Aug 20, 2012

LESSology Sponsor Spotlight: Gauche Alchemy

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Hello there altered enthusiasts! Hope you are working hard on your entries for LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes. Remember, you can create anything you like as long as it includes at least one upcycled item. The winner will get a $15 gift certificate to Gauche Alchemy!

Gauche Alchemy is for those that create outside of the box, those that create inside of the box and those that tear the box to make a new one…

How about checking out what you can do with Gauche Alchemy kits? Their design team did a great job of using envelopes on their projects!


Misty: For this layout I used a CD envelope from our Going Postal kit to hold a couple of tags that I used to place pics of my sister on.  I decorated my envelope first, then designed the rest of the layout inspired by it.  I outlined the edge with some diagonal stripe tape.  Then I added some eyelets and bling, and slipped in my tags!



Peg: I used the clear windows from some bill envelopes (we get a lot of those!). I matted some on black cardstock and some on patterned paper (the camera paper from our Money Shot kit) and framed the photo with them, kinda. I covered up the ones on the left with the title and journalling.


Marilyn: When faced with the challenge to create with a recycled something, I went straight for my bubble envelopes.  I always save them since I reuse them for mailing items.  This time, I looked at them in an entirely different light.  I pulled out my Big Shot and a butterfly/circle die and punched out a bunch of shapes.  Next, I grabbed my Pink Parts Color Kit and an idea was born!  Inside of it was a small envelope, so I decided to make a gift envelope for a young girl.  

Aren't these projects from Gauche Alchemy's design team just fabulous? Gauche Alchemy has given LESSology followers an AWESOME coupon code to use during the month of August -- LESSology readers for 10% off, good from 8/6 thru 8/31.  (Good on everything but the ACME kit subscription.) Use the code: lessology2012 when you check out. :)


Aug 14, 2012

LESSology Challenge #17: Creative inspiration of Linda Lapotka


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Are you working hard on your entries for LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes? *winks* We would love to see your creative take on the challenge. Remember, you can create any project you want as long as it includes at least one upcycled item. :) Meanwhile, let's check out how design team member Linda Lapotka was inspired by this challenge.


Linda Lapotka

Oh Boy! This month we have a fun challenge here at LESSology.  I love to create with envelopes.


For my project I recycled some old mail envelopes to created a Christmas Helper Book.  I am going to use this to help me stay organized this year with my Christmas shopping. I first got this idea to use envelope this way from Tracy at Tracy's Treasures.


Here is the video of how I made my Christmas Helper book.


We look forward to seeing what you create with envelopes.


Aug 13, 2012

LESSology Challenge #16: Bubble boy or girl winners!


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Thank you to those who played along with LESSology Challenge #16: Bubble boy or girl! Our winner is .....



She shared two cool techniques...using embossing powder on bubble wrap and ironing it to create a fused effect! Congratulations Robin! You are the winner of LESSology Challenge #16: Bubble boy or girlPlease email us so that we can get your RAK out to you! [Please grab your winner badge from the sidebar!]

Top 3 badge

And here are our Top 3....








Congratulations Jenny, Lavina and Joy! [Please grab the Top 3 badge from the sidebar!] 

Don't forget to play along with our current challenge - LESSology Challenge #17 Fun with envelopes. It ends on Sunday September 2, 11.59pm EST. Please read our challenge rules to ensure eligibility for our prizes. :)

Aug 9, 2012

LESSology Challenge #17: Creative inspiration of Shahrul Niza

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Hello there altered enthusiasts! Are you being inspired by our design team reveals? How about checking out what design team member Shahrul Niza did for LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes?


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Hi all, Shahrul here. 
It's a hoot playing with envelopes this month. There were many possibilities of upcycling envelopes but this has got to be my favorite, accordion purse!. It is a bit of an organizer, small enough to keep receipts or postcards. Not only that I created accordion folders inside, I did gesso-stamping on the foam covers, a little bit of making beads tassels and use a crochet doily. Bliss!.                   

The front look.



Envelopes are glued together to create an accordion sorter. Pattern paper scallop tabs used as labels. I also added beads tassels to the front cover for fun :).

Looking forward to see what everyone's creations this month!!. Have fun creating :).

What a beautiful project Shahrul! Love the subtle stamping with gesso....and we all need a little accordian folder don't we? *winks* Are you inspired to play along? We would love to see your take on LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes!

Aug 8, 2012

LESSology Challenge #17: Creative inspiration of Julie Tucker-Wolek and Lynnda Hosni


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Let's have a look at what design team members Julie Tucker-Wolek and Lynnda Hosni did with LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes! :)


Julie Tucker-Wolek


I am so excited about this months challenge! Playing with envelopes!! LOVE it!

I made a canvas for this challenge using old envelopes that I had -- and then I took a honeycomb mask to them and now they just look like a background paper on my canvas! lol! I also used a big butterfly I got from a gift bag a few weeks ago!! :)







Can't wait to see what you create!! ~~Julie

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 Hello Everyone...
I had so much fun creating this month's challenge...
Way too much fun... !!!
... I decided to upcycle my received envelopes..
To begin...gently ...
I slit one end of the envelope using my penknife ...
and the other end I snipe it off to make it to 9"


Here is the measurement...


To cover the white-ness...I did lotsa of distressing on the edges...


I used Basic Grey Curio Collection...
Here is my Random memories mini Album...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I can't wait to see what everyone creates!!!

Ahhhh...such bold and beautiful projects Julie and Lynnda! What fabulous ideas to use up those envelopes! Do you have ideas spinning in your head now on how to utilize those envelopes? We would love to see your entries for LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes! :)

Aug 7, 2012

LESSology Challenge #17: Creative inspiration of Laurel Seabrook, Kirsty Vittetoe and Yvonne Yam


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Are you ready to check out how the design team got creative with LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes? Today we get to see the projects of Laurel SeabrookKirsty Vittetoe and Yvonne Yam.

Laurel Seabrook 

Hi there Laurel here.  I just went through a big purge/organization of my scraproom (one of my projects every summer).  Quite honestly I would love for my room to always be neat and tidy with things hidden away so it looked 'clean and crisp'.  However, I am a visual person, in order for me to use it, I have to see it or I forget I have it (I know there are others like me out there!).  One of the things I have had trouble with were my journal tags and such.  I used to have them in plastic bags by manufacturer.  But this was a problem because then when doing a page, I would have to search through them all to find things that would work.  Not only was this time consuming, it made a mess and more often than not, I just didn't bother using the tags.

Then the envelope challenge gave me the push I needed to organize them better.  I had a lot of 6
X 6 envelopes in my stash just taking up space.  I tend not to make cards that big.  So I decided to put them to better use.  I labelled my envelopes (using a stamp set by TAWS) according to the occasion (summer, fall, love, abc, everyday, christmas, halloween... etc).

Now here is a hint for you:  when stamping words with alphabet stamps and you have a word that uses a letter more than once but only one of the letters here is my trick:  stamp the word from the end to the beginning - that way you can take away the letters you don't need and add more that you do.  This also will make it so the word fits where you want it to.  For example: on my 'summer' envelope I stamped 'mer' at the edge, took away the 'er' and added 'su' in front of the 'm' and then stamped the remainder of the word.  Does that make sense?



I then sorted my journal cards and put them in the correct envelope.   The envelopes are of course put into the container in alphabetical order so they are easy to find.  Now when doing a page I will pull out the corresponding envelope and see what tags and such I can use.

Another hint:  Now because I do things for publication I need to know where my items are from.  Once they are out of the package, I may forget... so I stamped on the back of them some initials (ES = Elle's Studio; PLS = Pretty Little Studio;  CT = Chic Tags...).   No one will see this, so I wasn't worried about how perfectly I stamped.



Finally, I prefer to spend my money on craft supplies rather than on what to store them in so if I can find something inexpensive that works I am all for it.  In this case I had a plastic eclair package hanging around that I knew would be useful one day.   Today was the day ;)  I am happy that it is white, so I left it... I like whiteness.  Of course though, it wouldn't be complete with a bit of scrappy decoration... so I adhered some Black V Striped Twill to fancy it up.  Easy Peesy!


Now there is room in the tub for more tags and such but not a lot.. so I either have to make sure I use them now or buy more eclairs so I have another tub, hehehe!


Kirsty Vittetoe

This is Kirsty here with my project for LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes.

I am sure you find lots of these in your mail box....


I took 6 of them, trim both ends, and then fold it this way, kind of have a longer side and a slightly shorter side


I use double-sided tape on the smaller side and stick all the envelopes together


you should have a book of envelopes with lots of pockets


When I started this project, I have a mini album in mind, creating all the pockets where I can slot in photos, or tags but along the way, a little girl named Dolce came into my craft room, saw what I've done with all those envelope, she said: "Oh, I need a little book just like that, so I could keep all the poems I wrote in those pockets" Oh well, so I have to toss the mini album out of my window and make a little "Dolce's Poem Book" instead!

Of course she now want to have some say on the patterned paper I pick out to dress up the pockets in the envelope book





the last step is to make a chipboard cover for this book


and now this is officially "Dolce's Poem Book"


So come play along!



Yvonne Yam

Hello there! This is Yvonne. I love using envelopes on mixed media projects instead of wasting pretty patterned paper that would be painted over. Plus, I love the shaped edges of envelopes! :)

Mixed media canvas

I created a 6 x 6 canvas as a birthday present for a friend *winks*. I used chipboard negatives, envelopes, texture paste, crackle paint, stickles and various inks and paints for the base.


Can you spot where the envelopes are? [the little brown bits on the base!]


I also handmade a bloom using remnant lace, felt and pearls. :)

We would love to see your take on LESSology Challenge #17: Fun with envelopes! :)