“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

I wanted to make an art piece for my house using this quote.  So using a crayon and watercolors, I made this:

Materials:

• White Crayon
• Watercolors
• Paint Brush
• White Paper
• Tape

Directions:

Print out or free hand your favorite quote onto a spare sheet of paper.  Tape the quote and the plain piece of paper to a glass door or light box, and trace the text with white crayon.  Go over the text multiple times.  You want to get a thick coat of white crayon.

Wet the watercolor onto the brush and brush the paper lightly with paint.  The white crayon should show through with the text.

Now, how easy was that?!  Let dry, frame, and enjoy your one of a kind art.

I have used those words to death! But honestly, that is how I like my projects. I don’t have time for a lot of complicated steps, and I like instant gratification!

Well, this project couldn’t be “quicker” or “easier.”

In fact, I hesitate to even call it a project, since it almost made itself.

Here are the supplies you will need:

• Martha Stewart Crafts™ Kraft Swiss Dots Note Cards & Envelopes Set
• Martha Stewart Crafts™ Doily Lace Note Cards & Envelopes Set
• Martha Stewart Crafts™ Modern Festive Note Cards & Envelopes Set
• Martha Stewart Crafts™ Bright Layered Present Stickers
• Martha Stewart Crafts™ Pastel Cupcake Stickers
• Core’dinations Glitter Silk Cardstock – 4.25 x 5.5 inch – Assorted Colors – 20 Sheets (optional)
• Martha Stewart Crafts Embossing Punch – Monarch Butterfly (optional)
• Adhesive (optional)
• Box (optional)

The best part about this project is the price point. I made all of the 36 cards (with coordinating envelopes), and then split them into two gifts.

Less than $10 a gift, you can’t beat that!

And take a guess on how long they took me to put together?

15 minutes.  And I was on the phone.

Let’s get started!

Directions:

Open all of the note card sets and stickers, and discard the packaging.

The note card sets are mini-sized.

The are perfect for gift enclosure cards, a quick note for a lunchbox, or any time you don’t want to fill up an entire card to say what you need to.

Add the cupcake stickers to the note cards. I chose to add mine to the right-hand side. This leaves room for a message on the left, but keep in mind that the cards are double-sided. Plenty of room for your words on the back of the note card. The note cards are made from a sturdy cardstock.

The Martha Stewart stickers are all self-adhesive.

This project requires NO TOOLS! Almost. There is an optional set of cards I will show you last, that you will need a craft punch and adhesive for. But I will give you a tool-less alternative for that set.

Continue with the stickers assembly line style.

Set those cards aside, they are finished!

Let’s move on.

More of the same. Add the present stickers to the green and white note cards.

I love how everything is already matched and coordinated!

Those striped envelopes are too cute!

I wanted to show you a close-up of the detail on these stickers.

I love the teeny tags!

Keep adding those stickers, and then set those note cards aside.

(I told you this was easy. It feels like cheating!)

Now we are going to work on the more involved set of note cards. If you don’t want to use any tools, I would suggest getting some stickers for this set too. Here is a great choice!

Martha Stewart Crafts™ Golden Butterfly Stickers

I used a craft punch, and some Core’dinations Glitter Silk cardstock.

Did you know that Core’dinations now sells all of their collections of delicious cardstock in a smaller (4.25×5.5″) size? This smaller size is perfect for making cards, or for use with punches and die-cuts. I have a hard time cutting into an entire sheet of 12×12 paper for a tiny punch. This is a great size for me!

From the glitter silk, I punched out several butterflies.

Look how beautiful the white Glitter Silk is! It is opalescent!

Fold the butterfly wings up, and adhere it to the  note cards with adhesive. I used two butterflies per card.

Continue with all the note cards. I love the lacy envelopes that come with this set. I think these cards would make elegant wedding gift cards, or add a sentiment for a thoughtful sympathy card.

That’s it, you guys!

Look how many cards you get:

Matching envelopes, too!

Such a wonderful gift idea. Who wouldn’t want to look for a reason to use these?

The cards fit perfectly into the paper mache box I have listed in the supplies above.

The box? It is 67 cents. So including the  box, you are still under $20.

Make enough to keep for yourself.

At that price, you deserve some too!

Supplies:

• Soap Base
• Soap Dyes
• Fragrance
• Glass Containers or a Double Boiler
• Oven Mitts
• Spoon and bowl
• Core’dinations Cardstock
• Spellbinders Die
• Petaloo Flowers
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink
• Scissors and Foam Dots
• White Paint

Directions:

To make the liquid soap, I used a mixture of one melted cube, poured into two cups of hot water.  I added a few drops of the coloring and fragrance and poured it into the container.  I let it cool off for a few hours before I started to decorate the bottle.  While the cap was off, I applied a quick coat of white paint to the cap.  The green was a tad bit too bright.  I let it dry while the liquid hand soap was cooling.  To make the container look pretty, I decorated it with flowers.  I did not have any leaves in my stash, so I made my own.  It was quick and easy and I thought I would share it with you. Start with a whole flower.

Cut the flower in half.

Then cut  in half again.

Apply ink to the single petal.

Use foam dots to attach the flowers together and to the label.

To make the label, I printed the wording.  I used a Spellbinders die cut (in large) for the first layer.  I used the next two sizes to make the frame out of Core’dinations cardstock.  I sanded it before I cut it to give it a lightly distressed look.  I adhered it together and then to the container.  Then for the finishing touches, I  added a bow and  little crystals to make the look complete.  I must say that the handmade bar soap and the homemade liquid soap were the cleanest and best smelling craft projects that I have ever made!

Enter the SMASH book.

The SMASH line, by K&Company®, is perfect for the un-scrapbooker.

I categorize an “un-scrapbooker” as someone who doesn’t want to spend hours with cutesy stickers and catchy titles, but would still like a place to cram ticket stubs, thoughts, and the occasional photo.

Memories are much easier to re-live when they are not stuck in a drawer.

I put the SMASH book to the test on our last vacation.

We spent a week in England.

It was “SMASHing!”

(See what I did there?)

I took some very basic supplies:

• K&Company® Mod Black SMASH Folio
• K&Company® Travel SMASH Pad
• K&Company® Like This SMASH Tape
• K&Company® SMASH Bands
• K&Company® Red & Blue SMASH Stickies
• K&Company® Flag SMASH Clips
• K&Company® Date SMASH Stamp
• K&Company®SMASH Pockets

Everything fit into a large gallon zip-lock bag, and the zip-lock fit inside my carry-on/camera bag.

Attached to the SMASH book with a handy elastic loop is a pen/glue-stick tool.

Seriously, this thing is genius!

One side, pen.

The pen is a really nice permanent ink felt-tip pen.

Other side, glue-stick.

All the tools you will need for “un-scrapping” on the go!

We started out our trip on an airplane. I began documenting our vacation right from the plane. I included our boarding passes, itinerary, and  receipts.

They all went into a SMASH pocket.

The SMASH pads are perfect for journaling your thoughts or facts about different sites you see on vacation.

During the vacation, whenever I accumulated ticket stubs, brochures or receipts, I would stuff them into the zip-lock in my bag, and every evening when the day was winding down I would take a few minutes to add those items to the book.

Along with the scraps of the day, I would use pages from the SMASH pad to document the day’s events. I recorded my thoughts and interesting facts, and added those to the book also. Since I knew how many photos I took that day, I  would leave as many pages as I thought I would need to add the photos when I got home.

Here I am working on the SMASH book in the garden of our English Cottage in Cheddar. Isn’t it beautiful?

And my assistant Mikayla and I with the SMASH book on the Underground:

Here is a sample page of the SMASH book, where I added receipts and journaling- the journaling was done on a page from the SMASH pad. They pages in the SMASH pads are  all pre-printed and themed. The pre-printed made it easy for me to come up with a journaling topic. There are pages for a “Top Ten Things I Love About _______.” Or the one shown, “Favorite Restaurants.”

I left room on my pages for photos to be added later.

Here is a close-up of the receipt:

You can see that I literally just taped that receipt to the page. When you use SMASH tape, the items can be lifted up.

Later, I added the photos:

The pages in the SMASH book come pre-patterned. So the designs you see underneath my photos were printed already. I did not add patterned paper.

Each page is a different pattern. The patterns are very neutral, easy for any theme of album you choose.

You guys. Seriously. This was the easiest vacation album I have ever done!

Do you know how nice it was to come home, print photos, and glue them into the (practically) finished book?

I really blew people away when we came home and they asked how our trip was and I was able to pull out this finished book and SHOW THEM!

The best part about this album, is that the journaling was done when my thoughts were fresh. I have wonderful details about this vacation documented as they happened.

I even involved the kids, from their perspective:

I simply handed them a sheet from the SMASH pad, and told them to write what they thought about that event or place.

It made the album much more personal for them.

Here are some tips I wanted to share with you, that helped me to get the most out of my album.

I want you to know, that I was able to fit 150 photos into this book.

150! Can you believe that? Thank goodness for the SMASH bands, they help to hold it all in.

When I had several photos that I wanted to add to a page, I used this cascading photo technique.

Choose photos that are all the same orientation. (All vertical, or all horizontal.)

Begin by placing the bottom photo, lining it up with the bottom of the page.

Adhere the bottom photo in place. You can tape it, use photo corners like I did, or adhere the whole photo with the glue-stick.

Then place the next photo over the top of the first photo, leaving a portion of the bottom photo visible. Use SMASH tape across the top of the photo, so it will hinge, and lift.

Continue layering the photos as desired, use SMASH tape to attach the photos.

I like to add SMASH tape “tabs” to these cascading photos, to make it easier to lift the photo up, and see the photos underneath.

Take a section of tape, and tape it on the back, then fold it over to the top, to sandwich the photo.

Don’t forget the back of the photos!

Since the photos lift, the back of the photos are prime real estate for journaling or additional photos.

You can write directly on the photos with the SMASH pen. Just give it a few seconds to dry, so it doesn’t smear.

Here is a shot of a couple of typical pages in my book:

You can see the cascading photos, and a SMASH pocket.

It is nothing fancy, but it is functional. And boy was it liberating!

I didn’t feel pressure to be perfect, or line things up straight. The charm of the SMASH book is the randomness.

I did not use my usual arsenal of tools.

Just SMASH it all in! Slap some tape in it! Done! Simple.

I love the SMASH pockets for corralling little bits of memorabilia.

I used the date stamp to document the date, obviously, but the stamp also has some funny little words you can add to your pages.

“Happy Place“, “This Warrants a Fist Pump” and “Hot Mess.” Good stuff!

Remember the elastic that attaches the pen/glue-stick to the book?

When my album was finished, I no longer needed the pen to accompany the book.

I purchased a key chain in London, and added it to the elastic.

A cute way to personalize the book.

Okay, remember how many photos I told you I crammed into this thing?

When I was finished there were still some empty pages in the SMASH book.

I just carefully tore them out.

The back cover has a built-in pocket perfect for extra brochures or whatever. And I loved the final sentiment!

Do you want to see it finished?

I added a super easy glitter chipboard title, some SMASH tape stripes and some stickers to the cover:

Darice® Silver Glitter Chipboard Alphabet Letters -2 inch

Martha Stewart Crafts™ Postcard Stickers

And then I called it good.

Check it out!

Look how thick! Rest assured, the covers of the SMASH book are a heavy-duty chipboard, and the binding is really sturdy as well.

A whole trip documented in record time.

My “un-scrapbook.”

I can’t recommend it enough.

You can use a SMASH book for whatever you would like.

I hope I have inspired you to give it a shot. Whether you are a seasoned scrapbooker or an un-scrapbooker, SMASH books are a fun way to push out of your comfort zone and unleash your creativity!

This is a pretty simple craft that can easily be turned into a kid’s craft to make fun for the whole fam!  The kids will have a blast with the clay and you will be left with a perfect little gift for anyone!

Head on over to The 36th Avenue blog to see the full tutorial, HERE.

Materials:

• 1 Old Large T-shirt
• Darice Easy Knitting Loom Kit
• Scissors

Cut the t-shirt into one long, connecting strip.

Pull the strip tight so that the edges start curling.  You can use the t-shirt yarn for anything now.   Using the loom, I knitted 15 rows to make the sleeve.  You can see my previous post on loom knitting, here.
This is such a quick, simple and inexpensive project that is functional and helps the earth at the same time!

I wondered what all the buzz was about, they are just markers, right?

Uh, no.

Spectrum Noir are alcohol based inks. They are unlike any markers I have ever worked with. None of my housework has been done for days, because I have been experimenting in my studio!

I want to share with you a technique that I stumbled onto, while I was playing.

Custom tinted photos.

The ink made such a fun texture, and it is the perfect opacity for photos.

Here are the supplies you will need:

• Four wallet-sized black and white photos, with an identical element to color (I used the flower in my daughters hair.)

• Spectrum Noir Markers (colors of your choice)
• Core’dinations Cardstock Tags
• Core’dinations 12×12 Jenni Bowlin Red and Black Collection (black, pre-embossed background sheet)
• Core’dinations Sand it Gadget/ Dust Buddy Combo
• Darice Silver Glitter Chipboard Alphabet
• Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board
• Adhesive
• Sewing Machine with White Thread (optional)

Directions:

The first thing you will want to do is select your colors for your photos. You will need a light and a dark tone of each color you choose.

You can begin coloring your photos. Use the light tone to completely cover the area you want colored. Do not worry if the color is a little splotchy. Alcohol inks dry very quickly.

When the area is all covered, go back to it, tapping the tip of the marker onto the already colored area to add dots of color. The alcohol ink will spread out and make a fabulous texture. Keep tapping until you get it to where you like it.

Let it dry for a few seconds, and then using a darker tone of your color family, tap some dots in the center of the flower.

The ink will spread, and blend on its own.

Check out this purple:

Isn’t that cool?

Continue with all of your colors.

We are going to put all of these custom colored photos on a layout.

Select some Core’dinations tags that match your colors.

Sand all the edges of the tags.

Score the tags at 4 3/4.”

Then tear the tag. Make sure the teared edge of the card will fold up on the front of the tag (to show off that core color torn edge in front.)

Add your photo and fold the torn edge up.

Repeat for all of your photos, and set aside.

Select the pre-embossed black border page from the Core’dinations 12×12 Jenni Bowlin collection.

Sand all edges using the Sand-it Gadget.

Can I put in a plug here for the Dust Buddy?

If you have never used one, it is a must have for sandable cardstock. I want to show you the difference.

Here is the cardstock before I rubbed it with the Dust Buddy:

Here is the same piece of cardstock, same area, after I rubbed it with the Dust Buddy:

It cleans up and almost buffs the paper!

The Dust Buddy is also great for picking up glitter and embossing powder.

I love that thing!

After you clean up your cardstock, adhere your photo tags, lining them up horizontally.

I machine stitched the strip of photo tags in place with my sewing machine, using a zig-zag stitch.

Next, computer generate, stamp, or hand-write your sub-title:

Using the same markers you used to custom tint your photos, color in the letters of your sub-title to match.

I used a gray marker to outline the letters. I wanted a very water-colored look.

The more times you “go over” your colored letters, the more the alcohol in the ink will spread the pigment.

When you are satisfied, add your sub-title tag to the layout.

Adhere your title letters to the sub-title tag.

Here is your finished layout!

I hope you are inspired to grab some markers and play!

I love Core’dinations cardstock!  Especially when I can get it to coordinate with a patterned stack I already own.  When I saw they made a pastel colored set and I have an upcoming baby shower to attend, I knew I had to purchase it.  Besides, any excuse to get my embossing folders out is an excuse worth having.  Core’dinations is the perfect card stock to use with embossing.  It gives a nice look with a deep impression.  Knowing I wanted to make some kind of card, I got my supplies together and started crafting!

Supplies:

• Core’dinations Core Essentials Pastels Collection
• Other Cardstock of Your Choice
• Sizzix Big Shot Machine
• Spellbinders Embossing Mats
• Embossing Folders
• Embellishments of Your Choice, Such as Twine, Flower Accents, Buttons, Spellbinders Nestabilities

Directions:

I have always wanted to try my hand at Iris Folding.  For those that don’t know, Iris Folding is the layering of folded strips of paper within an aperture in a spiral pattern that resembles the iris of a camera. So I scoured the ‘net for a free baby pattern.  I decided on this onesie pattern.  Those make great baby cards, right?

Once you have your pattern, you want to print out two copies.  One to tape your card stock down to, the other as your pattern.

Take the patterned or solid cardstock you are going to use for the front of your card or project, flip it over (as you see I put a “B” to signify that it was the back, on patterned paper this would be pretty obvious) and trace around your pattern.

Once you have your pattern cut out, tape it to the other copy with the instructions and then start on your strips.  My pattern called for 4 different papers.  I cut mine to 6″ x  1″, ran them through my Big Shot with four different embossing folders then folded them in half lengthwise making them 6″ x 1/2″.  Don’t forget with Core’dinations cardstock, when you emboss, lightly sand over the raised pattern to bring it out!

Now I am ready to start placing my paper strips down.  Decide what colors are going to be A, B, C and D so you can make sure you are laying down your papers in the correct order.  Then I just followed the pattern making sure the folded side of the strip is toward the middle of the card.

I used regular invisible tape to hold my paper down.  It’s quick and easy and doesn’t give any bulk.  Besides it holds it pretty well.  I tried scrapbooking glue and it took too long to dry and move on to the next piece.

I finally got all of my pieces down, cutting them as I went along so they wouldn’t hang over the sides.  If you do see any overhang, just grab a pair of scissors and cut off the extra.

Here’s my card completed and all gussied up.  What do you think?  It’s a little work but oh so fantastic results!  I think Iris Folding gives projects that extra special ‘I put a lot of love into making this’ look.  Iris Folding would also look great on scrapbook pages or even as framed art!

Have a great day and happy crafting!!

_________________________________________________________________________

Thanks again to Becki from The Happy Card Encouragement Factory and make sure you go check out her fun and crafty blog, HERE!

I remember how excited I was to graduate, and I think that excitement will be ten-fold when I watch my kids get their diplomas. I have signed my fair share of disclosure documents!

Here is a quick and easy graduation gift idea for a special someone in your life.

You can add money, checks, or a small gift.

Supplies:

• Core’dinations Core Couture 12×12 Cardstock (Glitter Black)
• Jewelry Box
• Embroidery Floss
• Brad
• Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board
• Piercing Tool
• Adhesive
• Tissue Paper
• Money/the gift you are giving

Directions:

The first thing you will do is cut your cardstock into two (2) 1″x12″ strips, and one 4 1/2″x4 1/2″ square.

Using your scoring tool, lay your box lid out, and score the 1″ strips where they will need to fold around the perimeter of the box.

You will not need both strips for one box, trim down the extra cardstock.

Adhere the cardstock strips to your box lid. The strips will be larger than the lid. Make sure the excess overhangs the bottom of the box. This is so the black cardstock will cover the entire white box.

Now, take your square piece of cardstock, and using an awl or paper piercer, make a hole in the center of the square for your brad.

When you insert your brad, make sure you leave a little space between the cardstock and the brad:

Adhere the square onto the top of the box, making sure to center it properly.

Now we are going to make a tassel for your cap!

Find a scrap piece of cardstock that is the approximate size you would like your tassel to end up being.

Start wrapping your floss around the cardstock.

When the tassel looks nice and full, cut off your floss, and take a section of it to wrap around one end of the card of floss. (Make sure you use a large enough section of floss–this will be the tassel string.

Tie a knot, and using scissors, cut the floss off of the cardstock card on the opposite end.

Take a smaller section of floss, and create the head of the tassel. Tie a knot, and trim the tails.

Finish your tassel by tying a knot in the string end, and trimming the tassel on the bottom, so it is even.

Attach your tassel to the cap using the brad.

Next, roll up your dollar bills to add to the box. You can personalize your gift any way you like.

Add tissue paper to the bottom of the box, and add your gift.

That is it! Quicker than you can say “Commencement Exercises.”

An A+ project for anyone who deserves your congrats!

We stumbled across this really cute and pretty piece of canvas wall art and couldn’t help but share it!  We love how Crystal, from It’s Doable, used different patterned scrapbook paper to create a beautiful flower. There were only a few supplies and materials used and the tutorial is great, so it should be pretty easy to make one for yourself! This would also be a pretty quick and easy DIY gift for Mother’s Day. Happy Crafting!

To see the full tutorial, CLICK HERE.