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

ABC Primer Card and Book Mark by Pam Bray

Hi!!! It is Pam today on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog sharing my ABC Primer Card and Book Mark. It is so hard to believe school will start on Monday here in Memphis, TN. I thought that my favorite teacher could use a sweet bookmark. 

I began my card by first adhering card stock, pattern paper and a border strip to the top of my card front.

Continue to layer pieces of pattern paper to the top of the card base. 

Adhere Mixed Media Fragments 1 to the top of card base. 

Mat journal piece from pattern paper to red and black card stock. Add one of the ferns from the Fern Fronds to top.

Adhere three of the flowers from the Flower Stackers chipboard to pattern paper. Trim and sand edges. 

Layer Flower Stackers prepared pieces together. Adhere to top of card front. 

Add a few of the images from the pattern paper card.

Along with ribbon bow and a couple of premade flowers.

Form a pocket for the inside of card using pattern paper and border punch. 

Cover front and back of one of the Memory Keepers Small Dividers to create book mark. 

Decorate front of the Memory Keepers Small Dividers with pattern paper ....

and border punch. 

Add matching ribbon bow to top of book mark. 

Place inside of card. 

I hope I have inspired you to send your favorite teachers a special book mark this year or even some of your family and friends that love to read. Hugs Pam 

 Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Supplies:

Mixed Media Fragments 1

Fern Fronds

Flower Stackers

Memory Keepers Small Dividers

Other Supplies:

Graphic 45 ABC Primer

Prima Flowers

Black Ribbon

Border Flower Punch

Pop Dots

Glossy Accent

Xyron Mega Runner

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