Junior Clipboard

Here is another project using the Junior line from American Crafts mady by Michelle! In my opinion, one can never have too many altered clipboards! You can usually find these for a dollar at any office supply store. Add some patterned paper (Mod Podge is the perfect adhesive for large surfaces), ribbon and you have yourself a finished project in under an hour.

Junior Photo Frame

While digging through some old memorabilia boxes I came across two of these old frames full of photos from high school. Since I'm 12 years removed from my high school days, I thought this was an especially good time to find a new use for these frames.


The new Junior line from American Crafts has been taunting me from across the room since the day it arrived in stock. Love it! It matches my boys' bedding perfectly--primary colors, cars & trucks theme--so it only made sense to create something they could display in their rooms.


I was hosting a crop at my house while I made this project. You all know what that means...I was doing a bit more talking than scrapbooking. :) The end result is cute, but I will do things differently with the second frame. First, I don't like the two blue blocks side-by-side. I didn't plan this project, I just began! Despite using a ton of chipboard and pop dots, I still had wanted a more 3-D effect. We'll see if I can execute that with the second project.

Supplies Used: American Crafts Junior Line (Radical paper, Yay! paper, You're Out! paper, Junior Buddy Accents Remarks Sticker Book), AC Denim textured cardstock, Basic Grey Lime Rickey chipboard accents, Basic Grey Lime Rickey glazed brad.

Star Ornaments

My boys have a small Christmas tree that we let them decorate on their own. It has brightly colored lights and cheap-o plastic bulbs. Nothing fancy at all. Next year I want it to include a bunch of handmade ornaments--made by them and a handful made by yours truly.

I found these rustic, metal star ornaments at Michaels this year for $1.29 each. I grabbed 12 or 15 thinking I would decorate them and sell at craft fairs. Instead, I decided to cover a few for us.


This one is covered in Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper that I had leftover from 2 years ago. The ornaments are only 5" X 5" or so which makes this a great project to use up some of that scrap paper stash that we ALL have on hand.

I used my Tombo Mono Adhesive (my favorite liquid adhesive) to attach the paper to each section of the star. I cut out the center embellishments from one of the scrap pieces of paper and attached them with glue dots.


This ornament is definitely going on the boys' tree. I used the super cute Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper pad. I can't wait to find time to make a few more of these for their tree. Fortunately, I placed the ornament box just inside the attic door (which is in my craft room) so I can easily add to our ornament stash throughout the year!

More Halloween Fun

Jumbo clothespins make perfect little gifts for just about any occasion. I completed a number of similar clothespins for a craft fair that was rained out last weekend. Bummer! Well, I guess I'll just be "forced" to use these to display cut Halloween photos of my own children now.


To make these, I simply paint the wood clothespins with acrylic paint. Strips of patterned paper are trimmed to small rectangles and I round the corners. Ink the edges of the paper and adhere using Tombo Mono Adhesive (my favorite!). Ribbon, flowers, brads, chipboard, vinyl, etc., all make excellent additions!

Supplies used: Patterned Paper (American Crafts: Boogieman and Howl), Chipboard (American Crafts Halloween), Paper Accents (K & Co.), Flower (Prima), Ribbon (Offray and American Crafts).

Desktop Frame

Here's a gift I made for a woman in one of my playgroups. She's expecting a little baby girl soon! Any chance that I get to make something girlie, I take.

The base of this project is the Amanda ribbon frame from Creative Imaginations' Bare Elements line. This line of chipboard is wonderful. Since it is a smooth, white base you don't need to do any prep before adhering your paper and embellishments. I used my pigment inks to ink around the edges, but this step is not necessary if you do not have inks on hand.



Supplies used: DCWV (patterned paper), Doodlebug Designs (chipboard letters & shapes), American Crafts (ribbon)

A Cute Gift, Right?

I finally finished these three items to give to a dear friend of mine who had her third child a couple of weeks ago. I can never make something for a new baby until that baby is born. What is up with that? In this case, we didn't know the gender in advance so that makes sense. Still, I guess I am somehow inspired by the actual birth despite the fact that I'm 3,000 miles away and will be lucky to meet this child before he starts grade school.

Not wanting the two little girls to feel left out, I altered these jumbo clothespins so they can display pictures of themselves. I didn't want everything to be about the new baby.

Next on my paper crafting "to-do" list is a layout for myself. It's been over a month since I've finished a layout for my own albums which is just wrong! I recently received an order of 200+ pictures from August-September 2008 so I certainly have plenty to scrapbook.

A Funny Thing Happened

When I go into a scrapbooking store or to a convention, I always love it when the product displays include at least a few completed samples. My favorite scrapbook store in Washington (which went out of business--tax evasion, I think, but that's a different story) had handmade layouts displayed everywhere! They weren't the crazy, expensive layouts you see in magazines today, but layouts made with real pictures and supplies we can all afford.

For my display on Saturday, I made sure to bring a handful of completed samples. The picture below is a sample I made when we lived in Florida--18 months ago, maybe longer. I always had it on display near my Cosmo Cricket chipboard and occasionally I would sell an item or two. I loved making this project and always assumed others would as well. It wasn't until Saturday that my assumption rang true. I sold it all!

Valentine's Clothespin

These jumbo clothespins are so much fun to embellish. They also provide me the opportunity to use some of my acrylic paint--I have tons! My boys are going to take a Valentine's Day photo this year (so long as I remember) and I thought this would be perfect to hold that picture. Don't you just love the little stitched "XO"? I thought it was cute.


Supplies used: Die Cuts With A View (patterned paper), Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock, flower, brad), American Crafts (felt flower, ribbon)

Valentine's Craft #1

Have you seen these adorable mini mailboxes at your local Target??? They are only $1 each! I immediately purchased 10 and am thinking I need to go back and buy more. We are using this as one of our Valentine's projects for the paper crafts workshop I'm hosting this week. Too cute!


Supplies used: Die Cuts With A View (patterned paper), Bazzill Basics (textured cardstock), Prima (flower), Doodlebug Designs (velvet brad), Studio G (rubber stamp), Cricut die cut machine

Journal

I love Fancy Pants Designs! This journal feels so nice...it almost made me want to keep a journal. I used to be really good about writing down all the cute details about the boys and the funny things they would say. There must be 3 composition books floating around here, one quarter full of my everyday observations. Even if I can't commit to daily journal entries, I still have fun decorating their exteriors!

Supplies used: Fancy Pants Designs (journal), Cosmo Cricket (patterned paper, velvet ribbon), Die Cuts With A View (textured cardstock), Bazzill (paper flower), Making Memories (button), K & Co. (chipboard stickers, chipboard embellishments)

Two More Projects

Here are two more fun projects--one clothespin photo holder and one simple card design. I've made 10 of these Christmas cards for an upcoming holiday bazaar, but I love this desing for any occasion.

FYI--My sewing machine is finally up and running again. Expect to see lots of sewing in my upcoming posts. Not traditional sewing with fabric, of course. However, I do hope to finally use this sewing machine for fabric at least once before this year is over!

Jumbo Clothespin

It's craft fair season and I need to get my behind in gear! I have to make a bunch of paper bag albums, cards, altered items, etc., to sell at the upcoming shows. Since I also had to entertain my boys while crafting yesterday, I kept to small projects. With the help of Play-Doh, crayons and Color Wonder products, I was able to complete two jumbo clothespins and a handful of Christmas cards. Here's the Christmas clothespin just waiting to display your favorite holiday photo!