Category: sponsored post

Vintage Inspired Hearts

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 When we think Valentine’s Day we think hearts, right?

These DIY vintage hearts would also make a sweet gift for a special friend

or they could be used as a decoration in a vintage inspired wedding centerpiece.

Hearts are not just for Valentine’s Day.  

 How to make Vintage Inspired Hearts                    (*affiliate link)

*Disclosure:  This blog uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

 

Directions:

  1. Cover Smoothfoam Heart with Newsprint paper using glue stick.
  2. Apply a thin coat of cream acrylic paint over heart.  Wipe off excess.
  3. Add Fired Brick Ink to heart using the ink applicator.  Accent the edges of the heart with the Vintage Photo Ink.
  4. Stick small word stickers onto center of heart.
  5. Apply mod podge over heart for added shine.

To make the heart an ornament:

  1. Poke a small hole into the top of the heart.
  2. Fold a 6″ piece of twine in half, thread bead onto twine.  Knot on both sides of the bead to keep in place.
  3. Add small dab of craft glue into hole and insert loose ends of twine.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Smoothfoam Design Team, I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

 

Shabby Vintage Clipboard

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Shabby Clipboard 2509

More new products today from Clear Scraps.

This was a fun project.

When I first got this new acrylic clipboard I wasn’t sure how I was going to use it.

Once I got a clearer vision on how I wanted it to look, inspiration soon followed.

Now, I can’t wait to make another one.

Here’s the link to all of the NEW PRODUCTS from Clear Scraps.

Shabby Vintage Clipboard

Supplies Used:

  1. Spray the back of the clipboard with the IrRESISTible Texture Spray to give it a soft lacey look and dab the edges with White Picket Fence paint.  (Both paints work great on acrylic.)
  2. Adhere collage papers and vintage photo into place or allow the clip to hold them.
  3. Adhere mirror embellishment to corner of clipboard
  4. Embellish Clipboard with Vintage Trim and Lace.
  5. Add small adhesive rhinestones and a vintage style button to the clip and tie a crinkle ribbon bow.

DSCN2510

This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.

Getting Cozy…and a update

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Mini Album watermarked

NEW PRODUCT From Clear Scrap…

Stay Warm and Cozy this winter while you play with one of the “New” Mini Mixable Albums

from Clear Scraps.  My Mini Mixable Little Bits 3.5 x 5 Album, made with soft blues and tans,

uses the “Cozy” scrapbook collection from Authentique Papers.

A perfect little album for those snowy winter pictures.

Now that the CHA (craft and hobby assoc.) Trade Show is right around the corner,

I can start showing some of the new projects I made for Clear Scraps.

They have a lot of new albums, stencils and more.  You can check out all of their “New” items here.

It’s a cold one today… So Stay Warm.

mantle onemantle two

Update on Winter decorating:  My Newly Decorated Mantle  (what do you think?)

Deflecto December Design Team Goodies

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Deflecto Shelf 825

Now that Christmas is over, I’m starting to think organizing again.

For a quick solution for a constant problem, I used a couple of Wall Mount Supply Organizers

from Deflecto Craft Solutions as a place to gather supplies for upcoming projects.

I added them onto the side of my IKEA shelving unit next to my desk.

Deflecto Shelves 829

Because I have commitment issues when it comes to screwing things into furniture.

I used Small Removable Hooks from Command.

Worked great.  Now, I can move the wall shelves to a different place if my needs change.

Command Clear Mini Hooks

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the high light each month is when I get my Design Team Goodies

from Deflecto.  I love how much care they use when packing each box.

This month, before I tore into the boxes, I remembered to take a few pictures of how they arrived.

Deflecto Packaging 2638

This was on the front of the box.  Every month a different personalized label.

Deflecto Packaging 2642

Each package comes packed with tissue paper and seal.  Just like a Christmas gift.

Deflecto Packaging 2645

This month’s box actually came with a wrapped Christmas present.

This company knows how to make a girl feel special.

Along with the wall files we also received additional wall pockets, desk file holders, various

goodies and a large office floor mat.  As the new year progresses and I dig out from all my

Christmas and CHA crafting, I’ll be doing more organizing with my Deflecto goodies.

Can’t wait to get started.

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

Living Well Spending Less

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I follow a blog called Living Well Spending Less.

You may have noticed the link on the side of this blog.

The owner of this blog, Ruth Soukup, has written a new book, available Dec. 30th, called:

Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life

Recently, I joined the launch team to help promote Ruth’s new book about the secrets of the Good Life.

In this book, Ruth mixes faith, scriptures and good practical knowledge to make you rethink your

spending habits.  (Check out the video below)

In my marriage, it has always been my job to keep track of our finances and the monthly budget.

Honestly… during the first 25 years, it was more of just making sure everything got paid.

Raising a family is not for the faint of heart.  Kids are expensive.  Life moves fast.

A few years ago, I challenged my husband to a 30 Day Spending Budget.

I asked him to tell me how much he spent each week.  We had to be completely honest.

At first his amount was real low.  (I had to assure him it wasn’t a trick question.)

Because… what ever amount he said was the amount he was going to get.

We were able to save $500 that month.  (that surprised us both)

It was a good exercise that made us rethink our spending habits and priorities.

While we have relaxed from the original 30 day challenge,

we now have a mutual goal of saving towards our retirement.

(Call us cheap or call us old, we love it when we have a good restaurant coupon.)

With the New Year right around the corner, it might be a good time to consider

your own 30 Day Challenge.

Believe in the Magic of the Holidays

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Believe in the Magic of the Holidays

Are you taking time to enjoy the magic?

I’m doing my very best to relax and enjoy every moment.

Believe Wreath

I decided to add the large Believe on a Wreath on the front door.

The large Believe was made using Expressions Large Believe from Clear Scraps.  It measures 5″ x 15″.

On the back I adhered “nestled” scrapbook paper from Authentique Paper’s Cozy Collection.

You can’t really see it from the picture, but, it has a great sweater pattern.

After I trimmed around the letters using a craft knife, I used a gold paint pen to accent each letter.

Make sure to check out all the Expressions Large Clear Word Titles from Clear Scraps.

Joy Tag with a Cool Metal Foil Technique

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Impress your friends with an Easy and Elegant Metal Foil Tape project.

I love this technique and thought you might as well.

Start with a small piece of matboard or chipboard approx. 2″ x 2 1/2″ and chipboard letters spelling the word “Joy”.

Joy Tag products used:            (*amazon affiliate link)

*Disclosure:  This blog uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

Directions:

1. Glue letters onto the small chipboard with Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry Paper Glue*.
2. Apply Aluminum Foil Tape* over chipboard. I make the chipboard slightly smaller than the tape so that I don’t have any seams.
3. Using the bone folder, gently go around each letter to bring out the detail.

4. Paint the background with the paint pen. To give it a snowy affect, when
giving a second coat of paint, dot the paint with the tip instead of brushing.
5. Use the pale blue pen to color the letters. Allow both colors to thoroughly
dry.
6. Using a sanding block, lightly sand the letters and edges of the chipboard.
7. For a finishing touch, paint the letters with stickles glitter glue.

The tag also uses:
Prima Flowers (Holiday Celebration Snow Drop)
Vivid Ink: Aqua
Ink Blending Tool*
Scrapbook Paper
Cardstock
Corner Punch, Rounded*
1/8 Inch Round Hole Punch*
Lace, Silver Ribbon and Small Flat Snowflake Ornament
Silver Greenery

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

Snowflake Wreath

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Smoothfoam Snowflake Wreath 2535

When it comes to Holiday Decorating, I love anything with a Snowflake on it.

Make it a Red or Cream Snowflake and I’m a happy girl.

So when I found these Large Snowflakes from Smoothfoam, I fell in love.

Smoothfoam Snowflake

To make my Snowflake Wreath you’ll need:

  1. Paint 6″ Snowflake cream and the 12″ Snowflake red; let both dry.
  2. Glue the two snowflakes together using craft glue.
  3. Glue red button onto the center of the cream snowflake.
  4. Poke a hole on the side of the top of the snowflake with needle and thread.  Pull thread through and tie snowflake onto wreath.
  5. Hang wreath with large piece of ribbon.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

a little Christmas Home Décor

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Stenciled Burlap Outside

This Christmas has been the year of Holiday Stenciling for me.  (I just can’t seem to get enough)

This time I’m making a Quick & Easy Home Décor piece for a Blog Hop with Fairfield World

using Foamology Stickybase Tiles™.

What’s Foamology?

Well…. I could try to explain this cool product to you, but. this video explains it much better.

For my project, I decided to try my hand at stenciling on Burlap.

I used a large piece of burlap about 14″ wide and the 12″ Christmas Bulbs stencil

and the 12″ Word Xmas Tree stencil from Clear Scraps.

After I stenciled on the burlap, I wrapped it around the 12″ foam square as shown in the

video and inserted it into a shadow box frame.

Stenciled Burlap

Some of the products used on this project were generously donated by Fairfield World and Clear Scraps.

Holiday Joy

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I love using the word “JOY” in my holiday decorating.
It’s one of my favorite words.  Who doesn’t need a little more “JOY” in their life.
The Joy Frame is a Quick and Easy Holiday Home Décor Project.

 

Supplies Needed:                                           (*affiliate link)

Directions:

  1. Remove the backing and glass from an old frame and spray paint it black.  My frame holds an 8 1/2 x 11 picture.
  2. Cut the scrapbook paper to size and add to frame.
  3. Paint the chipboard letters red.
  4. Stencil Snowflake design onto the red letters with cream paint.
  5. Apply a light coat of red paint over the snowflakes.
  6. Antique the letters with Vintage Photo ink and ink applicator.
  7. Glue inside of frame.
  8. Embellish frame with some greenery and a red and cream gingham bow.
Craft Confession:
My original plan was to have cream snowflakes on red letters.  After I got through with the stenciling, I thought the snowflakes looked too bright so I decided to re-paint the letters.   As soon as I put on the first thin layer of paint, I loved the tone on tone result.  Happy Accident!
This project was created for and sponsored by Clear Scraps.

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Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!