Wedding favor idea!

One of the girls I work with is helping plan her stepson's wedding and came up with the idea of placing these pedestal candles at each place setting on the reception dining tables for guest wedding favors. She wanted to dress them up a bit so I made these little tags for inspiration. She bought ribbon and scrapbook paper to match the color scheme of the wedding. We came up with several sayings for the tags. I also played around with the "initial" tag using different styles of fonts. I then dressed them up a little further by gluing the paper to a rim tag. I love the results. The rim of the tag brings an understated elegance to the candles, perfect for the tablescapes. The place settings with silverware, white candle center pieces, flower petals and these little candles will surely dress each table beautifully!

It was really easy to do on the computer. I just typed the sayings or initial, then printed and punched each one. I played around with the best color combination and decided green on navy looked the best(IMO). Gluing them together was a breeze! The rim tag came with the wire hanger which was perfect to attach to the slip knot as I tied each one. She only needs 50, so it should be an easy afternoon project!

So simple! I love it!!

Other ways to use this tag? Well, I can see using the initial tag done in pink paper with jewels and attached to teen gift bags filled with bath stuff, makeup, etc. How about childrens party bags filled with goodies...ohh the possiblilites are endless!

Supply List
Candles(AC Moore)
Ribbon
Scrapbook paper
punch round 1"
punch scallop 1.5"
rim tag 1 1/4" ( you can get 50 of these from staples for $7.99)

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Scrap-tastic Cards and Tags

You know how I've loved using up my scraps of left over scrapbook paper from the projects I've done over the last year. Well, I'm finishing up the year with a few cards I made to thank people for their lovely gifts. I also made lots of tags from bits and pieces of paper, paper that had stamping boo-boo's, and even packing paper that came with cardstock to use as gift tags. Not only did I do these tags for me, but I gave them away as presents too. I'll have to find the pictures I took of the tags in a package idea I came up with to contain them. I'll try to find the pictures and do a post tomorrow. I have to admit the tags were really very pretty on my gifts and presents.

The cards were so simple to do, punching snowflakes, adding a button and sentiment and DONE! Same for the tags, punched a bunch of scallop circles, stamped the sentiments, punched them out, glued them together, added leftover rhinestones, the ribbon hang tag and DOUBLE DONE! My kind of project, fast and easy.

As you know, there's no time like the present to start gathering ideas for the next holiday season. It'll be here again before we know it!

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Recycling...

Today I finally got around to making the girls at work a "fall" goodie bag. The plastic bags I used to hold the candy actually came from the journal books I made back at the end of summer. The book covers were made from a thicker plastic and I just couldn't throw them away, so right then I decided I would hang onto them and use them for a future project. Recycling at it's finest.

I originally thought about doing something for Halloween but I knew I'd have to find the candy on sale, so I just waited until after Halloween and bought the candy at 1/2 price. Each little bag cost around .35 cents to make. Not bad.

They turned out really cute with the fall ribbon, tags and matching foil wrapped candy.

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Matchy Matchy with Martha

Cute little "wedding" gift thank you notes I made for one the girls at work.

The Kraft brown note cards I purchased from Michael's last week were only $2.50. However, there were only 8 blank cards and envelopes and I needed at least 16. So, off I went to Michael's again. Of course, they didn't have any more of the Kraft brown ones. So, while browsing the Martha Stewart section, lo and behold, a bunch of her note card sets had been reduced! The eyelet white cards were marked down to @2.99. They were originally $10.00, of which I would have never paid full price for, but on sale is a different thing. They are darling! Only wish they had had more! Made from top quality paper, they are very nice indeed. I ended up using the "Martha" colors on them and wow..I think they turned out so pretty. I also used small pearls to use as the center of each flower and placed the colored strip behind the flowers to accent them. The paper I used on the brown Kraft came from my stash. This paper has given me a a lot of trouble idea wise. It had large flowers which I couldn't figure out how to cut, so I could utilize most of the paper. In the end I just measured, cut and glued them on cards. Then I analyzed where to best place the scalloped embellishment. I love how they turned out as well. The brown ribbon I used on them was on sale for a $1. It just tied up so nice. I will definitely be buying more of it in different colors. The two sets compliment each other with similar colors. S0, this little matchy, matchy set will be going to it's owner on Monday. I think she'll be really pleased!

On another note, I sure have gotten my money's worth out of the punches I have used on all the note card sets. While all the cards are very similar, the recipients don't know each other, so they'll never know a "like" set exists out there. I am using up my stash of paper that was accumulating in my storage cabinet. Pairing down has been my goal and I am whittling away slowly but surely....and that is a good thing!

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Playing with stamps

I recently got a set of clear rubber stamps and the opportunity to use them came up last weekend. Two of the younger nurses I work with will be having their babies at the end of this month and first of Oct. So, of course I had to make them a set of "Baby Thank-you cards".

I simplified the production this time. I decided to keep the cards very similar which allowed me to mass produce them in a more timely fashion. However, it still took me a couple of hours to complete. But, they turned out sooo cute!!

I loved the orange and yellow ones the best, but all the color combos are sweet. One set for a girl and one for a little boy.

I lucked up and found 2 sets of envelopes marked down at Michael's for $2.50 so I scarfed them both up. That saved me quite a bit of time by not having to make them. They were just the right color and I even found I had matching solid paper already here at the house. Paired with scraps from other projects(and you'll recognize the prints)they were perfect matches.

So, here they are!

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Holiday planning..

Holiday Planners!

There's no time like the present to start planning for the upcoming holiday.I saw the idea of making them on another blog. However, their version of the planner was made from a junior notepad. While I liked the idea, I felt it may not hold up in our pocketbooks. So, as I was perusing Michael's I came across these journal books in the $1 bin. They had flowers on the front covers, but that didn't matter as I planned to cover them anyway. I had already ordered the scrapbook paper online, along with a few rubber stamps in preparation for the project. Hours later I had the first one done, adding to it the more I played with the idea. I decided we need a pocket for receipts, quick notes and the like. Then, I decided we had to have a calendar to keep track of paydays, upcoming events, special occasions, etc. That left the rest of the journal pages to jot down ideas, gift lists, recipes, to do lists and expenses. And lastly, I decided they needed our initial to dress the covers. The finished planner is quite nice and definitely one of a kind!

I love how they turned out!

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The Project..

Wahlah!

The finished project...and I so love the yellow flowered ribbon. I don't know what it is about the combination of yellow and green. They were made for each other! As so the blues and greens. These are so easy to make and I used up all the leftover scraps of those colors! These little tags/cards will be used over the next couple of weeks for coworker "1st day of summer" presents. I'll pair them with a couple of Hershey Nuggets in matching colors and I'll have everyone a little something for next to nothing! And what do you think of my little butterflies? Pretty cool they matched the ribbon, one of those happy little finds that just work out!

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The Inspiration

Today I went specifically to Michael's to pick up some ribbon for a project I had in mind. Now, anybody who does any sort of sewing, needlepoint, crafting, paper crafting, etc, etc knows how much stuff you tend to keep as "leftovers". From scraps of perfectly good paper or material and thread, it's still the same. You absolutely hate to throw it away. So I am no different and have the craft cabinet to prove it! I have bits and pieces of this and that - so today I decided to try to use some of it.

My inspiration came from the $1 ribbon bin today. Catching my eye was the prettiest yellow flower ribbon. Knowing I had paper left over that matched those colors I scarfed it up along with a couple of others. So tonight I'll work on how to combine some of the leftovers into a project.

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Pretty Purses

These are the cutest little paper purses that I made for some of the girls at work for Mother's day. Each one had bluebird nuggets, a pkg of flower seeds and either an Altoid's peppermint tin or hand lotion. I didn't take a pic of the Altoid's or lotion but I should have. They were covered with paper and ribbon as well and looked really cute. As you can see I was even able to color coordinate my seeds to each of the purse colors. Now how clever was that?

They loved them!

These would be soo cute for other occasions as well. I could see using them for baby shower gifts with a gift card tucked inside along with hair bows if it was a girl. Boy version could be a gift card with booties, etc. How about bridal shower favors? Filled with bath and body travel size items?

Possibilities are only limited by your imagination with all the different scrapbook paper prints out there..Be creative! Certainly another way to use some of that paper you've been stashing!

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Home Alone

Well, this evening both the husband and son are off working. So here I am "home alone".

It's been strange having no one at home..guess I better learn to deal with it, because from here on out this is the way it's going to be. Maybe not every weekend but it's going to more than I am used too. However, I took advantage of being here alone to finish up a couple of chores. Worked out in the yard and transplanted a few things that had been needing to go into bigger pots. Watered my pots of Hosta that are starting to emerge. Did a little bird watching. And soon after that meandered in to do a little paper crafting.

Now I have to say I am glad to have taken "crafting" back up. It seems I have always made something every year but to tell the truth my creativity has been waning the last couple of years. That is until recently discovering all the cool things people are making with paper. I have found several things I am going to be trying out of the next several weeks, especially since I now have "home alone" time.

Tonight I finished the baby girl stationary and ended up making a couple of extra cards after remembering I had a corner slot punch. Why I didn't think of it earlier is beyond me. I could have done a bunch more but the bag was getting tight so I ended with 16 cards plus 3 smaller ones. I was really happy how it all came together and the little bag is sweet but simple.

No more pregnant girls at work to do any more thank you cards for, so now I have an excuse to move on to my next project....

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Baby Stationary...Round 2

Been busy this weekend working on the girl version of the Baby Stationary Set and I've had a lot of fun with the colors! Lavender, pinks and greens all work so well together using the companion prints. I also incorporated paper flowers and brads. I love using the scallop punch which adds just the right touch. Throw in a little ribbon and a few rhinestons and Whoo hoo! They are so sweet looking and totally little girl!

I made one mistake though - my choice of white cardstock. This particular paper has vertical raised lines and is not going to be easy to write on. So now I am going to have to go back and line each one with another piece of smooth cardstock. I did the envelopes different this time. I actually found a template which fit the cards great since they end up being thicker due to the embellishments. I'll definitely use that template again...very quick and easy. If you click on the picture you can see the detailing better.

I am still thinking about how I am going to do the bag. I'll probably end up doing something similar to the boy version.

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Baby Stationary Set

Several weeks ago after making the mini note card sets I decided I would make a stationary set for one of the girls at work whose baby shower is this weekend. Specifically note cards that could be used for Thank-you cards.

I picked my papers from Michael's mixing and matching the car printed paper with the blue gingham and solids. Including the gingham ribbon I only spent $6. Not bad but it was labor intense due to my lack of experience in the envelope making department. I ended up making slip envelopes that remind me of CD holders. I kept coming up with ideas to use up the scraps thus the mini note cards and gift tags were added to the package. The brown paper bag was cut down and the handles re-glued to become the card holder. Nothing says Baby like gingham. I love it!

Here are the dimensions of the cards:
Note cards = 4"x4"
Mini notes = 3.5"x3.5"
Gift tags = 1.75"x1.75"

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I did it!

I made the cutest little note/gift tags! And after that I tackled these little Valentine pillow boxes. With all the scrapbook paper I have been hoarding it only took a few minutes to pull out and start matching the papers together.

The color combination of many of papers are companion prints so it won't be hard for me to make more of the boxes with stripes and florals, or stripes and the argyle. Of course they won't be traditional red/pink as most Valentine's are but who cares!

I am stepping out of the box and they passed the "La test"!

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Paper crafting

Several weeks ago while aimlessly surfing the net I ran a across several Paper crafting related blogs. I was impressed by the amount of creativity and how huge this craft is becoming. I have always loved looking at the scrapbooking paper but have never really taken the plunge mainly because the thought of going through all the pictures I have stored in various places is well... overwhelming to say the least.

Over the last several years I have been guilty however of buying paper and stockpiling it in a drawer. So.. after spending hours last Saturday going from site to site gathering ideas I think I'm ready to try something. After seeing all the talent out there though it is a little humbling - after all what if I can't pull it off or make anything worth blogging about?

Not to mention I know nothing about how to even get started - do I rubber stamp? make cards? or what!

I need a plan. What to try to do first. What do I need to get and much do I want to invest. I know I want some punches - they will be versatile - I can figure out something to do with them. After that it gets a little complicated. I would love to get a cricut so I could make gift boxes, etc. but not sure if I want to go to the expense unless I can come up with other ideas for it's use. I don't really want to make cards but I think the little note cards people are making are really cute!

Indecision....indecision....indecision. I need that cricut!

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