American Crafts Studio Blog

How to Create a Gorgeous Floral Album

Hello crafty friends, it’s Lucile! Today, I am here to tell you all about my latest album I've created. Documenting memories is so important to me! I love using my memory planner and project life to collect memories. But I always create an album in the month leading up to my birthday. I absolutely love this time of year! Aside from it being my birth month, I enjoy the weather and the blooming flowers. Of course I had to create my colorful and flowery album using Dear Lizzy's Here and Now collection.

To make the cover of the album, I used two pieces of cardboard. Next, I covered them with paper from the collection. After that, I made a flexible binding to allow me to enlarge my album as I wish as I stuff it full of memories! Of course, I used floral paper. On the front cover, I stuck a card I cut out of the cardstock and matched it with the same flowers I used on the binding. For the final touch, I added a few gold stars.

I made an accordion-shaped binding. It's a very simple binding that allows you to add as many pages as you want. I amused myself by varying the sizes and shapes of the pages. I found a die cut with a weekly layout and thought that was perfect for documenting a special week! 

What I like most about daily albums is being able to leave a place for journaling to write down my anecdotes and memories of everyday life. So I created several covers throughout my album to be able to slip my journaling there as the month goes by.

To organize my album since I will do it as the month goes by, I create sections for each day. Adding dates on each page helps me stay oriented and organized! In addition, it adds a decorative dimension to my pages.

I hope this album has given you some ideas for keeping your daily memories. I can't wait to fill it with the beautiful embellishments from Dear Lizzy's Here & Now collection and all my photos! See you soon with a new creation.

Supplies :
Here & Now collection by Dear Lizzy : 

Papers :  Sweet Summer (ac-356642), Printed Acetate with Iridescent Foil Accents (ac-356650), Everyday Life (ac-356644), Endless Summer (ac-356639), Delightful (ac-356638), Hot Hot Hot (ac-356331), Always on Vacay (ac-356330), Splendid (ac-356327), High Five (ac-356324), Carefree (ac-356323)

Puffy Stickers (ac-356664), Ephemera with Foil Accents (ac-356660), Rubber Paper Clips (ac-356659), Cardstock Stickers - Accent and Phrase with Foil Accents (ac-356656), Thickers - Puffy Vinyl - Phrase - Heat Wave with Foil Accents (ac-356655)

Mother's Day DIY Gift Box

Hello everyone! It's Fanni Mayo here, and today I am telling you all about this gift box I made! Using the GRL PWR collection by Damask Love, I created a box decorated with gorgeous ephemera. Ready to begin?

¡Hola a todos les saluda Fanni Mayo! Hoy tengo para ustedes este lindo proyecto con la colección Girl Power de Damask Love, es una caja que podemos llenar de más cajas con galletas o chocolates para regalarle a mamá en su día. La cajita está decorada con un banderín hecho de puras ephimeras, realmente me encanta que pueda ser desmontable para colocarlo en un pastel especial hecho para nuestra persona especial. 

The base of a project is a box that I made using my We R Memory Keepers all in one tool. It is super easy to make! Just take a 12x12" piece of cardstock, mark 3" around the sides, cut the tabs, and paste it together! With that, you have created a rectangle box that you can decorate for your mom.

La base del proyecto es una caja que puedes realizar con tu all in one tool de WRMK, es súper fácil solo tomas un papel de 12 x 12 “ y marcas 3” para cada lado, cortas las pestañas y pegas, logras una base rectangular y sobre ella podrás agregar la cantidad de detalles que desees para regalarle a mamá. 

The mini cards and matching envelopes are one of my favorite parts of this collection! Using one of the mini cards, I wrote a special message to my mom and included it in the gift box. The cards are cute enough to go as is, or you can decorate them a bit with stickers and ephemera like I did. 

Una idea genial para la cajita es agregarle tarjetas con mensajes especiales y su sobre a juego, en esta colección tenemos un paquete de tarjetitas divino que queda perfecto con el regalo, los pines y ephimeras son el complemente ideal para que los sobres luzcan muy bonitos y ese mensaje de amor para mamá llegue muy colorido.

If you can't tell yet, I'm obsessed with boxes of all kinds. Naturally, I included a smaller box inside of the gift box. This smaller box is very easy to make with the 1, 2, 3 Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers. This time, my cardstock size was 10x10". Make sure your punch board is set the the cube setting! As a finishing touch, I added twine and closed it with a bow.

Amo con locura todas las cajas, cualquier tipo me encantan; por lo que es bueno que incluyas en tu caja de regalo para mamá más cajitas como esta que puedes hacer muy fácil con la 1, 2 , 3 punch board de WRMK, la medida del papel es de 10 x 10 pulgadas y puedes tomar la referencia de tu punch board para que te quede en forma cúbica, para terminar de cerrarla agregué hilo twine alrededor como si fuera un empaque y cerré con un moño. 

Decorating the front of this box was so much fun! I added a sticker and a few die cuts because I love the pretty touch of shiny foil they have. However, you can decorate the front however you please! In the smaller box, I added some chocolate chip cookies because they are her favorite.

En la parte frontal puse un sticker del block y agregué diferentes tipos de die cuts que lucen divinos con ese toque de foil que tienen, también hice una caja más pequeña y agregué unas galletitas con chispas de chocolate que le encantarán a mi mamá. 

On the back of the box, I simply cut out the crown from some cardstock and adhered it onto the back. Voila! Using just a few scrapbook tools, I created this special gift for my mom in minutes!

Para la parte trasera de la caja solamente agregué la corona del block de proyectos de la colección, la recorté y listo, tenemos así de rápido, fácil y sencillo un regalo muy especial para mamá, que podemos realizar en casa con nuestras herramientas favoritas de scrapbooking. 

If you want to see a process video of this project, check out the IGTV on the American Crafts instagram page! Here is the link: DIY Mother's Day Gift Box. I hope this project inspired you. See you again here very soon!

Si deseas ver el proceso de este proyecto, no te puedes perder el IGTV que hicimos para celebrar el día del Scrapbooking, está en la cuenta de Instagram @americancrafts. Aqui esta el enlace Regalos Para Madres. Me encantaría ver tus creaciones, nos vemos pronto. 

Materials: 

• Damask Stickers 356297
• Clips 356295
• Mini cards 356296
• Pegatinas 356301
• Ephimeras 356300
• Washitape 356294
• Pegatinas pines 356299
• Bloc de proyectos 356303

Mother's Day DIY Gift Guide

Are you still looking for the perfect gift for your mom? We have carefully curated a list of DIY gifts that your mom is sure to appreciate. There is something for every mom on this list!

1. Color Pour Resin Photo Frame

This resin photo frame is a simple, easy project you can create for your mom. It is the perfect decoration for a coffee table, night stand, or work desk! We used our seashell mix-ins for the beach themed photo, but you can customize it however you want!

We've attached a tutorial video to show you how simple (and fun) this project is. 

Link to products: Color Pour Resin Photo Frame 

2. Handmade Watercolor Card

Create a handmade watercolor card for your mom! All you will need is some watercolor paper, watercolor supplies, cardstock, and an adhesive. 

Here is a link to the watercolor products: Watercolor Supplies, Watercolor Paper

If you want to watch a tutorial, check out this IGTV video: Watercolor Tulip Card

3. Accordion Style Photo Album

If your mom is the sentimental type, she will love this accordion style album! All you need is cardstock, a few photos, and your favorite stickers and embellishments. 

Here is an image of the album folded up. Don't you love that rainbow shaker sticker on the front? We used Amy Tangerine's Picnic in the Park collection to make this album. 

Link to products: Picnic in the Park Collection

4. Color Pour Resin Catch-All Dish

Create a custom catch-all dish for your mom. These dishes are cute but also very functional. For example, I like to keep a small dish next to my bathroom sink to hold my rings while I wash my hands. 

Here is a link to a tutorial: Catch-All Dish Tutorial

You can also create a heart-shaped or square dish. Here is a link to buy the products: Color Pour Resin Catch-All Dish

5. Create a DIY Card and Envelope

Try making an adorable card and envelope pair using the template available in Damask Love's GRL PWR project pad! The GRL PWR collection comes with all the feminine designs and prints you will need for your Mother's Day project!

Link to products: Damask Love GRL PWR

Here is a video tutorial of the envelope template in use:

6. Mother's Day Mini Album 

We couldn't help but dig up this adorable mini album from last year! Bea used Vicki Boutin's Color Kaleidoscope collection, but any paper crafting collection would work great!

Here is a link to the tutorial: Mother's Day Mini Album

Here is a link to the products: Color Kaleidoscope Products

7. Bake Your Mom a Rainbow Layered Cake

Have you heard of Alma's Culinary Company? Bake your Mom a rainbow cake using the pre-colored cake mixes and buttercream frosting. These products are available at Walmart. 

8. Color Pour Resin Barrettes 

We think these barrettes would make a great Mother's Day gift. There are so many different colors of dye and a variety of fun mix-ins. There is something for every mom!

Here is a video tutorial with more inspiration:

Link to the products: Color Pour Resin Products
 

9. Handmade Envelope Mini Album 

 

This mini album was created by looping together several handmade mini envelopes! How cute is that? We love the idea of adding in a few photos and notes for your mom. 

Here is a link to the tutorial: Envelop Mini Album

Here is a link to the products: Picnic in the Park Collection

10. Bouquet of Paper Flowers

Obed created these paper flowers for a spring party invitation, but we think making a bouquet of these would make the perfect Mother's Day gift! 

Here is the tutorial: 3D Paper Flowers

We hope that you were able to find the inspiration to create something lovely for your mom! Happy Mother's Day!

Create a Colorful Mother's Day Card Trio

Hi crafty friends! This week is Mother’s Day. It's the perfect occasion to make a handmade and sentimental gift for your Mom! Today, I’ll be showing how I made three different cards using the GRL PWR collection by Damask Love. Let’s get crafty!

Hola amigos y amigas amantes del mundo craft! ¡El Día de la Madre es esta semana! La ocasión perfecta para hacer un regalo sentimental hecho a mano para tu mamá! Hoy voy a mostrarte cómo hacer tres tarjetas diferentes con la colección GRL PWR de Damask Love.

The GRL PWR collection is perfect for Mother’s Day themed projects. It’s so colorful and it has so many great motivating quotes! Using the project pad for the collection, I decided to make this set of shaped cards. The pad made my job so easy because it contains pre-cut cards and embellishments. It’s absolutely the best for quick crafts. Grab your project pad, we’re making Mother’s Day Cards!

La colección GRL PWR es perfecta para regalos del Día de la Madre. Es tan colorida, tiene muchas frases motivacionales y es súper divertida. Usando el “project pad” de la colección decidí hacer este conjunto de tarjetas con formas, el “project pad” es tan fácil de usar porque tiene tarjetas y adornos precortadas. ¡Coge tu “project pad” que vamos a hacer tarjetas para el Día de la Madre!

I started by selecting my pre cut cards! I chose the crown, the lips and the fries. Who doesn’t like some French fries, am I right? Then, all you have to do is decide on your embellishments. Here is a great tip: try creating clusters around your main elements on the card. A main element can be a word or the biggest embellishment. 

Empecé seleccionando mis tarjetas precortadas, elegí la corona, los labios y las patatas fritas. Porque a quién no le gustan las patatas fritas, ¿verdad? Entonces, todo lo que tienes que hacer es decidir cuáles van a ser tus adornos. Aquí tengo un consejo, intenta crear pequeños grupos de adornos alrededor de los elementos principales de tu tarjeta. Un elemento principal puede ser una palabra o un adorno grande, por ejemplo. 

Once I’ve got my card basically mostly done, I finished with a few little stickers and add-ons. For example, small hearts and stars are a great finishing touch for any project.

Una vez que tengo mi tarjeta básicamente terminada me encanta añadir pequeñas pegatinas o adornos. Corazones o estrellas pequeñas, por ejemplo, siempre son un buen toque final para cualquier proyecto. 

I hope you find these cards inspiring! Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you next time.

Espero que mis tarjetas te inspiren a crear las tuyas. Gracias por pasarte por aquí y espero verte la próxima vez.


Supplies: Damask Love “Grl Pwr” - Project Pad (AC-356303)

Damask Love “Grl Pwr” - Flair Stickers (AC-356301)

Damask Love “Grl Pwr” - Stickers (AC-356297)

Amy Tangerine “Picnic In The Park”-  Thickers Loving Life (AC-355382)

Create a Classic Mother's Day Layout

Hi American Crafts fans! It’s that time of the year where we celebrate mothers and womanhood! In honor of the day, I dedicated my latest scrapbook layout to my Mom. I used the Girl Power collection by Damask Love. I think this is the best line to make something girly. I love the combination of light and vibrant colors, the beautiful flowers and all the cool images. It was love at first sight!

I picked the Getting Lippy paper for the background because the pink shade is stunning. I fussy cut lovely flowers from Floral Female paper. I arranged the oversized florals on the left side of the page. I picked two 3x4 photos and added them in the middle. I used foam tape on one of them to add volume.

Under the photos I placed a glitter title. I found these alpha thickers in my stash, but they perfectly fit the Girl Power collection. I also love the shiny touch! 

On the right side of the page I made cute clusters using die cuts, puffy stickers and elements from the Project Pad. Some of the pieces have a gold foil finish, which I love! This collection has so many fun icons!

Are you making any Mother's Day paper crafting projects? I think Mother’s Day is a great excuse to spend some time in the craft room. I hope you like today's inspiration! Thanks for stopping by! Happy Crafting! 

Used products: Damask Love - Girl Power: Floral Female Paper (SKU 356308), Getting Lippy Paper (SKU 356314 ), 12x12 Project Pad (SKU 356303), Puffy Stickers (SKU 356298), Ephemera (SKU 356300)

Using the Kissing Technique to Create a Mixed Media Background

Hi again! I’m Obed Marshall and today I’ll be talking about mixed media! For all of you who have mixed media supplies at home but might be a little scared to use them (like I was at first), this blog post is for you!  I’ve made an A4 sized layout with Vicki Boutin’s new collection “Let’s Wander”.

¡Hola de nuevo! Soy Obed Marshall y hoy vamos a hablar de mixed media para todos los que tenéis cosas de mixed media en casa pero os da miedo dar el paso y probar técnicas nuevas, como a mí al principio. He hecho un layout en formato A4 con la nueva colección de Vicki Boutin "Let's Wander".

This collection is very colorful and full of travel motifs which I love! But first, I’ve got to admit that the mixed media part scared me a bit. I usually don’t like to get my hands covered in paint while I’m crafting but this time, I just went for it. Vicki Boutin says that "less is always more," and I kept this in mind as I created this layout layer by layer. 

Esta colección es muy colorida y está llena de motivos de viaje que personalmente me encantan, pero al principio tengo que admitir que el mixed media me da un poco de miedo. Cuando estoy haciendo scrap no me gusta mancharme las manos, pero esta vez me lancé a probar este estilo. Siguiendo algunos de los consejos de Vicki Boutin, "menos es siempre más" creé este layout capa por capa.

I started by trying out Vicki Boutin’s “kissing” technique. I used watercolor on a sheet of plastic and applied it to white watercolor paper. I added blue to the upper half of the background and yellow to the bottom half. If you want to learn more about the "kissing" technique, click here! Once dry, I used the star stencil from the collection to add stars with the creativefx prism glaze to the upper half and yellow texture paste to the bottom half.

Empecé probando una de las técnicas de Vicki Boutin, utilicé acuarela con una hoja de plástico y la apliqué al papel blanco de acuarela. Añadí azul a la mitad superior del fondo y amarillo a la mitad inferior. Si quieres saber mas sobre la técnica haz click aqui! tUna vez seco, utilicé el stencil de estrellas de la colección para añadir estrellas con la pasta de textura creativefx a la mitad superior y la pasta de textura amarilla a la mitad inferior.

After my background dried, I began creating the main cluster with my photograph and patterned papers from the same collection. I layered them up and then added my embellishments. I added a die cut word for my layout’s title, and below that I added a die cut with a travel themed quote. I also used the star stamp from the collection to create additional stars on the background.

Cuando el fondo se secó, comencé a crear el motivo principal con mi fotografía y papeles estampados de la misma colección. Los superpuse en capas y luego añadí mis adornos. Una palabra, die cut para el título de mi layout y añadí una frase debajo. También utilicé el sello de estrella de la colección para agregar estrellas al fondo.

I hope you loved my mixed media layout! I hope it inspires you to grab some paint and experiment with new techniques just like I did. Thanks for reading! See you next time, be safe!

Espero que te haya encantado mi layout mixed media y te inspire a experimentar con nuevas técnicas como hice yo. ¡Gracias por leerme! ¡Nos vemos la próxima vez!

Supplies:

• Vicki Boutin “Let’s Wander” Embellishments (AC-355337
• Vicki Boutin “Let’s Wander” Stamp and Die Set (AC-352261)
• Vicki Boutin “Let’s Wander” Paper Pad (AC-355315)
• Vicki Boutin Texture Paste Set (AC- 355342)
• Vicki Boutin Creativefx Prism Glaze (AC-355344)
• Vicki Boutin “Let’s Wander” Starstruck Stencils (AC-354112)

Say Hello to the Cutest Stamp Sets Ever

 

 

A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Mixed Media Layout

Hello crafty friends it’s Lucile! I am here today to talk about something I love: we are going to talk about mixed media! Today, I am going to walk you through how I create a page using one of my favorite mixed media techniques. I love Vicki Boutin’s mixed media products. They are easy to use and allow you to test lots of techniques. You can make watercolors, stencils, texture paste and so many other things!

Getting Started:

For this page, we are going to start with a background that’s already been made. It’s always hard to start with a blank page! At the beginning of every mixed media project, there are always so many questions to ask! Which color should I choose? What technique should I use? How do I start? Vicki Boutin has released pages with overlays already done. I love these because they give me so many ideas. I ended up choosing a page with traces of paint.

Using Texture Paste:

The first step is to apply an iridescent texture paste. Use a spatula to apply a thin layer. I love this paste because it adds a shiny accent to my page. Then, all you have to do is wait until it’s dry!

Creating with Stencils: 

Once dry, I added stars with a stencil. For this, I used white structure paste that I applied to my stencil. Next, wait until it dries or you can use an electric embosser to reduce the drying time.

Embellishing:

Then I create embellishment with stamps. I used Vicki Boutin golden ink and a star stamp. I love creating new embellishments and making them unique. 

Starting the Layout:

Once I liked my background and my embellishments were ready, I started my layout. First, I backed my photo with white cardstock. Next, I selected die cuts and words that went with my background color. Finally, I added my embellishments and some wooden stars to add volume to my layout. 

That's it! I hope you liked this layout taught you something new about mixed media. Happy crafting!

SUPPLIES:
- Let's Wander Collection : Embellishment Pack (ac-355340), Washi Tape with Foil Accents (ac-355339), Ephemera (ac-355337), Phrase - Let's Wander - Champagne Gold Foil Accents (ac-355334), 6 x 12 Cardstock Stickers (ac-355335), Stencil Pack - Starstruck (ac-354112), Stamps and Dies Set - Let's Go (ac-352261), 12 x 12 Paper Pad - Mixed Media with Foil Accents (ac-355331)

• Wildflower and Honey Collection : Medium - Ink Pad - Metallic (ac-354116)
• Color Kaleidoscope Collection : Palette Knife - Silicon (ac-348092)
• All The Good Things Collection : Mediums - Matte Acrylic Gel (ac-343916)
• Texture paste iridescent (ac-351109)

Why We Love the Colorfun Planner

Hi American Crafts fans! I'm so excited to share my Colorfun planner project with you. Let's dive into planning! I always feel more effective when I write down my to-do list on paper. The Colorfun Planner line by Damask Love is so vibrant and happy. The planners are handy, easy to use, and are very high quality. My favorite is the shiny golden binder. Look how beautiful!

I decorated my planner with these super cool clear stickers. I really like big and bold titles, plus they cheer up the whole page. The vibrant colors give a great vibe to every Monday, making it easier to start your week. 

One thing I love about this planner is that it gives you enough space to be creative. There is plenty of space for creativity on top of your regular schedule or to-do list. It's super customizable, so it's all up to you how you wish to use the planner. The sticky notes are super helpful and you can easily replace them or use them as embellishments. 

My other favorite item from this collection are the metal charms. I decided to use them as a bookmark! How cute is that pink cassette? I can't stop admiring it!

I also placed a pocket where I can storage important notes and letters. It is easy to replace the pages inside, so you can reuse this planner over and over! I have also done my meal planning and created a grocery list inside this planner. The possibilities are endless. I am also amazed by the quality of the cover, binder, and insert pages. You can find this collection and all the goodies at Office Depot! 

Thanks for stopping by here today! Happy planning!

Used supplies: 

Supplies: American Crafts - Damask Love Colorfun Planner, Clear Stickers Pockets, Sticky Notes, Charms, Dual Tip Markers, Pen Case

This Colorfun Planner Inspiration is Everything

Welcome to a new blog post here on the American Crafts Blog! Today is all about the Colorfun Planner Collection by Damask Love. If you like bright and fun colors for your planner projects, then this collection is the right thing for you! The planners come in so many adorable designs. I used the fancy Pink Glitter planner (7966376). It's just the right thing to brighten your days. 

I picked a pink divider with the mix tape design (6992444). Next, I added a large sticker that says 'I'm going places' onto the front. I also added one of the paper clips with tassels (8327236). The mix tape pattern reminds me of my childhood. Today I'm sharing my monthly overview for March with you. 

I decorated the March divider with a large sticky note, and the Rub-On Tap Runners (8327236). They have cute designs like hearts, stripes, and envelopes. The lipstick is a fun ephemera piece that comes with the collection. 

To highlight the days, I colored in the little squares with Gel Pens. The gel pens come in amazing colors and write so smoothly. Next, I added the dates with a black pen.

The stickers, sticky notes, and Rub-On Tape Runners from the Colorfun Planner Collection give you plenty of options to decorate your planner. 

The paper clips with tassels help you to stay organized. Clip them onto a page to find the current month or a special date you want to remember. 

The dividers have cool slip-in pockets to keep little notes, letters, or journaling cards. 

The Colorfun Planner collection comes with a variety of fun items to make your planner projects great. I hope you have had some inspiration to decorate your own!

Supplies: American Crafts - Damask Love Colorfun Planner | Planner (7966376), Stickers (6055511, 5147694, 7869524), Dividers (6992444), Sticky Notes (8024075), Paper Clips with Tassels (8327236), Magnetic Bookmarks (6164813, Rub-On Runners (5068293), Gel Pens Set (356282)