Cardmaker's and Scrapbooker's Inspiration Sticks: Never Run Out of Ideas Again

Earlier this year I wrote about "Inspiration Sticks". I learned of the idea from a video put out by Claudia Rossi. Her Inspiration Sticks were made for art journaling and it was such a great idea that I thought it would also be very useful for card-makers and scrapbookers. I would just have to make a list of ideas related to those topics to make the sticks work for me. 

Below are the ideas I chose to write on my Inspiration Sticks and I add ideas as I discover them or think of things I've overlooked. Also preceding the list are two examples of using the sticks for an entire project and it can be quite fun going through your crafting materials to see what you have to work with.

1. Plaid paper
2. Add a die cut that you've decorated
3. Glitter
4. Bows are for more than little girls
5. Star

1. Two patterns or more
2. Tie it up with some twine or string
3. Embossing powder
4. Let's see some stitches
5. Tree

Card-making/Scrapbooking Inspiration Sticks
NOTE: The sticks below can be further separated into categories such as paper, shapes, etc. Click on a highlighted phrase and it will take you to an example card in a new window.

1. Reach for the small stamps
2. Feeling Blue can be a good thing
3. Make it look older than you 
4. Make some embellies to use
5. Add a die cut that you've decorated
6. Freehand cut a shape ( i.e. tree branches and trunk)
7. Use two embossing folders
8. Sing it pretty with Sheet Music
9. Tie it up with some twine or string
10. Bows are for more than little girls
11. Don't scream, it's just a Ladybug/Butterfly/Dragonfly...
12. Two patterns or more
13. It looks bolder with a banner
14. Add something unusual (i.e. feathers)
15. Button it up
16. Greenery makes it look more alive (plant/flowers...)
17. Make it a gift set
18. Digital Image
19. Special fold card
20. Let off some steam and "punch" it
21. Make something hang
22. Layers, layers, layers
23. Tag it
24. Generation Stamping
25. Where's the bling
26. The hills are alive...(Create snowbanks or hills from ink or paper)
27. Silhouette
28. Burlap
29. Lace it up
30. Go for the glitter
31. Doily
32. Let's see some stitches (sewn or drawn stitches)
33. Quilting is not just for grandmas (add many papers in squares to front of card)
34. Make it two-toned
35. Bird
36. Textured paper
37. Add an ornament or wooden piece on the card
38. Book page
39. Stack die cuts
40. Masculine
41. Black and White
42. All White (one color)
43. Incorporate pearls and/or gems
44. Pretty in Pink
45. Stamped Image
46. Homemade patterned paper is perfect
47. Flowers aren't just for a vase
48. Polka-dots
49. Tree
50. Plaid paper
51. Wrap it up with a wreath
52. Vines
53. Don't forget the swirls
54. See through it
55. Messy torn edges 
56. Border or fancy edge or two or three
57. Embossing powder
58. Don't be so afraid of watercolors
59. Dryer sheet
60. Embossed border with ink
61. Tissue paper
62. Lots of texture
63. Ribbon
64. Something made of wood
65. Numbers
66. Add a tag
67. Shape the corners
68. Incorporate some quilling
69. I'm stuck with Sticker(s)
70. Parchment paper or Vellum
71. Special shaped card (i.e. The Gardening card)
72. Leave it looking good (leaves)
73. Being square isn't a bad thing
74. Round and round we go (circles)
75. Make it a shaker
76. Hearts
77. Snow
78. Moon
79. Sunrise/Sunset
80. Star
81. Three or more solid colored papers
82. ...anything you can come up with

Categories

I have a small separate holder for these sticks and only use them when I'm drawing a complete blank.

1. Birthday
2. Winter/Christmas
3. Spring
4. Mother's Day
5. Father's Day
6. Halloween
7. Special Friend
8. Thank you
9. Fall/Thanksgiving
10. Love/Valentines Day
11. Red, White and Blue
12. Sweet 16
13. New baby
14. Tag
15. Layout
16. Wedding
17. Anniversary
18. Hello
19. ...and whatever else you want to include

Happy crafting! Thanks for stopping by. Stop back again to see new projects.

Altered Vase - First Shabby Chic Decoration for my New Craft Room

Hello everyone! Today I took my first couple of steps toward my new craft room. I cleaned out a desk and shelves from one corner and then needing some rest I decided to sit down and redo an old, heavy, sandy vase. The vase used to hold a Christmas tree on my front porch, but got blown over, wrecking the tree and chipping the vase. So this afternoon I gave it new life and it will become part of my Shabby Chic craft room transformation.

The vase was very dark. It looked good outside in the sun, but without light shining directly on it you could barely see the pattern. I had to lighten up the photo in Picmonkey just to show it here. There were also areas that were chipped and a big chunk was missing from the corner. I didn't repair the corner because I think it adds character.

Below are the steps I took to change the look of my vase, but the very first thing I did was wipe it down to remove any dirt. This vase is very grainy/sandy and made it difficult to clean. By the time I was done I had a small pile of sand. This was another reason I felt painting it would be a good idea. Coating it with paint keeps it from shedding sand everywhere.

After my vase was clean and dry I mixed two craft paints, Scallion in a satin finish by Martha Stewart and Mediterranean Blue by Craft Smart. Once I got the color I wanted I just brushed blue all over the vase. I was not being careful and wanted some of the dark color underneath to stay exposed.

After I finished applying the first layer of paint I took baby wipes and wiped paint off as I rubbed it around the vase. What I was trying to achieve was a very thin layer of the turquoise color that was a little heavier in the nooks and crannies. After wiping it down I used my heat tool to dry the remaining paint.

I applied white Kilz once the turquiose colored paint was completely dry. I would not suggest using this without open windows as the fumes are very strong. I don't have chalk paint or the money to make my own, so I found Kilz in the garage and thought it was the next best thing since it has a very chalking appearance. I dry-brushed the white Kilz lightly to lighten up the undercoat and accentuate the design.



I'm so happy I stumbled across this vase by my garage and surprised my husband hadn't thrown it out. I think it turned out really nice and will make a great addition to my new craft room. I will show how I filled my vase in the reveal of my room.

Happy Crafting!

Copyright © 2014 Angela Conklin - Heartedly Handcrafted

All Rights Reserved

Flower Box Greeting Card

Hello everyone! I'm so excited today to share with you a new kind of card (new to me) that I had so much fun making.

A greeting card that transforms into a decorative box just by opening it. I love it! 

I was surprised how easy this was to make. It's a bit time consuming with the measurements and cutting, but well worth it. I had caught a video on YouTube by +Wendy Cranford and another video by +Tina Weller that inspired me to give it a shot. I have placed the links for them at the bottom of this post. They take you through each step of the project and Tina Weller provides links to who inspired her to try it as well. 

Initially I was only going to use purple and green, but the project just grew as I went with more and more color. I love the way it turned out and I will continue to see what decorative accents I can come up with as there is no limit to the possibilities. Spring is barely here and I'm already thinking about the cute Christmas cards I can make with this design.

I used ek flower punches and Sizzix die cuts to make the flowers and then I colored them with Rubber Stampede Dye based inks. Each flower got a gem or pearl embellishment and for the larger flowers I placed a button behind the pearl for more color.

Here is some of the equipment I used and the printed paper is from K&Company Susan Winget which is my favorite papers. I just can't get enough of them and use them in my projects often.

This is the card laying flat with the two flaps pulled down to expose the inside. I think it looks gorgeous already. I added a beautiful purple paper to the inside of the flaps from DCWV's Violet Leaf Stack.

Sorry about some fuzziness in the photos. The sun is just not cooperating and I find myself in odd positions to try and get a little light.

Links to Videos
Wendy Cranford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiiGXr0UyEQ

Tina Wellers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XHN5WG2hOQ


I just came across this and noticed it was the exact measurements that I used. If you don't like videos because you'd rather see the measurements at a glance, this step-by-step tutorial from SplitCoastStampers makes it very easy.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/popupboxcard/
You can find an adorable version of this card by +Heather Kraafter
http://kraaftshaak.com/card-creating-fun-part-1-2/


A special "Thank you" for the How-To videos ladies



Happy Crafting!