Weekly Challenge #27

I almost ran out of time to complete this week's Scrapbook Steals sketch.  But I finally made time today and came up with this.  I'm not thrilled with my layout, but I really love this photo I snapped when we were hiking at Potato Creek.  I made my own flower by stitching along a strip of denim and gathering it into a circle, stitching the edges together.  I inked the edges and added a button to finish it off.  Thanks for looking!

Sketchy Thursdays challenge

I was determined to complete this week's 1.20 challenge for Sketchy Thursdays and stayed up late to get 'er done.  For this layout, I broke out my Sew Easy stitch piercer to stitch around the red patterned paper.  I distressed and inked cardstock and craft paper and popped my center picture with pop dots.  My favorite part of the whole page is the "friend" tag that I created with a piece of hubby's old jeans and some rub on letters.  I punched a hole thru the denim tag and added an eyelet, fringed the bottom of the denim, and tied it on with twine.  Thanks for looking!

Weekly Challenge #26

I had lots of options for this week's Scrapbook Steals sketch, but finally settled on pics of my silly Caleb baking with Grandma.  I love that he gets into stuff like this.  My mom is an amazing baker and started including me in the kitchen at a very young age and  I love that she is now sharing her talents with my kiddos.  She lives 6 hours away from us, so we don't get to see her nearly enough.   The boys always look forward to visits from Grandma because they know they'll get to help make treats.  She is  making wonderful memories with my boys and I was lucky to capture a few pics! 

altered can "how-to"

Who wants to give another gift in a boring old gift bag? One way to guarantee that an exciting (or ordinary, or even a boring) gift is well received is to wow the recipient with a super cute personalized gift can, made with scrapbooking supplies! Here's a look at the finished product, with step by step details to follow:

Just get a clean, unused gallon paint can and some of your favorite scrapbooking papers, trims, and mod-podge! I've found the cans in hardware stores (at the major home improvement chains, and my local neighborhood hardware store for about half the price!) You'll also need approximately two 12x12 pieces of scrapbook paper and a 5-6 inch circle of paper for the lid.

I measured my can and cut my paper to fit. You'll need two strips approximately 4" x 10.25" to go around the bottom of the can, and two strips 3.5" x 10.25" for the top of the can. Working around the handle is the tricky part. After lots of trial and error, I found that it's easiest to use a 1" circle punch to make a cut out for the handle (approximately 1.5" from the top of the strip. Before I had a circle punch, I actually traced my half circles using the lid of a water bottle and cut them by hand.

Then cut a circle approximately 5.25" in diameter to fit the lid. I recommend doing all of the cutting before you start adhering pieces, and do a "dry fit" to make sure they're right before you bust out the mod-podge. Using a foam brush, coat one section of the can with a thin layer of mod-podge (the kind with matte finish, not glossy) making sure not to goop too much on (or you'll wind up with bubbles under your paper)

Then coat the backside of your paper with a thin layer of mod-podge and stick it on the can, lining up the paper with the bottom of the can, smoothing out air bubbles as you go and using a towel to wipe off any mod-podge that oozes around the edges.

Do the same thing for the top half of the can, fitting your half circle cuts around the handle. Keep smoothing out air bubbles as the papers dry, and wipe away mod-podge that oozes at the seams. Hint: Those sneaky little air bubbles are less noticeable when you use a patterned paper and less likely if you use cardstock than with regular weight paper.

Glue the paper to the can lid the same way, smooth away the bubbles, and embellish the lid anyway you like. This is a great place to add personalization, die cuts, etc.

Break out your favorite trims to hide the seams around the middle of the can. You can use just about anything for this step. I've used ric-rac, ribbon, or just another strip of patterned paper. If your trim is a heavy one (like my sequined fabric) it's best to use a hot glue gun or super sticky adhesive.

If your trim doesn't quite go all the way around your can, you can add another embellishment in the center to hide gaps or seams.

Start tying ribbon onto the handle, using as little or as much as you want. You can skip the ribbon all together if you're doing a masculine can, or try wrapping the handle with rope, leather, or anything. Some cans have handles that can be removed, making it possible to slide beads on the handle instead.

Don't forget to ask for a "paint can key" when you purchase your can. I've been able to get them for free most of the time. Tie some ribbon to the key and tie it to the handle of the can so it can be used to open the gift.

You can also use leftover paper to make a gift tag to tie to the other side of the can.

Now your project is complete and ready to be stuffed with just about anything and given away (or kept for yourself to organize your crafty space)! By the time the recipient gets done oohing and aaahhhing over the can, they really won't care what's even inside. And this is one gift bag that won't be thrown away or "regifted".

The possibilities are truly endless with a project like this. The cans can be themed for kids, sports, hobbies (fishing, golf, gardening), baby, teachers, etc. and used for all sorts of things. How fun to fill with homemade baked goods, teacher supplies, scrapbook goodies, kitchen gadgets or mixes! They are even good for a bachlorette party or wedding gifts and can be used later to store keepsakes and momentos from the big day.

My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge #19

I love a challenge!  Obviously, since I work full time, raise two little boys (and take care of a husband) and still find time to get crafty.  This week I decided to try another challenge, this one with RULES.  For this challenge I had  to work from their sketch,  use 80% product from My Mind's Eye (since it is their challenge, after all), and I had to make it a winter theme.

Hmmm, winter =(  I'm not a big fan.  I almost ruled out this contest because of the winter rule.  I hate driving in snow, being stuck inside the house with overactive children, taking extra time to get everyone bundled up, and I hate that my yard looks all yucky and gross.  My winter pics are limited since I generally hate going out in the snow and usually just watch from inside in my comfy jammies.  I braved the weather to snap a few shots in December, so I decided to make them work.  And since I had just received the "I Believe" collection from My Mind's Eye in the mail this week, I decided to use some of my new product.  The letters and brown ribbon are from MME's Lush line and the solid blue paper at the bottom is from MME Simply Delightful.  The brown letters didn't pop enough, so I highlighted the edges with a silver marker.  I made the thermometer by modifying a horizontal journaling strip from the I Believe chipboard.  I turned it vertically, added some slash marks, and voila!,  a thermometer.  I inked the edges of everything and realized that I somehow left a big brown fingerprint right on my one of a kind thermometer (gasp)!  Another embellishment to the rescue!  The red flower/snowflake fit perfectly over my blemish.  The only extra I added was some snowflake lace that I sprinkled with glitter.   Here is my final project!

Sketchy Thursdays challenge

Since making one page a week wasn't enough to distract me and keep me away from much needed housework, I found another site that offers a weekly sketch challenge and the chance to win prizes through a random drawing.  I'm all about prizes, and since it's random, I have as good a chance as anybody!  This page gave me a chance to use some of my favorite "non traditional" scrapbook elements.  I used drywall mesh and metal pipe strapping to give it a more industrial feel.

Weekly Challenge #25

When I saw the Scrapbook Steals challenge for this week, I knew it would be a great sketch to use with Jacob's 9th birthday pics.  He had a sleepover, maybe his last, but we all survived and he had a great time!

sketchy thursday challenge

This is my entry to the latest Sketchy Thursday challenge.  I will eventually add a second page, including the team picture, but I've run out of creative energy for today.  I was super excited to find out I could use my Sew Easy  to make my own baseball embellishment. 

Weekly Challenge #24

This week's sketch challenge couldn't have come at a better time.  They announced the  new sketch on Wednesday, which just happened to be the day one of my new Scrapbook Steals purchases arrived in the mail.  With a great sketch from the super talented guest designer Jana Paddington, and new paper from the great Like Father, Like Son kit from Fancy Pants, I couldn't wait to get my scrap on.  Unfortunately, it took me longer this week since those pesky little things like going to work, grocery shopping, feeding my family and cleaning my house had to be done first.  But alas, laundry is in and my sketch is done!  Nevermind that my kids aren't dressed and the dishwasher is full.  A girl has to have her priorities!

where the magic happens

I know there are scrapbookers out there with gorgeous work rooms and lavish spaces, and I would love to have that someday.  But for now, I cherish my room in the unfinished basement.  I have a recycled desk, full of crafty goodness, and space to work and call my own.  Flooring, walls, and finished ceilings are overrated, if you ask me.  All that matters is that I have my space where I can make a crazy mess and leave it until the next day when it will be right where I left it.  It sure beats my old method of scrapbooking, which consisted of hauling all of my products to the kitchen table in a scrapbook tote.  I often spent more time unpacking and repacking than I did actually creating.  Someday I'll have my dream room complete.  I would love to have a real sewing desk, some bookshelves, and another long work table where friends come come craft with me.  While I'm dreaming, why not have a tv to watch crafty shows and a lock on the door to keep out those needy little buggers who call me Mom.  

Today my scrappy world got even better, thanks to my awesome husband.  He knows how much I love to create and he's been very supportive of my habit.  He's never complained about what I spend on supplies, etc. and he loves to look at the things I create.  Today, out of the blue, he asked if I wanted to go to Home Depot (one of his favorite places and one of our regular stops) so I sighed and said sure.  Then he announced that he wanted to get some peg board to add some organization to my scrappy space.  How awesome is this??  We packed up the rug rats, bribed them with lunch, and then headed to the hardware store.  He put in my peg wall in less than an hour and we added all of the pegs and baskets, etc. with the whole set up costing around $50.  Of course, I spent the rest of the evening organizing and arranging things (while he folded laundry, no less).  My husband rocks and I can't wait to get my craft on!

He even installed my IKEA curtain wire, which I turned into my own clip-it up station by adding these nifty little clips.  I hope that by having supplies at eye level and within reach, I'll actually remember to use some of these goodies more often.  I am so excited to get things organized and I'm sure this space will continue to change as I actually start working with things.  My wonderful husband is going to add a shelf at the top so I have more space to stash bigger stuff.  Getting organized and making all this room means now I have more room to add to my stash!