Tombow USA - Blog » Sarah Little

love notes….by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:54 +0000

i love making mini books to showcase one event or use up some of my favorite pictures.

i had a stack of “loving family” pictures… you know the ones that you capture a fleeting moment where siblings actually seem to like each other? and children are happy and not complaining? we are trying (very hard) to be a loving family and i wanted to reinforce that as Valentine’s Day is approaching. so i used a mini album that had pages i could make into pockets to keep little notes that we will write to each other. i also wanted a place to keep more of those pictures of precious moments.

i used Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Adhesive to adhere the paper to the chipboard. i used Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Adhesive to secure the pockets, and i used Tombow Stamp Runner Dot Adhesive to secure all the paper and paper embellishments inside the album, as well as the ric rac ribbon on the front cover. the dot adhesive is perfect for this kind of ribbon, because it holds well and the excess dots rub clean away! i used a Dual Brush Pen, N15 black, to ink all the edges of the paper and the edges of the chipboard.

to keep the album closed i used a Tombow Power Tab on the back cover, under the circle, to secure a ribbon. then i set a brad on the front of the book on another cardstock circle. both circles were glued down with Tombow MONO Multi. this allows for the ribbon to be wound around the brad to hold the book closed.

i am keeping my fingers crossed this experiment will work…at least for a little while.

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blue iris….by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:50 +0000

last one! this brings my count of layouts for the year so far to 4…one a week. not to shabby. hmmm…maybe i should set a goal to do 52 layouts this year, one for each week?

the last color challenge is BLUE IRIS. whereas i had a harder time picking out papers and embellishments for my first layout using Tangerine Tango, this time i was able to dig up a few things. even still, i put my Tombow Dual Brush Pen to work. I colored two raw chipboard stars and some white sticker letters with color #555 .

i cut out the outline of the star, and because it was so thin, i used the Tombow Stamp Runner with Dot Adhesive. being able to stamp along the thin outline allowed for better placement and did not pull on the paper, as i feared using the runner would. the slide mechanism is very easy to use and better yet, if some of the dots went over the edge of the outline, because they are dots they clean up by rubbing them away.

i used Tombow MONO Multi to set the buttons and the chipboard stars, and Tombow MONO Adhesive Permanent Runner to glue down the pictures and pattern paper.

we made it through the first month of the year! how are your goals coming? do you have any scrapbooking or craft goals? stick with us, we’ll help you get there!

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turquoise….by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:56 +0000

here we go…another layout! these color challenges have been great! isn’t great to feel accomplished!?!

this layout used the color TURQUOISE, which is quite possibly my favorite color. one thing i love about turquoise is that it can be so many things… summer time when paired with oranges and blues, winter when paired with silver and white, spring with pinks and reds, and fall with browns and greens. it can be used for boys or girls. it is the color to use for tropical pictures and even baseball pictures…okay, if you are a Marlins fan.

anyway, it worked perfectly for these pictures of my daughter dancing in a (extremely cold) winter festival performance.

i used the Tombow Dual Brush Pen #343 to doodle a few snowflakes. i looked back on some of Marie’s instructions on using the pens for doodling and attempted some of those techniques.

the pictures were adhered with Tombow MONO Adhesive Permanent Runner, the snowflakes were popped up with Tombow Foam Tabs, the metal letters were glued down with Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue, and lastly i used the Tombow Glue Pen to “draw” over each of the snowflake doodles. push the roller ball tip down until glue starts to flow, and then trace the lines previously drawn. when the glue from the Glue Pen dries it is clear, but leaves a slight shine or wet look.

one more color challenge to go this month. hope you’ve been playing along!

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tangerine tango…by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:52 +0000

the color of the year…tangerine!
funny thing, i don’t have very much of this color! looks like i’m going to need to pick some up!
i liked using this color with these pictures from this past summer. they needed a bright vibrant color background to set them off.

i used a Tombow Dual Brush Pen to color in a title i printed. there is something therapeutic for me to sit and color, i don’t mind it at all.
i went through the first time with #885 and then back over it with a blender pen to fill in the letter and soften the edges.

then using Tombow MONO Adhesive Removable Runner i adhered a stencil to a piece of cardstock. the cardstock was a few shades lighter than the background, and went over the edges of the stencil with Dual Brush Pen #885.

i used Tombow MONO Permanent Adhesive Runner to put the whole thing together.

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sticking to a new year…by sarah little

Sarah — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:44 +0000

i have lost count as to how many organizing ideas i have tried out. well, add this to the countless number.
calendars are great, but they never seem to give me enough room to write what i need to. or more importantly what my family needs to see.
so i thought i’d give this a try. i made magnets for each day of the week. then i put them on my fridge with a piece of paper under each one. it is easier for everyone to see what is going on that day, who is going where, and what needs to be done.

crossing my fingers for an organized 2012 (while still using my organizational binder, and my bill sorter, and my kid’s daily schedule…i told you i have tried many ideas!)

to make the magnets i used Tombow Dual Brush Pens to color raw chipboard. the colors seep in nicely to the chipboard textures leaving an even and soft color.with 96 colors it is easy to find a color to match the papers i was working with. with a circle punch i made 7 circles and inked the edges with a dark brown Dual Brush Pen.

then using Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue i layered all the pieces together -raw chipboard circle, pattern paper, marker – colored chipboard, with a raw magnet on the back. the Multi is strong enough that even the force of raw magnets will not separate the magnet and the chipboard, and tacky so it holds the paper and the chipboard well without warping or bubbling because it is too wet.

as an experiment i wanted to see what would happen if i coated the raw chipbaord with Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Glue before coloring it with a Tombow Brush Pen. the result was a slightly more vibrant color with a shine. see the difference between the flower with Aqua and the circle without?

wishing all a HAPPY NEW YEAR and HAPPY CRAFTING!

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ornaments with Elizabeth Craft Designs….by sarah little

Sarah — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:43 +0000

this week’s blog hop allowed me the opportunity to stretch my creative juices and take these fun stickers past just paper and try using them in a different way.

i love hand-making ornaments! Elizabeth Craft Designs have a great product that helped me make some fabulous ornaments this Christmas season. the product are their peel-off stickers and they have so many uses.

using clear plastic ornaments (the kind that separate into two halves) i attached the peel-off stickers inside. i smoothed them down really well, making sure there weren’t any gaps between the sticker and the ornament.

the next step was to paint the inside of the ornament, over the stickers, with acrylic paint. this could be a quick paint the whole thing one color, or an intricate job by painting individual sections different colors.

once the paint has dried, about 1 1/2 – 2 hours, carefully peel the sticker off of the ornament. i used a paper piercing tool to help lift it up, without scratching the paint. then i used

Tombow Power Tabs and added a bow to the top of the ornament and tied on some gold cording. the result is an outline of the image, that allows light through, and glows when it hangs on the Christmas tree. and i love it!

thank you Elizabeth Craft Designs for a great product and a fun blog hop! be sure to check out their blog this week for more ideas on how to use their peel-off stickers and other fabulous products!

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a year of dates…by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:00:11 +0000

while contemplating ideas for this week’s theme ….”the gift that keeps on giving”
i decided to look up the origin of the saying. did you know that it was coined to promote “talking machines”, “talking machine records” in 1924, which was a phonograph.
who knew???? i certainly didn’t.

but that didn’t help me with my idea. and then i got to thinking, the gift idea i had found for my husband for this year is a gift that will keep on giving…at least until December 2012!

my gift is a year’s worth of dates. my husband is very supportive of my creative projects, so i know he will appreciate the time that i am putting into this. so as the scrapbooker that i am, i wanted to make a place to keep pictures or our thoughts about the dates. i created a little book to present to him on christmas morning.

SHHHHH!!! it is supposed to be a secret! i won’t even let him look at this post!

i found these mini folders at the teacher supply store. by binding them together i turned them into a book. i wanted a place to keep ticket stubs, notes and/or pictures, so i used Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Glue and glued the bottom of each of the folders together. when i give it to him some of the pockets will have gift certificates inside.

Aqua is the best option for making pockets because it dries clear and it dries completely…so no sticky residue that papers in the pocket would get stuck to.

i printed off descriptions of the dates in text boxes from a word document and used Tombow MONO Adhesive Dots to attach one to each of the folders/pockets.

this is the bare bones without too much embellishment, i may save that for later, or let the dates speak for themselves.

i found several of my ideas around the internet, so not all are original. but i thought i’d share some of the ones i have planned…

*lunch @ Atlanta Bread Company to work out yearly budget – (i know…this is FUN one!)
*bucket of balls – driving range and donut holes from Krispy Kreme
*make calzones @ home and watch a movie
*dollar date – dollar store, dollar menu, dollar theatre
*movie theatre
*walk in the park with italian ice
*Gwinnet Braves baseball game

well then, i’ll be giving for a whole year!

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christmas countdown…by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:40 +0000

as my kids are getting older and we are being torn in so many directions with activiites and holiday parties i wanted a way to keep FAMLY as an important part of this Christmas season.

we have several countdowns in the house, but i wanted one that helped us spend time together each day. i had a few requirements for my new countdown. i wanted it to be a decoration that could be left up the whole season. so something that was torn or cut down wouldn’t do. i wanted something that could be used again next year, so it needed to have the ability to be changed.

i decided on a banner, with each activity attached to the flags. then i created a hinge that would allow for the attachment of numbers 1-25 on top of the activity. i gathered my supplies:

5-6 different pattern papers

scallop circle punch

circle punch

paper trimmer

cardstock – i used three colors (black for scallop punch, red for die cut numbers, and white for punched circles and hinges)

Tombow Adhesives – MONO Glue Pen, MONO Adhesive Permanent runner, MONO Aqua Liquid Glue, Fastener Tabs

after cutting the flags from pattern paper, decorate each one using paper or embellishments. i used Tombow MONO Adhesive Permanent runner to attach a strip of paper to the top of each.

the numbers were created by layering a punched scalloped circle and a punched circle, again using Tombow MONO Adhesive Permanent runner. the numbers were cut with an electronic die cut machine and then glued to the top circle with Tombow MONO Glue Pen. I’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again….my favorite thing about the Glue Pen is that the adhesive formula does not adhere to your skin! when working with small items you don’t have to worry about your hands getting sticky and making marks on your project.

the activities were all written on more punched circles. hinges were created by cutting small strips of cardstock, approx 1″ x 2″. fold the strips in half and glue one half to the back of the punched circles with the activities. i used Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Glue.

next i took a sheet of Tombow Fastener Tabs and cut them in half while still on the sheet. then i attached a Fastener Tab on the other half of the hinge. keeping the punched circle with hinge face up pull off the backing from the Fastener Tab then center the scalloped number over the hinge and the punched circle.

once the two-piece hinge is complete apply Tombow MONO Adhesive Permanent to the back of the punched circle with the activity written on it and adhere one to each flag.

tie the flags together with ribbon. i chose to punch holes on both corners of the flag, then cut short lengths of ribbon and tie knot between two flags, and then continue it all the way down.

as the days pass the numbers can be removed, revealing the activity underneath OR can be left on and flipped up to look at the activity.

because the numbers are fastened onto the activity with the hook and loop Fastener Tabs they can be rearranged for next year. our activities include parties we have to go to, performances the kids are dancing in, and other events that have a specific date. most likely we will be participating in the same or similar events next year, so i will be able to move the numbers around accordingly.

do you have a countdown with activities? i’d love to see what other people are doing. post them to our facebook page so i can take a look!

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clear gift pails…by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:00:26 +0000

these cute little gift pails have been around for the last few years. these pails and Tombow MONO Adhesive Clear Runner together are the perfect way to create and send gifts and goodies!

to decorate the pail cut a piece of pattern paper to fit inside the pail, test it first, and then apply Tombow MONO Adhesive Clear Runner to the front of the paper. Carefully slide the paper inside the pail and gently press it into place. No need to mash it or rub it…it is a strong adhesive and will hold. can you see it?

next you can decorate the top of the pail. using a circle cutter layer various size circles and glue them down with either Tombow MONO Adhesive Permanent, or MONO Power Bond. Either will work, just depends on how strong of a hold you would like (or who is going to be handling the pail. Power Bond stands up to little fingers really well.) on top of the circles add an embellishment or die cut with the Tombow Foam Tabs for added “POP”. and lastly add some ribbon. i added it in two places. first i cut a piece of ribbon to fit around the pail, laid the ribbon flat and applied Tombow MONO Power Bond to the backside of the ribbon and wrapped it round. secondly i cut several strips of ribbon to tie to the handle. i didn’t want my ribbon to fray, so i dipped the ends in Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Glue. once it dries it works just like a fray check would.

wouldn’t these pails be great stuffed with all kinds of Tombow goodies?!?! off to fill them up…i suspect a few teachers might be the recipients of these pails this coming holiday!

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pumpkin placecards…by sarah little

Sarah — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:00:53 +0000

raise your hand if LOVE the autumn season like i do?!?

and i am sure just like me, many of you enjoy a few crafts to spruce up your home this time of year?!?

for the last few years i have made place cards for the thanksgiving table.

to keep with my new crafty tradition, i have made the set for this year.

come see how i did it!

i used:

Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Adhesive

Tombow MONO Permanent Adhesive Runner

Tombow Dual Brush Pen

circle punch

off-white cardstock – cut to 3 1/4 x 4 1/2

kraft colored cardstock – cut to 3 x 4 1/4

assorted orange pattern paper and cardstock

green cardstock scraps

dark brown cardstock scraps

first brush the Tombow Dual Brush Pen along the edges of the kraft cardstock pieces and the off-white cardstock pieces.
then fold the off-white pieces in half, and adhere the kraft piece to the front with the Tombow MONO Permanent Adhesive Runner

punch circles from orange pattern paper.
each pumpkin will need 4-5 circles.

fold all of the circles in half.

use Tomobw MONO Permanent Adhesive Runner and attach the folded circles together, back sides together.
i love the Tombow runners when i am doing a curvy project…the runner just follows the curves to make for a full coverage adhesive!

in between two of the circles sandwich a thin strip of green cardstock. these will become the vines.

use a pencil or other small cylinder to curl the green stripes. it is easier to curl them with the pencil and then work the curl into it by twisting the spiral into it.

then using theTombow Permanent Runner again, put adhesive on the back panels to adhere it to the front of the place card.

i used a thin line of Tombow MONO Aqua Liquid Glue along the back seam of the pumpkin, where it touched the placecard.

and i also used the Aqua on the backside of the pumpkin to attach the brown cardstock scrap to create the stem. once it was glued down i gently worked the paper to twist it.

the last thing i’ll do, when we finalize who is coming to our thanksgiving feast, would be to cut out some lettering with my die cut machine and use the Tombow MONO Glue Pen to adhere them to the front,
or use the Tombow Dual Brush Pens to write the guests names.

i know it is early…but happy thanksgiving! i truly appreciate all our blog followers and tombow lovers!

sarah

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