Hi, I'm Torrey. Welcome to Left Field, where creativity runs amok and imagination is ALWAYS more important than knowledge. Shoes are not allowed but ties are optional. This is a repository of snippets from my life out here in Left Field. One never knows what shiny bits of creativity will be found here... cards, scrapbook layouts, photography, poetry, recipes, ponderings, rantings and musings. It could be anything! Life in Left Field is always changing, always real, always ...interesting.

August 8, 2013

Drinking Straws...Who Knew?

Hidy Ho crafty peeps!

How has all y'all's summer been? I've spent the majority of mine hole-up inside...in the air conditioning. I don't do heat well at ALL. I'm a delicate Southern flower -- I wilt when the temp gets over 85 F (29-ish C for all my non-Fahrenheit friends).

So....what have I been doing? Well, I've been helping a dear friend with a presentation board project for the Dallas chapter of the Aggie Moms Club. I've been up to my eyeballs in maroon. I'll post the finished masterpiece once it's actually finished. It's almost there. 

I've also been watching a LOT (I mean a LOT) of crafting tutorial videos on Youtube. I ran across this one, in particular, that TOTALLY intrigued me. It was a technique I had NEVER seen before let alone heard of. Now, those of y'all who know me, know that is a BIG DEAL. There aren't many techniques out there I haven't seen (or tried). But this one....this one was so flippin' cool I just HAD to try my hand at it. It's for how to make an album binding out of  
DRINKING STRAWS
So, there I was...intently watching part 1 of the video series. I was hooked...HOOKED, I tell ya! I couldn't watch part 2 fast enough! After part 2, I excitedly went to load the GRANDE FINALE--part 3. In part 3 was where we got to actually learn this cool technique!!!

I looked for part 3

I searched for part 3

I GOOGLED part 3

I scoured the entire internet for part 3

Guess what? There is no part 3

Not only is there no part 3...there are NO OTHER videos out there on this technique. 

WHAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?!?!?!?!?!

It turns out, the creator of the video series (Tipa Childers) had a computer melt-down and lost the entire 3rd video along with all her notes and written instructions for this technique. Poor Tipa! Wait a sec...POOR US crafty people who wanted to know how to do this!!!

Did this dissuade me? Did this make me scream and pound my fists on my keyboard? Did this make me boycott Youtube videos?

What do YOU think? (I confess I did let out a somewhat exasperated sigh)

But, y'all know me...I took this as a challenge to figure it out for myself! And guess what???? I actually DID figure it out! So, below are pics of my FIRST ATTEMPT at making this type of album. I think it turned out rather smashing if I do say so myself. Not only that...it actually WORKS. IT WORKS REALLY WELL!!! It is everything I knew it would be!!! 

Even though this album only has 4 pages...each page is dual-sided with a pocket on the front AND the back...some are vertical, some horizontal. The dual sides plus the pockets QUARUPLE the amount of photos/journaling you can have. Tipa did 4 pages in her videos, so I did 4. But, you can have more (or less) pages if you want!
It's all about the binding...
Let's see if I can do justice to the sheer FaBuLoUsNeSs of this technique. Here is a brief description of what this binding is all about:

The pages are inset into drinking straws (via a slit cut in the side of the straw). Each tri-folded page slips into its own straw. This creates a movable binding for the individual pages. Then, the pages' straw bindings rest on a bed of straws that has been adhered to the spine and covered with end caps that hold the straws (binding and base layer) together. This creates a very nice platform for each straw binding to rest between the straws underneath, thus allowing the pages to pivot smoothly and FREELY as you turn them!! Did that make any sense at all? Probably not. But it's BRILLIANT, trust me!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...so here is 10,000 words worth to make it a little more clear.
COVER

PAGE 1

PAGES 2-3

PAGES 4-5

PAGES 6-7

PAGE 8


BACK COVER
 
BINDING CLOSEUP

BINDING END VIEW

CLOSED VIEW OF BINDING

I learned a LOT from doing this project. Although it works BEAUTIFULLY, there are some minor tweaks I would make on the straw "housing" and overall assembly of it all.

SO....I bet y'all want a tutorial on this, don't you? Well, I'm waiting on an "okay" from Tipa Childers (since she was the one who did the original tutorial).

If she gives me the green light, I'll be producing a video series on how to do this entire album...start to FINISH.

Keep your fingers (and toes) crossed that she grants me permission.

Ingredients:
Patterned paper/diecut extras- My Minds Eye (Bloom & Grow collection)
Eyelet border punch - Martha Stewart
Circle punch - Family Treasures
Flower punch - EK Success
Ribbons, rhinestones, brads - Michaels
Stamping ink - (Stampa Rosa "Fresco" chalk ink in Sicillian Spice)
misc acrylic sentiment stamps
chipboard (used the backing off a 12 x 12 pad of paper)
Crystal lacquer 

Scor tape (LOTS of Scor tape)
Scotch Quick-Dry glue
plastic drinking straws - Wendy's (thanks, Dave!)






9 comments:

  1. Torrey, that's amazing!!

    I sure hope you get to make a tutorial on how to do it so I can make something like this for a "Brag Book" for myself so I can show off pictures of my new granddaughter that will be making her appearance around December 2nd.

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  2. Very awesome! I love albums that have spaces for photos! I need to see if I can find your YT channel...

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  3. That. Is. Just. Plain. Cool. Really hope you get that permission. You should make sure to give Dave some credit too. Maybe eat a Frosty whilst schooling us.

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  4. Jan, I already partook of a Frosty. I didn't wanna just waltz into Wendy's and steal their straws outright! So, I took my mom with me and we had Frosties together (then I took the straws). Still haven't hear from Tipa...I'll give her a week or so, and if I don't hear back from her, I'm just going to go ahead with the video.

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  5. I heard back from Tipa. Looks like she will be making part 3 of her tutorial video in a couple of months. She has asked me to hold off until after she posts her.

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    1. Here we are a YEAR later and still no part three,...ugghhhh!!!! I have looked and looked and NOTHING!!!! please tell me there is something you can do, that you have some good news and there is a secret place hidden deep on the internet where i can find part three, a whole new tutorial..some wsy to end my misery. =)

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    2. Oh...btw your pix look great. Big back pat for figuring it out. I am not that smart. =)

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    3. Carol...I think I've given Tipa AMPLE time to make her video. So...since she hasn't done one...I will do one.

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  6. Thank you thank you thank you! I can now die...but not before i watch your video. =) Seriously, i really appreciate it and look forward to.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! It is always wonderful to get virtual pats on the back!! I truly appreciate every comment...they are little bits of love.