizzix)
Eileen Hull Spring Leaves (Sizzix)

May Board (Sizxix)
Eileen Hull Blends- Hydrangea (Clearsnap)
Opalescent Clear Embossing Powder (Clearsnap)
Chipboard Frame (Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts)
Stamens (Wilton)
Chipboard
Fabri Tac (Beacon)
Rhinestone Sticker
Stylus
Paper Trimmer
Extra Long Stapler

I started by cutting my paper into 6"x 9.25" wide strips. I chose the pattern paper for the cover and a solid color paper for the inside. I need two of each to cover both the outside and inside of my journal covers. I really love this floral pattern from the  Patriotic Blossoms paper. The hints of red really popped so I wanted to go with a plain red on the inside.

Then I ran my paper through my Xyron creative station. I peeled back that adhesive film and applied my paper to the front and back of my mat board.

What's my papers were attached to the mat board, I'd I cut them using Eileen Hull Journal die.

I applied glue to the spines of the covers and align the holes, using a mini clothespin to keep in place until the glue set.

I die cut flowers from the polka dot side of the Patriotic Blooms paper to cut several flowers.

I made short snips toward the center of the flowers to create petals. Then used my stylus to add creased details and to shape the flower.

I cut stamen from white cardstock. I layered and glued each together then raised each stamen one by one for dimension. I stacked my flowers together, then glued the stamen to the center of the flower.

I did the same with the smaller flowers, again adding details with my stylus, but used the smaller flowers to create center buds.

I applied white gesso over a chipboard frame. I needed to prime my surface so I could ink it with our the chipboard sucking up all the ink.

I applied two coats of ink, then sprinkle opalescent embossing powder over top. Then I heat set it with a heating tool.

The embossing powder is gorgeous!! It somewhat deepened the ink color and has so much sparkle and texture.

I die cut leaves from white and blue cardstock using Eileen Hull's Spring Leaves die.

Then, I shaped the leaves and added veins with a stylus.

A couple of the leaves for too long so I gave them a quick trim with a scissor.

To make the inserts, I cut 8.25" x 8.25"pieces of white cardstock folded in half, and staple down the center. Then I used a craft knife to trim off any overhang.

And here is my finished journal...

I plan on using this as a mini album instead of a journal. This would be great to take with me during the summer. So I can scrap memories while on vacay.

I hope you enjoyed this project and you are inspired by what you see. Thank you so much for stopping by! 

Until next time...

Happy Crafting!!

~ Mitsyana

Shabby Chic Love Journal

Hello, Crafty Friends! I'm back again for my LAST post of the term for Team Xyron. It has been a incredible year. One that I won't soon forget. As our term comes to an end, we were asked to make our last post about our FAVORITE Xyron product. And let me tell you, it was not an easy decision.

It was extremely hard to choose... why? Because Xyron makes tons of awesome products. Many of which I use on a daily basis and all of which are my "go-tos". So, I had to approach this question from a different angle... Which of my favorites had the most versatility, which one could do more? Because if it can do a lot more than the rest then surely it would reign supreme.

And the answer to my questions was a no-brainer... 

The Creative Station!!!

So, for my project today, I using the "Big Daddy" of Xyron Adhesive Machines, the Xyron Creative Station, to create another fave of mine... a journal!! A romantic, shabby chic, "Love" Journal to be more precise!

Supplies Used

Xyron Creative Station w/ 9" & 5" Permanent Refill

Eileen Hull Journal Die (Sizzix) 

Eileen  Hull Trinket Box & Frame Die (Sizzix)

Meet Me In Paris Stack (DCWV)

Chipboard

Embossed Felt (Kunin)

Rose Buds-Cream (Little Birdie Crafts)

Flower Clippings (Prima Marketing)

Paper Leaves (Recollection)

Mechanicals- Tin Hearts, Grungy Butterflies, & Vintage Trinket Flowers (Prima)

Tim Holtz- Word Bands (Advantus Corp)

Guilding Wax (Pebeo)

Tim Holtz Acyrlic Stamps 

Distress Inks- Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Ranger)

I start off with cutting my materials down to die-cuttable widths (6"x12"). Then I run my paper through my Creative Station and adhere it to the chipboard on both sides. I just created a double-sided patterned chipboard. I repeat that step on a second chipboard piece. Then I die-cut both these newly covered panels using Eileen Hull's Journal Die and set them aside.

Ok, so the BIG work was taken care of. I still need my adhesive machine but I don't need larger sheets of adhesive... what to do, what to do... easy, I convert it!! I switch out my Large 9" cartridge for a smaller 5" one. It's soo easy-peasy.

Simply push in the top latch to release the lid, grip the 9" cartridge and pull straight up. Next, lift the little green partition, then slide in the 5" inch cartridge. Make sure your adhesive sheet is in between your two rollers, and close your lide till it clicks. BOOM, DONE!!

 Now, this bad boy is ready to go! I can run smaller object through with less waste. Becasue let's face it... our adhesive is like gold!! And we don't wan to waste gold!

But just because it smaller or less wide, doesn't mean that this puppy can do less... Nope... not at all!

The Creative Station can create self-adhesive Chipboard (YAY, Chipboard Stickers)! It can turn cut out journaling cards into homemade stickers!! Do you know how much embellishments like these cost in store? Too much if you ask me... I can just make them at home for a few cents!

Look how gorgeous they are decorating this journal insert!!

I'm not even close to coming to an end of the list of things this "magical" mchine can do... yes, I said magical... because how else can you also add adhesive to FELT and CHEESE CLOTH?? YESSSS, you heard me right... I ran both through my Creative Station!!

I've made my own self adhesive chipboard sticker, self adhesive felt, and self adhesive cheesecloth!!

All of these thing make my journal making a breeze!! I don't have to sit around to wait for massive amounts of glue to dry! Just BAM, BAM, BAM!!

Felt on... Check!

Cheease cloth on... Check!

Chipboard Frame on... Checkity check check!!!

The only wet glue I used was for my flowers and if those were'nt stacked so high I'd probably try to run those through too! The Xyron Creative Station can take widths up to 1/4" (think the width of a nickel). But shhh, I'm going to tell you a little secret of mine... pop the lid open, just let it rest closed and don not click it  shut. This gives you just a little more "breathing room". And instead a cranking your item through, give the adhesive film a gentle pull from behind the machine. 

**Disclaimer** 

This is my personal method and is not advised or recommended by Xyron. Use this technique at your own risk and discretion.

Hahahaha... just had  to let you all know that!

And here is my finshed Journal...

I hope you loved this project as much as I did!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

***Disclaimer***

This blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with each manufacturer, provider, or party in question.

Dia de los Muertos Mini Art Journal

Hello, Crafty Friends!!

No, This is not a late Halloween post. This is actually right on time! Because this is a Day of the Dead (or Dia de los Muertos) themed project. 

Day of the Dead is a Mexican Holiday that celebrates family, love, and remembrance of those who passed. And ironically is not just a "day" but three days long. Each day is reserved for the remembrance of a child lost (Oct. 31) or an adult (Nov. 1) and for visiting of the souls at the graves of the departed loved ones (Nov. 2). Graves are cleaned and decorated. These shrines are often adorned with marigolds and sugar skulls and the favorite food or drink of the deceased. You can read more about this amazing holiday here.

I have come to love this wonderful holiday. I am drawn to the traditions, bright colors, flowers, and of course, sugar skulls. And though I am not of Mexican descent, I still have a huge respect for the culture. What's there not to love?? So I made this Dia de los Muertos inspired Art Journal to show my love for this amazing and beautiful holiday!

Supplies Used

Big Shot Machine (Sizzix)

 Eileen Hull Passport Die (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Leaves, Spring (Sizzix)

Crafty Chica Sugar Skull Framelits Stamps & Die Set (Sizzix)

Crafty Chica Hola Flower Stamps & Die Set (Sizzix)

Crafty Chica My Happy Life Cardstock Pad (Sizzix)

Creative Station Lite (Xyron)

Eileen Hull Blends- Nutmeg (ClearSnap)

Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Vintage Photo (Ranger)

140 lb. Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore)

VersaFine Onyx Black Ink Pad (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers - 60 pk (Kuretake/ Zig)

Chipboard

Hemp Twine

3D Dots (EK Success)

Tacky Glue (Collall's)

I start by cutting two pieces of chipboard down to 4.25" x 5.5" pieces. Then, I run both pieces through my Xyron Creative Station Lite machine and add adhesive onto both sides of each of the chipboard pieces.

I also cut my patterned paper, from Crafty Chica's My Happy Life Cardstock Pad to 4.25" x 5.5" pieces.

I peeled the protective film off and adhere a sheet of cardstock onto both sides of each cardboard piece.

I also repeated those same steps onto a 3" x 6" piece of chipboard. But only applied paper to one side of the chipboard piece.

Then, I laid both pieces onto my Eileen Hull Passport Die and cranked it through my Big Shot machine. Tip: Make sure to put whichever paper /side you want on the outside of your cover to be faced down against the blade.

Here I have the basic parts of the book all cut out.

I add tacky white glue down the spine and adhere the front and back covers together. To ensure and good grip and proper alignment I like to use mini clothespins to hold my pieces in place.

Then, once the glue set I inked the edges of the entire book with an Eille Hull Blends applicator in Nutmeg.

I stamped the skull image from Crafty Chica's Sugar Skull and Hola Flower Stamps & Die Sets 

onto mixed media paper using VersaFine Onyx Black ink.

Then, colored them in using my Zig Clean Color Real Markers.

Once I was pleased with my coloring, I die cut the images using the matching dies that came in each set.

I die cut a few leaves out of green cardstock using Eileen Hull's Leaves, Spring die.

I folded down the center to create a spine. Then folded at a diagonal to create the veins in the leaf.

I inked over the raised creases with distress ink and a blending tool.

Then attached the leaves, twine bow, and sugar skull onto the front cover of my book. Then I attached the flowers over those. I added foam dots under the skull and one of the flowers for a bit of dimension.

Now that the cover is done, I moved onto the inside.

I die cut the insert pages from the Eileen Hull Passport Die out of plain chipboard. Then simply folded and creased each chipboard page.

I fastened each page to the spine using hemp twine. I inserted each individual strand through the hole in the page, then, through the hole in the book. 

I gathered the strand on the outside of the spine and tied at a basic knot.

And here is my finished book...

I left all the pages blank because I plan on using this as a mini art journal. Chipboard is great at holding its shape against moisture. All I need to do is slap coat of gesso onto the page if I plan to paint. The gesso helps to prevent the paint from getting sucked up by the chipboard and makes your paint spread further. 

I hope you enjoyed this project for today!! 

Happy Day of the Dead Everyone!!

~Mitsyana