May 4th, 2025
Inside: the new free junk journal ephemera to use If you are constantly looking for new papers and materials for your junk journals than you are in the right place. I want to tell you about an exciting new resource for getting free papers and embellishments for junk journaling. WHAT IS A JUNK JOURNAL There is no one definition of a junk journal and they can vary from person to person however there is one main thing that is common to all junk journals: they are all made from a mix of found and recycled materials. They are called junk journals because they are usually books or journals made from the paper “junk”, scraps and leftovers we don’t use. You can see how to make them in this tutorial. You can use: Scrapbook papers Tissue papers Old book pages Magazines pages Notebook pages Envelopes Ephemera items Tags WHAT ABOUT OTHER JUNK JOURNAL EPHEMERA …..
November 22nd, 2019
Inside: 12 ways to use distress inks in your craft projects When I first tried Distress Inks all those years ago I didn’t really understand what was all the noise about. But that was not because they were a bad product it was because I didn’t understand their potential and how to use them properly. Today when I teach or create Distress inks almost always find their way to my project. But until this day I get a lot of questions on how to use them and what you can do with them and most importantly what they are better than regular inks. WHAT ARE DISTRESS INKS They are water-based dye inks that have incredible color stability. Unlike other inks, Distress Inks react to water. It means that water doesn’t break down the color. Water also allows the ink to move on the paper. They are perfect for traditional ink techniques but their unique qualities …
May 24th, 2019
Inside: how to rescue your valuable old photos from magnetic albums If you’re over 40 it means you probably have old magnetic albums, black glue-on scrapbooks or just old photos stashed in boxes or drawers. All these precious photos filled with memories and history are in danger! If you used “magnetic” pages in your album – the ones with sticky pages that you could cover with clear plastic – your photos might already be in rough shape. Photos on old black paper pages, even with photo corners, might not be faring well, either. If you do own one of these older photo albums full of precious family pictures then I advise you to do something NOW to try and prevent further deterioration. WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOUR OLD PHOTOS Older magnetic photo albums have pages that are covered in strips of sticky glue that hold the photos to the pages. The pages are then sealed under …
December 18th, 2018
Inside: how to age paper – techniques to make paper look old I love craft materials with a vintage and aged look especially paper. Waiting until paper gets to look old on its own can take a very long time so other than buying it in the craft store the best way to have aged paper is to make it yourself. WHY AGE PAPER Although making your own craft paper supply can be time consuming using different techniques and materials to age paper yourself is a good idea for several reasons: Age any paper you want without depending on the selection the store has. Control the color and hue of the paper. Decide if and what texture to add to the paper. Make large number of aged paper. Cost effective and very cheap. Use materials you already have at home and in the craft room. WHAT TO DO WITH AGE PAPER When you …
July 25th, 2017
Inside: what are artist trading cards and how to make them look amazing Artist trading cards (ATCs) is a conceptual art project initiated by the Swiss artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann in 1997. Artist trading cards are 2.5 by 3.5 inches in size, the same format as modern trading cards (hockey cards or baseball cards) or playing cards. They are self-made unique works or small series, signed and dated on the reverse by the artist/producer, exchanged and collected by the people who participate in the collaboration. WHAT ARE THE RULES OF ARTIST TRADING CARDS If you’re not familiar with ATC’s here are the basics that you need to know: Size: 2.5″ x 3.5″ vertical or horizontal You can use all mediums Create more than one and show your style Sign your name and add the card’s title on the back ATC’s are for trade never for sale HOW TO MAKE ATC’s? Cut …
September 10th, 2013
Inside: how to make a configuration box with 3D objects and little found treasures I have a confession to make… I’m a hoarder. My house is not full of stuff but I do have A LOT of metal embellishments that I collect from all kinds of places. Why I collect them is a good question – something about metal objects fascinates me especially when it comes to add them to mixed media and altered project. They have a really interesting look in a craft project that I can’t resist. However collecting is nice but what do you do with all the metal embellishments you have? I found an answer… fill a configuration box! WHAT IS A CONFIGURATION BOX Configuration box is of a shadow box with compartments that can be filled with 3D objects. You can find wooden boxes ad chipboard boxes from various brands. Each brand has a different order and sizes for …
