My latest artist journals

I just made these art journals and love them.

This one I made using canvas panels to make the cover. Also the papers are a mix of watercolor, canvas, acrylic, pastels, drawing and charcoal papers sew together. I had a lot of fun binding and painting it. You can check the three part videos part 1, part 2 and part 3.


The second one I just made it for my upcoming holidays trip. It is simple and was quick to make with the your story machine and one of their albums. Here a short fast forward video showing the making of this watercolor travel journal. Enjoy it.

My latest art work.

I did these 3 pieces recently  and wanted to share it with all of you.  I've been having fun with these and letting my imagination flow.

                                              Made with prismacolor pencils.

                                   Acrylics on canvas, practicing painting water.

                            Here I used watercolor, charcoal, stamps and pearls ex.

Christmas cards series 3-9

I realized I that I haven't post any of the Christmas card series from 3-9, so I decided to post some pictures and their links to the Youtube tutorial for each one so you can choose and watch the ones you like the most. Enjoy!

 

series 3:Going nut with the nutcracker

 

series 4: Jolly

series 5: Nutcracker's love

series 6: snowman greetings

series 7: Santa's gifts

series 8: sweet kids

series 9: snowglobes

Latest journal: finding my muse

This is a short video of the last journal i made the other night because I couldn't sleep. Enjoy i

My handmade artist's journals

I love making my own artist's journals, it is something that I started doing not too long ago and I'm already addicted to it. I just want to spend my day binding books. This post is to show you some of my handmade artist journals with a brief explanation of the materials used to make each one. Later on I will be posting more detailed post on how to make each style by making new ones. But for now enjoy the pictures.

Artist journal #1:

 This was the first journal I ever made. I used the bind-it-all(TM) to bind it and the Cricut(TM) to cut the letter, plus some brads and glitter among other things. The papers inside varies in color and texture. I used different designs of scrapbook paper as well as regular printing paper and stamp a small design at the top of each page. It became my crafting ideas journal; here I write down and sketch my future projects or how I want to try to do something in a different way, etc.

Journal #2

I love this journal, I bound it with the Yourstory(tm) binding machine. For the cover I used card-stock to give support to the designer paper that was really thin. Once again I used the Cricut(tm)  Wall Decor cartridge to cut the chandeliers, then add some stickers and  flowers. The oval behind the blue chandelier is made with watercolor paper that I glitter misted with perfect pearls mists (interference red) and then heat dry it giving it that effect; then coated it with glossy accents.

 On the spine I added a clear embellished sticker to give it a subtle touch. Again the inside papers are a random set of scrap papers in different colors and textures. I love this journal, because it challenge my creativity. I either work with the colored background as it is or change it by painting it or using collage or even gesso. It is not a big book, but it keeps me creating and I'm not feeling those "chills" some of us sometimes feel, when facing a blank white page in front of us. Later on I'll show you some of my works in this book.

Journal #3

My first had sew journals, totally in love with it. I bought a hard leather journal before and I love it because of its rustic, old look. So I decided to give it a try and make my own. Since leather is kind of expensive, I just bought a bag with scraps of leather ($5.99) and hoped to get a piece or two good enough to make a hand bound book. Jackpot, and a good one, I got this really big piece of soft leather, I just had to stretch it a bit so it cover the inside papers completely. It even have enough left to make it flip over and add a leather cord to close it. It took me hours to make this journal but I enjoyed every second. The satisfaction I felt when I was done with it was greater than with my previous journals, since here I didn't make use of any machine only my hands, glue, scissors, thread and needle. All the papers inside are watercolor paper and it is full of it. The gold leopard ornament is just a piece of a ring that broke, and I decided to keep in case I needed for some crafting project. I think it give the journal a great look and touch.With the rest of the leather I'm planning on making some more books, although smaller ones.

Journal #4

My last creation, a Japanese bounded sketch pocket journal. It only measures 3"x6", and was made out of a card box. I used hemp to sew it together and printed scrapbook paper (from a $3 pack) as well as scraps of paper left from other projects. Then I added the Japanese girl sticker to complete it. Later I'll upload a post with instructions on how to make this easy journal. Keep in mind, you don't need to decorate it with Japanese motives if you don't want to, I just used what I had at hand and inspired me. This binding style is really flexible and quick to make.

I decided to make this sketch journal a pocket size because it gives me the flexibility to carry it with me in almost any size handbag, for when inspiration or bore some hit me on the road. It is light weight and does not take much space; plus is pretty too ;).

This are some of my handmade artist's journals, I have some sketching and drawing books that I bought and what I've done is paint the cover of some and transfer some image or just covered them with paint or paper. I will post some projects ideas on how to bind your own journal (different types of bindings) and on how to modify the cover of those you find at the store. Don't worry, it will not be expensive and you'll have lots of fun while making your journals and even more using them.

Christmas card 2: Angels' song

This is the 2nd card of my Christmas series. I decided to post here the materials I used and the link for my YouTube video of how to make it.

Materials

Jolee's boutique(R) angle sticker (or any angel sticker you have)
41/4"x51/2" note card 
InKssentials(TM)   foil tape sheets
ribbon
embossing machine (I used Sizzix(R))
embossing sheet or mold (I used a Cuttlebug(TM))
optional:
stamp with sentiment or sticker
you can use aluminum foil and paste it to a piece of card-stock before embossing it.


video link: how to make Christmas card # 2: Angels' song video

Christmas gift tags series 1

As promise, this is the first video with some simple and easy to make Christmas gift tags. This is a great way to spend time with your kids, family and friends while having fun. Wouldn't it be nice to exchange gift tags with each other? Have fun and enjoy it.

Modifying Christmas greeting cards making kits

Christmas is around the corner, and during this season we all want to show our deepest appreciation. A greeting card is a great way to do so, but some of us don't want to buy a card set with the same design or just don't have time to craft your own from scratch. The solution is simple, a Christmas greeting card making kit. I know some of you might be saying "hey, what part of no time and not the same design you don't get Lora?". Trust me I do get it, and I am gonna show you in the video below just how easy is to save time and make unique cards in no time with a card making kit. Enjoy the video :)

Chritmas card 1: snowfalke wonderland

I've decided to do a video series of Christmas cards, tags, boxes and gift ideas. This is the first Christmas card from scratch. Hope you like it and enjoy!!!

Say your thanks with these easy thanksgiving cards

Thanksgiving is around the corner, everybody is making dinner plans at home or going to someone house for this eventfully day when family and friends gather together to say thanks and enjoy each other company. So I felt a little inspire and decided to make some cards with the thanksgiving theme. These are easy and beautiful cards that anybody can do and that are not too expensive. Also you can always give it a twist and make them totally your own. To make it easier for you I decided to make a video of it so you can replicate it or just get some inspiration. Enjoy and happy thanksgiving!!!

Note: if you don't have or cannot find the cornucopia stamp, you can always look for an image of it on internet and color it. Remember you can use any stamp you want.

One scrapbook paper: more than one different greeting cards

A big portion of crafters out there, like me, have fell prey of the viral, popular and wonderful art of scrapbooking. This most certainly means, that all of the "victims" have beautiful scrapbook papers at home; if not they are going to look for it right after finishing reading this blog post. From a single piece of paper, like the one below, you can create up to 4 different greeting cards. I highly recommend the cardstock paper or something similar, like the one shown below; but any other will work just find.

scrapbook paper

Some might not believe this, but that gorgeous and high quality piece of paper just cost me 28 cents. What can I say?, I'm a sales' junkie. With those 28 cents and just a few other materials, plus my imagination , I can create a couple of beautiful greeting cards that will not only leave the receiver mouth wide open and feeling special, but will also be the main topic of conversation among everybody. There is nothing wrong with showing off your skills.

Ok, lets start. As you could see, the paper has two major designs in opposite corners that stand out more than the rest. Those are the front of two of my cards, so I want to make sure that when I trace and cut my card they will be unaltered. You can set the dimensions of your card to your liking and just trace light lines to outline where your are going to cut. I decided to use a greeting card that I had as a mold. I placed the card on the paper with the design up so I can see where the main design is, in this case the bird. With a pencil I lightly trace the outline of the card.

mold dimensions: w 8in (24 cm) x h 6in (17cm)

Time for cutting. If you are good with scissors and ,unlike me, can cut in a straight line be my guest and use your scissors. But, I'm pretty sure that as a fellow scrap booker, some of you already have the "guillotine" , go ahead and use it; leave the scissors for minor details. In this case, I'm making a folding card; if you are too, go ahead and fold it through the middle. Don't rush the folding, make sure you are connecting  and aligning the open ends as precise as you can.

Now that I have my first card, is decorating time! Is important to think what you want to convey, what is the card purpose and most importantly what does, by looking at it, you feel. Seriously, as an artist and a crafter, is important to feel our work; that’s where our inspiration come from. For me, I felt nature, simplicity and beauty, a dream and peace. I want my card to convey all these emotions to its receiver but at the same time I want to keep it open to almost any occasion. So I looked up for some simple, yet gorgeous stickers that helps me convey that. And voila!!!

card #1: folding card

As you can see above, that’s the final result. I got to say that I love this paper even more, because of the double side print; which took out the common white. Don't miss understand me, there is nothing wrong with the inside been white, is just that I love the wonderful and coordinated twist that this type of paper gave me. You can always find a way to make the inside of your card more interesting, by using words or maybe stamps, who knows where your imagination will take you.

Ok, I know I said "different cards", but I wasn’t talking only about the printed design Your card does not have to be the common folding card, it can have a different style. For example, it can be a one piece, double sided card with the front design on one side and the message on the other.

card #2: folding card

card#3:double sided card

I decided to use the left piece of paper and use the other side to decorate the inside of another card. At the end I got 4 different greeting cards from just one piece of paper.

made by: Lora's Crafts and Arts Ideas

With the variety of paper prints out there the possibilities are endless. Can you imagine all the different and personalized greeting cards, invitations, etc. that you can do for just pennies?!! Oh, well my imagination is running wild just thinking about it, how about yours?

Re-dressing those not so pretty greeting cards

How many of us have bought one of those blank greeting cards packages that are on sale, just because is convenient, inexpensive  and we like some of them? I guess a couple of us had. Even if you haven't buy the big package, some of you, like me, might  have had hard time finding the perfect  birthday or father's day card that would convey our feelings to the other person.  Stumbling over  cards with not so pretty or meaningless design and nice message inside, or just plain boring; we all have find those, is not fun at all. 

The other day, was my friend's friend birthday, and he was going crazy trying to find a birthday card at the last minute. He found one with the perfect funny message, but he hated the picture. With not too much time to spare, to keep going around trying to find the perfect card, my light bulb lighted up and I suggested him,  "why  not making it your own? Just cover the front design with something you like."  Yes, you heard me right (well read me right).  His answer, "I have not much time for buying materials for that, plus I don't know what to use."  But what kind of friend would I be if I don't have his back?

So I brought him home, and show him a bunch of scrapbook papers that I have, most of them left over pieces of paper from my previous works. There were also some 'happy birthday' stickers that I had save because, honestly, I wasn't to fond of them nor did I know what to use them for. When he looked at the papers he was less convince of it been a better idea, he thought it was too much work. Ok, time for me to let my creativity come out and fast. What I did? I layered all the festive papers that could be used in the table, as well as the few stickers. Then started to see what will look good with what; everything as fast as I could since we were short of time.

Finally, we found something simple that would work. Some adjustments to the card dimensions were needed, so we could make use of the paper we decided to use. Other "last minute" changes were needed, like the use of a small piece of paper to cover the folding edge of the card so the small part of the old design was covered; by the way it ended up being way better than the initial design we had in mind. All this, in five minutes and for practically nothing but, in this case, the cost of the card.

So it doesn't matter if you already have so cards at home or if you just by one only for the right message, the important is that you convey your feelings. There is no better way to do the later, but by putting some of yourself on it. So don't be afraid of using your scrapbook, origami materials or even magazines for something else, as for example greeting cards, it will save you money by using material you already have plus will show how much you care.