Wednesday, October 28, 2015

2015 Craft Room Tour by Artful Leigh Creative for Clique Kits

Welcome to the Share Your Space feature for Clique Kits!!
2015 Artful Leigh Creative Craft Room Tour!









An overview of the room from the doorway . The room is above the garage, and measures 13 feet by 19 feet. I waited 11 years to turn this space into a craft room, and once the youngest started high school, we decided they didn’t need the play room anymore:)  Hubby had the idea to rip out the carpet, and replace it with laminate. He knows me pretty well after 21 years, and since I am pretty klutzy, I had definitely dropped an ink pad or two upside down on the carpet before! :) Love having this floor that is so easy to clean.

I made the standing height craft table in the center of the room, and have a detailed tutorial on my blog.  It’s made of 3/4 inch Birch Plywood , and I hand finished the stain with a staining cloth and Minwax Bombay Mahogany stain.  This table is 4 feet wide and 6 feet long, and has a 48 inch clearance all the way around for traffic flow. The bases are from Wal-Mart.com and the openings fit the 14×14 inch Itso Bins from Target.

I also used a hand saw and miter box to make the frame for the pegboard, and spray painted and hung it all by myself as well. Hubby calls me “Bob the Builder”! Hee hee There’s  a detailed tutorial for the pegboard also.





We will start here on the left side of the room. The two tall bookcases were repurposed from another room in the house, and I painted them with Antique White paint, color matched to the Antique White Bedford Desk units in this room. The first one on the left holds patterned paper sorted by manufacturer. Some of the paper holders I repurposed from those Priority Mail medium boxes that your scrap purchases come in. Painted, and covered with paper to match my room and the Target Itso Bins are in use here to hold larger amounts of patterned paper by manufacturer. The middle units are from Michael’s and an old entry bench I repainted, to hold card stock sorted by color. The right bookcase holds embellishments sorted by manufacturer.




On top I like to display some of the mini albums I’ve made and my kid’s photos.





The next bookcase holds My Project Life® albums, Core Kits, Inspiration and sketch books, and American Crafts White Card Stock, all purchased at 40% off or more with extra coupons. The rolling cart next to the bookcase holds Project Life® cards  sorted by color and kit. I have a tutorial on that one too!







That first little brown basket on the counter holds Project Life® Theme Kits, some mini albums hang on the dress form, and you can see the Bedford Modular Desk Units from Pottery Barn. They were my one splurge in the room since I repurposed, made, or thrifted the rest of the furniture.




The Silhouette Cameo, sewing machine, and Mac computer are next in this area where I blog, edit and print photos. The Tiffany Blue file folders on the wall, and paper sorters, are by Martha Stewart for Staples. The wall quilt is by my Mom, and my sister painted the mixed media art above it. My grandma paints as well, we are all very crafty in my family:) The pegboard wall holds mostly American Crafts supplies, and was inspired by Heidi Swapp’s wall in her craft room, love the stripes! It sits above the Planner Station.  I sewed the pillows and curtains from fabric by Basic Grey for Moda Fabrics.




You can see the whiteboard behind my Mac, which I use to keep Design Team assignments in plain view. Kit embellishments sorted by color are on the wall along with my most used punches in the Target Dollar Spot pails. That weathered gray wall organizer is also from Target, and holds enamel dots, die cuts, black pens, pencils, and glue dots, and punches. To the right of the Mac is a magazine holder that I store my Design Team layouts in until I can file/photograph them and put them in albums. The file folders to the right of there, hold tips for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Silhouette tips, and Neenah Solar White Card Stock for printing the Clique Kits exclusive printables included each month, and any other printables.





More Project Life® cards and Studio Calico Kits, and the “Create” word is from Heidi Swapp Hello Signature Wall Art. I have a couple more pieces to paint and hang in here as well. Love them! I got the wall organizer at Lowes, and it is for holding CD's.





Here at the planner station, you can see my completed Week In The Life™ and #Myselfiescrapbook 6×8 albums, and my little West Elm succulent plant just makes me happy in that gold dot container! More Target Dollar Spot buckets hold different journaling and planner pens that I use here. In Design School we learned to store items at their point of use, for the most efficient room design. I tried to employ that technique throughout the room. Where do I use an item? Then incorporate storage there.




A close up of my different planners and full size Minc Machine I got on sale!!




Here you can see the cabinet my sister sent to me, on the floor that holds Sizzix dies. I stained it to match the floor and the craft table. Love it Sis! Next to that are my Cricut Machine and a Clip It Up  spinning organizer for rarely used embellishments. Behind curtain one on the left is the Die Cut Station. Behind curtain two is the Stamping Station.




Curtains open on the Die Cut Station. Dies, embossing folders, letterpress plates, and materials to cut are here. I have baskets with Fun Foam, Acetate, and repurposed chipboard labeled for use. Photos organized by year and month are above. I made sure to have LED lights so they are archival safe and don’t emit UV light.




Stamping closet holds all stamps, pads and reinkers, Distress Inks, Alcohol Inks, and mists. Basically anything that could be messy, is in here:) Masks are hanging from a recycled cafe rod. I had installed this pegboard that the home improvement store cut for me. It’s so inexpensive and a great way to organize lots of things. I used chipboard from packaging to hold the small ink pads, reinkers, and other stuff. Simply laid the chipboard on the flat peg board hooks.




Close up of the stuff I keep close at hand on the standing height craft table. Kellie Stamps, Studio Calico Stamps, Heidi Swapp Color Shine, spinning tool caddy, and more.



2015 Craft Room Tour Video on You-tube!!!!





Thank you so much for joining me on this long craft room post!




LINKS:
CRAFT TABLE 
http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/2013/09/diy-craft-table-tutorial.html

5 EASY STEPS TO ORGANIZE PROJECT LIFE CARDS BY KIT AND COLOR
http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/2015/01/5-easy-steps-to-organize-project-life.html

PEGBOARD DIY CRAFT ROOM ORGANIZATION
http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/2015/09/craft-room-organization-heidi-swapp.html



Thank you to Clique Kits for featuring my space and allowing me to share!!

Hugs,
Artful Leigh





Sunday, October 25, 2015

Ten Creative Ways To Use Digital Stamps, Idea Three


Thanks for joining me today, for the third post in this series. 






IDEA #3: CAPTION IT!

For this week's post, we are focusing on ways to use your digital stamps, or PNG files as captions. 



 SUPPLIES: Kellie Stamps Digital sets, "Kiddo",  Project Life® Core Kit: Heidi Swapp Prismatic, wood veneer: Pinkfresh Studios from Clique Kits. I created captions with the "So Proud" Kellie Stamp, and the "You're Awesome". 





You can create your own caption at the top of a blank 3x4  (or any size you want!) card and leave space for journaling. I created this card in Adobe Photoshop, but any program that allows you to import PNG or JPEG files will work. I simply add shapes and color them in with the eyedropper tool in Photoshop, like the two triangles above. I  clicked the eyedropper on my son's shirt, and got the magenta color that coordinated with the Heidi Swapp Prismatic Project Life® cards. The possibilities are endless, and you are only limited by the number of shapes you can imagine. 

If you don't have any journaling, but need a filler card, you can move the shape with the digital stamp to the center of the card. Move it anywhere you like, that's the beauty of digital stamps!  Click Edit, or undo and try again! 






You can also use digital stamps to create captions on your photos. I like to place them in the blurry background, as I did here with the Kellie Stamps Digital "Kiddo" set. You can draw attention to a specific feature in the photo by your placement. Here, attention is focused on her eye by lining the stamp up with her eyes. 



Try out some digital stamping , and creating journaling or filler cards with your digital supplies. It definitely adds to your crafty arsenal and makes your supplies stretch farther.




Thank you for joining me today!
Hugs,
Artful Leigh






Friday, October 23, 2015

Clique Kits October 2015 Kit Layout Number Eight! You-tube video too!

It's FRI-YAY video day!

Wow! I have made my eighth layout with this kit and still have 3 patterned papers and lots of embellishments to make more!! 
There is a happy little process video below on this layout as well.



All papers punched from the October Clique Kit Funfetti #Pinkfresh Studio papers: A good way to use up small pieces you have left over.



This is based on the Studio Calico October 18th Sunday Sketch, they have a free one every Sunday!!




Thanks for watching the video, please comment and subscribe if you will! 



Hugs,
Artful Leigh Creative

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Clique Kits Pep Rally October Blog Share and November Kit Reveal!!

Yay! Welcome to this fun filled blog share called Pep Rally!!
I am sharing the layouts I made with the Clique Kits October Funfetti Kit.
I got 7 layouts out of this one kit and have 3 nearly full sheets of paper and plenty of embellies left to create more layouts! Yes! Love playing with new papers and exclusive Clique Kits stuff!
And wait til you see how gorgeous November Kits are...


Layout 1: from the Sept. 19th Art Studio Blog post on Clique Kits Blog



Layout 2: from the Sept. 21st Geek Lab post on the Clique Kits Blog featuring the exclusive cut files and printables included with your kit.



Layout 3: from the Sept. 25. Yearbook post on the Clique Kits Blog using the exclusive pocket cards from the kit.



Layout 4: from the Oct. 6 Geek Lab Clique Kits Blog post featuring the exclusive cut files from  the kit.



Layout 5: Oct. 15 Clique Kits Blog post called Art Studio "Mac Love Layout" featuring the exclusive cut files used to make a reusable stencil for the Whipped Spackle, or any texture paste.




Layout 6: from the "Meet the New Team" Blog Share on October 1st.




Layout 7: bonus layout using the Pinkfresh Studio aqua Paper from the kit, and some scraps from older kits. 




Sneak Peek of the my layout from November Clique Kits called Tapestry.




Don't forget to use my code if you want to get you some pretty stuff to play with from the Clique Kits Shop!! 




Here is the lineup for the blog share (Pep Rally) in case you get lost:
October 2015 Line-Up
Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
Gia http://www.giaaloha.wordpress.com/
Erica http://ericarosecreates.blogspot.com/
Leeann Pearce http://thepaintbrushgoesspottie.blogspot.com/
Maryam* http://maryamperez.blogspot.com/
Aliza* http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com/
Megan Blethen http://www.craftymeggy.com/
Emma Pescott http://emslifedocumented.blogspot.co.nz/
Melissa* http://yesterday2day4ever.blogspot.co.nz/
Kim http://krodesigns.blogspot.com/
Leigh http://www.artfulleighcreative.com/ *****YOU ARE HERE
Renee Aslette http://www.reneeaslette.blogspot.com/
Kat* http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com/
Sandy Gonzalez craftythought.com/
Tyra Babington http://justtyra.com/
Marcia* http://www.onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/
Kim Allen http://kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
Candace* http://findingeverydayperfection.com/
Rhonda Van Ginkel http://snapwhiz.blogspot.com
Hannah http://scrapbookpagesandcupcakes.com
Evi  http://lifewithevi.blogspot.com
Janet Zeppa http://janetsjoy.blogspot.com/


Don't forget to comment on all the blogs for a chance to win!!
Thank you for hopping by,
Artful Leigh Creative





Friday, October 16, 2015

Completed Week In The Life™ 2015 You-tube Video

Yes, doing a happy dance! 
My video is LIVE now!! 


It's complete!! A big HUGE thank you to Ali Edwards for this amazing project, free prompts, and encouragement! I can't even begin to tell you how much I treasure this completed album! It captures in detail the last week of our summer, and one of the last weeks our son lived at home ( he moved out to his first college apartment!) While it was emotionally difficult, the journaling, photos, and memories were cathartic. The focused and deliberate recording of these moments helped me through. Thank you to the #WeekInTheLife FB group as well!!  





All links are in the DESCRIPTION BOX on the You-tube video! :)
but here's a link to Ali Edwards
cause she rocks!


Click on the image to view




Thank you so much for joining me!
Hugs,
Artful Leigh Creative

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Clique Kits Art Studio Mac Love Layout

Hello everyone! Artful Leigh here, to bring you a “sweet” layout about our current favorite sweet treats, macarons!


What’s your favorite sweet treat? It was so fun to make this layout about our family’s fave, and I used the Faber Castell Whipped Spackle and Pink Gumball Ranger Paint Dabber from the Clique Kits Store, to resemble frosting.



Love these Pinkfresh Studio papers! To me, the paper on the left with the half circles resembles the macarons, if you were to take each half apart. Perfect for this layout!



You can cut the exclusive cut files for October on standard office supply transparency film to create your own stencil to use over and over again. I label mine with washi tape and back with black card stock for added durability, and to make them easier to see!



Use a palette knife to spread your Whipped Spackle on like frosting!



Use the Ranger Pink Gumball Paint Dabber to apply the paint easily.



Use a craft knife or paper trimmer to trim out 3 inch by 3 inch patterned card stock diamonds as desired.



I printed my photos out at 2.75 inches so I could back them with a 3 inch vellum piece.



Cut out your cut-a-parts and add your favorite embellies from the October kit, and have fun! (I used Windsor Newton Lamp Black Artist Watercolor to splatter a bit)



This layout was made with the Clique Kits exclusive cut files, Faber Castell Whipped Spackle, Pink Gumball Ranger Paint Dabber available in the Clique Kits Store, and the October Funfetti Kit! Thank you for joining us here today!







Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Week In The Life™ 2015 Thursday Completed Pages

Hello Friends! 
Thursday #WeekInTheLife Pages are below!!




Using Ali Edwards.com 6x8 Digital Templates 2



Pages 1-2: Ali Edwards 6x8 Digital Templates, 2015 #WeekInTheLife kit, and Kellie Stamps "Digital Kiddo" Set used to make the digital photo overlay on the right hand side, and the bottom right 3x4 card



Pages 3-4: All Ali Edwards Week In The Life products.






Pages 5-6: Top left 3x4 card from Studio Calico Monthly Project Life Kit (March) Odyysey Add-on paper pad, all the rest is Ali Edwards.



Pages 7-8: Back of the 3x8 page and added Snap Photo Flip Pocket for the bread photo , with the #5 stapled using my Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz.



Close up page 8: added vellum and Studio Calico chipboard heart.




Page 8: Studio Calico Project Life Monthly Kit card on the left, and you can see the vellum triangle I colored with alcohol markers on the bottom right.



Thank you foe visiting today! Don't forget to follow and leave a comment, and look for my video walk through of this album coming this Friday!


Hugs, Artful Leigh






Sunday, October 11, 2015

10 Creative Ways To Use Digital Stamps: Blog Series Post Two


Hello crafty friends!
Today is the second post in my new blog series,
10 Creative Ways To Use Digital Stamps
featuring #KellieStamps.









IDEA #2: CUT IT!
 Today we will be looking at using your digital stamps with an electronic die cutting machine.
I happen to own the Silhouette Cameo, so it's super easy to convert your SVG, PNG, or Studio files into a cut file using the TRACE feature on a Silhouette.



Here you can see the words at the top left corner from the Kellie Stamps Digital set
called "I am, You are, We are" and aren't the words amazing! (Dude, love that these are only $5) I love the font she uses, and it looks great paired with a script or handwritten font! I started in May of this year, using 6x8 blank pages in my Project Life Mini albums, and fell in love with the editorial style of the rectangle. So I am continuing to grow and adapt to this new way of designing! I LOVE it, and it seems so much easier for me! 



Here are the steps to cut the digital stamps on a Silhouette (You can also search on You-tube for video tutorials on how to use digital files with your Silhouette) I learned a lot from Ashley Horton!
1) OPEN Silhouette Studio® Design Software. You can either double click on the digital stamp you have downloaded to your computer to put it on your Silhouette Workspace OR at the top left go to FILE>IMPORT>IMPORT TO LIBRARY
2) Move and size your digital stamp to suit your project ( the ones above are about an inch high )
3) Click at the top right in your Silhouette Workspace the TRACE icon ( it look like a butterfly in a blue square )
4) Click Select Trace area 
5) Now move your cursor to make a rectangle around your digital stamp you want to turn into a cut file AND THEN UNCHECK HIGH PASS FILTER
6) Click  TRACE
7) Move the original digital stamp off your workspace by dragging it with the cursor.
8) Send to Silhouette to cut
9) Make something pretty with your digital stamp cut files! :)



Close up of the cut file, and note how I stitched through it with a sewing machine. Love the texture it adds when working with a neutral palette.



Ha! Love this funny girl! 





To DOWNLOAD the FREE PDF printable of today's lesson click here:


Thank you for joining in today!! Share this post with friends if you like!