Book Cover Artwork - Tutorial

A big thank you to Amy at Mod Podge Rocks who shared my post on book cover artwork this weekend.  I am so appreciative of the interest on how to make it and happy to share step by step instructions.   It’s easy, fun and looks great in a playroom or room.

Here’s what you will need.   You know all those paper book covers on hardcover books?  You will need to part with them.   Remove them, set them aside and wait until you’ve collected a lot.  How many depends on the size of canvas you are creating.   I did two 24 x 36 canvases so I needed 25 covers.

You will also need:

·         Super duper spray mount – a very heavy adhesive spray like 3M Super 77, or Scotch Photo Mount.

·         A great trimming system – I like Martha Stewart’s paper trimmer

·         Mod Podge Paper Gloss

·         A canvas – size of your choice

·         A paint brush

Step by step:

1.       Trim the book covers so you remove the jackets – you’ll want to cut next to the fold to make sure there’s an even surface.  

2.       Do a mock up and arrange the cut book covers across the canvas.  Play with the colors, themes and then the shapes.  Some of the cover will have to hang off the side to cover the sides of the canvas – keep this in mind so you don’t cut things off that you want to show on the front. 

3.       Spray the canvas all over with spray mount

4.       Start in the upper left corner and position the first cover down.

5.       Repeat until you have laid all the covers out on the canvas.  

6.       For the edge pieces, fold them just like a present on a package you are wrapping.    You will need a lot of spray mount here.

7.       Wait until everything dries and paint Mod Podge Paper Gloss over the entire canvas to seal it.  Make sure to do it in a place where you aren’t getting dirt sealed in, too! (Best inside in a well-ventilated area.)

8.       Repeat several times – I used three coats!

Here’s a tip, too: Wear disposable gloves.  Spray mount is sticky and nasty stuff!   Mod Podge really finishes it off and gives it a professional look.  Without the Mod Podge, I think it would look unfinished and not unified.   Any suggestions or improvements, let me know! 

Bridal Week - Bridal Shower Brunch

The spring wedding season is upon us!  Whether you, a friend, a family member, or someone you know is getting married or you just love a good wedding, there’s something for everyone this week at PSA Stamp Camp.   In addition to being about the couple and the actual union, weddings are also about throwing a fabulous event to remember!   Brides (and a few grooms) agonize over color schemes, invitations, flower choices, dress styles, favors, décor, and so much more – there are just so many decisions to make!   And it all adds up.  Between the engagement party, bridal showers, bachelorette party, & wedding itself – the whole shebang can cost a fortune.   This week I’ll share some great ideas and some money saving tips.  

One of my favorite wedding blogs Snippet & Ink, posted this blue & yellow inspiration board in January.    I love the color combination of mustard yellow and light blue – it would be the perfect palate for a bridal shower brunch.    Starting with a mood board for your event is a great way to organize your ideas.   Spend some time on Pinterest.  Pick up some bridal magazines and cut out what you like. 

To save some money, try creating your own invitations for a shower.   This elegant invitation by Jennifer Holmes sets the stage for a romantic, girlie party.   She’s stamped the outer ring from PSA Frenchie in white ink on an acrylic block onto Aqua Mist paper by Papertrey Ink.     I adore the Yellow Floral Shimmer paper (bottom layer) by Paper Zone.  She’s tied a ribbon and adorned the paper with white pearls.    Though this takes time, you can save hundreds on going to a printer for something like this. 

Hosting a brunch instead of a dinner or cocktail party will save money.   Think coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, other baked goods, egg and bacon casserole accompanied by mimosas for the menu!  (Cook them yourself and try these recipes.  Your table set up can be as well thought out as your invitation and coordinate just as perfectly.  

You be in charge of how people socialize while guests eat.  Guests can sit down at a table with place cards like these ones.    Jennifer used the outer ring from PSA Frenchie again here, the same cardstock, pearls and ribbon as the invitation to tie it all together. 

To continue your theme, try an arrangement like this for your table centerpiece.   Use a blue canning jar like this one as your vase to keep it simple for a brunch.

Image source - by Stephanie Williams Photography.

I am not into games much at bridal showers, but this is a cute one that I did for my brunch the day after my wedding.   It’s a personalized crossword puzzle.  Here’s the link for Martha Stewart’s how-to. 

And afterwards, the bride can write notes on corresponding stationery.   If you are hosting the event, you might want to give these to her as a gift.  

To throw a beautiful bridal shower, pick a color scheme and style and stick with it throughout the event like the examples shown today.  You don’t have to go overboard but by sticking to a style and color palate, you can create a unified design and event that’s picture perfect.    See you tomorrow for more bridal inspiration!  

Momenta & PSA Essentials Blog Hop

Greetings everyone!  If you're hopping today, you might be joining us from the talented Christina! If you're just starting out - head to Jamie's blog first.   

Hope you are enjoying all the card, layout and decorating ideas from the PSA Essentials Design Team and the Momenta Design Team.   Momenta is a leader in developing creative, trend right products for crafting, home decorating and gift giving.   We think their products go nicely with PSA Essentials.  Don't you?  

For those new to PSA Essentials, we manufacture self-inking, personalized stamps.    These days a lot of our blogging and crafty friends are getting their names and blog address on a personalized stamp so they can stamp the backs of their handmade cards.   There are a lot of uses for our personalized stamps.  Perfect for note cards, gifts, return addresses, personal stationery, recipe cards, books and so much more!

We have patent-pending Peel & Stick technology which allows you to switch out your personal stamp with thousands of stamps, from summery designs, Halloween, Christmas, Holiday, Valentine’s Day, baby, bridal, sentiments, Hello Kitty, Peanuts, Rudolph & more here:  http://www.psaessentials.com/peelandstick.htm . 

That’s why our PSA Essentials stamps are perfect for creating cards, scrapbook layouts, party favors, home décor, artwork, DIY projects, and so much more!  You can use them with the PSA Stamper to get crisp and clean impressions or with an acrylic block – they work just like any other clear stamp!    Want them?  Head over to Cyber Savvy Shop. 

Right now you can get 30% off all Peel & Stick stamps and a custom stamp (normally $40) is on-sale for $26.50.   You can also get a FREE ROSETTA Peel & Stick pack with your custom stamp purchase.  

MOMENTA is your last stop! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Baby Shower Cupcake Toppers

Looking to make a baby shower fabulous?   Put delicious cupcakes on the menu and dress them up with these adorable cupcake toppers by Mae Armstrong.  

To recreate, Mae precut the flags and cupcake wrap using her Silhouette SD.   Stamp the little lamb from PSA Essentials Country Home Peel & Stick stamps.

Stick the stamped label onto a wooden pick and finish off the cupcake with these lovely hand stamped toppers.   The cupcakes look extra festive on your table!  Your party guests will surely enjoy.

Nursery Wall Art - Animal Silhouettes

While preparing for Baby 2.0, I’ve spent hours pinning nursery artwork ideas on Pinterest.  Recently, I created a canvas but I am still searching for ideas because I have a few blank walls that need to be filled.   Mae Armstrong created this wonderful idea that’ll save you a bundle from purchasing on Etsy or any other store like I’ve been eying.  They’re animal silhouettes! 

Prepare the printed fabric by cutting them down to fit an 8.5x11 size.  Match the size to the heat bond material and cut both of them to size. Iron the fabric on top of the heat bond and make sure the iron setting is on high.

Clean and trim extra fabric.

If you have a Silhouette SD to cut out animal silhouettes, use that.   You can also download clip arts online and print, trace and cut by hand. If you have a friend that owns a Silhouette...kindly ask if they can help you cut the fabric because this project is so easy and addicting to make.

Arrange the animals on the poster size canvas.  Mae picked 24" x 23" for this project. Iron the animal silhouettes directly onto the canvas. Make sure your iron is clean, you don't want any stain on your artwork. You can also use a sheet of white copy paper to protect the canvas.

Mae created a banner style shape and prepared them using her Silhouette machine.   She stamped the corresponding labels using PSA Essentials Vanilla Peel & Stick Stamp Set. This is such a perfect font style to use for this project. 

Arrange the stamped banners before adding glue.  Mae likes silicone glue. It dries fast and easy to work with.
And viola!  You have stylish wall art - a great addiction to any future bedroom/playroom. Check out her son Ryan scoping it out!

Welcome Home

I used to travel considerably for work.  Before I joined PSA Essentials full-time in November 2010, I worked for a marketing company that was based out of California.  I frequently traveled to LA for trainings and meetings.  My territory was the Mid-Atlantic so I covered South Carolina to Washington, DC and also sometimes Boston and New York.   I was on a plane at least 3 times a month, some weeks gone for 5 or 6 days at a time.   The job was thrilling and rewarding but also grueling.    With Molly and my family now, minimal travel for work is ideal.

I can’t imagine traveling like that again with a family, but some people don’t have an option.  Kim Schofield created a 2-page layout of her family welcoming her home from a business trip last June.  She doesn’t travel all that much for work either, but she says, “a short break from the ordinary is fun, but being at home with my husband and children is my favorite place to be.”  Well said & ditto!

I love the great airport pictures of the boys in this layout.    She’s stamped the airplane from PSA Rocket and the “Business trip” from PSA Mom’s Calendar Peel & Stick pack. 

I love how she stamped onto paper, cut the plane out, and then adhered with 3D foam.  Gives it dimension and a pop!

To recreate a layout like this, you will need the following supplies:

·         Stamps: Airplane (PSA Rocket)  and “Business Trip” sentiment (PSA Mom’s Calendar)

·         Designer Paper: Echo Park

·         Letter Stickers: American Crafts & Michaels

·         Cloud Dies: Sweet ‘n Sassy

·         Felt: Papertreyink

·         Brads: Stampin’ Up!

·         Trail stamp behind the planes – Papertreyink

·         Large scallop die – Papertreyink

Share your latest creation on Facebook with us – we want to see what you are up to! 

Encouraging Cards

For awhile – mostly during college and in my early twenties - I collected quotes in a note book that inspired me.  Recently I have been overwhelmed with all that I have to do, all that I am juggling and have going on.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to be successful in work, family life, and with my friends.   I found this quote the other day to add to my book… if I can ever find it….

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”    By Vince Lombardi.    

I love this sentiment that Vera Yates used for her card.  “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”   Do you know someone that needs some encouragement?”    Send them this card. 

Vera used three different Hello Kitty’s from the collection Hello Kitty Garden Club.   I love how she’s colored them up to make them extra cute.   This pack is the cutest of all the Hello Kitty ones in my opinion… though Reindeer Games comes close. (See them all: http://www.psaessentials.com/hellokitty.htm)

Here are some of my other favorite quotes.  Are you feeling inspired?  Check out http://www.quotablecards.com/shopindividual.php, I always find great cards with quotes here. 

Here’s a lot to remember, but all great advice.  

Sometimes a great quote helps you feel energized.  Also so does a good nap.