Altered Art: Personalized CD case

I made a sweet little project using the Limited Edition kit featuring Allison Kreft goodies!  It is on sale over at Webster's Pages.  The kit is just great...full of so much for such a great price.  I put mine to use on an altered project.

I turned a plastic CD cover into a case that holds many special goodies!  I used mine to hold a CD of photos.  I also included a gift card holder and some photos.  I attached a note to the photos using a journaling card from the kit. 

I made the Wood frames a centerpiece of the project, using two in different ways.  The paperclip and Perfect Accent are all in the kit! 

 

Isn't it pretty!  Perfect for pages or projects!

 

 

 

At Home: Simple Gift Giving

Last week, the Lily Bee Design Team focused on making gifts using scrappy goodies!  I put a few papers and elements from the We R Family line to good use, creating a gift that any baker or cookie-eater would enjoy.

 

I made a gift-bag-recipe-holder with a cooking utensil set. The cookie bag was super easy to make.  I started with a bag wrapped with some burlap ribbon.  I like to use lots of texture when making simple items.  It really jazzes it up.  I topped the burlap with a doilie.  I grabbed a metal circle tag from my stash and decorated it with the punched circle heart.  I finished it with twine.

 

 

I decided to attach the recipe to the back of the bag.  It serves an extra purpose as I stapled it on, closing the bag.  I placed a sample cookie or two into the bag first!  I used a Daily Deck card for the recipe. These little lovelies are really great!

 

 

I moved on to the utensils.  I pick this set up at Ikea for mere pennies!  They are simple wooden spoons and a fork.  I made them prettier using washi tape.  There is no technique for it.  I just wrapped around the handle.  The one with the circle washi took a bit more effort.  I did one piece at a time to keep each circle really lined up.

 

 

I tied them together with big blue ribbon from my stash.  I think this came from a present I bought at the Gap years ago.  I save stuff like that to use again.  I cut the Daily Dish from a Daily Deck card.  I thought it fit the theme perfectly!  I gave the tag a special touch by adding the wood veneer heart.

 

 

It is really darling!  I always enjoy spending time making things other than pages.  There are so many ways to use your supplies!

 

Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

Yesterday, I was sharing a Christmas page and today I am back to Thanksgiving!  I made some table décor that I wanted to share.  The projects are easy to recreate, yet add a homemade touch to the day.

 

 

 

First, I made place holders using the paperclips from the Family Traditions collection.  I simply tied off some burlap twine and wrapped it around the napkin.   Then I used the clip to hold the name tag! 

 

 

 

 

 

I also made a file folder to hold the Thanksgiving prayer we read.  It looked so pretty on the table.  The file folder gave it a really special touch.

 

 

 

I placed the Perfect Accent and some stickers on the front.  The button acts as the closure.  I threaded the burlap through it and then wrapped it around the file to keep it closed.

Both projects added a special touch to our holiday!

Monday's Musings: Photo or Live it?

We had a beautiful Easter Sunday yesterday.  Great times with my family.  We ate, laughed, had debates and just enjoyed each other's company.

The kids played together, watched movies together, and opened up Easter baskets.

I set the table using pretty, yellow daffodils and my ceramic bunnies.

I didn't take one picture.

I decided to simply live in the moment.  To focus on preparing the food and joining in on conversation.  I decided to not worry about how the lighting was or worry about bringing everyone outside for photos.

I wonder if I did the right thing.  I know that life is short and moments with family should be captured.  But shouldn't life also be fully lived for those same reasons?

I wonder.

In the spirit of Easter, I am sharing a gift box I created using Webster's pages goodies.  It is simple packaging, but the intent is to bring joy in little ways.

I made a folded card with an envelope flap.  The inside looks like this:

I used a mini bag to hold small candy.  A couple of punched holes and some twine, and it is all fastened!  I used the New Beginnings collection to make these goodies!

In the spirit of Easter, I decided to just be present yesterday.  I will find a time in the near future to take those photos.  Whether or not they are taken, the memories have been made!

Thursday Tip: Tone on Tone

I have been considering paint colors for my bathrooms...there is so much to consider.  Do I want a pop, a contrast, or a quiet color?

Scrapbooking is the same way.  Every time you design a project, the color palate is key.  I tend to gravitate to warm colors, vibrant hues.  But lately, I like monochromatic and soft.

I went with soft pastels for my most recent project.  I made these paper candy cones for Easter.  Simple, easy...so pretty!

Choosing the base was so important because I wanted pattern and texture with a quietness.

Here is what I made using Teresa Collins goodies!

Soft whites with grays, a touch of pink for the base.

I added in yellow and some green for a little contrast!  I filled each cone with paper and candy.  Well, I ate a lot of the candy first...

I also created a simple centerpiece...I love glass bottles and white ceramics.  The simple washi tape and ribbon around the silver metal pot is just enough for me!

All this tone on tone...influencing me around the house too!

Alter It: Deconstructed December Daily

or something like that...

Around the holidays it is hard to find time to create.  I love the idea of a December Daily and want to make one, but then I look at the calendar and it is December 19...and I haven't started.

I also find it too hard to do something holiday related each day...I am barely making it through dinner some nights.

So I decided to create a keepsake box. I altered an old Maya Road tin so it would be a pretty display for treasured Christmas photos.  This particular box is housing pictures of our elf, Dash.  It is one tradition my kids adore.  I like the idea of opening a tin and finding journaling cards and photos.

 

Here is the outside of the tin.  I have it out on a table now and it adds nicely to my Christmas decor.  I used a super simple design, layering my favorite patterns from the Christmas Cheer collection by Lily Bee.  I went with the "A Christmas Story" card because it really sums up my theme.

 

 

When you open the tin, you find the stack of photos and cards inside.  Again, I kept it all simple, yet cute!  I altered some journaling cards and/or just wrote on them.

 

 

I love how this little box captures a big tradition in our house.  I think it could easily be made into a cute gift...imagine all of grandma's favorite Christmas memories or even photos of cherished recipes. 

 

This is a December daily I can handle.

 

 

Behind the Project: Altered Tart Tin

So, I have a secret to tell.  When asked which assignments I would like to have for Webster's this month, I inadvertently chose an off the page tutorial.  I meant to pick a layout assignment.  It is what I am used to...what I trust.

But, I had to live up to my sign up erro and go for something off the page.  I quickly remembered these adorable tart tins I had been hoarding.  I meant to alter them at some point so why not now?

I decided to make a vintage ornament.  Something I could hang from Ella's mirror or the knobs of my jelly cabinet.  Something that would look vintage and pretty.

Using Webster's pages products makes home decor projects easy to make.  There are so many gorgeous options to include in any project.  This is it:

The tart tin is at the top of the ornament.  I kept it simple with a piece of trim and a Perfect Accent. 

I made the orb and strung the new gorgeous charms from Webster's.  It came together easily and is just what I wanted it to be. 

To learn how to make one of your own, head over to the Webster's blog for a step by step tutorial.

At Home: Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all dads...to my own dad who has loved me unconditionally throughout my life.  My father who is no longer with us and who is missed.  My husband who is a fabulous dad and is adored by our kids.

This is what fatherhood looks like in our home:

Loving, loyal, faithful, caring, funny...an importance is placed on family. 

I shared a project I created in Steve's honor over at the Webster's blog last week!  It is wall art that is graphic and simple.  I used his favorite number and his initial.  It was super easy to make!

I used the Game On collection because it has masculine colors!  To learn how to make this project, head over to the Webster's blog!

Happy Father's Day!

How-To: DIY Photo Holder

Every year around this time I start getting that feeling...I want to be warm, outdoors, redecorating.  I want to shake off the winter.  I know there are still many weeks ahead of us, but I just can't get rid of the feeling!

What to do?  How about some small changes like a new sign or pillow? (can you tell that I hit Jo'anns this week).  Speaking of Jo'anns...I bought some unfinished wooden spools there a few weeks agao.  I used it to make my own home decor item!

The one I just made would have to be put to use in my son's room.  I used the Feb. kit from My Scrapbook Nook to create it!  How about a covered wooden spool?  A little Mod Podge...

A decorated top and a button in the center?  I used a rolled up piece of scrap paper inside of the hole on the bottom of the spool.  A pencil end help me to push it up snugly and created a stable place to put my flag and photo holder wire.  See the technique of placing the flag and wire ends into the button holes.

How about a simple decorative front?  Sometimes less is more!  The twine and texture...yum!

When you are done, you have this little cutey!  It certainly helped to fill my "I must redecorate right now" feeling!  I love how it looks clustered with other objects from my son's room!

For complete instructions how to make your own, visit my class over at the Nook!  It will also be up on the blog this weekend!  If you make one, be sure to share! 

Did You Start?

So, now that Thanksgiving is over...have you started your Christmas decorating?  Some peeps I know have already put up their Christmas trees.

I cannot do it yet.  Mainly because I am so tired from Thanksgiving!  Our deep fry party and dinner were awesome...it is a long day.  Then Black Friday shopping.  To top it off, we had a dinner party last night.  I can't imagine happily pulling out my Christmas boxes to start.

I have, however, created some handmade ornaments.  I was given the assignment by Webster's Pages and immediately starting searching for paper-crafted ornament ideas...there is a lot out there.  I settled on altering small wooden spools I found at my local Jo'anns...they come six in a package for under $5.00.  Gotta love that.

Here they are:

As you can see, I went with a vintage feel!  I used both the Botanical Christmas and the Winter Fairy Tales lines to assemble these little beauties.  I combined trims and bling and resin hearts and silhouettes.  I also used either a stick pin or cameo pin to top each on off! I was quite surprised at how quickly these came together!

I wanted each one to have its own little personality.  That thought really helped me to focus on which embellishments to use!  This one...a serene butterfly...very monochromatic:

This one a bit more bold with the large Silhouette...I added the Ho Ho Ho to compliment that feel:

She is wearing a tutu...like a ballerina:

This one is classic with a simple design and the focus on Santa:

For a supply list and tutorial on how to make your own, visit the Webster's Pages blog here!

You might want to rush over there ASAP because there is an amazing Black Friday sale going on until Sunday!  Beautiful kits, each with a project, for amazing prices!

This is as close to Christmas decorating I will do this weekend...but next Saturday...that tree will go up!