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Supplies Needed

Welcome and walk you through album videos

Lesson 1: Introduction

Lesson 2: Making a home for your album

Lesson 3: Dyeing our tags and vintage book cover

Lesson 4: Sewing pockets and mini album cover

Bonus Lesson: Catch up day

Bonus Lesson: House of 3 frame and printing photos

Lesson 5: First half of mini album

Lesson 6: Second half of mini album

Bonus Lesson: Wishes

This class isn't so much about techniques or fabulous products (though we'll have those) it's about telling your story!

I love that you want to join me in this journey of "Mysteries of Me" to document pieces of our lives.

I designed this class first sparked by a cool idea to use a book to hide something. Then I started thinking about what topic would be fitting? I loved the idea to have a place to share thoughts, secrets & stories or memories that might be a bit more personal and more fun to have hidden.

Many times when I am documenting about myself I think about what I wish my mom would have written down or what I would want to tell my kids someday...

That's when I started brainstorming a whole bunch of questions or ideas that I would enjoy writing about. I added these questions to House of 3 tickets for all of us. We will print them out and include them in our project. Here are my favorite 20...

A time I laughed

A time I cried

My perfect day

Me & My Quirks

A time when I prayed

5 things I value in life

A brave girl moment

My rock during tribulation

Blissful moment

What would I attempt if I knew I couldn't fail?

What makes my heart sing

How do I nurture my soul?

Growing moment

Dreams

Wishes

How old would I be if I didn't know how old I was?

Majestic moment

What is my mission in life?

Songs that heal the soul

I am going to be including my stories and memories to some of these thoughts through out the class. Feel free to share yours as well at our message forum: www.dearlizzy.netboards.org

ASSIGNMENT:

I included these phrases on some House of 3 tickets that were emailed to you. So your next assignment is to download the sheet. Print them out onto cream cardstock or any cardstock of your choice. Pick out your top 10 topics. I ended up using 8 tickets. It depends on how thick your book is and how it fits inside the book pages. I just kept going until no more pages fit inside my vintage book. :)

HOMEWORK:

I want you to sit down & start answering the questions in a journal or notebook. I like to freewrite before I start my journaling...

Just sit down and write whatever comes to your mind. Don't worry about grammar or if it sounds right. Just write your thoughts as they come. uncensored. :)

This is how I can accomplish more real thoughts for my pages.

Break out those pens...

Wishes

Class is dismissed. :)

Thanks for everyone who joined us last night on our chat! That was fun! We should do that again sometime. I am going to look into chats where more people can be seen. Let me know if you know of any. :)

I wish I could freeze moments and live in them forever.

I wish I could travel anywhere in the world instantly.

I wish I could stop pornography.

I wish I could eat french toast everyday.

I wish there were more time in the day.

I wish I could have one more day with my dad.

I wish he could meet my girls.

I wish it got easier instead of harder.

I wish I could wear a new pair of shoes everyday.

I wish I could be invisible or fly, any super power will do.

Videos

CLASS CHAT: We will be chatting on Tuesday October 27th at 9:00 pm mountain standard time. So come to this blog on tuesday for more details. 

The videos are working. I figured out that I was trying to mix the videos that I recorded on my mac and then my pc... So, here they are separately... finally. :)

Thanks for understanding and thanks for those who emailed me about being sick. It's been a hard week but I am feeling better. 

Enjoy the videos and don't make fun of me that I am a dork!!

PS I posted my corsage t shirt segment in a different post below... 

Corsage T-shirt Segment

You can watch my studio 5 segment I did about Corsage t shirts: http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=58&sid=8369323

Lesson 6 Second half of mini album

One of my favorite ways to chalk or distress the edges of my projects is using a Close To My Heart thingie :) that fits onto your index finger and you dab right onto a stamp pad. I love how much control I have with how much or how little I want to apply to my projects. I also like the Color Box chalk ink but really any ink works great. Also Tim Holtz blending tools are fabulous!

Hi ladies...

I hope you are enjoying writing down your thoughts with pictures to help tell your story. I was looking through my album tonight and it is amazing the difference once you add words. It definitely brings the album to life! Our words give our projects deeper meaning and substance. I love that. I also love the fact that we are using our handwriting. I use my computer for the majority of my work but I thoroughly enjoy my own writing on this project. Using our handwriting, especially with some of the topics on our tickets, definitely connects us with our stories.

Remember each ticket starts a little chapter. (ticket, tag, photo)

Lesson 6:

You've already done this one. :)

Page 15-16

I added a word cut from paper to the right page and a photo to the felt. Did you catch a trend with the felt.. I used a photo on all of the four pieces of felt.
Page 17-18

I used a die cut frame, a piece of patterned paper with some cute heels and a glitter brad.

I added a piece of ribbon to the mini paper clip and added the ticket to the pocket on the right.

Then I took off the brown part of the tag and added a flower then glued it back on to add some dimension.

Page 19-20

This one I cut out some cut bees and added them to the left page. With a pen I added a dotted flutter path for the bees.

On the right page I added a larger bee to my photo with a glitter brad. I did not put the brad through the piece of felt because I didn't want it to show through the other side. I only attached it to the photo.
Page 21-22

I enjoy leaving the felt blank because I like some resting places for my eyes but definitely feel free to add a little somthin' somthin' there. Whatever makes you happy!

Here I layered my ticket on a diecut flower with some vintage lace.
Page 23-24

Another piece of patterned paper from the kit that I sewed onto the blue with white circles paper. I just repeated a stitch over and over (3 times total)

I then added a photo of Collin to the back of the floral paper.
Page 25-26

Here I added one of my crackle paint flowers to a die cut tag then to a larger tag.

Also, distressed my ticket and adhered it with a glue dot to the crackle flower
Page 27-28

Some blurred out journaling thoughts because this was one the most meaningful tickets I journaled about. I wanted to keep it very simple with just my photo on felt.
Page 29-30

A dedication spot or your feeling after having finished the album. I still am thinking of what I want to add here. Maybe something about this class that inspires me or you students or dedicated to someone...
wahoo!

Way to go guys!!

You are doing fabulous and I can't wait to see more of your projects on the message board.

I want to schedule a time for a chat with you, my darling class. Please let me know at the message forum what time works for you. Or you can email me. elizabeth.kartchner (at)

gmail.com

Lesson 5: First half of mini album

Crackle paint is so fun and guess what? EASY!! It's so stinkin easy. You literally just paint it directly onto the chipboard shapes and it crackles in that one easy step.

The paint even has a built in brush. Are you kidding me? so cool.

My tip for using crackle paint is to know that the thicker the paint the more spaced out the crackles and the thinner of a layer you paint on the finer the crackles. I like to have thick and thin which almost happens naturally because the paint doesn't go on very smooth so keep that in mind. For this class we will be using 2 of the flowers so feel free to paint them all. Have fun!!

~~~

Let's get started on the this fun mini album! Keep in mind that I hadn't added my journaling when I took these pictures! I have since then added my journaling.

All the dyed tags are for journaling.

Also think of each couple pages as their own little chapter to your mini album. You have your TICKETS with the journaling prompts and that starts the chapter then the next tag is for writing your thoughts and the next page is for a photo.

So it goes:

Ticket

Tag

Photo

Page 1 & 2

Cover one side with a patterned paper

Use a diecut frame, tag, lace & painted chipboard flower with brad. I added adhesive to spots of the lace that you wouldn't notice.

Page 3 & 4

Photo on blue paper with white circles. (back of the yellow circle paper) & vintage lace

Page 5 & 6

Patterned paper

Tag pocket. Ticket with ribbon tied to mini paper clip.

Page 7 & 8

Cut out a row of flowers from Cosmo Cricket paper then sew along the bottom of flowers to the blue paper with white circles. (back of the yellow circle paper)

Felt and photo

Page 9 & 10

(Patterned paper, lace, flower with brad, ribbon, felt, 3" wide tag)

Find a cute flower with brad

Add journaling tag with ribbon

Attach brad and flower to patterned paper & to a strip of paper and lace.

Then attach it all to felt only do the corners so that you can hide the ticket behind the paper has a hidden pocket. I use Glue Arts tape runner and it sticks to felt but you can also add embroidery stitches to corners just do this before you add your photo on the other side.

Page 11 & 12

Journaling tag

Butterfly

Page 13 & 14

Journaling tag (I have added after I took these photos.)

Ribbon to Tag

Slip tickets that you'll be writing about in pocket.

Can't wait to see your albums.

Remember add your own style & touches... :)

PS Blogger is being weird and the video isn't working so I will try again tomorrow, k?

xoxo to my cute class. :)

Share your pages at our message forum:

www.dearlizzy.netboards.org

House of 3 frame & printing photos

An extra lesson for those who asked: How to use the frame and time to pick out photos and print them out.
Use any photos that help illustrate your journaling for the House of 3 tickets.

Instructions for CS3

This is the photo editing program I use. What program do you use? Here are some more tutorials for other programs. Click the links below. But please keep in mind that I do not have these problems so I was unable to try them out and see how they work. Please share your experience with any of these programs for the other students so we can all learn how to use the frames. :)

For Photoshop Elements

For Paint Shop Pro

For Corel Photo Paint

1. Open your photos and crop to the size you prefer. I did 2 1/4" width x 3"

2. Open the frame and Image then "Image Resize" in the drop down menu. Change the inches to match the inches you cropped, making sure the resolution is the same as the resolution you cropped at. I keep mine at 300

3. Drag the frame onto the photo and if you still need to use the move tool to fit the frame to the photo.

4. Flatten image

5. Drag all your cropped photos onto either an 8"x10" new document to print at a local printing shop.

Or drag them to an 8"x11" document and print at home. (My photo paper is 8"x 11" but use whatever size photo paper you have.)

6. Print out your photos and we'll be ready to start on our awesome album.

I have a video walking you through the whole album and them we can get started!! :) Just want to make sure everyone is ready and having fun!

Free Day!

Hi Ladies!

Hope you are enjoying the Mysteries of Me class.

Some cute students have emailed me and said they need a day of "catch-up" (or was it "ketchup?") to work on the class. So, start getting your photos together and look for a little gift in your email inbox from me!  (Today, October 20th at 8 am Mountain Standard time.) My favorite House of 3 frame (white rounded edge photo frame that I used on my "Perfect Day" post.) I love it.

I will post Lesson #5 this time tomorrow. :)

xo

Lizzy

Sewing Pockets & Mini Album Cover

Supplies Needed:

Embroidery thread and needle or sewing machine

Cardstock 4 pieces cut at 3"x5"

Patterned paper 4 pieces cut at 2 1/2" height x 3" width

Today I will show you how to use cardstock and patterned paper to make pockets for the tags we dyed yesterday for your album.

Step 1

Cut out 4 of the larger rectangles (2 1/2"x 3" width) from the cosmo cricket paper.

***If you don't have this paper you can easily improvise with any paper measuring 2 1/2" height x 3" width (4 total)

Step 2

Then cut your cardstock into 4 3x5 pieces.

Step 3

Add a tiny bit of adhesive to the corners. *Remember to apply the adhesive slightly inside from where you are going to be sewing. It is difficult for the sewing machine needle to sew through adhesive.

Step 4

Sewing time!!

I set my tension to a 3

Straight stitch

Stitch length at a 3

but do whatever your most comfortable with.

Then you simply start in one corner sew down the side, the bottom and up the other side-leaving a pocket at the top.

When you get to a corner I stop sewing with the needle in the project then I lift the presser foot and turn my project, lower presser foot and continue sewing.

Step 5

When I am done sewing I will turn project around and give a slight tug to the bobbin thread and that loosens the top thread then I will pull the top thread to the back of the project and tie it to the the bobbin thread.

Step 6: Chalk the edges of the cardstock and pockets with your favorite chalk ink or distressing ink...

Part 2: Mini Album Cover

Supplies Needed:

Patterned Paper cut at 3"x5"

Tag dyed turquoise or color of choice.

Ticket

Bird punch out

Flower

Flower center

decorative trim/edge

Let's make the cover to the awesome mini album!

Step 1

Start by adding a trim to the bottom of your tag.

Step 2

Add the flower and flower center to the ticket and attach to the tag

Step 3

Add a bird or any other details you wish

Step 4

Add tag and layered embellishments to patterned paper.

EXTRA CREDIT:

If you are feeling motivated today--let's get some of our other elements ready for the album.

Start getting your photos together, they will measure around 2 1/4" x 3 1/2" but you can use any size to fit in our 3"x5" mini album.

Cut 2 chipboard or acrylic pieces into 3x5 pieces. For the front and back cover of mini album.

Cut your felt into four 3x5 pieces.

Lesson #3 Dyeing our journaling tags & vintage book cover

Starting the House of 3 tickets today with an easy one :) "A Perfect Day"

A perfect day for me wouldn't be anything extravagant or out of this world. It's quite simple really. It would be us... together. No distractions from television, computers, cell phones. Those are not allowed and replaced with sunshine, a cozy blanket, a yummy lunch tucked nicely in a basket for an afternoon picnic. Maybe we'd fly a kite or lay in the shade, laugh at avery being silly and quincey toddling behind while mimicking her big sister's every move. In a perfect day no one would be worrying about anything not on this day. It's just for giggles & kisses.

It's the simple things that make me happy. Awe, this sounds heavenly... just us.

Lesson #3

Today is a fun lesson on how to use simple manila tags and dye them to match any project.

Supplies Needed:

-Dye (I use Rit power or Rit liquid dye)

If you don't have brown dye you can even use soy sauce.

-Bowls

-Drying place: I used a cookie sheet, scratch music note paper & a cooling rack for cookies or wax paper etc will work great.

-Water

-8-10 manila tags depending on how many you can fit into your mini album.

We will be dyeing the journaling tags for the album.

One will be a turquoise and the others will be brown.

Lay out some scratch paper or wax paper to let them dry on. Or I used a cookie sheet & a cooling rack for cookies this time. The cooling rack is cool because it leaves lines across your tags.

**Avoid laying them on colored cardstock unless you want that color on your tags too. While I experimented with this process I laid the tags on pink cardstock and so the tag had a pink hue to it. Which is cool, if that's what I want.

Step 1:

For the brown tags add your ink to the bowl (about 1/4 tsp) & then about 3/4" cup of water. Make sure it is stirred well.

Step 2:

If it's too dark then add more water. If it's too light add more dye. If you are out of dye let your tags dry for a few minutes then dip them again and again drying in between until you are happy with the result. Or you can always add some soy sauce :) but remember your tags will have a hint of chicken teriyaki... ;) For the turquoise ink you only need about a pinch of powdered dye & a tablespoon of water to do the one tag. Follow the same tips as the brown tags.

Don't leave your tags in the dye because they will get t00 soggy. :)

Step 3:

Dip the tags into the ink and allow some of the excess to drip off, then place somewhere to dry. (wax paper, white/cream scratch paper, cookie sheet etc.)

If you put them outside make sure it's not too windy. If you put them inside make sure it's somewhere that your little kiddos can not reach.

Remember what I said above: I placed my tags on the cookie sheet because they leave cool random lines across the tags once they're dry.
If your tag looks like the photo below try stirring the dye together more.
I dipped my blue tag many times in the process and allowed a few minutes to dry in between.

The photo above shows what the tag looks like when it dries on a cooling rack. I've dried tags on a swirly iron rod decor item and other cool things so have fun and experiment with that if you'd like.

Part 2: vintage book cover

Now while those are tags are drying we are going to work on the cover of the book:

**If you have a really cool book that has writing on the front cover that is okay! Just put your title on the inside page or the inside of the cover.

Supplies Needed:

2" circle punch

Book paper you cut out of your vintage book

Metal rim tag

1 Flower

1 Keyhole

2 brads (any color)

Vintage banner rubon

Letter rubons

Use your 2" circle punch and punch a circle from your book paper.

Adhere it to the center of your metal rim tag

Layer the keyhole, flower and metal ring then use your piercing tool and make two holes for the brad.

Add brads

Glue dot or adhere to the cover of the book on the bottom.

Next, take your vintage banner rubon (the smaller one or whichever one you prefer) cut it out and find a good spot for it towards the top of the book. Rub it on.

Next cut out the letters to spell "Mysteries of Me" with the letter rubons and move them around inside the banner so they fit. Then rub on the title to your book.

A tip I like to do with titles is to lay out all my letters then start from the middle and work my way to the edges. This way I know that I have room for all the letters and it will be centered.

***If you don't have the kit I'm sure you have some great stickers, thickers, or rubons that would work awesome!

Also, use the book paper in a cool way. I would love to see what you come up with & I know you all have some flowers in your stash!! :)

xo

wahoo! you guys are awesome!

Lesson #2 Making a home for the album

Lesson #2

Today we will be making a cozy home for our album in our vintage book.

Tools needed:

Book

Ruler

Scrap piece of paper cut at 3.5" x 5.5"

Pencil

Sharp Exacto knife

Step 1:

First, you will start by using the scrap piece of paper cut at 3.5" x 5.5"

You will use this as a template to mark where you will be cutting.

Next, use your pencil to trace around the edge of the scrap piece of paper.

Now you have some pencil lines to mark where you will be doing your first cutting.

Step 2: Exacto knife & ruler

I've lined up the ruler to the pencil lines and am holding the ruler in place with my left hand while I cut with the exacto knife in my right hand.

Step 2: Take your exacto knife & a ruler to start following the lines cutting as many layers as you can at a time.

Remove the complete cut pages as you go. (save for later)

Keep cutting further and further into the book pages. Use your scissors if some of the corners need to be snipped.

**Once you get close to the bottom place a cutting mat between the back cover and the last pages so you don't cut into the book.

Keep in mind: It's not going to look perfect. It's meant to look a bit messy to add to the character and vintage look of the book and be careful. ;)

Step 3: Add glue to pages to turn the loose pages into more of a box.

The last steps are OPTIONAL to adhere all the pages together and it makes it more like a box for your album. If you like all the pages how they are then feel free to leave them like it is. I think both look great!

Supplies Needed:

Foam Brush

Modge Podge or paintable adhesive

plastic, saran wrap or wax paper

We are going to place wax paper or saran wrap on top of the back cover to make sure that the adhesive doesn't make a mess and paint the insides and outside of your book pages. Keep painting the outside/inside of the cut pages until it is completely covered. You don't need to paint each page where the type is just the edges.

Then add wax paper or saran wrap on the front the book pages.

Close book.

Set another book on top to make sure it stays closed.

Let dry.

Great job everyone!! Let me know if you have any questions!!

thanks!

xo

lizzy