Memories Album using Tonic Keepsake Dies

Hi friends, 

Today I'd like to share with you my very first album made using Tonic Studios Keepsake dies. These are sure to become a new favorite, and I hope that you can use my pictures for inspiration. This book was made rather easily, and I used different techniques to showcase the pretty papers as well as the message I wanted to convey. The results were exactly what I wanted, and I am very pleased!

On the cover I included the Sentiment :Memories, provided with the die set. It is added in gold, layered with laces, tulle, an antique brass button, chipboard swirl,  and an altered bird die cut from Tim Holtz.

On the first page I repeated the bird motif ( one of my favorites!) This one in blue acetate, and made a place where you can tuck a note or a special picture. 

The page has gold-ribbon pulls that open to reveal a full page with a delicate lace border. I love the paper in this collection from Maggie Holmes, as it is colorful and happy!

The second page layout has an inlay decoration. I topped the golden swirl with butterflies, and added a large belly band using Memory Book dies on the opposing page. I also added colorful enameled dots, and an antique ribbon closure. 

These pages open to reveal more room for pictures, and the belly band houses a large tag with a beautiful scalloped edge and pink glimmer ribbon.

 This is the third page layout, with a thinner belly band topped with the same butterfly image, and a larger pocket that reads: Celebrate The Simple Things. I have also added a large stamped Tulip image. I thought the large black and White flower image complemented the layout perfectly.

This is also a hidden page, and is the perfect place for journaling, or more pictures.

The same page also opens up to reveal yet two more pages on back, and a lovely little gray doe and flower cluster.

This is the card peeking out of the pocket. It reads : Party, and has layers of shiny tulle, gold washi tape, an acetate dragonfly and little genuine antique pearl buttons.

The fourth layout is fantastically girly. I added a magnetized closure topped with a pink sway who is embellished with a black bow, and the complementing page houses three tags. 

Here you can see the tags as well as the interior of the page. There is a beautiful scalloped edge, and one tag reads: Create Beautiful Memories.

This Gorgeous layout adds some vibrancy to this little book. I used vellum in a coordinating yellow, and added flowers as well as pink pearls. The complementing page repeats a window with a flower trellis, and it is topped with the bird motif. This time, in a soft white. 

This is the hidden card set for the fourth page layout. I absolutely love the simplicity and elegance of these cards.

 Here is the fifth page layout, where I added the Love sentiment, and another half-page pocket. The complimenting page has a little blue bird, repeating the sentiment, with added glittered and acetate flowers.

The hidden card is topped with a beautiful bird image, as well as golden bow and stitched leaves. The small added ticket reads: Special Moments.

 My last and final layout for this book is entirely whimsical. I made a side-opening page topped with a large embellishment made with matching layered dies, tulle, and a ballerina I embellished with a large black bow.

Here is the first page layout when untying the ribbon.

This page further opens to reveal more room for pictures. 

These are my handmade embellishments. 

I used dies to design this page. 

I love to incorporate kind sentiments from the ephemera by altering them to fit my style.

A closeup of the golden swirls...

This  little bird was my inspiration, as birds have a huge significance in my life!

I hope that you have enjoyed looking at my work, and that you can 

Be inspired, Be Blessed!

Raquel

Gorguss Girl Mini Album

Hello and Welcome!

I hope you are stopping by to see this beautiful album I am sharing with you, and that you enter for an opportunity to win this beauty!

I have made this little book in hopes that it is well-received and loved by one of my awesome subscribers. 

I made the cover of  this small album with a Gorguss Girl in a pretty heart-dress and a friendly bunny. The front features pretty butterfly embellishments and a shaker. You can make the theme universal, and that is the reason I have omitted a title for this little book. I made it thinking of all the friends I have gained since sharing projects and tutorials on YouTube.

The 1st page features a lovely waterfall. It opens to allow room for small pictures, or it can be left as is. The sentiment reads: Dream out Loud

The small handle allows you to work the waterfall mechanism.

I made sure to embellish that as well.

The second page features the first of several Gorguss Girl frame stamps, colored with matching colors and glimmer. She is adorned with blue burreflies and pearls, also matching the designer paper and pretty bow. This opens to reveal room for pictures or journaling.

This is also a page with a ribbon closure. The title says " Memories", and I used seam-binding for a delicate touch. The page opens for more interaction.

Here I made a pocket page using my favorite bow die and vellum layered beneath to make it sturdy. I included ephemera that matches the collection, and lets you add small pictures. 

Here is a framed Gorguss girl, and the sentiment reads "So Thankful For You"

She is adorned with a small pink bow, traditional of Gorguss Girls.

The page includes small tags, and some embossing.

On this page I made a side-pocket. This houses a small card that can be used to gift the album, or to include more pictures. The sentiment reads:

Us. Friends. Always.

The shiny butterfly holographic sticker lends whimsy to the page.

This page reads:

Adventure is Out There

The lovely Gorguss Girl has a Seam Binding pull to open the page, and a magnetic closure keeps it closed. I adorned her with red pearls and a blue butterfly. 

This sweet page also has a half-pocket, added tags, and a chip-board embellishment with some added sparkly flowers. 

Here I have also created a small booklet that slides in the page. The pocket has a lovely scalloped edge, and the small tag has a pretty pink ribbon.

This page features a Gorguss Girl Frame and sentiment reading:

Genuine.

I fussy Cut the page to keep the cityscape background  and added butterflies to match. The tags all fit nicely and fit perfectly in the page.

This is a secondary magnetic page, where I used ink and dry embossing as well as some mixed-media techniques. I love the end result, and the little Framed image is finished with blue pearls and butterfly.

This is the last page, featuring a belly band, and a small booklet I made with matching ephemera. I added golden beads, and a pink flower embellishment. and he framed Gorguss Girl has a glimmered bow in her hair. 

All of the stamped images were hand-colored for this book.

I finished it off with my signature shaker, made with tulle, and the sentiment inside reads:

"Fall in Love with as Many Things as Possible"

I have fallen in love with making beautiful gifts, and I hope this one can be yours!

Be inspired, Be Blessed!

-Raquel 

RULES OF OFFICIAL GIVEAWAY:

To Participate:

Send an ATC or tag with your information.

You may enter up to 3 ATC's and 2 Tags. Any other items will be tallied as an extra 10 points.

(For up to 30 extra points)

Entries will be tallied, and a number will be assigned.

A number will be selected at random for the winner!

If you share your entry with a link and VR or link on your Instagram page, you will receive 10 extra points.

**Winner must be a subscriber, active on social media with crafty videos, or active Instagram page and leave a comment on this video with link to the VR, email address, and/or post.**

All entries must be postmarked by September 29th.

Eligible participants must be 18 years or older, and reside within the U.S., P.R., or Hawaii

Winner will be announced via Youtube.

Don't forget to like the video!

**Watch video and give it a thumbs up for details!**

House Mouse Stamps and Cards

Hi and welcome!

I am sharing a couple of recently made cards I was inspired to make using my stash of lovable House Mouse Stamps. I must admit that these little guys go by neglected in my crafty projects, but I am always pleased with the results when I use them.

The first is a Birthday Card I made using 

Ballooning for Berries (Mudpie)

Released May 1999, and it features some beautiful hummingbirds. 

I stamped it in Gray Stayz-on Ink onto Kraft cardstock, and colored is using Prismacolor Pencils.

The results were subtle, and vibrant at the same time. For the berries, a little drop of Ranger Glossy Accents did the trick to make them shine!

For the inside, I stamped confetti with Oxide Inks from Ranger, and a sentiment from Heidi Swapp.

The second card is actually a Post Card. Fort the base, I used my Santoro London Gorguss Girl Die set to make the Post Card.Then I stamped the image from 

July 2001 Design of the Month

Mice Cream Cone

This was sent to my son in Summer Camp, so the sentiment I stamped using Elsie Stamps (Josie), were perfect!

I also colored this image with Prismacolor Pencils and a dash of Glossy Accents. Their little tongues with shiny gloss made me giggle. The cone was nice and shiny also!

Thank you for stopping by to share in my crafty makes. I hope that you can 

Be inspired, Be Blessed!

-Raquel 

Here is a Video with a little chat and some process of how I made the cards. 

Enjoy and hit the like button!

Memories Album Using Tonic Memory Book Dies

Hi and welcome!

This special book took many days to make, and it was made in memory of a very special young lady I was blessed to know. 

The book was made using my Cricut Explore Air 2 for the Memories sentiment. I layered papers on the cover to add dimension, and fussy cut the butterflies which I glittered to add shine and dimension.

The cover also has lace to lend softness behind the title. 

Here is a top-view of the album, made with sturdy chip-board and a strong base. 

The spine is covered in embossed paper, for which I used my Spellbinders machine and embossing folder. I also topped it with mod-podge and glitter, then added the lace, tulle, bow, gem, and handmade bead embellishment with the lovely little giraffe. 

The inside cover has a flying clock with wings, and a butterfly center. I omitted the hands of time, to signify eternal life outside of time. It was important to me to add this embellishment as an emblem of her faith. That is something we both shared. 

On another page I included a large butterfly, also fussy cut, and glossied. This time layered with a beautiful lace trim, and a sticker from the collection.

This sentiment reads "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine"

The giraffe was her personal favorite animal. She often dressed up as one!

I repeated the Giraffe motif throughout this book, and some other sentiments and embellishments that evoked memories of what she was like.

The papers and the embellishments were not the focus of this book, but I tried to include what I thought she would pick out in a store, as she was very skilled with fashion and was a very colorful girl!

This view allows you to see the tabbed inserts I made for all 6 pages. This will allow her family to add more pictures and personal journaling that will remain private in the book.

The last page has an added tag and sentiment. If you would like to see more, I have made a video with a personal message and it also contains all pictures. 

Made with love for Natalie, the prettiest Wildflower 

-Raquel 

Gorguss Girl Challenge Embellishments

Hi and thank you for stopping by!

I am sharing some goodies made for a challenge on YouTube. 

The challenge was Gorguss Girl themed, and I could not resist participating, as I love all-things Gorguss Girl related.

All packaging was handmade by yours truly.

We were asked to submit embellishments in sets of 4 as an option to enter. They were to be 2 inches in size, or approximate.

 I chose to keep it simple and here are my results: 

Love Squared Dies from Bo Bunny

My first little batch were these adorable Scalloped square embellishments made with a Hipster Giraffe (Cricut Design Space) all glimmered and glossed, and a layered flower die from my stash. To make them stand out a bit, I used Ranger Oxide inks to give them a soft hint of color, and then added the Love sentiment, as well as the pearls.

GOR503011 Dies and Stamps, CBD004 Perfectly Layered Dotted Daisies

My second set was a small whimsical banner, made with four layered Dotted Daisies. The centers are all Gorguss Girl related, and glossy. The flowers lay atop a banner made with Detailed mint-colored lace and turquoise ribbon, and topped off with small pearls. All of the petals were also distressed with Ranger Oxide Inks. The toppers of all bags were made with matching papers and flowers.

Butterflies and flowers and shiny little things!

Pictured above are the remaining embellishment sets. For one, I made scalloped flowers topped with pretty pearls, with beautiful broad silver leaves and a blue doily to match the color palette.

 For the fourth set, I made square shaped embellishments full of shine. I began by embossing some stamped images, the smaller one reads: Inspire, Enjoy Life (Inkadinkado Stamps), and they also have matching gems and beautiful little silver butterflies.

I made a double-sided pocket envelope using Tonic Dies to house all of the little gifts. The backgrounds to house the items were all made with the Gorguss Girls Postcard Die Set. This way they may be reused to send a little message to a friend! 

To embellish the front, I used a Gorguss Girl Stamp from the Frames Collection. Then I added more flowers in layered pinks, and an antique wedding lace to finish this Gorguss Project!

This is how the package was sent to Jeannie, from Happily Ella After. I truly had fun making these, and hope that you can 

Be inspired, Be blessed!

Raquel

Here is a Video of how I made them:

Happy Boy Shaker Card!

Hi and thank you for stopping by!

This is a short post, where I am sharing a small and simple shaker card made with Cricut Design Space, and other supplies.

I used my Cricut Explore Air 2 to make the beautiful silhouette of the little boy at the beach with his pail and shovel. To give this card interest, I made a window using The Fancy Rectangle Build A Card Die Set (CBD001)

A2 Size Card, Happy Stamp form Heidi Swapp

As you can see in the top picture, I made the window using clear acetate, and this allows you to see the inside of the card as well. To make the shaker, I added little stars in yellow and blue to match the beautiful designer papers on the front.

On the inside of the card, I added the beautifully stitched birds, and layered pieces that represent the sand ( in light brown card), and there was enough room for a quick sentiment.

Cardstock: American Crafts

The card base is also made from the same shape, making it different from the traditional shaped cards.

I really enjoyed making this card, and hope that you can 

Be inspired, Be Blessed!

Raquel