Leather Journal Tutorial

I have had a few requests from pals to show how I do the Leather Journals.. well Here is the Tutortial!

Complete with template to download, and low quality photographs from my phone!

Supplies:

Paper Trimmer

Scissors

Imitation Sine (in leather department)

8x10 Leather remnant (in leather department)

Large Blunt needle (in knitting department)

bone folder (optional)

sewing awl or paper piercer

25 sheets of GP110

staz on ink

stamps

mechanical pencil

fine tip sharpie

Downloadable Template

Here we go!

 Start by cutting your 8x10 leather in half. Now two 8x5 pieces. And cut your 8.5x11 cardstock sheets down to 7 x4 7/8 inches. I separate  them into 5 pages each. (The template should print out this same size)

 Now fold each page in half... I use the bone folder here for crisp edges. Also, Fold the template in half as well.

Now for fun times with sharp things. On your template, poke the wholes where the lines intersect... as shown in the picture. I do this on my carpeted floor, but you can do this on soft surface that you do not mind poking holes in... a thick piece of foam is great. But I would make sure it is a few inches in depth! Sometimes you slip and really punch a deep hole. 

Fold on of your pieces of leather in half and mark the center inside. Place the template on top of the leather with the center set of holes lined up to the center. so it should look similar to what is pictured above, with more leather on one side that the other.

Mark ALL of the holes with a sharpie, checking as you go that they are leaving a mark, as the leather may not be extremely receptive to the marks.

 Use your sewing Awl or paper piercer to punch the holes. You have enough leather and cardstock books to do this for two journals! I am only showing it once!

With the folded cardstock sheets group into books of five, lay them flat and put the template on top and mark only the center line of holes that lays on the fold with a pencil. Then punch those holes with your awl.

Turn over your Leaher and stamp with Staz on ink. On the right side of the journal front.

Cut approximately 40 inches of sine or thick thread of your choice. Tie a knot in one end and run the other end through the large eye blunt needle. 

Start in the bottom left corner of the set of holes, and grab a book of folded cardstock and begin 'sewing' them to the leather!

When you reach the top you should be back to the outside of the leather and grab a second book and start on the second row of holes at the top of the journal!

My Daughter picked out the designs for this one!

When you reach the last book and the last hole, you will come out of the last hole at the top. I tie off the top and use much of the extra as a bookmark with beads or a charm at the end.

 Or you can keep sewing in zig zags etc... if wanna  be fancy pants.

 

Poor Man's Irish Stew Recipe

I was born to a very young Mother, one of the blessings that comes with that... is having the opportunity to have Grandparents and Great Grandparents that are young as well!

I grew up with my VERY Irish Great Grandfather living within walking distance of my childhood home and school. Let's just say, I often 'forgot' my key on the way home from school!!!

He would feed me and we would watch old westerns. Our favorite!

We were very close and I will ALWAYS remember the tastes and smells from his Kitchen!

I really miss this stew, and having married a beautiful Irish boy myself... I thought I might try to recreate it. 

Chancey Irish Stew Recipe

  

•  14-16 oz smoked kielbasa or sausage of your choosing. I chose a nice smoked greasy kielbasa.  Cut into 1/2-1 inch slices.

•  8 frozen Corn Cob halves
• Bag of baby carrots. Smaller bag.
• 1 small onion chopped
• 6 Potatoes quartered
• half head of cabbage, rough chopped and reserved til end. 
• 3 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 TBS Paprika
• 1 TBS Black Pepper
• pinch of salt optional
• bay leaf
• 4 Cups beef Stock
• 4 Cups Chicken Stock

Combine all ingredients except for cabbage, in stock pot or crockpot. Simmer low to med heat for 4-8 hours. 20 minutes before serving bring to a soft boil and add in cabbage to soften cabbage. Serve once cabbage is wilted lightly. 

More pepper may be desired.  

Best Intentions? Wing download too!

What is it they say about the best intentions!?!

Well, I tried to get back into my crafty mood.

Truly, and my craft room is a mess... mid project!

Turns out my pneumonia is a real but kicker, and my Takayasu's/Immunospressant therapy is a good combo to land you in the hospital on Halloween.

It has been a slow and painful recovery that is ongoing!

But I did get a few emails about sharing my drawing of my wings.

No problem, I have two... but I just randomly uploaded one!

DOWNLOAD WINGS PDF

Enjoy! Please do not claim my link as your own, but feel free to share my blog!

Winged File Folder Album

 I have been out of the game for a while. A few years really. 

My diagnosis, move and loss of the close knit crafting group that I had locally really stunted my creative activity. And I have not been up on the newest and greatest in the world of crafting!

Thanks to pinterest, I have been catching up on all the coolness I have missed.

It seems that many of the 'pins' out there are to older projects though... that you can no longer 'get' the supplies, downloads or kits for!

Waaah.

I have a weird talent though, I can draw anything I see. It has more to do with spacial relations than anything else. I am not creative in the littlest bit. I can not come up with them on my own. But I can perfectly understand how lines and space related to other. It is a weird thing.

It makes for fun conversation starters. I can solve any of those strange puzzles in seconds, and if you need your furniture rearranged to maximize space in a small room... I am your girl. hahah.

So, I keep seeing THIS pin everywhere.

And I have searched high and low for the die, or die cuts or pattern for these pretty wings.

Enter, strange talent.

I drew mine on a larger scale I think. But they are really similar! 

File Folder Mini Album! I used THIS tutorial for easy file folder folding!

The inside. Tags and mats, with cute stuff on the back too!

2 left side pockets.

2 right side pockets.

Back.

Glowing.
It ties up too... but those pictures upload sideways for some bizarre reason!
I drew my wings and turned them into a pdf and a mtc file and used my personal die cut machine to cut these. They layer nicely and turned out better than I expected!

Skully

I keep saying that I am going to get back in the game! I am trying, I am!

I have been having a rough time of it! But I am pushing myself harder to make time and effort, for things that I enjoy!

It has been harder since the move and my diagnosis. But I will get there!

I have a friend here, that LOVES Halloween. She is also leaning on the edge of jumping into a crafting hobby! I thought I would 'encourage' her with a little card set for Halloween.

I have been in love with Sugar Skulls since I was a barefoot little chicana eating sweet breads and candies every year for Dia de los Muertos. And I am really happy to see that they are very popular this year!

Besides the fact that they are more visible here in Texas than they were in Detroit!! I am in heaven.

 Inkadinkado Sugar Skull Heat Embossed and raised on dimensionals. Cuttlebug folder dry embossed black background.

 Sentiment, HAVE A WICKED HALLOWEEN. CTMH Wicked.

Finished with Red Rhinestones and a Red Spica Pen.

Tumbler Buddy 3 Hop

OH! My buddy and I, we are sad pair this round! We both have been sick and had some mailing troubles as well! I think we did finally get sorted out...

and Leslie sent along this FABULOUS lot of pretties! Beyond awesome!!!

Don't mind the bedspread! I am currently on strict bed rest with a bout of pneumonia that will not quit. It is either this... or a trip to the hospital. It still may be a trip to the hospital, but I am thinking positively!!! Takayasu's isn't going to get me today :)

Long HOT Summer

Boy it has been a long hot summer. No hotter than I would expect here in Texas.

But we did happen to move just in the thick of it! yick.

I have some projects to blog about... but boy am I tired!

Our house was only 2 miles from the old one... but this one has a pool! phew.

Moving is exhausting though.

My 3 year old, she is a strange bird. I wouldn't expect to have a daughter that was normal though.

She beats her own drum, and you should all march to that. :)

She is obsessed with all things wedding?!?

Strange to me, I NEVER cared about wedding stuff. I NEVER wanted to have a wedding. I just showed up to mine. My mom planned a beautiful event! :)

Since I started sewing, my daughter has started requesting dresses! I am not a very good seamstress by the way!

Her request: A wedding dress!

WHAT?!!!!!!

Hubby said NO, immediately. 

But with Daddy Daughter Prom coming up at church... I thought ... she will need a dress! Hahah.

 I used this Tutorial for the dress! It has a tying sash in the back and some gorgeous sparkly buttons she picked out. We modged podged some old ballet flats with glitter for Cinderella slippers! 

Picked up a Tiara at Sam Moon for wicked cheap.

There was nothing more spectacular than seeing how happy she was... she came home wiped out. She woke up when he laid her down, so she could tell me about the hokey pokey and the chicken dance.

I never thought I could be a good Mom to a girl... but so far, I got this. Call me in 10 years. TEEN YEARS!

Roasted Sopa Recipe!

I have not posted a recipe in a long while!

I posted this one on my pale blog a while back, and with a few changes it has become a STAPLE around here!

Who eats it... my kids who do not like tomatoes or tomato soup... my hubby, who claims soup is NOT a meal! 

This is SO filling, hearty, and REALLY REALLY good for you!!!

Roasted Veggie & Tomato Soup

14-15 Roma Tomatoes cut into 1/8 chunks

3+ Large Carrots, rough chopped

1/2 Onion, rough chopped

1/2 Green Bell Pepper, rough chopped if you love peppers do more!

1/2 Red or Orange Bell Pepper, rough chopped

6 Garlic Cloves

1 tsp dried each: Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Parsley, Sage & Pepper (and any other favorites you have... I put in the whole pantry :) )

Drizzle of fat/oil. I use olive oil

4 cups Chicken Stock

Directions:

Toss Veggies with Seasonings and Oil. You can really use anything you like. It turns out yum anyway you make it.

Roast at 350 for 30-40+ minutes. Until veggies are soft.

Hand Blender, Blender or Food process after roasting.

After milling/blending the veggies, add 4 cups chicken stock and cook down until reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper if needed.

Great with crumbled bacon, chicken and/or Shredded Parmesan Cheese!

I ran this one through a food mill, but we don't bother with that anymore! If you love the campbells style thin stuff, you can mill it.

Betty's 3 Hop!!!

Simply Betty is Simply Amazing!!

I love the new Betty's 3 release.

I did something that my normally frugal brain would not usually allow... I bought them without seeing them first!!! Ahhhh.

To my nerdy little delight, they were adorable!

Here are 2 cards I threw together last night for the impromptu hop.

 Jedi Babe!

Hope on over to Louise Mann http://louisescraftycards.blogspot.co.uk/

I know you are gonna love what she has in store!!!

If you want to start at the beginning go to

http://simplybettystamps.blogspot.com/ 

SMASHingLY Fabulous

If you are like me, then SMASH style scrapping  has taken you over. 

Well, sometimes! I am still traditionally scrappin as well.

I put together a few Handmade Smashy Daybooks for the Copic Munkie Etsy shop.... just so I could share the LOVE! :)

 Passion for SmashING DayBook

This Way Smashing Daybook

There is No Place like Home!

My Daughter is MILDLY in love with The Wizard of Oz.

She watches it over and over and over and over!

She asked for a DOROFEE Dress... and I was excited to find that the Walmart across town had some blue gingham fabric for $1.50 a yard!!!  Woot Woot.

I used this Skirt Tutorial as a base, but kept it to one layer.

Her ruby slippers were looking rough... I just ordered her a new pair... her 5th pair!

Zulilly had a really cute pair I couldn't pass up!

 Added a Folded over Square bib with neck straps.

 Decorative Buttons that she picked out!

 She picked out this ribbon too. Don't mind her hair, she just got out of a bath.

We had enough left over for a bow.

Hello Y'all.

I know it has been a while since I have posted. Things have not been going that great health wise. As many of you may have read previously... I have Takayasu's Arteritis. 

I have recently had trouble with my neck being soar and throbbing. 

It turns out my Carotid Artery is 80% Occluded and will require medical intervention. I am a little luckier than the average stent patient... because I am not a 'plaque' build up patient, I am at a lower risk for plaque coming loose and causing a stroke. I am still full of anxiety.

I have a few projects to blog about, But being fatigued and sick has kept my creativity at bay!

Until Tomorrow... Enjoy this giveaway over at Saturated Canary!

Get Lost over there for a while... or the rest of the day! 

Such a great Blog!

Copic Mini Journal Update Page, With new Colors.

I know I have not worked on much lately. 

We took a Vacation to Hawaii!!!

But I have had requests for updated pages for the Copic Munkie Mini Copic Journal.
I have not had a ton of time, so I sized down the Copic pages to fit into your book. I did not create these. 

Here is one of my books: 

Create A Mini Copic Journal

New pages:

UPDATED COLORS MARKER INVENTORY

Quick Cricut Project

I have been trying to keep my 3 year old daughters drawers a little tidier.
She is mildly compulsive, and hates mess. But she also has to pick out her clothes and change multiple times a day! Princesses! 

So, to keep her drawers tidy. We cut out these vinyl shapes with Paper Doll Dress up Cartridge and stuck them on her drawer to remind her where each item of clothing goes!

She puts away her own clothes now!

And Daddy says, he needed this for our oldest son as well... now he 'knows' what drawer when he is helping dress as well!

She has two more drawers higher up, that she just can not quite reach. They have all of the dress up clothes etc. So we will do some really fun costume type cut outs for those!

Butterfly Embellished Leather Journal

I LOVED the January Release from Our Daily Bread Designs! One of my all time favorites.

Here is a hand Stitched Leather Journal that I made with the butterfly. I have one with the cross in the works!

Orange Suede, Imitation Sine, Rhinestones OH MY.

One more for the road....

Alright, just one more sewing project and I promise I will do something else. HA!

Right before the Holiday break, I set up a booth for Arelia's Pretties at the MommySwagger Expo here in Katy. It was loads of fun. 

I was ENAMORED these GORGEOUS dresses at One Red Blossom, my husband was not enamored with buying my princess a dress that he felt I should be able to make... he just thinks I can make anything by the way. Not true.

Here is my attempt at it. I used this tutorial as a guide. I did my straps in the back... if that makes sense.

This one is a size too big for my boo bear... don't mind her faces, she was singing and twirling.
This is the Hawaiian version of this dress. Thanks to my gal pal that lives in the tropical paradise, and mailed me these great patterns!

I plan to add the blue pattern to the bottom in a ruffly fun way, and some ribbon trim... but I was lazy.

Here I sew again.....

My princess likes Dora. A LOT. I found this fabulous tutorial... and I thought it would make good use of our Dora scraps. I wanted the middle piece to be the Dora pattern, but I was goofy and cut them backward. ah well. As I said before, I am more than a novice. 

It was a HUGE hit, She is twirling all over the house. And had to wear it multiple days this week! Having a girly girl is so bizarre to me. Do not ask what I am wearing! Ha. I am no fashionista.

Sew Sew Sew Resolution: T Shirt Quilt

This year it is my goal to use my sewing machine more and to learn my way around the sewing department!

So expect to see some attempts at sewing. I shall call them Crooked Stitches.

Here is my first attempt of the year.

Now, I am NO quilter. In fact I have never even cut a square out of fabric!

But, my Son had some t shirts from all of his adventures in the last state we lived in. What to do! He also stated that my new sewing goal was not going to include him, but his little sister would benefit. Ha. He was jealous. 

I started with this tutorial: Easy T Shirt Quilt

Sooo, I used a 12.5x12.5in acrylic cutting mat to cut my shirts. And then cut 2 inch border strips and applied them the way this video showed: T Shirt Quilt Border strip Tutorial

I then added a backing and batting. Using the Quick turn Method : Since I have never quilted before... this seemed easiest. 

My Son LOVED it. I mean LOVED it. He took his old comforter off his bed, and this is now his main blanket. Goofy kid.

I would say that this cost me about $20 in materials and 3 hours. So in now way is it a perfect fancy smancy quilt. But my boy is 7.

Dazzling Faith Bracelet

I have been working on some fun stuff lately. 

I can not wait to blog about some of the projects I have been trying to complete. haha.

Here is a Jewelry Project I  started today. I have a ton of designs in mind. I will be adding them to my Etsy Shop tomorrow.

Visit Arelia's Pretties at Etsy for listings.