Cute Vintage Button Card Idea, Creative Journals & Linky Winner

Hi Everyone,

I'm late but I have some fun ideas to share today and a winner for our 2nd Linky Party.  Congratulations to #3 Cynthia Olheiser who entered her dress form card (below) posted on Spiltcoast and was the random.org winner!  You can see all of the entries here if you scroll to the bottom. I wish we had more entries but a Big Thanks to all the ladies who entered - I'm going to send you each a little gift and to everyone who entered last month.

 Here is Cynthia's card that random.org picked and she gets a $50.00 CS Gift Certificate. Look at the cute lace skirt she added to the dress form from our Sew Special stamp set.  

I spotted the cute Button Card Idea Melissa Bove entered using our Material Girl Stamp set, (which I know many readers have as it's our top selling small set).  I posted it on Pintrest under Cool Ideas Using our Stamps and it's had over 60 repins, so other people love the idea including DT Member Marilyn McIldoon who created this cute pink version below.  The link to Melissa's card is

I know Papertrey has a super cute Button Card stamp set, but I've had a button stamp set on my 'To Make Stamp Sets' ever since we did our Material Girl Set and you all  fell in love with the little thread card (see thread card below Marilyn stamped and wrapped floss around).  We just need to do our Button stamp set different from Papertrey. I will show a draft soon! UPDATE: NanaBeth asked for sayings - I would love to hear any, please leave a comment with ideas!

We've also been working on other new stamp sets in Fairy and Pixie stamps, Dressed Animals, Garden and Tea Party!  Actually there are more sets in the works but we also have T-shirt Designs to finish and a couple of other fun surprises. Hey - we are just a small 2.5 person office!


Have you noticed how popular Art Journals have become?  I mean the artsy-creative styles that allow you the freedom to explore, play, paint, stamp, stitch, cut, paste doodle and journal your thoughts, hopes and dreams.  You can make them out of any medium and add lists, photos, fave images, ephemera, etc., and the best part is you can just add pages and updates whenever the urge hits you and you don't have to be locked into any specific style and there are NO RULES!  Just add anything that makes you HAPPY!  

Ask yourself questions, interview other people to document their ideas and answers.  You can follow any path and theme. You can keep your journal secret or share it. I keep hearing words like Addictive, Fun, Liberating and Freedom so I'm going to start one but in the meantime check out DT Member Julie Campbells Journal she just started!

DT Member Marilyn has been working on a Sewing Journal you can see if you scroll through her April & May blog posts.  She has been sewing up everything from cards and paper to a rag quilt she made in March, and a journal is a great place to keep track of creative projects and ideas.

Did you see DT Member Pam Hooten's Art Journal?  Scroll through her Crafty Secrets April & May Posts and see the colors and cool stamping she is doing!

DT Leader Vicki Chrisman met with her 'Ladies Art Group' last week and I envy their fun once a month lunch they do, taking turns and eating and playing together - making a 'mess at someone else's house'.  Vicki shrunk down this digital layout she made with our New CD # 3 (at printers and ready Mar 25/12) and added it to an altered canvas

I'm learning to use Photoshop Elements properly (I usually cheat and use my free  Paint.net).  Cindy (our graphic designer) told me what buttons to click and taught me about layers when I wanted to make this sample using a bunch of the texty designs I had Vicki Chrisman design for CD #3.  I'm thrilled with the way it turned out and even more excited to see what other people will create with all these fun re-sizable PNG files.  I pasted 2 antique painting together to make the cool background which is on CD 3 and Vicki handmade each design and Cindy turned them all into proper files on the CD - yippee!

When I make my journal I want to add this photo of George, our daughter & her boyfriend's Pug we recently doggie-sat for 2 weeks as they were off working on the New Batchelor Canada TV Show - I will share more details as soon as Katie can spill the beans!  We miss our dog Otis (who our youngest daughter dog-knapped) but we fell for George who was a speeding bullet and a snuggle puss who entertained us non-stop!

 Lastly, I have a couple of great cards to share like this one by Sophie La Fontaine who used our Birds of Happiness Stamp set.  Also see the other fabulous cards in Sophie's Gallery!   Hey, did you see the Baby Onesie I stamped with this cute set?

I also saw it 's Lori Craig's Birthday this week (big time helper at Splitcoast) and Lori is such a sweetie, so say Happy Birthday if you know her! This is one of my fave cards she has ever made with our Clear Art Stamp sets. She used the Home Sweet Home set and her colors make me HAPPY! It's so bright and fun but still has the art deco style.

I will be back later this week with something new to share


Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn


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Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

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15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

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Blaine,WA 9823

Fairy Doll Stamps, Pre-Order CD #3, See Our Linky Party

Hi Everyone,

I have some super cute cards made with our All Dolled UP Stamps, a Special Deal with Free S&H on Pre-Orders for CD #3 with a bunch of cool samples and link to over at Craftberry Bush Blog to  Lucy's pretty tutorial on antiquing glass bottles   using some of our images. 

I also want to encourage you to enter our current Linky Party and post any sample you have created.  There are only 7 entries right now - so don't be shy, you could be the random winner of a $50.00 Crafty Secrets Gift Certificate. You have 4 days left so go for it!

Look at this adorable fairy doll card that DT Member Michele Kovack created using our All Dolled Up Clear Art Stamp Set. You can get the details here on Michele's Blog and you have to watch the uplifting video she made of her daughter Courtney's prom at the handicap school she attends. In fact  - make your kids watch it, so they understand how different life would be in a wheelchair - forever.

Alumni DT member Marisa Grosson recently stamped the same paper doll girl and added the fairy outfit but gave her brown hair.  

 I've added a bunch of the fabulous Doll samples that Sophie La Fontaine and Marie-alice created in our Shopatron Store you can see if you click on the Doll Stamp Link above. Then look at this super adorable card that Sophie just made for her nephew "Baby Conductor' 
Then, when I was over at Splitcoast I saw a bunch more fabulous new samples by others!

Here's the cover and we had to up the file count. The manufacture I use has been super busy but they said we should have the CD's in stock by May 25 (hopefully before).  Pre-orders will be sent out right away, on a first come basis. You can see more samples and a full description here in our online store.  I also added more samples to CD #1 and 2.

Here are Preview Sheets of layouts created. On the actual CD, the Preview sheets get really big so you can see the details and there are Preview Sheets for all of the jpg , png and template files.

I asked DT Leader Vicki Chrisman if she could create a tree, sun, grass, girl, cat, dog, flowers from old text and map paper I sent her and look at how cute they turned out in the top middle sample below!  Cindy turned them into PNG files so they can be laid over a background I made.  Then I had Cindy teach me how to add them in Photoshop Elements and I created the sample below - which I'm so proud of but really it's Vicki that deserves all the credit for creating the designs! 

        I love the way the 10 Templates turned out!  The projects are fun with a good variety

I should tell you we are currently working on building an Etsy Store because so many customers want to pay by Paypal and overseas people will be able to order. It's coming along but there are a ton of products, photos, etc to add.  There will also be a Zazzle Shop with T-shirt designs (like the cool T-shirt sample below), mousepads, cell phone cases and much more!

 Okay,  don't forget to get out your Crafty Secrets products and make something for our Linky Party, or post a past project you really like. You might be the random $50.00 winner and you could get all 3 of our CD's for free and you would still have a couple of bucks left to spend!

Have you been watching American Idol?  We are hooked and last night there were such great performances. Who do you want to win?  It's tough, I really like Jessica and Phillip and would buy their CD's but Joshua has such an amazing voice!


Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn  
Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 9823

Welcome and Please Join In Our 2nd Crafty Secrets Linky Party and See My Image Edit Tips

Hi Everyone,   Okay – I’m apparently impaired when it comes to web code and have been struggling to get it to work, so I hope it does now!  If you scroll below to the Linky Party Box can you upload a sample and link it to the project posted to your Blog or a online Gallery. You have all week to submit anything you have created using our products. A random Winner will be announced this Mon, May 14/12 to WIN a $50.00 Crafty Secrets Gift Certificate.    Don't be shy - come play!

We also have a winner from our Giveaway for CD #3 and a Love You Mother Stamp Set (or $30.00 in any product) and congratulations to #94 Charlotte Zweigoron.

I made 2 projects.  The first was a super quick stamping project. I used Black Stazon Ink to stamp on a baby girl's onesie with our Birds of Happiness Clear Art Stamp Set.

Stazon has a solvent base so you want to be sure to clean your stamps right away as the ink really stays on and can fill in detail. A soft toothbrush and baby wipes worked great to clean my stamps. Various inks (such as Ranger Archival) can also be heat set on fabric with an iron.

Several people have told me they would like to try the CD's but they don't have Photoshop Elements or have any idea how to use the digital images. We will have a series of tutorials on the blog and youtube showing a wide range of projects but if you can open JPG and PNG file you can use our CD's!  The CD's also include a tutorial for using Photoshop Elements by Patty thedigitalscrapbookteacher.com 

This is a fun image that will be on CD #3 and I want to show how you can crop and erase parts of any of the images with a free program many computers have installed called 'Paint',  or for free you can also install a higher version called Paint.net or for Mac users Gimp from cnet.com.  These are simple tips for those new to digital.

 

I just opened the file in my 'Paint' program and clicked on the 'Select All' Button and then the 'Free Form' button which lets you use your mouse to draw around the area you want to cut out  as you can see I didn't want the extra lettering circled in red. When you have it outlined - click 'Cut' and it will disappear.  If you make a mistake go up to the blue arrow and it will step back what you just did. Always do a Save As' and add a new title so your original is saved.  When you click out of Paint it will ask if you want to save your changes. Say 'No' to maintain the original file.

If you are printing on fabric you need to reverse your printing.  Click on the 'Rotate' button and then on the 'Flip Horizontal' to reverse any lettering. Many printers have the flip setting built in if you have a 'T-shirt Transfers' setting.

I used the super soft T-shirt Transfer paper from Dharma Trading and I love that none of the white color shows up - just the ink. The transfer paper I bought at Office Depot showed a big white box - yuck. Read before you buy.

I made this little onesie for Jane, my friends new granddaughter.  To add her photo I opened it in 'Paint', hit the 'Select All' button and then opened my page back up in Paint and hit the 'paste' button and dragged the image where I wanted it. You can use your mouse on the corner of the image to push it in and reduce the size. I did the same with the '100% Authentic' PNG file that will be on CD #3.    Play and practice. Try out the pencil, the brushes, the 'T' Text Box to type on your project.

Now you should check out DT Members Vicki Chrisman's Coasters 

 and Pam Hooten's Sing for Joy Journal on their Blogs. 

Then be sure to click on any of the projects other people submit to our Linky Party. I hope you will also join in and post a project!

Sandy Redburn
Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 9823

Altered Dress Form Tutorial Using Vintage Papers From CD #3

Hi Everyone,

Today I have some great samples and a tutorial for you on how I altered a dress form using Mod Podge with papers that will be on our new CD #3 Creating With Vintage Typography. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this – so if I can do it, I bet you can! 

In fact it was so easy and fun I decided to add a skirt and printed papers from the CD on fabric and simply ironed six pieces of 8.5” x 11” freezer paper to an old white cotton sheet and trimmed them to feed through my printer.  Warning - I talk too much so this is long but I wanted to give as much info as possible. Post question here and I will leave answers.

 I only use no-name ink from the Ink Farm for my printer as ‘real’ ink is expensive. My printer is a Canon ix6520 I bought for about $149.00 and it will print 12 x 12 pages but I didn’t have freezer paper that big so I just printed 8.5 x 11” sections of the pages. You can also shrink or crop any of the 12 x 12” pages using a photo editing program. If you don’t have one, you can download Paint.net or Gimp for Mac users for free from Cnet. 

These are the 2 sewing theme papers and the tickets and floral images I used from CD 3. I printed 4 pages of pattern paper #1 and two of the #2 to Mod Podge on my dress form. 

I saw some altered dress forms on Pintrest and was pumped to make one so I made sure we would have sewing pattern paper, sheet music, script and text papers I could pick from on CD # 3. Then I spotted the pretty dress forms that Carol from the Polkadot Closet Blog made when she used our CD #1 to make-over this little suitcase and a shelf and I ordered from her supplier Barr Display (see links on the left side of her blog). 

This style is hollow at the back but has a bottom so it will stand up and a hole so you can add a stand. You can also find dress forms in every style on Ebay.  *NOTE: If you plan to sell anything you create with our CD's you need to contact us for a commercial license and give credit to us and the CD you used.

Supplies: 6 sheets of printed paper from CD #3, Krylon Matte Spray to seal inket paper (ink is permanent with laser printers), scrap paper or a sheet to work on, scissors, a brush, a wet cloth or wipes, a ruler to tear paper against or measure with.You will need 6 sheets of freezer paper if you make a fabric skirt, or buy a roll and cut sheets 8.5 x 11". I LOVED the freezer paper and will use it again!

 Here are some helpful lessons I learned doing this project.  You can decoupage paper printed on an ink jet printer onto all sorts of surfaces  - but some inks may bleed and the solution is to spray your paper (once it's completely dry from printing) with Krylon Matte Spray to seal it.  Carol didn't have ink bleeding paper problems but Vicki did previously, so I didn't take a chance. It was cold in my garage when I used the Krylon Spray so I ran my sponge brush over the spots my spray went on bubbly and it smoothed out great.  I did 2 light coats.

Figure out ahead where you want to place certain designs and tear or cut your paper ahead so it's ready but leave a couple of sheets for 'unexpected results'.  I had to shrink this photo as it kept going sideways but can you see some of spots where my paper didn't meet perfectly? 

I used my hands to free tear and the counter edge to tear my paper straight.  Just be sure to tear in the right direction so you don't get a white edge.  I also let my fingers get sticky and tore my paper in a couple of spots. Later, I simply used scissors to cut little patches and make repairs.  I just cut around the large colored dress forms and glued them on.

I also used small scissors to make little cuts where my paper curved so it would lay flatter. I also found it helpful to brush a coat of Mod Podge over my paper so I could use my fingers to smooth out air bubbles and wrinkles. If it was a flat surface a brayer would work great. I cut the strip of floral tickets to add a round the neck and added a rose spray to the chest.

 Here is the finished form before I added the skirt.  My awesome hubby scored me an old lamp from the church thirft store for $6.00 and it matches great.  I didn't do any inking after and I like the way mine looks but you may want to use a sponge or brush to add inking.

To make the skirt I printed 6 different sheets from CD 3 on white cotton sheeting that was ironed to freezer paper for stability (shiney side down).  The ink dried fast and I just peeled off the paper.  My sweet mom sewed the 6 sheets together for me, added a piece of old lace and gathered the fabric using a running stitch. I used Ranger brown ink to stain a little wood finial and hot glued it in the hole. The necklaces were made by shrinking down images on the floral tags sheet.

I printed the ruler paper on fabric and glued it to a piece of ribbon and glued that to my gathered skirt. I added a couple of velcro tabs at the back to hold my skirt on so it can come on or off.

 Okay, now look at this super cute sewing journal that Marilyn created using the same sewing paper for her background.  The children are from a catalog paper on the CD that Cindy made B&W so you can print it on different pastel papers to suit your project or color and cut out the kids as Marilyn did. See details here on Marilyn's blog.

Then Cindy came to work today and with a bunch of white sheeting and printed 12 x 12" pages to make pillows.  She used the glossy photo setting and the colors turned out bang on perfect!  I used matte photo printing and I thought my fabric for the skirt printed a bit dull. I need to play with this new printer more. Look at the flowers she cut out of cardstockand printed with the texty floral paper and how cool they look cut out and curled up a bit.

 Melissa Bove offered to make a sample and sent me this stunning box she did as a faux book cover! She also used our 'Love You Mother' stamp set and this would make a great gift for a mom.

 I love this lampshade that Vicki made by punching 1" circles from some of the ad paper and layering it starting from the bottom. You can see more details here on Vic's blog.  These samples will be on the CD

Please tell me what you think of this tutorial and be honest. Too much, what did I leave out?

We should have our new CD 3, Creating With Vintage Typography back from the printer in about 2 weeks (but add a few days as my manufacture is super busy).  We will send the winner of our Giveaway a link to access the CD on Monday and any free medium stamp set.

If you haven't entered out current Giveaway it's right HERE.  

Also, please don't be shy - come post any sample you have created with any of our products at our 2nd Linky Party starting this Monday, May 5th and it runs for a week. A random.org winner will be chosen from all the entries to win a $50.00 Crafty Secrets Gift Certificate. 

 Sandy Redburn

Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 9823

Altered Dress Form, Crafty Mothers Day Ideas, My and Vicki's Giveaways!

Hi Everyone,

I finished altering my dress form and I will come back this Friday with a full tutorial showing how I decoupaged the sewing pattern pages and also created a fabric skirt by printing pages on fabric I ironed to freezer paper that will be on CD 3, Creating With Vintage Typography. It was so easy I'm pumped to make more fabric!  ** CD 3 will be available in 2 - 3 weeks as our manufacture is backed up but I have a Giveaway and so does Vicki!

 Today I wanted to show you a bunch of great samples with a Mother theme so you will have time to create something for Mothers Day if you have a mom or any nice lady you want to honor.

Here's the form when I started out

A handcrafted gift is personal and can become a cherished keepsake and there are oodles things you can create that would make wonderful gifts and I will list some below but a handmade card tops the list for Mother's Day projects and look at all these all beautiful ideas like this stunning card Viola Mahr created  - Oops- I just saw it was a mini album using images from our Birds & Blossoms Booklet but it would make a great card as well.

I Love the way Viola cut the tulips out and stamped 'Mother' with our Love You Mother Stamp Set.  I'm giving away this stamp set and a copy of CD 3, you just need to leave a comment here.  As we won't have the actual copies of CD # 3 for a couple of more weeks - I will send the lucky winner an invitation to access the CD online and send them a copy ASAP.  A random Winner will be announced this Monday, May 7/12 with our 2nd Linky Party.  Come join in and submit a project!

Pam Hooten created this gorgeous card also using our Love You Mother Stamp Set. I love the way she stamped and cut out the little blossom stamp to add it to the branch and her details like the little pearl centers.  NOTE:  If you notice the spelling error it was fixed (you should be your cheer).

I love this poem and the pretty flowers and look how Heidi Blankenship used a gold metallic pen around the edges of this postcard from our Family Vintage Postcard Kit and a Clear Gelly Stardust Pen to outline the petals.

Tammy Roberts designed this angelic card using images from our Little Blessings Creative Scraps

You can give Mom a coupon for a lunch date, a movie or outing together as a gift and turn your coupon into a card like this sweet one that Melissa Bove created using our Love You Mother Stamp set

Here is the inside of Melissa's card ( the typo has been fixed on this stamp set but if you have a 'bad' one, please contact us and we will send you a new poem).

You can give a gift card for your mom's favorite restaurant or store like the way Lisa Zappa created an envelope to hold a Starbucks gift card for her Mom.   

If you stop and think of what your mom loves, then see if you can incorporate the images or theme into a handmade gift. If she is a Grandmother she may love a photo keepsake starring her Grandchildren, a gardener would enjoy a gift with beautiful flowers.  You can even add small photos or images to these Bottle Caps and make a set of magnets or glue on push pins for her bulletin board.

Did you see my last post with our Free Printable Sweet Mom's Box Template and how to create labels?  There are also some links to past Mother theme Printables and then I remembered we also have a fun Printable Vintage Crown and Tussie Mussie and the crown would be perfect Mother's Day Hat fit for a queen.

You could create a special scrapbook page for your mom and frame it or add it to an album to give as a gift and add more pages to over time. You don't need to do the traditional 12 x 12" album - you can make it any size and style.  I love the colors and patterns Victoria used on this digital layout using CD # 1, Creating With Vintage Patterns and she can print it in any size to create a mini scrapbook page or a card for her mom.

Viola Mahr created this pretty digital page using papers and embellishments from CD # 1.

Julie Campbell has created several scrapbook pages for family memory albums and I love how she used images from our Childhood Booklet to convey her Mother's passion for doll making.  You can see a wonderful layout on Julie's blog about her Granmother's quilt

I love how Sheila Rumney created this digital layout and cut a heart shape from one of the papers from CD # 1, Creating With Vintage Patterns. The hankie is also a PNG file , which means it has been cut out (even the lace edge) so it can be layered over other pages.

Here are some of the 2" Bottle Caps we are selling in mixed packages that Vicki turned into magnets using our Domestic Goddess Scraps

Don't forget to enter Vicki's Giveaway for all these goodies shown below (including some of the Tattered Angels Embossed Frames we are sold out off and some other great goodies!

Also, pull out out your Crafty Secrets supplies or a recent project and post any sample in our Linky Party that starts this Mon, May 7 and runs for a week.  A random winner will receive a $50.00 Gift Certificate to shop in our store.  It's also a fun way to share ideas.


I will be back Friday with the Altered Dress Form Tutorial

Plus - don't forget to leave a comment here to enter our Giveaway!

Until next time wishing you joy and creativity

Sandy Redburn

Crafty Secrets

Check Our Store Locator
Visit Our Online Store
Join Us on Facebook!

This Blog: http://heartwarmingvintage.blogspot.com
Our Website: http://www.craftysecrets.com
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Crafty Secrets Head Office
15430 78 A Ave.,
Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

USA Warehouse
250 H. Street, #436
Blaine,WA 9823