Showing posts with label Idea-ology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idea-ology. Show all posts

Friday, July 31, 2026

Bicycle Notebook

Hello crafters! I really enjoy making notebooks / sketchbooks and other types of mini books, Today, I have a notebook to share made from a gel printed sheet of paper.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Layers of ink - Bicycle Notebook gel printing tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I stitched around the edges and along the spine. The notebook has a travel theme and I added 49 and Market Travel Diaries laser cut images and stamped sentiments from Simon Says Stamp Be Your Beautiful Self which fitted the theme. 

The best thing with making your own notebooks/sketchbooks is that you can use your favorite paper for the inside. Here I used a thin dotted notebook paper.


This is the paper that I started out with, from a recent gel printing session. The printing was done with Simon Says Stamp Mix and Match Circles stencil and Star Lattice embossing folder. 

Stamp with Simon Says Stamp Be Your Beautiful Self.


Stitch around the edges.

Stitch around the edges of the cover. Cut papers for the inside, fold and score. Round the corners. Stitch along the spine with a sewing machine. 


I added a few hearts die cut with Simon Says Stamp Drawn Hearts from Luxe Glitter sheets.
 

The ticket was folded and stapled to the cover. I added a Tim Holtz Clippings Stickers to the ticket. The paper planes come from 49 and Market Travel Diaries Laser Cuts. 


I used more Clippings Stickers and also elements from the Travel Diaries Laser Cut set. 

Add Travel Diaries ephemera by 49 and Market.

I love bicycles and the whole book was inspired by this bicycle from Travel Diaries. 'Live Your Story' from Simon Says Stamp Be Your Beautiful Self was the perfect length for the cover.


I added tiny flowers to the basket. They are the inside part of flowers from Simon Says Stamp Poised Primula.


The back cover was left plain. The original print didn't cover the entire page, but that was okay since I placed that part on the back cover.

Layers of ink - Bicycle Notebook gel printing tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspired you to make your own notebooks. They are also great as gifts. 



Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.



Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Smile Layout

Hello friends! Today I have a scrapbooking layout to share, with stitching and patterned paper.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Layers of ink - Smile Layout by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I wanted to use a mix of Tim Holtz Palette paper, and in particular the collage papers with all the small details. All I added was some ephemera, die cut butterflies, a title and some stamped sentiments. I used an old childhood photo.

Use Tim Holtz Palette paper.

I started by cutting out pieces from the collage papers in various Palette Paper 8x8 in sets, picking designs that I liked, or that fit the theme.


Arrange them on a background paper, distress the edges and then stitch around the design with both straight and zigzag stitches.

Stitch around the paper.

The background is kraft paper and I added more Palette paper, distressed the edges and stitched another frame.

Die cut Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Bulletin.

I really like Tim Holtz Sizzix Alphanumeric Bulletin letters and die cut the title from another pieces of palette paper and from Simon Says Stamp Rainforest cardstock.


Butterflies were die cut from more patterned paper with Simon Says Stamp Bright Butterflies. The bodies come from Simon Says Stamp Flourish Butterfly Trio.


I used ephemera from 49 and Market Faded Memory Lane ephemera and chipboard sets and sanded the edges slightly.




Glue the title and add lace trim underneath as a border.


This sentiment also comes from Simon Says Stamp Be Your Beautiful Self. 


A few more flowers and a butterfly. 




Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.





Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.



Sunday, June 28, 2026

Glitter Heart Background

Hi friends! Today I have a very glittery and glitzy card to share, which will dazzle any recipient. 

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Layers of ink - Glitter Heart Background tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I made a card with an entire glitter background, die cut with Simon Says Stamp Drawn Hearts from the fantastic Luxe Glitter Cardstock. I used the Champagne version of the glitter cardstock and you might have noticed the little glitter hearts used on my last two projects. They were from this die cutting session and I knew I wanted to use the entire sheet on a background too. 

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Flowers.

For the dimensional flowers, start by die cutting Simon Says Stamp Rustic Layering Flower and Wildflower Bucket from heavystock cardstock, white glitter cardstock, white cardstock and Tim Holtz backdrops cardstock.

Ink and shape the flowers.

Ink the flowers with neutral shades of Distress Ink and shape the flowers with Tim Holtz Shaping Tool Kit.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp Drawn Hearts.



Layer the flowers together. I added a paper center to some of them and a Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Dazzling Peachy Gem to some of them. The sentiment was stamped with brown Archival Ink using Simon Says Stamp Be Your Beautiful Self set and die cut with the coordinating die.


The flowers have quite a lot of dimension.

Dimensional Paper flowers.

At the bottom there is a larger cluster of flowers and a smaller sentiment, from the same stamp set.


It is hart to capture the glimmer in all its might. The silver vellum also glimmers and the Luxe Cardstock has a disco ball look which changes depending on how the light falls.


The same part of the card, but from a different angle.

Layers of ink - Glitter Heart Background tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. For another card using Simon Says Stamp Drawn Hearts for the background, check out my Mouse Card.



Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.




Monday, May 25, 2026

Word Background Art Journal Page

 Hi friends! I have an art journal tutorial on the Simon Says Stamp store blog. 

Layers of ink - Word Background Art Journal Page Tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

The art journal page is inspired by alphabet dies. I am very fond of alphabet dies; with them you can create any word or message imaginable. Here, I made them a part of the background, at the same time as they carry the message of the page. The techniques are easy to do and work great for cardmaking too.

You can find the full tutorial on the Simon Says Stamp store blog. 



Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin


Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Hyacinth Flower in Pencil

Hello crafters! Today I have a hyacinth flower to share, stamped on patterned paper and then colored with pencils.

Please note: this post has affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.

Layers of ink - Lilac Flower in Pencil tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

Stamping on patterned paper and then using pencils to color the image is one of my favorite techniques. The pencils will cover most of the pattern, but some of it will show through. I particularly enjoy combining this technique with ledger papers. I made an art journal page, but this could just as well be a card instead. 

The page was added to my Stamperia Happiness Mixed Media journal, 4x8.5 in.

Stamp Simon Says Stamp Big Botanicals.


Color with Prismacolor pencils.

Color with pencils, starting with the lighter shades. I used Prismacolor pencils.

Add highlights with a white gel pen.

Add highlights with a white gel pen.

Add ground with pencils.

Use a black pencil to draw a small hill, some grass and shading. Color with pencils.

Add sentiments from Tim Holtz Palette paper.

I cut the sentiments from Tim Holtz Palette Paper. Ink the edges.

Die cut Simon Says Stamp butterflies.

Die cut butterflies from Pink Palette Paper using Simon Says Stamp Bright Butterflies. The edges were sanded lightly and inked.


I stamped words and numbers from Simon Says Stamp Big Botanicals on the background.


Add Stickles Star Dust to the flower centers. 


I used different shades of blue and a purple for the flowers.

Stamp with Simon Says Stamp Vintage Bunnies.

This sentiment comes from Simon Says Stamp Vintage Bunnies and was stamped on ledger paper. I used the same sentiment yesterday for my Patterned Peony Flower tag.


Adding a grassy hill grounds the flower to the page. Here you can also see how the background paper shines through the pencil coloring.


Little Things was also cut from Palette Paper.


The ticket comes from one of the collage papers from the 8x8 Palette Papers. Stamp a word on the ticket and ink the edges.

Layers of ink - Lilac Flower in Pencil tutorial by Anna-Karin Evaldsson.


Thank for stopping by here today!




Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

* Please note: the links are affiliate links, for which I receive a small percentage of sales generated by the link, at no extra cost to you.