By: Tina Freeman

Tina is a member of our ATB design team. She designed this project we’re featuring today. We’d love to see your version of this fun project, so if you create it, honor us with a photo of yours in our Gallery!

Here’s Tina’s instructions:

This was such a fun Project. I used all the papers from the new collection that Around The Block released at CHA winter! Look for them in stores now!

First I took a naked pencil holder and cut the pattern paper to fit the sides, I used Therm O Web sticky dots sheets to adhere it to the pencil holder. I then used the Around the Block Antiquing Tool to sand down all the edges on the pencil holder. I love the look clean look that sanding the edges gives when working on altered projects.

I used different die cuts and flower shapes traced on patterned papers from Around The Block to make the flowers for the tops of Around The Block Journaling Pencils.

After cutting out the flower shapes, I layered them into 5 different blooms. I just took different shapes and sizes and layered and played with them until I found 5 blooms that I liked.

I added glitter glue to 1 or 2 layers, or 1 or 2 different flowers on each bloom.

The centers of the blooms are either Around The Block Brads or Around The Block Chipboard Flowers.

I used Around The Block Ribbon Tapes (they’re self-adhesive!) on the pencils, you wont believe how easy they made it for us to use this ribbon! You simply peel it off the protective backing and start at the top of the pencil twisting the pencil as you guide the ribbon down toward the tip. It doesn’t have to go all the way to the tip, it is just an accent for the stem of the flower, and it also makes for a soft comfy grip in the pencil.

I attached the flower blooms to the top of the pencil with a 3d glue dot from Therm O Web and then used a flower punch to punch another smaller flower to add to the back of the flower to hide the top of the pencil from all sides. Sort of like the backing of a flower you buy in the store.

I filled the pencil holder with clear Easter grass so that the pencils stand up in the holder with out sliding around. It also gives the holder the feel and look of a vase with flowers in it.

I stamped a few little flowers and a stem with leaves in brown ink on the outside of the pencil holder and added one more flower for accent.

You can really let your imagination run wild, there are no rules. Just play around until you see something you like and go for it! That is the best thing about this wonderful hobby; it is all about you and your creativity.