Month: August 2015

Marker Giveaway!!! (that got your attention)

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I have a fun, fast and frugal project that will decorate your home all year-long. It is a DIY wreath with a plaque on it that you can write a seasonal greeting on and decorate to match any season because the colors are neutral.

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I made sure the plaque was glossy so that I could use my new Crafty Croc Liquid Chalk Markers on it and the writing would be easy to remove with a damp cloth. I will be giving an 18 color pack away to one lucky blog reader so make sure you leave a comment on this post for a chance to win! Also Crafty Croc giving my viewers $6 off the 18 color pack with the coupon code FRUGAL06 now through September 14, 2015.

Video!

See how easy it is! I think they would sell really well at a craft fair (yes, you have my permission to make these to sell!) or be awesome housewarming gifts.

Supplies:

  • Crafty Crock Liquid Chalk Markers, available in 8 pack neon, 10 pack earth tones or 18 pack mega kit. *note $6 off 18 pack with coupon code FRUGAL06
  • Styrofoam wreath form (9″ from Dollar Tree)
  • Old Book
  • Die (optional, I used the Tim Holts Bigz tattered florals for mine)
  • Hot glue
  • craft wire and cutters
  • Ribbon
  • Decorations
  • Wooden plaque made from hardboard (painted black and varnished or you can purchase a small chalkboard to glue on)

All of the directions for making the wreath are in the video. It is really easy. If you can’t find a wreath form you can cut a ring out of cardboard and use that. Coffee filters would work really well in place of the die cut book pages too. Use what you have and experiment! I want to thank Crafty Croc for sponsoring this tutorial and offering the giveaway. Make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win a set of markers. I will draw a name at random next Monday. If you want to save $6 on the 18 pack of Crafty crock Liquid Chalk Markers make sure you use the coupon code FRUGAL06 before 9/14/15. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Lots of Cards, Lots of Techniques & Lots of FUN!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends, the other day I made 20 cards in under 2 hours. Now, I am not suggesting that you should rush but I had a ball. I challenged myself to use only what was in the Watercolor Wishes card kit from Stampin’ Up! and my own adhesive.

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The really funny thing was I used a kit and my cards looked nothing like the ones in the directions that came with the kit but that’s OK, many of you said you wanted to see me use this kit on my last haul video and I would rather give you other options on what to do with the supplies. Add the 20 cards I demonstrate today with the 20 in the kit and you have 40 ideas! Woohoo! Don’t fret if you don’t have this kit, you can improvise with what you have at home, the techniques I am going to show you today will work for any cards or scrapbook pages.

Video!

This video is sponsored by Luvin’ Stampin’, home of independent Stampin’ Up Demonstrator Wendy Cranford, and the Stamp Luvers Club. If you would like to join her club you simply agree to spend $15 a month on YOUR CHOICE of supplies from her Stampin’ Up shop for 10 months. One month you will be the Honored Stamper and get $25 of your choice of supplies for free! Also you get a free live stream class and make and take every month. How cool is that? You can find out more at Luvin Stampin.

Supplies:

I think a kit like this is perfect for someone who wants to get the watercolor look but does not want the mess or someone who wants to make a bunch of pretty cards quickly and inexpensively. It is also a nice gift idea! I hope you found these techniques useful and you try them on your next cards! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

How about a tiny book from leftover paper?

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! tonight I have another bookmaking project for you. It is the same idea as the books we made last week but you get double the pages and the book is half the size. You just need a few more folds and 2 more cuts.

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Watch the video to see how easy it is!

Find the stamps I used Lost coast Designs here.

Supplies:
Scrapbook paper 12″x12″
gold pigment ink
Gold embossing powder
heat tool
stamps adhesive
Colorbox blends in black

I hope you try this fun bookmaking idea! Think of all the old scrapbook papers you can use up! Happy Crafting!

Friday Night Scrappin! {Yeah, I know how to PARTY!}

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Tonight I want to share a scrapbook page I just finished:

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Page 
I really like how it came out. I like to do a highly decorated page like this and then use the same papers to make other photo heavy pages from the same time or location. Sometimes to fit more photos in I will use the 4″x6″ divided page protectors. The metal embellishments I am using are from ButterBeeScraps. They sent me a large assortment to play with. AND they gave me a 15% off coupon code to share with you: frugal15 It’s good for 1 week, they ship worldwide and ANYONE can use the coupon code on all items except grab bags. 

Here is how I set them out on my workspace, I think it is a good idea to lay out all of the options you have for a page before you begin. It makes scrapping really fast because you don’t have to go looking for things.

DCF 1.0

DCF 1.0

BTW if you like seeing pics of my projects in process you can follow me on Instagram, I post a pic of my desk most days. Yes, it’s thrilling I tell you.

DCF 1.0
I had a mix of metal and resin embellishments to work from. I always look at the shape and design rather than color because you can use acrylic paint or alcohol ink to modify that. Also the thin metal filigree pieces and be altered with wire cutters, see how I made the page corners?
DCF 1.0
So easy to alter!

Here is a list of supplies I used to make my page:

I was really impressed with the quality of the embellishments from ButterBeeScraps. There prices are low too and even better with the 15% off coupon code frugal15, but don’t wait, the coupon expires 9/5/15! I am really excited to use some of the items I did not get a chance to use on this page in some jewelry and wine glass charms! What would you make?

DCF 1.0
Don’t be afraid to alter! Ink checked the cameo frame from silver to bronze and a few rhinestones made the wooden letters pop!
DCF 1.0
Altered wooden letters.

The only other thing I wanted to mention today is to create the way you want to. I realize that my scrapbook style might be a little to “fru-fru” for some but I love mixing patterns, color and texture. That’s what is great about this hobby, you can do it anyway you like! I want to thank ButterBeeScraps for sponsoring this post and giving my readers the awesome coupon off their already low prices (seriously, do not wait, use code frugal15 to grab what you want now because the coupon is only good for a week!) Please note, the grab bags are not included in the coupon because they are crazy cheap. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Faux-saic Box!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Grab your stencils and embossing paste and let’s make Faux Mosaics!

Video!

Supplies:
Kraft Jewelry Box 5″x6″:
Acrylic paint (grout color, I used white)
Glass Paint (Transparent)
Copper Tape
Stencil (Patti Tolley Parrish from istencil)
Stencil Embossing Paste (pearl-Dreamweaver)
paint brush, palette knife, scraper

Papermart supplies used in the card set
Jewelry Tissue on a roll
bulk envelopes
Baker’s Twine

Let me know if you want a demo on making the card set!

Mosaic box directions:
1. Paint box white, let dry.
2. Tape stencil to box lid and spread stencil paste on top. Remove and clean stencil, let dry.
3. Paint raised squares and bottom edges of box. Let dry.
4. Add copper tape to edges of the box lid if desired.

I put handmade cards in my box, what will you put in yours? Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Sponsored by Papermart.

Stamp School #10: Ideas for decorating insides & backs of cards & envelops!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I have a cardmaking tutorial for you where we will use the stamp positioner I showed you in SS#8 and we will talk about what to do with the insides and backs of cards. We will also use the clear embossing ink I showed you last week with chalk for a background, Fun!

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You can do as much or as little as you like, here are some ideas in today’s video.

Supplies:

Supplies:
1/2 sheet of white cardstock
12″x12″ sheet of patterned paper
Stamps:
Altenew Vintage Flowers and Painted Butterflies
Funny Handmade card stamp: Judikins
Back of Card Stamps: EK Success
Spatters: Rubbernecker
Floral background: Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine freebie
Ink: Memento
Stamp positioner
Clear embossing ink
Chalk

Let me know if you have any other techniques you want to learn on Stamp School!

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Sorry if my photos look off this week, I just upgraded my computer and I am trying the photo editing software that came with it. I am trying to decide if I want to keep it or try to transfer my old software over. Do these photos look weird to you? Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

My Mega August Crafty Haul!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

My studio is full to bursting with crafty goodness for upcoming tutorials, have a look!

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If you want to see everything then watch the video and be sure to let me know what products you would like to see me demonstrate first.

Video!

Craft Supplies from the video:

I think that is everything from this haul, let me know if I missed any thing:)
Disclaimer: Some of these products came from sponsors or were sent by companies in exchange for promotional consideration. That said,I only use products that I love and you will always get my honest opinion about them as well as DIY alternative for things you already have. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Sending “Mice” Wishes!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Oh I do love a good stamp pun, don’t you?

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I have to admit I am usually not a big user of cute stamps but I have loved the House Mouse stamps since my friend Tracey introduced me to them years ago, I stamped out a few of hers to color and I was hooked. Before you knew it I had my local stamp store (sadly, no longer in business) special ordering me stamps and one time I hit the mother lode at a yard sale and bought a bunch. Until recently you could only get House Mouse stamps mounted on wood, I have a lot of those and while they are beautiful sitting on my shelf they could be tricky to stamp because they were so detailed. I love that most of their designs are available in unmounted rubber now (and some even in clear sets with sentiments!) because I get the detail of the rubber but I can put them on my curved block (I am using a Mega Mount in my video but the Rock-a-blocks also work well and are much cheaper) and get a perfect impression every time. I have to say I wasted a lot of paper stamping those old wood mounted ones. Tip, if you have the wood mounted House Mouse Stamps you will get a great impression if you lay the stamp rubber side up on your table, ink it up and lay your trimmed cardstock on the rubber and rub the back of the paper. I had to mention that because I have lots of the wood mounted ones and they are too pretty to unmount LOL! Don’t you dare call Hoarders on me!

I will also share some fun coloring tips and tricks in today’s video!

Supplies:

Tips:

  1. Use a curved block for better detail (I used the Mega Mount from Impression Obsession, Rock-a-Blocks from Crafters Companion are also good)
  2. I used a thin strip of wood from a hand plane to stamp my sentiment on.
  3. Experiment layering your coloring media for rich colors!

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I hope you learned some cool tips and tricks that you can use on your next card! Please note that links to Hallmark Scrapbook are affiliate links and I earn a small percentage of sales made through the links, you do not pay more by clicking through the links but you help support these free video tutorials. Thanks so much for spending some time with me today and tl next time happy crafting!

Got Ugly Scrapbook Paper? This Project is For YOU!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I have a fun, quick and easy bookmaking project that only requires paper and adhesive! You can use any paper you want but it is perfect for the older scrapbook paper in your stash that you don’t care for because you can use the back side for the pages and the print will be hidden. Aren’t you glad you kept it now?

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Watch the video to see how fun and quick these little notebooks are!

Video!

Supplies:

  • Paper
  • Adhesive
  • 20 minutes

I have seen some really cute notebooks that some of you guys made following my tutorial on Instagram, thanks for sharing! If you want share your pics you can post them on Thefrugalcrafter Facebook page of use #thefrugalcrafter when posting on Instagram, it might work on twitter too but honestly I’m not sure LOL! If you love this simple idea I would love it if you shared it on Pinterest or your favorite social media (handy links at the bottom of the post!) Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!