Maya Road Design Team

It doesn't have to be so hard

Hi everyone!

This is Karen and I am here to share a quick and pretty tag with you. Sometimes when I am wrapping a present, I like to add a little personal piece to it. These quick tags make it easy to personalize without feeling like a burden.

Here's one:

I covered the background with fabric tape, colored the edges with acrylic paint and then added a little bit of burlap trim. I then added my canvas butterfly (which I painted with acrylic) on top. I used two tall pins to make its antannae. A beautiful white flower on top of my butterfly made it even prettier. I took a wooden tag and stamped "thanks" directly on it. A chipboard star, painted with gesso and glossied up with glossy accents was my last and final step. Even though it's a quick one, doesn't it feel so nice when you see a hand-made tag on a present you receive? 

Sometimes we make things so much harder than they have to be. Looking at this tag still makes me happy and allows me to carve a little creative time without feeling like I have to sit down and spend hours on a layout. 

A win-win if you ask me.

Have you ever made a quick and pretty tag? Do you personalize your presents? If so, please link me up in the comments, I'd love to see them!

Lovely Linen

Hi Roadies! Julia here again with another project to share. I've always loved Maya Road mini albums but the latest ones in linen? Well, I love creating with them...the texture is awesome! Being a sewer long before I found paper crafting, I'm so excited to see fabric mini albums and embellishments.

Todays album is the Linen 4x6 Art Journaling Album and it's four pages of beautiful double thickness linen. It makes the perfect gift album, a wedding or baby album or as the name suggests, a little album for art journaling. My album is more along the art journaling line and is filled with quotes that I love and inspire me.

One thing I did with this album was to fold back the front cover about an inch or so and glue it down. This adds a little unique spot of interest and gives you a peek into the first page of the album.

As you can see, I've filled it with lots of lovely embellishments. I love how the unfinished edges add lots of texture and character to each album.

The cover is my favorite place to embellish and there are many layers of Maya Road flowers, trinkets and trims. To add a shabby chic look to the Antique Room Key, I've painted it with Gesso, making sure not to get the paint into the grooves.

The linen albums really take ink, paint and stamping well. Thoughout this album, I've stamped it with the Art Journaling Words Stamp Set and the Vintage Wallpaper Stamp Set.

Each page in the album contains a quote that is meaningful to me. They are written on White Mini Kraft Jotter Tags.

Tissue paper is easy to adhere to the linen album with a clear multi-medium type adhesive or glaze.

Fabric albums are so much fun to create with. I hope you'll be inspired to give one a try. Thanks for joining me today!

 

Additional Maya Road Supplies:

Linen Mini Tag Pieces

Cream Velvet Resin Blossoms

Vintage Paper Roses

Country Rose Flower Fabric Tape

Vintage Pearl Butterfly Trinket Pins

Vintage Wood Mini Butterflies

Natural Wood Buttons

Vintage Sequin Blossoms

Alterable Canvas Blooms

Cream Vintage Burlap Roses

Ballerina Pink Tu-Tu Tulle

Vintage Pale Pink Pearl Ball Pins

Wood Twigs

Pink Lemonade Twine Cording

 

One big, flowery cluster

Hello there!

Ania here with a layout for you this time.

When looking through the photos from this past Christmas I made a mental note to scrap these photos of my grandma and my children. Fast forward close to five months later, and I'm pleased to be able to say I've accomplished just that! =)

Right! I love the organza tea garden trim, so broad and lush, it sort of builds a comfy bed to add stuff on top of and is perfect for building a cluster around! So sad it's discontinued from Maya Road, so if you see some in your LSS, grab a couple of yards! You won't regret it, I promise! I added a strip of regular mini organza roses trim right beneath the bottom tea garden trim.

Otherwise, I layered my cluster by mixing stamping (gotta love the antique love doilies stamp set), fabric and kraft atop.

And I couldn't resist adding this satin scallop edge blossom to the layout, it's simply gorgeous!

 

Hope you enjoyed this layout inspiration :)

The Making of a Canvas

Hello Roadies! Emily here today.

I had the pleasure of making some projects for the recent Maya Road debut on HSN last week. I'm known for my layouts, so it was really fun to break out of that and play with some different mediums. I thought it might be interesting to share how I was thinking as I designed a canvas for the show. Please excuse the poor photos, I didn't think to take them with my good camera, just my cell phone. I was sending the to Caroline throughout the process. I decided to use them because I think it's cool to see how the canvas evolved.

I started out with a quote from Thackery, "A good laugh is like sunshine in a house." I knew the Vintage Wood mini rulers would make a perfect roof. Stained brown with Maya Mist in Expresso, I was ready to go. I painted the Velvet Pleated Trinket Flower in milk a bright sunny yellow and place it behind the house. I painted my background with Blue Slushie and gesso. I think added a strip of green fabric tape, available only for the HSN kit, this was going to be my grass.

I decided to with a little more of the Blue Slushie mist, I wanted a BLUE sky! I took off the fabric tape, it just didn't look good.

I messed around the the Antique Gem Tinket pin and a Kraft ticket in white, trying to make a mailbox. I decided against it. I also put the fabric tape back, this time ruffling it and adding a second layer. I was so much happier with the look this time. I thought about putting the Mini Organza Roses Trim  in the grass, but I bumped the canvas, an accident occurred, and I ended up using them in a different place.

See where they ended up? They made rather delightful fluffy clouds, don't you think? I added my vintage image of a man laughing. I knew this would be a misproportioned piece of work, so it was fun to go really big on the face inside the house. I also rubbed some of the Blue Slushie off parts of the sky to give a more cloudy feel to it. The ticket reappears. I'm wondering if I can fit the quote on it.

I decide against using the ticket, instead printing the quote off and cutting it up. Figuring out placement was my next challenge. You'll notice it's not this way in the final image. I added some flowers in the form of the Antique Gem pins and some Mixed Chipboard Shapes. I also used the chipboard to house my quote source. This gave me a nice balance of three yellow spots on the canvas. I tied off each flower with some Wheatgrass Twine Cording for leaves. The twine cording also became the walls of the house.

I used gel medium to seal everything off and stitched the chipboard down and that was how I went from a blank canvas to this:

Once I got rolling, I had a blast. It was fun to try a different platform, and I think it earned me the assignment of a few more (which I'm OK with).

Anchors Away!

Hi, Roadies! Leah checking in with a fun summer wreath idea today!

Anchors are definitely an up and coming trend right now, and this wreath is a fun way to bring one to your home! I chose to cut a simple anchor shape out of cardstock to add just a touch of trend to the classy Maya Road goods!

I started with an 8" styrofoam wreath from the craft store, and wrapped it with the barn red gingham fabric tape. Be sure you have at least two rolls on hand.

Once I had my anchor piece cut, it's was mostly just a lot of fun layering of red white and teal. 

I did use a bit of paint on one of the chipboard tags and letters to add a monogram to the very front. Here's a list of the things that I used, in case you're interested in making one for yourself!

stain scallop blooms in teal, afternoon tea blossoms in milk, velvet pleats in cream and red, tu-tu tulle flowers in cherry red, wood measure once cut twice, paper twine in apple, antique treasure key, mixed shapes mini chipboard, lisa lowercase alphabet, vintage button stick pins, velvet resin blossoms, mini gingham trim in licorice, twine cording in shine gold

Happy May Day!

Tags

Hi Roadies Angella here!

today I wanted to show some tags I made a little bit back, tags are becoming very popular here in aussie land. Tags are a great way to use up all your left overs and anything does go with creating them.

Magical - I do love creating whimsical, this one I covered the tag with pattern paper, then I used some of my favorite Kraft enveopes and Kraft times fly peices . Decorate  with Vintage tape measure trim and tulle trim

Beautiful - Created using Kraft peices times fly , Mini Kraft jotters, Kraft trinket pins , Vintage tape measure trim, trinket season ribbon ,  tulle trim and linen burlap trim

So Roadies next time you have left overs hanging around create a tag for a friend or just because.

Happy Creating Roadies

have a great day

Fabric Tape Fun!

Hey there, Roadies! Mandy Kay here, to share a few simple, graphic cards that you could create using some Maya Road fabric tape!

I know that you couldn't have possibly missed the washi tape trend going on out there in the crafting world, its everywhere! But I have to tell you that I am a bit partial to the fabric tape. It has a texture that you don't get with the washi, it sticks like you wouldn't believe, and its easy as pie to stamp on!

For this first card, I started with some of the Saltwater Taffy tape. I added two strips of it, diagonally in the lower right corner of the card. Then, I stamped my sentiment following the lines of the tape, using the Card Sentiment Words clear stamps. Finally, to balance out my design, as well as add a bit of whimsy and texture, I stapled some of the Apple Paper Twine Cording, and added a bow.

For this next card, I started by adding about 2 inches of the Barn Red and the Licorice Strips tapes, overlapping them a bit, just above the mid-line of the card. I stamped my "hello" on a DIY Speech Bubble sticker, using the Picture Perfect Cameras clear stamp set and adhered it to the card, using some foam tape to pop it up.

And for this last card, I simply added a few pieces of the Licorice Strips tape (cut in half, lengthwise) to the center of the card, hand cut some "flames" from a scrap piece of yellow patterned paper, and stamped "birthday wishes" below my candles using the Card Sentiment Words clear stamp set. You can't get much simpler than that! Its a cute card, it didn't take you too long to make(perfect for when you need a card in a pinch) and you can change the candle colors to suit the recipient.

Honestly, I can't wait to have the full Maya Road fabric tape line up in my stash! I love how versatile it is! You can use it to bind a mini book, cover a piece of chipboard, dress up a gift, or you could even make mini banners with it!

I hope you have been inspired to try out the fabric tapes(or use up some of that stash), today. Thanks for stopping by the Maya Road Design Team blog!!

It's a Chipboard Addiction

Hi there Roodies.

Hope you guys had a great weekend and are all set for some crafting fun.  Today I want to share some projects that I recently created focusing on chipboard and more chipboards and of course chipboards. I dont think you can ever have to many to these. 

My first project is this mini ablum using the super cute Home Tweet Home Chipboard Album, Home Tweet Home mini chipboard set (for some of the little birds and branches; selection of chipboard birds are also provided along with the mini album), Love mini chipboard set (for those hearts) and Christmas Words mini chipboard set (for LOVE).  

I had a lot of fun creating this little mini, especially the cover page. I really like how the album had the house frame layer and also the circle cut out (only for cover page). This gave me the idea of having one of the birds peeking out from behind. Also there were seperate chipboard pieces that you could use to create the window still for the birds.  On some of the chipboard pieces I added some glossy accent to give it alternative look and feel (love textures, as you can see from the ribbons there too). 

And for my second project, having more fun with chipboards and mist. This time using chipboard pieces from the following sets: Decorative Buttons, Ornate Tags and Butterfly along with some of the new paper twine cording, wooden button, pins and kraft typography number. 

Here I wanted to play around with the mist abit and on the button piece (pink), instead of evenly spraying the mist onto the chipboard, I applied it in droplets.  I used the pink ginger maya mist which gives a nice metallic shine and as I found out by applying it this way, I could create a marbled look. 

Hopefully I've inspired you guys to get out those chipboard pieces (I know you have them)! Thanks for stopping by everyone and hope you guys have a great week ahead!

No Ordinary Moments Gift

Hello!  Today I made a a fun little gift box using a page from the Maya Road "Home Sweet Home" Mixed Media Album.  I loved that album from the minute I saw it and I knew that there were many more possiblilities than just an album.

I cut chipboard to add to the back of the chipboard house shape from the album set to form the box and the bottom then adhered old book pages and patterned paper to the all sides of the house box.  I used 25 gauge wire for the handle and one of the large Vintage Spools.  The spool is wrapped in yellow Vintage Measuring Tape Trim.  I lightly sanded the tape trim to give it a time worn look and to soften the color to match the soft colors in the rest of my project.

The little pom poms were made from the Twine Cording in "Shine Gold".  Can you see the little slivers of sparkle in the poms?  I love that.  I also used some of the new "Champagne" Vintage Butterfly Trinket Pins that I stuffed into that bouquet of the Vintage Paper Posies.

My thoughts on gifting this box is that it would make a great gift for a crafter or scrapbooker.  They can use some of the things in their projects like the bouquet of mini posies, the pom poms, or even the metal heart tin.  You could also make the house box for somebody special on May Day and fill it with a few sweet treats.

I filled the inside of the box with some shredded brown paper bag then added a 4 1/2" pinwheel to serve as a backdrop for all of the other things.  The pinwheel is topped with a chipboard Scallop Frame and a Velvet Pleats flower.  The metal Heart Tart is painted, distressed and the center is filled with patterned paper, an old family photo, and some buttons and the Pearl Chain Trim.

The little pink eggs were stamped with the words from the Art Journaling Clear Stamp Set.  The Antique Room Key was glittered up and hung along with the pom poms on the handle.  Metals are so fun!

The house front was decorated with a chipboard "Doorways" piece that was painted, distressed and glittered.  Some Ruffle Egde trim and big ric rac trim were used along the roof then I piled on the wood alterable buttons.  Have you seen the new wood Shaped Buttons?  Those are so cute! Included are hearts, flowers and stars.

I also used Vintage Paper Roses, more Pearl Chain trim, a Ruffle Blossom flower, a Velvet Resin Blossom and of course more Trinket Pins.  I'm in love with the new Vintage Pale Pink Pearl pin.... love, love, love!!  Maya Road knows how to make me all giddy inside :-)

See !!  So perfect... so vintagey perfect.

One last thing to mention is the Mini Organze Roses trim along the bottom of the house...  so soft and pretty for just about everything.  So, then that's it!  If you have a chance and want to make something unique,  get yourself some of the  so, so awesome Chipboard Albums from Maya Road.  You'll find they have some secret power to inspire you to be extra creative.  Go ahead I dare you to give it a try... you won't be disappointed :-)

Thanks for stopping by.  Best wishes for a super happy day ahead!

The Box Previously Known As A Perfume Box

Hello there Roadies!

Ania here with yet another box for ya (it's no secret that I love boxes...).
I'm not sure what it is, but when I get my hands on a sturdy, nicely sized cardboard box, like a perfume-box, it just feels wrong to throw it away (even though it'd go to the recycle/paper bin).

Take this box, previously holding  3.4 oz of lovely Eau De Parfum (She Wood..one of my faves along with Flowerbomb...but I digress).... I figured I'd put this box to good 2nd use, finding some matching patterned paper for the solid pink-peachy color of the cardboard, and a few Maya Road-embellishments to go...

Like creating a small but effective cluster next to a big heart covering almost the whole box. And oh, you can never go wrong with heart shaped linen! In this case a little bit of color was added by spraying some Maya Mist (dragonfruit pink & sunflower yellow washed out w/buttermilk cream).

The cluster started with a tucked in kraft snowflake behind the new Afternoon Tea blossoms in carnation... which in turn was embellished with a scrap of Scallop Chiffon & Tulle Trim and Antique Jeweled Pearl Pendant and a piece of celery green Twine Cording.

On the other side: The lucky number seven (which's this years big birthday number) labeled with the help of some trim adorning a bottle cap and a starburst of different slices of patterned papers...

You see...the kids keep coming home with messages like: "oh by the way, I think I'm attending a birthdayparty in....20 minutes". It happens more often than I like (sigh), which's why I have a bag full of backup-pressies (well ok, only 2 left atm) and well, I also try to keep the handmade cards stocked up so all I need to do is either to add the correct number or the kids name onto the card...

This box will go to the backup-bag, it's like a card and a pressie in one...I just need to figure out what items to fit inside this box :)