Thursday, January 29, 2015

Altered gift bag bag

I altered a gift bag using some craps of lace and papers with just a few embellishment elements.








Friday, January 23, 2015

Sliding Band Folded Card process video

Hello my friends,
I am sharing with you second card that I created this year!
2015 will be filled with shakes, folds and movements..
So I got it covered this time.
This  is folded card with sliding decorated band around it.
I did record the process of putting together this card, with tips for the beginners on:
- how to use around the page punches,
- how to use distress inks
- how to cup out element out of the paper
- how to stamp message in exact location using stampamajig
- how to sparkle your paper
- mostly and truthfully how to fix my own mistakes.
Here are few pictures of finished project for you and the process video is below as always!









Thank you for sharing your time with me.
Hugs, Natasha

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

What I can do with old Christmas cards challenge

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it on January 7th.
Well, the holidays in our house are almost over and it is a time to put away those lights and Christmas tree and beautiful decorations. The holiday season ends so fast - too fast.
But we have an after holidays reminder that we are loved by so many people. How do I know? Well they told me, they even put it all in writing.. Yes, I am talking about Christmas cards.
But what are you suppose to do with those cards after season is over? I definitely do not want to through those away...
Well, I decided to ask huge crafting community to show me " What I can do with old Christmas Cards".
I am announcing " What I can do with old Christmas Cards" challenge
Internationals are welcome (I'll just adjust the price)
To enter:
1. Make a project using your Christmas Cards
2. Do VR or slide show of post on the blog or FB showing your crafty idea. Name your VR/post "What I can do with old Christmas cards".
3. You can enter as many times as how many of your crafty ideas on recycling cards will be showed (show one way to use cards - one entry; show two ways - 2 entries). You can do all your ideas/entries in one video/blog post/what ever
4. Challenge open till February 10th
5. Winner will be announced on February 14th with love.
Do not forget about " Thank you my fav store" challenge (scroll to 28:47) that is going on right now and will be ending in the same dates.
Looking forward to see your entries for both challenges! The best of luck everyone!

Much needed Surprise Happy Mail & Haul

Digital Christmas Card using your pictures

Hello my friends.
Today I will share with you my digital creation and a little inside on how...
Digital Christmas Card using your pictures, sound fun right?
I am sure you all have lots of wonderful pictures from this Holiday Season.
How about using it for our next year Christmas cards?
I really liked this picture...

Very neutral and can be gifted to any group of people...
Now take a look at it closer.. Few things that bothered me on that picture:
1. door mat
2. personal Starbucks notes on the box.

I wish I took a picture w/o all this nonsense, but oh well gifts are opened and Christmas tree is put away.. What do I do now?
Do not panic! Here is the miracle of digital art kicks in.
I am using Adobe Photoshop program to work with this image... (use any that is available for you)
Steps or list to do:
1. Erase background
2. Cover notes on the gift box
Now that we know what we need to accomplish, we can proceed.
Erasing background is not very complex process, unless you need to trace your image (now you need a steady hand and patience). 
Term of erasing digital image/layer/background can be decried as deleted image. Its like you took your eraser and erased portion of your drawing.
So I will erase: floor, door mat, window treatment and Starbucks cards using eraser tools.
 I am in no shape or form a digital pro, I am the beginner. There for if I do not know how to do it, I am relying on search. Just ask your question, for example: How to remove a background from an image in Photoshop? 
And I prefer to watch video on how, because I am a visual learner and secondary language.
For example,  I took a picture of a card in about the same angle as Starbucks notes were displayed on 
the gift box under Christmas tree.

No I tried my best to erase background. Look how it came out.. oops!

I told you that I am not a pro..
The coolest thing with digital erasing is that it leaves transparency at the place that has been erased. It means that if I want to add something else at that spot it will bee seen, because you are just putting something new in an empty spot.
So here my cleared picture with erased background and covered notes
Cool right?!
Now there are several ways that you can go about this image...
1. You can make a 3D card - Cardmaking/Scrapbooking.
You can print this image several times. Cut out one and using pop up dots layer one image on top of 
another creating dimensional image. Choose some paper for a background, cut it to desired size, do several mats and your card is done!

In a digital images the same principle applies. I am finding it the easiest way to explain to people term of digital layers... 
Think about two subjects here: transparency and layers.
Transparency - your image (above) has a see through area around it (we erased it)
Layers - top layer will be our transparency image (above) and bottom/background layer we can choose.
How about this one?

Now drums and we are layering our Christmas tree transparency image on top of this beautiful background.. 
Ta-Da!
Cool right?!
Lets play some more...
Background
Transparency image
Ta-da!
So you got it right?!
Here few more examples:

Alright, very pretty, But it looks a bit off to my eye, flat if you will.  
Image needs some dimension, how about a shadow....
Ta-da!
Again, did a search for a video on how to create a shadow..
Now take a look at the image with out of shadow...
and with a shadow
I think it is more realistic and professional looking..

I think it looks as a nice Christmas card now.. Here is a place for your message on the right..
But I want to take it even farther...
I created my own corner decorative mask
Now it is one two three steps: change color to desired, flip image horizontally and layer it on top of my prepped image.

So finished card will be looking like this
 Or maybe like this...

Have fun creating!
Hugs, Natasha

Monday, January 5, 2015

Thank you my favorite store challenge

This post is for crafting and none crafting community.
I am hosting "Thank you my favorite store....(name of your fav store)" challenge on my YT channel with a $25.00 gift certificate to my online store.
Basically I want to thank business owners for their hard work. People can choose their fav online store or local store to give thanks to people, who work there.
1. You have to send a Thank you RAK to the owner of your favorite store. It could be online store or local store.
2. Record the video of your RAK (random act of kindness) naming it "Thank you my favorite store.....name" and PM me the link to that video.
In your RAK include:
- make a card (include your information: name, YT channel, so people know whom the thanks coming from)
- somewhere must have a phrase "Thank you my fav store" (on or in card, or on the project)
- sweet gift (candy, chocolate, cookies) P.S. I like dark chocolate Lint is one of my fav brands
- everything else is up to you: you can do a project, you can sent some crafty goods or even a project
 - what ever you can think of.
3. Challenge will be open from January 1st till February 10th. Winner will be announced on my channel (mynashka) on February 14th.
Winning will be a $25 gift certificate to NSK: https://www.zibbet.com/natashascrapbookorner
Here is the link to the video, but for the challenge people need to scroll till 28:47 of video time https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=D64dyL4Wd-o
Thank you upfront for your input and support!
Hugs, Natasha
P.S. please spread the word and share this information. I am hoping that the outcome will be huge and memorable and maybe we can celebrate "Thank you my favorite store..." for many years to come

Welcome 2015, Announcements, Chat & Haul.