Stamping with Noel

Sweet Treat Tags With Retiring Stamp Set

The Every Little Bit stamp set is another retiring stamp set that I will be holding onto long after the end of the 2012-2013 Idea Book & Catalog on May 31st.  This set includes 28 small images that can be combined with the Teeny Tiny Wishes greeting stamp set for a card or tag for ALL occasions.  

I've used it for:
(click on the links to see individual samples) 

• Match Games for Kids
• Masculine Thank You Cards
• New Baby Cards
• Simple Christmas Cards

Just to name a few!  And now I've created these little sweet treat goodie tags (die cut with the Ovals Collection Framelits Dies and my Big Shot) for end of the year treats for my kiddos (the treats themselves are still to be baked!).

Take a peek at all of the images you receive with this set:

Do you want to miss out on such a versatile set?

Order yours today!

Time Out for a Paper Crafter: Upcycled Chapstick Holder Key Fob

What do you think of these upcycled chapstick holder key fobs?  They are handmade gifts for my daughters made from old baby clothes, binder rings and scrap ribbon and buttons from my stash. I think they will look cute hooked onto their backpacks ... but think I need to make one for myself to hang inside my purse so that I can always find my chapstick!

I just love how the Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo colors (retired ribbon and SAB buttons) matched so well with one set of fabrics, while Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and Denim Jean Ribbon tied in so well with the other.  

The creative inspiration for this project came from an unusual opportunity - I was home completely alone, with no one underfoot.  That doesn't mean that I had nothing I should have been doing, but my need to take a time out out weighed my sense of responsibility.  So I dropped all of the must do activities (even going so far as to skip my morning workout - shhh!  Don't tell!) and chose to do something just for me!  Ok, I know the final project was for my daughters, but the me time activity was getting to know my 'new' Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine.  Yes, I hesitate to say new because I purchased this machine back in November and this is the first time I've sewn on it. How pathetic is that? Especially when you see how happy I was when I made my purchase:

Thank you to Roxanne's A Wish and a Dream in Carpinteria California.  This is a lovely shop that can feed anyone's creativity regardless what medium you work in!

So to all of you hobbiests out there who are mired down in what you should be doing, why not change things up a bit today and try something new.  If you normally scrapbook, make a card.  If you are a card maker, sew something.  A seamstress? Try your hand at a little stamping.  I think you'll find something in your stash of supplies to carry you through that new project - and finish the day with a bit more spring in your step!

If you are looking to make this project, there are many tutorials out there for key fob chapstick holders and I looked at a lot when planning my project.  But I'd like to send a thank you to www.littlebitfunky.com for providing a tutorial for this fast and easy sewing project!

Waiting for This and That - Garden 'Art' Journal

 

I can't tell you how excited I am that Stampin' Up! released their new This and That line of journaling products!  (See original post here.)  I personally create handmade journals/books for almost every trip I take, and often a simpler version for the children. 

But ...
(and this is a big 'but')

I always struggle to create that IMPERFECT art journal!

My books are journals in the true sense of the word.  They are a place where I record all of the specific dates and places ... where I record little incidences that make each day of the trip special ... where I keep the details I want to make it into my scrapbooks when I get home ...  

So, basically, after the creative cover, they are pages and pages of text!

I always tell myself that this time:

• I will sketch in my journal
• I will tape in my ticket stubs etc.
  (my last book included manila envelopes bound right into my binding to tuck all those scraps into the book - if only superficially, rather than permanently)
• That I will loosen up and not worry about perfection

But, 
(another big 'but')

The truth is, I DON'T! 

Instead, my travel books remain 'text-keepers' and my art journals are begun, but not utilized ... or at least, not past a page or two.

So,
(a big 'so'?)

I've been inspired by the new This and That line of journaling products to try again.

While my kit was still on order, I decided to create my own book (it is what I do well afterall, unlike the actual journaling itself!) and to use if for a pastime that is already taking my attention - my spring vegetable garden ... an activity I do with my girls, which leads to a bit of imperfection already.  Grin.   

The book above is the beginning of this process and already has a few garden touches:

• Denim covering reminiscent of farm overalls!
• Veggie charms from my stash hanging from burlap twine for rustic charm
• Torn strips of Stampin' Up! Designer Fabric, coordinating stitched grosgrain ribbon and Natural Trim (my new favorite) for more country appeal
• Now retired Sale-a-bration Designer Series Paper lining the inside covers which, in its perfectly geometric alignment, reminds me NOT to be perfect and to strive for a bit of organic charm instead
  

Hopefully I will share a few of my pages along the way - and in the meantime, I think I'll give my pre-teen a This and That kit to play with ... let's see how far the apple falls from the tree.

Upcycled Easter Grass Basket With Handmade Flower

Last week my preschooler came home with the cutest upcycled basket of easter grass - but, me being me, I just had to do something more with it:

I love the simplicity of the original preschool project - strawberry basket, pipecleaner, wax paper, soil and grass seeds!  My woven ribbon and handmade flower additions are almost as easy to throw together.  

Handmade Easter Flower "Tutorial":
(These simple notes should suffice, but let me know if you need more help!)

   

1. The Base layer for this flower is a simple 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch.  To give the shape more texture, I roughly snipped between each scallop to about 1/4" from the center of the circle - some snips went deeper than others, it was all rough cutting.  Once the petals were created I bent each petal in half into a valley fold for depth.
   
   
2. The next layer is a 3/4" Circle Punch also roughly snipped and folded. 
   
   
3. The final layer is a single flower form our 5/8" Flower Trim - yes, I'm using every last flower from the 2 yd package!
   
   
4. Attach all layers with a simple gold brad.

This flower came together very quickly and adds a little spring charm to an already cute upcycled project!  It could just as easily be added to a card or any other spring project, but it wouldn't be the same without the flower trim.  Buy yours today - click here! to start shopping.

Handmade Gifts With the Big Shot: Upcycled Fleece Hand Warmers

 

This upcycled fleece hand warmer started life as a toddler sleeper!  Actually, I was able to create 5 hand warmers from a single sleeper. 

With a single pass through the Big Shot with the Bigz Scallop Circle Die, I had two layers of patterned fleece fabric cut to shape which were quickly stitched together and stuffed with pearl barley.  Now the hand warmer can be heated in the microwave whenever a little extra warmth is needed. 

What can you do with your Big Shot? 

Click on the Big Shot Projects category in my side bar, or search for handmade gifts, and see if you find some inspiration!

Popular Projects on My Blog This Year? Coffee Craft!

At the end of the year, it is fun to look back at the blog posts which brought the most visitors to my site.  This year, one of your favorites was this simple handmade gift for a coffee lover!

Now it could be because this post was originally shared in April 2011, so it has been available for viewing for a much longer time - or some such other factor - but it is fun to see what inspires you.

And for those of you crafting for a younger crowd, these chapstick butterflies (also made with the Big Shot) were a big hit!

Something else caught your eye? 

I'd love to hear what was your favorite!  Please leave a comment below.

Creative Elements Personalized Digital Designer Journal

January is coming, and while it may mean the end of the traditional holiday gift giving season, you may still have need for semi-handmade gifts like this personalized journal! 

When you have January birthdays among your friends and family there is still work to do after the holidays!  I created this personalized journal for the daughter of a friend based on the Creative Elements Designer Journal Template found in the Creative Elements Stamp Brush Set Digital Download. 

I didn't even know that this stamp brush set included a designer journal template when I purchased it back in 2011!  But, with just a couple deletes, a little recoloring, and the addition of Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamps for the personalization my journal is ready to send to the printer.  Better yet, I can have the finished product shipped direct to my friend through Stampin’ Up!’s print services and save time and shipping costs. 

Check out our print prices here.  I think you will find they are competitive to other similar print services – and since you can upload directly from MDS, service couldn’t be easier!

Handmade Gift for Kids: MDS2 Stage Backgrounds for a Wooden Stage

This past weekend I used MDS2 to make a series of stage backdrops for this wooden stage I designed for my daughters.  When combined with a simple stage, these simple scenes make the perfect handmade gift for kids!

Years ago, I asked my husband to build this wooden stage for my older daughter to use with some plastic ballerina's she had received from a dear friend of the family (thank you Kathie!).  My daughter was taking ballet lessons at the time and has always been quite artistic.  I thought she would have fun drawing backdrops for use on stage.  So there is a small space at the back of the stage to 'drop in' your 'backdrops'. 

While my daughter played with the stage on some occasions, and she and I drew a few backdrops to use, the toy never quite 'took'.  This weekend, as I was cleaning up the toy corner to make room for the upcoming holiday additions, I came across this long discarded toy.  With my new found love of digital crafting, I thought it would be fun to design some quick backgrounds - and to rehabilitate the toy for my younger daughter.  Less than an hour later I had 10 different digital backdrops printed out and ready to play! 

After the birthday party backdrop above, here are a few of my favorites:

The next day my older daughter sat with me and we designed a few more (with her designing and myself implementing ... I love how she wanted me to use brads as nailheads!):

My 10 year old is now busy crafting away on her own backdrops without help ... I can't wait to see what she comes up with!

To make this project easier, I opened a 12 x 12 scrapbook page in MDS2.  I then designed two 12 x 6" scenes on a single page, printed on 12 x 12 Whisper White Card stock and cut in half. 

And - the best part of this project - both of my daughters are now playing with this lovely little stage.  Yes, I had intended to gift the youngest with the backdrops for Christmas, but I couldn't resist sharing right away!

This handmade gift is yet one more way to use MDS this holiday season!  And, if you have a young artist in the family with access to a computer, why not gift her with the MDS2 or MDS2+ software?  Even if you aren't interested in digital crafting, the younger generation is quite comfortable in this medium!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN - BOO to YOU!

Today I want to wish you a Happy Halloween with a table display I put together quickly and easily with my daughters... a few uncarved pumpkins, a couple seasonal stuffed animals (yes, the bear on the left is wearing my 5 Minute Felt Hair Clip on his neck!), a few $1 bin frames filled with paper from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack and lettering cut with my Big Shot and the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies, and your display is complete!  Holiday decorating does not need to be time consuming or expensive to be effective.

Happy BOO Day to You All!

Part 3: Activity Journal for Kids - Number Play From the Big Shot!

It is time to get back to my activity journal for kids - with my Number Play Page!

As with the Alphabet Play Page (click on the title to see this page), I used my Big Shot and the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies to cut out my numbers from self-stick magnetic sheets covered in retired Designer Series Paper scraps.  With the number of die sets that I own, I was disappointed to find I didn't have a single set that included mathematical equation signs ... so I turned to my trusty sharpie to complete the page.  

My four year old and I have already spent a lot of time 'doing maths' together with this page.  After she does a handful of problems, she'll create others for me ... when you are adding 327 to 569, you sometimes have to wait a moment for mom to answer!  This also means that my single extra 1 and 2 may not be sufficient for answering the problems you create!  I think I may find myself cutting additional numbers, along with my extra letters.

I've got a few more pages in mind for this book.  I'll share them as they come up, and I invite you again to share any ideas you have with me!   In the meantime, if you are looking for additional reasons why YOU need a Big Shot, check out the approved list of 50 materials you can cut with a Big Shot here.

Big Shot Projects: 5 Minute Felt Hair Clip from Leftover Scraps

What do you think of the cutie wearing this 5 Minute Felt Hair Clip Big Shot Project?

This past weekend I had my Fall Big Shot class at which we created beautiful felt pumpkins (see here for image).  At the end of the class I was left with only a few scraps of leftover die cut felt - five 2 1/2 inch orange circles, and one three leaf green piece.  A few quick folds, some hot glue, a Sale-a-bration brad and a hair clip later and I had this beautiful hair clip for my youngest.  (to see the folds used for this clip, see this fabric flower post - you could just as easily use this circle based felt flower for the same bookmark project!).

So I have to ask AGAIN ... when you finish a project, what do you do with the scraps?  Store them for the future? Throw them in the trash? Or create something right away?

I'd like to suggest that every once in awhile you try to put them to use right away! You'll decrease your clean up and increase your creativity.  This time around I was able to create a handmade gift idea for little girls and make my daughter happy at the same time!

Part 2: Activity Journal for Kids - Alphabet Play From the Big Shot!

Today I want to share with you my second page from my activity journal for kids - Alphabet Play!

My four year old is fascinated with letters and learning to spell words!  While I could easily pick up a set of alphabet magnets, I've got several reasons for creating my own:

1. I've already got the supplies on hand!  With my Big Shot, the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies, the roll of magnetic sheeting I already picked up for this project, and Designer Series Paper from my scrap bin I'm ready to go!
2. The magnetic sheeting is thinner than most of the plastic alphabet magnets I've seen in stores (but thick enough for little hands to pick up)... perfect for a travel book.
3. I can create my alphabet in colors/patterns of my choice!

The striped paper at the bottom is for my daughter to spell words and work with individual letters.  I think I might have to come back and cut out additional vowels and commonly used consonants for spelling purposes!

Project Tip #1: While you can create your letters in a colorful palette, sticking with one piece of Designer Series Paper cuts down on labor.  I was able to cut out my entire alphabet with only three runs through the Big Shot!

Project Tip #2: Don't wait to seal your letters until after they are cut!  It is much easier to apply your paper to the magnet, coat with a sealant (and let dry), then cut out your alphabet.

I've got more pages coming!  In the meantime, take a peek at our Big Shot Die collection - you just might come up with some activity ideas of your own just in time for the holidays!  Click here.

Part 1: Activity Journal for Kids - a Great Handmade Gift for Travel!

I recently decided that I need to put together an activity journal for kids that has been percolating in my mind for over a year!  Each page is magnetic and created from a 5x7 galvanized step flashing available at your local hardware store. I've rounded the corners with a Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper (and sanded to prevent rough edges) and punched holes with a Crop-A-Dile.  This will be a great gift for my 4 year old to use during travel this holiday season!  

This first page is a Tic Tac Toe activity page using retired Designer Series Paper that has a natural grid pattern to it!  You could use a similar pattern (as found in our International Bazaar DSP or Be of Good Cheer DSP) or simply add lines with strips of cardstock to your favorite DSP.

The birds and butterflies tiles are made using cardstock on magnet sheets (found at your craft store) and small stamps from the retired Elementary Elegance stamp set. You could easily use any of the stamp sets recommended in my Wooden Match Game blog post!  They were cut out using the smallest circle on the Circles #2 Die and the Big Shot.  I've also coated my tiles with a sealant for durability.

Project Tip #1: you could also create this project using punches, but you would probably need to use small magnets instead of a magnetic sheet.  I know my sheet is too thick to go through the punches, and requires the Big Shot.

Project Tip #2: unless your magnets are quite strong, do not mat your Designer Series Paper Game Board! While my magnets stick quite well to my metal flashing, they do not stick quite as well to the game board - well enough to play a game, but not for storage.  

Receive additional pages by email:

If you like this project idea, check back frequently, or sign up for my blog feeds by email!  I'll be posting additional pages with more childish fun in the following weeks. By entering your email address in the blog posts by email box in my right hand side bar and you won't miss a single page.

My One Hour Fall Acorn Wreath!

Today I want to share a little of my fall decor crafting with recycled and upcycled items. This acorn wreath may look time consuming, but it came together in less than an hour!

A little history behind the wreath ...

Walking home from preschool each day, my four year old daughter stops to pick up acorns from a huge oak tree at the church near our house while our puppy plays in the nearby grass.  Some days I'm impatient and want to move along, and others I'm content to let them have their time - but rarely do I actively encourage the dawdling.  Well, at least until recently.

In looking at fall crafts around me (at the stores, at homes nearby, online - my eyes are always open), I've picked up on the fall current trend to coat anything and everything with natural materials.  Twigs are glued around tin cans to create vases, mini pumpkins are glued to wreath forms, and acorns - well, acorns are everywhere and on every project imaginable!

The supplies ...

This wreath is built upon a simple straw wreath form from my local craft store and uses masses of hot glue, hundreds of acorns, a silk flower torn off an old scare crow decoration, a few brown felt leaves cut with my indispensable Big Shot Machine and a retired leaves die, and a piece of retired Chocholate Chip Grosgrain.  

Your turn ...

Check out your craft room for basic supplies and your surrounding environment for natural materials - you just may find that you have all the supplies you need to create a lovely Fall decoration or gift item!    

Crafts With Kids: Wooden Stamped Match Game

It has been awhile since I've shared a handmade children's game with you, but I finally have one ready to go - this rubber stamped Every Little Bit Match Game!  

My four year old (like her 10 year old sister) is constantly asking to craft with me ... that is when she isn't asking me to play with her!  So last week we set out to create this match game: 

I wanted to make certain that the game had longevity, so we started with these wooden disks I've had on hand since my craft fairs last year (I had planned a different project for these that just didn't work out).  

Some Project Tool Tips to help you recreate this project:

1. Stamp onto Card Stock rather than onto the wood disks.
   
   This method definitely proves advantageous when working with a 4 year old - let's just say that several images were stamped more than 2 times! Grin.  
   
   Also, the disks have color variations that would not work well for a match game. The labels cover up these tell tale blemishes - although painting the disks would work as well.   
   
   
2. Don't forget to seal your project for water resistance.
   
   I recommend you avoid using a sealer/adhesive that will dry 'tacky' as your disks will stick together when stored away.  Instead choose a clear drying, non-tacky adhesive medium and top coat.  I've had trouble with Modge Podge in the past, so tried Perfect Paper Adhesive this time around.  We'll see how it does over time!
   
   
3. Stamped images will run unless 'pre-treated'!
   
   Prior to adding your water resistant sealant, spray your images with a matte sealant such as Krylon Matte finish to prevent smearing. In the rush to get this project finished and play the first round with my daughter, I didn't spray mine. If you look closely you will see some bleeding on many of my images.

Wouldn't it be fun to design game tags in MDS2?  I have more wood disks and might need to do this for future sets!

If you are interested in creating a your own travel match game, check out some of these stamp sets that are well suited to the task (click on the images to purchase):

 

A Fitting Occasion Stamp Set

 

Every Little Bit Stamp Set

 

Jolly Bingo Bits Stamp Set

Have fun crafting with & for your young ones with this wonderful handmade gift idea!  You can check out more of my game ideas by searching for games in my side bar or click here to visit my Pinterest Kids Games board.