tipsandsolutions : inspiration

Tip of the Week - Hannah Keeley

katie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Keep Checking Back for Lifestyle Tips from Hannah Keeley

Hannah Keeley's web site, HannahKeeley.com, is a complete resource for creating happy, healthy families. Hannah is an author, television personality, and lifestyle expert. In addition to being a wife and mom of seven, she is executive producer and host of Hannah, Help Me! a national public television series that documents Hannah giving desperate moms two-day life-skills makeovers. Hannah has had many publications and has appeared on the Today Show, Fox and Friends, the TLC Network, and has been a frequent guest on The Rachael Ray Show.

Fall Leave Art - November 9, 2009

The next time you and the kids gather some fall leaves, bring them inside and see what cool designs you can come up with by gluing them on paper. You can even put out some embellishments like wiggly eyes or pipe cleaners.

Dog Wash Stand

katie — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:39:00 GMT

Splash into Summer: Make a Dog Washing Stand!

Sick and tired of the summer blues? Make a splash in your neighborhood with a dog washing stand! Nothing beats summer boredom like getting outside, getting wet, and earning a few bucks while you’re at it. Invite your neighbors to bring their pooches to get a good cleaning for just a few dollars. Use this as a fund-raiser for your school, community, or a local charity, or simply as a way for your kids to earn a little extra money over the summer.

Checklist

Lifetime utility table.
Lifetime personal table
Plenty of young entrepreneurs or volunteers
Flyers (see free printable download)
Sign: Poster paper, markers
Cash box
Change: coins and dollar bills
Large basin(s)
Hose
Dog Shampoo
Old towels
Dog brush
Doggie treats
Some ribbons and bows (optional)
Blow dryer(optional)

STEPS

Set a date and spread the word: Distribute fliers around your neighborhood. Be sure to check the weather beforehand. The rain is a poor substitute for your expert washing techniques!
Get Supplies: Gather your old towels and purchase any items from the checklist that you don’t already have on hand.
Make a Sign: Get a colorful poster paper, or colorful markers to make a bright and fun sign to post at your dog washing stand. You may want to mimic the design of your flyers so that people recognize your stand. Be sure to include prices.
Now you’re ready for opening day! Set up your stand in a highly visible location and in an area where the kids can work safely. Hang the sign from table, set out the cash box, and invite cutomers to “step right up”.
Doggie treats will go a long way in gaining the cooperation of those dogs who don't relish taking a bath. Once the dog is thoroughly wet, lather it with soap and then rinse well. The dogs can be towel-dried or dried with a blow dryer. IMPORTANT: If using a blow dryer, keep it away from the water basin to prevent an accidental electricution!
Play it safe by having a parent present at all times. Don't take the risk of a child being bitten. If a dog exhibits threatening behavior, turn the customer away.

Tips

If you want to attract more than just your own neighborhood residents, put up fliers in your local grocery store, church, library, and community centers. In this case, be sure to have multiple washing stations, plenty of towels, and several volunteer helpers on hand so more than one dog can be washed at a time.
Let one of the children oversee the cash box. This is a great way to teach them how to count change.

"Printable Dog Wash Stand Flyer."

Fun ways to Dye Easter Eggs

katie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Put a fresh twist on your traditional egg dying with Egg-celent Egg Decorating Ideas.

Making your own Easter eggs is a fun way to celebrate Easter and it’s a tradition for most. Who doesn’t remember decorating eggs as a kid? This year, try a new twist on your egg decorating—go natural! Get creative with fruit and vegetable juices, and materials you already have around the house. Follow these “egg recipes” to decorate your eggs as simple or fancy as you want; without making that trip to the store. There are many traditional and non-traditional methods for decorating Easter eggs, but the most important thing to remember is to do what suits you and your creative crew.

Checklist

Lifetime banquet or round table
Lifetime folding chairs
Large Eggs
Teacups and spoons
Paper towels
Egg holders (old egg carton or lined Easter basket)
Natural dye: coffee, saffron, cranberries, beets, spinach, blueberries,1/2 tbsp. vinegar, cold water, and a saucepan
Homemade dye: 1 tbsp. food coloring, 2 tsp. vinegar
Long needle
Crayons
Elastic bands
Egg people: Yarn, Ribbon, Fabric scraps
Easter Bunny eggs: Construction paper, cotton ball
Collage eggs: White craft glue, miscellaneous craft supplies

Steps

Find a creative workspace. Before you begin find a clean workspace for you and your Easter egg decorating party. Dying Easter eggs can be a messy endeavor, so we recommend stain resistant surfaces like a Lifetime Table and Lifetime chairs. A Lifetime 6-foot folding table is ideal for a modest size group, and should be perfect for up to six people.
Hollow or hard-boiled? Decorated eggs may be either hard-boiled or blown out of their shells. Hard-boiled eggs are traditional and a sturdier egg for children to work with, while the blown shells are the best if you want to keep the eggs on display for a considerable time. To make blown shells, use a long needle to make a small hole in the small end of the egg and a larger hole in the large end. Stick the needle into the yolk to break it. Shake the egg large-end down over a bowl until the contents come out. Rinse the shell under cool running water and let it dry.
Hard-Boiling: Unless you are using natural dyes, you need to hard-boil your eggs before decorating. Place the eggs in a large saucepan. Add cold water; enough to completely cover the eggs – at least one inch above your eggs. Place on medium-high heat and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer eggs for 9 minutes. Remove from heat and fill with cold water. The eggs must be completely cool to decorate successfully. Place eggs on a soft towel and allow them to dry.
Try Natural Dyes. For environmentally friendly egg dye, try using natural dyes. Combine the dye source with 1/2 tbsp. of vinegar with some cold water in a saucepan. Add raw eggs (make sure there's enough water to cover the eggs, at least one inch above the eggs) and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you simmer, the darker the color will be, but simmer at least 8 minutes so that the eggs cook thoroughly. Use the color chart below to create all natural tones. Color chart: Brown – Tea or coffee, Yellow – turmeric, Red brown – cranberries, Pink – beets, Green – spinach, Blue – blueberries.
Make Your Own regular dye. Combine 1/2 to 1 tbsp. of food coloring with 2 tsp. vinegar in a cup that is deep enough for the eggs. Add water to about the half way point. Gently place the eggs into the cups. The longer they are left in the dye, the darker the color shade. Experiment with different combinations of colors. When you remove the egg from the dye, pat dry with a paper towel and place in a holder.
Create plaid designs: Wrap elastic bands around your eggs (hard-boiled are recommended for this method), then drop them in food-coloring dye. Remove eggs, pat dry with paper towel and remove rubber bands. The parts of the egg covered with rubber bands will not be colored. Once the rubber bands are removed, you can drop the egg into a different color dye.
Marbled Eggs: In a mug or jar large enough to contain one egg, place 1 tbsp. of oil, 1 tbsp. of vinegar and 1 tbsp. of food coloring. Add enough water to cover egg, stir quickly with a spoon and drop in hard boiled egg. Pull egg out quickly and pat dry with paper towel.
Egg People: (as seen in header image) Use craft supplies such as yarn, ribbon and fabric scraps to create the members of your family. Attach each addition with craft glue. Add facial features using permanent markers for the mouth, nose and eyes. Then cut a paper towel tube into different heights for Mom, Dad, sister etc. Decorate the tube with construction paper for clothing. Place the painted egg onto the holder. You can also add the individual's name to the tube. These make an entertaining name card for the Easter table.
Easter Bunny Eggs: Use food coloring dye or natural dyes to dye eggs in solid colors. Dry with paper towel. For each bunny egg, cut two oval shaped ears from colored construction paper. Glue the ears to the top of the egg. Use markers to add a small triangle for a nose and some whiskers, then add eyes with a marker or use some googily eyes available at craft stores. Glue on a cotton ball for a tail.
Collage Eggs: Adorn your eggs with miscellaneous craft supplies, using white or craft glue to attach. Items to try include sequins, buttons, glitter, or beads. Stickers are a quick and easy solution, or even color with markers.

Tips

When dying with natural dyes, or any dyes for that matter, be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind staining. Also be sure your workspace is stain resistant, and easy to clean. Lifetime tables are ideal.
Mix it up! Experiment with some funky patterns using interesting stickers, letter stickers, or wrap your eggs in lace. Let your imagination go wild!

Free Downloads

Printable Easter bunny and egg people template.

Earth Day Tank Top Shopping bags

Charly — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Celebrate Earth Day by Making Your Own Recycled, Reusable Shopping Bag

You’re seeing them at stores and supermarkets everywhere today as environmentally consciencious folks are trying to do their share to save the planet “one bag at a time.” Take that idea one step further and recycle tank tops into reusable shopping bags! These recycled, reusable shopping bags are a simple, efficient way for everyone to do their part towards reducing the waste in our landfills.

With these tank top shopping bags, 99% of the sewing has already been done for you! Of course, if you're using commercially made tank tops, you can choose from a variety of designs sporting your favorite brand name, vacation spot, etc. The selection is endless! When you use these recycled, reusable, tank top shopping bags, you are making a public statement that you care about our planet and are willing to do your part to clean up the environment.

Checklist

Set up a workspace area. All it takes is a few minutes and a few supplies.For best results, use a sewing machine for a tighter stitch,but the tank top tote bag can be handsewn if necessary.

Lifetime 4ft.utility table
Lifetime folding chair
Tank Top
scissors
sewing machine, or needle and thread

Steps

Cut off the bottom of the tank top so that the length from the top of the shirt to the bottom of the shirt is 17 1/2 inches.
Turn inside out, at the bottom of the shirt,fold sides in 3 inches and sew 1/2 inch seam across the bottom.
Turn right side out and you're ready to go shopping!

Free Download

Download free instructions for Earth Day Bag tag

Make your own Valentines

katie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:30:00 GMT

Make Your Own Valentines Using Household Items.The following project requires the use of bleach. If young children are involved with this project, you will want to substitute lemon juice for bleach. This project requires adult supervision.

Nothing says “I Love You” like a homemade valentine. And nothing’s easier than finding simple household products to help you do the job! For Valentine’s Day this year, why not tell people how much you care with something unique? Now before you stress out, back up. It’s really much easier than you think! Once you have the materials in front of you, you’ll soon have a sizeable stack of cards as loveable as the people who receive them. Use the tips below to create unique patterns and effects using materials already in your home. Download the .pdf attached to this article to follow some easy layouts.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Liftime chairs
cardstock (various colors)
cotton swabs
glue stick
markers of various colors
cotton balls
water
paper towels (or dish towels)
various ribbons (6 inch to 12 inch)
hole punch (*optional)

Steps

Secure a sturdy, clear workspace that you don’t mind messing up and is easy to clean. A Lifetime table is perfect because it cannot be stained by bleach or most other chemicals.
Torn Paper – Tearing paper adds texture to a card and creates an interesting edge. You can make a heart-shaped card, or make a heart to put on the front of a standard square-shaped card. Just fold cardstock in half and rip the paper diagonally from the upper right hand corner of the unfolded side to the bottom left hand corner of folded side. Then starting about ¼ of the way down from the top on the folded side, carefully tear a curve up, around and down to meet the outer edge of your heart shape. You will most likely need to tear off little pieces here and there along the edges to get the exact heart shape you desire.
Bleach – Putting bleach on cardstock will fade the area. The more bleach, the whiter the area will become. Use a cotton swab to create patterns or accents. For the bleach to take effect more quickly, use the hot air from a blow dryer about 6 inches away. Use a cotton swab with bleach on the edge of torn paper for a whimsical effect. For an extra fun look, dip an old toothbrush in bleach and run your finger over the bristles about 6 inches away from the paper to make splatters (being very careful to avoid splattering bleach into eyes).
Chalk – You may also choose to use chalk to create your designs. Use a cotton ball or cotton swabs to smudge the chalk to create soft lines and shapes.
Paper Towel – Dab a marker on a slightly dampened paper towel, and use the paper towel to make well-placed smudges on the card or to accent the torn edges.
Marker – With a fine-point marker, you can make elegant lettering. An easy way to create beautiful handwriting is by choosing swirly, scripted computer fonts, printing out the message, and copying it on paper. Use the downloadable .pdf for some heartfelt messages in fun fonts.
Ribbon – You can use various cuts of ribbon to bind the front of your card to the back along one edge (top or left side), or simply as an added decoration to a heart-shaped card. Sometimes you can buy a bag of miscellaneous ribbon at department stores for a discounted price. These are all the odd sized end-cuts, which are perfect for card making gifts and many other crafts. To make holes for binding up the card, use a hole punch to make two holes spaced a couple of inches apart (or farther if your card is quite large). If you don’t have a hole punch, put your card on carpeting and use one blade of your scissors to poke the holes through it. Twist the blade to make an even, round hole the ribbon will thread through easily. Thread the ribbon through the holes, securely tying off the ends in an attractive bow.

Tips

You need to work with bleach in a well ventilated area because bleach fumes are not healthy to inhale for an extended length of time. Use a small container with a lid so you can cap off the fumes between applications.
Use your Lifetime table when working with anything potentially damaging like bleach or glue. Lifetime tables are easy to clean and stain-resistant to bleach.

Free Downloads

Download Valentine Quotes in Different Fonts

Ideas for Using Stickers

Charly — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:03:00 GMT

Four Useful Ways To Use Stickers

Stickers are wonderfully versatile embellishments! They come in a variety of styles, themes, and textures, and they stick to just about anything: paper, wood, or metal. Here are just a few sticker ideas to spark your creativity. There are so many interesting ways to use stickers, so pull out your scrapbook supplies and start sticking!

Checklist

A Lifetime table
A Lifetime chair
A variety of stickers

Steps

Use letter stickers to add words to your layout. Create an eye-catching title, include a decorative drop cap at the beginning of your journaling, add a simple monogram, or position a word across a photograph. For my layout Those Eyes, I mounted letter stickers on square epoxy stickers to make my title really pop off the page.
Anchor stickers for added stability. Try mounting stickers on tags or cardstock and attaching them to your layout with brads,eyelets, or ribbon, as I do in my layout A Merry Little Christmas. This prevents stickers from looking as though they are floating in space.
Use stickers printed on clear poly to avoid white outlines. Some companies print black words and images on clear poly, allowing you to create accents that match any page. Adhere these stickers to patterned paper, ribbon, or metal embellishments-the possibilities are endless.
Add dimension with textured stickers. Try using epoxy, cardstock,canvas, and other textured stickers. This will add depth and interest to your pages. If you don't have textured stickers, mount flat stickers on cardstock and adhere them to your layout with dimensional adhesive, as I do with the boat and button stickers in my layout Those Eyes.

Those Eyes by Angie Randall Supplies: cardstock by WorldWin and Bazzill Basics; patterned cardstock, letter stickers and boat stickers by Doodlebug Design; epoxy stickers and pen by EK Success A Merry Little Christmas by Angie Randall Supplies: colorblocked cardstock by All My Memories; patterned paper and stickers by O Scrap; letter stamps by PSX; epoxy letter stickers by Creative Imaginations; brads by Scrap Arts; chalk and pen by EK Success; tags

Teacher Mini Album

Charly — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:39:00 GMT

Show your teachers your sincere appreciation

Rather than giving your child's teacher flowers or candles at the end of the school year, why not make a mini album so the teacher can remember the highlights of the year? Try out this envelope album. It provides plenty of room for photos, and the pockets are great for storing messages from each of the children. I'd recommend asking your child to be in charge of collecting photos, notes and memorabilia from all of the students in the class. When he or she helps out with the project, it really becomes a gift from them. In fact, other students may be interested in helping out as well. Designate age-appropriate tasks to them so the album will truly represent everyone!

Checklist

Lifetime Table
Lifetime Chair
Stationery envelopes measuring 4 3/8" x 5 3/4"
Two pieces of chipboard cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Double-sided tape or other adhesive
Patterned paper and embellishments
Photos, notes and memorabilia

Steps

Slide each piece of chipboard into an envelope and tuck in the flap to cover the chipboard.
Adhere one chipboard-stuffed envelope to the plain side of another envelope to create a sturdy cover. (The pocket of the exposed envelope should be on the inside of the book cover and should open to the right.)
Stuff the flap of the exposed envelope inside itself.
Construct the pages of the book with pockets on the left and blank pages on the right. To do this, pick up another envelope and fold back at the crease. Then slide the flap of this new envelope into the exposed pocket of the inside cover. (This should give you a pocket on the left and a plain page on the right.)
Continue folding back the flaps of each envelope and sliding them into the previous envelope until you reach the last page.
After folding back the last pocket, tape the remaining chipboard-stuffed page directly on top of the exposed pocket to create a back cover.
Close the envelope and hold it carefully with the cover facing the ceiling. Carefully pull open the spine and place tape between each flap and the previous envelope to hold in place.
Decorate the envelope book with patterned paper, stickers, die cuts and other embellishments.
Fill pockets and plain pages with photos, journaling and memorabilia.

Thank You Mrs. Larsen Album by Shaunte Wadley. Supplies: stationery envelopes; patterned paper by Chatterbox and Karen Foster Design; stickers and charms by Karen Foster Design; ribbon by Fibers by the Yard and Scrapworks; labeler by Dymo; eyelets by Creative Imaginations; bottle caps.

Great Ideas for Using Scraps

Charly — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:36:00 GMT

Put those scraps to good use!

Your scrapbooking crafts tend to leave you surrounded by lots of small scraps of paper and material. Before you toss those scraps in the trash, take a look at these great tips for putting those small pieces to work as photo backdrops, cards, bookmarkers, or gift tags. Gather them up in a resealable bag and store them with your craft supplies to be used in your next great creation.

Checklist

Lifetime folding table

Lifetime folding chair

Scraps of paper, felt, or material

Various embellishments

Create A Backdrop for Photos

Look for squares, strips and irregular pieces that can be collaged together to create an interesting backdrop for your photos. By inking or tearing the edges of many dissimilar patterned papers, you can create one harmonious design, just as Katie Harkins did for her Courtyard Kitty layout. To give your page continuity, consider choosing scraps that share a common characteristic, such as a color, pattern or theme.Use a die-cut machine, decorative punches, scissors or a craft knife to cut embellishments out of scrap cardstock or patterned paper. Collect papers with small prints-they work well for title letters or small die cuts.

Create Bookmarkers, Cards, & Tags

Take a look at how Vicky Randall uses small flower, leaf and circle punches to create a lovely garden on the front of the first layout which can be used for a bookmarker or a card.Vicky's Mini Flower Card w/Envelope is less than 1" x 1" and works perfectly as a decorative gift tag. Embellish using decorative punches, buttons, brads, charms or fibers--anything you have in your box of leftover bits.

Courtyard Kitty by Katie Harkins. Supplies: cardstock by Bazzill Basics; patterned paper by Basic Grey and K&Company; vellum by Paper Reflections; letter stickers by Basic Grey; brads by Making Memories; paw button by Dress It Up; ink by Ranger; pen by American Crafts. Mini Flower Card and Envelope by Vicky Randall. Supplies: cardstock by Prism; flower punch; button. Flower Tag and Envelope by Vicky Randall. Supplies: cardstock by Prism; flower punch; button. Flower Card by Vicki Randall. Supplies: cardstock by Prism; flower, leaf and circle punches; button.

Make A Father's Day Card with Angie

Charly — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:32:00 GMT

Give him a “hand” with this heart-warming card

Does the day before Father's Day usually drive you to a frantic phone call to your mom? Try making something special this year right at home. Why fight the crowds of last-minute shoppers and go for the usual store bought gift, when you could make something memorable and special, right at home? Thank your dad for all his love, service and sacrifice with a unique, homemade card. And if you've already bought something, you can turn any ordinary gift into something extraordinary by acompanying it with a home-made card. All you need is some cardstock, patterned paper, embellishments, and a photo!

Checklist

Lifetime table
Liftime chairs
Greeting card or folded cardstock
Patterned paper
Small photo
Rub-on letters or letter stickers
Paint
Your children’s (helping?) hands
Washable paint
Embellishments like stickers or patterned paper
Journaling pen

Steps

Cover outside of card with patterned paper.
Mount photo on cardstock and add to layout.
Create title using rub-ons and a letter sticker mounted on a metal-rimmed tag.
Add children's handprints and photos to inside of card. Use the washable paint to avoid stains--you know what will happen if you don't! For a special personal touch, let the kids write messages beside their handprints.
Embellish with patterned paper, epoxy stickers, computer and hand-written journaling.

Daddy Card by Valerie Salmon Supplies: cardstock; patterned paper by Chatterbox; epoxy stickers by Creative Imaginations; letter sticker by Doodlebug Design; rub-ons; metal-rimmed tag; computer fonts.

Make a Tribute Album with Angie

Charly — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:55:00 GMT

Show them how special they are—create a tribute album!

A tribute album usually has a more focused theme than a family scrapook; it often highlights a single person or event. Tribute albums make great gifts or personal mementos. As you make your tribute album, keep in mind that there is no wrong way to go about it, so be prepared to have some fun with it! Your tribute album can be as exciting, chic, calm, or flashy as the person you make it for.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Liftime chairs
Album (desired size)
Photos of tribute-tee
Embellishments that match your color scheme
Scissors
Crafting glue

Steps

The first thing you must do is decide what to focus on. Here are a few approaches that work well:

Document the person’s life history. Be brief and focus on important events such as his or her birth and wedding, as well as other important milestones or achievements.
Choose a poem that describes the person’s personality and use one line of the poem on each page.
Focus on a specific event or time period in the person’s life. For example, use photos of the person’s military service, a wedding or a goal that the person has achieved.
Describe how much you love and appreciate your relationship with the person, as Shannon Montez does in her Sisters Album.
Next, decide what size album you’d like to make. I’d recommend you use a smaller album. This will prevent the project from becoming overwhelming or too time consuming. Look for albums in these smaller sizes: 4” x 6”, 6” x 6” or 8” x 8”.
Pick a color scheme for the entire album so that the book will look unified.
Decide how many pages you will include in the album, then pick your photos and supplies. This will prevent you from trying to include too many photos or purchasing more supplies than you need.

Tips

Consider using an album kit. There are many album kits on the market that include an album, cardstock, patterned paper and all the embellishment you need to complete your project.
Big and chunky embellishments like buttons and ribbon may be in order for this project. Try using glue dots to keep them safely fastened to your album’s pages. Try using heavy-duty glue, like super glue, to adhere embellishments to the front cover.

Sisters Album by Shannon Montez Supplies: album, cardstock, rub-on letters, nailheads, conchos and patterned papers by Scrapworks; letter stickers by Creative Imaginations; paint by Delta Technical Coatings; ink by Tsukineko; ribbon; transparency; computer font

Make A Tiny Tribute book with Angie

Charly — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:50:00 GMT

Make a mini album in under 3 hours

Get caught up on your scrapbooking by simplifying the process. Rather than trying to create full-size scrapbook pages, try making a mini album. I was able to give all the details of my youngest son's first three months of life in the mini album featured here, and it only took about two hours to make. To make your own 4" x 6" mini album, follow the simple steps below.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Lifetime chair
Small photo album for 4" x 6" photos
4"x 6" photos
4"x 6" cardstock
Journaling pen
Desired embellishments: Ribbons, stickers, brads, etc.
Small metal frame

Steps

Choose a project: Mini albums are a great way to store several photos that have a common theme. Consider focusing on a specific holiday, vacation or person.
Select your photos: Decide how many pictures you will include in your mini album. Then look through your photos for those that best represent your subject. Slide one 4"x 6" picture into each photo sleeve.
Write about each photo: Print or hand write your journaling about each photo on a 4"x 6" piece of cardstock. Describe the event and your feelings about it. You may also want to include a brief caption explaining who is in the photo and when it was taken.
Add simple embellishments: Use ribbon, brads, stickers or other small embellishments to add the finishing touches to your journaling pages. Slip your journaling pages into the photo sleeves across from the pictures they describe.
Decorate the cover and make a title page: For the cover, use a metal frame around a photo and tie it with ribbon. Create a simple title page on a 4" x 6" piece of cardstock and slip it into the first sleeve.
Voila! You've completed an entire album in just a few hours. This album is cute enough to display in your family room and show off to family and friends.

Baby Album by Angie Randall. Supplies: 4" x 6" album by Kolo; cardstock; premade embellishments by Jolee's Botique; frame by Pebbles, Inc.; Garamond computer font; ribbon.

Holiday CD Tree Ornament with Angie

Charly — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:47:00 GMT

Turn ordinary CD's into adorable tree-hangings

Give a little bit of yourself to your family and friends this holiday season. Instead of purchasing expensive gifts in shops or boutiques, consider giving homemade gifts that celebrate the warmth and joy of being home for the holidays. Try making a holiday decoration like the CD ornament described below, or if you're sending out holiday greeting cards, add a personal touch by making the cards from scratch. People really appreciate the extra effort!

Checklist

Lifetime folding table
Lifetime folding chair
An old CD you don't care about
Patterned paper
Photo
Embellishments
Permanent adhesive
Ribbon
Colored hot glue or puffy paint (optional)

Make a CD Ornament

Make a front and back to cover a CD. Use the CD as a template to trace shape onto patterned paper and photo. Cut each item to the appropriate size.
Decorate the front and back before adhering them to the CD. This is especially important if you use embellishments such as fibers, brads or eyelets.
Use a permanent adhesive to adhere the front and back to the CD. Place ribbon loop between the patterned paper and CD before adhering to achieve a clean finish.
If desired, finish edges of CD with colored hot glue, puffy paint, ribbon, fabric, tape or other material to leave a clean line.

2003 Ornament by Janna Wilson. Supplies: cd; cardstock; ribbon, metal and epoxy accents by Making Memories; buttons by Doodlebug Design; gold leafing pen; ribbon.

Christmas Holiday Card

katie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:03:00 GMT

Send a little extra warmth this Holiday Season.

Nothing beats the sweet sentiments you find in a homemade Christmas card. With just a few sheets of cardstock, some embellishments and a special message, you can add warmth to anyone’s Christmas this year.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Lifetime folding chair
Cardstock (various colors)
Patterned paper
Printed holiday greetings (see Free Download)
Printed Calendar
Red pen
Glue stick
Ribbon or string

Steps

Cut card out of cardstock, to whatever shape you want, and fold in half.
Cut out patterned paper and mount on card for background.
Print out downloadable card title (below) on cardstock, or type and print your own, cut out and add to card.
Use colorful patterned paper to create a background, or frame your greeting.
Mount calendar on patterned paper and add to card.
Create accent using metal-rimmed tag, ribbon and die cuts. Add to card.

Free Downloads

Printable Holiday greetings

Merry Christmas Card by Wendy Inman. Supplies: cardstock by Prism; patterned paper by Junkitz and Karen Foster Design; metal-rimmed tag by Making Memories; acrylic snowflake; ribbon by Offray; circle punch by McGill; Century Gothic font.

Kid’s Crafts with Angie

katie — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:23:00 GMT

3 fun ways to fight summer boredom

Tired of hearing, "I'm bored," from your kids during summer vacation? Summer is the perfect time to make scrapbook and memory craft projects that the whole family can enjoy. It's also a good time to go through the scrapbook products you don't often use and find new ways for your kids to enjoy them. Use these ideas below for some kid-friendly craft projects.Keep in mind that these projects require parental supervision, depending on the age and ability of your child.

Room Mobiles

Mobiles are a great way to decorate a child's room. Use your favorite colors and shapes to make your own unique mobile. Consider these themes: sports, beach, vacation, school, friends and holidays. Paperkuts designer Janna Wilson made this holiday mobile with her two children.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Lifetime folding chair
Stickers
Cardstock in desired colors
String
Spiral buttons

Steps

Back some stickers with cardstock.
Cut a spiral out of cardstock. Tie the stickers onto the spiral with varying lengths of string.
Cover the knots on the spiral with buttons.
Hang up to display.

Composition Books

Every child has thoughts to ponder and secrets to record. Decorated journals provide the perfect place to write them down! These journals let your amazing child keep a personal diary, art book or whatever he or she likes for privacy. Use your child's favorite colors and embellishments to create this masterpiece. Paperkuts designer Stephanie Barnard and her daughter Kirstin made a darling book and pen for Kirstin to keep as a personal journal.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Lifetime folding chair
Composition notebook
Scrap paper in desired colors
Stamps
Paintbrush
White paint
Ribbon
Pen
Adhesive tape
Scrapbook embellishments, sayings and letters

Steps

Spray journal with adhesive spray and lay cardstock and patterned paper on top. Using a craft knife, cut around the cover of the journal to remove the excess cardstock and paper. To create a worn look, lightly sand the edge of the journal.
Stamp "DREAM" onto ribbon embellishment and adhere to journal. Paint metal flowers and add to journal. Add ribbon to the top of the journal with a common stapler. Add ribbon to the "Girl Talk" embellishment and adhere to journal.
Using the Sizzix die-cut machine, cut out title. Adhere to journal. lightly ink flower and add to journal with adhesive. Stamp "love" and "believe."
String the word "journal" on ribbon and adhere with brads. Add to journal with adhesive.
With a dry brush and a minimal amount of white paint, brush paint onto journal and over all embellishments.
To make the pen, tightly wrap adhesive tape around the pen and wrap with ribbon. lightly ink the flower and add to the end of the ribbon.

Album in a Box

This project is a great way to reuse small plastic boxes. It is also a super way to use up your extra supplies. Paperkuts designer Stephanie Barnard made this cute album in a box with her 7-year-old daughter, Katie.

Checklist

Lifetime table
Lifetime folding chair
Small plastic or wood box
Metal letters
Sand paper
Paint
Cardstock to cover your box
Cardstock for pages
Ribbon
Small photos
Scrapbook embellishments like stickers and die cuts

Steps

Lightly sand the box bottom and top.
Paint the box bottom and top. Let dry.
For box cover, add metal letters and use stamps to decorate.
Cut and fold your cardstock to create the pages.
Add ribbon, small photos, die cuts, stickers and more to create your box.
Once complete, adhere the back of the last page to the inside of the bo using strong adhesive.
Note: In order to get photos small enough for this project, use the photos that are provided on an index sheet.

Holiday Mobile by Janna Wilson. Supplies: cardstock by WorldWin; stickers by Pebbles, Inc.; buttons by Junkitz; ribbon; string. Journal and Pen by Kirstin and Stephanie Barnard. Supplies: composition book; pen; patterned paper, ribbon embellishment by Westrim; die cuts by Sizzix; charms by PM Designs; stamps and ink by All Night Media; metal accents by Making Memories; ribbon by Offray; paint by Plaid; flowers by Michaels; adhesives by Krylon and Therm O Web. Katie Box and Matching Mini Album by Katie and Stephanie Barnard. Supplies: plastic box and die cuts by Sizzix; cardstock; metal letters, rub-ons and ribbon by Making Memories; stickers by American Traditional Designs; stamps by All Night Media; jewels by JewelCraft; acrylic paint by Plaid; metal letter slides by PM Designs; acrylic letter by KI Memories; stickers; jump rings; jump rings by Artistic Wire; sandpaper.

Scrapbooking parties with Angie

katie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:19:00 GMT

4 fun ways to bring people and albums together.

The best part of scrapbooking is sharing the process with family and friends. Use these steps as ideas to help you gather loved ones. Collaborate and get creative with your albums. Start a tradition of making new memories as you preserve old ones!

Checklist

Large Lifetime folding tables
Lifetime folding chairs
Basic scrapbooking supplies (see Scrapbooking Tip 1)
Friends and family

Ideas

Make your hobby fun for the whole family. Sometimes the best activities are ones you can do together. My children love to pull out the die cuts, stickers, and supplies and work with me. We make family vacation albums together so we can all enjoy them. Give your children the OK to be crafty and creative while you get some of your own layouts done too. A banquet table is perfect for you to sit side-by-side on projects.
Get the whole family involved- Instead of putting together the family album all by yourself, ask your spouse and your children for help. Keep the process simple by giving each person a specific assignment or asking each person to share their thoughts. Try making a single layout or a mini album about a fun vacation, a special tradition or a memorable celebration. One night my family got together and made the mini album (pictured above). Each family member took a turn wearing the homemade family crown, and the others had to say why they loved that person. Working on a simple project like this can bring your family closer together.
Celebrate a scrapbooking girls night- Pull out your tables, snacks and beverages and you've got a party! Invite new and experienced scrapbookers alike to the house to crop. You'll be surprised how much you learn about (and from) each other. Exchange supplies or make an album together. Scrapbooking is a social event, so it's a fun way to catch up on each other's lives and spend quality time together. This is also a perfect for bridal or baby showers.
Host a crop or page exchange- There's never enough time to do all the scrapbooking you'd like. If you want to feel caught up, get a lot of layouts done or make pages and exchange them with fellow scrapbookers, host your own crop. "Crop" is the official term for a scrapbooking event where people make page layouts. It's a great way to make new friends or recruit your old friends to this great hobby.