Store Ephemera Where You Will Use Them by Betsy Skagen

There's a good chance you have a lot of ephemera. I do too. However, I have it stored away in so many different places and in so many boxes, that I often can't find it when I am in the middle of a project.

To combat this problem, I made a desktop ephemera storage box. While it certainly can't hold all my ephemera, I can keep it filled with different odds and ends that I can use in upcoming projects. This is especially helpful for those of you who like to make junk journals and art planners. What's more, it makes for some fun eye candy.

Tutorial How to Make the Ephemera Storage Box

Begin by loosely putting together the Memory Keeping Organizer just so you can see what goes where. Because there are so many dividers, this could be confusing to assemble without any guidance. Thankfully, you can download instructions when you order this box.

Next, one piece at a time, place a strong adhesive (I like Beacon Fabri-Tac for projects like these) on both sides of the tabs and begin assembling the interior of the box. 

Continue this process until you have the interior completely constructed.

Add each of the four box sides, again using a strong adhesive on each side of the tabs. Once it is fully assembled and the glue has dried, cover the box with a spray primer. After the primer dries, paint the box with dark brown spray paint.

Trace each side of the exterior of the box onto decorative cardstock, cut out and use matte medium adhere to the box sides. Because two of the sides are longer than 12", you will need to splice paper together. After all the paper is adhered, cover the box with two coats of matte medium. This will strengthen and protect the box so it lasts for years to come. 

Use ink or paint to brown the edges of the tabbed dividers. Trace the dividers onto decorative cardstock, cut out and adhere to both sides of all the dividers with matte medium. 

Ink the edges of the the dividers with brown ink.

Cut out words from a vintage book, ink the edges and adhere to the tabs to create fun nonsensical labels. 

Use rubber stamps and ink to add further interest to your dividers.

Coat each of the dividers with matte medium to protect them from wear and tear. 

Perhaps you are wondering if a storage container made from chipboard is strong enough to handle everyday use. I can assure you that you don't need to worry as long as you put enough protective sealer on it. I have made several of Gypsy Soul's boxes. One I made four years ago gets used on a daily basis since I store my go-to art supplies in it. sits on my art table. It looks as good as the day I made it. 

All that is left to do is fill up your new storage container with your favorite goodies and enjoy! -Betsy

Great Stuff

Memory Keeping Organizer
Memory Keeping Large Dividers
Memory Keeping Small Dividers
Beacon Fabri-Tac
Primer
Brown spray paint
Decorative cardstock
Paper Artsy Stamps
Seth Apter Stamps
Vintage Photo and Peacock Feathers distressed inks
Matte medium

Everybody Needs a "Stuff Holder"

Hey all! I've tackled a new storage piece in my quest for a perfectly organized scraproom. Hubby asked what I was planning to put in it, and my response was, "stuff!" There are alphabet sheets in the paper pack so I decided to cut some out and officially christen this piece my stuff holder:

Here's a photo of the "naked" Memory Keeping Organizer. I like to put all 3D things together before I take them apart again so I see where everything fits.

I painted all the pieces light pink, and then I covered the outer pieces with patterned paper from this pad; as you can see I got a great deal on it!!

I just laid the pieces on the paper and traced around them, as the side pieces are irregularly shaped (and I don't  much like measuring anyway!) I sanded the edges lightly to smooth away and paper bits left over.

As you can see, I added bits and strips from some of the other papers, and I did this on the inside squares as well; there were chevrons, checks and floral patterns as well as the ones with tiny type, so I mixed and matched colours and patterns for a cheery look.

The honeycomb pattern was perfect for the bottom; I chose to cut out each square separately rather than having to cut the slots out of the paper where the vertical pieces fit.into the base.

I glued pearl along the top edge of all the pieces with a hot glue gun; using adhesive pearls with the flat bottoms would probably be easier, but I happen to have several strands of these in a variety of colours (pearl spaghetti, anyone?)

The sets of file dividers are wonderful; the larger compartments in the organizer just happen to fit 4" x 6" photos! These are perfect for the photos I'm planning to scrap soon, and it's a lot easier to look through 3 sections labeled by topic than a huge storage box!! The smaller file dividers I plan to use for diecuts, again divided by topic.

I had lots of fun putting this together, and even more fun putting my "stuff" in all of the compartments! I no longer have a ton of "miscellaneous  embellishments" piled in a drawer where they were a nightmare to look through-they're so much easier to see now and I will be much more likely to actually use these embellishments because I will see them and remember I have them. Treat yourself to one of these awesome organizers and you'll be glad you did!

GYPSY SOUL ITEMS USED
Memory Keeping Organizer

OTHER ITEMS USED

DCWV Vintage Collector Stack

pink acrylic paint

pearl strand
hot glue gun

Baby Girl Brag Book with Gloria

Welcome to Tutorial Tuesday with Gloria! I have been wanting to make a baby brag book for a while now, using the lovely Graphic 45 papers in my stash. I finally had a chance to make it happen! GSLCuts sent me some chipboard cover sets (basically plain chipboard) and a set of the Memory Keeping Organizer Small Dividers. And I used my "magical mini album skills" to create this little sweetie!

I created a little girl brag book for a family friend (only I may have to make another one if we find out she's having a boy). This little book is perfect for wallet-sized photos.  The 3" x 4" dividers dictated the size of this mini, which is 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" x 3". The cover is so cute, with the phrase from Words and Phrases 2 Set, and darling Postage Frames! The Graphic 45 baby papers are simply adorable. I used a combination of Precious Memories, Baby 2 Bride Deluxe Collection, and the retired Little Darlings. There are 8 dividers in the set, so I have 8 double-sided pages for my album. To create your own brag book, start with two chipboard covers and a spine.

Cut the covers to 3 1/2" x 4 3/4". Cut the spine to 3 1/2" x 3". From ivory cardstock, create a tab hinge binding that allows for 8 pages. (For tutorials on creating the hinge system, click HERE or HERE.) Place the covers and spine onto a 6" x 6" piece of plaid paper, with a gap between the chipboard pieces a bit smaller than 1/8". Attach the chipboard to the paper and wrap the paper around the top and bottom as shown. (You may wish to reinforce the spine with Tyvek or similar product if you think your mini will get a lot of handling.)

Cut two pieces of flower print paper to 6" x 6" and attach them to the front and back covers, wrapping the edges and mitering the corners. 

Attach the tab hinge binding to the spine.

Cut two pieces of pink plaid paper to 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" and attach to the inside of the covers. Gently score and bend the covers at the gaps between the chipboard. Use a decorative border punch to punch two 1" x 3 1/2" pieces of ivory cardstock. 

Attach the punched border pieces to the front and back covers to hide the seams.

Paint the tabs and all edges of the Memory Keeping Organizer Small Dividers with ivory paint.

Use strong, double-sided tape to attach one divider panel to each tab hinge. 

Once all your hinges are attached, it is time to decorate. 

Select various chipboard elements for your mini album and paint them with ivory paint. I always select and paint more than I need, just in case I change my mind about the design as I go along! (See the supply list below for details.)

Use a Crop-a-Dile or similar tool to punch a hole into the center of the front and back covers, approximately 1/2" from the album edge. Attach a knob to the front cover. (I improvised by adding an upside-down eyelet to the cover and securing it with a yellow brad. This lifts the brad up just a tad, allowing the closure string to wrap around the brad.)  Attach a large grommet to the back cover. Thread some yellow twine through the grommet and wrap it around the brad on the front cover to close the album. 

To decorate the cover, glue a postage stamp image to the back of one of the Postage Frames. Attach the frame to the left side of the cover. Glue the My Girl phrase from the Words and Phrases 2 Set to the cover as shown. Embellish the frame with a few pastel flowers. 

 Attach a decorative chipboard embellishment to the spine of the album.

Start to decorate the album using GSLCuts items and embellishments! For the inside of the front and back covers, I used the Windows 6 Panel and some pretty decorations. 

Decorate your album pages as desired. To see all the pages, make sure to check out the video BELOW.

Each page of the album has pockets, flip outs, journaling spots, or photo mats. This chunky mini is perfect for all your small photos and makes a wonderful brag book!

Enjoy! Thanks for looking! Find all these wonderful chipboard items at the GSL Store!

~ Gloria Stengel: Scraps of Life

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts:
Memory Keeping Organizer Small Dividers
Postage Frames
Words & Phrases 2 Set
Windows 6 Panel
Victorian Corners 2
Album Cover Set (coming soon)

Other:
Paper: Graphic 45 Precious Memories, Baby 2 Bride Deluxe Collection, Little Darlings (retired)
Tag: Graphic 45 Regular - Ivory
Grommet and eyelet: We R Memory Keepers (yellow)
Brad: pale yellow (source unknown)
Twine: Really Reasonable Ribbon Divine Twine Lemonwood
Paint: Martha Stewart Summer Linen acrylic, Ranger Distress Antique Linen
Mist: DecoArt Shimmer White
Tools: We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile, Martha Stewart heart border punch, Stampin' Up 3/4" circle punch, EK Success corner rounder
Adhesive: Ranger Glossy Accents, Ranger multi-medium, foam squares, ATG tape, Scor-tape

Guest Designer Tamiko McCurry

Hey there good people! I am Tamiko and I am totally honored to be the guest designer for July! Woot Woot! My personal style is kinda urban and brightly colored in ANY and EVERYTHING I do as far my art goes.  I am a mixed media artist and I love to play in my art journal and do other types of paper crafting.  When I first received this, I asked myself am I making this for me or for what other might enjoy and well.. I won, but I hope you enjoy this.  While it might be a memory keeper organizer, for me, for a little while, it will be my pocket letter pal go to!!  I just love the many compartments that will hold all my stuff!! 

I  put my units together and went over all the slots and grooves with some craft glue. I let it dry overnight although it was fine after 20 minutes. Coated the units with gesso and once they were dry, my fingers were used to apply the paint. I love getting into my work and how best can you do it, when you use you hands as a brush. As I waited, gesso was brushed on all the rest of the chipboard pieces.  While gesso is not necessary, it did help prime the chipboard for my bright color palette. I also painted all the divider inserts.

Went back to the units and I added layers of stencils (three kinds) and paint with the sponges.  I painted the flowers pieces and stacked them creating my perfect blooms.  Adhered the flowers to the caddy and the organizer and doodles with my black paint marker.  Decided to keep my dividers white and will decorate them periodically with washi tape, maybe!

Let me share a few more pictures with you.

The slots in the caddy are not only perfect for brushes,

my bottles of glue fit perfect!  I can even place a dixie cup or

condiments cup and use that as a catch all under the upside down glue bottles!  How cool is that?

The slots in the organizer are perfect for my small embellishments!

I can prep my slots to contain twine bundles, washi on a card, sticker bundles, stamped images, my tea, coffee or chocolate! Artist trading card (ATC) bases fit perfectly in here! All the goodies I need to prepare a load of pocket letters or quickie ATCs will be right at my fingertips! I have so many ideas and I am so ready to fill both of these fabulous units up!

Ha. YOU and I both can store our stash of Gina's Design Chippies!!

I hope you enjoyed stopping over at the blog today as much I enjoyed creating this project to share with you all.  Again I am so super excited to be here for the month of July 2015 and I can't wait to show you all the possibilities for creating fabulous one of a kind projects featuring Gina's Designs  Laser Cuts.  Have a fabulous week and don't forget to stop by and see what design team is up to!

Gina's Designs Products:

Memory Keeper Organizer

Brush Caddy

Flower Stackers

4x6 Memory Keeper Dividers

4x3 Memory Keeper Dividers

Other:

Helmar Craft Glue

Deco Art Media Gesso (white)

Dylusions Paints (variety of colors)

Deco Art Acryclics and Paint Marker (variety of colors)

Artistcellar Pocket Stencils

Cosmetic Sponges

Brush

Washi Tape