BOO!

October 24, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Holidays, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Scrapbooking

Don’t be scared – all you need are paper-mache letters, shadow boxes, and fabric or scrapbook papers to create this whimsical Halloween décor. Display on a shelf or table for a unique Halloween accent.

 

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Back to School Organization Time

September 3, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Scrapbooking

Okay, now that it is September, we can fully embrace Back to School Season. Whether you’re the parent of a school kid or a teacher, now’s the time to start planning how to keep yourself organized.

When the frig gets filled with papers and projects you can transfer them into this clever school paper organizer. To customize, you can easily decorate a portable paper file with any theme of stickers. For optimum organization, you can use letter stickers to spell out each grade on the file dividers. Use some of those spare wallet size class photos to mount on each grade divider.

If time is too tight for paper crafting right now, check out these printed expandable pocket folders from our partner Teacher Created Resources.

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Aug 2 is National Friendship Day

August 2, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Friendship, Scrapbooking

What a way to make her day – spontaneously send a card in the mail just to let her know how much you value her friendship, to reminisce about a recent adventure, how you can always count on her to laugh out loud at your silly jokes, appreciate how she has helped you and listened to you during your last emotional crisis, and that you look forward to fun times in the future.  It’s not her birthday, so you’ll catch her by surprise.  Try your hand at one of these sweet & easy-to-make friendship card ideas.

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Garden Journal

July 27, 2009 in Books, Crafts, Creativity, Gardening, Scrapbooking

You can record all your garden musing or create the gift of a lifetime for your favorite Gardener by creating a wooden journal decorated with vintage seed packets and pressed flowers. If you do your projects in stages, it makes it easier to accomplish. Start today by collecting an assortment of flowers, ferns and leaves from the garden for pressing.

PRESSING FLOWERS & LEAVES

For our project, we got excellent results when we pressed clean, dry blossoms and leaves by carefully positioning them in big thick telephone books. Pile on a couple more heavy books for good measure. The flowers took one week and two weeks worked for the leaves. If you live in an area with high humidity, it may take longer. The flowers and leaves will be brittle when they are thoroughly dried, so handle with care. Hobby stores offer a variety of flower presses, including ones that can be used in the microwave if you prefer. “Google” for directions if you’d like to make your own flower press.

Click here for

to make this Garden Journal.

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Plan a Getaway

July 9, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Scrapbooking

Are you planning more of a Stay-cation than a Va-cation this summer? I’m planning for a little of both and I sure hope some of my summerdays will be spent being lazy at the lake and catching some sun. You can also catch up on your scrapbooking on one of those days off and relive vacation memories by putting together pages from your favorite trips. Whether it was the trip of a lifetime or setting up camp at the closest State Park, you don’t want to forget the good times.

I’ve got a new line of TRAVEL Papers and stickers that will help you commemorate a Cruise, a road trip, a tropical destination or roughing it in the Great Outdoors. Set aside a little Getaway for yourself to create a Vacation Memory book that will be Picture Postcard Perfect, just because you took the time to create it.

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Gifts for a Gardener

June 29, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Decorating, Gardening, Home, Scrapbooking

Are your gardening friends just loving spending every waking moment in their garden or are they feeling a little overwhelmed by endless weeding? Either way, whether it’s a summer birthday or a sweetly timed “just because” gift, your favorite gardener will squeal with detail if they are a recipient of one of the following.

The Garden sign is all purpose for anyone, but could be customized by changing to a first or last name. The clipboard is a cheery way to review your gardening chores. Keep the dirt at bay and look like a million when you sport this vinyl covered Garden apron. Deliver your gift in an all purpose Garden pail, tied with a bow and attached seed packets.

 

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Scrapbooking for Dad

June 11, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Holidays, Scrapbooking

What Dad wouldn’t appreciate some special attention to his favorite hobby? Ask everyone to start capturing photos of him in action (along with a few good fish tales) and use those photos to create this accordion album. For the finishing touch cleverly package it all up a decorated Tin CD case. In appreciation, I bet he’ll even share his “catch of the day!”

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Baby Contest Winners

May 31, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Scrapbooking

Look at these wonderful Baby project ideas.

Michelle from Monroe, WA constructed a magnificent gift basket. The face of the basket is covered in Mother Goose scrapbooking paper and embellished with ribbons and the word BABY on the handle. It's filled with an assortment of baby gifts. What an impressive shower gift.

Teresa from Hudsonville, MI sends us a series of
framed prints all mounted on a yellow gingham ribbon. The art is all cut out from our Nursery Scrapbook paper. 

And Louise of Denver, CO sent us a quick and darling idea for a Shower Invitation.

Thank you for sharing your creative projects and please enjoy your drawing prizes.

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Birthdays are the Best

May 27, 2009 in Crafts, Creativity, Friendship, Quilting, Scrapbooking

My super creative team at the office surprised me with a super creative birthday gift this week. Each of them made a wool flower that somehow reflected their own style. The colors and techniques were a personal stamp. Jackie included a ring of wired beads, Kris used scrapbooking supplies and staples to attach her layers together, Nancy used her favorite color of purple, Gil- Jin showcased her exquisite blanket stitching,  Kathy used feminine colors with a pretty flowered button, Monica whipped out a glue stick and tie-dye, Mandie’s was decorated with Margarita glasses, Carolyn used her favorite orange and a big stitch edge and Tom’s was funky with cool stipple stitching. Then they each inserted a (color coordinating!) gift card to one of my favorite places. You know like Nordstrom, Starbucks, AMC, iTunes, Macy’s, Pier One Imports, Mel’s Nursery, Target and the coveted Punch Card for 10 dozen organic eggs from Kathy’s hens. I am set! Thank you for the fantastic gift!!

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Get Organized!

March 9, 2009 in Crafts, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, Quilting, Scrapbooking

It’s snowing like the dickens out there today – but I’m still thinking about Spring, Songbirds and National Craft Month! In honor, I wanted to share some new Craft Storage items available at JoAnn’s. A couple of the items include this Carry-All tote with a subtle Robin’s Egg blue paisley with a scattering of sweet little orange flowers and a great little Organizer with a lovely bird pattern in coordinating colors. Get ready for a class, a crop or just to tote your projects from one room to the next with these great new products. Happy (almost) Spring!

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