TAC Savvy Projects for People on the Go

Flat Ribbon Trick for Card Making with Julie Griffith

I am ALWAYS on the look out for new tricks, tips and techniques and was excited when I saw that Julie created another quick and easy video to show us how!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Trudy's Matchbook Box Drawers Tutorial

 

I've had quite a few requests for a 'how to' on this little butterfly box that Guest Designer Trudy Osborn designed.  Trudy's Butterfly Box Matchbook Drawers  

This REALLY is a simple project and this quick tutorial will show you how!  For this tutorial I opted for our Sheer Scallop Coasters instead of the Chipboard Coasters so you could 'see' how this little box goes together.

 

 

 

 

I said it was EASY!  The hardest part is picking out which papers to use to cover and decorate the box!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

FREE Downloads!

Do you ever need something right away?  Do you ever have to have something YESTERDAY and you haven't had the opportunity to get around to it until TODAY?  

Well, if you're like us then sometimes there are things you need right NOW and no matter how hard you try you just can't pull it all together.  At The Angel Company we have a SOLUTION!  As a service to YOU we offer FREE DOWNLOADs on our homepage ... because sometimes you simply need a savvy solution!  The Angel Company FREE Downloads

If you'd like to see what some of our Angels our doing with our FREE Black and White papers download then click on any {or all} of the links below.

Mary's Blog

Laurie's Blog

Chelsea's Blog

Stacy's Blog 

Kim's Blog 

Carol's Blog  

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Indexing Unmounted Stamps Tutorial

Here is an oldie but goodie that I found on a blog hop recently.  This may bring back some memories for Risa Alvarez {sometimes our older posts seem to fade off into old post-ville}.  Well, I couldn't wait to dust off this tutorial and share.  Even though I've seen this tutorial in person ... I still like the visual in front of me when I actually do index!

If you would like to take a peak at Risa's Tutorial on Indexing you can by following this link Indexing Unmounted Stamps.

After you've checked out this tutorial I encourage you to click on the banner and check out EVERYTHING Risa has on her blog.  This is one incredibly talented girl!  I found myself on her blog longer than even I anticipated ... and I enjoyed EVERY minute of it!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Ink Edges Easily!

Inking can be a problem for me (Apparently I'm ink-impaired).  Messy.  Time consuming.  Messy.  Time Consuming.  Messy.  You get it! 

For some people inking is not a big deal, however, I LOVE making things that are usually made out of chipboard and always need to be inked and it's the TIME CONSUMING that bothers me the MOST (even more than messy). I find that I spend a good portion of my time just doing prep work so any time I can find a solution to speed along the process ... I MUST pass it on.  Now, some of you may already do this ... and if you do ... I wish you would have shared it with me sooner!  LOL!

Okay.  The first thing I usually do is take a craft knife and cut up my chipboard albums.  Then I sand the cut edge to POLISH it up a bit.  Then I would normally pull out my inkpad and stipple brush and start 'coloring' the edges.

Well guess what I discovered this past Thursday ... I can hear the Angels singing ... no ... it's nothing new ... it's something most of us already have!  In every color it comes in (that's eight if you need to know RIGHT NOW) WALNUT INK! 

So the first thing I did was spray a piece of chipboard.  What a mess!  I don't have time for messes and I'm not really into messy processes so this spray thing didn't work for me, however, I LOVED how the ink soaked right into the edges of the chipboard so effortlessly.  And then I remembered ... the DAUBERS ... the ones that we have that you can screw right onto the bottle of ink.  The Angels are singing again! 

No mess, no over-spray, no ink residue within a 3 foot radius.  PERFECTION! 

This is my dream come true!  I threw away the spray nozzle on every bottle I had and put a dauber in its place!  This is my WALLAH moment of the year ... I think!

The ink absorbs into the chipboard so beautifully!  And quickly!

I go around all of my edges ...

And then just around the inside edge ... in case I cut my paper a wee-bit off.

Then ... I use my dauber ink on my paper!  With the browns and blacks this isn't such a big deal, however, with the colors ... this is AWESOME!  If you squeeze out some ink onto ceramic or plastic it stays wet.  You can go pick up the kids, make dinner, do 2 loads of laundry, bathe the kids, finish homework, tuck the kids in bed and then pick up with this ink where you left off!  How cool is that!

I use my stipple brush and I tend to use more of a dry-brush technique.  Less is more!  I use this ink on the edges of my paper (to camouflage the white edge) and on the paper itself!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these inks with our black and white coasters ... so easy to use!  I have both of the collections (8 inks total) and really had never used them much.  (WAY too messy for me).  Now, I'm going crazy!  The pastel colors are SOOOOO gorgeous and I'm saving so much time with just a SIMPLE SOLUTION ... take off the spray nozzle and put on the dauber!

The Willow color is off in this photo, however, look how GREAT the ink covers this coaster!  With just one sweep over it!  We all need these time savers in our busy lives don't we!  And ... they DRY FAST!  Life is good!

If you need to replenish your supplies, have questions with a product, technique or are interested in one of the products I've used here please contact your ANGEL and she'll be happy to assist you!  If you don't have an Angel yet ... click on SHOP NOW on our homepage and find one in your area today!

Supply List:

1. Walnut Ink Kit 1          S300
2. Walnut Ink Kit 2          S310
3. Applicator Caps           S315
4. Stipple Brush               
5. Chipboard

Simply Savvy Paper Piercing

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this paper piercing technique I learned from Rita Kegg ... it's FAST, EASY and FANTASTIC! Of course, I often wondered how everyone seemed to punch such PERFECT holes ... everyone it is ... EXCEPT me!  This technique is so popular and adds SO much to your projects!  If you didn't love paper piercing before, trust me, you will now!

Here are the 3 tools you need to be successful with this EASY technique:

1. I use #10 PLASTIC CANVAS
2. THICK Fun Foam
3. Paper Piercer

 

I cut my canvas down to a manageable size and then I get started!  First, determine where you want to pierce your holes and line up your canvas accordingly.

Using the canvas as a guide ... start piercing!  How EASY is that!

   

This technique really is SIMPLE and SAVVY!  Now you know one of the secrets of the papercrafting STARS!

Thanks Rita for sharing this AWESOME idea on your blog!  I LOVE it and I HAD to share! 

If you need to replenish your supplies, have questions with a product, technique or are interested in one of the products I've used here please contact your ANGEL and she'll be happy to assist you!  If you don't have an Angel yet ... click on SHOP NOW on our homepage and find one in your area today!

Folded Scrap Photo Corner

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Folded Scrap Photo Corner designed and taught to me by Heather Scott.  I find that I am constantly making and using this photo corner and I LOVE it!  It's so SIMPLE to make and makes your projects go from 'okay' to SUPER SMART and SAVVY!

Are you ready to make one?  First, start with a scrap piece of paper.  I used a piece of our delightful Miss Moxie!

 

Turn it over and fold down one corner.  I use my bone folder just to get a nice, crisp fold.

 

Now fold down the other corner.

 

Next, you want to 'even up' the rough edge along the bottom.  I put my corner into my paper trimmer and slice off the edge leaving me with a nicely trimmed bottom.  (hee, hee).

   

Next, using my mini Kai's, I trim to the inside edge of the paper. 

 

I repeat this on the other side.

 

Now, I have a 3-dimensional photo corner!

 

DESIGN TIP:  Trim one of the 'legs' shorter than the other to create an oblong and interesting element.

After cutting out my photo corner I POLISHED it up by stippling black ink around the edges.  Compare the top and bottom photos ... isn't that a GREAT touch!

 

This is what one side of the photo corner looks like in place (but not adhered) ...

This is the other side ...

I LOVE this photo corner and hope that you find it as useful as I have!  Many, many thanks to Heather for sharing!