Hi there, summertime is here with bright and sunny days. In the winter the sun can be gone for days here in Norway. When you know that you have to be creative everyday, it’s good to have a few tricks up your sleeve, to boost that inspiration when you need it the most.So I have made a motivation album for those days. I have left some space on the pages for more words and quotes to be added during the summer. For my inspiration book I’ve used the Funky Findings Album. I love all the different surface and texture in this book. And the envelopes I’ll keep cut outs of images and quotes/texts that inspires me.

I’ve used the moon and cloud from the Celestial Shape Set on the cover. I’ve alteded the cloud with lots of beads and the moon is decorated with acrylic paint and tylle. The black arrow from the Arrows Set show the direction.

On this page I have played with acrylic paint and white Utee.

Tree top from the Happy Little Trees Set.

One black gear from the Gears Set

Here I ‘ve used one piece from the Fleur De Lis Set. I’ve covered parts of it with acrylic paint. The background was given some splashes with black ink and white gesso. I’ve used a pennant shape from the Pennants-Large Set to make a tab. I dry embossed it and then added some Distress Stain to it.

No summer without flowers. Here I’ve used three different sized flowers and leaves from the Blossoms & Leaves Set.  On the left side I’ve added a hearh from the Heart#2 Set.

Some pink fabric from a dress can be used to make a beautiful flower Another pennant shape from the Pennants-Large Set used to make a tab.

Two acrylic stars from the Celestial Shapes Set runned though an embossing folder .

Wishing everybody a beautiful and creative june. Linda

Hi Everyone!

Stayce here today…I don’t post often but i was so excited to be done with my new class that i just had to share.

I used a Basically Bare Timeless Tabs album (love these albums!)

I had too much fun using Tattered Angels Plain Jane Baseboard, Glimmer Glam, Glimmer glaze and glimmer mist! What a great combo! The albums feel like they are made just for Tattered Angels.

I covered the album with Gesso and misted with Baseboard then stamped and glommed and glazed.  I can’t tell you EVERYTHING because it is a class that i’m teaching all around the US.  So if you want to know more and play with a Basically Bare Album stop by my blog and check out my schedule.

Thanks for coming by the blog and seeing all the great things that Basically Bare has to offer.

Stayce

As promised, I’m back again today to show you how I created this adorable album page.

Step One: Heat emboss stamped image with clear embossing powder.  The embossing will work as a resist when the background colors are added.

Step Two:  Choose the colors you want for the background. I have a good mix of colors ranging from light to dark.

Step Three: Randomly apply to the colors to fill the entire page.  Using a damp cloth, lightly remove any ink on the embossed areas.

Step Four: Using the Branches Reversed Crafter’s Workshop template and White Zig Posterman Extra Fine Tip pen, trace the outline of the tree branches.

Step Five: Color in the trees completely.

Step Six: Mix a tiny amount of shimmer powder into White Opaque Flake Medium.  I used roughly about a tablespoon amount of the medium.

Step Seven: Spread the mixture over Punchinella Crafter’s Workshop template. Allow to dry, which generally takes 24 hours or so, depending on the humidity.

Step Eight: Randomly stamp images onto the background using your favorite stamps and inks. The stamps used here are Stamper’s Anonymous.

The leaves were inked with the same Tattered Angels and Zig inks used on the background.  The veins on the leaves were drawn on using a Brown Zig marker.

The owl was full inked with a light brown color.  The highlights on the ears and chest were drawn on using the same Zig pen used on the trees.  The edging on the wings were made using a very loose blanket stitch and lastly I added the googly eyeballs.

On a side note, I do want to a quick tidbit on using templates and stencils with dimensional mediums.  Be sure to wash the template **immediately** to remove the mediums.  Once it dries on your templates, it’s permanent.  And due the lumpy, bumpy nature of the most mixed media gels, your template will not lay flat on the page if this happens.  Sadly, this is a lesson I learned the hard way.

Ready to see what I have in store for you today?  Let’s get started on the second half of the album.

The background was inked with several colors of water based inks.  Then, I simply allowed the inks to run down the page.  The right side of the page was created by mixing green re-inker into gel medium and then applying the gel medium to the page over a Mini Circle Grid Crafter’s Workshop Template.

The gears were first inked on one side with alcohol ink and then ran through an embossing machine.  Then, on the side that had not been inked, I applied a layer of StazOn to the raised portion. A bit of punchinella and fabric was added to finish the page.

While I was playing with the acrylic pages, I discovered a fun splatter technique using alcohol inks.  I squeezed a couple drops of alcohol ink onto my craft mat and then added in a small amount of blending solution.  Mix the two together with a paint brush, and then flick the ink mixture onto the page.  The blending solution slows the drying time on the alcohol ink, giving just enough time to make a splattered “mess”.

For the background on the next page, apply a thin layer of gesso over a Circle Grid Crafter’s Workshop template and allow the gesso to dry completely.  Then apply your favorite colors of ink to the page.  Then, using the same template and a Pure Orange Zig Writer, trace circles over the entire page. The dress form was created by covering the bodice with paper and then a layer of Stickles was applied on top of the paper.  The skirt was created by layering on a ruffeled trim.  The stand was heat embossed with WOW embossing powders.

To start with the canvas page, apply your favorite colors of spray inks to thoroughly saturate the canvas and allow the dry.  Then, using a permanent black ink, stencil over a Henna Hands Crafter’s Workshop template.  The stars were created using the Punchinella Crafter’s Workshop template and Iridescent Medium.  The circles were created using white paint and a dry bruch technique.

The last page is a fun one!  But……you’ll just have to come back tomorrow for a full tutorial on how this beauty was created.

Jamie here with you again, and guess what?  I’m hijacking the blog for the next couple days!  But not to worry, I have a fun album to share that’s loaded with fun techniques.

The Timeless Tabs Album is hands down my favorite album in the Basically Bare line because of the size of the album and because of the different mediums in the album.

The album cover was created by covering the entire page with Ranger’s Tissue Tape and then applying a thin layer of gel medium to ensure it was well adhered to the page.  Then, I just randomly applied ink to the page.  The top right and bottom left corners were then covered with a layer of Glass Bead Gel Medium, which makes the ink colors underneath pop. Next up, I painted on a thin layer of gesso and then stenciled the title on top once it was dry. Lastly, I used an acrylic button and heat embossed it.  The heat embossing caused the acrylic to warp and curl, which is exactly what I wanted it to do.

The first step in creating this next page is to paint the entire page with blue acrylic paint and allow it to dry.  Then give it a light spritz with Yellow Daisy Glimmer Mist.  Using the Crafter’s Workshop Mini Clouds template and a White Zig Posterman Extra Fine tip pen, trace the shape of the clouds.  Next, fill in the cloud shapes with Picket Fence Distress Stain.  Give each cloud a spritz of water and watch as your page appears to begin “raining”.

Now, on to the bottom half of the page.  Adhere the brick pieces from the Climbing Ivy Set to the page.  Then, apply a layer of gesso over the brick pieces, being sure to fill in the spaces between the bricks.  While the gesso is still wet, sprinkle embossing powder onto the bricks.  I used five different colors to create the brick effect.  Once the gesso is dry, melt the embossing powders with a heat tool.

The “egg” was created using the Holiday Ornaments Set.  I inked the edges of the felt with a Yellow Zig Fabricolor pen and then added the eyelets for a bit of texture.  The bird was heat embossed with two different colors of WOW embossing powders.

Ready for the next page? I started by stamping the front of both pages.  The gears were all heat embossed with WOW embossing powders.

I used the Paparazzi Set on the back of the page.  Both pieces were also embossed with WOW powders.

This page was started by laying down several colors of water based ink to cover the page (use your favorite brands of ink).  Then I stamped the page with a couple of my favorite stamps.  Next, lay the Mini Trust Your Heart Crafter’s Workshop template down on the bottom corner of the page and completely cover with a thin layer gesso. Allow the gesso to sit for a minute or two and then scrape it off the page and remove the template.  Removing the gesso creates a resist on the page.

Next up, ink a couple of canvas hearts and adhere to the page.

That’s it for today!  Join me again tomorrow for another dose of technique heavy pages.

Thanks for joining me again to see a few more pages from my school album. It’s an ongoing work of art. I hope to put the photos of the kids Christmas concerts, their artwork, field trips, you know…all the good stuff involved in school.

This album includes plain envelopes. SO I covered mine with more Core’dinations cardstock and they are ready to be decorated or filled. Not sure yet what is going in them, but they are nice and sturdy now.

Here’s a closeup of one envelope to show you how I made the closures. Just 2 buttons, and some Twinery twine. Easy peasy.

On this page I used a Basically Bare film strip in black chipboard. I love that it was already finished for me. Ready to use!

Here’s a close-up of the film strip. Love seeing my oldest being goofy. funny. He’s trying to scare us with his missing teeth.

This next page is an acrylic page. Don’t forget to peel off the protective backing from both sizes. If you don’t, it will look quite milky. I used Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L to cover the front of my photo. Then I adhered it face-up on the back of my page. Slick hey, can’t see any adhesive doing it this way, and the photo is now protected. Then I decorated the back. Remember what you put on will be seen on both sides, so it is best to use a double sided paper. Then I used the black chipboard camera and I was ready to go. Love the shapes in black. No need to touch them at all.

Here’s what the back of the acrylic page looks like. Ready to put pictures on throughout the year.

Thanks for joining me the last two days, hopefully in June I can show you this book again finished with pictures from the year.

Leica Forrest

This book had me at hello. The perfect size to get creative, show lot’s of pictures and have enough room to journal. I covered it with Core’dinations cardstock. It has a such great dimension and offers fabulous texture and neat designs. Then I decorated it with Fancy Pants papers and Jillibean Soup alphabet letters.

Here’s a closeup. I did extend the cardstock to cover my tabs. I used an exacto knife to follow the tabs for a more precise cut, then I sanded the edges and inked the. This helps define them more.

The inside page, I covered again with Core’dinations cardstock. Love it. Because I knew that the front and back pages would take a lot of beating, I did cover them with Decopage. It is a clear, satin finish glue that seals everything in. Works great, however, didn’t leave me showing you the crisp photo, a tad blurred. my apologies.

The next page is a canvas sheet. You can leave and use it in its raw state like below.

But I knew I wanted to brighten it up a bit, so I painted it with a white acrylic paint, and then started doodling and colouring with my Copic markers.

When I stuck the title letters to this page, I did use a liquid adhesive like Beacon’s Fabritak because I wanted it to stick well, knowing it would absorb some into the fabric.

The next page I wrote down all of the kids school friends. Great mementos to look back on. On the back side of this page, I will cover it with pics from school of the kids hanging out.

I used 2 of the Basically Bare birds on this page. I painted them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze and Glam. Added a little white paint for the eyes, and a little marker work around the white. Sparkly creatures.

Check back tomorrow to see a few more pages from this book.

Leica Forrest

Hi everyone, my name is Sandra.  I am so happy to be a part of the Basically Bare Design Team!  I am humbled by the talent on this team and look forward to sharing my ideas and projects.

Today I am sharing with you the first of two parts of a Timeless Tabs multi media tab album, and Christmas is the theme.  The album is 12 pages plus the front and back cover.  I enjoyed making this album and now being able to share each page with you, I am bursting with Christmas joy!   The album is full of fun, mats for photos and lots of cheer.  Take your time looking at it and you will see how you can create a timeless home for your memories.

Front Cover

The Christmas tree is made with paper strips, twine and trim.  A bit of whimsey with the clock ticking away on top.

Inside pages 1 and 2.

Santa coming down the chimney is an old postcard that can be easily replaced with a family photo.  The 2 acrylic pages have vintage lace and photo mats.

Pages 3 and 4

On the other side of the 2 acrylic pages you will find more photo mats and an envelope for special items.  On the right is Santa himself with toys all around him.  Just lift the page from the 2 bears at the bottom and it reveals a large photo mat.

Pages 5 and 6

Pages 7 and 8

On the back of the envelopes more photo mats are revealed.  Old Saint Nick is actively watching.

These great albums are so packed with versatile pages that I’ll need two days to show it all!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and come back tomorrow to see the rest!

The Basically Bare products in this project are:

Timeless Tabs Album

Celestial Shapes

Fanciful Frame Set

Stack A Bellies Birds

Welcome Little One Set

Also used:  Tattered Angels (Pearl Glimmer Mist) and ZIG 2 Way Glue

I hope you’re enjoying the Halloween projects today!  Next up I have a few pages from my Halloween album.

The cover of this Timeless Tabs album is embellished with the bricks from a Climbing Ivy set, inked and distressed a bit.  I used some Distress Stickles as the mortar between the bricks to give it a kind of mossy look.

I decided to use an actual card as a journaling card since this the page was big enough.  Since I made a boat load of  Halloween cards this year, I had lots to choose from and this one matched the page pretty well, I think

On this page I used a Basically Bare Fanciful Frame (inked and then coated with Stickles) for the title.  I made ten little sticks with monster faces on top, and each one has something I love about Halloween written on it.

Those little monsters, cut from some DCWV paper, are just too stinkin’ cute.

On the canvas page I used a spider web design as a mask and spray inked the background.  Then I threw on a Basically Bare dress form, decorated with Stickles to make a candy corn pattern.

 Thanks so much for looking!

- Beth  x

I am officially IN LOVE with the awesome albums from Basically Bare.  This is a Bare Booklets Timeless Tabs album.  It’s going to be more of an art journal than an album so I’ve only done the cover, leaving all of the different pages inside bare for future creative endeavors.

I started by tearing the tissue paper part of a dress pattern into little strips and pieces and then decoupaged them to the front of the album with Mod Podge.  When it was dry, I went over the surface with some Distress Inks and added some strips of different laces and trims.  To finish off, I added the scissors and spool – wrapped with some jute cord – from the {Basically Embellies} Sew Vintage Embellie set.

If you haven’t checked out these albums, you really must see them.  The have pages of different types (from envelopes to acryllic to canvas) that allow you to create to your heart’s content.

Thanks for looking!

-Beth