Category Archives: guest blogger

Antique Accordian Album

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Antique Accordion Album


The aim of this project was to put all my old family photos and information and family tree into a form that is appealing to look at and feels old and antique to match the old photos. Now it is like a family “story book” and also an heirloom for the family to pass down through the generations. The materials used are as follows:-
1x “7Gypsies” Stacked Accordion Journal
1x packet Kaisercraft Tiny Alpha stickers
Assorted scrap booking papers
Assorted Kaisercraft mini ink pads
Ranger Distress ink
Glossy Accents medium for adhesive
Prima Flowers and miniature doilies
Self adhesive jewels
Antique look Keyhole
Metal corner pieces for cover
Chipboard word- Family
Mod Podge Matt sealer/adhesive
Ranger Ink applicator pad / tool
Gold and bronze paint
Copies of old photos
Family tree typed or hand printed
Old buttons /Old postage stamps
Fabric for back cover
Ribbon/lace/Strips of calico
Thin wadding (padding)
Embossed cardstock
Leather strap/ tie
  • This is how I put it all together. I started with the front cover and coloured the embossed cardstock for the front cover. I coloured it with the mini Kaisercraft ink pads using the ink applicator pad to spread the colour. I placed a small square of wadding (padding) under the embossed paper to give it more dimension.
  • I then coloured the 2cm calico strips of fabric with Antique linen distress ink and glued them down with Mod Podge on the edges of the embossed paper. I added the metal details – the keyhole and metal corner pieces. I then used ribbon across the top at an angle and glued word ‘Family’ on top. I added a flower and crocheted doily aged with ink to the corner.
  • Next was the back cover using brown fabric instead of embossed cardstock, but using the same principle of padding underneath and calico strip edges. But the only embellishment was a large brad for securing the leather tie, this was added last.
  • Next was preparing all the pages with some subtle inked colours. I used “Sandstone” and “Fairy floss” blended. I distressed the page edges with “Antique linen”. I then worked out my layout of photos, and chose the back ground papers to compliment the photos. I used lace, flowers and jewels and pearls for feminine decoration and gold painted chip board frames, old buttons and old postage stamps for the masculine look. I used the Tiny Alpha letters for the names under the photo.
  • I typed up the little stories about the family members and put them on journal tags or as folded accordion style inside a pocket. The family tree was inked to “age” the paper and glued onto one of the inserts in the album. I attached the front and back pages to the album covers.
Roz Kelly, Kalbarri, WA

Easy Peasy Colourful Backgrounds

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Easy Peasy Colourful Backgrounds, Using Dye Based Inkpads
by Lorri Lennox

You will need:  

Dye based inkpads – Various colours.  (Tim Holtz Distress ink pads work great for this technique)
Background ATC bases, preferably white coloured.
Non-stick craft mat. (or using a 12×12 inch plastic bag will work for this too!)
Water spray mister bottle (filled with water)
Baby wipes for clean up.

Instructions:

Begin by choosing 3 colours of inkpads that you want for your background.
Clean your non-stick craft mat prior to working.
Take the first inkpad of the lightest colour and dab it two or three times, onto your non-stick craft mat keeping the ink within an area of about 5inches. (I will usually ink up the left corner, the centre and the bottom right corner within the area)
Take the second next lightest colour inkpad and again dab it onto your non-stick craft mat, (I will now ink up the top right corner, and bottom left corners)  trying to avoid  the previous coloured ink patches, in order to avoid cross colour ink contamination (I admit, I’m not terribly fussy about doing this, as I will remove any ink contamination with my baby wipes until the normal inkpad colour is returned)
Take the third darkest colour inkpad and fill in any gaps (I will usually dab this pad 4 times.. Once in the top centre, in between the top corners, centre left side, centre right side, and in between the bottom corners)
Now take your spritz bottle and generously spray all over the ink, you will see the inks beginning to run together.
Take your ATC base card, or Cardstock for cardmaking etc – and press it down firmly onto the inky patch, then lift it straight up, and set it aside to dry.
Do not move it around, or it can smear and look murky – but experiment as sometimes this can be the look you want to create.
Soak up any excess ink with another ATC Base.
Clean your non-stick craft mat with your baby wipes.
TIP: I will often press a blank journal page down onto the ink, as a starter for a journal page.

Here’s some ATC Bases I inked up after adhering torn paper strips to the base cards, and some torn paper strips were inked up separately and then adhered to the cards.

 Here’s some more ATC’s using the inked up technique as a background, this time I used only two coloured inkpads J

I hope you enjoyed my quick and easy tutorial, for more inspiration please visit me:

Dyan Reaveley – Art Journal Cover

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Good Morning everyone!

Please welcome Roz and her blog post 🙂



Textured Cover for Art Journal
Materials…..
  • Dyan Reaveley art journal 30x23cm
  • a magazine cut out of a pretty face
  • scrap booking papers
  • Glossy Mod Podge
  • Glossy Accents
  • Texture paste
  • Donna Downey chrysanthemum 6×6 stencil
  • ribbon and yarn- for tassels
  • diamante self adhesive jewels for her earrings,
  • buttons and lace,
  • the tissue tape to bind the edges,
  • the black Pilot Permaball pen to highlight the eyeliner and eyelashes
  • acrylic paints
  • a key and chain trinket
  • Matt Spray finishing sealer (available in store – not online)
  • Dyan Reaveley Dylusions ink sprays
Method-  I have torn up and pasted pieces of scrap booking papers onto the journal cover as a base. I used matt Mod podge as the adhesive both on the cover before sticking the paper and also some on the back of the paper. I found a picture of a pretty face in a magazine and pasted the face in the upper left corner. I fussy cut some flowers from the papers of some roses and pasted it in the top left corner to frame the face. I coloured some lace with Dylusions ink sprays to co-ordinate with the cover colours. I made a rosette for the lady’s hair, and glued with a black felt flower and diamante. I also glued diamante below her right ear for earrings. When the Mod Podge was dry I used the Pilot Permaball to highlight the eyes and eyelashes.


I used texture paste tinted pale orange with acrylic paint, and thickly spread it over the flower stencil with a spatula, lifting up to reveal a textured flower design about where the dress would be. I also used the texture paste coloured scarlet to carefully fill in the lips. When dry (12hrs later) I applied Glossy accents – so the lips have a 3D effect!  
I used letter cut outs and words for the title and year 2013. I used more coloured lace on the right edge border and a row of buttons glued with glossy accents across the bottom of the cover. I randomly stamped sayings and writing about the page for interest. I added a flower paperclip with a chain and key. I glued the paperclip only, leaving the key to dangle.
I edged the cover with washi tape (tissue tape) and with a brad attached a selection of textured wool strands and ribbon to the spine of the journal to use as page markers.
I used matt Mod Podge to coat the whole cover as a sealer. Leaving overnight to dry between coats (or use a dryer to speed the process). I used 3 coats of Mod Podge.
Handy Hint:-  There is usually a slight tackiness even when the Mod Podge is dry, to overcome this, spray finally with a coat of Matt Spray finishing sealer (use outdoors and avoid breathing the vapour) and leave outside to dry overnight. Happy art journaling!
By Rosalyn Kelly 


Thank you Roz 🙂

We have another post by Roz which will be posted early next week.

All items (except for magazine cut out) is available in store. 🙂


Guest Blogger Call Out!

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Would you like to “earn” a crafty pack worth at least $35?

I’m looking for 15 people to write a blog post. The blog post should showcase either a technique or a item you have created using items either from our store or items we stock.

Your post should include at least 3-4 photos and be approx. 400 words in length.

How to apply:

E-mail me (marijke@wholesalebrads.com) with your idea for a post and the 15 most suited will be chosen. It will not necessarily be the most experienced paper crafter – but one that really shows a passion for their craft 🙂

You can submit as many proposals as you wish.

A lot of ideas are floating around on the internet and you may adapt something you have seen before and make it in to something of your own – but you CAN NOT directly copy.

Ideas should be submitted by Saturday 23rd March, and if you are chosen your blog post will need to be submitted by the 30th March 2013.

Good Luck!