Tim Holtz Binder and Free Printable Recipe Card

Hi everyone!  I've been working on this projects for a couple of weeks at a slow pace and finally have a chance to share.  I picked up several Tim Holtz binders earlier in the year and finally decided to give one some love.  I wasn't quite sure what to put inside and ultimately decided on a recipe book, inspired by the incredible Emma Williams.  I didn't want to use a food theme because the book will be stored in my craft room, so I built a little botanical scene using Tim's Botanical Ephemera.

I started with a thick piece of mat board cut to size.  I cut a window in the center, then covered it with Worn Wallpaper.  I cut an X in the center to wrap the wallpaper around the opening and layered with some burlap paper.  I sanded the edges and used a Distress Crayon to add some shading.  I layered with a Baseboard Frame and a half flower from my tutorial HERE.  The crocheted lace and word token are also Tim's.

I used my Wallflower Paper Stash to create the file dividers.  The tabs are from a die.  The pages measure 4.25 x 6.5".  The idea is to fill the binder with recipes and have a pocket for recipe cards to share.  It's so sweet to bake a casserole for a friend and attach the recipe card atop!  :)

To make the pocket, cut a 6" square and score all three sides at 15/16" and 13/16".  Burnish the folds and miter as shown.  Attach red line tape the the outermost scored section.  The pocket will hold 8-10 cards.

I've designed a free printable recipe card for you and you can download it HERE.  It is designed to be printed at 4x6".  This file is free for personal use, but if you share it on any website you must link back to this post.

I decorated the pages quite simply.  Here's the back.  I did alter the color of the binder by sponging it with Evergreen Bough Distress Ink, then going over it with a gesso wash to tone it down.

And the front cover again, which could also be a card design.

And now onto the winner of my wee giveaway of the stitched stamp set.  The random winner is Kate Yetter!  Kate, please email me at teamclark@rocketmail.com to claim your prize.  I'll be on the lookout for another of these sets, so make sure to follow along for the next giveaway.  :)  And I hope you'll pin today's project and put the printable to good use.  Thanks for stopping by, Autumn

SewPaperPaint Faux Stitch Stamp GIVEAWAY!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

Hi friends!  I'm soooooooo excited today to share a fun little "just because" giveaway with you.  I get tons and tons of questions about the stitch stamp I use all the time on my cards.  Well, I just happened to find this set at Tuesday Morning for a song when we were in Pigeon Forge, so I grabbed it just to share with one of my blog followers.  

I used it on my foiling tutorial at Frilly and Funkie HERE.

On a Verve Stamps shaker card HERE.

And on my Authentique pastel mini album tutorial HERE.  I've used it on about a hundred other projects too, and even have a designated acrylic block for it right on my workspace within easy reach.  In short, I love it!  And I know you will too.  So leave me a comment if you want one of your own.  I'll choose a winner next Thursday, July 12.  Hugs, Autumn

Simon Says Stamp Emma Background Embossing Resist Cards

Happy 4th of July my friends!  Today I'm sharing a few more cards I made for the Simon Says Stamp 100th Flickr Challenge celebration.  These cards were all made with the SSS Emma Background Stamp.  Embossing different portions of the stamp gives so many options for unique card ideas. 

I wanted to try out some new embossing powders and thought this would be a good way to test the colors.  The 4th of July card was embossed with Wendy Vecchi Cornflower Blue, then sponged with Fired Brick DI.  The happy die is by Little Yellow Bicycle.  The 4 is from Momenta and the "th" was cut from a "Thank You" die.  I glued on some vintage sequins my dear friend gave to me.

For this card I embossed with the new Ranger Cranberry EP and sponged with Fossilized Amber, Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick DI, then splattered with water.  I used the same Thank You die on sanded metallic kraft core.

I had hoped for a more metallic finish with this EP, but do love the enamel like texture.

My final card (and personal favorite) has an unusual mix of colors, which look so pretty in person.  I embossed with Wow! Florescent Blue and then sponged with Tattered Rose DI.  This powder is more gritty than enameled.  The Smile die is by STAMPlorations.  I layered with sewn vellum and a strip of Tim Holtz glitter tissue tape and then added some more vintage sequins.  Of course, the silver looks prettier in the picture.  It was great fun playing with this stamp again and doing some embossing resist panels.  This technique never gets old!  :)  Have a safe and happy holiday and hugs, Autumn

I'm sharing with:

SSSFlickrChallenge#100

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp: Red White and/or Blue

Simon Says Stamp Stitched Florals Shaker Card

I'm having fun doing some just because stamping and decided to play along with the Simon Says Stamp 100th Flickr challenge.

I watercolored my embossed blossoms with Fossilized Amber and Twisted Citron Distress Ink, then fussy cut them and layered over a sponged and splattered panel, which I turned into a shaker.  :)  I picked up the Little Yellow Bicycle die cuts for a song at Tuesday Morning and sponged them ombre style.

For my second card, I colored my blossoms with Worn Lipstick, Tumbled Glass and Twisted Citron DI, then layered with the castoff from my shaker oval.  

I sponged the LYB die cut and added a Tim Holtz sticker and Tropical die cut.  I had the most trouble using a water reservoir pen to watercolor until I learned to squeeze it as I go.  DOH!  Now I am really getting into Distress watercoloring.  :)  On the inside of this card I will stamp a sentiment stamp that says "Merry Everything, Happy Always".  Thanks for looking today and make sure to check out my Flickr pool HERE.

I'm sharing with:

SSSFlickrchallenge#100

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Authentique Utopia Tropical Mini Album Tutorial

Happy July friends!  Today we launch a new challenge at Mini Album Makers.  There's a plethora of inspiration awaiting you on the MAM blog with loads of tutorials from our talented design team.  We hope you will be inspired to play along for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Lindy's Stamp Gang.

Today I'm sharing a fabric wrapped spine mini album, inspired by the stunning work of Tati Scrap.  I picked up the Authentique Utopia 12x12 pad at my local Tuesday Morning (on the never ending hunt for fabulous Tim Holtz goods of course - he he).  I also scooped up a wooden word set by Little Yellow Bicycle and used some Prima Flowers and the Tim Holtz Tropical die cut set to complete the work.

Because we've been on vacation for two weeks: 1. I went a little more vibrant than usual and 2. I kept the pages simple with out many flaps and fuss.  After all, that is what vacation is about - carefree living.  :)  Each spread has a mat for a 4x4" photo.

The die cut Hibiscus flowers are all sponged with Distress Inks.  The pineapple is by Spellbinders and the sunglasses is by Tutti Designs.

To add lots of texture to the pages I layered two identical sizes of crumpled edge prints on each page.  

Now on to the assembly...  First I cut my 5 signatures from watercolor paper to 7 x 10 3/8".  I scored each one at 5" and 5 3/8" on the long side.  I decorated the insides before proceeding.  I love this method of assembly because I can work flat with the page designs, then build my book.  It's especially helpful when adding brads and flaps because they can be hidden when the pages are glued together.

I decided to add some batting to my covers to make then nice and thick and cushy.  I cut the front and back cover to 5 1x8 x 7 1/4".  I glued the covers to the batting, then cut off any excess.  I wasn't sure if this would work well with paper wraps, but it did!  :)

Next I added a tiny bit of glue to the batting to make it stick to my paper wraps.  I cut two of them to 6 3/4 x 8 3/4".  I mitered the corners, making sure not to cut too close to the corner so the chipboard won't be seen when the paper is wrapped.

I applied Red Line tape around my paper and then adhered it to my cover.  (I sanded the corners lightly to make sure everything was smooth.)

I added some brads so it would look like they are holding the fabric to the spine.  I hammered them flat on the reverse side.

Now, I wanted to have a pattern inside on my spine that would show when the fabric gave way.  To do this, I glued my stack of signatures together in order.  I glued the back of the first page to the second, etc.  Next, I measured the width of the signatures.  This was 2".  So I cut another piece of chipboard 2 x 7 1/4" (the height of my covers).  I cut a paper wrap to 3 1/2 x 8 3/4" and then adhered it to my chipboard.

I liberally added glue to the signatures then glued them to the wrapped chipboard.

Next, I cut a width of fabric.  This fabric is a vintage table runner.  I trimmed it and glued the edges in for a finished look.  Then I glued it to the front and back of the white signature as shown.  I left a little give way.

Then I glued on my covers.  I made sure to line up the inner spine with the covers on both sides.

See!  Isn't that neat?  I used my awl to poke the corner of the fabric between the covers while the glue was wet so it didn't show.

I would recommend using a heavyweight fabric and not quilter's cotton.  Tati Scrap often adds grommets to the inner hard spine and then wraps chains and adds dangles to her spines, but since I made this a top opening book, that wouldn't work for me.

I sure hope you've enjoyed this super sunny album and will try to make one of these on your own.  Regardless of what you make, do get crafty and add a project to our current challenge.  We can't wait to see what you come up with!  Hugs, Autumn

Come play along!

I'm also sharing with:

Simon Says Stamp: Food/Drink

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes