Weekly Roundup for January 30th through February 3rd, 2023

 I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to update this blog, but here's what I've posted and I hope you do stop by and check these videos out.  I have been super busy this week!

First of all, I did this unboxing video for a Your Creative Studio subscription box called "Bake".  I used it in my recipe junk journal that I recently shared and I love the items that were included in the box!

This is a design team project for Country Craft Creations using their exclusive paper collection "Schoolhouse Memories".  I made a great keepsake box using my We are Memory Keepers Explosion Scoreboard, and made a folio using the 4 x 6 Folio kit from 49 and Market that I bought from Country Craft Creations.  You have to check this out!

I also posted a followup for the #craftygoals2023 collaboration that I'm involved in.  In the video I talked about how it went for me in January and a few of my February goals. 

Also for the Country Craft Creations design team, I created the 5th project using Heartfelt Creations "Friendship Rose" collection.  I combined a Dollar Tree heart wall hanging with a few leftover bits to create this lovely wall decor piece.

Finally, I used those amazing and wonderful Target doilies to create this fun album with a "Polaroid" theme inside...you have to see how quick and easy this project was to make!

Thanks so much for all of your support and for watching the videos.  I'll be back soon with other projects and other tutorials.  Until then, stay crafty, my friends!!

A Recipe Junk Journal You Have To See!

 

I have been wanting to make one of these for a very long time!  I bought this recipe book solely for this purpose, but truth be known, I actually have a copy of it in my recipe collection too!  

I used a bunch of random bits and pieces I have had in my stash for a while, and combined them with items that are newer from Country Craft Creations and from Your Creative Studio.  

Country Craft Creations papers...

Sweet Southern Mess What's Cooking Your Creative Studio 

#11 Baking Box

This video is a walk through and I hope you come to check it out!

Stay crafty, my friends!

Friendship Rose Tag Cards...Papers and Dies from Heartfelt Creations! Design Team Project for Country Craft Creations

 

These cards are just gorgeous and fun, and I used up my scraps from my Country Craft Creations design team package to make them.  Please come and check out this video, I think you'll like them as much as I do!

Stay Crafty, my friends!

Friendship Rose Policy Envelope Walk Through/Tutorial, a Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

Welcome back. This is a fun project and I think you will love it.  

I used Heartfelt Creations "Friendship Rose" paper collection to make the first one, and during the tutorial I used Country Craft Creations "Love is in the Air" paper collection.

This doesn't take too many supplies, it really depends on how many tags and photo mats you add to it. For the base of the book you will need 6 sheets of cardstock. I used Artisan from Country Craft Creations, black for the one, white for the other. Cardstock can be found here. Each book used approximately 5-6 pieces of 12 x 12 patterned papers, more for the tags and photo mats. You will also need a small piece of heavy weight chipboard for the spine. Below is a cut list for one book. Spine: Heavyweight Chipboard, 1 - 2 x 4 Cardstock, 1 - 4 x 6, and 1 at 3 1/2 x 3 7/8 Hinges: 3 - 1 x 3 7/8 Envelopes: 5 - 11 1/2 x 9 Tags and photomats depend on how big and how many you wish. I did use several eyelets in this project and several yards of seambinding for the album closure and bows. Seambinding can be found here. The lace can be found here. I also mention the Facebook Group "Scrapbookers of Country Craft Creations" When you join this group you will find all sorts of things to keep your crafty heart happy. Come check it out. Thanks so much for watching and I hope you have fun making one of these for your own.

Friendship Rose Stacked Book Decor/Gift Box, a Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

Welcome back to my site. This is a fun project that looks like a decorative book piece but is also a gift box. In these boxes you can put goodies for your Valentine, and I've also created a small tag album to go inside. I'm using Heartfelt Creations "Friendship Roses" by Country Craft Creations, which can be found here.

The Heartfelt Creations Dies that I used for the album can be found here: Tag Die Pocket Die, this is currently sold out, I'm sorry, but please keep checking back. Each outer box used 1 (12 x 12) sheet of heavyweight chipboard, 2 sheets of main color of cardstock. Each inner box used about 1/2 sheet of lightweight chipboard and 3 sheets of main color cardstock. Patterned paper for the entire project totals about 8-10 sheets of 12 x 12, depending on how you want to decorate the boxes. I used 2 sheets of Summer Ivory, a coordinating color of cardstock for the outer boxes. Cutting Guide: FOR EACH BOX YOU WISH TO MAKE: OUTER BOX: Heavy Weight Chipboard 2 - 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 1 - 1 1/2 x 7 1/4 Cardstock 2 - 7 1/4 x 9 1/4 1 - 4 1/2 x 9 1/4 1 - 4 1/2 x 7 1/8 Coordinating Cardstock 2 - 7 1/8 x 5 1/8 INNER BOX: Light Weight Chipboard 2 - 1 3/8 x 4 7/8 2 - 1 3/8 x 6 7/8 Cardstock 1 - 7 x 11 2 - 3 1/2 x 6 Patterned Paper: OUTER BOX: 1 - 6 7/8 x 4 7/8 (FOR THE INSIDE OF THE LID ONLY) INNER BOX: For the outside of the Inner Box 2 - 1 3/8 x 4 7/8 1 - 1 3/8 x 6 7/8 For the inside of the Inner Box 2 - 1 3/8 x 4 7/8 2 - 1 3/8 x 6 7/8 1 - 6 7/8 x 4 7/8 For the Tag Album: I used the dies to create 5 tags. Cut patterned papers and cutaparts to fit the tags. Please see the video for the explanation of how I created pockets with the pocket die during the tutorial. Other items used from the Country Craft Creations store, https://countrycraftcreations.com Artisan Cardstock in White and Summer Ivory, https://www.countrycraftcreations.com/collections/artisan-cardstock Polka Dot Ribbon, https://www.countrycraftcreations.com/products/sheer-polka-dot-ribbon-light-pink-sold-by-the-yard Light weight chipboard , https://www.countrycraftcreations.com/collections/chipboard/products/chipboard-light-weight-12x12-sheet heavy weight chipboard, https://www.countrycraftcreations.com/collections/chipboard/products/chipboard-medium-weight-12x12-sheet As always, if you have any questions please let me know. Also please let me know what you think about the project. Have a crafty day!

Triple Squash Explosion Card Tutorial, a Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

 Today in this video we are making this fun card with Heartfelt Creations "Friendship Roses" collection and Country Craft Creations "Snowman and Friends" collection. This is fun project and I'll also show you how to make two types of envelopes to go with it.

You don't need an explosion scoreboard for this, we can make it with a regular scoreboard. I also use the envelope punch board. Everything else is "basic" supplies. The cards with envelopes require 4 sheets of cardstock. If you use 12 x 12 patterned paper, it requires 4 sheets, and for 8 x 8 paper it takes 7 sheets. Below is a cutting list and also links to the products I used. I hope you enjoy it! For envelopes using the envelope scoreboard, cut cardstock at 9 7/8 x 9 7/8 For envelopes using the regular scoreboard, cardstock is 12 x 12 Cardstock for the cards: Base 1 - 10 x 7 Sides 2 - 3 x 7 Main Squash, 1 - 6 x 6 Smaller Squash, 2 - 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 I cut pieces to write sentiments...(Optional, watch the video for explanation) For the side piece, 1 - 2 x 6 For the back piece, 1 - 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 For the patterned paper: Base 4 - 4 7/8 x 6 7/8 Sides 4 - 2 3/8 x 6 7/8 For the main Squash: Squares: 2 - 2 7/8 x 2 7/8 Triangles: 2 - 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 For the smaller squash: Squares: 2 - 2 1/2 Triangles: 2 - 2 3/8 x 2 3/8 Seambinding for closure, 2 - 12-14" long

The Heartfelt Creations paper, "Friendship Roses" can be found here Snowman and Friends paper Artisan Cardstock Seambinding Heart Lace

Heartfelt Creations Dies Tag Die Pocket Die, this is currently sold out, I'm sorry, but please keep checking back. I always try to make sure that everything I do in my tutorials and in my details are accurate. If you have any questions please let me know. I'm always happy to help. Have a crafty day.

Easel Style Tag Calendar, A Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

 

Welcome back to my channel. I have a very simple desk calendar idea that is so quick to put together and a stash buster at the same time. It has a simple easel and uses the die cut tags from Heartfelt Creations "Album Tags and Accents" die set. These are available at Country Craft Creations. I used the exclusive paper collection "Remember the Time" from Country Craft Creations. I also used cardstock, and chipboard. I will talk about the calendars in the tutorial and where to get them. But you can also check out this site, https://print-a-calendar.com/make-a-calendar. This link will take you to where you can customize a printable calendar. For easel: Cardstock 1 - 10 x 4 1 - 4 x 4 1 - tag die cut Light Weight Chipboard, (covered with cardstock on one side only) 2 - 3 7/8 x 3 7/8 For the calendar, I used 6 die cut tags, and mini calendars matted with cardstock. I used 12 die cut mats for the tags in the calendar papers. Please note that your mini calendars may vary in size so please check yours, measure and mat accordingly. Thanks for watching!!

New Year, New Plan, #CraftyGoals2023

 Hi, and welcome to the #Craftygoals2023 collaboration! This is a new adventure I'm starting with a group of crafty women here on YouTube and in Instagram. We are going to share with you how we are making our crafty goals come to life through the year. There will be different topics along the way, and follow-ups to share how we did, what works and what didn't for us, and maybe some hints and tips that will help you.

We are posting on the 1st of every month throughout the year. Please check out the links below for the crafty creators who are participating, and please like and subscribe so you can be notified of all of the posts. Thanks so much for watching, and lets plan to have a crafty year!!! Debbie Alley’s Project39 Mini Albums

Crafting and Creating with Caroline

Letty Zavela

Michelle Hale

Michelle Allen, {That's Me!}

Hope Michaud

Let's Make a Centerpiece with Country Craft Creations and the New Years Eve YouTube Hop!

Welcome to the Country Craft Creations 2023 New Years Eve YouTube Hop! We are all very excited to be bringing you our projects. We were challenged to do something we haven't done, something we have been wanting to try. For the longest time I have been looking at the "Fold and Stitch" fabric centerpieces, and I have wanted to adapt them to paper. I did it! I'm using Country Craft Creations "Sugar and Spice" paper collection and I think you will like it! It is easy to do, and during the tutorial I will discuss other ideas you can do with this design. The following designers are also doing videos on techniques/tutorials. Please visit their channels. We would all love to hear what you think, and please, if you haven't, subscribe to our channels so you can be notified of all of our videos. Thank you! Bobbie Weaver

Sandy Trefger

Jacqualine Hart

Ann Marie Cholewinski

Jennifer Palmer

Nicole Lynn

Tiffany Higgins

Margaret Naab Patty Mae For my project, you will need the following: Cardstock, 1 - 12 x 12, cut into a 12" circle. You can use a Cricut or Silhouette, or a compass/ruler tool 1 patterned paper or cardstock Center, 6 x 6 Patterned papers, 14 at 4 x 4. You can use all one pattern (if you do you will need 3 sheets of the same paper), or you can use different patterns, and I will discuss this in the video. 14 embellishments of your choice, which could include flowers, buttons, rhinestones, etc. Thanks for watching!!! Have fun, and I will see you in the new year!!

Altered CD Folio Project

 Hi all, and welcome back to my channel. Today I have a tutorial for a fun project. This started as a kit (that I have had in my stash since around 2005), I added some Graphic 45 papers (Place in Time from 2012 and Time to Flourish from 2014), and this is the result.

I altered the CD folios that came in the kit and altered the size and orientation of the box and made this project, which I will go over in the video. Then I had some interest from quite a few people about a tutorial. I recreated this project with Kraft cardstock and some chipboard. I hope you enjoy the tutorial. I do not know if you can get these specific Graphic 45 papers, they are older collections. I do know that there is a newer calendar paper collection available. Check the Graphic 45 site or your local craft store. I also know that Country Craft Creations has a wonderful collection called 

“Remember the Time” that would be lovely with this project. During the tutorial, from Country Craft Creations I used: Kraft Cardstock Chipboard (Heavy weight and light weight) Art Glitter Glue Seam Binding The basic cut list for ONE folio: Please note you will need to multiply these by the number of folios you want to make. 1 - 11 1/2 x 8 5/8 1 - 6 1/8 (-1/16) x 1 3/4 1 - 4 1/2 x 5 1/8 For the box: Chipboard: 1 - 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 (Heavyweight). Please note that the bottom will depend on if you want to use the box feet or not, I discuss this in the video. 4 - 2 7/8 x 5 7/8 (Lightweight) Cardstock: 1 - 6 x 6 2 - 7 x 6 1/2 2 - 6 x 6 1/2 Thanks for watching and have a great day!

A couple of hauls to share with you

The first video is the design team haul I received from Country Craft Creations.  I have the exclusive collection "Schoolhouse Memories" and Heartfelt Creations "Friendship Rose" collection.  These papers, with an assortment of embellishments are going to be so fun to play with over the next month.  
 

This second video is an unboxing of the #10 "Books" box from Your Creative Studio.  These are fantastic assortments of goodies for journals, planners, and anything else you want to do.  This box includes stickers, papers, washi tape, stamps, and even a sticky note pad that looks like library cards.  

Come check out the videos and I'll see you soon with some projects.

Stay Crafty, My Friends,

Michelle

Tag Accordion Recipe Album Tutorial

 Do you want to see a fun, easy and quick project??  Then check out this video!

I made the original album with press-board tags from the Dollar Store.  I recreated it with chipboard for the tutorial.  It is really easy and I have 24 recipe cards in it!  

I used scraps from the Country Craft Creations virtual retreat to make the first one, and scraps from a 2020 Craftology kit for the second.  All information is in the video.  Please come and check it out!

Thanks for stopping by, and Stay Merry, My Friends!!!

Junk Journal Stuff Envelope Insert Tutorial

 Hi all! Welcome back to my blog!

Today I'm sharing something I thought was a fun idea. I made a stuffed envelope for a junk journal insert. It is stuffed, but not too bulky, and I used awesome products from the "Fall" box from Your Creative Studio.  

I did an unboxing of this collection, and it's here if you want to see in detail what came in the box. I used coffee dyed papers to create the envelope, and it is full of fun surprises to keep in the pocket, or to add to a junk journal as an extremely fun element. I hope you enjoy the tutorial on how I made the envelope and the fun window pocket from a business envelope that I created for some of the elements that came in this "Fall" box. Stay Crafty and I'll see you soon with more fun projects.

Retreat Projects, Extra Projects and Card Tutorials, OH MY!

 

November 30 through December 4th we at Country Craft Creations had a virtual retreat, called the Christmas Cookie Exchange Retreat.  It was FULL of wonderful projects and I did a video sharing what the designers did for tutorial and what I did with the leftovers of the tutorials.  In the making of the tutorials I tried two card techniques that I have wanted to learn, and now I'm going to share with you too!

Come check it out! If you haven't checked out Country Craft Creations, and/or the retreats/virtual retreats, please go to https://countrycraftcreations.com

We used several paper collections for the retreat:

The exclusive paper collections that we used from Country Craft Creations are: Snowman and Friends Once Upon a Christmas (I accidentally called it Old World Christmas in the video, YIKES!) Sugar and Spice Christmas Cheer 'Twas the Night They can be found here The other amazing paper collections we used are: Echo Park's "Winter" and "Santa Claus Lane" (This link is to a mega bundle...Oh my goodness!!!) From Simple Stories we used: "Mix and a Mingle" "Baking Spirits Bright" Heartfelt Creations, "Holiday Star" The tutorial I used to make Jacqueline's Snowglobe is here

I hope you enjoy the video.  

Stay Merry, My Friends!

White Christmas Loaded Album, a Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

 

Good morning...I have been awake since 2 am, and because of that you all get a tutorial I wasn't originally planning on posting today.  But, what else are you supposed to do when you can't sleep?

This is my take on a loaded envelope or loaded pocket.  I'm using Carta Bella's "White Christmas" paper collection from Country Craft Creations.  You can find it here.  

I have been wanting to do this idea for a while, so I hope you enjoy it.

Stay crafty, my friends!

Twas the Night Album Tutorial, A Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

 

This album is SO AMAZING!  These exclusive papers are so incredible that I created a book that totally keeps all of the paper images intact and gives room for photos to create an incredible family heirloom!

Because of the nature of this unique tutorial, I have created a guide to be a companion to the tutorial. It can be found at this link. I don't normally do a guide like this, but for this album, I thought it would be better and would assist in the tutorial. I want your project to come out perfectly! Here are links to the products from Country Craft Creations: Twas the Night, please note that I used the 8 x 8 paper pack Artisan Cardstock: I used Brown for the base color and two sheets of Olive, but Kraft, Natural, and Black would also work. Gold Mirror Paper Heartfelt Creations Small Festive Poinsettia Die. Please note that the mold I used is currently out of stock, but please check back. Heartfelt Album Tags and Accents Dies Dylusions Tags

Remember the Time, Monthly Notebook Tutorial

 

I created these fun notebooks for every month using the gorgeous paper collection "Remember the Time" from Country Craft Creations.  This is a quick tutorial and fun to do, and will show you how to do the pamphlet stitch if you aren't familiar with it.  

Thanks for watching, and stay crafty, my friends.

Michelle

More mini junk journals!

 

 

I made some more junk journals and wanted to share.

I had inspiration from Cori Dahmen who did a great tutorial on a hidden binding, and I had to try it.     That video is here.

I also used a lot of goodness from a collection from Your Creative Studio.  That site is here.

I did two books in this tutorial, one is from policy envelopes and one is made from a mini composition book.  I hand dyed my papers with coffee, and the tutorial I used for that is here.  

Thanks for watching, and stay crafty.

Michelle

Altered Half Sized Composition Book, a Country Craft Creations Design Team Project

 

I found these half sized composition books at my local Office Depot and they are so much fun to alter.  Come check out what I did using leftovers from my Echo Park "Fall Fever" paper collection!

Country Craft Creations

Echo Park "Fall Fever"

Stay Crafty, My Friends!

Fall Breeze, Straw Bound Album, Part 2, a Country Craft Creations Tutorial

 

Here is Part 2 of this fun tutorial.  I will share the binding and the way I decorated and used my patterned paper.  The papers, "Fall Breeze", are exclusive to Country Craft Creations, and can be found here.

In case you missed Part 1 of this tutorial, you can click on it below to be taken to the video.

Thank you so much, and have a crafty day!