It's a Tea Party!

Here's the finished Tea Party Album that I gave a sneak Peek of during my live Ustream show on Saturday. I am very happy with how it came out!
Thanks again to everyone who was able to come to the live show and to those who have checked out the recorded version. I had SO much fun! I will work harder in the future to read the questions out loud for the viewers watching the recording. I will also move the chatbox lower on the screen so that I'm not looking down my nose so much...ah! BIFOCALS....another joy of the aging process!!

Have a great week!!

Laura

Thank You!!!

Thank you to all of you who dropped in on my FIRST Ustream "class"! Not my finest teaching, but I had a good time and it looks like everything worked!! When I checked my notes, I realized that I jumped off the track and left out a lot of what I wanted to talk about but....
Thanks again! Check out the next class on March 13, same time, same place!!

Laura

You're invited!!

Here's the info for my FIRST Ustream class!

When: Saturday, February 27 at 4 pm PST (UTC -8)
Here's a link to a time zone converter http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
Where: http://ustream.tv/channel/followingthepapertrail
What: Playing with color for Scrapbookers
Cost: NUTHIN' ! It's FREE!

Head on over to Ustream for this first class! There is a live chat available to ask questions, add comments, etc. If you want to participate in the live chat portion, you will need to take a few minutes to set up a Ustream account. You don't have to have an account to just watch as a "guest".

NOTE: I had to re-set my Ustream address from what I had it set up as originally! The address above is the CORRECT one. The other one (www.ustream.tv/channel/following-the-paper-trail-with-laura) is NOT the right one.... I could not get logged into that one again (long, uninteresting story) and so I had to set up a new account. If the background is BLACK swirls, you are in the RIGHT place. if the background is PINK swirls/butterflies, it's the WRONG place!

For this first class, I will be "playing with color", showing you some of the more technical properties of color and how you can use that knowledge in your scrapbooking and other crafts. I will try to keep it both fun and informative! You will need to bear with me on the more technical aspects of the this live streaming thingy....I'm new to it!

If you want to participate and play with some color mixing, you will need to get 5 inexpensive bottles of liquid acrylic paint. You will need:

Cyan (turquoise)
Magenta
Yellow
Black
White
A couple of inexpensive paint brushes
Cup of water
Paper towels
Some white cardstock

Here's what Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow look like... try to find colors that match these as close as possible.



I have the first project specific class scheduled for Saturday, March 13 at 4pm again. In this class, I will be making one of my "Strike-a-Pose" albums with the canvas tags and cover. This mini has been requested several times. I have a tutorial on the tags, but 10 minutes just isn't enough! I will have kits with 3 different paper groups available for you to order after this Saturday's class (they will be on my Etsy store at: http://followthepapertrail.etsy.com) This way, you can follow along with me with the kit in front of you! I will have only a limited number of kits available for each class. At this point, it will be first come, first served. I will not be having a regular class schedule but will be trying to do at least one class a month and will typically have a class kit available TWO weeks prior to the class to allow shipping. I DO ship internationally!

Well, if I'm going to have you all over tomorrow, I'd better straighten up the studio a bit!
See you tomorrow!!
Laura

What's Up Wednesday! February 24, 2010

This week I have been playing with quilting techniques and paper. I have appliqued fabric to paper in layout featuring my daughter. I have also appliqued paper to fabric on a pouch I made for my Copic markers. I'll try to post that tomorrow when it's done.


To applique the fabric to the paper, first plan what you want to do on scratch paper. You can draw it yourself or check out ideas from quilt magazines, books, or online. Next, fuse a lightweight pellon interfacing to the back side of the fabric. Trace and cut out the shapes from copy paper or freezer paper. Use these shapes as a pattern to cut out the shapes from the fabric. I used a glue stick to hold the fabric pieces in place while I stitched them down. Use a mid-width zig-zag to stitch pieces down. Remember to change your needle before you stitch on fabric again....paper really dulls the needle quickly!


I made some fabric flowers (Check out others from my "12 Days of Christmas Projects" back in December!), but you could use paper or "store bought" fabric flowers.

Have Fun!

Laura

Just a sneek....

Here's a sneek peek at the cover of a new Z-fold Envelope mini album kit I am putting up later today. I have another that will go up in the next few days. I have decided a web cam and I'm off to get it today. I will post more info on my Ustream demo's and classes later today! I taught a quilt class most of the day yesterday, paper stuff today, kids go back to school tomorrow...uh-oh better throw some laundry in...I need a staff!!!

This kit will be called "Global Treasures"...



Laura

Runnin' Behind

My kids are home this week for Mid-Winter break, so I have been in Mom/referee mode today. I have the video up for What's up Wednesday and I will have the still photo's and dimensions on Thursday. I will also post more info about the upcoming Ustream demo's and classes.

Laura

What's up Wednesday! February 10, 2010

Today I made some Butterflies and Dragonflies!!

To make these you wll need a product named Lutradur (a spun polyester that can be painted, stamped, sewn, spryaed. inked, dyed.....), stamps, Glimmer Mist, UTEE or other embossing powder.



Stamp the image onto the Lutradur using Stayz On ink (or another non-water based ink). Cut out image and spray with Glimmer Mists. Multi colors give it more depth and interest. Experiment!! If you use your heat tool to speed up the drying process, don't get it too hot it can melt!





At this point, you can over-stamp the image with embossing ink and add clear or opalescent embossing powder. Next you will add embossing ink to the body section only and apply colored UTEE (I used Bronze or Blue Interference) to the body to give it "body" and differentiation. I also added some Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Enamel...toooo Coool!





Add Stickels for a bit of added color or sparkle! Try paint or markers and colored pencils for added pop!

These would be great to add to a layout or mini book! Have FUN!!

Laura

Just a thought....

Recently, I have had several requests for kits that come with instructions on how to recreate an album I have made. Is this something that has a wide appeal, or do you prefer kits that allow you to "do your own thing". Kits with instructions will need to be more expensive since they require significantly more time to put together on my part. If there is interest, this may become an every other month or quarterly item. Let me know your thoughts. Also, is there any specific themes you would be interested in for kits, either with instructions or without?

Laura

What's Up Wednesday! February 3, 2010

It's What's Up Wednesday!

Today I am showing you how to make a Multi Pocket Envelope Mini!



You will need standard #10 envelopes....2 1/2 per page.
Trim the first 2 envelopes to 9" long. Cut the 3rd envelope in half (Don't trim off the ends!)



Score and fold one envelope at 3 1/2" from one cut edge. Score and fold the other at 1 1/2" from a cut edge.

Glue folded up pocket with your favorite adhesive.

Attach folded envelope units back to back with half envelope sandwiched between.




Cut patterned papers in sizes shown.




Add tags to the pockets up to 4" wide.

Here's a slide show of the finished album:

Thank you to all of you who left comments of you favorite items!! The winner of the give-away is Joy (CraftStash). Send me an email at quiltedbaglady@aol.com with your address and I will send you your prize!



Laura