Kerry’s Paper Crafts

Hi everyone! It’s that time of year again…Craft Fair prep time!

I know, it’s only August. But Halloween is *not* that far away. So I’m trying to get in gear. As of right now I’m not commited to a fair before Halloween - so I’m not sure where I’m going to sell this stuff, but I might find a fair

I got this idea from the latest Stampin Up Catalog, along with a project that I had done last year. There was a pic in the catalog of a mummy using some ribbon. It was super cute, but I didn’t want to waste all of that ribbon. I was digging through my supplies trying to think of what I could use instead & I found some medical gauze. Perfect! I used some distress ink to give the Mummy an older look. I’ve even included a video on how to put this little guy together.

(doesn’t he look so angry? LOL)

Here is the video. Click here to watch it on YouTube. Hope you enjoy…!!

Altered Stuff, Craft Fair, Tutorials, Videos

Many of you requested a video on making these - so here I am with one for you

Here’s a few shots of the project I made in the video. Colors used are Berry Sorbet (PTI), Old Olive & Crushed Curry (Stampin Up!)

The best part about these is that they can really be adapted to any size post-it you may have. Don’t feel like you have to stick with the exact size ones that I used (4″x4″ post-its). In the video, you will see my process for lining up the thickness of the post-it & determining how big the paper needs to be, score lines, etc.

Hope you enjoy!

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EDIT Fri 3/26: OK so the file download should now work - bad news is that it’s just an SVG file - so you Silhouette users out there won’t be able to use it I am trying to see if there is way for me to create a GSD file for you guys too - if anyone knows of software that will allow me to do this, please let me know. Thanks!

OK I’m pretty excited about this one!

So, I found that I really like the Sizzix Milk Carton die in the latest SU catalog - but it was pretty pricey & from what I heard, the actual finished milk carton was pretty small. I wanted to see if I could create a cut file that would allow me to create my own milk cartons. Since I now have Sure Cuts a Lot software, I figured it was worth a shot to create an SVG file. I found a “sample” milk carton at the local grocery store in the candy aisle (was full of Reeses candy!) - I ripped it apart & used it as my template.

These are great for spring & Easter - but I am totally going to use these throughout the year for all Holidays. You can stuff these with almost anything - and since it’s a digital cut file, you can cut it in whatever color cardstock or paper you’d like!

They are super fun to stamp on & embellish…

I put together a video to show you how to assemble this milk carton once it’s cut. Even better, I’m offering you all a FREE download of my SVG file so you can make these for yourself.

You will need a digital cutter (such as a Cricut) and some die cutting software on your computer (such as SCAL - which is what I use). See updated info at the top for Silhouette users - as of right now, I don’t think an SVG file will work for you. I’m workin’ on it…

I am also providing a guide to where you need to score this milk carton. This is a PDF file that you can download & view on your computer to see where the score lines are. (it’s not that pretty, sorry. haha.)

Anyway, onto the download & video. To download, just right click below & choose “save file as”. You can save to your computer & then import into SCAL. (look for an option to Import–>SVG file) NOTE: after the program was loaded, I sized the shape to the size that I wanted. Mine was roughly 7.5″ x 8.25″ or so. You have  to play with it a bit to figure out how you’d like it sized.

Download File: Milk Carton SVG File

Download File: Milk Carton Scoring Guide (PDF format - requires Adobe Reader)

And here’s the video below, or watch at YouTube. Please comment if you have any questions. Thanks!

Altered Stuff, Digital Downloads, Tutorials, Videos

Hi everyone - I hope I’ve been fulfilling most of your requests for 2010 on the blog! I’m trying to respond to what people asked most for…and that was: VIDEOS! (I have some other things in the works too, so keep checking back. I’m also hoping to re-vamp the blog a bit & have it looking better real soon.)

As promised, here’s a super quick video showing you how to tie a bow with ribbon that has a pattern on it. I’ve always found it tricky to use patterened ribbon because some parts of the bow may or may not have pattern showing, etc.

Hope you enjoy - let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Tutorials, Videos

OK as promised, here is a video tutorial on making these skinny notepad holders. One thing to note: I bought my notepads at Walmart & had them cut at Staples. These are not the pads I bought, but they are something similar. I had the people at Staples cut the lines off the side, and then cut the pad in half for me. It gave me these skinny pads to use:

In the video, I show you how to cover the top of those pads to hide the label. The paper that I use to cover these measures 8.5″ x 5″. I scored at 2 3/8″ and 2 5/8″. Depending upon the size of the notepads you use, these measurements could vary.

EDIT: In the video I show how I add the paper to the pens to make them match. However, my SU Demo has a much better video that fully demonstrates this HERE. So check it out!!

Here’s a photo of the notepads I made in this video - if you want to see the original blog posting, it’s HERE.

Anyway, onto the video. Here it is - thanks for watching & let me know if you have any more questions!

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This one goes out to my friend Erin, who just recently got ENGAGED!! Squeeee!!! Congrats Erin!!

I used some stamps from Inkadinkadoo, Stampin Up & Hero Arts. That border is from a Martha Stewart Border Punch (LOVE).

Check out the video below to see my process for making this card. Thanks for looking!

Cards, Tutorials, Videos

Hi everyone - thanks SO much for all the comments you’ve left this week. I read each & EVERY comment - especially the ones that contain things you’d like to see more of on the blog. (sidenote: you have ONE DAY left to leave a comment HERE if you haven’t already…for a chance to win a prize!)

I’ve already started acting on some of your feedback - so with that, I give you some fun Treats for Valentine’s Day - plus a video showing you how I made them!

These are great because you can stick anything inside them - and adapt them to ANY holiday or occasion. I had a few people say they would like to see things that are more practical - things that can be used…instead of just candy. This sort of combines the 2. I had some fun pencils lying around so I thought I’d find a way to creatively wrap them up as a fun little gift.

And to respond to even MORE awesome feedback from my readers, I thought I’d whip up a “boy version”. These are some robots from both Cosmo Cricket (paper) and Hero Arts (stamp). What boy doesn’t love Robots!?!!

I added a wooden heart from Martha Stewart to give it a small Valentine’s touch…but nothing too girly. (the Robot was colored using Copics). The pencil has motorcycles on it. Very “boy”.

OK, here’s the “how to” video! If you can make it through listening to my corniness…then I give you credit. LOL. I HATE listening to myself on these videos, ugh!

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Thought I’d just do a quick update on my craft room (which happens to be a bit of a disaster lately, yikes!)

This is how I film my videos. It’s super sophisticated ehhh?? Basically I just attach my Flip Camcorder to my Tripod & angle it downward onto my work surface. I film the video & then I use iMovie 09 to edit. I have to flip all of my videos around so that you aren’t watching me work upside down…!

Sometimes I have enough natural light when shooting a video so I don’t need any lamps. But mostly I use 2 desk lamps & just angle them down so they are giving me enough light for the video.

(notice all the CRAP surrounding my work surface?? Yeaaa….that’s mostly how I roll. I’ve convinced myself that I’m just so darn artistic that I can’t be bothered to put stuff away as I craft…yep, that MUST be it!! )

And here’s where I shoot 99% of the stuff that I make. Normally I have my Cricut on this table & do all of my die cutting here. When it’s time to shoot photos, I just take my Cricut off the table.

It’s the best spot in the house - mostly because there’s lot of windows in this room & lots of natural light. I almost NEVER shoot with artificial lighting - photos always turn out best with natural light. See that shade that’s half down? I usually pull that ALL the way up - as high as it can go - letting in as much light as possible. (sometimes I forget to close it though, and it’s a little creepy b/c I’m sure my neighbor can look in & see my disaster craft room…so yea, I try to remember to always close it! Privacy is key people!)

That black cloth is just a black sheet that I threw over a board. (the board came out of the back of a large poster frame - so it’s almost like a hefty piece of chipboard that’s roughly the size of a poster). This makes for a decent backdrop - one that I can lean most anything against, such as matching designer paper, etc. If I don’t find anything that I like for matching paper I simply stick with the black.

Oh and that project currently sitting there being photographed…? That’s a Valentine’s Day project that I created - I haven’t shared it with you yet…so ssshhhh I will be sharing soon. They are fun & cute for kids.

Thanks for looking!

Craft Room, Photography, Videos

as promised, here is a quick video on a few coloring techniques. I focused on Prisma Colored Pencils & Copic Markers. Please note that I am NOT by any means an expert on either of these…I just watch a lot of YouTube and see what works for others…in this video I show you the quick & easy way that works for me. If you have any questions just leave me a comment. Thanks!!

EDIT: Yaneri had some great questions. Thanks Yaneri! I wanted to answer them for everyone:

I am using Memento Black Ink because I find it to be the best ink for coloring with Copics. Staz On ink will BLEED with Copic Markers.

Also, I am using PaperTrey Ink’s Stampers Select white cardstock - I find that with this paper & the above ink, nothing bleeds. It definitely helps to use quality cardstock.

Copics, Tutorials, Videos

I got this pillow box die from Sizzix for Christmas and I’ve been loving it…there are so many things you can do with it. I’ve been using it to make a bunch of Valentine’s Treats. I found that a Ghiradelli chocolate fit nicely inside - but I’m sure you could fill these with lots of other types of candy.

Here are some photos of a bunch that I’ve been making, along with a video tutorial at the end. I will probably be offering these for sale very soon, so leave me a comment or send me an email if you’re interested. I will be selling them for $2 each. Thanks!

Here are the ones that I made in the video. I used clear acetate & stamped on it with some white StazOn ink. This is a fun way of doing it because you can see what the goodie is inside the box!

Here is the video. You can also watch over on YouTube. Enjoy!

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