SEI + Gift Wrap

   Hey there! I love gift wrap, don't you? Christmas paper with rich colors and textures, everyday paper with striking patterns, I love seeing all the ways you can wrap up a special surprise for someone. 
   Well, here's a fun way to wrap a soap set using papers and embellishments from SEI's Promise Me collection.

Wrap some of the lace around the soap thats included 

in the Sundries. 

 To make a paper garland trim: Punch starburst circles from patterned paper and then feed them through the presser foot on your sewing machine, making sure to leave a small amount of thread between punched shapes; wrap around gift.

materials

Crate Paper + Notepad Holders

     

      Hey there everyone!!! I simply love love love Crate Paper's Random line. It seriously is the one collection that I can't get enough of! By far, probably my favorite line EVER---well, hahahah....I have a lot of favorite lines.

    For Christmas this year I made these cute little note pad holders. 

Pink floral and black chevrons are such a great contrasting pattern.

This note pad has a fun pom pom sleeve that slides off so you can open the note pad holder

Each note pad holder has a pocket to hold receipts, pens or small notes. 

How cute is the denim!? I love it! 

Don't be afraid to trim punched shapes or have them going off the edge of your cover

This notepad holder's enclosure is some black and white trim. 

Make notches at the top of bottom so the trim doesn't slide.

These were super fun and easy to make. Just measure the notepad and construct the holder based on your measurements. This is 8 1/2" x 4 1/2"

materials:

Epiphany Crafts + A Masculine Valentine's Day Card

     Let's face it ladies, it's a lot easier to make cards for our girlfriends than it is to make cards for our men! You always have more patterned paper that works and all the pretty little ribbons, trims, punches and stamps. But, today you will no longer be stumped. At the Epiphany Crafts blog you're going to see some great ideas for how to make a masculine-theme Valentine's Day card, and I am going to share one with you and some tips for what makes a manly card, well uh...MANLY.

   First off, no flowers! Seriously! Men buy us flowers and vice versa. There are other motifs out there besides flowers! Think automobile, leaves, branches, sports! Second, no pink! Men do not do pink, unless it's for Breast Cancer month. Blue works, green too! But, don't be afraid to mix in neutrals like warm reds,dark browns and earthy greens. And, finally....hold off on the embellies that scream, "GIRL!" Border punches are fine---but, think gender neutral, such as pinking sheers, crest punch, even a notebook edge punch. So, with those tips in mind, meet my Masculine card (note: card approved by hubby.....also, card will be given to hubby)
   That's it for me today, but make sure to check out the Epiphany Crafts blog  for more ideas!


materials:

SEI + Mini Album

     I absolutely LOVE mini albums! They're like mini scrapbook pages and they make great gifts for friends and family. For this project I used the SEI travel album which includes dividers with folders and lined paper for writing special tid bits. I absolutely LOVE the embossed and foil papers with their feminine and delicate patterns.

To make a heart border with the sheer heart die cuts. Adhere the hearts upon one another, then trim the remaining pieces from the edge.

I love the way the album looks with all the yummy embellishments and the beautiful shimmery paper as a background.

Make simple titles for your dividers so that they don't distract from the GORGEOUS prints of this collection.

Don't be afraid to add a splash of contrasting pattern like the striped button.

 Create feminine touches with lace, string and bold  haberdasheries like buttons!

The shimmery paper is the perfect delicate background to layer other patterned papers on.

Experiment with the negative cut outs of a punch....add pearls and other patterned paper to make it stand out!

materials

Photo Shoot + Farmhouse

       
      Hey everyone! My hubby and I had an amazing photo shoot this weekend with the very talented Rahel Menig of Rahel Menig Photography. You may be familiar with her already; she's an incredibly talented designer for Crate Paper and American Crafts, plus she and her darling husband live one town away from my husband and I! We met up for the first time to do the shoot and realized that we have so much in common!!! Besides our love of scrapbooking we both have great husband's, like strategy board games and scrap our pets!
     Rahel Menig had the genius idea of shooting the pics at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! It was touch and go with the weather, but when we got there it was sunny, cool and BEAUTFIFUL!! I was so inspired by her, that I had to create a layout--I know, a rarity!

Trim punched hearts in half and paper piece punch starburst circles.

Trim a banner from patterned paper and add beaded trim for dimension!

materials:

Cool Tools for Paper Crafters + Me!

      Cool Tools for Paper Crafters is an incredible resource that features amazing techniques, tips and new ideas to use some of your favorite tools, and get you excited about ones you may have never seen before! Last week was a super fun blog hop and I am here to share with you my favorite project that was featured in this issue. Make sure to get yours TODAY!

A headband with matching notecard and paper clips featuring Epiphany Crafts Button Studio tool!

Stamp It 3 Ways! + Me

      Hey there!!! Paper Crafts newest special issue is a fun treat! Stamp It! 3 Ways takes one set and shows you three different approaches to using that set! Here's my favorite project of the two sets that I was assigned.

A shabby Fresh kitchen decor piece!