Birdcage Tag Tutorial (Swirlydoos/Helmar)

Here is the first challenge in our six week Ultimate Design Challenge at Swirlydoos! The first challenge is issued by me, yippee!!!

"To create a multi-dimensional embellishment for use on a scrapbook page, card or other altered item"

• You must use either a die cut paper or a piece of chipboard as your base shape (does not have to be a birdcage)

• You must turn that die cut/chipboard into a dimensional (layered) usable embellishment

• You must use at least TWO art mediums (gesso, gels, pastes, glazes, paints etc.)

• Your final piece must be showcased on a layout, card or other altered item

• Post a photo of the embellishment ONLY on this thread, and upload the finished project into the Swirlydoos gallery by the deadline

This project is due by Midnight MST on Saturday, January 19th. Your completed project must be uploaded into the "Ultimate Design Challenge - WEEK 1" gallery within the Swirlydoos gallery.

You may follow along and create something along these lines of my birdcage tutorial below, or feel free use your own creative license to show us what amazing concepts you have hiding within yourself!

Here is a birdcage tag/embellishment example that I created for the Swirlydoos Challenge.

Materials you will need:

- 2 white cardstock or light colored birdcage cutouts (any die) or 1 chipboard piece

- 1 bird die cut or chipboard

- patterned paper (color of your choice)

- flowers (color of your choice)

- feathers (color of your choice)

- paint or glaze (color of your choice)

- script or pattern stamp and ink

- ribbon (color of your choice)

*bling and lace are optional (not show in image below)

* you will need to prime with gesso if using chipboard instead of cardstock

*glue (I used Helmar acid-free adhesive and 450 quick-dry)
*craft knife or scissors will also be required

Step 1: Stamp your 2 cardstock birdcages and paint your bird. You will only need 1 cage if using chipboard.

Step 2: Adhere the birdcage to your patterned paper and cut excess off. Be sure not to cover the top hole so that you can pull some ribbon through.

Step 3: Adhere the other birdcage to the backside if using cardstock - skip this step if using chipboard. This gives the cardstock extra thickness and support.

Step 4: Add the bird, feathers and flowers.

Step 5 (optional): Add the ribbon, lace and bling.

Now it is time to add your tag to a project. Here I added mine to a layout created with the Swirlydoos November 2012 kit. I also created the large handmade flower on this layout using my DIY "mistable" flower tutorial.

New Meg's Garden Collection

Check out the brand new "Ode to a Summer's Day" collection by Meg's Garden. Larger view on her blog and introductory pricing special too.

A few cards (Helmar/Meg's Garden)

I'm not typically a card maker but lately they are sneaking their way into my life. First up is a card I made to MYSELF, using the January Helmar Challenge as inspiration. I used a beautiful paper from Meg's Garden "The Spring Paisley" collection and I attached a transparency butterfly (also from Meg's Garden) with clear Helmar Zapdots. The pretty flowers were glued on with Helmar 450 quick dry.

This is the challenge for this month and I chose a peachy orange and teal blue. My list is actually inside the card and with an extremely personal top 5 things I need to work on. I plan to keep this card sitting on my home desk to remind me each day of the important life goals I have set for myself.  Don't forget to check out the Helmar Challenge details and enter to win some gluey goodness!

Next, is a card I made using Pion Design's "Play Time" collection. I gave this card to my parents for Christmas. It contains a special message on the tag and vouchers for a romantic sunset hot air balloon ride with champagne. This is probably the coolest Christmas present I have ever given them. I had to take a quick snap of it on Christmas Eve before giving it away and it was terribly gloomy by the end of the day.

I used Helmar's premium craft glue on the paper layers and the 450 quick dry on the flowers.

Swirlydoos Ultimate Design Challenge

Would you love the chance to win a HUGE prize (valued at over $400) and a chance to design for the Swirlydoos Kit Club? See details and contest rules and prize close-ups at swirlydoos.com. Don't forget to register BEFORE January 10th!

(click on image to see larger)

Dusty Attic Design Team

Well... it certainly is a very nice start to a HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I can share some good news... I've been invited to join the new 2013 Dusty Attic design team.

If you missed the announcement, here is a list of the entire team for the next year (taken from the Dusty Attic Blog), and my name was just added yesterday :) It's going to be a really wonderful year "working" with these ladies...

Farewell to Pion Design and 2Crafty (using OUAS sketch + Helmar adhesives)

Today is reveal day for the Once Upon a Sketch January challenge. Today is also my final post as a design team member for two wonderful scrapbook companies, Pion Design (paper) and 2Crafty (chipboard). I would like to thank Pion Design for having me on their fantastic design team for two entire years as well as 2Crafty for the past few months. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much Jenny and Vanessa from for your generosity and flexibility when my schedule was hectic. I hope our paths will cross again in the future. Here is a layout using the newest Pion collection "Play Time" and some very pretty 2Crafty chippies. I used gesso and chalk ink on the chipboard pieces.

(click image to see larger)

Journaling on the back reads:

I have a wonderful life but am looking to you to point me in the right direction to find my inner child this year and make time for more fun... to create more wonderful memories, love Mom, xoxo (January 2013).

The OUAS theme this month is "the start of something new" and for me that is trying something new... looking at life through my children's eyes. I am an only child and have always been the mature one, the responsible one, blah, blah, etc. I feel like I am missing out on something - more fun. As much as I ADORE scrapping, it is very time consuming and getting in the way a bit of my family fun time... so I need to cut back just a little bit.

Here is the OUAS sketch this month. I used this as a starting point but my layout seemed to take on a life of it's own, LOL.

This project was made using a lot of Helmar goodness. I used the premium craft glue on the paper layers, the 450 quick dry on the flowers, the adhesive runner for the photo and the acid-free glue for the chipboard.

Christmas Layout Tutorial (with Swirlydoos and Helmar)

ANATOMY OF A LAYOUT

Today I am sharing how I made my "Joy to the world" layout (using my Swirlydoos December "Believe" kit) featuring the Kaisercraft "Turtle Dove" collection. I wanted my layout to look like an elegant Christmas ball and used tons of Helmar goodness to stick it together!

STEP 1 - BACKGROUND PAPER

Select a background paper and cut out a portion of the centre. I like to either cut a square or circle to be used for another project. Make sure to leave at least a 2-inch border around the edges though.

STEP 2 - ADD A PAPER LAYER

Select a top layer paper and roughly cut a wavy border around the edge - removing only 1/4 inch or so around and then ink all of the edges with brown Clearsnap chalk ink. Glue it to your background using Helmar Premium craft glue, placing the glue only around the cut-out edge.

STEP 3 - ADD THE TRIM AND PHOTO

Cut your photo into a circle shape and glue it down the Helmar's adhesive runner. Next, add the zipper with Helmar 450 quick dry along the metal and trim off excess. Lastly, glue some trim around the edge of the photo starting at the top. Don't worry the flowers will hide the gap if you are short a little trim.

STEP 4 - ADD A FLOWER CLUSTER AND LEAVES

Use 5 flowers (2 large and 3 small - I used a Petaloo pack) for the cluster and add a berry centre. Add the Petaloo leaves around the cluster but save 1 for later. Cut off and save the 2 leaves around the berries for later.

STEP 5 - ADD THE TEARS

Tear the paper in several spots and ink the revealed white core of the paper with brown Clearsnap chalk ink.

STEP 6 - ADD FLOWERS TO THE CORNERS

Polish the layout off by adding the last 3 Petaloo flowers to the corners. In the bottom corner, place the 2 saved leaves from the berry spring under them. In the top corner,  place a Petaloo leaf under the flower.

That's it! The paper comes with a beautiful "Joy to the world" title already scripted on it.

Meg's Garden Christmas Projects (using Helmar adhesives)

HO, HO, HO - Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season so far! Well, Meg's Garden "A Musical Christmas" is for sure one of the best holiday paper lines released this year. I adore the richness to these colors.

Up first is a card I made using the german glitter glass (on the 2Crafty chipboard) and the the plum gardenia flowers Meg sent me from her shop to compliment the paper. I am not a huge card maker, but I like this non-traditional Christmas one!

Next up is an oversized gift tag "layout" using the same paper line, plus doilies and flowers from Meg's shop. I added a Dusty Attic piece as a focal point.

Here is a close-up of the chipboard that I simply glazed with Silks "ice" paint because I liked the natural look of the chippie. It is semi-translucent glaze so it just added a nice shimmer instead of leaving the chipboard plain.

NOTE: I used a lot of Helmar goodness to stick all of my projects together. I used the premium craft glue on the paper layers, the 450 quick dry on the flowers and leaves, Zapdots to raise the title and chipboard on my card and the acid-free glue for the tree chipboard. Thanks goodness for good glue!

More Swirlydoos "Believe" kit (and 2Crafty / Helmar)

OK so after finding out my computer hard drive was fried (thankfully we have a good back-up), I had been waiting for over a week to get it fixed. That's why I've been MIA in blogland. Now... on to the good stuff. I have created 4 more projects using my left overs from my Swirlydoos kit. All of my projects were created using Helmar adhesives and 2 of them feature some gorgeous 2Crafty chipboard too.

First up is a layout of me when I was 11 months old. This was my favorite Kaisercraft paper in the "believe" kit this month. I thought the old photo went really well with the vintage feel of the Kaisercraft papers in this Swirlydoos kit. This was my favorite paper in the kit.

Here is a close-up of the pretty title chipboard I added from my stash. On the 1st Christmas title and the Cartia's Swirl chipboard, I splattered on some gesso and teal Silks paint randomly, not covering the the chippies completely. Then, I put a clear Silks "ice" glaze that was included in the main kit... to add shimmer. I love that these dry faster than mists, giving a subtle sheen. Lastly a touch of chalk ink on the edges for definition.

Here is a close-up of the flowers in the add-on kit as well as another beautiful 2Crafty chippie (just gesso and glaze on this one). The flowers in the add-on kit are to die for!

I used this month's fantastic Helmar challenge as inspiration for this layout. Load your projects here http://www.flickr.com/groups/helmarlive to enter to win some sticky goodness.

Next is another display "layout" to be used as a giant gift tag. I adored the graphic of the Santa and knew I had to make this.

Here is a close-up of the pretty ribbon rose in the kit.

Here is a close-up of the reindeer I added from my stash. On the Blitzen reindeer I splattered some gesso a bit, then added some brown distress ink before glazing with Silks "ice". The distress ink reacted with the glaze, creating a slight resist over the gesso. I love this antiquing effect.

Here is a close-up of the corner chipboard. On the Elegant Corner chipboard I worked again with gesso and teal Silks paint (the paint in last month's Swirlydoos kit).

I have also made a few more big gift tags. This first one features some handmade flowers and a divine sentiment from the kit paper cut outs.

Here is a close-up of my flowers. Tutorial to follow soon :)

The second tag features some stamping with a new stamp I bought myself and a pretty Prima charm from the main kit.

I added a Santa face to the Prima charm (from one of the papers in the kit).

NOTE: I used a lot of Helmar goodness to stick all of my projects together. I used the premium craft glue on the paper layers, the 450 quick dry on the flowers and embellishments, the adhesive runner on the photo, the acid-free glue for the chipboard and the gemstone glue for the Prima charm and pearl centres in my handmade flowers. Thanks goodness for good glue!

All of these Christmas projects sure do put me in the holiday spirit. Now I just need to get some baking done and I think I'm all set. Sooo happy to have my computer back too!

Prima BAP feature (using Helmar adhesives)

Wow, I completely forgot to post this layout from last month (November Prima BAP and PPP challenge). It wasn't until my scrappy friend Keren Tamir (who won :) saw my layout featured on their blog until I realized that I forgot to post this one! It's been sitting here in my drafts waiting to be posted, hee, hee - must be fate. Here is the link to all the featured artists on the Prima Blog.

This is little me sitting on my daddy's car. Lots of masking and inking on this one - not my usual style, but it was really fun for a change.

I used a lot of Helmar goodness to stick this together. I used the premium craft glue on the paper layers, the 450 quick dry on the flowers and embellishments, the adhesive runner on the photo and some acid-free glue for the chipboard.

Swirlydoos December Kit Blog Hop

Welcome to Swirlydoos' December Kit Reveal

and Blog Hop Block Party!

If you came here from LuminArte's blog, then you are on the right track. If not, go back to Swirlydoos' blog and start from there. We have some amazing projects for you to see today. We have 3 manufacturers hopping and 3 designers from Webster's pages too! Also, as an extra special twist, 2 of our designers are hiding secret prizes on their blogs. Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win. Check out Swirlydoos on Facebook and Like Us too!

To kick things off I am sharing a layout made entirely with the "Believe" main kit contents (no add-ons or items from my stash at all) and a tutorial is posted here on the Swirlydoos Forum on how to make it from start to finish! This is a picture of my boys a few years ago. I love preschool pictures, before kids lose their baby fat and all their teeth.

Click on images to see larger.

Here is a close-up of the flowers and awesome zipper.

This is a giant gift topper "layout". Sometimes the box is just too big to wrap but this will look pretty on it instead of just a big bow. I added a doily and some ribbon from my stash.

Look at the gorgeous flower and berry spray from the add-on kit!

This layout started out with inspiration from the kit sketch and took on a life of it's own, LOL. I added some Dusty Attic trees from my stash (painted and added glitter snow-tex on them, then inked over top). Around the pictures, those are layered snowflake die cuts made from plain white cardstock. I've always liked this picture of my boys as babies taken at sundown but found it dark. I never found the right winter paper to scrap it - until now! Love the antique look of this paper and the pretty flowers from the add-on kit to match.

This is a Dusty Attic chipboard piece in the main kit. I primed it with gesso, painted it with the "ice" Silks glaze that's included in the main kit and lastly, I added plain white snow-tex (from Michael's Crafts) randomly with my finger. BTW - Silks are a new favorite of mine, gotta collect them all!

Here is the gorgeous kit sketch to get your creative mojo going! i know, mine ended up looking nothing like this, hee, hee... but it gave me the idea to use the chipboard trees that were collecting dust in scrappy stash.

Lastly today, I have a simple cone. I like the elegance of simple projects at Christmas time since the colors are so rich. A variety of flowers from the main kit and add-on kit were used for this project. Just fill the cone with chocolates or candies and then top with flowers to decorate. Makes a great teacher gift!

I've just gotta say... Kaisercraft has really fantastic Christmas collections this year and Swirlydoos combined a few of them so perfectly well in this amazing kit. Click here to become a Swirlydoos Subscriber!

You have until midnight, eastern time, on Friday, 12/14 to complete the hop. Winners will be announced on the Swirlydoos Blog on Saturday 12/15. In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:

1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each. This way we know you were there. Become a follower if you're not already. Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.

2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down. 

Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all the special words, they will create a sentence.

3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had, tell us the sentence that was created with all of the special words you collected. Can't wait to hear from you!

My special words: A CHILD

The party ends over at Swirlydoos' blog.
It's a special lucky day for the hop 12/12/12.
Two weeks until Christmas :)

NOTE: These projects were created with the special help of Helmar Adhesives - especially my favorites: the Premium Craft glue for paper and 450 Quick Dry for flowers and embellishments. I also used the fantastic acid-free glue for the chipboard too!

New DA chipboard in my shop!

Christmas came early! I re-stocked my Etsy shop this morning (http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto) with Dusty Attic chipboard - including many of the newest releases. I had listed over 120 styles and in just a few hours my stock has drastically depleted and quantities on some items are now down to 1 left. But no fear... lots more Dusty Attic to come this Winter with awesome new product releases and exciting news.



Also, you can now follow my blog via e-mail (see right sidebar to subscribe) and never miss an update. Thanks so much everyone for all your support in my crafting and retail as well. I really do read and appreciate every comment you leave me. Unfortunately with working part-time, having 3 kids, being on design teams and life in general... I don't always have the time to leave as much love in the galleries and on individual blogs as I wish (maybe one day when I am retired with an "empty nest", LOL).

Peace Layout (Pion Design/Helmar)

I will be teaching this wintery layout with two handmade flowers (tucked into the tears) on January 26th for Paper and Lace. The class will be all about shabby techniques with distressing and paints. I used several beautiful papers from Pion Design's Silent Night collection and tons of gorgeous embellishments from the LSS store. The pretty picture is also from Pion Design. I like to do display layouts for my mantle at Christmas (or to give as gifts).

Here is a close-up of the handmade flowers. I used Helmar's premium craft glue to hold everything in place for this entire layout including the handmade flowers. It's really my favorite glue on the market!