Comic Book Necklace Pendant DIY

My family and I visit Half Price Books all the time, However I *just* found the star trek comic book section! (I don't know how I missed this before! I love comic books) and, being the geek I am I grabbed a couple of star trek comics-  to read AND to craft with!

So Here's one project I did with them, (You will probably see a couple more)  Comic book necklaces!

You could of course do these with a comic other than Star Trek. Though I can't imagine why you wouldn't want a "spock necklace"  :)

Super kitschy, right? I love them!

Have you made anything with comic books? I'm still trying to decide what to do with the rest of the comics, so I would love some suggestions!! Let me know what you think...

xo, Katie

Trip to Red Velvet

Last weekend My mom, Sister and I took a road trip to Red Velvet in Missouri (it was like a 7 hr drive from DFW...) The way Elsie and Emma decorated the shop was so freakin' cute and kitschy!

So beware, This post is somewhat picture heavy! enjoy---

Have you visited Red Velvet?? If not, You definitely should! I got the cutest pair of crochet covered headphones a woodgrain leather journal made by Rachel. I love it!

[Thanks, Mom, For taking us to Red Velvet!]

xo, Katie

April Sponsor Spots, only 2 left!

Good Morning! I just thought I would remind you that if you have been thinking of sponsoring me for April, You only have a couple of days left- and I only have 2 sponsor spots left to fill! Here's all the info:

For $5 you can get:

• A 300 x 100 sponsor space on my sidebar.
• 
• A Feature/introduction Post at the beginning of the month.
• The Option of doing a giveaway on my blog.
• and the option of doing a Guest Post on my blog.

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Purchase your $5 sponsor spot here!

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If you've been reading my blog for awhile, I'm sure you know about our upcoming trip. Which is why I've opened up sponsorship on my blog to raise money.
If you are new, Here's what we are doing- 

We are driving from Dallas/Ft Worth to Bar Harbor, Me., Cycling from Bar Harbor, Me to Key West, FL (2600 miles!) and then Driving back home to Dallas/Ft Worth. We have named this this trip "Clam Chowder to Key Lime Pie." 

I can't wait to see all the awesome places like New York City, Washington D.C. etc. I've never been anywhere up in the northeast, so it will be an amazing ride!
[Do you live on the east coast? What cool tourist places do you think we should stop at?? I definitely want to see the Statue of Liberty, NYC, D.C., Kennedy Space Center, etc.]

As the trip gets closer we will be setting up a blog to keep everyone updated on our progress. We've set up a map with our route, and have been putting push pins where we are going

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Another way I'm raising money for this trip, is selling my art on etsy, If you would like to help me raise money, you can visit my etsy shop, or I am accepting donations, here! Every little bit helps, and it would mean alot!

Thanks for reading my blog! I would love it if you visited my March Sponsors blogs and shops! They have been super awesome! Go leave them some love, please?

• Strumpets Crumpets
• Crack the Sky
• Creating Keepsakes
• DreamFctry
• Crafted
• Campfire Chic
• Susan Godfrey Designs

Make it Monday

How was your weekend? Go anywhere? Make anything? My Mom, Sister and I took a girls road trip to Missouri to go shopping at Red Velvet Art (I will post pics soon!) and then we drove  over to Arkansas to visit one of my moms friends before heading back to Texas! It was pretty awesome. :)

Anyway, Here's todays round up of cuteness...

Make these super cute Yarn Wrapped Earring with this tutorial.

You could hang your cute earrings on this pretty Lace Earring Holder with this tutorial!

Make some of these cute Paint Chip Magnets using this tutorial.

Justine has been posting abunch of fun photo editing/blog editing tutorials on her blog, here. be sure to check them out!

Guest Post w/ Susan Godfrey Designs + Free Kit

Hello everyone!  My name is Susan Godfrey and I’m a digital scrapbook designer and owner of Susan Godfrey Designs.  I’ve been digital scrapbooking and designing since 2003.   One of the most common questions I receive as a digital scrapbooking kit designer is “How do I create my first layout?”.  Thankfully, this is really pretty easy, but it does require a few tools that aren’t required in paper scrapping.  The main tool for scrapbooking digitally is to have a graphics program of some sort.  These range in price from pretty reasonable to extremely expensive.  There are quite a few to choose from as well.  Some programs are geared especially for digital scrapbooking, while others are more powerful and can do more.  Whatever you choose, depends on what you can afford and personal preference.  The three most common graphics programs used (with their prices) are:

• Photoshop – this is the full professional version.  This is what the professionals use for photo manipulation and design.  This is a very powerful program. – Current version is CS5 – $699.00 – This can often be found cheaper, but still pretty expensive.  You can get a “Educational” version at a MUCH better price, but you have to either be using it for school or homeschool to get that price.
• Photoshop Elements – this is a “home” version of Photoshop, while it does not have all the bells and whistles of the full version, it’s still VERY powerful. - current version 9 – $79.99 – it does have a free trial for you to try it out.  You can usually find it cheaper, if you do a little googling
• Paint Shop Pro – this is a program very similar to Photoshop Elements.  I’ve used it in the past and created many layouts with it successfully.  - Current version is X3 – $79.99  - they do offer a free trial if you’d like to try it.

Personally, I use Photoshop Elements 7.  I like it and it’s the program I’ve learned the best.  I’ve used Paint Shop Pro and the full version of Photoshop in the past and both work just fine.  Although PSE is still pretty powerful for it’s price and is pretty simple to use.

Once you choose a graphics program, the next thing you will need are some digital scrapbooking kits.  These can be purchased at stores all over the web, including my personal store.  In fact, at the end of this tutorial, I will be giving all Punk Projects readers a coupon code where they can download a FREE kit that I created just for Punk Projects and was inspired by it’s sweet author, Katie!  So don’t miss it!  Anyway, you can purchase these all over the web in some great little stores.  Here are some of my favorite:

• Susan Godfrey Designs
• Aimee Harrison Design Studio
• Scrapbooks Gone Digital
• Divine Digital
• theStudio
• Faith Sisters (specializing in Faithbooking kits)

But you can find many more just by googling “digital scrapbooking store/shop”.  Not only that, but you can often find lots of freebies available on the web, just try googling “digital scrapbooking freebies” and you will be amazed at what comes up.  The digital scrapbooking community is VERY generous with freebies!  Not to mention that digital scrapbooking is so economical!  Once you purchase a kit, you can use the pieces in it over and over.  You can’t do that with paper scrapping!

Below is a listing of some tutorials for different programs that will help you create you very first layout.  These are very good and contain lots of photos to help you along.

• Photoshop Elements Tutorial
• Photoshop Tutorial
• Paint Shop Pro

Also, here are links to a video tutorial for creating a layout using Photoshop Elements 7.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Once you get your layout finished then what to do?  Well the first thing I do is save the entire file in the format of your program.  For PSE7 that would be a .PSD file.  I do this just in case I have to go back and make any corrections.  This file should not be consolidated, but include all the layers of your layout. 

Then I save the full sized file as a .JPG file.  This is for printing purposes.  You want this set to the highest quality setting. 

Finally, I shrink the layout down to 600 pixels x 600 pixels and save it as a .JPG file.  This file you will want to set at a medium level quality setting (under 200 kb).  This .JPG file can be used to upload to Galleries at the stores you purchase kits from.  Most stores do have Galleries where you can upload your layouts to display them and get comments on them.

So, you have you layout finished and saved, now what do you do with it?  Why print it!  There are a couple of ways to print your layouts, 1.) from your home computer and 2.) my having them professionally printed.

Unless you have a printer capable of printing 12 inches x 12 inches, you will need to shrink your layout down to probably 8 inches x 8 inches before you print.  Home printing is a good option, it’s easy and instant.  BUT, unless you have a photo quality printer, the layouts may not be as clear and sharp as you’d like.  Also, you will want to print on photo paper.  While you would think that printing at home would be cheaper, it’s really not the cheapest option, nor I think, the best option.

Having your layouts professionally printed will ensure that your layouts look crisp and clean.  It also allows you to print your layouts out at full size (12 inches x 12 inches) or at smaller sizes, such as 8 inches x 8 inches or 6 inches x 6 inches.  The best place I’ve ever found for having your layouts professionally printed is at an online store called Scrapping Simply.  I have found that by using Scrapping Simply that I save money printing my layouts and that their service is much cheaper than printing at home.  They offer professionally printed layouts geared specifically to scrapbookers.  Their prints are VERY reasonably priced and are cheaper than any place else I’ve found (EVEN Wal-mart).  Their prints come out SOOO nice!  You can get 12x12 layouts printed for $1.99 each and 8x8 layouts printed for $0.99 each.  I prefer the 8x8 sized and that’s what I order.  Scrapping Simply does a fantastic job, they are very professional and their customer service is out of this world.  And I don’t even get paid to promote them, I just LOVE their service!

Once your layouts are printed, all you have left to do is put them in albums.  You can purchase these in a variety of sizes, 12x12, 8x8, and 6x6 being the most common.  You can have them framed and even have them printed out as a book (Scrapping Simply does this as well).  There are so many ways you can use them without just putting them in an album.  I like to display them in  my home framed.  Also, because you can print the digital file over and over, it’s easy to make multiple copies for gifts.  Grandparents and other family members love this!

Well, I didn’t mean to write a book, but that’s pretty much all you really need to know to get started in digital scrapbooking.  To help you along, I am going to offer the readers of Punk Projects a FREE kit— ”Geek Chic”.  This kit was created just for Punk Projects and was inspired by Katie’s creativity and even includes some of her cute doodles.  Here is a preview of what the kit looks like.

 

How to Get it for FREE!

1. To grab it for FREE, simply go to my shop and put the “Geek Chic” kit into your shopping card. 
2. Use the coupon code: PunkProjects at the time of check out to get it for FREE!  This coupon code is good only for the “Geek Chic” kit and expires on 04/30/11.
3. Enjoy it and have fun creating your digital scrapbook layouts!  I’d love to see what you create!

Blessings!Susan GodfreySusan Godfrey Designs

Winners of Creating Keepsakes giveaway!

Good Morning! Wondering who won the giveaway from Creating Keepsakes? Wonder no more....

[I chose the winners using random.org]

Winner of the Creating Keepsakes Magazine Subscription is Katie [I like your name ; )  ]

Winner of the Premium Membership to ClubCK is Rona

and The Winner of the Scissors from Westcott, and awesome papers from DCWV is Anna.

Congrats, you guys! I will be passing on your emails to Creating Keepsakes so they can get you your prizes!

There was over 100 comments on Creating Keepsakes guest post, If you made a clock using their tutorial, I would love to see a picture! (I'm sure Erin from CK would too)

Thanks for entering the giveaway! -Katie

1 Hour Challenge Layout

Last week, on St. Patty's day, Creating Keepsakes posted a 1 hr challenge on the ClubCK blog. Since it was st. patty's day, the challenge was that you had to use green on your layout.

I grabbed a picture from a camping trip to Garner State Park, and used some olive green Paper for the background, and a green tent sticker.

And guess what? Mine was the randomly selected winner! Cool, right?

Do you ever participate in any craft challenges?

Geeky crafts

I think geeky crafts are the best...

Image source 1, 2, 3

Did you know it's international "Talk like William Shatner day"? It's also his birthday, and Leonard Nimoy's birthday is on thursday. (Yes, I'm geeky enough to know that.)

Call for April Sponsors!

Did you know April is only 11 days away? Crazy. Anyway, It's time to start grabbing sponsor spots on other blogs so that you can advertise your Etsy shop/Blog, right?

I would *love* to have you as a sponsor for April. I really appreciate all my sponsors, and I love featuring them on my blog.

 

For $5 you can get:

• A 300 x 100 sponsor space on my sidebar.
• 
• A Feature/introduction Post at the beginning of the month.
• The Option of doing a giveaway on my blog.
• and the option of doing a Guest Post on my blog.

------

Purchase your $5 sponsor spot here!

-----
If you've been reading my blog for awhile, I'm sure you know about our upcoming trip.
If you are new, Here's what we are doing- 

We are driving from Dallas/Ft Worth to Bar Harbor, Me., Cycling from Bar Harbor, Me to Key West, FL (2600 miles!) and then Driving back home to Dallas/Ft Worth. We have named this this trip "Clam Chowder to Key Lime Pie." 

I can't wait to see all the awesome places like New York City, Washington D.C. etc. I've never been anywhere up in the northeast, so it will be an amazing ride!
[Do you live on the east coast? What cool tourist places do you think we should stop at??]

As the trip gets closer we will be setting up a blog to keep everyone updated on our progress. We've set up a map with our route, and have been putting push pins where we are going

------------------------------

Another way I'm raising money for this trip, is selling my art on etsy, If you would like to help me raise money, you can visit my etsy shop, or I am accepting donations, here! Every little bit helps, and it would mean alot!

 

Thanks for reading and sponsoring my blog! xo, Katie

p.s. (My March sponsors are super awesome. Be sure to visit them!)

Make it Monday

Find the super easy DIY for this Art Display here.

Get the tutorial for this Cute Flower Headband here.

I love these paper flowers! Find the tutorial here.

How awesome is this Giant Cross Stitch? get the tute here.

Some things that have been going on in the Punk Projects world:

• I posted a tutorial for a fun Spring Wreath, here.
• I have been working on a fun project with Susan from Susan Godfrey Designs- see a sneak peek here.
• Creating Keepsakes guest blogged with a fun Upcycling DIY and an *awesome giveaway*
• I am guest blogging on Campfire Kam's blog with a fun post about Restyling your Blog.
• I'm also doing 2 giveaways at the moment, One on LDC Designs. and another is part of Campfire Chic's awesome giveaway, here.
• and Dom from Crafted guest posted a fun Book Review, here.

What have you been up to? anything fun?

xo, Katie

First day of Spring + Spring Wreath DIY

Good Morning! Today is officially the first day of spring, However, here in Texas it has been almost 90 degrees some days. So it feels more like summer. (I've already been swimsuit shopping!)

Anyway, I had a wreath laying around in our craft studio, So I decided to do a fun DIY--

Tools and Supplies:

Wreath, Fabric Strips, Pretty Paper, Chipboard Letters, Glue

Scissors, Pins, Sewing Machine or Needle and Thread

1. Take your Fabric Strips (I had these leftover from another project, But you can cut some out of fabric!) and sew the ends together to make 1 really long strip.

It doesn't matter if they don't match up perfectly.

2. Start wrapping your wreath with your fabric strip, Keep going until you are all the way around.

(It's easiest to wrap if you roll your strip up into a ball.)

3. When you get to the end of your strip, wrap it over to the backside of your wreath and Pin it down. Or if you like, You can glue it.

Now for the fun Medallion decorations:

1. Cut a 1" x 12" strip of paper. Fold it back and forth, back and forth, Until you have the strip pictured on the left below.

2. Glue the 2 ends of your pleated strip together to make a circle.

3. Place a dot of hot glue in the middle and squeeze your circle shut.

4. Glue your letter to the front of your medallion.

Repeat for remaining letters.

5. Glue your letters to the front of your wreath.

6. Attach a ribbon to the back (I glued mine.)

Voila! Now hang it on the door and you will have the cutest door in the neighborhood! :)

Hope you liked this tutorial! I really like how my wreath turned out. Do you?

xo, Katie

Guest Post w/ Creating Keepsakes Magazine

  Hi Punk Projects readers, this is Erin Weed from Creating Keepsakes magazine. We’re proud to be a punk project sponsor! We first came to know Katie when she was a runner up in the 2010 teen talent contest, and we love seeing all of her projects. I’m excited to be a guest blogger today because I had had a lot of fun creating today’s project. How many times a day do you glance at your clock? My clock at home was really boring, so I decided to create a really fun scrapbook clock.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A clock (or clock making kit)

• Black cardstock

• Glitter paper

• Adhesive

• 12 photos

• A paper trimmer or scissors

• Ruler

• Craft knife (or a drill)

• Chipboard

• Optional-string, tape, super glue, glitter, bling

The first step is to take your clock apart. I used a little screw driver to pop the front cover off of mine. Then I removed the hands, and I was able to take the clock mechanism off the back.

If your clock mechanism doesn’t have a notch for hanging (mine didn’t), you’ll need to add a string or ribbon. I had some string on hand, so I just super glued it in place. A little tape will help keep in from moving around while your glue dries.

If you’d like, cover the hands of your clock with glitter, but be sure not to get any on the parts of the hands that will touch. While the glue is still wet, add some small bling to the ends of your clock hands.

You’ll be cropping twelve photos to 1.5"x1.5". I chose to do my cropping in Photoshop Elements, but you can crop printed photos too as long as the subject is small enough. There are many options for numbers. I really wanted photos to go all the way around my clock, so I picked some number photos from Flikr. You can take photos of your friends holding a number, use number stickers, cut numbers out of patterned paper, or not use any numbers at all.

Trim your black cardstock to 8.5" x 8.5". Then measure to find the center of each side and the center of your paper. Mark lightly with a pencil.

Place your photos and numbers around the outside of your cardstock, spacing them evenly. Make sure your numbers are centered on each side. Trim your glitter paper and chipboard to 9" x 9" and glue the layers together. Center your black cardstock on top of the glitter and glue it down. Use your craft knife to cut a hole in your clock face the same size as the center post of your clock mechanism. Add some adhesive to your clock mechanism and push it through the hole in your clock face. Finally, add your clock hands.

If you want to learn more about adding photos to your craft projects, or scrapbooking, check out Creating Keepsakes magazine or Club CK. And if you do make a clock, I’d love to see it! Become a free member of Club CK and post a photo of your clock in the gallery.

As a special bonus today, we’re also giving away prizes to three lucky Punk Projects readers. Leave a comment to win either:

• a year long subscription to Creating Keepsakes magazine,

• a year long premium membership to Club CK,

• or some papers from Die Cuts with a View, and some amazing scissors by Westcott!

These are some great prizes, Thanks Erin and CK for sponsoring me and guest blogging! This giveaway will run until next Thursday, the 24th. Be sure to enter to win!

 -Katie