Graphic 45®

Need a little inspiration? We got some to share with you!

Here at Graphic45, we have been working for months to bring you our exclusive "Inspiration Sheets."  Each of our sheets is designed by our staff to bring you fun and easy projects that inspire you to use our products in new ways.   New Inspiration sheets will be posted every month and are always free to download.  So check back often.

In addition, we will be providing Exclusive Class Project sheets to our retailers to share with you.  So keep an eye out for classes at your nearest scrapbook or craft store!

Our "Don't Peek" Gift Bag

Here is an oldie but goodie, we offered this make n' take last year and wanted to share with our new friends this year, it features some of our favorite paper lines and appropriate for the holdiay season.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PDF

Happy Holiday Crafting!

Extended Deadline for our guest designer call!

We have extended the due date for uploading your projects to November 30th.  If you are wishing to throw your hat in for a chance to be one of our guest designers for January, February or March, please upload your projects to the Graphic 45 gallery at our Ning site -  http://graphic45.ning.com/

Best of luck!!

Altered Window Coat Rack with G45 "Renaissance Faire" and Tattered Angels

Today we have an altered window coat rack made my design team member Susan Dupre using Renaissance Faire papers and various Tattered Angels products.

Susan provided us instructions on how to made the coat rack below:

Window frame

1.  Take an old or new window frame and apply a base coat of brown paint.

2. Add a thin layer of crackle glaze, brushing in one direction.  Allow to dry.

3. When it is dry, add a coat of cream color paint.  As the paint starts to dry you will see crackles in  the paint start to appear. 

4.  Add antique glaze as a final layer.  Wipe off as you go.  This will give your window frame the antique look you desire.

5.  Add coat hooks on either side.

Window Panes

For the window panes I used various papers from the G45 "Renaissance Faire" collection and various Tattered Angels products.  In a clockwise direction here are the instructions for each window pane:

Window Pane 1

1.  Cut your paper to fit the window pane.  I used "Renaissance Faire" from the "Renaissance Faire" Collection for this panel. 

2.  Use glue dots to your paper to the window pane.

3.  Since this image on the paper has a window drape, I added lace to the left to add an extra drape.   I used glue dots to attach the lace.

Window Pane 2

1.   Using a Tattered Angels vintage style bingo card, add ink to the edges to give it an antiqued look.  Attach with glue dots.

2.  Next I took a Tattered Angels Glimmer Chip and added Glimmermist "Turquoise Blue" with a little bit of glitter too. 

3.  Add your photo.  I used a vintage ephemera image by Paper Whimsy.

4.  At this point you would want to layer all of your embellishments.  I decided to use lace and a flower.

Window Pane 3

1.  For this window pane I used "Romantique" paper as my base (cut to size).

2.  Next you will need various vintage elements.  I used an old dictionary sheet, an old key, a piece of an old measuring tape and more vintage ephemera images by Paper Whimsy.

3.  Take your piece of dictionary page and cut to a smaller size so that the sheet of "Romantique" shows as a frame around it.

4.  Take a Glimmer Screen (stencil) by Tattered Angels and lay it on the dictionary page.  Spray it with Glimmermist.  I used "Blue Moonlight" and "Turquoise Blue".

5.  Crumple and tear your piece of dictionary and glue it on your base paper.

6.  Then add your vintage elements.  Again I used glue dots to adhere all my elements.

Window Pane 4

1.  Cut your base paper to size.  I used the reverse side of "Romantique".

2.  I then used another ephemera image from Paper Whimsy and attached that to my base.

3.  Then take another Tattered Angels Glimmer Chip (butterfly) and add Glimmermist.  I used a combination of "Blue Moonlight" and "Turquoise Blue" adding a little extra glitter.

4.  Arrange your elements on your base in an appealing arrangement.  I used a flower, a metal number by Tim Holtz and some bling.

I hope today's project was an inspiration to you.  You can always take an everyday object and make it into something special.  Just think outside the box! 

Have a great weekend!

Susan

Guest Design Team Search Time Again!

We are always amazed at the talent that abounds in our gallery at http://graphic45.ning.com and are perusing the gallery for our first Guest Design Team Members for 2010 for January, February and March!

There is no application, no questions to answer...only projects and layouts uploaded to our NING !community site gallery...our staff and design team members will be surfing through the gallery to find you!  So start uploading, we will be announcing the winners on November 20th. 

Happy Crafting!

A Countdown Christmas Calendar with Graphic 45 "Christmas Past" and Tattered Angels

Today we have a beautiful Countdown Christmas Calendar using a cookie tray made by our talented design team member Emeline Seet. 

Emeline provided instructions on how to make this wonderful calendar below:

I scoured the kitchen drawers and found an extra cookie tray.
hope you'll be able to create a similar piece with these simple steps:

1. Paint the back of the cookie tray with gesso.

2. Cover the back with pattern paper (i used Graphic 45 Christmas Past Papers)

3. Sand paper the edges and ink it with white ink (alternatively you could dry brush with gesso)

4. Use Tattered Angels Swirl template and spritz with glimmer mist. (i used Coffee Shop)

5. Hand cut motifs from pattern paper. Adhere to cookie tray.

6. Make Tags from pattern paper (these will be used for the numerical alphabet stickers)

     Create 12 tags in all.

7. Use the Bind it all so that the tags can be flipped vertically. Tape Velcro to the back of the tags so that it adheres to the tray. Alternatively, if you have an electric drill, you can drill and attach hooks.

8. Embellish tray with vintage lace paper , glitter and Tattered Angels chipboard.

Thanks Emeline!!  Your Christmas calendar is wonderful!

More Graphic 45 and Tattered Angels

Today we have a lo provided by design team member Hilde Janbroers, who just happens to be a new addition to Tattered Angels' team as well!   She has used Graphic 45 "Christmas Past" papers and Tattered Angels Glimmermist  "Autumn Leaves" and "Meadow Green".   You will also see some Tattered Angels  natural Glimmer Glass in "Rouge".

If you would like to achieve this look Hilde has given us instructions:

Use a white piece of cardstock as a base for this layout. Cut out all types of small pieces of the Graphic 45 papers. Because you can use lots of different colors and patterns this is a great way to show how beautiful these papers are.

With a file rough the edges of the papers and ink them. Place them close to each other on the cardstock. Then spray a little glimmermist on the layout to add the subtle touch of color on the white cardstock.

With lace, create a mat around your photo. Next add the embellishments on the layout. The Glimmer Glass embellishments from Tattered Angels are perfect for this type of layout.

 

DT member Hilde Janbroers

Stay tuned tomorrow for more beautiful projects containing Tattered Angels and Graphic 45 products.  We also be showcasing more work throughout the month by our talented guest designer Teresa Manchas.

Drum Roll Please...the relay is on!

Graphic 45 and Tattered Angels have collaborated once again to show you the natural fit that these two products can be with each other. 

All month our design team will be showing off some Tattered Angel love with our beautiful collections of vintage inspired papers, so be sure to check back often!  I mean ALOT!  We have a ton of projects to show you, our girls have been busy!

This project, by Candy Rosenberg, our Education Director has a gallon of glimmer mist on it, including Tuscan Sun, Brick Red and Mimosa!  The Jaramee altered dress form from Creative Imaginations was the perfect foundation to start with. 

It is such fun to alter and if you leave a comment on this post with the correct name of the Graphic45 paper used as the skirt you will win a pack of this collection at the end of this relay!

 
  A view from the top, you can see the glimmer mist on the black painted top.

 
Pictures cannot show the sparkle on this wing, but you can see that it is coated with Glimmer Mist!


This altered dress form will be available as a class project for retailers.  Keep an eye out for our announcements coming this week and the inspiration sheets that we will be sharing with you this month!  

We are always striving to bring you the inspiration you need to paper craft with Graphic45!

Happy Crafting!


 
  
  
 
 

Novembers Guest Designer is Teresa Manchas

Graphic 45 is thrilled to announce November's guest designer, Teresa Manchas.  We will be sharing her beautiful work throughout the month, so keep checking our blog for more posts.  Here is a photo and a little bio about Teresa:

I am a mother of two outstanding adult children, son and a daughter, and two wonderful grandsons’, who keep me on my toes! I have been married to my best friend and confidant for many years, and he truly enjoys my art that I create with scrap booking! I have lived in this small town most of my life, and have worked at the mills here for going on 29 years now!! I blame my now “paper addiction” on my daughter, who got me started about four years ago!! I am very drawn to the vintage style, and tend to do the majority of my lo’s in that style. That’s why Graphic 45 is one of my very favorite paper lines; they appear to design just for “me!” This paper line is so versatile, there’s no end to what you can create with it! I am truly delighted and excited to be the guest designer for Graphic 45...........it’s as if my dream came true! I hope everyone enjoys my creations with this wonderful paper, and that I help to inspire you to use it again and again!! Teresa

Here are a couple of Teresa's beautiful lo's for you to enjoy.

Oh my goodness, isn't the lo above just darling?! Teresa made all those cute little flowers and her title letters out of Graphic 45 papers as well.  I just adore this lo!

This lo is just as fun as her "Dress Up" lo.  I really like how she uses Graphic 45 papers to make her embellishments.  Don't you love the the lace that she tea-dyed to make a flower?  There is just so much to look at on these lo's.  Thanks for sharing them with us Teresa!  I can see we are in for a treat this month.

Check back in with us this week.  We will be starting our blog relay with Tattered Angels.  You won't want to miss the work our design team as done using Graphic 45 and Tattered Angels products.

Happy scrapping,

Susan

Our newest featured store...Scrapbook Page

Our featured stores are nominated by crafters from all over the world and sometimes we come across a great store that exemplifies what Graphic 45 is about in a retail environment and just love to share them with you.

The gals at Scrapbook Page are truly Graphic45-aholics, and talk about a talented group! Keep reading to learn more about this wonderful store.

Maxine Hodges, Owner of Scrapbook Page and Fiskateer of the Year 2009!
 

In an interview with Maxine, she shared the following with us:
I am a West Virginian. My mom had a love for crafts and passed it along to me. I have been married for 38 years and have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. As a stay at home mom and wife, I have done many types of crafts over the years.  Macrame, dough art  and cross stitch, just to name a few.  I won several awards with my cross stich.   When I had 2 children in college at the same time I cut wood, sanded and painted.  I would sell at craft shows and shops.

In 1997 I began to scrapbook.  It became a true passion.  The Scrapbook Page was in existance for 3 or 4 years when in 2002 it was sold to a family, who wanted to invest in the business.  I became the full time manager, buyer and janitor.  In 2007 I bought the business and have doubled the inventory. We do classes every Monday and crops every other weekend.

One of my proudest achievements as a shop owner has been my annual charity crops for the National Lupus Foundation.  I have raised  $3,500 over the last 2 years.  At my event this year we had scrappers from Philadelphia, Richmond, Cincinnati, and Michigan, along with many local crafters.  Sock it to Poverty was a drive we participated in to collect socks for the homeless shelters. We also collected food for our area food bank.

I go to the buying shows and keep up with what is the newest in the industry.  I take classes and bring back new ideas to my customers.  This summer I took the Graphic 45 and Tattered Angels class.
I participate in Fiskateers, an online crafting group of almost 7,000 members. I am a member of the charity committee and the welcome wagon committee. I was named Fiskateer of the Year 2009 at a party at Epcot in July, 2009.

Look at how cute her store is!  I had the pleasure to visit the Scrapbook Page in September this year and it was such a treat to meet up with some great gals and some hard core Graphic 45 lovers!    They are extremely talented!
 

  
I spot a Tim Holtz picture stealer in the group above, LOL!  (inside joke, sorry)

 

These ladies sure know how to rock the Graphic45 paper!

And just take a look at this breathtaking chair completely covered in Domestic Goddess paper!  Yummy!
What a beautiful job, Maxine.  I so want that in my studio, I may have to come steal it!

  
 
 
If you are in the West Virginia area, be sure to put this store on your list of must visits.  Here is the contact information for the Scrapbook Page:

6007 Co Road 60/8
Barboursville, WV 25504-1043
(304) 733-9414

Get to know me - Susan Dupre

Hi I am Susan.  I am currently the design team coordinator.  I am also temporarily filling in as blog hostess while Hilde takes a break.  As for me personally, I have been scrapping since March of 2007.  I am also a wife and mother.  I have a darling little five year old son, Hayden.  He is the reason I started scrapping. 

After getting my feet wet for about a year, I then decided I would start trying out for design teams.  I remember the summer of 2008, and within two weeks I had three manufacturer's pick me up.  One of them had an "exclusive" clause in their terms.  I told them I was going to decline because was holding out in hope for another team.  Yep, it was "this one"!  They did away with the clause because they wanted me, and thank goodness, because I got that amazing phone call two days later from Graphic 45.  I can not begin to tell you how nervous and excited I was to get the call from Graphic 45.  Even though they were "new" on the scene, there was just something about their papers that made me feel they were really going to take off.  Boy did they ever!! 

Out of all my teams that I am on, it is always "Graphic 45" that is most asked about.  It is always "how did get on the team?".  The answer is...in my opinion, you have to love the papers.  I knew I loved the vintage  style of the papers.  I even had my son's room decorated vintage memorabilia.  It is in my blood.  I can not begin to tell you how fortunate I feel to be apart of this team from the very beginning.  So, that being said, I thought I would share with you my projects I turned in for that very first call.  I used the Times Nouveau papers.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know a little bit about me.  I hope those of you that celebrate Halloween have a safe and enjoyable time trick-or-treating.  In November we will have a new guest designer that I am excited to introduce to you.  We will also being having that blog relay with Tattered Angels that I have been leaving hints about.   '

Until then,

Susan