Today on Studio 5, I’m sharing easy ideas for making your own travelers notebook. I also share my favorite store-bought options (Hello, Freckled Fawn!) and insert choices in case you love the idea but don’t want to invest in the DIY aspect. Either way, I hope you’ll tune in at 11 a.m. (online and on TV [channel 5]) to learn more about these sweet creative journals/scrapbooks/sketchbooks/happiness!

Thanks for having me, Studio 5. Love you guys!

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING CLASSES (including my DIY TN classes!)

I love getting out in the SLC and sharing some creativity with friends. I have some great classes in the works that will be happening soon, including classes on DIY travelers notebooks (creative journals and faux leather journal covers).

Be the First to Know

Simply email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com. Nothing fancy required—you can just say add me to your class list in the subject line and I’ll do it to it.

I know you’re busy and the last thing you want is another bunch of spam filling your inbox.I assure you, that won’t be the case. In fact, I’ve been building a list for years and have yet to send a single email (#epicbusinessfail), but I intend to change that and be better about sharing my classes. I’m asked about them often and don’t do enough to get the word out. So this is my public statement to be held accountable and take the next step. :) Thanks so much for your support and interest in what I love and do!

See you at 11. Cheers!

Paper Pieced Layering, Studio 5, Free Printables, and NEW Classes

When you only blog about once a month, you tend to cram each post full of info. This one is no exception. But I’ll do my best to keep it to the highlights. ;)

HIGHLIGHT #1: Studio 5

You know I love visiting this show and yesterday was no exception. I even got a little emotional as I took a moment to sing the praises of the show’s audience. The viewers truly are the best. You can watch today at 11:00 AM on channel five if you’re a local yokel. Otherwise, you can stream from their website.

HIGHLIGHT #2: Paper Pieced Layering

The topic of today’s Studio 5 segment—layering to fill a shape. It’s like punching shapes meets paper piecing meets layering. And it’s SO fun! You simply punch pieces and layer them loosely so they have some fluff to them. Super simple. Super cute.

It was inspired by gorgeous RH Baby styling!

HIGHLIGHT #3: Free Printables

I used a couple of freebies to make my projects. Many thanks to the generous designers who so willingly share their work with no strings attached. You’ll find the downloads I used here:

Deer & Bunny Paintings by Burlap + Blue

Teepee Print by A Joyful Riot

HIGHLIGHT #4: New Classes

I have new classes on the horizon that will be launching on the Posh Paperie website soon. If you want first dibs, shoot me a quick email (meghoeppner@gmail.com) with the class you want, and i’ll put you on the list. For now, your choices can be found below:

Beyond the Pallet: Painting with Watercolor Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils, & Liquid Watercolor Paint
Teacher: Megan Hoeppner
June 1, 2019
6:00-9:00 PM
$35

Take watercolor painting beyond a basic tray of paints and join Megan Hoeppner for this fun test drive of many watercolor mediums out there. From markers to crayons to colored pencils to liquid watercolor, you’ll learn techniques and see which products speak the most to you. Plus, you’ll leave with four unique and beautiful handmade greeting cards and a better understanding of the many watercolor options available to you. All skill levels welcome. Door prizes can be expected. :)

DIY Watercolor Notebook and Laminated Journal Cover
Teacher: Megan Hoeppner
June 21, 2019
6:00-8:30 PM
cost: $35

Why pay big bucks for a watercolor notebook when you can make your own that’s far cuter and reflects your unique style? In this class, Megan Hoeppner will show you how to bind loose watercolor sheets into a stitched notebook. Plus, you’ll create a sturdy laminated notebook cover that will hold up to four unique notebook inserts! And what’s a notebook cover without a stylish clip to hold your place? A bow clip will also be on our maker’s menu. With your completed journal cover and journal insert, you can easily take your painting/crafting/doodling/drawing on the go this summer or simply have a sweet space to capture your work as you practice. Megan will even show you an idea for turning your notebook into a scrapbook, using just a few basic supplies. Of course, laughter and door prizes are also a must. We can’t wait to see you there!

Pssstttt… This class opens up a world of possibility for gift giving, too. You’ll find yourself making journals and covers for all of your favorite people

Phew! That’s it for now. See you in roughly a month with more happenings. In the meantime, you can keep up with my day to day on my Instagram account and my newly formed business page on Facebook. That’s right, I decided to join the other grownups and make an actual page for my work. It’s about time, I suppose. Here’s hoping it goes well. :)

Cheers!

Megan

Hoppin' Around the Christmas Tree with Hero Arts

Hello, hoppers! I just love hopping around the Christmas tree... Wait! Christmas!? In August!? You betcha! If you’re a card maker, you know it’s never too early to be thinking about your next handmade design. 

When it comes to holiday cards, I ask the following questions:

1. Is the card bulk-friendly? Will the supplies stretch and are the techniques simple enough to be done in multiples? I typically make between 75-100 cards each Christmas, so my design must pass this test.

2. Does the card support an inclusion? It needs to have space for a family photos and a message of some sort.

Thanks to the awesome new dies, stamps, and ink from Hero Arts, the cards I’ve created for today’s hop pass my test. Let’s take a look!

CARD 1: WHITE CHRISTMAS (or, as I like to call it, ‘Hood ’n’ Wood)

White on white on white—it’s elegant and, despite its lack of color, can be quite interesting. The trick is texture. Where color lacks, various textures will add interest.

To create my textures, I used two new Hero Arts dies—the Woodgrain Texture Fancy Die and the Paper Layering Neighborhood Die. I die cut both from white cardstock and then stitched the ‘hood to the wood.

TIP: USE THOSE LEFTOVERS!
When it comes to die cutting, there is nearly always an extra piece (negative image) that can be put to work somewhere. For example, my sentiment actually comes from the Very Merry Tree Fancy Die. (More on that with my second card.)

The bitty snowflakes come from my third card. This gorgeous neighborhood scene made me think of a snow globe, so the flakes were a must.

HERO ARTS SUPPLIES USED
Woodgrain Texture Fancy Die
Paper Layering Neighborhood Die
Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die
Very Merry Tree Fancy Die

CARD 2: TREE IN THE WINDOW

I love placing our tree in the center of our front window. It stands out as a holiday focal point. Perhaps that’s why I had my eye on the Very Merry Tree Fancy Die--it creates a window card!

The window offers much creative potential. Have fun exploring options. Design backgrounds to place behind the tree. See what speaks to you.

Here it is with a Glimmer Metallic Ink background. Shiny!

Here's a softer, watercolor background. Soothing!

Or, one of my fav window card pairings, a photo!

Also, cut the tree from various paper types (patterned and solid) and see what stands out.

Ultimately, I decided to double up on the die, removing the sentiment from the white version and layering it over the sentiment-ed patterned version. (This is where I got my sentiment for card one.) 

TIP: MIX TO MAKE A MATCH
I decided to watercolor the front lightly. I wanted a color that matched my patterned cardstock, so I combined 3 squirts of the blue to 1 squirt of the green, making sure to also add plenty of water.

I then used the pretty Frost Shimmer Mist to add a little splatter texture.

TIP: TEST DRIVE FIRST!
Uh oh! I painted this animal using the Glimmer Metallic Inks and hated it. When working with a new project, it’s always wise to take a test drive before committing. Oh, how I wish I had done so here so I didn’t end up wasting a die cut piece and the paper to make it. D’oh!

TIP: FOLD A FLAP
I cut the back of the card base longer than the front and folded it up to create a pocket for a photo. The stitching along the sides ensures it stays in place, but you could also use staples or strong adhesive here.

AS SEEN ON TV
This window die offers SO MUCH potential. It’s why I included it on my latest Studio 5 TV segment—Five NEW Must Have Items.

HERO ARTS SUPPLIES USED
Very Merry Tree Fancy Die
Gold & Pewter Glimmer Metallic Inks
Green & Red Glimmer Metallic Inks
Frost Shimmer Mist

CARD 3: A SNOW SHOW

I wanted to create motion with this one, so I created a pull-out element.

First, I used the yummy Pewter Glimmer Metallic Ink to paint the insert. This ink can be used in its full capacity or watered down to a lighter shade by mixing water. I did a little of both to create the dip-dyed look.

Once dry (which happens in a jiff!), I cut the piece to a tag shape. You know I love me some tags!

I just adore the sparkle the Glimmer Metallic Ink adds. Plus, you can even stamp on top of the ink for added detail. I used the Color Layering Christmas Tree stamp set to add some detail.

I also stamped on the outside of the card for a little something extra.

To create the pocket, I used the Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die, stitching the flakes to a gray cardstock piece. I now have a place to put my jumbo tag. As the tag slides out, the snowflake action takes place!

Remember! Save those flakes. They can always work as confetti within the envelope, or, as we've seen, they make cute embellishments.

Now, as you pull the Glimmer tag out, you can see the shimmer in the flakes. I wish you could see it IRL. The glimmer is SO pretty!

On this card, a photo can be attached to the back of the tag. An easy way to do this that will make the photo detachable is to use photo corner stickers. With them, recipients can simply remove the photo from the card and keep it out long after the holidays are over.

HERO ARTS SUPPLIES USED
Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die
Pewter Glimmer Metallic Ink
Color Layering Christmas Tree stamp set
Intense Black Ink

JOIN ME IN A HOLIDAY CARD CLASS

If you want oodles of tips for creating holiday cards in bulk, my Annie's Online Class, 10 Festive Christmas Cards for the Busy Crafter, is just the ticket. Right now, it's only $7.99 to sign up, and you can watch from your computer or smart device as your schedule allows. It's never too early to start thinking holiday card making. I hope to see you there. <3

Sign up today for just $7.99.

BE A WINTER WINNER!

Hero Arts will be giving away two $50 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by 11:59 PST on Sunday, August 26 and Hero Arts will announce the winner the following week.

**Hop On!**

Hey, kid. Rock and roll. Hop on!

* The Hero Arts Blog

* Yana Smakula

* Wanda Guess

* Nichol Spohr

* Michelle Short

* Megan Hoeppner That's me! :)

* May Sukyong Park

* Lydia Fiedler

* Libby Hickson

* Laurie Willison

* Kelly Latevola

* Jessica Frost-Ballas

* Jennifer McGuire

* Jenn Shurkus

* Janette Kausen

* Ilina Crouse

* Emily Midgett

* Clare Prezzia

* Amy Tsuruta

* Amy Kolling

10 Fab Finds: New Crafting Goodies

List my fav new releases coming to the paper crafting world? This was my latest Studio 5 assignment. Twist my arm, why don’t ya? ;) As a kid, I always loved Show & Tell. Clearly, some things never change. From too-cool tools to brilliant color mediums to pristine paper and accents, there are definitely fun things happening in the world of paper! 

The segment airs today on channel 5 at 11AM, or you can watch it streaming online. 

Top 10 New Crafting Goodies To Catch My Eye

Company: Altenew

Product: Watercolor Paint and Washi Tape

Cool Factor: The paint colors! Soooo pretty! And washi tape that’s large enough to cover an entire card front!? Talk about a time-saver! 

Company: Hero Arts

Product: Glimmer Metallic Ink and Christmas tree Fancy Die

Cool Factor: Hero knows ink, and Glimmer is no exception. It’s rich and shimmery! And a Christmas card made from this die is sure to be a favorite with its script font and window design.

Company: Cutter Pillar

Product: Glow LED Light Board and Crop Trimmer

Cool Factor: The blade on the trimmer self sharpens as it’s used, and it cuts with such precision.  It even has a light to mark where the cut will be, which is SO nice! The LED Light Board has a glass top option for cutting, it’s super thin, and it can even run on batter power for up to four hours at a time. Great for tracing, cutting, and even quilting. 

Company: We R Memory Keepers

Product: Emoji and Word Punch Boards

Cool Factor: Planner fans will love that you can use these to embellish planners using nothing more than cardstock. But they’re also great for card making, scrapbooking and other paper crafts. Plus, the font looks like a label maker, which is extra nifty! 

Company: Freckled Fawn

Product: Scrapbook Inserts

Cool Factor: It’s just a piece of plastic… or is it? Nope! This is 20-page protectors that fit perfectly in traveler’s notebooks. Now, you can keep the TN pages you create protected under high quality plastic sleeves. Awesome!

Company: Simple Stories

Product: Dream Big collection

Cool Factor: Talk about a cute collection! As a mom of two girls, I'm head-over-heels for the mermaids, unicorns, rainbows, and other whimsical motifs. 

Upcoming Planner Class: Try the Tools! 

Want to test drive these tools? That's what my planner classes are for. Even if you don't currently own a planner, you're more than welcome to attend. It's $50 without a planner or $70 and you'll get a new Heidi Swapp planner with your class kit. You're more than welcome to bring your own planner as well. We'll use many of these new supplies this month. Hope to see you there. 

DATE: Friday, August 24

TIME: 6:30-9:30 PM

WHERE: Lehi, UT

REGISTER: Email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com to sign up. I'll send an invoice via PayPal or Venmo. Please let me know what works best for you. I also take Apple Pay. 

Cheers!

Paper Crafting with Patches

"Sew it, stick it, do somethin' with it." That's the tagline on the packaging of one of the patches. Isn't it perfect?! There is so much you can do with these little textured treats. Whether you sew it on or use it as a sticker, you're sure enjoy working with this up and coming crafting trend. Think beyond clothing and backpacks to paper crafting. Patches are a quick and easy way to add texture without adding bulk. Use them on albums, scrapbook pages, cards, gift wrap, and home decor. 

About the Patch

Many are sticky-backed, some are iron-ons, and others are meant to be stitched on. 

Like the enamel pins, patches seem to be a throwback to the '80s. They're back in a big way! Of course, you can use them on your clothing. In fact, many clothes are currently designed with patch designs already in place, like this cute Cat & Jack pack that I picked up at Target (which Maggie promptly claimed as her own).

Where Are They?

Patches are available locally at stores such as Target, Michaels, and Hot Topic. You can also find them online. There are so many to choose from. You'll find something for everybody. Try searching "iron-on patches" or "embroidered patches." I have a Pinterest board with a few fun possibilities. Prepare to be '80s inspired! ;)

Paper Craft Using Patches

Pair patches with fabric bags to create fun gift wrap or even add them directly to the fabric liner of your planner. Both are fun iron-on options. The peel-and-stick variety stick very well, so proceed with caution but also know they'll stay put, even on textured surfaces like this awesome Jillibean Soup frame.

Of course, patches are a natural partner to pair with paper projects. They're flat, so they work well on scrapbook pages.

Maggie loved making a quick card and gift bag. You might say these are stickers with pizazz, making they quite kid friendly.

Some are small enough to make awesome planner extras. Taco Tuesday anyone?

As Seen On TV

I'll share even more ideas today at 11:00 AM on Studio 5 (Utah channel 5 if you're in the 'hood, otherwise, you can watch live streaming here).

Thanks to My Production Assistant

I have to give a special shoutout to my help. She made going to the show more fun (which I didn't know could be possible). Thanks, Mags!

Upcoming Classes

I'm so excited to have four local classes coming up. I'd love to see you at any or all of them. Space is extremely limited, but I'd be happy to give you dibs. To receive an e-mail when class sign-ups are posted, please email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com and I'll add you to my mailing list. I hope to see you there! :) The classes are:

1. Wreath Making

2. Creative Planning (November and December classes)

3. Creative Journaling Using a Bullet Journal

Cheers!

My June Planner Workshop at Paper Crush!

June Planner Play Workshop

Grab those day planners. We've got another Planner Play Workshop in the books. On Friday, June 23, I'm teaching the last workshop for a bit. (We're going to take July and possibly August off. So if this is something you've been interested, I hope you'll come on down. You won't be disappointed. We're ending this season with a bang! 

* BRAND NEW planner prizes

* A well stocked kit of must-have creative planner supplies

* Techniques to try

* Tasty treats to enjoy--YUM!

* New friends

* And more!

Learn more about creative planners, this workshop, and sign up here! 

Space is limited, so you'll want to sign up soon. Hope to see you there! <3

Paper Collaging (as seen on TV)

I had lots of fun sharing paper collaged ideas today on Studio 5. Take a look! 

PROJECT 1: Paper Punching & Tearing

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Put those paper scraps to fun use on some wall art! By layering shapes, it creates interesting texture.

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The project comes together in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Come up with an idea and sketch it. 

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TIP: For a fun change of place, try digitally drawing your project first. I used my new birthday present--the Apple Pencil. L-O-V-E!--and the iPad Pro to doodle my design. A great activity while sick in bed. ;) 

Step 2: Outline your lettering using a fine point pen (mine was a .01 Micron), and punch and tear paper so you can begin filling in your blocks of color.

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TIP: Use a good quality eraser to remove the pencil lines. I use a white eraser from Faber Castell, which I picked up at Michaels. NOTE: It may remove some of your ink. If so, just go back over it with your pen when your project is complete.

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TIP: Use a decopauge glue, such as Mod Podge. It is easy to work with and holds well. 

TIP: After creating a few spaces, I realized it's easier to first fill each section of space with a solid piece of the paper you're going to use and then layer the punches. That way, if you have gaps in space, it's no biggie.

TIP: Watch out with the ink. If the Mod Podge touches it before it has had time to set, it will smear. :(  

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Uh oh! Watch out for Mod Podge smearing. You may want to fill in all of your paper spaces and then trace in ink to avoid this mistake. 

That's it! A three-step project you can do for or with your children. Or make more sophisticated looks for your living room, office, bedroom... the sky is the limit!

Because my daughter LOVES Trolls, I went with this line from her favorite song. That's the fun thing about creating your own art--you can customize to load it with meaningful touches! 

PROJECT 2: Paper Cutting

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You can also cut basic shapes and piece them together to create art. Nothing but a few triangles, and I have a sweet little mountain scene shadow box for my baby's nursery. 

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For added touches, I did add a touch of glitter glue in spaces for sparkle.

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The Wish Upon a Star is a chipboard sticker from Crate Paper. 

PROJECT 3: Mixed Media Piecing

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Now that we've mastered paper, try mixing in other finishes. For this card, I created the shamrock in the following steps:

1. I placed a shamrock-shaped cardstock piece on the plaid paper and sprayed the sheet with green spray ink.

2. I removed the shamrock mask and painted the outer dot layer by dipping a pencil eraser in acrylic paint. 

3. Next, I added a ring of watercolor paint.

4. A small row of clear glitter glue (Stickles by Ranger) came next. 

5. Time for alcohol ink. I used a Chameleon Pen in a grass green color to add the center color.

6. Finally, it was rhinestones in the center. I used small gems from Close To My Heart.  

Just like the paper collage, this mixed media collage creates cool texture and was a fun exercise in blending mediums and techniques to try something new. :)

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I stamped the sentiment using an alpha set and ink, also from Close To My Heart. Bringing in another medium, I then colored the sentiment using a green colored pencil. 

TEACHING A PLANNER CLASS ON MARCH 24

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I would love to have you join me at Paper Crush in Lehi, Utah, on March 24. I'm teaching another planner class. It was actually my students' idea. They had such fun at our Feb. class that they asked if I'd turn it into a monthly affair. Don't have to twist my arm. LOL 

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We'll learn new planner tricks with each class, and each class will come with a new and awesome class kit. If you've never attended, you can easily jump in at any time. That's the beauty of planners any more--there is no definite start and stop period. Just join when it's convenient for you!

SIGN UP FOR CLASS HERE

Thanks for stopping in. Enjoy your creative journey!

Cheers!