Tag: crafts

You & Me Valentine’s Frame

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Valentine's Frame

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner…

I wanted to share a simple little project that’s really quick and easy to put together.

A Valentine’s Frame using the You & Me Collection from Simple Stories.

This cute little frame, from Canvas Corp Brands, is only 6″ x 6″ and I love how versatile

it is to decorate.  The larger section is perfect for a 4″ x 6″ picture and if white’s not your

style it’s available in wood stained.  I added dimension to the frame by adding

cubes made from cardstock behind the “love you lots” and “pail of flowers”.

I dressed it up by gluing on metal corners from Tim Holtz.

Click on the pictures below for ordering information.  (affiliate links)


Disclaimer:   This post uses affiliate links.  If you choose to place an order using one of the links, I will get a small commission that helps maintain the cost of running this blog.  Thanks!

My 2016 Personalized Planner

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Have you noticed how popular Specialized Planners have become?

You can find them all over in stores and online in almost any color or size…

with places to doodle, write scriptures, stay organized, you name it.

Sue's 2016 Planner

I am a planner, a list maker and a person who likes to stay organized.

I’ve used planners for years and I’m picky.  I know exactly what I want.

I’m also simple and don’t want or need a big fancy planner.

I need a month at a glance, thin, big enough space for writing, with lines planner.

The last couple of years, I have found this super cheap planner for $1.00 at Walmart.

My 2016 Planner

The color selection was bright, but, I knew that didn’t matter.

It was perfect for decorating.

And… better yet, it came with a clear protective cover.

So armed with my inexpensive planner and a few sheets of scrapbook paper and stickers.

I personalized my planner, just how I want it.  I now have the perfect planner.

From Drab to Fab, Cheap to Designer.  I love it and I couldn’t be happier!

Inside of Planner 2466

Plenty of space for notes.

(FYI:  I save my planners each year, it’s a handy reference to vacations and special occasions you might want to document in your scrapbooks)

Simple Stories Simple Set Collection Kit 12″X12″-You & Me

Homespun Rag Ball Ornaments

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This year, I wanted to do a small little tree for the dining room.

A simple homespun tree with strung cranberries and hand-made ornaments.

I had grand ideas and a galvanized pail.

But reality hit, a long with the cold and flu, which knocked me out for a week.

It took my creativity level down to a one.

And sad to say… My small little tree didn’t get done.

I did string the cranberries…  (a first for me)

They were so bright and colorful.  I loved the look and took lots of pictures.

After a week or so, the cranberries started getting a mushy.

So… I put them out on the tree in the front yard for the birds to eat.

It looks pretty out there too.

Next time, I’ll make them last minute.

For the Rag Ball Ornaments…

Instead of just wrapping the strips of fabric until it formed a ball,

I made the rag ball using a Smoothfoam 2-Inch ball*.

Supplies used:                     (*affiliate link)

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

Directions:

  1. Lightly sand the ridge around the ball.
  2. Cut the fabric into 3/4″ strips.
  3. Apply Mod Podge onto the back of the fabric and adhere to the ball.
  4. Continue until the ball is fully covered.
  5. Add an additional coat of Mod Podge over the ball to finish and seal.
  6. Poke a hole on the top of the ball and add a dab or glue into the hole.
  7. Insert twine into the hole to use as the ornament hanger.
  8. Embellish ornament by gluing a bow on top.

Wouldn’t a whole bowl of rag balls would be cute?  (maybe next year)

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

*Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Smoothfoam and 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!

Merry Christmas Gift Bag

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Merry Christmas Gift Bag 1186

Make your Christmas Gift Bags a little more special with iron-on letters from Joy.

Merry Christmas Gift Bag Supplies

Start with a plain drawstring bag.  (Mine was from Canvas Corp.)

Replace the drawstring cording on the bag with red and white gingham ribbon and add iron-on

letters in red and neon yellow.  (in person the neon yellow looked lime to me)

Merry Christmas Gift Bag Flat 1140

Glue white lace, rick rack, buttons and a small wreath to the front of the bag.

For a truly personalized gift add a name instead of Merry Christmas.

 

This project was created for and sponsored by Joy SA.

Simple Felt Christmas Tree Ornament

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Felt Christmas Tree

Every year I make a new Christmas Ornament or two.

As I was putting up the Christmas Decorations, I ran across this one.

The simple little felt Christmas Tree was one I made several years ago.

Still one of my favorites.

Put together using fabric glue.  (with a little stuffing inside)

Simple, Simple, Simple…

 

Christmas in a Pickle Jar

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Christmas in a Pickle Jar 1127

Christmas Crafting with Repurposed and Recycled Items…

Sometimes you have to find and save something for awhile before their purpose is revealed.

Like the base used on my Christmas in a pickle jar.  (the inspiration for this project)

This past summer we had a new ceiling fan installed in my son’s room.

It was flush mounted to the ceiling, so, they didn’t use all of the parts that came with the kit.

I came across the unused parts in the garbage and decided to save them.

FYI…It’s not hoarding if you use them.  (I’m just saying.)

Because I wanted to be informative when writing this post,

I emailed my brother for the correct name of the part.  I am told it is called a canopy.

I glued the canopy onto the jar using Beacon Glass, Metal & More Premium Glue*.

Here’s what I used for my Christmas in a Pickle Jar:  

*Disclaimer:  This post 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!

I painted the pickle jar lid and the old knob with semi gloss black spray paint.

I added a circle cut from a decorative scrapbooking paper and glued it onto my lid before

gluing on the knob.  (I could have added a hole and screwed on the knob, this was easier.)

I spruced up the plain little wreath by adding a new bow and jingle bell and a small holly

berry embellishment.  I added the ribbon to the neck of the jar before gluing on the wreath.

The little wood deer would of looked fine just as it came.

Instead, I decided to rub brown ink onto the deer to give it a stained look.

I used Vintage Photo Distress Inkpad* with a Ink Applicator & Blending Tool* (*affiliate link)

To make installing the deer a little easier, I glued the finished deer onto the front of one

of the trees before I placed it in the jar.

The Cream Bottle Brush Trees* come with a little wood base.

I added a super sticky craft glue dot under the base of each Cream Bottle Brush Tree*

before adding to my jar.

You can use a liquid glue instead of the sticky glue dots.  (this was just faster and easier for me)

Next, I added Epson Salts into my jar for snow.

A great Holiday Gift Idea.   

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

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Countdown to Christmas

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Hello December Christmas Countdown

I had this idea to make a Countdown to Christmas using a small wood clipboard.

I’d been thinking about it and planning it in my head for a while.

When I went to the store all I could find were bright colored acrylic ones.

I knew if I kept searching I could find a wood one…

But, I really didn’t want to go running around to more stores so I picked one up

and decided I would change my plan.

Christmas Countdown Clipboard

The more I looked at this neon clipboard, I knew I wasn’t happy.

So… I decided to improvise.

I lightly sanded both sides of the clipboard with a fine grit sanding block.

Next, I gave the clipboard a couple of coats of Red Chalky Finish Paint.

After it was completely dried, I masked off an area with removable painter’s tape

and painted the inside of the masked area with black chalkboard paint.

Christmas Countdown Close Up

 “Hello December” is from a sheet of scrapbook paper from Simple Stories “Claus & Co.” Collection.

I embellished the clipboard with a silver ribbon, jingle bell and sparkly red berries.

Christmas Countdown 2

I’m never satisfied with my own handwriting on these things…

so I added letter stickers on the bottom.  (now I’m happy!)

 

Here’s what I used:

These products available at your local craft stores or online on amazon.com*

*Disclosure:  I am a Amazon Affliate.

Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

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Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

No matter how you decorate for the Holidays…Shabby, Homespun, Country or Cute.

You can easily customize these Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments to fit your personal style.

Easy to make and sure to impress.

How To make Mini Ribbon Wreath Ornaments

Finished Size : 3”

Materials Used:

*Disclaimer:  This post 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!

Directions:

  1. Apply a strip of 1/8″ adhesive around the outside edge of the Smoothfoam wreath. This keeps the ribbon securely in place while wrapping.
  2. Wrap ribbon tightly around wreath. When you’ve wrapped the ribbon half way around wreath add the jump ring with jingle bell to ribbon so that it hangs on the bottom of the wreath and continue wrapping. When finished wrapping the ribbon, glue ribbon end onto back of wreath.
  3. Add metallic ribbon trim on top of the wreath as the ornament hanger.
  4. Glue mini bottle brush tree inside wreath.
  5. Glue a piece of burlap or scrapbook paper onto a piece of chipboard and cut into a circle that will cover the inside of the wreath and glue to the back of the wreath.
  6. Print a computer generated greeting on to a piece of cream card-stock. Cut down to size and notch out both ends to create a banner.
  7. Give the banner a quick wave using your fingers and glue onto the bottom of the wreath.
  8. Add adhesive pearls on to the wreath.
  9. Add bow on the top of the wreath to finish it off.

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How to make a Frosted Pinecone Wreath

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Frosted Pinecone Wreath

Autumn has come to the Midwest bringing with it crisp air and colorful leaves. 

I’ve even given up my flip flops for socks and shoes…

I like Autumn.

Really I do.  (If only it’d turn right back into Summer.)

Now that I’ve given up on Summer, I thought I’d better start with my Fall Decorations.

I like making projects that serve more than one purpose.

Like this Pinecone wreath.   After I’m done with my Fall Decorations…

I plan on adding red berries and re-making it into a Christmas Wreath.

How to Make a Frosted Pine Cone Wreath…

You’ll need:

  • 14″ Smoothfoam Wreath
  • Assortment of Pinecones
  • White Spray Paint
  • Craft Moss
  • Craft Glue
  • Hot Melt Gun and Glue
  • Ribbon and Raffia
  • Thin Wire

Directions:

  1. Gather an assortment of various sizes of pinecones.
  2. Spray one side of the pinecones with white spray paint.
  3. Glue Moss onto Smoothfoam Wreath.   (leave the outside of the wreath bare)
  4. Hot Glue and wire larger pinecones onto the wreath first.
  5. Fill in the Wreath with the smaller pinecones.
  6. Tie Ribbon around the outside of the wreath.
  7. Add raffia bow.

*Disclaimer:  This post 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!

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

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Post It Note Holder

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Post It Note Holder 9236

Do you like Post It Notes?   (I mean really like them.)

Are you one of those people that have post it notes stuck all over the place?

I stick notes in my planner, on my calendar, on the cabinet doors in my office, on the door leading out

to the garage and sometimes even on my lists.  (it can be a problem)

So… it should come to no surprise that this is one of my favorite quick and easy projects to make.

Simple to Make.  Easy to Personalize.  Makes a Great Gift. (what’s not to love?)

Post It Note Supplies 9210

Here’s what I used:

  • 4″ x 6″ Clear Acrylic Frame
  • a couple sheets of decorative scrapbook paper
  • 3″ x 3″ Sticky Notes
  • 18″ Ribbon
  • Paper Flower
  • Paper Cutter
  • Scissors
  • Craft Glue

Directions:

  1. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper 4″ x 6″.
  2. Cut a small strip of a coordinating scrapbook paper 3/4″ x 4″.  Adhere the strip to the bottom of the 4″ x 6″ paper.
  3. Insert paper into the clear acrylic frame.
  4. Tie ribbon around the top of the frame and trim ends.
  5. Glue small paper flower to bottom right corner of the frame.
  6. Add post it notes to front of the frame.