Organizing my Albums

 My scrapbook making has taken over my guest room!  I have boxes and totes full of books and thinks that I have made.  

I decided to clean it up so I could actually use my guest room...provided COVID will let up eventually!

Doesn’t that look nice?  So much better!  The trouble is that I need more shelves!!!  

It’s not going to stop me from creating!!!  I’ll figure it out! 

Have a crafty day!

Summer Trifold Tutorial

 This is my second design team tutorial for Country Craft Creations using Carta Bella's super cute and fun paper collection called "Summer". It is really a quick album and focuses on highlighting the 3 x 4" cut apart that came in the design team package. Please visit Country Craft Creations and check out what they have in the store. There are tons of options for every paper crafting need. https://countrycraftcreations.com

Here is a cutting list. I did not do a cutting guide (visual) since there aren't too many pieces. To complete this project you will need: 5 sheets of cardstock, 12 x 12. I used the 100 lb Artisan (white) for the base, and Summer Ivory and Baby Blue for the elements. You do not have to use the different colors at all, I just wanted to. I used approximately 6 pieces of patterned paper, which included one full 3 x 4" cut apart sheet. I used several yards of seam binding for the closures throughout the album. I made tags out of leftover cardstock and used eyelets for those. I also used Graphic 45 Artist Trading Card sized tags that came in the design team package. Thanks for watching!! Stay crafty, my friends! Cutting List: Folio Base: A: 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 B: 9 1/2 x 5 C: 9 1/2 x 6 3/4 Small Pockets: 2 - 5 x 2 1/2 Never Ending Booklet: This book opens in several ways! 6 - 4 x 6 Large Pocket: 1 - 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 Waterfall Pages: These are cool, they are interactive! 1 each at... 11 1/2 x 6 10 1/2 x 6 9 1/2 x 6 8 1/2 x 6

Recipe box project

 This last week has been mentally and physically brutal. My Ace is doing well, he is home from doggie ICU but still a sick pup. He is slowly getting better. Thank goodness my mom came to babysit while we had to work. (And work this week was so hard!!!). She is an absolute angel! 

 I tried to work on design team projects but my brain wasn’t able. I do have my next one ready to film, I think Monday. But I couldn’t work on the third. Sometimes to take my mind off of things and rest it a little I do tutorials from other designers. I decided to work on Jennifer Palmer’s Recipe Box. She is an amazing designer with Country Craft Creations.

https://youtu.be/ERROrChHG5c

It’s big enough to hold 8 1/2 x 11” printouts!!!

I had the perfect papers in my stash, and used Black Artisan Cardstock. When I was done I made a quick mini file with the leftovers.

 I had so many scraps I decided to make some patchwork paper sheets. Now I have 6 more 12x12 papers to play with!  I did a tutorial on how to do that here. 

https://youtu.be/qiQwWg3KGSE

Anyway, long story but I just wanted to share. Please check out her tutorial!  I love this recipe box!  

PS:  I think the mini file may become part of a larger project I see in my future...notes are sketched!  😎

What's Cookin? A Craftology Box Album Tutorial

This is my first time creating a Craftology Box design team project for Country Craft Creations! I am so excited to be doing this for you! I am using the April Craftology Box to create this amazing album. I am using the GORGEOUS paper collection called "What's Cookin?" that is EXCLUSIVE to Country Craft Creations, and created by it amazing owner Tamra Kilgore-Merrill. This album/recipe book is big and wonderful and will hold a lot of pictures and recipes as it is intended to be a keepsake album. I hope you love it as much as I do!

This is a subscription box, so the cut list and pictures will be included in the package. If you haven't subscribed to the Craftology box, all of the measurements will be included in the tutorial. If you would like to check out the subscription or buy your papers for this album, please visit Country Craft Creations at their main page here... Country Craft Creations.

Thank you so much for watching!!

Summer Configurations Mini Album Tutorial

 This is the first design team project I am doing for Country Craft Creations using the Carta Bella "Summer" paper collection. I was totally inspired by the berry baskets this papers design, and I think you will love how I created the pages. With a few strategic scores and cuts, I was able to make 5 different pages out of a single way to score and cut a 12x12 piece of cardstock.

Along with the paper collection (which included patterned papers, coordinating cardstock, stickers and ephemera), I used Artisan Cardstock (White, Baby Blue, Summer Ivory, and scraps of Red and Dark Green), Art Glitter Glue, Score Tape sheets, Chipboard, seam binding, Graphic 45 Artist Trading Card sized tags, acetate, and Doo Dadz, all from Country Craft Creations. Please visit the store at https://www.countrycraftcreations.com and gather your supplies for this fun album.

Below is the cutting list for the project. I did not do a visual cutting guide for this album, since there are not too many pieces to actually cut and piece. Also, I did not make the cover using the lay flat method during this video, but do talk about how I did it. If you are unfamiliar with that method (created by Tamra Merrill, owner of Country Craft Creations), please see this link to my video where I teach the method on how to make it (and actually make the cover for this particular album).  

Have fun with your crafty time! Cutting list: Total number of papers needed: 6 of the patterned papers which included one sheet of 4 x 4 cut apart 2 coordinating cardstock papers from the collection Artisan Cardstock, 11 of White, 3 of Baby Blue, 3 of Summer Ivory, and scraps of Red and Dark Green COVER: Chipboard: 2 at 7 1/2 x 5 1/2 1 at 7 1/2 x 2 1/2 I used score tape sheets to attach chipboard to the cardstock Cardstock to cover chipboard (White): 2 at 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 1 at 9 1/2 x 6 1 at 7 3/8 x 6 I used one sheet of coordinating cardstock color from the collection for covering the inside covers I used two Graphic 45 tags for the album closure with seam binding PAGES (White): 3 at 12 x 10 3/4 2 at 12 x 12 WATERFALLS (White): 2 at 4 1/8 x 10 3/4 2 at 4 1/8 x 9 3/4 2 at 4 1/8 x 8 3/4 2 at 1 1/2 x 5 I used two magnets for the closures BERRY BASKET (on front cover, in Baby Blue): 2 at 4 1/2 x 3/4 5 at 1/2 x 3 STRAWBERRIES: Scraps of Red and Dark Green I used a heart and oak leaf punch from my stash, you could also use dies or a Cricut or Silhouette cut PAGE MATS: Their placement will be in the video, shown throughout. I used 4 x 4 cutaparts to layer on top of some of these mats. Baby Blue: 2 at 6 7/8 x 4 7/8 5 at 4 7/8 x 4 7/8 2 at 6 7/8 x 4 5/8 Summer Yellow: 2 at 6 7/8 x 4 7/8 7 at 4 7/8 x 4 7/8 1 at 6 7/8 x 4 5/8

How to make stacked waterfalls

 

I have another extra design team tutorial for Country Craft Creations.

I did a tutorial on how I create my stacked waterfalls, since I've had some questions about how I do it. I explain how I figure it out for odd and even page numbers and how to put them together. I have been making these for a while and they are super easy and fun. It's a newer technique, so I hope you like it.

Enjoy!

Stay Crafty!

Michelle

The Lay Flat Album Cover Method

 Hi, everyone. I did a video tutorial on the lay flat album cover method that Tamra Kilgore-Merrill, owner of Country Craft Creations, has developed, and that I use almost exclusively now. This video is only on how I use this method to make covers, and will be referred to in future tutorials on mini albums. I have a new album tutorial coming very soon!!! I hope you like it.

Stay Crafty!

Simple Stories Simple Card Kit tutorial

Today I have a design team tutorial for you using the simple Stories new card kit collection. 

This is available at Country Craft Creations, at countrycraftcreations.com

This is a fun and quick card making kit and I’ll share some hints and tips for making them and for adding your own touches!

Stay crafty, my friends!

Michelle  

 

My Newest Design Team Package

 

I received my new design team package from Country Craft Creations and I did a video to share it with you.

I received the gorgeous Carta Bella "Summer" Collection and as a bonus, the Simple Stories card kit, "Hello Lovely".  

Along with the kits I also have some fun embellishments and goodies to use with the collection.

Country Craft Creations is an amazing online store and an incredible Facebook community.  Not only can you buy amazing crafting supplies, including exclusive patterned papers and Artisan cardstock, but you can also find literally hundreds of tutorials, all free.  If you haven't checked it out yet, you really should.  

I will be back with more tutorials soon.

Stay crafty, my friends!

A New Explosion Box Design Tutorial For You

Today I have a new explosion box for you.  The video tutorial is available on YouTube.  You can click the video below to see it...

This is a design team project for Country Craft Creations using the awesome papers by Echo Park called "Remember the Magic" and Red Artisan Cardstock.  I also used the Explosion Board by We Are Memory Keepers.  

This album features a waterfall type mini album and fun new diagonal belly bands.  I think you will like this album in a box very much!  It was fun and easy to make.

You will need approximately 4 pieces of 12 x 12 cardstock to create the base of the book/album. I'm sorry, I didn't do a good job of trying to figure out how much patterned paper I used, but I guesstimate that I used about 10 sheets total. (I used up a lot of scraps up in this project.). I also used a little seam binding and some chipboard stickers. Please visit Country Craft Creations for your supplies.

 Thanks for stopping by the blog and thanks for going on to You Tube to see the video.  

Have fun and stay crafty!

Michelle

Country Bunny Basket Tutorial

Welcome to my design team tutorial using the new Country Bunny paper collection and the new 100 lb Artisan cardstock exclusively sold at Country Craft Creations.

Today I am making this quick and cute basket project which also uses the We Are Memory Keepers Explosion board. I love this project, as it is so versatile and can be used with all kinds of different papers. This project is a decor piece, it IS NOT STURDY enough for children to go Easter egg hunting. It is also paper, and flammable, so I did use a battery operated candle in it, NOT A REAL CANDLE!

All you need to make this project are two pieces of 12 x 12 cardstock, 2 pieces of 12 x 12 patterned paper and embellishments of choice. I hope you like it and have fun with it. I will be back soon with more projects to share with you!

Check out the video below and have fun creating!!!

Stay crafty,

Michelle

Ireland Forever Mini Album Tutorial

Hello everyone! I finally have the "Ireland Forever" tutorial for you. If you watched my last video share, I showed you the cute album I made for a design team for Country Craft Creations using Photo Play's "Lucky Charm" paper collection, and I said I would remake it in the tutorial using Country Craft Creations exclusive "Ireland Forever" paper collection.  

Here is the video.

This collection is so beautiful and sophisticated and just plain gorgeous. Whether you want a paper collection for St. Patrick's day, an album to showcase your heritage, or memories from a trip to Ireland, this paper is for you. It is stunning. This is just one of Tamra's new lines. Go to Country Craft Creations to check it out and get some for yourself.

Below you will find the cutting list for this project and the cutting guide for the cardstock used in this project. In total, I used 2 sheets of heavy weight chipboard, 14 sheets of Black Artisan cardstock, 6 sheets of the new color Olive, and 16 sheets if the patterned paper. There are 24 sheets in the pack, so I still have 8 sheets left to do another project. I also used a little bit of white cardstock from my scraps. You will also need seam binding and 4 large magnets for closures. Thanks for watching and stay crafty! CUTTING LIST: All cardstock is in black except for where mentioned... Chipboard: 1 - 2 1/2 x 9 2 - 7 1/4 x 9 Cardstock to cover chipboard: 1 - 5 1/2 x 11 2 - 9 1/4 x 11 1 - 8 7/8 x 5 1/2 In Olive: 2 - 7 1/8 x 8 7/8 and 1 - 2 3/8 x 8 7/8 Waterfalls, inner covers: 2 - 6 x 9 1/2 2 - 6 x 8 1/2 8 - 4 1/2 x 6 2 - 2 1/2 x 6 5/8 Pages: 4 - 8 3/4 x 7 1/2 The following are page elements that we make in the video... Pages 1 and 8: I show two different options, so watch the video and decide which you want to do...either a booklet or a trifold, or one of each...These are in Olive Booklet, 2 - 6 x 8 Trifold, - 2 - 6 x 12 Pages 2 and 3: 2 - 6 x 12 2 - 1 1/8 x 4 4 - 4 7/8 x 6 Pages 4 and 5: 2 - 9 1/8 x 6 1 - 3 x 3 1 - 5 x 5 Pages 6 and 7: 1 - 8 3/4 x 8 3/4

Below are the cutting guides for your cardstock. Some are for the main color (black) and some are the contrasting color (Olive).

 I have a walk through of my new mini album. 

In the video I show the design team project prototype using Photo Play's "Lucky Charm" (the design team package paper collection), but in the tutorial I will use Tamra's "Ireland Forever", which I talk about in the walk through.  

Tamra, owner of Country Craft Creations, has her OWN PAPER COLLECTIONS NOW! There are three available now, and many more on the way, so check the store often. They are seriously the most beautiful collections, you will love them. This one is if the first one I am using. I am currently also working on a project using her "What's Cookin?" paper collection, and there is also another one called "Country Bunny" that is a must have.

Please check out these papers and more, at Country Craft Creations.

Thank you so much for stopping by. See you soon with the tutorial!!!

Stay Crafty,

Michelle

 Today I am sharing a desk organizer that I made using my We Are Memory Keepers Explosion Board!  

This is a fun project and it's easy and it's customizable!!! I used papers by Prima that I received in a Mystery Box, and also the Kraft Cardstock, both from Country Craft Creations. The Explosion Boards are ordered and will be in the store soon.  

This project would be super cute in your office, your kitchen, your craft room, anywhere you need a little organization. There is also an optional "tray" that you can make to put it it, which expands the organization even more.  

I used 6 sheets of cardstock and 8 sheets of patterned paper to make this, so it really doesn't take much. After watching you will be able to make any configuration you want!  

Thanks for watching, and stay crafty!

Michelle

 I have a new tutorial on YouTube using the We Are Memory Keepers Explosion Board. This is as part of the design team for Country Craft Creations. If you haven't joined the Facebook group "Scrapbookers of Country Craft Creations" you should, it is amazing!! Tamra, our leader and owner of Country Craft Creations, and all of the designers are so very talented. All tutorials are free and they are varied. No matter what kind of paper crafting you do, you will definitely find something for you there.

In this tutorial I am making three different kinds of cards and also making card boxes. There are different sizes of boxes to house cards for giving as a gift, and also sizes that could house lots of cards if you are making them for swaps. By request I also made a lid with an acetate window. 

The Explosion Board will be in the Country Craft Creations store very soon. It is a second order, the first batch sold out! Please check out the shop and get one for your own, you will love this tool.

I hope you enjoy!

"Lucky Star" Tag Album Tutorial

 My third tutorial using the Blue Fern Studio's "Lucky Star" paper collection is available on YouTube! This is a design team project for Country Craft Creations. Please visit the store, you will love it.

I made this fantastic tag album with a chipboard cover, pocket pages and a ton of tags. I used up every bit of the paper I could to make this, and decorated it with flowers, ribbons, rhinestones and fussy cutting. I hope you like it! The video starts with a walk through and then goes into how to make it.

I do not have a cutting guide for this project but below is a cut list for the project. Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy the tutorial. I will be back soon with more projects!!! Chipboard (I used one sheet of 12 x 12): 2 - 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 1 - 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 Cardstock to cover chipboard (main color, 2 sheets of 12 x 12): 2 - 6 1/2 x 10 1/2 1 - 5 1/2 x 6 1/2 1 - 5 1/2 x 4 3/8 Pocket pages (Cardstock in main color, 4 sheets of 12 x 12): 4 - 6 7/8 x 9 (I use the leftovers from these sheets to create tags for the pockets...see below). Photo mats to go on the pocket pages are 2 each of 4 different contrasting colors, all 6 1/8 x 4 1/8 (I used leftover pieces of my design team package, you can use a single contrasting color of cardstock, you will need 8 photomats in all, 2 sheets of 12 x 12.) Patterned papers used to make large tags for pockets are 4 at 4 x 8". These were left over from my first project. You can see this tutorial here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvtWY2YFheM Cardstock tags, 4 at 3 1/2 x 7 (these were cut from leftovers from the pocket pages). I covered these with pieces of patterned papers and cardstock left over to create different areas for photos...please see this in the video for examples. Behind each photomat (except for the first one...you'll see in the video what I mean) I put 3 x 4 pieces of cardstock and cut aparts. I used 16 in all. Eight were 3 x 4 cutaparts and 8 were plain cardstock pieces. You will need Seambinding, flowers, bling, etc. as desired. I used Art Glitter Glue and Score Tape as well.

 

Y'all have to check this video out!  Tamra, owner of Country Craft Creations, has ventured into making her own designs for paper collections!!!

I absolutely love the papers, they are beautiful in every way.  

The collections are:

Country Bunny

Forever Ireland

What's Cookin?

You will absolutely love love love the designs and the quality of the papers.  There are more designs to come.  Best of all, MADE IN THE USA!!!  

Check out the video and then check out Country Craft Creations.  You will want all of them!!  I can't wait to start creating with them!

CONGRATULATIONS, TAMRA!!!  WELL DONE!!!

Stay crafty,

Michelle

Coming soon!

 Here’s a little sneak peek of my upcoming design team project for Country Craft Creations using Blue Fern Studios paper collection.  You’re going to love it!

Visit Country Craft Creations at countrycraftcreations.com and check out this collection, and some NEW PAPERS by Tamra herself!  You will love, love, LOVE this online shop!  

Stay crafty, my friends!

 Good morning...I have my 2nd design team project for Country Craft Creations using the gorgeous "Lucky Star" collection by Blue Fern Studios. It is gorgeous paper, and the cut-aparts inspired this layout. This video is more of a share/walk through, but I will talk you through my whole process, including some tips on conserving paper if you are running a little low. I love how this layout looks, and I hope you do too!

Please visit Country Craft Creations for your supplies for this and other projects. You will not be disappointed!!!

Have a great day and stay crafty!

Michelle

Explosion Board Gift Boxes Tutorial

 Hi Everyone! I'm back with another tutorial using the Explosion Box Scoreboard from We are Memory Keepers.  

This is a design team project for Country Craft Creations, featuring this wonderful scoreboard. The board will be available in the store, Country Craft Creations soon...please keep checking the site, it is on the way again (It sold out the first round!!!)  

I have created some different types of gift boxes for you today, ranging from an 8 x 8 x 2" box to a "pizza style" gift box with inside dividers. There are several different ideas in this video, please check it all out. I am currently working on two more videos with even more ideas to create even more things with this scoreboard. I am OBSESSED! The patterned paper was from my stash, and I used up scraps as well! I hope you enjoy the video, have fun and let me know if you have any questions!

Stay Crafty,

Michelle