Distress Envelope Folio with Inserts

This folio is a totally different aesthetic and construct than the one in my last creativity post, but I love it just as much. This one was inspired by the new Tim Holtz Chapter 3 release video. I’ve made many envelope folios before, but the look of this one just begged me to make it—my way. Many repetitive techniques go into this, so it isn’t a quick and easy project. But it is fun, and turns out so amazing. The components are 2 small envelopes, a pocket and a tag. The techniques include stamping, embossing, ink spraying and smooshing, ink… Continue reading

Tri-fold Pocket Folio

Are you in need of a little soul care today? Join me on this creative journey! This beautiful, yet quick, project will be easy and enjoyable to make, and will provide you a useful little folio, for adding notes, memories or other information to. Today’s project, a Tri-fold Pocket Folio, was inspired by Linda Israel. In addition to the 2 front slant pockets and pocket insert that Linda did, I included more pockets and tags, as well as a notepad, inside. This folio can be used inside your artisan/eclectic/ junk journal, or as a stand alone folio. Supplies needed: 2-3… Continue reading

Colorful Pinwheel Card

I saw a card made from a flat pinwheel die the other day and remembered how I used to make real paper pinwheels with my kids. I decided to try making some “real”, 3 dimensional mini ones for a card front. I ❤️ love how it turned out! Join me on the creative journey, and make this simple, fun and colorful card for someone in your life. Supplies needed for this project: 2.5” strip of colorful patterned paper White cardstock — I recommend #110 or higher for card bases Small strip of light brown cardstock Distress Spray Inks (Squeezed Lemonade,… Continue reading

6 Pocket Wrap-Around Envelope

You know I’m always up for making different types of tucks and pockets and such for my handcrafted Journals. It’s one of my happy places for keeping creative juices flowing, and great soul care. Always learning and trying something new. And always adding my own twist to what I’m inspired by others to try. A couple of weeks ago, I watched a YouTube video for making a 6 Pocket Wrap-Around Envelope, as a Journal insert. The make used standard #6 office envelopes with a triangle flap. (That’s the shorter, check sized envelopes, not the long business #10 ones.) But, the… Continue reading

Gel Printing with Embossing Folders

After I had some non-thinking Fun Play yesterday, my mind turned back on and I moved forward to the next step, and the key to getting prints I really like, that would be usable for pockets and other “pretty page” items. (Of course the others will still be used, for collaging and such.) The obvious answer needed is adding Gesso to the page, to knock the words back a bit, before Gel Printing. This truly proved to be the secret sauce. An added step, requiring dry time, but it produced not just play time but also pretty and highly usable… Continue reading

Fun Play—Gel Print Book Pages

It’s Fun Play Friday! But any day can be a Fun Play Day! On Fun Play Days, I have no project in mind. No thinking through. I just want to create and don’t know what. My mind is most likely going a million miles an hour in several directions, and I just need some Happy Place time for Soul Care. So I grab some supplies, sit down, and see what happens. Like a child sitting down to play “art”, with an assortment of supplies before them, I just grab and do. I think I’ll try this! What would this look… Continue reading

WIP Wednesday—Altered Playing Cards

Since it’s Wednesday, let’s take a look at my desk today, and see my work in progress (WIP). Altered Playing Cards! May was a hot minute, that flew by every which way, with events and day to day happenings. My school semester ended with various performances—our concert/recital (I was awarded Instrumentalist of the Year), we hosted a concert, and we performed for graduation. Day to day life included my son’s car being hit, home repairs and yard work, and dealing with some trauma issues,—and a restful Mother’s Day with visits with several of my children and a yummy dinner. My… Continue reading

Matchbook Pocket Folio Tutorial

I’ve got yet another style of “pocket” tutorial for you today! I think I could do a different style every week for a year—actually much longer, and still not run out of fun and unique ideas. In this project, we’re going to create several gusseted pockets, and put them together, accordion style, in a Matchbook Folio. These are reminiscent of accordion files to me—only miniaturized! And so much cuter! These folios are great for organizing small ephemera, snippets, tags, or paper scraps, or for filling with those things or other goodies to give to others. I used book pages for… Continue reading

Triple Pocket Altered Envelope

What can you do with a business sized window envelope and a digital printable? Make this beautiful Triple Pocket Altered Envelope! Plenty of pockets for Journaling Cards and Tags of various sizes. Note those tabs, from a post earlier this month. Watch for video tutorial. Coming soon! Beauty from Ashes! Make some every day. And enJOY! We want to see what you make! Subscribe and comment here. Join one of my Creative Communities a share a picture there: Freely Whole Creative Community at MeWe or Facebook, or follow me on Instagram @freelywhole and tag me #freelywhole Living Coram Deo &… Continue reading