CarLeY's CLoSeT: 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Crafty Designers Day at Craft Junkie Too!

Can you believe it?
Have you finished all your shopping and gifts? I hope so because Christmas is almost here!! However, if you haven't and need some quick, last minute Christmas gift ideas, then the Craft Junkie Too Designers Post today is the EXACT place to check out for getting just that!:)

That is our challenge today.....last minute Christmas gift ideas! So be sure to check out the Crafty Designers' Day over at Tracy's Craft Junkie Too for all of our great ideas!

On my last post, I mentioned making gifts that I could not wait to share.....well I still can't share them yet (not until AFTER Christmas, but I promise I will) but I do have a great, quick gift idea to share with you! A great friend of mine showed me how to make these and they are super easy to make as well as affordable! Thanks Robin!

They are magnet sets!

These little 'pretties' are perfect for your fridge, office, or even your scraproom to display just about anything....while being pretty, cute, sassy, or whatever your style is! :)

I made a few sets of these to give as gifts but I'm only showing you two of them (these are the first ones I made, and like I said, they are super easy to make!).

I started off with picking some favorites of patterned papers. Here, of course I've made one "Christmasy" set and another 'Wild Animal Print' set. I used a 1/2" circle punch for the papers. Then the clear craft marbles are just those that are flat on one side and you can get them at any craft store usually. I used a clear glass craft glue to adhere the paper circles to the backs of the marbles.....as long as it is a glue that dries clear it should work fine. Then I purchased small magnets at AC Moore (I believe there were 20 in the pkg) for $6.99 (I think).....and I attached these to the back of the paperside of magnet with E6000 adhesive and let that dry for at least 24 hours.....honestly you can finish this project in one day, but I'd be sure that the magnets aren't "used" until after 24 hours of good drying time. :)

So while that was drying, I started on my fun, matching packaging! (Say that three times real fast!) Haha! :) I started with some small treat bags (I think from AC Moore) and measured them & cut a cardboard piece to fit inside them. On these, I glued on my #8 washers. These were found at a local hardware store...I think like 30 in a pkg. for a little over $1 maybe? (**Be sure NOT to place these too close together; otherwise when you attach your magnets later, they'll have a tendency to be attracted to one another and mess up the whole package!) I learned the hard way! :(

Next I used coordinating & matching papers to cover the cardboard piece and to create a topper for the bags. Here is where you can be as creative as you want by using different punches, scraps, ribbons, buttons, twine, stamps, stickers, etc (endless possibilities) to decorate your magnet packages.

Then simply the next day, attach your magnets to the covered cardboard pieces, slip them into the bags, and then attach your toppers.... and viola! You'll have pretty little magnet sets just waiting for a home! :)

I hope you enjoyed this and were inspired to 'whip up' some last minute gifts! Not only would these be great for Christmas, but for Valentines' Day, Mothers' Day, Easter, Secretary's Day, and so on! Again, endless possibilities! :)

Don't forget to check out the other crafty designers' creations for Last Minute Christmas Gifts

at Craft Junkie Too!

I hope you all have a very Merry CHRISTmas and a Blessed New Year! :)

Shelley

Clip Art courtesy of

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

"Christmasy" Crafty Designers Day at Craft Junkie Too!

Well December is already here and only 18 days left until Christmas!! Can you believe it?
Have you finished all your shopping and gifts? Or....have you even started? :)

Well, me personally, I have haven't been shopping yet but rather busy making things! Of course I can't share them yet and it's about to kill me, but I'll have to wait to share! However, today is Crafty Designers' Day over at Tracy's Craft Junkie Too and simply, we were to create a Christmas card of any kind, shape, size, or color! So I'm definitely sharing that.....but be sure to check them all out and be inspired! :)

So for my Christmas card, I chose to make something I had never made before! I have seen them made by many fellow bloggers and always wanted to make one, so I finally did and it was so fun! I created a Christmas "Shaker" card! I first of all used the same paper pad that I used in my last DT post about my Christmas ornaments, the 6x6 My Mind's Eye - Be Merry paper pad. This pad has so many fun patterned papers for Christmas! (Did I mention that I can't wait to show you what I created for my Christmas gifts with this paper as well?? heehee)

I started out by choosing a coordinating cardstock to go behind my 'window' on my card, then simply recycled some plastic casing from I believe a package of brads (maybe). I used my regular hole punch to punch out a bunch of circles from scraps of coordinating papers from this pad. The circles and some silver glitter I added to the window, then adhered the cardstock to the back of it to hold it all in. Beforehand, I had traced this plastic 'window' piece and cut out the window on the Be Merry paper so it could fit over it and adhere to the card front.

Now after adhering the paper over the 'window', I just added some glitter glue around it to 'seal' my window! :) Then I added a strip of pink ribbon from my stash to the top of the card. Then from my stash of buttons, (I know I have many stashes!) I added a pink button with three different twines tied in a bow! These three colors of twine from My Craft Spot were great for this paper (Traditional Bakers Twine in Cherry Red, Baby Blue, & Spring Green)! Then finally I added a fun, Christmas sentiment sticker from BasicGrey!

On the envelope, I added a little extra decoration with a matching paper. I used my Creative Memories snowflake punch and then trimmed around it to create a shape, then adhered it to the corner of the envelope.

On the inside, I added another extra touch of color with scraps from the same papers, random scrap Cricut cuts, and another fun, puffy ornament sticker from BasicGrey. Since I had the sentiment on the outside, I figured that I would just leave this one blank and simply write a quick Christmas message on it when I decide who the lucky recipient will be! :)

Well, I hope you've been inspired by not only my Christmas card, but by the other Design Team members' creations! Check them out at Craft Junkie Too's site! Take care, and I hope you have all of your Christmas cards ready to mail/hand out! :)

I can't believe it, but Carley's 2nd birthday is coming up next week and I can't wait to share with you what I will be creating for it! She is really into Elmo & Abby Cadabby so it should be fun!!!

So come back soon!

Shelley

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Crafty Designers Day at Craft Junkie Too!

Kicking off the Holiday Season!

Is everyone in the holiday spirit yet? I can't believe it's Thanksgiving tomorrow and that Black Friday sales start tomorrow night!!! I used to brave those crowds but not anymore! I'd rather stay home and craft! Ha! :)

Speaking of crafting......today is Crafty Designers' Day over at Tracy's Craft Junkie Too! We're all kicking off the holiday season by showing off our Christmas creations for you! Check them out and I hope you enjoy! :)

So for my project, I created paper ornaments! Before making these, I honestly had not seen any templates, cut-outs, but only a few tutorials to make any Christmas ornaments. But for my ornaments, I simply made up my own and I thought that they turned out pretty cute! I am planning to use these as decor/tags/ Christmas presents this year! Now, I've just got to get on the ball and get a lot of them made! :) So here are just a few of them.....

For all of these, I used papers from the My Mind's Eye - Be Merry 6x6 paper pad. These double-sided papers were so festive and fun! :)

This one I cut from the Create A Critter cartridge and added some Glossy Accents for the snowflake cut-out! And I added some glitter to the 'candies' on the paper! :)

For this one, I cut it from the Celebrate With Flourish cartridge and added again some Glossy Accents to the swirl, some fun glitter to the patterned paper, and some gold paint for the 'ornament top'. I thought it was fun to make two different sides to this ornament!

For this "present" ornament, I also used the Create A Critter cartridge and decided to make two different sides! This one reminds me of an ornament to give to a boy or a girl with the blue and the pink! :) I again added fun glitter to the ribbons on each side.

For this 3D Christmas tree, I was just playing around to see what it would look like when I finished! It's kind of small which made it challenging to work with, but I finally got the four trees glued together and glittered and I thought it turned out sort of cute! :) I used the layer cutout from the Holiday Cakes cartidge which had the holes in the trees. I added some Glossy Accents (kind of hard to see in photos)to the 'holes' that were against another layer to appear as "clear" ornaments on the trees.....and again, I thought the tree patterned paper was too cute!

Then next, I created this snowflake ornament which turned out large, but I like it! :) I did the Fit To Page on these 6x6 papers which made it cut at 5.5" with the Going Places cartridge. I did three different layers and turned them each a bit and attached them together with a cute white, glittered brad. I really liked how this one turned out and it was really easy to make! Of course, adding some glitter to each layer was a little tedious, but not too bad. :)

Well be sure to check out the other crafty designers' creations and I sure hope you're all "kicked" into the holiday spirit!

I pray that you each have a wonderful Thanksgiving as we all have so much to be thankful for.....all of the time! May God continue to bless you all!

Come back and visit anytime!

Shelley

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Yay, I'm a winner! It's been a great weekend!

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a great weekend! Mine's been pretty good! This is gonna be a more informative rather than creative post but to tell you about my weekend....

First of all, I found out that I won a great giveaway over at Monique Griffith Designs! Whoo hoo! I can't wait to receive the "The Simple Life" layout kit which uses the Country Life cartridge. I love this cartridge! Can't wait to get it and create it! :) Thanks Monique!

Then last night, I helped celebrate my good friend's daughter's 13th birthday and had some yummy cake! I made her a card which I'll post later. Happy Birthday Emily!

Then today, I attended a baby shower for a lady I go to church with and I also made her a card and banner for her soon to be baby boy Davin's room! Again, I'll post them soon! Oh, and again I had some yummy cake! Ha! Congrats Lisa!

Then tomorrow I'm headed to another birthday party for another good friend's little boy who's turning 5! I can't believe he's 5 already! Happy Birthday Landon! He's having a superhero birthday party which should be lots of fun......and of course, some yummy cake too! :) So again, I'll post his card later too!

I know, I know....I have lots of project posting to do! :) (And obviously a diet to start after all that cake! Ha!) But again, it's been a busy yet fun weekend so far.....and I hope your weekend has too!

Come back soon! I promise.....creative posts are coming soon! :)

Shelley

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Congratulations Card for Lynn!

Hello everyone! When I chose a winner last Monday for

my 100 follower giveaway, it was Lynn from Boots and Bling Time!

I had sent her some festive Martha Stewart Christmas stickers and embellishments along with a Congratulations card! Just thought I'd share that card with you! And I didn't even use my Cricut for it! Shocking I know! :)

I used my Martha Stewart Doily Punch to create the strips of paper on the front. And I used my "Congratulations" stamp for the sentiment (I do not know what brand the stamp is) and just used a metal butterfly embellishment that I had picked up at the dollar store. I used another punched strip of the multicolored paper on the inside of the card too. On the envelope as well as the inside (and I think one on the back!), I used a Creative Memories punch for several added butterflys here and there! :) Then I inked the lighter colored paper strips with a touch of purple ink.

I know that Lynn will create something beautiful with those Christmas stickers and I can't wait to see it! Have fun Lynn! :)

I have many projects that I have created over the last month or so, but just haven't had the time to blog about them (college homework and studying seems to supercede lately!), but hopefully I'll get caught up soon. So come back and visit for more crafty projects to be posted soon! :)

Take care!

Shelley

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

CJToo Design Team Day - It's Thanksgiving Time!

OK, well....not yet, but it'll be here before you know it! :)

Welcome to the Craft Junkie Too Design

Team Day - Designer's Choice - Thanksgiving Theme Projects!

This year seems to be flying by soooo fast and Thanksgiving is coming up soon!

So all the CJToo Crafty Designer's are sharing their choice of a Thanksgiving themed project and I can't wait to see them all! Be sure to check them all out by visiting Tracy's page, Craft Junkie Too and show them some love!

You know.....we all have so much to be thankful for and even though we all have our trials and valleys that we go through, we have to remember that we are so blessed and to thank God for those blessings.

When I pondered on what to create for this post, I decided to make something I had never made before. My inspiration for this project all started with "Tom" here, an image that I downloaded from an amazing blog that I found this weekend, Little Birdie Blessings. Not only did I fall in love with her awesome content and amazing vintage images, but I immediately found a good friend in Abby with her encouraging words, most importantly based on scripture, God's Holy word.

After I downloaded the vintage "Tom" above, I decided to add a brown and light blue border for definition on the canvas to which I "Modged Podged" it. Along with this image, I added the verses, Psalms 100:4-5. Abby had shared this verse as well on a recent post and I thought it was just naturally fitting for how we should be thankful to Him not just in November, but all of the time. We should be thankful and praise Him regardless of the circumstances going on around us. He is there for us; has always been there for us, and will continue to be there for us no matter what. He has an unconditional love for us ALL of the time!

When I first started this project, I just figured I was making it for myself, for my home. However, God did what He always does and 'tugged' at my heart and made me think......hmmm, "Who am I going to make this for?" And the first person I thought of was my pastor. He and his wife mean so much to me and my family and we love him dearly. I want them to have it for their home and plan to give it to them Wednesday night at church. :)

For some details on my project.....first I simply painted a canvas with brown paint. Then I "Modged Podged" the printed turkey image and scripture. For the "Giving Thanks" sentiment, I used my Celebrate with Flourish Cricut cartridge to cut cardstock from DCWV Neutrals 8x8 pad. These cardstocks are textured and looked great with the similar texture of the canvas. This is the cardstock that I printed the image and scripture on as well. I then inked all of the edges with brown ink as well as the orange/white polka-dotted strip of paper along the bottom which came from the Recollections Night and Fall Stack. I also "Modged Podged" all of the paper items and, then added in a small amount of glitter to what was left and applied it all over the canvas. I really liked the 'just a hint of shimmer' it added to the whole canvas. (You can sort of see some of the glitter specks at the bottom of the picture below and some in the one above.)

The paper flowers I had ordered from Oriental Trading awhile back and the various brads were just different brads from my stash (Not sure of their brands.) I added some glossy accents to the flowers as well to give them some shimmer also.

Then I added some bling! :) Some brownish/orange rhinestones I thought were a nice touch!

Then finally, this 'altered canvas' (at least that's what I'm calling it! ha!) needed a hanger of some sort. So I found some teal ribbon in my stash and stapled it onto the back then tied a bow at the top.

I just loved the fall colors in this canvas and I hope that they will love it too!

I hope you enjoyed my Thanksgiving project and I hope it inspires you to remember to be thankful for all of the blessings you are given.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the Craft Junkie Too Crafty Designers' projects as well as Abby's blog, Little Birdie Blessings for great vintage images and inspiring words!