The Box

My monthly Stampin' & Scrappin' Club make & take is this Wednesday at work. Since we normally do cards, I really wanted to demonstrate a project that was a little different that allowed everyone to add pictures and embellishments of their own liking. And, especially since we are approaching the holidays, I thought and "explosion box" or "scrapbook-in-a-box" would be a perfect project!

I have seen these boxes done in both 4" x 4" versions and in the smaller 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" version like I chose to do (mainly to keep supply costs low). I think that they are a great idea for small gifts for Grandmas and Grandpas, and are a great way to showcase and share a handful of pictures, while still keeping it simple and handmade.

I used coordinating heavyweight cardstock from matching 8"x8" paper slabs for the top and base, and 24" of taffeta ribbon. I used the same coordinating cardstock for the interior photo mats.

Base: 7 1/2" x 7 1/2"

• Scored at 2 1/2" on each side

Top: 4" x 4"

• Scored at 11/16 on each side

Interior Mats: 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"

Ideal Photo Size: 2" x 2"

These boxes are very quick and simple to make, and you can use the paper and embellishments for whatever occasion for which you may need a thoughtful and personalized gift.

Baby!

My friends just had their second baby today...yay! I made this card using a design/template by Kristina Werner (posted on Two Peas in a Bucket and video tutorial on YouTube: Starofmay).

Gotta love polka dot everything!

Kristina's technique is one that you can apply to your projects for any occasion: stamp a single image multiple times, cut out a couple of the images and use pop dots to add dimension. Very simple, but adds a lot of interest to a card or project.

'Tis the Season

Man, it doesn't seem like it has been two weeks since my last post...sheesh! The days have just flown by. With gearing up for Halloween and getting over some nasty cold bugs, I haven't had too much time to post my creations...but I have managed to create.

I decided to take my embossed mini Halloween Treat Bag idea and turn it into a card. I think it turn out very cute...and it was SUPER easy! Those are the best kind. I love embossing folders because they add such dimension and interest without very much fuss. Can't beat that!

Click here to view my Halloween card tutorial (sorry about the audio on this one): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARxBrnmp3Kc

I have been having some fun digging out some stamps that I have had for a while and haven't used, such as the clear "Tweet" set I used to make my husband's anniversary card. But, I have also purchased some new stamp sets that I absolutely adore, such as Stampin' Up!'s Bird on a Branch. I don't know what it is, but I just love this bird! I used this set to make a thank you card for my friend who had done a painting for my daughter (see one of my earlier posts...it is just fantastic :)

In addition to loving stamps, I seem to have found myself in love with Kraft card stock...again. I am naturally drawn to earth tones and Kraft just seems to go with everything, including even more vibrant colors.

I decided to start on some Christmas projects as well. I recently purchased the Stampin' Up! Dasher stamp. This is such a classy stamp...and just like a good outfit, you can either dress it up or dress it down. I made this simple card using the Dasher set and some SU! Christmas designer paper. I saw someone else do a card almost exactly like this (but for the life of me I can't find the original tutorial), and I absolutely loved it! I think I may use it for my December Make & Take that I host for my work's Stampin' & Scrappin' Club. My husband even liked it :)

Well, off for more creating! Here's hoping the spirit of the season captures your imagination and allows you to create to your heart's content!

There's a Hole in My Bucket

Ok, so there's not really. I just REALLY dislike doing laundry. I have been looking for an excuse to spice up my laundry area for a while, and I figured a big silver bucket would do the trick.

We will see!

I used the medium "Laundry" vinyl wall art that I purchased from Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements catalog (http://angelscraftcloset.stampinup.net). I cut it down to fit the the front of the silver bucket I found at my local craft store, and applied using the small applicator tool. Very quick and easy and it added a nice touch to a room I usually don't like simply because of its purpose :)

View my video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Q6RumZXoA

Fall is thoroughly upon us! Only two weeks until Halloween. I am already working on Christmas projects galore...it should be a great holiday season!

Trick or Treat!

It is almost Halloween! And, because of this, I thought it might be fun to make little treat gift bags for my monthly Make & Take class that I host at work. Not only to thank everyone for coming, but to give them another project idea.

I made this simple mini Halloween spider web-embbossed gift bag using the Cricut Tags, Bags, Boxes & More cartridge, and then running it through my Cuttlebug with the Fiskars Webbing texture plate. The effect is very cute! I had found some spider web ribbon at my local discount store for under $1 and thought it would be a great embellishment.

Click here to view my video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/user/angels747#p/a/u/0/OCNJxDRAVxQ

I used half of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of Whisper White Stampin' Up cardstock because it is thick and sturdy. I cut out my gift bag template (pg. 115 of the cartridge booklet) at 4" and was able to get two boxes out of each piece of cardstock. After scoring where indicated and running through my Cuttlebug with the embossing plate, I used quick dry liquid adhesive to secure the box together. You could also use 1/8" sticky strip tape.

Since I have to make 30 of these little bags, I opted not to add an additional message, but you could easily add a sentiment to the front.

The best part about this mini gift bag is that with a change in the ribbon, paper color, or texture plate, you could customize it for any occasion! It would be great as a baby shower favor.

Thank Heaven For Artistic Friends

I was so excited when my friend, Cyndee, agreed to paint a picture for my daughter, Chloe. I asked her for an angel that shared Chloe's hair & eye color, and here is what she created! I just LOVE it! After a break, I just may have to commission another of her original works. :)

On Wednesday, my coworker is celebrating 25 years with our company. I offered to make a card for her celebratory luncheon this week. I broke out my Cricut for the numerals on the front of the card. I decided to use a Tri-Shutter Card...my first attempt. (I was inspired by a SplitCoastStampers tutorial I viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su-3T3sd4r0).

The Tri-Shutter is a unique design that allows you to show off your great patterned papers. Although I didn't mat my patterned paper this time, I think I will do so next time around because I like the effect the layering provides. I chose to keep the embellishments to a minimum as I knew the card would be passed around quite a bit, and because I needed to leave plenty of surface area for others to write their congratulatory remarks.

I love experimenting with creative card designs...it keeps card making and scrapbooking new and exciting!

The Force Is Strong With This One

October is turning out to be a pretty card-heavy month! Which is great! Both my dad's and father-in-law's birthdays are in October, as well as my Grandma's. Also, a co-worker is celebrating her 25th year with our company! So, I have already created a couple, but I have a couple more to do...so I better get cracking!

The temperature has been hovering just below 60 degrees...and the clouds have been pretty constant this past week. But, we have needed the rain they brought with them something fierce. In any case, it has been excellent crafting weather :)

Here are the cards I made for my dads' birthdays, along with the videos. My dad is a member of the Moose, so when I found the Moose stamp at St. Paul's Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo last spring, I knew I would find a use for it. And, my father-in-law (and husband and son) are avid Star Wars junkies, so I absolutely had to have the Star Wars line of products that Creative Imaginations put out. So much fun to creat with.

Click here for the Star Wars Card and Gift Card Holder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFD6Nq85j4A

Click here for the making of the Moose:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dh_-_7rXacs

More to come this week on my creations for the other events!

What I Love

As I looked through my finished pages from my day scrappin' retreat I enjoyed with some great ladies from work last weekend, I was reminded about one of the things I love MOST about my hobby: even when I am away at a retreat, whether it be for a few hours or a whole weekend, I feel like I am with my family.

Even though I thoroughly enjoy my "me" time, and very much enjoy the company and comraderie of my fellow crafters, I am very appreciative that what I do for fun is also for my family. I love reliving the memories as I scrap a page, trying to recount the event highlights as I add my narrative. Very fulfulling!

These pages are of my daughter Chloe's book (which I am just starting even though she is almost 16 months old...when did that happen?) and also one of my favorite pictures of my son, Liam, taken at a zoo outing. The Grizzly never looked so good :)

If you can't see the theme, here is a hint: I LOVE MY CRICUT!! One of my FAVORITE fonts is Alphalicious...I use it on just about all of my pages. It is classic, and clean, and it seems to go with my style.

The tree is a layered shape from the Plantin' Schoolbook cartridge (such a great shape!). I did something very similar in my son's baby album, too. I loved having one special page to record his transition from infant, to toddler, to little boy, and now, almost to young man. I am looking forward to doing the same in Chloe's book. I didn't necessarily want to keep the apples that were also cut out from the cartridge, so I opted instead to add a modern flair with adorable rub-ons from Little Yellow Bicycle - I think the colors are just great! The butterfly paper is from DCWV. The zoo-themed paper from my son's page is from Karen Foster.

Here's to doing what you love, for the people that you love even more!

Home Is Where The Haunt Is

What happened to September?? It is now officially fall, and the leaves are even starting to fall from the trees, covering our deck, yard, and driveway. Um, I am not in the mindset to rake yet!

However, these are all sure signs that Halloween is just around the corner. I am looking forward to coming up with some cute Halloween card and treat box ideas for my monthly make and take class at work in a few weeks. In the mean time, here is a simple card using the retired Stampin' Up! Home Is Where the Haunt Is stamp set. I love this set because it has a lot of different elements that you can put together in different ways to make completely different scenes.

I used smooth orange Bazzill Basics cardstock from Archiver's and Basic Black Stampin' Up! cardstock for the base and belly band. Its finished size is 4"x5 1/2" (plus a 1" flap on which I rounded the corners). I was able to get three card bases out of one, 12x12 sheet. For the closure, I added two different-sized circles in black and orange, pierced with an orange brad. I used some thin, inexpensive black ribbon from Michaels to wrap around the circles and hold the flap closed (although, I think a thinner black string would work a little easier).

I wish you the best of luck with your ghoulish Halloween creations! Happy haunting :)

TGIF

Howdy!

So, despite being 3 hours post-root canal, I am SO happy it's Friday! And, I will take a root canal ANY day over tooth pain. Ouch!

Other than dealing with a sore tooth, I am excited for a day retreat tomorrow at Creative Escapes (http://www.creativeescapes-sc.com/) in St. Cloud, MN. The Stampin' & Scrappin' Club at work is hosting this one, so it should be a good time. It has been a while since I have had a good, long day to scrapbook, so I am hoping to get a lot accomplished!

We shall see ;)

The pictures are of the small "Thanks for coming!" goodie bags I made for the attendees. I found inexpensive Halloween stamps at Archivers, and some cute striped paper. I used an Archiver's coupon for some free solid cardstock that coordinated. I was able to make 8 goodie bags which each have enough makings for 3, 3x3 cards. All for just around $15. Hopefully my fellow scrappers will enjoy them!

Enjoy Life Sip by Sip

I am still in denial...is it really September already? Summer seemingly came to a screeching halt when school started on September 1st. But, I am not too disappointed as this means fall is right around the corner. And as autumn is my favorite season, I can't help but to welcome it (although, winter can take its time!)

But alas, time marches on! This is my September make-n-take project for the Stampin' & Scrappin' Club session coming up this Wednesday at work. I adapted the card from Heather Summers (StampWithHeather on YouTube, March 6, 2009). I LOVED the belly band idea...and despite needing to search a bit to get my hands on the Stampin' Up! Sip by Sip stamp set (which has since been put on the dormant list), all of the pieces came together.

I made only a few changes to her creative original design. Instead of stamping the dotted background, I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the brown cardstock. Also, to give the card a few round edges, I used a circle for the mug embellishment.

Now it looks like I need to move on to my October project...my goodness! Denial, indeed!

New

Well, I have finally gone and done it. Who will find their way here, I have no idea! But, in case someone wanders across my blog path, I am leaving a footprint.

My name is Angel. I am a 32-year-old wife and mother of two young children (Liam, 6 and Chloe, 15 months) - and I am a crafter; scrapbooking and cardmaking are my most favorite activities. Although, I have been known to attempt a stitch or two at a sewing machine, or throw down some paint. But for now, I like to play with paper, glue, and scissors.

It is important to note that I am obsessed with Harry Potter...and have recently been turned on to the Twilight series as well. I can't help it. It seems I am living vicariously through these young adult novels because sometimes the real world is just downright depressing.

I will be posting my monthly cards and projects that I demonstrate as part of the Stampin' & Scrappin' Club at work, as well as anything else I might find interesting. I have several sources of creative inspiration, from blogs to YouTube subscriptions, that I love to share with anyone who will listen (or read, as is the case here).

It will be an adventure, to be sure!

Enjoy! Thanks for stopping...And happy blogging :)