Paper Sack Gift Bag

I love working with paper bags. I save them and make scrapbooks and giftbags. My favorite was a starbucks bag scrapbook I made a couple years ago. I needed a gift bag to give my friend her Bride book, so I thought I could jazz up a big paper bag. The bride loves wood, doilies, burlap and ball jars. So I  thought I'd incorporate some of those elements. Here's how I came up with it..

1. Painted one side of the paper bag white.

2. Printed out the Ball jar on vellum and glued it onto the bag with farbi-tac. I left the top open so I could put flowers in it.

3. Added the burlap trim and white flowers. 

The bag was perfect for her present and fit perfectly with the theme of her celebration! 

Happy Creating, 

Melissa 

Bride Altered Wedding Memory Scrapbook Journal

When I was visiting my favorite local craft store (more of a gift and hobby shop rollled into one!) they had a bunch of books in thier clearance section. As I rummaged through the books I found a few thin off white children's ones. The covers were made from a course cotton fabric. As my fingertips felt the lines of the fabric and I could imagine the possibilities....a travel or nature journal maybe? I ended up buying the three they had, and each one was only a dollar!

I haven't made any travel or nature books, but I did make a brides book with one of them. My friend's cousin was having a Boho inspired wedding and loves lace, ball jars, baby's breath, and burlap. I was invited to her shower so I thought I would make her a Brides book to write down all her favorite memories of the wedding in. 

I started out by cutting out a few pages from the book. I cut pages out so that the book won't be so thick when I start adding things to it.

Next I paint an edge around the pages of the book. The scrapbook paper I cut and put in the book won't go all the way to the edges, so I dont want the images showing.

Then it's the fun part..adding the scrapbook paper and embellishments! I add one journaling page with prompts and one scrapbook paper page. Here's a few of my favs..

I love making books for others, knowing in a few years they will go back and read their memories. I know how glad I am that I took the time to write down my wedding memories 16 years ago! 

Happy Creating,

Melissa 

  

DIY Mixed Media Journals

  

            

I've been just surviving this past year and doing very few crafting/scrapbooking projects. I have been sick for some time, and working towards feeling better. For me it's really hard to juggle family, work, and being sick. Sometimes I never know how I am going to be feeling from one day to the next. But as I work through that uncertainty, I feel as though I must try to blog again. I am happy to say I have had some time to gather photos of this past years (very few) projects. I joined a Lupus group on FB and I have gotten so much information and support from the members. I had so much fun doing a giveaway for the necklaces that I did a journal giveaway. The Dollar Store is my go-to place for getting notebooks and journals for altering. They don't always have the ones I like, but when they do I clean them out! I made two journals...one for a mother who posted that she would love to win a necklace for her 12 year old daughter Faith. I made Faith a necklace and a journal because I can't imagine having this crazy disease at 12! I thought she could really use  something happy coming in the mail too! Here are my steps for completing the journals. 

1. Paint the surface of the journal desired color and let dry.
2. Layer ephemera. I layer it and then arrange how I want it, then I take off the top layers. I modge podge the bottom layer, and then so on, and so on until all the layers are modge podged on the journal. I ensure I use thin layers of modge podge so the ephemera won't bubble and let dry.
3. I glue on any buttons, sequins or thicker embellishments and let dry.
4. Add last layer of modge podge and let dry.

Once dry you'll have a nice journal that you can keep for yourself or give as a gift! 

Happy Creating,

Melissa