Front Porch Kits

Altered Book Shadow Box

Hello From the Front Porch,

Rhonda Merry here, and today I am going to show you

how I altered an old book to make the

"Give Me A Meadow" shadow box

from our latest kit, One Sunny Day.

 

Here are the tools I used:

 

An old book

(mine were saved from a house fire but were no longer resale quality, just FYI for my librarian friends)

Ruler

Pencil

Craft Knife

Sharp precision tip scissors

Glue stick

 

The first step was to mark off about a 1inch

border around the first page of your open book.

Using your pencil, draw a line to each mark as

a guide for making your first cut.

Now you have a good guide for cutting.

 

 

Next, using your craft knife, carefully cut on the

pencil line through the top layers of the book pages.

 

Remove cut outs and set aside.

Continue cutting away the center of the pages until you get your desired depth.

(For my book I went about half way in)

 

The corners get a little tricky.  Make sure your get your craft knife close to each side of each corner.  This may require turning the book to get a better angle for your cut.  If there are still too many tags on your corners, use your precision scissors to snip the tags away for a clean look.

 

As you get deeper into the book the pages tends to shift. Periodically straighten the spine of the book and align the pages to get an accurate cut.

Save your book pages.  They make great background papers for lots of other projects and die cut well for making fun embellishments.  This book also had some glossy pages. I tore them completely out since there weren't that many.  I will be saving mine for Art Journal projects.

Next, adhere the pages together. I only glued the three open sides. I did this by quickly and randomly flipping the pages and swiping the glue stick to keep the book pages from separating while on display.

I did not do every page and I only glued until the book stayed together while standing.

 

Don't get too heavy with the glue in this step too. That way you can tuck pieces down into the pages for that great 3-D effect.

 

Now you're ready to decorate your shadow box with the items from your Front Porch Kit.

For my sample above, I painted the covers of the book along with the edges of the pages. The blue book also needs a little TLC.  I will have to work on that one too.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you will try this on one of your next projects. If you do, be sure to link us in to show it off. I would love to see how you did.

If you are interested in purchasing a "One Sunny Day" kit or would like to see other amazing projects created by our Front Porch Team, visit us at www.frontporchkits.com.

(no library quality books were used in the making of this project.) 

Have a great week, stay cool, and Merry Crafting!
Rhonda 

Skinny Mini Wreath

Hello friends!  This is Lolly and today I'll be sharing how I made a super skinny tealish wreath!!!

The reason I had to make it skinny is because my front door is actually comprised of two doors...  the main one (which is a heavy wooden door with a glass center) and the outer one...  which is just clear glass all the way!  The space between the two is pretty tight so I can rarely get anything in there.  Yesterday while poking around CHA-S peeks and pics I spotted this wreath HERE and this one HERE!  I was instantly inspired to make my very own version for you guys right away!

Let's get started with the tutorial!

To begin, you'll need a bunch of leaves!
(a Lolly project just isn't a Lolly project without a whole bunch of something!!!)  

If you have an electronic cutting machine and can cut .svg files, you can use this file HERE to cut your leaves.  If you don't, I have made a little PDF file with the leaf template as well!  You can get the PDF HERE.

I used only 3 pieces of paper from our One Sunny Day kit for this project and even had leaves left over!
(My Mind's Eye - Stella and Rose - Mabel "Joy" Woodgrain & Hattie "Happy" Bouquet - and Crate Paper - Toy Box - Build)

I discovered a quick and easy way to ink the edges of a bunch of similar shapes...
Just stack them all together and fan them out a little and then...

... tag the edges with your favorite ink!

I'm going to be doing this from now on as it saved me TONS of time!!!
(psst... the ink I use the most is Distress Ink in Walnut Stain)

Once you have all of your edges inked... (lickity split)

...you'll want to fold just the base of the leaf shape in half.
Don't worry about folding the point (it's more hassle than it's worth and totally not necessary)!

As my wreath base, I used an 18" flat floral wreath.
(I got mine at Michaels in the floral department) 

Using a quick dry glue or hot glue, start layering your leaves around the wreath shape!

Make sure you fan those puppies out so you have points going every which way!

I basically split the wreath down the middle and had one set of leaves facing to the left (on the left side) and the second set facing right (on the right side of the wreath)!

You have to let go with this project and just put the leaves every which way (but loose)!

My next step was to take some of the plain white flowers that came with the June kit and spritz them with an assortment of Glimmer Mist!

I then simply glued them down to the bottom center of the wreath (right on top of my leaves)!

I also whipped up a few flowers using the template provided in the June kit!
You can see how these flowers go together in our Friday Night Live reveal video on Ustream (rerun HERE)!

I glued my handmade flowers on top of the spritzed flowers and added in a few other buttons and small flowers (also from the June kit)!

That's pretty much all she wrote!  I completed this project in about an hour and a half (including designing the leaf shape and cutting them out on my Cricut)...  it's a quickie project that creates a pretty little wreath you can hang all year long!

I do hope you'll give this project a shot and share the results with us!  We'd love to see what you create!

Thanks for dropping by today!!!

XOs!

P.S.  We still have a few of our One Sunny Day June kits available, you can get one HERE!

One Sunny Day Layout

Hello Front Porch Friends!
Miss Tracy here and I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer and taking lots of pictures of those fun summer activities. Whether it be playing in the pool or your recent vacation or just sunny smiles and freckled faces...Summer photos are always so much fun to scrap with! I would like to share a layout with you today that I designed from my Front Porch "One Sunny Day" kit. 

 
This layout features my youngest daughter Maddi and two of her friends soaking up the sun at our local Water Park, NRH2O.  I have a fun accent tip to share with you today!

 I wanted to draw attention to the Water Park name in the background of my photo. To do this, I simply painted over one of the mini-chipboard scallop frames (made by Maya Road) from my kit, added a few stickles for a sparkly effect and adhered it to the photo where it framed out NRH2O. 

These little frames would also be great for large group pictures...just adhere one of these fabulous frames and feature your "special someone" to showcase them within the group. They will definitely stand out in the crowd then! This would be a fun technique to feature sports photos too...highlight your sports super star's number! I used another little mini-frame on my layout to feature a cute little daisy blossom. They make great embellishments!

 
If you are interested in purchasing a "One Sunny Day" kit or would like to see other amazing projects created by our Front Porch Team, visit us at www.frontporchkits.com.
Thanks for reading! Stay cool and have a Creative Summer!
Miss Tracy :)

p.s. Anybody out there want to see a sneak peek of our next Front Porch Kit?!?!  Post a comment and let me know.  I'm working on the design board now...You're gonna love it! I know I do!!!

Glassine Embellishments

Welcome back for another fun tutorial using the "One Sunny Day" Front Porch Kit!

The Front Porch Kutz in this kit were packaged in two awesome white glassine bags.  Not one to discard anything that could possibly be used as an art supply, I decided to use these bags to make embellishments for the two cards I made with kit elements.

For this first card, the flower was created with the glassine bag. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the supplies you will need - one of the glassine bags (I used the small one), die-cutting machine, flower die (I used the daisy flower from the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Sizzix die), ink pad, yellow "stamens" from the kit, and one solid button from the kit.

First fold the bag in half and place on the flower die.  Place in the diecutting machine (I used a Cuttlebug, sandwiching the die and bag pieces between two B plates) and cut. You will end up with four flowers, but you can use as many layers as you wish.

Next, stack all four flowers, slightly turning each succeeding layer so the petals fit between each other. This will make the flower look more full.  Place a drop of glue in the center of each flower as you stack. (Helmar's 450 Quick Dry Adhesive works really well for this).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Lightly ink the edges of the flower petals if desired. Cut several individual pieces from the yellow "stamen" bunch and glue to center of flower, radiating out from center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove the shank from the button and glue to the center of the flower..  Did you know that the Tim Holtz Tonic scissors will cut through just about anything?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the glue is dry, crinkle and fluff the petals to make a gorgeous floral embellishment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 On the second card, I used the glassine bag for the butterfly embellishment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The supplies you will need for this are a small piece of patterned paper and a small piece of the glassine bag from the kit, a butterfly die and embossing folder (Cuttlebug), a diecut machine, ink and Diamond Stickles if desired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First die cut both the paper and the glassine.  I layered both together and die cut them at the same time. Worked like a charm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next you will need to emboss the glassine butterfly.  Line up the glassine shape inside the butterfly embossing folder and run it through the Cuttlebug sandwiched between two B plates on top of the A plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost done!  Now lightly ink the butterfly and "trace" the embossed design with Diamond Stickles.  Also add a line of Stickles down the center for a body and to the antennae.  Once dry, fold the butterfly in half to give the wings dimension and glue to the patterned paper butterfly down the center body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Using glassine for embellishments is fun, easy and an inexpensive way to enhance your projects.  There is no limit to what you can create as any die can be used!

I hope you will now look at packaging in an entirely new way  and make some fun creations. Please share them with us!

Susan

Family 1982

Hi everyone, it's Jing-Jing here.  I recently was given a big box of unexpected treasure... a stash of photographs we left with my mother's brother when we emigrated from China in the 80's.  My uncle had moved a few times and we had long thought or were told that our photos were thrown out, so you can imagine our collective joy to recover these tangible evidence of our lives. 

I was immediately anxious to scrap a photo from the stash.  I know I should scan the photo and preserve the original, but I figured that once it is scrapped, the original is preserved, lol. Serendipitously, the Front Porch Kits' June kit had just arrived, and it is so easy to interpret the papers and embellishments in the kit as vintage perfect.  I picked out this important photo, and because it is small, I framed the photo onto the layout like a wall hanging. The year was 1982. That's right, I got it wrong on the layout and I'm too lazy to re-photograph! My father's parents held a large family reunion in Beijing and this photo was taken on the Great Wall. Can you spot me in the front row?

I did some fussy cutting of the MME papers and layered them with 3-d foam dots.  I'm trying to go for that framed look: layers with 3-d looks.  I used a little bit of yarn that came with the kit to "hang up" the frame.

I am very pleased with the result. This can be a cover layout of an album or I can put it in a frame and hang in on the wall.  or... the most likely scenario, it sits under a pile of layouts where all my layouts go, lol.

 

I hope you have enjoyed my post and just another look at the gorgeous Front Porch Kits' June kit I used to create this family layout.  Isn't it a glorious display? :)  There are a few kits left yet, so get yours! :)

Until next time, Jing-Jing signing out!

"Welcome" ...A Front Porch LIVE Tutorial!

 
Hello friends!

Join us on the Front Porch for a LIVE Tutorial with Lolly Chessie!
She will show you how to create this adorable "Welcome" sign...You will love learning how she created these beautiful blossoms!

 Here are the details:
When: Wednesday, July 6th @ 8:30pm CST
Where: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/front-porch-kits

Lolly created two templates that you can use with this tutorial!
The first one is an .svg file (for use with your electronic cutting machines).
Get the .svg HERE.

If you don't have the ability to cut an .svg that's ok!
She also created another template showing you all of the sizes and cutting lines for the circles!
You can get that PDF HERE. 

So come and sit a spell with us on the Front Porch and prepare to be inspired!!!!!!
I'll be there...leave me a comment if you'll be there too!

Keep Creating!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Hi Everyone!  Jennifer Yates here today wishing you a BIG Happy 4th July!!!  We are just relaxing in a our Old Navy t-shirts today!  Having a little cookout and enjoying pool and sun!

If you picked up the Front Porch Kit "One Sunny Day" I wanted to share one of the  layouts I created with this fabulous kit!

***POUT***

I love creating fun and whimsical titles for my pages.  With this particular title I placed it directly on the photo in the negative space.  And giving it a bit of a twist I rotated it to create a bit more interest.  Look at the photos you are using and if you see negative space in the shot, as you can see in my photo, then try incorporating your title in it.  

Here is another example of a photo with negative space...lots of room to add something fun and interesting!

After your title is complete give your layout some movement!  One of my favorite ways is through punches!  I punched out a lot of butterflies with the extra yellow polka dot paper I had on hand.  I then placed them in the same direction as the title.  It adds dimension, movement and a whimsical touch to your layout!  Also...don't be afraid to add the punches directly on the photos!

Take a look at this close up...

 And lastly, as shown in the photo above, I created flowers with the colorful fabric provided in the kit. With a little twisting of the fabric and hot glue you can create fun dimensional embellishments for your layouts. Once complete layer with fun paper flowers provided in the kit!

That is all for me today!  I hope you have a safe and happy holiday!  Have fun scrappin' with your new Front Porch Kit!!!

Hugs,

Jennifer

A Place in the Sun Layout

It Is Truly a Sunny Day TODAY

The weather outside is hot and so are your crafting opportunities with the June Front Porch kit.  You can create some amazing projects from the "One Sunny Day" CD or from the Front Porch Gallery. The gallery is packed with inspiration and of course we would love for this to be a jumping off point for you to create your own works of art.  Here is a layout I created from the kit. All you need to add is an extra piece of white card stock. 

A Place in the Sun Layout
Designed by: Elaine Howell

(Double Click on Layout to see a Larger Image)

Here's a little info on how a created some of the LO elements.  The orange sun was done using 2 strips of paper cut 2" x 12".  I punched the edge with a wave border punch.  I scored the papers at 1/2 inch intervals and then accordian folded.  Attach ends together and push down the center and hot glue to a piece of chipboard.  Put a button in the center to complete the sun. I spritzed with Diamond mist from Tattered Angels - I used a lot because I wanted the paper to be more muted.

Now you are probably wondering what the wave and water droplets are made from....HOT GLUE...take your craft mat - Mine is the one from Ranger.  Draw any shape or pattern on it with a pencil.  Take your hot glue gun and squirt glue over design - I determined that this is not great for finely detailed drawings because you really can't control the glue for fine details.  Let the glue cool - I then used alcohol inks and felt dabber to die the wave pattern - Bottle is the color I used.  Let that dry - only takes a short time - gently peel from mat and attach with Glossy Accents. A more detailed tutorial can be found on my blog Glitter Me Happy

I then used fabric from my "One Sunny Day" kit and tied it to the journal card. 

If you haven't purchased your Front Porch kit we have a few left so head over to
 Front Porch Kits 
and get yours today.

My two best friends from college and I travel to the beach each year for a girls weekend - it's the best!! What do you do with your BFF's this time of year?? Post and share...

 I hope your day is SUNNY and Happy!!!!

Elaine

Another Garden Glove project....

Hello again from the Front Porch! 

I have another Garden Glove Project to share with you!  This project was designed by Rhonda Merry. She is one of our amazingly-talented Front Porch designers!  I just love this project, glove, scissors, chicken wire, and all! Take a look...
It features the name of her blog...No Idle Hands Here.

 
Look how cute the bitty birdie is all nestled up on the glove...

 
Rhonda used several goodies on this project that were featured in our "Fresh from the Garden" kit that we featured in April.  Sorry, folks the April kit is sold out, but not to worry, there are still June kits available for "One Sunny Day"! You will love the goodies in this kit too and they would look
great on your next project!

 
You can order your kit and view the full kit contents here!

So what do you do to keep your idle hands busy?!?! Post a comment and share with us...

Keep Creating,
Miss Tracy :)

Garden Glove Challenge Projects!

 
Welcome to the Front Porch!  Thank you so much for visiting and we look forward to blogging with you! There will always be great inpiration waiting for you here!  Today, on the Front Porch, I have some wonderful projects to share with you that were submitted during our Garden Glove Challenge.

First up is "Love U a Bunch" sumitted by one of our favorite LBH customers, Kathy Klutsch.  She created this as a gift for her daughter. 

 
What a great photo Kathy and I love the Garden accessories that she used...the terra cotta planter, the hand-made flowers, etc. Kathy chose to stuff her glove and use clothespins to attach her Love U letters. Here is a closer look...

 
Here is view of the back...

  
Great project Kathy! I bet your daughter loved it!
Thanks so much for taking the Garden Glove Challenge!

Next up, I have an adorable Garden Glove project that is "SEW" special! This was submitted by another one of our favorite LBH customers, Debbie Boudreau.

 It's hard to believe this was once a Garden Glove! I love all the sweet details...
 

 
Debbie, your creative juices are truly an inspiration!
Thank you for taking the Garden Glove Challenge!

And now for another wonderful project! This layout was submitted by Amber Goble. I was fortunate enough to serve on another Design Team in the past with Amber and I am always inpsired by her creations! Take a look and see if you can figure out how she used her Garden Glove...

 
That's right...She used her glove to make the twisted flower blossoms!
Here is a closer look at these blooming beauties...

 
I love how simple these look...She simply cut the fingers and twisted/coiled them to create rosettes and then accented them with a little rosy color! Too cute Amber!
Thanks for taking the Garden Glove Challenge!

Now, for one more...these whimisical wind chimes were submitted by Dee Dee Johnson. She is an amazing designer and fellow art enthusiast!!  Dee Dee was so generous and actually gave me the wind chimes as a gift for the LBH. I have them proudly hanging on display ...can you guess where?!?!
The Front Porch of course!!!

 

 

 

 

This is such an inventive project and it looks right at home on the Front Porch! 

I espeically love how she displayed our logo ... just darling Dee Dee! 
Thanks so much Dee Dee for sharing your art with us!
Thank you for taking the Garden Glove Challenge!!

Ladies I've got to "hand" it to you...You have truly inpired me with your projects! So I'll leave you with this...if the "Glove" fits...take it off and create something with it!! HAHA! Leave us a comment on your favorite use of the Garden Gloves and don't delay, become a follower today to ensure that you don't miss out on upcoming projects, tutorials, challenges, and more!

Hugs from the Front Porch!
Miss Tracy :)

Oh by the way...check out our newest kit "One Sunny Day"...
www.frontporchkits.com

 
Be sure to check out the Project Gallery on the website for even more Front Porch Inspiration!