American Crafts Studio Blog

Travel Checkers by Corrie Jones

Corrie Jones is going to show us step-by-step how to make this fun travel-sized Checkers board!

TRAVEL CHECKERS by Corrie Jones

Supplies: Coronado Paper (35728) - Shoreline, Melbourne Paper (35718) - Shoreline, Biscayne Paper (35720) - Shoreline, Malibu Paper (35722) - Shoreline, Cambria Paper (35726) - Shoreline

For the board, cut out 1.5" squares from two different sheets of patterned paper.

Adhere these squares onto foam posterboard, starting with the lighter color at the right side corner, in a staggered pattern until the board is 8 squares by 8 squares. Paint Mod Podge over the top of the entire board when it's completed.

Add a 1/2 inch border around board in a third color for a finished look. The finished board will be 13 x 13".  

For the checker pieces, you will need 24 bottle caps and two different colors of patterned paper. Use the bottle cap to trace 12 circles on each sheet of paper. (Or use a 1 inch circle punch to cut out the circles.)

Adhere the patterned papers inside the bottle caps. Let them dry completely.

Use Diamond Glaze inside the bottle caps to give the checker pieces a shiny, finished look and to make them more durable.

Now the girls have a travel Checkers set for all of our vacations this summer! To make it fit in the seat pocket, I cut the board in half and adhered a sheet of paper to the back to hold it together while they play, but allowing it to fold for storage.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

Vacation Week!

With summer in full swing, many people are taking the opportunity to leave home and head somewhere fun to be together and make memories. Chances are you take hundreds, if not thousands(!), of pictures to remember the fun times. What to do with all those photos? Never fear, our team will show you this week how to scrap your vacation photos as well as share some fun vacation-themed cards and projects. Up first is a layout and card by Mandy Koeppen:

FOR THIS GIRL SUMMER MEANS 3 THINGS by Mandy Koeppen

Supplies: Malibu Paper (35722) - Shoreline, Solana Paper (35738) - Shoreline, Sand Dollar (85585) - Bits, Flamingo (42249) - Remarks Books, Sandpiper (42247) - Remarks, Boardwalk Black (53360) - Thickers, Pelican (42248) - Remarks, Dimensional Dots (61709) - This to That, Dot Glue Runner (61713) - This to That

ENJOY by Mandy Koeppen

Supplies: Wanderlust Paper (35548) - Amy Tangerine, Cardstock Shapes (77288) - Bits, Medium Jewel Brads (85565) - Elements, Dimensional Dots (61709) - This to That, Dot Glue Runner (61713) - This to That

The Shoreline collection is PERFECT for scrapping your vacation photos. Want a chance to win the entire line?

Leave a comment on this post by Friday August 3rd 2012 letting us know a favorite vacation you've been on or would like to go on and we'll randomly select one winner and let them be known in this Friday's post. Happy travels!

Instagram Layouts by Mandy Koeppen

The randomly selected winner of the camera patterned album is Andrea Garland:

Mandy Koeppen has two final layouts featuring Instagram photos to wrap up the week!

EVERYDAY LIFE IN AN INSTAGRAM by Mandy Koeppen

Supplies: Hug Life (76200) - Day Book, White (71081) - Cardstock, Sydney's Snapshot Paper (35688) - Sketchbook, Padma's Pattern Paper (35673) - Sketchbook, Hello Ash (53246) - Thickers, Amy (42212) - Remarks Books, Decorative Washi Tape (61749) - Mixtape, Decorative Washi Tape (61748) - Mixtape, Dimensional Dots (61709) - This to That, Dot Glue Runner (61713) - This to That

GIZZARD FEST 2012 by Mandy Koeppen

These photos were taken from a weekend at the Big Festival in our new hometown. I love using the Instagram app when we're out on the go and I don't feel like lugging my dslr around.

Supplies: Oh Happy Grey Paper (35565) - Amy Tangerine, Sydneys Snapshot Paper (35688) - Sketchbook, Printed Chipboard Shapes (77290) - Bits, Palette (42240) - Remarks Books, All Together (42219) - Remarks, Hug Life (76200) - DayBook, Bones Black (53094) - Thickers

Have a fabulous weekend, and as always, see you all again on Monday!

Instagram Layout by Piradee Talvanna

 Piradee Talvanna has another layout showing off her Instagrams to share with you today:

ADDICTIONS by Piradee Talvanna

Supplies: Simple Romance Paper (35645) - Neapolitan, Dreamy Days Paper (35642) - Neapolitan, Serendipity Parakeet (53293) - Thickers, Fabric & Epoxy Brads (78074) - Embellishments, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42232) - Remarks Books, Borders, Accents & Phrases Sticker Sheet (42235) - Remarks, Mini Fair Ribbons (78066) - Embellishments

Have you entered the giveaway of the week on this past Monday's post? It's an amazing camera patterned album that would be perfect for storing your Instagram-filled layouts! Scroll down and enter to win!

Instagram Layouts by Corrie Jones

Here are two more Instagram layouts, this time made by Corrie Jones:

OBX by Corrie Jones

Supplies: Kraft (71464) - Cardstock, 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, 6x6 Paper Pad (35696) - Sketchbook, 6x6 Paper Pad (35743) - Shoreline, Wood Buttons & Epoxy Accents (78073) - Elements, Rub On Transfers (43395) - Minimarks, Pelican (42248) - Remarks, Pigment (42241) - Remarks, Paint (42242) - Remarks, Fabric Brads (85578) - Elements, Palette (42240) - Remarks, Draw (42244) - Remarks, Memo Cork (53349) - Thickers, Boardwalk Cascade (53363) - Thickers

B-FAST AT STARBUCKS by Corrie Jones

Supplies: Sweet Sundress Paper (35634) - Neapolitan, 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, Sunkissed Paper (35647) - Neapolitan, 6x6 Paper Pad (35743) - Shoreline, Silver Lining Paper (35635) - Neapolitan, Borders, Accents & Phrases Stickers (42235) - Remarks, Accent & Phrase Stickers (42232) - Remarks Books, Wood Buttons & Epoxy Accents (78073) - Elements, Ballerina Letter Stickers (42233) - Remarks, Parakeet Letter Stickers (42234) - Remarks, Fantastic Limeade (53109) - Thickers

Instagram Album by Leah Farquharson

Leah Farquharson always has something creative up her sleeve - today is no exception! Check out this amazing Instagram album she made using a Daybook as the base:

INSTALOVE by Leah Farquharson

Supplies: Chapter (76224) - Daybook, Bailey's Brush Paper (35675) - Sketchbook, Grass Journal (53339) - Thickers, Layered Tags (77289) - Bits, Printed Die Cut Shapes (77290) - Bits, Flat Top Fabric Brads (85578) - Elements, Palette (42240) - Remarks, Pigment (42241) - Remarks, Paint (42242) - Remarks Fabric Stickers, Doodle (42243) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Draw (42244) - Remarks Dimensional Stickers, Value 24 Pack (58817) - Premium Ribbon, Brights Buttons (85438) - Elements; Other - watercolors

Make your own altered Daybook today and then add your Instagram photos as you take them!

Instagram Week!

Instagram is a fun, free app available on iPhones and Android phones where you snap a picture, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post it to Instagram and/or share to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr so all your friends and family can see what you're doing at the moment. It's quite an addicting application! This week we'll show you how you can take these special pictures and incorporate them into your scrapbooking. Melissa Mann shares the first pair of layouts featuring Instagram photos:

WE ENJOY GOOD FOOD by Melissa Mann

Supplies: Kraft (71464) - Cardstock, Cobalt Comparison Paper (35679) - Sketchbook, Roller Dot Tape (61716) - This to That, Sydney's Snapshot Paper (35688) - Sketchbook, Bottom Strips of Papers (35692, 35679, 35690) - Sketchbook, Palette (42240) - Remarks, Fabric Brads (85578) - Elements, Die Cut Cardstock Shapes (77290) - Bits, Paint (42242) - Remarks, Muse White (53344) - Thickers, Goodness Slate (53250) - Thickers, Parakeet (42234) - Remarks

EVERYDAY SCENES by Melissa Mann

Supplies: Dandelion (71037) - Cardstock, Salana Paper (35738) - Shoreline, Biscayne Paper (35720) - Shoreline, Sea Isle Paper (35732) - Shoreline, Roller Dot Tape (61716) - This to That, 6x6 Paper Pad (35743) - Shoreline, Sandpiper (42247) - Remarks, Foam Tabs (61710) - This to That, Boardwalk Fireberry (53365) - Thickers, Sunrise Gold Glitter (53277) - Thickers

Up for grabs this week to one lucky person is a camera patterned album from the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook line - the PERFECT place for storing your pages featuring Instagrams!

Let us know in a comment on this post by Friday July 27th 2012 what you like to take pictures of using Instagram and we'll randomly select the winner and announce them with Friday's post.

Hexagon Projects by Cindy Tobey and Cindy Stevens

A big congrats to the winner of the KnockOuts Border Punch Value Kit, Louise:

The last hexagon projects of the week were made by Cindy Tobey and Cindy Stevens:

RECITAL by Cindy Tobey

Supplies: 12x12 Cardstock Lagoon (71066) - AC Cardstock, Gwyneth’s Graph Paper (35694) – Sketchbook, Kristi’s Craft Paper (35682) – Sketchbook, Indigo Inspiration Paper (35686) – Sketchbook, Rose’s Rendering Paper (35683) – Sketchbook, India Ink Paper (35685) – Sketchbook, Lily’s Landscape Paper (35678) – Sketchbook, 6x6 Paper Pad (35696) – Sketchbook, Paint (42242) – Remarks, Pigment (42241) – Remarks, Palette (42240) – Remarks, Doodle (42243) – Remarks, Wood Buttons (85575) – Elements, Black Tie (53357) – Thickers, Dot Glue Runner (61721) – This to That

HI by Cindy Tobey

Supplies: Gwyneth’s Graph Paper (35694) – Sketchbook, Kristi’s Craft Paper (35682) – Sketchbook, Indigo Inspiration Paper (35686) – Sketchbook, Rose’s Rendering Paper (35683) – Sketchbook, India Ink Paper (35685) – Sketchbook, Lily’s Landscape Paper (35678) – Sketchbook, 6x6 Paper Pad (35696) – Sketchbook, Wood Buttons (85575) – Elements, Boardwalk Fireberry (53365) – Thickers, Dot Glue Runner (61721) – This to That

GREETINGS by Cindy Stevens

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock, Biscayne Paper (35720) - Shoreline, Seedling Conservatory Paper (35616) - Gardenia, Sandollar Die Cut Shapes (85585) - Bits, Daydreams Assortment Buttons (85573) - Elements, Dimensional Dots Adhesive (61709) - This to That, Solid Glue Runner (61711) - This to That

FUN IN THE SANDBOX by Cindy Stevens

Supplies: White (71081) - Cardstock, Raspberry (71019) - Cardstock, Edgewater Paper (35739) - Shoreline, Biscayne Paper (35720) - Shoreline, Sandollar Die Cut Shapes (85585) - Bits, Pantry Rouge (53308) - Thickers, Rockabye Powder (42955) - Thickers, Journal Black (53337) - Thickers, Notebook Border Punch (63001) - Knock Outs, Dimensional Dots Adhesive (61709) - This to That, Solid Glue Runner (61711) - This to That

Have a happy Friday and upcoming weekend and we'll see you all again back here on Monday!

CHA Summer 2012 - On the Showroom Floor

Hello and happy Thursday! The Summer 2012 edition of the Craft & Hobby Association's trade show is happening right now in good ol' Chicago. But regardless of whether you're in the Windy City or half-way around the world, we want you to be a part of the fun! Here are a couple snapshots of the Dear Lizzy and Amy Tangerine sections of our booth, each featuring their new collections, Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic and Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go. 

Dear Lizzy

Don't you love the clipboards?

Dreamy colors and delicate details — so Dear Lizzy!

Amy Tangerine

Lots of fun details, like this yarn art.

And Miss Amy herself! 

We hope you enjoyed seeing a few glimpses of all the fun going on in Chicago. Thanks for joining us today! 

Hexagon Cards by Shimelle Laine

This trio of hexagon based cards were made by Shimelle Laine:

YOU MAKE MY HEART SING by Shimelle Laine

Supplies: 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, Borders, Accents & Phrases Stickers (42235) - Remarks, Rose's Rendering Paper (35683) - Sketchbook, Vanilla (71361) - 4.5x5.5 Textured Card Packs

THANKS by Shimelle Laine

Supplies: 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, Borders, Accents & Phrases Stickers (42235) - Remarks, Large Tags (78069) - Bits, Chestnut (71365) - 4.5x5.5 Textured Card Packs

A FUN TREAT by Shimelle Laine

Supplies: 6x6 Paper Pad (35658) - Neapolitan, Borders, Accents & Phrases Stickers (42235) - Remarks, Wooden Buttons & Epoxy Accents (78073) - Embellishments, Vanilla (71361) - 4.5x5.5 Textured Card Packs