perfect for the paper hoarder in you!

How to make embellishments from paper scraps that you can use on cards, scrapbook pages, mini albums and other paper projects

The #1 mistake people make trying to organize their photos is to go about the process in the wrong order! You have to follow this system to organize well!

If you have a Cricut Joy machine but are not sure what to start creating be sure to check out this list of great Cricut Joy beginner projects.

Turning your Photo to SVG file has satisfying results From Photo to SVG: The topic of taking a photo and making an SVG is one I keep coming back to. Perhaps it is because custom images from your ow…

My Creative Scrapbook design team member Kristin Greenwood is up today with a tutorial featuring our November Album Kit ! Here's Krist...

Want to use your photo with your Cricut Machine? Learn the 3 easiest ways to convert your png or jpg to SVG and cut file for use with your Cricut!

I used the Stampin’ Up! Shepherd’s Care stamp set to create a quick Christmas card to share with you today. I made this card out on my Instagram account this morning and you can find i…

You can see some of my finished journals in the last 2 posts. Start with a hardback book. Just a quick cut with an exacto knife and all the pages are out. I save the pages and use them to create new pages for the journals and other art. It’s like a giant stack of […]

If you’re not sure where to start when making a card, a card sketch is a great place to start! Learn how to use this simple card sketch!

Pick up a couple extra maps and globes, because these globe projects will leave you stunned. These tutorials and products are a gorgeous way to decorate.

This fractured card, or faux shutter card as it is sometimes called, looks complicated but it really easy if you do it the way we are showing here. This truck

25 different clever and fun ideas to use craft punches in projects. Think outside the box and use craft punches in newand surprising ways!

Need an easy way to keep the kids busy while preserving some of their favorite Summer memories? Here is a very simple scrapbook project the kids can make, just in time for back-to-school when many teachers begin the school year asking what the kids did over Summer vacation. A big thank you to Melissa & […]

If you are new to Junk Journalling or Scrapbooking, you may be wondering what the difference is! Here are my best tips and ideas for figuring out which one you should do.

Learn how to age paper following 5 tried and tested methods and ways of combining them to get 8 different aged paper effects.

If you're looking for a book structure that requires minimal materials (and time!), this envelope book tutorial might be the perfect fit.

Don't throw away those old, outdated maps. Repurpose them by creating beautiful map-inspired decor for your home.

20+ clever and creative easy to follow scrapbooking tips every crafter should know to make amazing scrapbooking pages every time!

This is one of those projects that I procrastinated trying for several years. Then, I did it and realized how easy it was and felt silly for putting it off all this time. Do you have projects like that? I love all the cool things folks are doing with gelatin plates, and I've had a small Gelli Arts plate for some time, but I wasn't exploring the gelatin printing process as much as a wanted, mostly because we go back and forth between three different homes, for my husband's job, and the place where we spent the most time was very small and I didn't have space to spread out big projects. Now, we're temporarily spending a lot of time in our Los Angeles apartment, where I actually have quite a bit of space for big messy projects, so I've been printing quite a bit more. I decided now was the time to try pouring my own gelatin plate, but I wanted a permanent plate, like Lindsay, at The Frugal Crafter shared about a few years ago. After looking at many blog posts and videos about the topic, and going back and researching old hectograph recipes, and chatting with my kid who has a chemistry degree, I created my own recipe. It's not that I didn't think Lindsay's recipe was fine -- I just wanted a somewhat less fragile, firmer plate. I started with a trip to the Dollar Store to find some items to use for molds and for storing the plates. I was planning on making several plates in different sizes and shapes, so I bought an assortment of items. I ordered this tub of gelatin from Amazon (affiliate link). And this bottle of glycerin (affiliate link). The recipe I ended up using was a modernized version of an old hectograph recipe from the early 1900's. Note: measure how much liquid your molds will hold, to have the thickness you desire, then add about 20% to that amount to know how much gelatin mixture to make. This is because you will lose some volume as you cook your gelatin and water evaporates. Use one cup of water and one cup of glycerin for every six tablespoons of gelatin. This is a bit more gelatin than Lindsay uses, but it is more in line with the old hectograph recipes. (If you do decide to use Lindsay's recipe, please see her notes under her video. Her original permanent gelatin plate recipe had some mold issues, and she made some changes to it that she writes about in her notes.) You will also need a spritz bottle filled with rubbing alcohol. Start by sprinkling your six tablespoons of gelatin onto a cup of hot water in a bowl and mixing. Your gelatin will quickly take up all the water, and will start to look clumpy (see picture below) if you don't immediately add the rest of your liquid (the one cup of gelatin). Stir the mixture well, trying not to stir air into the mixture. You will probably get a few bubbles, though. Now, put the bowl in the microwave, on low, for about a minute. Every microwave is different, so watch it carefully and don't let it boil. Remove from the microwave and stir. Do this several times. The longer you keep your mixture heated (but not boiling) the better it will plasticize. What you are doing, is making plastic. The glycerin will plasticize the gelatin, with the heat acting as a catalyst. The heat keeps the molecules bouncing around and bumping into each other, so keep heating and stirring for several minutes. Your gelatin mixture will become somewhat viscous, as shown above. Skim obvious bubbles/foam from the top of your bowl. Carefully pour your gelatin mixture into a mold. You may end up with bubbles or bubbly scum on top, and that will need to be carefully removed. You can use strips of paper or cardboard to skim the bubbles from the surface. Work quickly, as the gelatin will begin setting up as it cools. When you have gotten every bit of the bubbles you can skim off, spritz the surface with alcohol to remove any remaining bubbles. The alcohol breaks the surface tension of the bubbles, allowing the air to escape. You should be left with a smooth, glossy surface. Allow the gelatin to set up on a perfectly level surface (most newer kitchen counters are pretty level, but check to be sure). Do not use a knife or other tool to loosen the gelatin to "de-plate" it. You will just end up marring the edges. Instead, place you fingers flat on the plate and gently pull the gelatin away from the edge of your mold. Basically, you want to break the air seal. Once you've loosened the seal enough, you should be able to carefully flip the gelatin plate out of the mold onto another surface. I did this by cutting a dollar store placemat to be a little bit bigger than the gelatin plate, and holding it against the top of the gelatin before turning the entire mold over. This way, your gelatin plate is supported at all times, and it doesn't lose it's perfectly rectangular (or round, or whatever) shape. For the large plate, shown above, I put the mold back on top of it, and gently flipped it back over, to store it. I secure it with a couple of elastic hair bands. I may eventually wrap a bit of cling wrap around it, but for now, this is how it is stored. You never know what you will find that will work as a mold. My husband used my back brush to clean the shower (true story), so while I was at the dollar store, I grabbed a new back brush. As it turned out, the plastic cover that was used to protect the bristles made a perfect oval mold! I cut pieces from a plastic place mat to protect the top and bottom surfaces. Then, I dropped it into a Minney Mouse puzzle tin (also from Dollar Tree) to store it. It works perfectly. Another creative mold idea I came across was to use a burner cover, also from the Dollar Tree. The burner covers come in sets of two, one large, and one small. I used the small one as a mold, and the larger one to store it. You can always use your molds to store your pieces, as I've done with the large rectangular one I did, but sometimes, if they stretch a bit, they will get little wrinkles if you try to put them back into the same container. Those wrinkle will transfer to any prints that you pull. I've cut a piece of place mat for both the top and the bottom of the round plate, just as I did for the tiny oval plate. It's been a few weeks since I made the plates and they are all in great shape! Not one bit of mold. I do not store them in the fridge -- I store them in a closet. If, for some reason, your plate gets damaged, just cut it up and remelt it and repour it. I spent $27 on a bottle of glycerin and a tub of gelatin, plus I bought items to use as molds and several plastic place mats from the dollar tree. I experimented with using report covers, instead of the place mats, but the place mats are bigger and sturdier and worked better for the job. You may have items around your house that you can use. I didn't, since I'm living in a temporary part time apartment. For less than $27, you can buy a gel printing plate from amazon (affiliate link), so you really need to weigh the pros and cons of making your own. You definitely save money, especially if you want a really large plate. I made a 9x12 plate, two 5x7 plates, an eight inch round, and the small oval. I still have quite a bit of gelatin left, but used the entire quart of glycerin. I hope this post encourages you to try your hand at gelatin printing, and maybe even make your own gelatin plate. It's easier than it looks. You might also like this article on materials to use for mixed media art. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to House Revivals in the sidebar, so you won't miss the fun projects we have planned. Find us on Facebook, too, so you can catch all the "in between" stuff, and see what I'm working on throughout week on Instagram. Feel free to link today's post to all your favorite social media sites. Thanks for stopping by! Amanda This post has been linked to the following lovely places: Tip Me Tuesday DIY Show Off

We made this card at my good friend Marguerite's workshop on Saturday. She asked that we make a wedding card so this is what I came up with. I like the way there is just a bit of color (Melon Mambo) peeking behind the white. What an easy way to add the bride's wedding color to your card! I've done a different version in the past that was a bit more complicated. I like to keep my workshop cards easy...

Find out how to make a creative one page wonder interactive mini album with pockets and flaps for extra room for photos

20+ clever and creative easy to follow scrapbooking tips every crafter should know to make amazing scrapbooking pages every time!

Scrapbooking, card making, die cutting, stamping

Learn a quick and easy lettering style that doesn't take much time, skill, or any fancy pens, with a step by step tutorial.

I’ve had a lot of interest in my bookmaking hobby so I figured I’d share an easy guide on how to get started! Like most hobbies there’s a small upfront investment to gather all of your supplies and materials. Fortunately, bookmaking is a relatively affordable hobby so there’s not too much that you have to […]

Creating an ancestry photo book can be daunting. You may feel paralyzed about where to begin. Here are my step-by-step tips to make the process manageable and fun.

Learn how to turn portrait photo into SVG & DXF cut file for Cricut or Cameo Silhouette craft project! It's simpler than you imagine, and trust me I have step-by-step YouTube video tutorial for you! Let me know how it goes!

Check out these easy an fun scrapbooking tips and tricks that will make your pages look amazing every time!

Find out everything you need to know about junk journals. How to make a junk journal and what you can do with it once it's done

The ultimate guide to gel printing and the basics of gel printing you need to know - what materials you need and how to make gel prints

Remember when I shared about all those gorgeous vintage patterns I found at the local Goodwill? Now I'm sharing tons of awesome craft...

Create corner accent pieces on your cards using circle punches. It's a fun and simple ways to use circle shapes in your card making.

Join me for today's Folio Flip Album Tutorial where I share how I created this cute Folio with Recollections card stock and Colorbox paper.

If you want to preserve memories but aren't quite ready for scrapbooking just yet, this smash book is an easy, unique craft idea! Get smashing!

Learn how to maintain a clean home with this printable cleaning schedule! It’s easy to print out and check the finished items

Learn how to cut scrapbook paper with a Cricut. Get tips for the perfect settings and mat to use when cutting patterned paper.

Learning how to make a paper boat is SO FUN and really easy! With just five minutes and a sheet of regular printer paper, you can fold a cute little origami boat that actually floats on water. This is such a classic craft project that's quick and simple, and it's a really fun introduction to origami! Follow the step-by-step tutorial below, or watch the quick video to learn how to make a paper boat. You'll be an expert in no time! How to Make a Paper Boat Learn how to make a paper boat in only 5 minutes. It's really