Crafting Ireland Issue 11 and a Workshop!

Issue 11 of Crafting Ireland, a wonderful online crafting magazine, is out.  I am so thrilled to be part of the design team and have had a blast making projects along with step-by-step instructions both for the magazine and upcoming blogs, including my Good Wishes Wedding Wreath, seen here.  Want to know why it's called a "Good Wishes" Wedding Wreath?  Want to learn how to make this?  It's easy - just read the magazine by clicking HERE.  You can also check out the blog, which will has some pretty exciting projects to be featured in the near future, by clicking HERE.

Also, did you know Crafting Ireland is holding a free online class via UStream?  Yep!  We are all about keeping up with the digital age and staying in touch with our friends from all parts of the world!    That's right, Crafting Ireland's fee online class is on the 21st of July at 3pm BST on our ustream channel: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/crafting-ireland.  

In the class Nicole Mullen will show us how to create some mini scrapbook layouts. These layouts are perfect for card makers who want to get into scrapbooking or for scrapbookers who find they are running out of space for bigger layouts! We will also make a desktop flip display stand for the pages so you can show them off wherever you like!

Supply list for the online class
Mini layout pages:*4 sheets of cardboard/chipboard at 13cmx13cm
*10 sheets 6×6 paper cut down to 13x13cm – keep the off cuts!
*This will make 4 double sided pages so you will have 8 pages in total, you can of course make more if you wish!
* Polaroid style photo mats: photos are 7.4 x 7.4 cm and the white card to matt them on is 9.6cm x 8.1cm.
*You will need 8 photos and 8 photo mats
*Adhesives, border punches, trim, score board, duct tape and tools as usual
*Binding rings or ribbon (Binding rings do work the best)
*Crop a dile/eyelet setter and eyelets (optional)
*Hole punch
For the stand:
*1 x Sheet of chipboard 30cm long and 15cm high
*2 x pieces of chipboard 15cm high and 6cm wide
*Duct tape
*Paper or paint to cover it
*Optional – embellishments. I use tissue tape.

Happy Crafting!

My Improvised Heidi Swapp Memory File

I was sitting around the house yesterday morning, feeling to urge to create a mini-album using a few of the several hundred pics I took on our recent vacation.  But I wanted to do something a little different.  I had seen Heidi Swapp's Memory File system online and loved the concept, but I had never seen the actual file folders in my favorite scrapbooking store (I really need to have a chat with whoever orders the merchandise there!).  "That's fine," I said to myself, "I'll improvise."  And that's exactly what I did.  First, I found a (rather beat up) blue file folder that I had previously used to bring home work documents. Then, I dusted off my Silhouette and pulled out my Echo Park Paradise Beach Papers, my paint, my markers, and different bits and pieces from about 20 different manufacturers.

The concept of the Memory File is pretty easy.  It's an alternative to a mini-album in that you can create small flip albums or pocket folders to hold a collection of pictures and journaling (always important to me).  When opened, my memory file album looks like this:

The stickers included in the Paradise Beach paper pack made it super quick and easy for me to create this little cluster:

I created a pocket behind my main picture by sewing the paper I used for matting my picture to the paper cut out in the shape of the file folder.  The pocket was sewn on before the file-folder shaped paper was glued down to the folder.  It was the perfect size for holding extra journaling and a tag!

My flip album was super easy to make.  I started by cutting out four of Lori Whitlock's mini-album shapes.  Then I layered them along the back of the folder starting from the bottom and working my way up.  They are perfect for adding smaller photos, or even hidden photos or personal journaling that you may not want everyone else to see.  For me, it just means I can add one extra thing. Ha!

I used the "second page" to add even more journaling about our road trip to Florida, along with a few little pictures taken with my phone.  These are pictures that may not have normally made it into a mini-album or onto a layout, but I had plenty of room here!

I loved using my Silhouette Cameo and Lori Whitlock's adorable files to create this little car!  (Note: I also used Lori's files to create the palm trees and the sun on the front of my Memory File.) To add extra dimension, I created the tires from black buttons and circle-punched pieces.  I then added a Heidi Swapp journaling tag so that I could squeeze in just a little more additional journaling!  

That's it for today.  Before I sign off, I wanted to ask, is this something you would like to see a video tutorial for?  I could definitely see making more of these, so let me know!