Gift Inspiration for Valentine’s Day

Today, I discovered that one of my old craft creations was featured on tipjunkie.com as an example for a teacher’s gift idea. This made me realize that I should share some of my previous craft projects that are excellent inspiration for handmade Valentine Gifts. Although most of these can be found in my Picasa web galleries, I will save you the time in sorting through all the images...you can do that later by clicking the link above. I hope that these will be a springboard to your own creativity!

 Idea 1: Use items you have to dress up something ordinary!

Skill level: Beginner. 

I used paper flowers, buttons and ribbon to turn this dull storage box into a colorful, gift that my daughter can use to store her hair accessories or casual jewelry. All you need are some great adhesives. My suggestion: Glue Art’s extreme adhesive squares.

Skill level: Beginner.

For this second example, I purchased colorful buttons and used the same adhesive squares to dress up this ordinary lampshade. Note: Until I figured out the exact placement, I used smaller pieces of adhesive on the back of each button. I also layered some of the buttons beforehand for more color and interest.

 Idea 2: Turn an old container (candle jar with lid) into a matching gift set.

Skill level: Advanced; see suggestions for making it a beginner level project.

Using  coordinating papers, stamps and supplies, I created this gift, card & bag matching set by recycling and lidded glass candle jar, covering the sides and lid and trimming with a sweet stamped saying. If you are not good at cutting and stamping use pre-cut elements, stickers, colored chipboard embellishments, silk flowers, ribbons and rhinestones to turn this into a simpler, yet wonderful project.

Idea 3: Personalize a frame and turn it into a piece of art.

Skill level: Beginner-Intermediate

You can see some of the steps for this project in my Glue Arts Project gallery. This same project idea can be done at any skill level based upon the steps you choose to add. 

Skill level: Beginner:

You can start out by simply dressing up a purchased frame (great use for those 40% off coupons at the craft store!) along with some basic embellishments like sequins, adhesive pearls, rhinestones or gems, maybe some silk or paper flowers and some ribbon. You will also require some type of permanent adhesive that is strong enough to stay adhered, yet small enough to use on tiny items such as thin ribbon. For this I, once again, used extreme adhesive squares on the items that did not contain adhesive backing. Create a ribbon with some long tails and attach to one of the top corners and trail the tails around the frame using the small adhesive squares to create a flowy feel. Then dress up with various sizes of adhesive gems or pearls to complete your beginner level gift. The frame is now ready for a photo.

Skill level: Advanced

Now, step it up by creating artwork to go inside your frame or on top of the glass. For this example, I mounted a photo of my girls onto a piece of pink paper trimmed to fit the window of the frame. I used svg diecuts of my Lovey Dovey Brushes set of digital art to cut black vinyl to add to the top of the frame. I used adhesive alphabet letters to add the phrase Oh so tweet tot he glass and filled in the space by adding black sequins with white pearls on top. Now the top art is easy to display and clean.

Skill level: Intermediate

This takes a bit more time and skill, but I used some basic punches to create my own handmade, sugared flower from cardstock, glitter, a paint brush and crystal effects.  To shape the flower and folded the punched floral shape, bent and manipulated it. I used adhesive squares to attach the segments to one another to form the flower, then brushed the crystal effects onto the flower and sprinkled with dazzling diamonds glitter to give it the shimmery look. I paired with other diecut stems. You can achieve a similar look by adding pre-purchased sugared flowers from Prima. I also added a vinyl diecut heart layered onto pink cardstock on top of the ribbon. For this, you can substitute a sticker or chipboard element.

Idea 4: Transform a heart shaped craft box into a 3D display for the love of your life. 

Skill level: Advanced to Intermediate

This project started with the purchase of a kraft heart shaped box with a lid and evolved into a mini 3-D display featuring a foam core photo cut out, diecuts, trim and other embellishments. This makes a nice shelf display and also works well as an anniversary gift, especially for a special anniversary. The measuring, gluing and cutting make this a more advanced undertaking.

Idea 5: Create a relationship keepsake box. 

Skill level: Advanced

When I spotted this kraft box with a two-piece framed lid, I knew it would be fun to turn into a shadow box keepsake gift for my daughter to keep all the mementos of her high school relationship. Purchasing a themed scrapbook collection makes this project much easier due to all the great coordinating papers and embellishments that there are to use. The square lid insert became my main canvas. Tip: you may want to dray a light pencil line around the window opening of the outer lid on top of the square so you will know what are is visible once assembled. Decorate away with elements. You can even add in personal items such as ticket stubs, photo booth strips, etc. This idea can also be used as a birthday idea featuring the person's special interest i.e. a sport they play, activity i.e. theatre or dance, or a hobby they enjoy.

This sits on Kylie's shelf as room decor and a place to store notes, photos and other mementos.

Idea 6: Create a scrapbook page featuring the things or people that you love.

Skill level: Beginner-Intermediate

Beginner to Intermediate scrapbookers of all levels can create a page related to love: people they love, things they love or stories about being in love. These layouts can be framed in a 12 x 12 frame as a gift, mounted onto foam board to lean against something or given with a long piece of ribbon, some push pins and two spring-hinged clothes pins to hang on a ribbon banner on a wall.

Idea 7: Purchase a mini scrapbook album kit and 

personalize with photos, journaling & embellishements.

Skill level: Beginner-Intermediate

Even advanced crafters can make the best out of pre-made kits. As a beginner, you can simply assemble per the kit contents and instructions, or you can deviate by adding your creativity and own items to turn into a more advance project design. This was a small gift album I made for my mother, shown with photos of my sister and niece. Each page had some sweet photos that I knew she would enjoy. The finished album is pretty enough to leave out on a table top on display, and always close by to thumb through and experience a bit of family love.

Idea 8: Recycle packaging into a wonderful treat box.

Skill level: Beginner

I just love when I can recycle or repurpose things I have into wonderful gifts for friends and loved ones. This treat container was created for my niece from the empty packaging from my Glue Arts adhesive cartridges. I washed, dried then decorated it with stickers, gems and a tag. I used silk flower petals, trim and a button to make my own decorative flower. The epoxy sprinkles added a fun "sweet" element to this treat container which I filled with candies. This also makes a regiftable container for the recipient to pass along the love.

Idea 9: Cover simple boxes with stamped or diecut designs to make lovely gift boxes.

Skill level: Beginner-Advanced

As you can see, I love working with small boxes. We all have them and they come in so many fun shapes and sizes. Covering them with paint, papers, fabric, ribbons, trims and embellishments makes them that much more enjoyable to receive. Fill them with covered candies, add tissue and cookies, bath salts, packages of tea bags, cocoa, or use as an elegant way to give jewelry as a gift.

Idea 10: Dress up a store purchase.

Skill level: Beginner-Advanced

Embossing is a very elegant, yet simple crafting technique that always looks so impressive. It requires a stamp, either pigment or embossing ink pad, a heat tool and some scrap paper to recycle the unused embossing powder back into the container. For the candle wrappers, I used white embossing powder with a flourish and a heart stamp. You can take this simple candle wrapper idea to the next level and turn this into a romantic tabletop display by decorating a vase and creating a Valentine pick to put inside the vase. Ribbons, gems, floral picks, flowers, photos, etc. can be added to customize each item.

I hope that these ten Valentine Gift making ideas help you to 

Project 365- Day 12/Wintertime Snow Layout

With the brisk winter we have had...a record cold December for Florida residents, I decided to scrap some photos from last winter’s trip to Philly where the girls, us and Bella got to enjoy the snow.

Wintertime Snow Layout - Day 12 Challenge

Supplies from these manufacturers:

Echo Park Paper Co., Scenic Route, The Paper Co., Glue Arts,

Fiskars, Cosmo Cricket, Maya Road, Prima & Recollections.

I really love this Echo Partk Wintertime Collection by Bella Road. I used many elements to create this fun layout of Ashley with Bella. But since Bella had on her pink winter coat, I selectively chose the papers and paired with a pink (Tinted Dawn) CS background from The Paper Co.

How to Create a Ribbon Loopy Bow with Extreme Adhesive Squares

This Sugar & Spice layout was created in hotel room with limited supplies and tools using scissors, paper trimmer, Bo Bunny Olivia Collection cardstock & embellishments and Glue Arts ribbon adhesive, extreme mini adhesive squares along with Glue Glider™ Pro and high tac adhesive.  This layout can be used as a sketch for creating simple layouts at crops or when you have limited supplies and tools at your disposal. The journaling area can be replaced with a title or a name.

Learn how to make a ribbon loopy bow following the photo tutorial below...

Unroll the liner of extreme mini adhesive squares and position end of ribbon on 

top of square. Press lightly with finger to transfer adhesive to back side 

of ribbon, then remove from liner.

Make loop by matching two end of ribbon and sealing together with the mini 

extreme adhesive square attached in step 1.

Place ribbon loop back onto Glue Arts' extreme mini adhesive squares 

liner to add another square of adhesive to ribbon

Make another ribbon loop and place one on top of the other, attaching 

with the adhesive square applied in the previous step.

Create a total of 8 ribbon loops, stacking and angling each symmetrically, 

and using glue Arts' extreme mini adhesive squares to layer.

Create a total of 8 ribbon loops, stacking and angling each symmetrically, 

and using glue Arts' extreme mini adhesive squares to layer.

Side view of finished loopy ribbon bow with embellishments layered on top. 

This bow was used as an accent on a scrapbook layout using double dot 

ribbon plus stickers & cardstock from the Olivia collection from Bo Bunny 

along with Glue Arts’ extreme mini adhesive squares, the Glue 

Glider™ Pro and high tac adhesive.

An alternate view of the loopy bow. This shows layering with embellishments, 

however, you can layer silk or paper die cut flowers or shorter ribbon 

strips on top to customize your own loopy ribbon bow simply by 

using your imagination and Glue Arts adhesives.

A Layout Appearing at CHA

This is a design team project I created for Glue Arts using canvas creatively with their new Extreme adhesive products launched at Summer CHA. It is presently on display at the show!

I decided to create a wall hanging scrapbook layout for my office of my niece Lauren. Since she has on a leopard print bathing suit, I wanted to play on lots of texture and use earthy shades like teal, green and brown with the white contrast. To make the texture on my canvas sheet, I used Stampin’ Up!’s new embossing folder that I tried out at my demo friend Ree’s house during one of our stamping “play dates”. I loved how it accentuated the texture of the canvas. See the detail, here..

Next, I applied pigment inks to bring out the embossing and used some of my smaller Cuttlebug Fancy Corner embossing folders for the smaller canvas tiles.  I also rubbed some of the brown ink over the textured Core’dinations cardstock used in the background. Check out Glue Arts’ website for the step-by-step instructions!

2 years, 220 Posts, 1 Great Experience!

I just looked back to see how long it is has been since I started blogging. It was 2 years in June, and my how that time has flown by! In my years as a graphic designer I have seen changes in computers, technology, software, trends and it has been such an amazing journey. When I started my own design biz, I was simply thrilled to have a little Mac Plus computer that I could do my own typesetting on. Yes, that was in the days of paste up, where every add, logo and brochure had to be pasted up...mechanically. Each title cut out and glued onto a mechanical board and the colors had to be all cut out of rubylith or amberlith with an Xacto knife by hand!

Then came all the software and possibilites with Adobe leading the way. Designers could actually see how the designs would look using certain colors. This opened up the windows to new creativity. We could see the designs before they were printed! But then, suddenly software got all technical, and I suddenly went from being a creative type to having to know how to do pre-press art and set up. Thank God those days are gone...not fun, let me tell you! Laptops showed up giving me design capabilities on the go! The internet lent a wealth of resources, too!

Now the digital revolution has appeared on the horizon and technology continues to advance along with the software posing a need for more RAM and storage space...internal and external hard drives. Photoshop and phtooshop brushes add new life to images and art. Sites like Picnik offer special effects at your fingertips. Uploading, downloading, social media and networking are necessary parts of a designer’s life.

Today, I share with you a scrapbook layout that I did totally digital. It is a faux magazine cover featuring a few photos of Kylie from this summer. Dan commented on how the one picture looked like it could be on a magazine cover...and so the inspiration was born! You see in our house, you have to be careful what you SAY and what you DO. It may just end up on a scrapbook page! LOL

Hazeldiddlies in Heaven Layout

Some of you may recall my post in tribute to my Aunt Floss who passed away on Father’s Day. Before going up to the funeral, I shared my blog post with my family. They loved it so much that I thought I needed to put it into a scrapbook page. I really didn’t have any large photos of my Aunt so you will have to excuse this cropped version being a bit soft focus. I used Crushed Berry, Prailine and Belgian Cardstocks from Basic Grey’s Bittersweet collection along with a a border, some hearts and a stamp image from the Bittersweet Element Stickers that coordinate with the collection. The paper used to print out the journaling is from Karen Foster Design. The flowers are from Prima.

The family had this on display at the viewing and it touched many who read it. There were over 200 of her dancing friends that grew to love her amazing spirit as much as her family. I left the layout behind, but it is forever imprinted in my heart and mind.

Today, Kylie and I saw two monarch butterflies happily dancing together on our way to the mall to run an errand. The significance? When my uncle passed away, my aunt and I would share stories about our “butterfly visits” that we would get from him. So we all have been waiting on the sign of 2 butterflies together to have that reminder that those two souls are now eternally together. So I have my smile on today having gotten my message from above. That is why I thought it very appropriate to post my layout today.

Earth Day Sale on MyGraficO

Happy Earth Day! Check out the 1 day sale at MyGrafico.com. Eveything on the site is 15% off today only! Stock up on great artwork to use on your next creative project.

In honor of Earth, I created this Earthy Goodness layout of my daughter from our recent trip to Philadelphia. This layout shows how you can use digi stamps and clip art to create a digital scrapbook layout. Some of the items used in this layout are FREE downloads at mygrafico.com. Be sure to check out the sales and sign up in my ning network group. Keep an eye out for free downloads that I will be posting for my groupies!

A Perfect Family Harvest

Looking for a clever Fall layout to include some fun photos and facts about your family members? Then check out this Harvest theme layout I did for Glue Arts using their adhesives, my computer for the title and journaling along with K & Company cardstock.

Here is a closeup on the title and paper piecing...

I have a template for the paper piecing and a file for the title available as pdfs. Email me if you are interested in those. You can check out the step by step instructions on Glue Arts’ website.

Who Says Dogs Aren't Manipulative?

I beg to differ with those dog trainers who say that dogs don't know spite and don't feel emotions like we do. And our Wheaton Terrier proves my point daily. Bella is as high strung and emotional as any of my teen girls. She whines when I am taking too long to get ready for a walk, pitches a fit when we are getting ready to leave, smiles when she knows a treat is coming her way and plays the funniest game of I love mommy best with my daughter Ashley, who loves Bella dearly.

It starts like this...Ashley wants Bella to come snuggle with her on the couch or wants to snatch her up to bring her in her bedroom. Only Bella has always been a dog to give affection on her terms, and watching the game is quite amusing. Ashley will call her over and Bella will leap over three people and sit practically on top of me, as if to say "protect me mommy — don't make her take me!" This often becomes a cat and mouse game with the two of them and Bella being held against her will with a look on her face of resentment. All in all, when Ashley isn't around she sometimes goes in her room and lies on her bed or looks for her. She is always ready with kisses, but no matter how hard Ashley tries, Bella wants control of the relationship and her affection. Ashley gets frustrated at times, but I have to find it humorous that they act more like siblings than a dog and a girl.

Layout notes: I cut up parts of a predesigned layout by Bisou Bzoo to create my own layout. For adhesive I used Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro with High Tac adhesive, Stampin' Up dimensionals and 2-way glue. The tiny flower and star punches were from Michaels dollar bins, purchased a while ago. The dog chipboard tags are Marcella K found at Target and I also used K& Company Carolyn Gavin Grand Adhesions stickers for the adorable You & Me heart. To personalize the journaling I added some hand doodling that I colored in with markers. Also included were some assorted ribbons in coordinating colors. Thanks for viewing!

Fabulous 4th!

This layout uses embossing powder and punches with a crinkled plastic wrap technique that adds a little extra sparkle to the design.  My inspiration for this layout is the K&Co. patterned paper in the lower right hand corner with foil stamping. The glittered titled stickers are also K& Co. This photo of my daughter and niece really is one of my favorites. I chose a 5 petal flower punch to compliment the stars associated with this holiday. I used a small star punch for the center accents. The type was computer typeset, trimmed out and attached to color tabs of patterned paper from Bo Bunny. Try some of these techniques and ideas to make your 4th of July layout sparkle.

A Littlle Inspiration to Kick Off National Scrapbooking Day

With Mother's Day just around the corner and today being National Scrapbooking Day, I wanted to share with you these projects that will soon be featured in a video demo on Glue Arts’ website. I hope it will inspire you to do a little scrapbooking today.

This is a closeup view of the scrapbook page featuring some handcut paper flowers from the K&Company McKenna collection. These “Shabby Chic” layered circle flowers are so fun and easy to make! Using patterned papers and a series of circles you can make these distressed flowers in no time to enhance your layouts and projects. Below are some close up views of the flowers. And be sure to check out the folded ribbon - new sewing involved! I used Glue Arts micro adhesive squares and some gold mini brads to secure in place.

The matching trinket box, shown below, is so easy to make and no painting required! It showcases the new lace border punch from Stampin’ Up! available for purchase on my SU website as well as the button bouquet designer buttons.  I accented the buttons with gold embroidery thread or ribbons on these projects. Have fun creating your gift for mom!

Day 26 (countdown) - Christmas Decorating

O.K., so yesterday we shopped until we dropped, now it is on to holiday decorating or what can also be known as Decking the Halls!!! I created this scrapbook layout from some of last year’s Christmas decor photos. So while you are decorating your house and trimming the tree, don’t forget to snap some pictures of your handiwork to add to your Christmas scrapbooking memories. It is fun to look back and see how your colors, style and taste changes over the years...or maybe not! ;D

Notes on the layout: Adhesives are from Glue Arts; Stamps and Embossing powders are from Inque Boutique/Darice, and I used a white gel pen for journaling and adding accents to the journaling box. Layering ribbons is easy with Glue Arts ribbon adhesive!

Who Skipped Fall?

Let me start by saying, “where did fall go?” Here in Florida we went straight from the beach to bundling up under blankets when it switched from high 80's to a low of 46 this morning.

Then you have my home town Phillies trying to finish off the World Series, but no, we have to have sleet and a day of snow to delay game 5.

I thought it would be pretty appropriate to post this layout I did for Glue Arts design team featuring my girlies when we lived in Kansas and got to see those gorgeous "Signs of Fall". If you haven't tried out the new Glue Glider Pro adhesive, it is great. First I fell in love with the Glue Glider Max while working on albums and layouts, but this smaller version is really great!

I also used their new Wall Art Adhesive to apply the patterned papers to the chipboard letters for the titles. Signing off to cheer on the Phillies and wait for some true signs of Fall to return.

Ideas for Stamping and Embellishing Your Layout

I did this layout a while ago, but wanted to share some ideas of how to combine a photo and stamping creatively on a layout.  Since I wanted the colors of the stamped flowers to stand out, I printed out my image in b&w {me on our 20th Anniv. trip to Aruba} so the two didn't compete for attention. I stamped these flowers from Inque Boutique’s Tropical Lagoon set directly onto my light patterned paper. Using markers and blend pens, I added the colors to the flowers. Next, I carefully cut along the outer edge of the flowers where I wanted to slide my photo under {kinda like one big giant photo corner}. I set the photo aside while attaching the Queen & Co. scrolled felt ribbon. I then attached the photo, did more stamping for the journaling box. To make the colored flowers pop, I inserted brads into pastel colored Prima flowers and attached them to the scroll. The wave border and title were both done using embossing powders to add texture & interest. Most of these papers {and cardstock stickers, too!} are from the Cabana Collection from Inque Boutique.