Inching My Way Around

My 1st official "follow these instructions" project with the Measure Magic!

It's taken me weeks to get here...here being the place where I wake up and feel inspired to do something crafty.  It's Sunday, and a little gray outside (unusual for Sarasota, FL), I slept in, and then I made tomato, spinach, Cheddar cheese, and shitake mushroom omelette's for breakfast (at noon).  I gathered my tools and everything else I needed, also known as mise en place in my other life as a saute cook.

This is the mise en place for Anna Griffin's "Summer's Sunniest Shots" kit.  It's an accordion picture album, and a breeze to make.  I found step by step instructions here... http://www.oakleafacre.com/OakLeafAcre2/AGClass509_510/AGEPC510.asp

This is the 1st cut of the project using the Measure Magic.  I love the fact that a 12" X 12" standard piece of scrap-booking paper fits perfectly in the Measure Magic.  The I ruler makes it easy to cut straight lines without all the hassle of measuring and marking, and double checking.

 

 

After cutting two 7 1/2" X 7 1/2" squares, I once again used the Measure Magic to center and adhere the 6" X 6" chipboard.
 
 

 

On the back side of the paper I centered and marked where the chipboard should go. 

 

 
In order to hide the chipboard edges I used the Measure Magic to trim the corners perfectly.  Instead of guessing I butt the corners of the paper and lined them up with rulers on each side of the Measure Magic.  Then I used the I ruler as a straight edge to trim the corners.

The Measure Magic comes in handy when you want to place words or letters straight and evenly on a page.

In order to insure that every layer that I was working with was placed squarely  on top of each other I tape down the I ruler on either side of the Measure Magic at the appropriate intervals.  When I am placing each layer down I can use the straight edge of the ruler to line everything up.

Another great thing about the Measure Magic is that you can cut more than one piece of paper at a time.  Depending on the thickness of the paper, one cut will do the job perfectly.  This is great for those instances when you need two or more pieces cut exactly the same.

Next I needed to fold all of the cut pieces in half. 

By placing the top left corner of the paper into the top left corner of the Measure Magic and folding the bottom left corner up and placing it in the top left corner too, the fold will be perfect every time.  It's better than eyeballing it, trust me.

 
At this point I was ready to glue everything together.

Just like before, I butted the folded corner up against the top left corner of the Measure Magic, and then fit the next folded piece into the corner on top of it, all glued up and ready to go.  So on and so forth, yada yada yada....and then the according book was made.

It holds up to 14 pictures...pictures I haven't picked out yet.  I will also be adding embellishments and  journaling.  When that happens I will have more to show.

All in all the project took a little more than an hour to complete.  I would suggest using the Xyron sticker maker instead of glue to affix everything together (hind sight is 20/20).  Other than that, I can't wait to fill it up.  More than anything though, I feel inspired to do more...and just in time for Christmas!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dody's Birthday Card

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while...well, I will tell you why.  I am a full time cook in a newly opened restaurant in Sarasota, Florida.  The food is great, the atmosphere is inviting to all, and things are crazy busy getting ready for the new season to start (http://www.libbyscafebar.com/lbar.htm).  Menu changes galore, and a 1 year open anniversary party to boot, has taken up much of my time.  On top of all that I have decided it is time to get back into better shape, so I started taking jazzercise classes that are being taught by a woman that lives in my neighborhood.  And that little tidbit of information leads me to the purpose of this post. 

Even though the creative juices are flowing in the kitchen, they are also flowing in my dining/craft room.  Oh, who am I kidding, it's just a craft room, I eat in front of the T.V., like everyone else.  So, Dody, my jazzercise instructor has a birthday coming up, and I volunteered to make a card for every one to sign, and here it is.....

I walked around the craft store for an hour, looking for paper, stickers, or stamps that looked to be remotely jazzercisey/aerobic/workouty gym like, I found nothing.  Then inspiration struck.  After about and hour on line, searching images for some kind of jazzercise dance picture, I found one, and I cut out the silhouette of one of the dancers, and traced onto several different patterned card stock.

Next I folded a solid piece of card stock in half and cut parallel lines at various intervals.  Forgive me, I am new to scrap booking jargon.  I am sure there is a term for it, for now I will call it my pop-up effect.

Tahdah!!!  Here is my mini jazzercise class doing their thang.

I had to reinforce the pop-up...ummm...parallel line popper-uppers, done and done.  This is when the card got fun for me.

So, then I started to make the out side of the card pretty.  Matching scrap strip of paper on the right, some ribbon down the middle, more card stock that matches the other card stock...fun, fun, fun!

Okay, so I used some glitter glue too.  I also added a framed off white piece of paper for everyone in jazzercise class to sign.  Can you tell that I elevated one of the jazzercisers to give it the effect of it being the instructor?  More Fun!

This is the part where the Measure Magic came in handy.  Lining up 'Happy Birthday Dody' was snap.  I taped down the i ruler to the Measure Magic board at the 2 inch mark on each side.  Having the i ruler taped down kept it in place while I placed the letters on the card...in a nice straight line, almost perfectly spaced.

All in all, I am very happy with the way the card turned out...my favorite one to date as a matter of fact.  Instead of making an envelope for it (it measured 13" wide X 10" tall), I made a wrap around sleeve with a ribbon tie off.

And of course, the personalized tag on the back.  The end.  The card is not with out it's flaws, the one time I didn't double check before gluing, was when I put Dody's name on...I spelled her name with an 'i', oops, so it looks a little mucky there, but I fixed it the best I could.

Hopefully more to come soon.  I plan on getting some kits, and doing some detailed measurement action so I can show off the full potential of the Measure Magic. 

Happy scrap booking to all!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  
 
 
 

A new use for the Measure Magic

Noodle, my cat looks nice and compfy, chilling on the Measure Magic!

Showing off the old...

Well, I decided I was going to be a big lazy bum today before I go to work.  So, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my past projects.

This was a card for a friend/co-worker, her daughter picked out the paper.

I loved the velvety monkies and the shimmery pink card stock, everything just sort of came together.

Carri loved her card!  I had a hard time parting with it myself.

I couldn't help it, as if she really needed to know I made it.  I agree with my mother though, making a tag adds to the card.

 For this Easter card, I played with sewing the paper at the top along the crease line. 

This was an origami project I made for my mother.  The Measure Magic was the perfect tool.  Matching up corners perfectly can be so time consuming, especially when making a couple dozen cranes. 

Matching the corners together on the recessed, and ruled board of the Measure Magic made light of this project.  Now I need to make one for me...I am still working on finishing off my second tin of soysauce.

Here is the card I made for the owner of the restaurant where I cook.  Once again I put my origami skills together and came up with a card for everyone to sign.

The card opened like a book, and the the front and back cover tied together, making it look like a star.

...and then I discovered glitter glue!  I think it made the card!

Well, I am off to work now...more to come soon! 

 

New card coming soon...

I am working on a new card for my mom, I want it to say something about opportunity, and holding on, and believing in things that are right, and meant to be.  That's a tall order.  I think I have it though.  Pictures to come soon. 

Anniversary Card

So my husband informed me the other day that his parents 50 something anniversry was coming up, well actually he told me it was the next day, so I scrambled into my craft room (aka the dining room),got out my Measure Magic and whipped out this card for them.

I used 4 different types of paper, some leftover ribbon, a brad that some how matched perfectly, and some glitter glue.

First I made a pretty little envelope.

a close up of the card, I used a pair of scallop edged scissors to cut the paper and make a curtain like effect with the layers of paper, and then I glued the layers to a heavier duty card stock that I folded in half.

 

When all was said and done, I think my quicky home made anniversary card came out nice.  I like the bright colors, and the whimsical paper.  By the way...my in-laws 50 something anniversary isn't until the end of the month.