Just playing with paper...

One of the things I love (and hate) about the new house is that my scraproom is adjacent to the upstairs TV area. In some ways, it's nice not to be isolated and to have the occasional visit from one of the girls asking "whatcha doin?" (To which I always reply "just playin' with paper" -- I'm not even sure why they ask any more.) But on the downside, I'm having to learn to drown out the sounds of Good Luck Charlie and Jessie. (Lucky me, I think I know all the words to BOTH of those theme songs!)

So I've been slowly finding some time to catch my breath and take on some projects for fun. Here's a layout I did for the guest designer contest with My Mind's Eye and Gossamer Blue.

Photos were captured in the above-mentioned TV area as my girls were performing their own original show, "The Razzle Dazzle." Yeah, they watch a lot of Disney Channel.

My hope is that when they become big Disney Channel stars with their own shows, I'll get my scrap room back.

New favorite scrappy tool: this Jenni Bowlin quilting star punch. Lots of fun to layer these or just arrange them in a quilt pattern.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a fabulous day!

CHA Download, Part 2: On Display

Continuing along my CHA recap series, today's post is all about the "wow" factor.

Yes, it's fun seeing the new products at CHA. But even more fun is seeing the clever and often jawdropping ways they've been used to create displays for the booths.

A few of my favorites:


Maya Road

Canvas messenger bags embellished with paints, mists, fabric, burlap and flowers


GCD Studios

Pure Bliss Collection by Heather Tozzi -- loved the rolled up papers


Crate Paper

Vintage window frames and mailbox door used as backdrop


Plaid (Mod Podge)

Wouldn't this be a fun kids craft?



Teresa Collins

Teresa's booth always has the prettiest mini albums.

Maya Road (again)

This is a chipboard butterfly album, but the designer created a box for it by adding bingo pieces and mini rulers to make the frame. Genius!

Bottlecaps

I could. not. stop. looking at this amazing wall art created with colored bottlecaps. I want this on my wall!
 
My Mind's Eye

Don't like your bike? Cover it in washi tape and you will love it!
 
Hemptique

Crocheted flower using hemp cord -- a little stiffer than yarn and comes in a huge variety of colors. If only I could crochet.

Check back on Friday for my last CHA post...a wrap-up of projects, classes and other fun stuff. See you then!

Love Is in the air

Have you spied all the heart-shaped chocolate boxes and bouquets of roses that are popping up at every grocery store, drugstore and gas station this week? Guess that's our not-so-subtle reminder that Valentines Day is approaching.

At least this holiday has a fun color scheme for decorating. Red, pink, black and white are pretty fun to play with, so I created this little banner for a feature on the Epiphany Crafts blog this week.



I used square coasters, turned to become diamond shapes. At the bottom was a perfect spot to hang a charm. Just a few jump rings, hooked to a die-cut circle, then an Epiphany Crafts Heart 25 on top.



I used the Love Me collection from My Minds Eye -- beautiful doily prints and vintage themes with pinks, reds, gray and pale blue.

 

You may have noticed my blog got a bit of a makeover. I was ready for a fresh look. What do you think?

Wrapping It Up

Just a few more days until the presents under the tree transform into a mound of shredded wrapping paper, busy kiddos and happy faces. It's always right about this time each year when I'm feeling pretty confident about having all the gifts bought and wrapped, that I realize: the stockings are completely empty. Oops.

I whipped up this stocking stuffer idea for the Epiphany Crafts blog. It's quick. It's easy. And hopefully, it will bring a smile to my mom's face when she finds it in her stocking.

You can use them as paperclips or bookmarks. Coupons, stacks of bills, homework assignments...wherever you need a clip or placeholder. 

Full instructions and supply lists are on the Epiphany Crafts blog, but if you don't have the Epiphany tools and charms, feel free to be creative with bottlecaps, scrabble tiles or whatever else you might have on hand to top your clips.

I also made a simple foldover card with a wrap to package the clips (for easy stocking-stuffing). 

One last bit of holiday cheer...a card I made for the Pretty Little Studio blog's Outside the Box challenge this week. I used papers from the Scaredy Cat collection. (Who says you can't use Halloween papers for Christmas cards? Certainly not me!)

I hope you have a very merry Christmas, happy Hannukah and joyous holiday with your loved ones!