Paper Sackin it Again!

Okay, I know i did some paper lunch sack mini books before, but I just keep going back to them because they are just perfect for what I want to do! I Love em! I made this pregnancy mini journal book for a friend at work..she loves vintage just like I do. I used scraps from a October Afternoon kit I got last year at the Scrapfest Mall of America (which i am going to again this year--super stoked!) and some Studio Calico paper. I type a few journal starters on regular card stock. I love looking back at my pregnancy journals and hopefully she will too!

My kind of recycled plastic...

I finally used up one of my gigantic containers of Lysol disinfecting wipes and thought to myself "what a waste to just throw this nice (and clean!) container away". I do tend to keep way too many things on the thought that " will use this one day" or "I could make ____ out of this".  But this time I had got the idea the same day I used all the wipes! After getting a plastic grocery bag from an overstuffed drawer I had my great "...hhhaaayyy....wait a minute..." moment.

I applied the same idea to a liter plastic water bottle too!

All I had to do was pretty much poke holes for the holder and decorate.  I decorated both using Echo Park Paper. The Lysol container "Hello Summer" and the water bottle "Little Boy".  I made a pinwheel using "It's the little things" by Fancy Pants and a popsicle stick from a Dove bar. 

Yippee..no more plastic grocery bags stuffed in a drawer!

   

Paper Sack Mini Albums October 2011

I  LOVE working with lunch paper sacks to make mini albums! I got introduced to these versatile little babies when I went to a make-in-take at a local scrapbook store (way back when there were several stores in the area) I even made them into my Christmas cards that year. Not only are they super cheap to start out with, but can be made into so many cute things. I’ve made birthday party and pregnancy mini albums as gifts. All the recipient has to do is put their photos in. I’m big on journaling so I add plenty of spaces for them to write with “starters”. For instance, the pregnancy one has “the food I crave most is..” or “my favorite maternity outfit is…” For the birthday party one it was “my guests were…” and “this years best moments..” There are so many possibilities with these sacks. I’m going to also make some party invitations here pretty soon. I donated these two mini albums as prizes to a fall festival. They sure were fun to make with this years Kay & Co Halloween line.   

SPARKerrific September 2011

SO Blessed...I got to venture to Utah to attend SPARK (a super duper creative event) Chalk-full of more advanced sessions that require you to think creatively..not a craft-by-number sort of event. At first it was even a little hard for me. I broke down and needed a Starbucks the first day! But after my friend Jennifer helped me get a grip, I had SO much fun! One of the best parts of the whole trip was getting to meet up with Jennifer (my friend from MS) and meet her friends. We stayed at her friend Cristin's beautiful home. Cristin's hospitality only matched her kindness and creative spirit. The weather was beautiful and the mountains were breathtaking. Couldn't have asked for anything better (ok.. maybe 80 degrees) I got so many creative ideas it was hard to write fast enough. Luckily, most of the instructors have their own blogs. I almost forgot to mention the Artisan Market--filled with all handmade goodies..i'm gonna pin their stuff on pinterest..so be sure to check it out. Here are a few of my favorites..

This was the Nest Necklace by Cathe Holden. Really easy to make. After I got home  I went to Hobby Lobby and found all kinds of little trinkets to make necklaces out of. I got a metal tool punch set at the local hardware store to punch letters into the tags too. Her blog is pretty amazing...justsomethingimade.com

Amy Tan taught her famous reverse applique.  Mine didn't turn out ..i brought a cheap ribbed shirt (it works best on tight weaved cotton fabrics) ..so I took a photo of Cristins creation! So adorable! She did it in less than 20 min. I first saw Amy Tan in Minneapolis at Scrapfest in the Mall of America. Her and Elizabeth Kartchner were at a crop I went to. Sweet, sweet gals..and of course very talented! amytangerine@blogspot.com and www.elizabethkartchner.com It was so great to see them again at Spark!   

Mixed media was another reaaalllyy fun thing to experience! One of the reasons I love mixed media now is that it’s so messy and free. Paper piecing, doodling and just having plain fun is what’s it’s all about. Her blog is ridiculously inspiring! I even took a 12 days of Christmas ornament online class (more about that later) Check out her blog www.christytomlinson.typepad.com

I also learned how to turn a book into a “junk journal” but I don’t feel like junk is the right word. More like awesomely awesome journal :O) Jen Jensen showed how to take pages away from a bound book, adding pocket pages and photo sleeves to make it all your own…all amazing. Now I keep my eye out for any book that has a cool binding or neat subject with pictures. I haven’t finished the one from the class yet (pathetic, I know) But when I do I will post it. She doesn’t have a blog but here’s a picture of her sweet work.

I'm SO lucky

I went to Scrapfest at the Mall of America a couple of weeks ago..it was a TOTAL blast with my auntie Tammie and sister Stacy. This was our second year and it was even more fun than the last.  Stacy is so in love with Tim Holtz..she was a total giggly school girl when he appeared for our class "Artful Journal". I think he's a super cool creative dude..all about getting outside your "box" and seeing just how to stretch your creative ability. Very cool! The class we took was awesome. He was all about the creative process and letting us "play" with our project. Not just instructing where to adhere this or that. Here's a picture of us after our project..Tammie is surely going to take the class with us next year! :) I'm SO lucky to have Stacy and Tammie to be creative with..can't wait until next year!

lovely vintage anything

Lately I've kind of been thinking about what type of stlye I am? With me it kind of changes with my mood or lucky finds, but one thing is always constant- old. Sounds better when I say vintage, but I like it all just the same. When I look around my house most things are old and homey. My dad used to take me and my older sister to a flea market/old car show every summer in Grand Rapids Minnesota. We'd spend all day looking at rows and rows of old stuff and cool cars from long ago. Even being young I remember being in a sense of awe looking at a set of milk glass candy dishes or wooden cheese boxes. Thinking to myself "this candy dish held candy that made kids happy to visit thier Grandmother" or "back then their cheese came in boxes?" I hope that I will pass some of that appreciation to my boys. I hope there will be vintage stuff when they get old, since today so much of our stuff is made from press board and cheap materials. Yyou just can't find good quality as much now a days. My favorite place to find all my old stuff is to visit thirft stores and antique places. You never know what you're gonna find..it's kind of like a treasure hunt! I found a sheet set and pillow case at New Life Thrift in town..I just love the prints. Ttoo bad I don't know how to sew clothes yet..hmmm..I might just have to save the flat sheet for something! Ain't bad for $3.97

Tickled blue...

I was tickled  when a co-worked asked if I would make a few things for her baby shower! She was having a baby boy and wanted to have the items owl themed. I was really excited to do a banner, door sign and centerpeice. She had this photo taken of sweet Kapono with the banner and here is the diaper cake. Of course I forgot to take a picture of the "Look whoo's coming" sign :( For me it's harder to do boy projects or boy style things. I always love the pinks and pretty frilly stuff! I feel sometimes you can get away with slightly feminen embelishements..but honestly it's way more fun working with girly stuff:) I can say that because I have three boys!! Now that I got my feet wet with my first " ordered" handmade items, I can't wait for a girl project! :)