LOVE BANNER FRAME, LOVE NOTES & BONUS

Valentine's Day is near and is a perfect time to showcase the ones you love.  This Love Banner frame is perfect to display pictures of those special people in your life.  We will also make a quick and easy holder for some little love notes and a couple of little cards to put in your holder.  This project tutorial also includes a bonus . . . a handy way to pretty up a gift card.

There won't be any denying that Valentine's Day is near when you have this project on display!  The tutorial for this project, which was designed by Sharon Burkert, can be found at Craft Project Central.

ENJOY SOME GOOD FORTUNE

This fun project is an ideal way to share a gift card (maybe for a Chinese food restaurant) and a few little treats in the Clasp Envelope Gift Box.  Add some special messages inside the fortune cookies, and complete the gift of good fortune with the Simple Stems card.

The tutorial for this fun project, which was designed by Julie Beltramo, can be found at Craft Project Central.

BONUS PROJECT: TAG-A-BAG MINI ALBUM & CARD

Today I want to share a fun way to use Stampin' Up!'s Tag-a-Bag Bundle.  This project features a mini album, which is perfect for adding photos from just about any occasion--birthdays, vacations, retirement, etc.  Included are ten pages where you can add photos, plus three decorated panels that tuck into the open pages.  You can journal or add more pictures to the panels--the possibilities are endless!  Pair this darling album with a coordinating greeting card, and it makes the perfect gift!

This project was designed by Laurie, and her tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.  It appears that she thought of everything (and then some) that you might need from a mini album!  

Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or by referring a friend and letting us know when they subscribe.

SISTERS MIXED MEDIA

When it comes to mixed media and canvas art, I'm a huge fan of Christy Tomlinson's style.  Earlier this year or sometime last year, it was her She Art product line that made me want to pull out and use my assortment of mixed media products that had been collecting dust for a little while.  My sister and nephew spent a couple of nights with us this week after our family celebration on Christmas Day, and Renee (my sister) wanted to try creating a canvas project.  The good thing about mixed media art is that you don't have to have a specific direction from the start.  As far as I'm concerned, it's good to just start creating and see what evolves.  Sometimes it's good; other times, it's good to blank the canvas and start over.  Renee's canvas is the prettiest one . . . the one on the right.  Didn't she do a fabulous job of selecting her base/background papers and colors and building her layers?  I was so proud of how her canvas turned out!! 

Renee's work of art

My canvas (close-up below) was one of those that screamed to be blanked and started over.  For some reason, my base coloring was darker than I wanted.  Having covered the canvas with printed-text tissue paper may have been the reason why I struggled with the colors because I normally do as Renee did and cover a canvas with assorted patterned paper.  I gave up too soon on achieving a lighter look and added a dimensional sun.  Although I had planned to highlight the "she was a daughter of God" text on the faceless girl's dress, I decided to choose a different text that seemed to work well with what appeared to be the sun finally appearing after an extended time of darkness and despair.  I thought that it did, indeed, look as though she was heading for brighter days, leaving her fears behind.

The best part of mine and Renee's mixed media projects was the process of creating . . . and having her sit beside me as we worked together, sharing products and ideas, and deciding for ourselves what to do next and when to call it complete.  We both began with the She was a Daughter image that was stamped, colored, cut out, and ready to go . . . and everything else simply evolved.  I look forward to the next opportunity to sit down at the table with Renee by my side and a blank canvas in front of each of us.

CORK COASTER GIFT SET

You can always expect great project ideas from Craft Project Central, and the one posted today is no exception.  Make this set of coasters for yourself or as a gift.  The tutorial even includes a matching note card and handmade envelope.

Angie Jones designed this adorable project and, as I mentioned, the tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.  The note card, envelope, and coaster are definitely eye-catching, but isn't that a cute, cute, cute little box?!?!  Have you subscribed to Craft Project Central?  It's not too late!  Did you know . . . when you subscribe, you are only paying around $1 (US) per tutorial and that you will have access to the tutorials (.pdf format) for eleven months?!?!  That is a fabulous deal!

A CHRISTMAS WISH . . . WITH STEPS & EASEL

I won't even begin to claim credit for the idea of making this card, which I had a wonderful time creating for my parents.  The card that inspired it all . . . the card that turned my head my so fast . . . was this one.  Who could resist making a card like that?  And now . . . photos of my creation from different angles:

 

 

  

 And when all is said and done . . . it even folds (nearly) flat for mailing! 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

and a blessed 2014

EASTERN ELEGANCE DESK SET

It's time to get organized!  In this project, you will create a desk organizer and two decorated note pads to help clean up your desk.  This is perfect to keep for yourself or give as a gift!

This project was designed by Jen Arkfeld, and her tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.  I like that the organizer has stepped sections (for lack of a better description) that are divided, and I would imagine that additional divided sections can be added, if needed--or just create two organizers. 

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

This Monday before Christmas I thought that I would share a My Digital Studio card that I designed but didn't get around to having printed.  There was something about the bow that I didn't like, but the red ornament (which I liked) needed a little something to keep it from just being suspended and out of place.  I think if I had gone through with the printing of this design, I would have removed the bow and just placed a real one on each card.  My favorite two things about this design are the bright splash of red and the obvious "keeping Christ in Christmas".  It's definitely a digital design that I can work on and have printed for next year.

MAMAW'S CHRISTMAS CARD

I had so much fun making this card for my grandmother!  Knowing that she would keep her card on display throughout the Christmas season, I wanted it to be something that was really festive.  This was the first time that I had used Spellbinders' Window Two die, and I love the pretty detailing and the fact that the window actually opens.  Two other dies that are featured on this card are the staircase, to which I added "garland" using a Martha Stewart sprig punch, and the Christmas tree, which was also covered with the same punched sprigs to give it a little dimension.  I used Stampin' Up!'s silver glimmer paper and one of the punches from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack to decorate the tree, but the photo didn't pick up just how glittery those pieces really are.  The little card to the left of the tree was used to write a message, and I placed four rhinestone jewels to give it a little wow.

One of the bonuses to making this card was that--even with all of it's dimension--it fit nicely in a regular envelope.

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY SET

Start the new year off right with this fun and festive set, which includes a bottle tag, matching card, set of four champagne glass charms, and a box to put them in.  It's just what you need to ring in the New Year!

It looks to me like Yapha Mason, the designer of this project, has thought of everything, and hasn't she done a fabulous job?  Her complete tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.