Quick Little Mini-Books

This is a cautionary tale which includes quite a few photos.  It seems that many of my posts in the past days have included quite a few.  I suppose this is a representation of what gift giving crafting is truly like.

Today I am sharing these wonderful matchbook mini-albums that I put together using a rather old Close to My Heart scrapbook kit.  That is not the cautionary tale, I'll get to that in a minute.


This kit is really quite simple and easy to use.  The kit provides three similar matchbook mini-albums in three different color schemes- peach/green, tan/pink, and tan/blue.

The mini-albums are intended to be assembled using the provided stamp set and four small mini-stamp pads of the major colors, pink, peach, tan and blue.  The die cuts are all provided.

Instructions clearly indicated what stamp to use where, what color to combine for each book, and which stamping techniques (sometimes using the second generation images, sometimes first generation, sometime stamping off the edge, etc.). 









You can see how the provided mini-album pages have the existing patterned paper in just the right locations to provide beautiful two page layouts.  The finished product is actually quite lovely.  I highly recommend Close to My Heart kits as they are easy to put together.

This is maybe where I should get to the cautionary tale.  It has nothing to do with Close to My Heart which provides a wonderful product that I am sure I can put to good use in the future.
 

The caution comes from my experience as a scrapbook and paper crafting hoarder collector.  I sorta feel as though maybe I should have started this post with:

Hi!  My name is Andrea (last name withheld and nickname purposely not used!).   
I am a scrapaholic.

I am truly not making fun of AA.  It's just that this is a disease that I have (hence Contagiously Crafty) and I have had it bad for years.  So bad that when I went to a LSS for what they call their Yard Sale I inocently picked out this mini-album kit for $5.  The yard sale is an opportunity for folks to sell any items used or new in the LSS where people have already come for papercrafting supplies.  The kit was labeled new and I felt that getting four stamp pads, a clear stamp set and three mini-albums with all the trimmings seemed a bargain.  Plus, I enjoyed the design.  Therefore, it was not at all funny when only moments after purchasing (while showing off my find) when Brandy pointed out that we had in fact purchased the exact same kit years (YEARS!) ago to share between us and that she remembers making at least one of the mini-albums herself.  I believe her exact words were "Don't you have that stamp set at home?!"

I, respectfully, didn't answer her rhetorical question as the dawning light of remembrance lit my face.  In my defense, I have since looked for said stamp set and cannot find it.  Neither can I find any evidence of having any of the three mini-albums (they were probably gifts to someone else ?!).  And I would NEVER.EVER.EVER admit it if I do find them.

By the way, have I mentioned that I own a Scrapbox?

Andie

Truly Heartfelt Creations

 
Brandy has been at it again.  Tell me this isn't drool worthy!  Tell me!  Heartfelt Creations recently released the Timeless Amour collection.  Before you click through on the link.  Call a friend.  Confess your infection.  Hand your wallet to someone trustworthy who owns a big knife and is not afraid to use it.  Tell them not to give your wallet back no matter what you say.  Be afraid of the big knife!  Now, you are properly prepared to take a look.  Go ahead and jump...

This is the first of (I hope) many of the cards that Brandy has/will make from this beautiful collection.  Brandy would gladly tell you that she followed this recipe on the Heartfelt Creations website.   If you haven't visited the Heartfelt Creations website, do so.  If you click to view a particular product they are helpful (?!) and provide the coordinating products as links at the bottom of the product listing.  Coordinating products can include paper collections, die sets, additional stamp sets, etc.  They combine their own original designs with Spellbinders dies and make their own dies (that work exactly like the Spellbinders dies).  Each product will often also have a Related Project Samples tab.  This is a link to the projects their designers completed using the product listed.  In this case, the "recipe" link I provided above.

One caution, sometimes (not often) the recipe will not include one instruction or another.  I don't think Brandy and/or I have figured out why this might be.  It could be that the complexity of the design just resulted in one thing being left out, that a particular item/product used is no longer available, etc.  Brandy and I have a philosophy on blogging and recipes.  Maybe it is self defense, maybe it is delusional.  We believe that any creation should be yours and yours alone.  What makes it yours is your own talent and skill and sometimes even those little "mistakes" that turn out adding charm and sentiment to projects.  So, no need to agonize over "how did they do that", just roll up your sleeves and give it a go.  Maybe it doesn't work and you throw your try straight out the window.  Maybe it doesn't quite work the way you thought and turn out how your mind envisioned the creation.  However, it is sure to be uniquely yours.

Finally, a comment on Brandy's creation.  If you clicked through to the recipe link you'll notice right away the color scheme change.  I'm a girl that loves the color green.  In fact, when I first saw the recipe sample I loved it.  However, I think Brandy's pink with a splash of green actually is more eye catching and makes green (to me) the star of this card rather than a monochromatic player that it is in the recipe.  Small change, big reward.  I think Brandy's card is lovely, don't you?

Wait two four hours, repeatedly telling yourself you don't need one more "collection", "die set" or "stamp".  Call someone to call your friend with the big knife and tell her to return your wallet.  Your on your own after that ladies!

Andie (for Brandy)

Granna's Pillowslips

The Hungry Little Caterpillar Pillowslip

My mother, Sue, has always sewn household items.  In fact, in my closet right now resides at least two dresses she had sewn for me for Kindergarten that she passed to me.  My Katie wore them for approximately 2.5 seconds because I didn't (and probably still don't) know how small I was for my age.  I was a twin and tiny, skinny one at that.  

When my mom was pregnant with her first baby, her friends and family put on a terrific baby shower for her. She received many gifts, but of all the wonderful gifts a favorite gift was given by a cousin- a homemade baby pillow with a matching baby pillowslip (read: pillowcase). It was so cute that is was her most favorite gift. When the baby was born, -surprise- it turned out to be twins (my sister and I). Seeing as she was now a pillow short, my mom had to make a matching pillow and pillowslip. Over the years, she handmade baby pillows and pillowslips as shower gifts.  Baby pillows are not hip for children past a very young age.  This required a conversion to making the children in our family unique pillowcases for their beds.  We now reside in a sea of pillowcases.  Katie right now has 3 pillows on her bed, Tinkerbell, cupcakes and the one that matches her bedding.  There are more in the cupboard. 

In an effort to feed my mom's own contagious habit, I've set up an Etsy shop for her.  You can find her at Granna's Pillowslips.  She can do special requests as well including custom embroidery.  Go check her out today.

Andie

Great Grandma's Calendar

 

Last year I had a great idea for my grandma's Christmas gift.  At her age (in here 80s) she has almost everything she could want or need.  She has collected teapots, nutcrakers, thimbles, teacups, and crown paraphernalia.  With over 16 grandkids and 35 great grandkids the pictures alone overwhelm her home.  Even though she lives in Colorado- a long 15 hour drive from us in Arizona- she feels as close as my second skin.  This is because she is the best grandma in the whole world.  As such, I wanted to give her some of our best photos and what better way that to create a scrapbook calendar.  Alas, in the Christmas rush last year I didn't get photos made and posted.  I didn't make that mistake this year (though I delayed this post in order to keep the present a surprise). 

Pardon me for the long post, but here's an offering of the pages which include photos of my lovely Grandma, Grandpa and my kids.  You'll even find the rare jem- me in a photo.

The 2013 was cut using my Design Studio and Cricut's Ashlyn's Alphabet cart.  













Swirls cut from Cricut's French Manor cart.

Flowers were cut previously and in the stash using Cricut's Flower Shoppe cart.

Another stash swirl from French Manor.  Same as below.

Katie regularly grows her hair out and cuts at least 12 inches off to donate to Locks of Love.  This was a purposeful act we started when she was just three.  I didn't want my girl to be too self conscious of her hair (which grows incredibly fast and, though fine, grows in very dense).  This was a way to teach her to give to others while enjoying various different hair styles.  Plus, Arizona summers can get pretty warm and short hair is advantageous. 

A good portion of the photos were taken during our recent trip in October to visit with my grandparents.  It was my son Timothy's birthday who shares the day with my Uncle Mitch (red jacket, left of picture).  This family photo was taken at Red Lobster after the obligatory birthday dinner.  I'm the photographer.

The calendar kit came from Hobby Lobby, Paper Studio's 8 x 8 Calendar Kit.  Most of the patterned paper comes from the kit and some of the solid cardstock.  The papers in the kit are very thin- you need to carefully cut the paper to keep it from fraying (my only complaint).  I believe they offer this kit in a 12 x 12 as well and sell blank calendars where you can use your own patterned papers.  Many of the embellishments are from the kit though I've thrown in some from the stash.  This is a very good time to have a stash.  The kit provides the stickers to place on the opposing calendar portion making the kit versatile for any year.  I loved this so much, I made a slightly different one for myself that I hope to get photographed and posted sometime soon. 

I've already received my thank you card from grandma.  She was looking forward to hanging the calendar up before the new year started.  I smiled broadly, feeling that warmth of satisfaction that only a well thought through gift can bring.

Andie

12 Days of Christmas- Kids Style

I have created the 12 Days of Christmas as a gift for the past several years.  The idea was initiated (like all my ideas) by some wonderful friends (the Jackmans) who mysteriously left gifts on our doorstep for the 12 days preceding Christmas.   We had never experienced this before and it was so wonderful we couldn't control ourselves.  I know a few crafty folks (Brandy anyone?  Keri?  !!!!) so there was much speculation as to the gift givers.  When my neice and nephews became old enough to enjoy- and maybe even a bit sooner than that :)- I decided that this would make the best gift.  These kids have everything they could want, so one more Christmas gift just gets lost in the shuffle of present opening on Christmas day.  However, 12 gifts to be opened over the coming 12 days most of which are consumable... that appeals.  

I repeated the same error that I have over the last couple of Christmas'.  No pictures of the finished product.  Actually, not exactly zero pictures.  I did find this one picture that is really only half a picture.  This is usually the result of having just finished packaging all gifts by Christmas Eve and in the rush and excitement of all the other activities- no pictures.  I *smartly* grabbed only a few pictures of one of the gifts this year.  Truly, this was intended to be a well documented year.  But, alas, it got away from me again.  Pardon the wordy post, but this will act as record keeping for me as much as inspiration for you so I'm trying to really get it down.

I usually start with an internet search to see if any new ideas for the 12 Days has been blogged/chatted or otherwise documented out in the world.  I use keywords like 12 Days of Christmas gift ideas, etc. This begins a list of the gifts I plan to purchase or give.  I've created the lists below that identifies some of the ideas I've used or heard of.  The key that I try to narrow my ideas to- keep it simple, consumable (if possible), entertaining (sometimes, but usually only for the young or slow witted amongst us), and inexpensive (if you are doing this for multiple families like I do, costs can rise quickly).  I try to keep in mind that these aren't the kinds of gifts kids long for all year, just something to look forward to and anticipate for 12 days.  

On the first day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

If you are rich, this is where you're buying a pear tree and a partridge.  I wouldn't like either so we've given canned pears, bird ornaments, real pears, pear jelly (This can be hard to find.  I found mine at Whole Foods) etc.

On the second day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Normally two turtle doves.  I've given a box of turtle candies, Dove soap bar, Dove chocolate candies, etc.

On the third day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Normally three French Hens.  I've given a can of chicken noodle soup (the family size so everyone can enjoy).  This year I purchased a copy of Anne Hathaway''s I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables and made a cd.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Normally, four calling birds.   My favorite gift for this day was for dear friends where each of our family members wrote out notes as to why the friends were so precious to each of us.  Kay has since gone to be with her Savior.  My sentiments written are still very true, she and her husband Chris are truly precious to me.  I've also created (I am a paper crafter at heart) notecards as the gift.  Thus the lone picture from this year. The card base (cream cardstock) was distressed using Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint and Faded Jeans Distress Ink and an Ink Blending Tool.  The frame and bird were cut from Cricut's Straight From the Nest, image Brdcge2 using the same cream cardstock. 





I think these were cut at 3 3/4 in. to fit the card perfectly.  
I used Tim Holtz' Rusted Enamel technique to give the frame and bird some texture and to make the color rich.  The ink used in this technique was Vintage Photo.  Inside I stamped the sentiment (meaning "It's Very Nice" I think?) and the bird using my Glitz stamp set.  I've made other renditions and included them in years past always trying to keep the sentiment very notecardish so they could be used as a variety of purposes.







On the fifth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually five golden rings.  I've given a can on pineapple rings, candy rings (I like the sweetart kind like these),  and this year a knitted mitten ornament kinda like this (purchased, not made, but could easily be handmade). 

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually six geese a laying.  Yuck!  Definitely have to change this one.  I pretend that eggs only come from a plastic carton at Sams Club and have nothing to do with stinky, smelly birds.  I have given chocolate egg candies, Cadbury egg candies, and this year was Silly Putty eggs.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually, seven swans a swimming.  I have given bubble bath, inexpensive bowl (make your own small pond), beach ball (the swans left behind in the pond), and this year some Goldfish crackers (also left behind in the pond).

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually eight maids a milking.  I have given a small container of Quik chocolate milk mix, drinking straws (for the milk), and this year some milk caramels.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually nine ladies dancing.  This is where Cricut and I have a problem.  The cart Joys of the Season has nine drummers drumming.  This almost always trips me up since conventionally the song has nine ladies dancing.  I'll speak in a minute about the cuts I've used from the cart, but this is fair warning in your planning if you choose to use the cart and follow my suggestions (you'll have to switch it up with the 12 drummers drumming below).  I have given candy canes (those tired ladies need it to get home) and this year, blown glass ballet slipper Christmas tree ornament.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually ten lords a leaping.  Again, I believe Cricut got it wrong with ten pipers piping (on the Joys of the Season cart).  Switch it out, but adjust your planning.  I have given Ben Gay cream (they have tired muscles) and this year, a frog puzzle (tired Lords wanted you to follow someone else for a while).

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually eleven pipers piping.  I have given bubble pipe, hot (piping hot!) chocolate mix, and this year I purchased a bagpipe song and cut cds for the kids to listen to.  More than eleven pipers piping!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love (or true friends) gave to me....

Usually twelve drummers drumming.  I have given Christmas cookies, purchased Relient K's 12 Days of Christmas and made cds, and this year gave a bottle of sparkling cider to celebrate with.

I've made tags with the statements for each day and fussy cut them out.  You can get the templates here.  This is an example of one year's version.  When I've used these tags, I put the tag with the info inside a lunch bag with the gift and staple the bag closed.  In these cases, I have cut the Ornament feature for each day using Cricut's Joys of the Season cart layering a solid cardstock between the two ornament cuts (one with the image and one with the number representing the day).  This was a fair bit of gluing work, but looked great using a cardstock pack of four Christmasy colors (forest green, rusty red, cream, mustardy yellow).  I have also cut the image for each day using both layers (i.e., Partridge sitting on pear branch, turtle doves in their cage, etc.).  Again, I used a Christmasy cardstock paper pack and simply cut each image out of an appropriate color using color to add to the dimension for each layer.

This year, I used my Word trick to print into a template and then cut using the Cricut- like I've mentioned here before.  I used on the 12 Days of Christmas cards.  This is what that printout looked like:


The frame  was cut at 3 in. using the AutoFill and SetPaperSize features so that the cuts would be in approximately the same location every time.  The Word template is purposely left with room on the edges for error (no tight fits here!).  The image used is from Cricut's Sophisticated cart using Creative Feature Font1 image Frame3.  I cut additional layers 1/4 in. bigger of patterned paper and solid cardstock to make the tags.


In either case, I adhered a tag to the outside of the bag and indicated which day so that the recipient could open them in order.  I almost always included an opening tag to explain the gift and give minor instructions along with a Christmas sentiment.  We've given the whole set all at once both 12 days before Christmas and on Christmas Day to be opened each of the following 12 days.  We've given this gift to nieces and nephews, family friends with children and family friends whose children are grown up and on their own.  It is a very special gift and always brings delight to us as the giver of the gift.

Whichever way you intend to do this- even if it is a gift to your own children, I am sure that it will bring Christmas joy.  After all, isn't that one of the best parts of Christmas?

Andie