Want to Make 

Your Own Blog Background?

A New Submission in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange!

C'mon ~ You girls (and guys) are all creative people!  Admit that you've had some fantastic ideas for your own blog background, but don't have the technical know-how to pull it off. And admittedly, there are so many awesome backgrounds out there to use for free, that you've just put it to the back of your mind. I know I have.  

But, as fab as that freebie background is,
it's not your own unique creation, and
(horrors!) you may see it on someone else's blog!

Well, Sharon at Plumrose Lane (even though she is one of those who creates absolutely divine backgrounds that she offers for free) has put together a tutorial for the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange showing you exactly how to make your own. 

All you really need is, of course, a blog, and a graphics program like PhotoShop or Gimp, and most of you have one of those.
No knowledge of html required! 

Here is a background she created using two of my collage sheets
and lots of her own creativity:

 Divine, right?

To recap what the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange is all about:

An Etsy supplies seller agrees to offer free supplies (in this case collage sheets) to an artist who will post a tutorial showing how to make the piece that she/he created. In addition to posting on both blogs, it is also posted on the Totally Tutorials blog.
It's fun and a win/win situation for both parties!

HERE is the tutorial on Plumrose Lane
for how to make a blog background.
While you are there, be sure to check out
all of Sharon's extensive stash of goodies!
She also has an  Etsy shop where she offers custom blog accessories.

See you there! 

Homemade Fun!

Make Your Own Memory Match Game

This is our sixth tutorial in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange, created by Taylor at MaryJanes and Galoshes. She has come up with another cute and entirely useful project. This is a Match Game that she made using a collage sheet from my shop plus some other supplies, and I think it's adorable!   

 

She fashioned a carrying case for the game 

that looks awesome displayed on a shelf.

  

Here are the game pieces. 

One digital collage sheet will do, just print it out twice so you have matching pieces!  Depending on the ages of the players, you can vary the difficulty accordingly by using simple or more complex images.

The tutorial is posted on her blog in detail and is also listed on Totally Tutorials.

Pop on over to check it out  ~ a project to keep little (and not so little) ones occupied and also improve their concentration and memories ~ 

trés educational 
but they will just think it's  fun!

A Pretty Vintage-Look Greeting Card

The Newest Creation in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange

Tammy from Art and Inspirations has come up with another creative use for my  collage sheets! This sweet greeting card is so versatile, any occasion would be perfect to send it to a loved one. Tammy has even embellished the envelope with a matching flower!

And who wouldn't just be overjoyed to receive a handmade card instead of a store-bought one? Of course, being the creative person that you are, if you use the odds and ends of paper and embellishments that you have on hand, the cost would be practically nothing!  (Sorry, Hallmark, there's just no comparison any way you look at it!)

You can customize yours to suit the occasion of the moment, using Tammy's tutorial she has posted on her blog. It actually looks like a quick and easy project, so no excuses about not having time!

Be sure to visit Tammy's Etsy shop, Design4u, to see many of her lovely creations!

The tutorial will also be posted on Totally Tutorials. Visit there to see tutorials on a huge variety of subjects.

Recycle...Upcycle! 

Decoupaged Canister

Our 4th entry in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange 

Jessica of  Eco-Friendly Freckles  has made something both useful and beautiful, and has done it all with recycled materials (well, except for the collage sheets from my shop,  Magpie Mine,  but of course she was required to use those as per the rules of the Exchange!)  She has done a lovely job creating this adorable angels canister which she titled “Lullaby of Angels’ Enlightenment”.  I just love the soft pinks juxtaposed with the graphic white-on-black dots. This is her trademark look ~ visit her Etsy shop to see how she incorporates the dots into all of her pieces!

But first, see the tutorial on her  blog  and learn how she made this lovely canister. Even the printed text is from recycled 
Yogi tea bags.  This project looks like such fun, and gets your imagination ticking with the many ways to use your own individual style to create this useful piece! In fact, I have just added a large table for crafts and painting to my workroom/office/spare room. Some people have closets larger than this room. I think once upon a time it was a nursery/baby's room in our 1920s house, and it is 

very very small, 

so organization is key. I could use some stylish containers to hold brushes, tools, and pencils since they are now housed in plastic fast food cups ... hmmm ... now what to do with the plastic cups ... of course, I could use the plastic cups to create my upcycled  canisters!

Jessica's tutorial will also be posted on  Totally Tutorials. 

Just to recap what the  exchange is about, since new tutorials will be coming in over the next few weeks:  A supplies seller (me in this case :) donates supplies to an artist/crafter who agrees to create something with said supplies and make a tutorial to appear on Totally Tutorials blog. It's been so much fun so far! See the list in my sidebar for recent entries. The list will be growing  week by week.

More Amazing Creations!

for the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange

Romantic ATCs
These charming little ATCs were created by Tammy at Art and Inspirations for the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange. She used one of my collage sheets and added some lace and other embellishments to turn them into perfectly adorable valentines!  She has posted a step-by-step tutorial on her blog to show you exactly how she does it!


I've never made an ATC or ACEO before, but seeing Tammy's excellent instructions and finished product, I'm dying to try!  All of her creations are so inspiring ~ pop over to her blog to take a look! And don't forget to visit her Etsy shop; it's easy to link to from her blog!


I'm so pleased at the creations and tutorials we've had so far ~ there are more to come, so stay tuned! They will all be posted on Totally Tutorials too.

A New Tutorial

in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange!

A Pillow Book

This one comes from Ty at The Lavender Daisy and she has created it with three of her favorite things in mind: food, music, and books! Sounds like she has been peeking at my own list ~ I can certainly relate to those favorites!

She used several collage sheets from my shop to create this cute little pillow book. And good news for some of us: no sewing required! Check out her step-by-step instructions on her blog, The Lavender Daisy.  The pictures and descriptions are so easy to follow, and you can customize it any way you want!

More tutorials coming soon ~ 
be sure to check back here and on the Totally Tutorials blog!

We Have Our First Tutorial

in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange! 

An email button for your blog:

Here is something sooo informative for all of us technologically challenged bloggers! And since Blogland is populated with such a variety of people, I know there are a bazillion of you out there. I mean, so many of us artistic types spend all of our time with our muses, who has the time or the desire to be a techie?

Taylor of Maryjanes and Galoshes (I love that name!) has set up the process step-by-step for making a button for your readers to send you email. No more having your readers search around for a way to email ~ it will be right there looking as cute as a, well, button! Personalize it with your own graphics and and text, customize it to match your blog, it's all good! (I personally like the "Send a letter to the Queen" idea!)

Visit Taylor's blog to see the step-by-step process. It will be on  Totally Tutorials also.

Check back here in the coming days and weeks for lots more tutorials!

Exciting News!

I'm so excited to announce the participants in the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange! Over the next few weeks you'll see some amazing art from these talented artists! They will be making some inspiring new creations and then, in a tutorial, showing you step by step how it's done. Below are their Etsy shops. Later you will see their creations here and be able to view their tutorials on their blogs. They will also be featured on   Totally Tutorials.

Cinnamon Breeze

Cool Steel Warm Images

Design 4 U

Ecofriendly Freckles

Plumrose Lane

Taylored Arts

They are all so talented,
and I can't wait to see what they have created!
Be sure to stay tuned!

Supplies for Tutorials Exchange

Would you like to get creative with collage sheets?
 

Do you like it when you get something for free?
 

Do you love telling other people what to do?

If your answers are yes, yes, and yes then the Supplies for Tutorials Exchange is for you!

Choose up to FOUR collage sheets from my Etsy shop absolutely FREE; make a creation of your choice; and then teach others how to do it! The only requirements are: you must use my collage sheets (choose from 140 sheets, free from me!) and you must make a tutorial showing the technique to others. You post your tutorial on your blog. It will also be posted on Totally Tutorials and here on The Magpie's Nest. Link your post to your Etsy shop or website and just think of all the exposure you will get! Totally Tutorials is a great site that gets 400-600 page views a day. Check out more info about the tutorials at Totally Tutorials.

You can create absolutely anything you like using my collage sheets. Use whatever other materials you wish along with them. Your creation can be jewelry, collage, mixed media pieces, altered books, journals, just to name a few.  It can be simple or more involved. Remember, you may think something is easy to make but there are others who have never done it and would love to learn how! That's where the tutorial comes in.   Never made a tutorial? Check out these easy instructions on How to Make a Tutorial!

How to enter:

1. Post a comment here on my blog or send me a convo to magpiemine on Etsy.
2. Tell me a little about the item or items you want to create.  (No need to decide exactly which sheets you would like to use at this time).
3. Include the link where you will be posting your tutorial.

That's pretty much it until you get selected! Please respond by Friday, January 22, 2010. I will select from 3 to 5 artists to receive the freebie collage sheets. I'll be looking for a variety of prospective items, i.e. jewelry, greeting cards, journals, collage, altered art, etc. I will contact the winners by Sunday, January 24.

If you are selected:

1.  I will email you the digital collage sheets of your choice.
2. Create your art piece!
3. Make your tutorial. (Go to Totally Tutorials to see some really informative and fun tutorials.) Click here for how to Make a Tutorial! I know creativity takes time, but please finish your entry in around two weeks.
4. Then post your tutorial (on your own blog or at Craftster, Instructables, or Cutoutandkeep). Include a link to my shop, www.magpiemine.etsy.com so people can see where the collage sheets originated :). I will do a post on my blog so that my visitors can see the cool creation you have made, and also how to make a similar one via your tutorial. And send the link to Totally Tutorials so that Dotty, the lovely lady who originated this idea, can post it there! Okay, enough with the technical details, if you have questions feel free to convo me or post your question here!

Enter here by posting as described above or send me a convo to magpiemine on Etsy. Please reply by January 22, 2010! Thanks for participating!