Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 February Tag

February is flying by! Before we know it spring will be here and all the winter snow for my northern friends will be but a distant memory.

I am just so thrilled that Mr. Holtz chose to do collage on his February Tag as seen on his blog HERE. I loved rifling through all my paper stash pads, okay I admit it took me a lot longer than it should of because I spent time reminiscing as I flipped through some of the older ones that I have been hoarding in case he decides to discontinue them. Hey, don't act like you don't have an extra Crowded Attic or Destinations pad tucked way!

I also was having fun digging through my treasure trove of ideology looking for something, not sure what now, but it sure was a yummy search as I could here the jingling of trinkets and tokens.

Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, the February tag or my take on it. I had to move a few things around since I wanted the month to show, note to self: look at paper a little more closely before adhering in place.

Make sure you head over to Tim Holtz blog and participate in his tag challenges,even if you don't own all the stuff to make them exact, I promise you will learn so much just from the technique part.

I loved stitching down the felt so much, okay I got a little carried away, that I did a second tag using the mini seahorse Mover and Shaper. I pulled in some paper from the Destinations Paper Stash. The heart shape I cut from an old Sizzix die, do you remember that one? It was when you used to have to pull the lever down and manually push the plate and die through, hah, seems like a long time ago, now I only have to hit the button on my Vagabond and "Voila!"

This week I will post pics of my fabulous time at Whimsodoodle and the Dina Wakely class.

Art on peeps! 

XX, J 

Your Story Sunday Part One

I came across this book,"To Our Children's Children", a journal of family memories the other day and was inspired to start writing down my family memories. My mom did hers and my grandparents a few years back and I cherish it.  As the years pass I am forgetting the fine details of what makes up the fabric of my life, friends, notes from family members, small encouragements that over time fade away.

Sundays for me,  are a time of rest,recharging and reflection. So what better day to start to write down my thoughts and work through this book. I am just using this book as inspiration.  If you want to join me grab a journal and a cup of your favorite beverage as we start to reminisce and write it down. By the end of the year your story will be on paper and you will have such a keepsake to hand down to a loved one. You will also learn to appreciate those around you and the little things in your life.

Today's prompt: What is your name, birthplace including hospital, how old you are as you begin this journal and this date.

Are you or were you married and to whom? Do you have any children, grandchildren, adopted? spiritual children? What are their ages as of this date and where were they born?

Simple huh?  If you have any pictures you want to add to this just stick them down, it doesn't have to be decorative, it just needs to get done.

I am using this small binder from Staples, eventually I will decorate it or maybe I won't, but the pages inside are what matter and in a binder I can take them out and always bind them some other way. I can also add pages if I find pictures. I need to see if I can find pocket page protectors in case I want to add vintage one of a kind photos until I can have a copy made to be able to stick them down.

If it is easier to type it out then go for it, but try to include a sample of your handwriting somewhere, I love seeing my mom's handwriting and my grandmother's. People don't write as much if ever so try to preserve yours and your family members.
XX, J

Thanks for Joining Us! Valentine's Day Ustream Show

We had a great time on Ustream Saturday, where we discussed the Stick It Down challenge and made Duct-Dori's, or Midori Traveler's Notebooks out of duct tape. Here is the special Valentine's Day one I (Darcie) completed, which is going out to the winner, Brenda, or as we call her B3:

Didn't the page protector pocket (gad, that's a mouthful!) come out cute?

And here is the calendar printable from the fabulous Ray Blake, who pioneered calendar printables in the Faux Dori world. You can snag a copy here:  www.mylifeallinoneplace.com. Then of course, our printable of the Stick It Down challenge is included too.  You can find the list HERE.

So, my non-techie sister in New England was on the phone with my mom when we were streaming and said she "wanted one" so I am sending her my Paris one. I made a new one for myself, and I have to say I just love it. It's bright and cheery and I used jewelry pieces that I found at Michaels on the closure:

They are so much fun to make! I still have a couple more to do and another one to send out. Thank you so much for all of you posting yours on Twitter. They came out so great!
Supply List

1 roll of decorative duct tape (can use contrasting one for spine) - you can use the 8.5 x 11" sheets too, you would need 2 of them
1.5 yds 1.4 mm elastic thread - usually found in the kids' section of the craft store
1 piece thin flexible chipboard in the size of your book
2 regular size eyelets, 3 if you want to use one for the closure
2 4-5 mm beads with a larger hole for the binding
Various papers, cardstock for making book inserts
1 8.5 x 11" plastic page protector
Charms or beads for embellishment

Cutting Measurements

Original Size Duct-Dori (Midori size)
Cover 8 1/2 x 10 inches
Cover of book inserts with pockets 9 x 10 3/4 inches Score @ 3 inches and fold up. Score in half @  4 1/2 inches  and fold
Plain Page book inserts size 9 x 7 3/4 inches score at 4 1/2 and fold on score line

Passport Size Duct-Dori
Cover 9 x 6 1/2 inches
Book inserts 7 x 5 inches. Score @ 3 1/2 inch and fold

"Stuck on YOU", It's Duct-Dori Time! Supply List and Cutting Guide

Hi, Darcie here again. We are celebrating Valentines Day tomorrow on our Ustream show, which some people noted was ironic since we are "down with love" lol. So maybe Valentines Day is for lovahs but we love our families, our pets, our friends and the occasional homeless person (don't ask). AND we love flowers and chocolate - what's not to love? We have much to be thankful for, that's for sure! So, as usual, there is a story with this one.

courtesy of http://vintageholidaycrafts.com

About 9 years ago, Johnna was indoctrinating me in the ways of the cult known as Scrapbooking. It had secret implements (well, not secret to anyone with the Internet) and rituals that involved arranging items in a prescribed way on an unusual size sheet of paper. So, I tried, I really tried. After completely over-thinking the process, whining and moving the same flower around numerous times with very little success, she looked at me and said, "Just stick it down. You're driving me crazy!" So it became an inside joke for all these years. Hence, the birth of the Stick It Down Challenge. We have posted a list, call it a scavenger hunt if you will, of things you can locate in your area and in your life to use as collage materials. The list is posted HERE. If you agree to the challenge, you will attach the items in a journal and post pictures. We will draw a winner from the group who completes the challenge. Use the hashtag #stickitdown and post pics on social media More information given on the Ustream show.

The book we are making is a duct tape version of one of my favorite journals, the Midori Traveler's Notebook. Mine has a beautiful leather cover and patented binding system of elastic bands that allows you to customize what you place in the book. I use mine when I travel and otherwise hoard it, so I thought I would make something inexpensive and easy to throw in my purse and keep with me for writing and collage. I have made a few of them over the past couple of years and while I am sure other people have too, I think mine is a bit unique. I showed Johnna how to make them and she loves hers, so I hope you will too!

Supply List

1 roll of decorative duct tape (can use contrasting one for spine) - you can use the 8.5 x 11" sheets too, you would need 2 of them
1.5 yds 1.4 mm elastic thread - usually found in the kids' section of the craft store
1 piece thin flexible chipboard in the size of your book
2 regular size eyelets, 3 if you want to use one for the closure
2 4-5 mm beads with a larger hole for the binding
Various papers, cardstock for making book inserts
1 8.5 x 11" plastic page protector
Charms or beads for embellishment

Cutting Measurements

Original Size Duct-Dori (Midori size)
Cover 8 1/2 x 10 inches
Cover of book inserts with pockets 9 x 10 3/4 inches Score @ 3 inches and fold up. Score in half @  4 1/2 inches  and fold
Plain Page book inserts size 9 x 7 3/4 inches score at 4 1/2 and fold on score line

Passport Size Duct-Dori
Cover 9 x 6 1/2 inches
Book inserts 7 x 5 inches. Score @ 3 1/2 inch and fold


We will be using the beautiful paper from Echo Park called "Lucky in Love" for a Valentine's Day themed journal.  See you then!

Altered Rotary Telephone Recap

Hi, all. This is Darcie. I am preparing for our show tomorrow and thought I'd post some pics from the January episode where Johnna, Mom and I altered rotary telephones and made them into baby wipe holders for our mixed media projects. If you saw the show, you know that when you lift the dial, the baby wipes come through the opening.

We also made an adorable address book based on a vintage marketing piece that was made to hang by your phone.  A little difficult now in the age of smartphones! The lovely Pavla from Pavlart on Ustream won this phone:

This is the one we made on the show. I was so determined to use a princess phone because they are so adorbs, but it was challenging. I ended up cutting the baby wipe bag in half to fit and it is so cute! It now sits on my desk and is very handy when I need to grab a baby wipe. You could also use this for tissues. There is a pencil that goes into the handset and on the other end, if you unscrew the earpiece, there is a cup for paper clips and brads.

As promised, HERE and HERE are the pdfs of the address book that you can print out and make for yourself. It is in two parts so that the pages can be printed double-sided to make up the inside of the book. I used a 5/8" circle punch to make the tabs, so they are not on the template. You can choose to do that or not.

Next up is what you will need for tomorrow's show!

Thrift Store Thursday And A Preview Of Saturday's Ustream Show "Stuck On You"

Yesterday, I did my rounds at my favorite junk and thriftstores. I love just digging through piles looking for hidden treasures. I was actually just wanting to get a couple of record albums for a few missions trips I have coming up this year and I actually did!  One is for the Caribbean, when I go Dominica in the spring and the other is Scandinavia. Here is a photo of my Christmas journal using the front of an old record. I showed it on our December ustream show.

I am not telling you to go raid your husband's record collection or to cut up heirlooms, use the ones where the album is all wrecked and scratched beyond repair. So please as our friend Dede "inkwell" would say "Don't email me!" 

Lots of projects planned for upcoming Thrift Store Thursdays:

The canister box and the wood expandable rack I am going to paint with chalk paint and use in Zippee. The canister has a plastic canister inside I can take out and wash. However the lid is not lockable but I don"t think racoons will raid coffee, hmm not sure on that one. The rack I think will be handy in the potty closet to hang my shower caddy, beach towel, bathing suit, etc. 

Last year, I took a class with Christy Tomlinson, she made bracelets out of belts, differently than how Darcie showed you how to do on one of our Ustream shows. So I had to snag these 2 belts for a buck a piece. The peace belt buckle will be perfect as a closure on my Scandanavian Journal.

One of the junk shops I went to had books half off, uh I love books and I had to limit myself which was really difficult when they are only 25 and 50 cents!  Greek Isles is on my bucket list so there is no reason why I shouldn't start working on that travel junk journal! A dictionary, you can never have enough dictionary paper in my opinion, and this one has cute illustrations. The blue linen book I am going to gut and just use the cover, the inside had water damage so I won't feel bad gutting it.  I found a great England book, I know I will be going back there in the near future for sure so I might as well start reading about it, plus it is a nice addition to my Downton Abby addiction!

Last year, Darcie, JJ and I attended a Debbie Schuh class where we made darling mini albums using Golden books, I picked these up for 25 cents each. They will make darling presents. Speaking of presents, I found an entire bag of these small little booklets, when I opened the booklet up they were post it notes! I bought the whole lot of them. How cute are these going to be with some gelli plate sticky back canvas? So excited will probably get to work on those ASAP. That white leather photo album I am going to add a Tim Holtz ring binder to the inside and put some watercolor paper in it, the photo pockets for Peerless water color palette papers and I am good to go, will post photos soon of that upcyle. By the time I get this post up I will have it finished!

Old patterns make great gift wrap and at 25 cents need I say more?!!

So, now on to Saturday's class "Stuck On You". Darcie will be teaching you how to make this adorable "Ductdori" and we have a month long challenge for you to go along with it.  

Here is my version of the ductdori, Ahhh I am addicted to this fox and hedgehog duct tape! It will be so cute to use when camping. I was at the Dollar General store and came across these sweet owl pencils that match the duct tape, yay, I love when that happens :)

This "Stuck on You" Stick It Down Challenge makes me want to Sing the Elvis Song

Click there if you want to join me in song. 

Look for the tomorrow's post where you will find the free download for the Stick It Down Challenge and make sure you use the hashtag, #stickitdown on any social media site and post pictures of you participating or your ductdori and a finished challenge list. We will be having a drawing from the participants on March 31st.

I will hopefully get to chat with you on Saturday,February 14th, yes it is Valentine's Day,  here is the link to our Ustream Channel and we will be on at 10 am EST. 

XX, J