ScrapHappy

Christmas Countdown Project #8

Question: What does every woman want at the holiday time?

Answer: Not a giftwrapped visit from George Clooney... though that would be nice... No, she wants MORE TIME! She wants an ORGANIZED HOLIDAY! She wants to RELAX AND ENJOY!

Now, I can't give you more than 24 hours in the day, and I can't give you George. But I can give you a little

HANDY-DANDY HOLIDAY ORGANIZER!

(otherwise known as Christmas Countdown Project #8)

Inside this little box, you can keep track of all the comings and goings of your holiday season... presents to buy, cards to send, shopping, receipts, and thank-yous...

And the best part is, you can even adhere a photo of George to the inside cover, and no one will be the wiser (wink, wink)!

Supplies:

-Ready-to-paint wooden recipe box (I got mine from the craft store for around $2 on sale)

-Acrylic paints in your choice of colors (I used Making Memories Paper Bag and Delta gold metallic paint from the craft store)

-Foam brushes

-Sandpaper

-Scallop scissors (of course)

-Seasonal patterned paper, letter stickers, and tags (I used Paper Salon's Christmas line)

-Seasonal ribbon and epoxy stickers (I used Making Memories)

-Other embellishments (I used Heidi Swapp bling and Stickles from Ranger)

-File tab punch (I used McGill)

-Paper cutter

-Adhesive (I used my Xyron)

-Ink for distressing (I used Ranger)

-Hairdryer or craft heat gun in case you are impatient (we don't know anyone like that, now do we??)

1. Sand rough edges of box (I tried to skip this step as I am a great believer in not doing the things that do not show... but I soon regretted it as I almost sliced my finger on the rough inside edges. So trust me, just do it now and get it out of the way).

2. Paint the outside with a coat of the gold paint. To keep the paint from sealing the box shut, I have developed this patented "box-drying-propping-thingy" mechanism, demonstrated above. I hold the rights, but you may use it for your personal use (non-commerical usage only, all rights reserved).

3. After the paint has dried, coat with a second "loose" coat of the Paper Bag color. Obviously, I was going for the distressed look here. I am often distressed, and figured that something pre-worn would fit right into our home decor.

4. Once the second coat has dried, begin embellishing the box.  I used the patterned paper to cut strips for each side, trimmed with the scalloped scissors (of course), and inked the edges. I ran each through my Xyron sticker maker (with permanent adhesive) and adhered to the sides. Please note how I carefully lined up the bottom sticker with the top so the colors were the same order (I may be impatient, but I'm still a perfectionist!).

5. I made other embellishments like this one. I took a cardstock sticker from the Paper Salon set and placed a Making Memories epoxy sticker in the middle. Then I double-mounted the sticker on chipboard for stability and inked the edges, then adhered to the center front of the box.

 

6. Other embellishments:  I also added MM ribbon around the top and bling to jazz things up (Yes, it was a pain in the booty. Yes, it did fall off. Let's not talk about that. I prefer to keep things happy). 

7. Spell out "Naughty or nice?" on the lid using letter stickers (or cuneiform, if you are Etta). Add Stickles glitter in strategic places. (Other possible phrases I was considering: Ho Ho Ho with snowflakes for the O's, Santa Please Stop Here, or the generic, Merry Christmas).

8. While the whole shebang is drying, create the divider cards for inside the box. cut 4x6" cards from a selection of cheery seasonal patterned paper. If the PP is too thin, you may need to adhere it to chipboard or blank index cards.

9. Using pre-made file tabs or a punch, create tabs and adhere to your divider cards. Label as desired. Mine read: Cards, Gifts, Cookies, Reciepts, Shopping, Thank Yous. Some will have addresses tucked in behind them, some will have shopping lists, recipes, etc. Use your imagination! You might have a category for sizes, for "never again" gifts, and for people who deserve coal (I know a few of those).

10. Sit back and enjoy your stress-free holiday season. Tell Georgie I said hi if you see him.

Christmas Countdown Project #9: Super-Sweet Family Blessing Book

Don't panic -- we're on project #9 but there are actually about 14 weeks to Christmas. Doesn't that make you feel better? Count your blessings -- you're starting now so you will be done by Thanksgiving! And in the meantime you can record your blessings in this

SUPER-SWEET FAMILY BLESSINGS BOOK

This is the perfect gift for neighbors, or as a hostess present for a holiday party. We put ours on the kitchen counter and take turns recording a blessing or "thank you" for the day. Of course, you'll want to make one for yourself. Make sure to date your entries! What a record of what was important to your family members.

Supplies:
-Composition book (mine was from Staples)
-2 sheets patterned paper (I used October Afternoon), plus a small piece for the spine (I used the reverse of one of the other sheets)
-2 sheets coordinating cardstock
-Courner rounder
-Xyron Cheetah
-7 Gypsies Gaffers tape
-Autumn Leaves stickers -- Foliage collection
-Hambly rub-on
-6" ribbon for book
-12" ribbon for bookmark
-Glue dots
-Crystal
-Circle punch
-Brown ink pad (I used Ranger Archival Ink)
-Stamp alpha or stickers
-Silk leaves
-Stapler
-"anywhere" hole punch
-Paper trimmer

Don't let the long list of supplies fool you -- it's a simple project!

1. Measure your composition book and cut two sheets of patterned paper to fit (you don't need to go all the way to the spine because you will cover the spine and part of the cover. Mine was 9.75"x6.5"). Round the outer corners and adhere using the Xyron Cheetah.

2. Using the third patterned paper, cut a piece measuring 2.5"x9.75" for the spine. Adhere WITH THE BOOK CLOSED. (If you adhere the paper with the book open, the paper will pull when you close it. Trust me, I know from experience).

3. Cut two pieces of the gaffers tape and wrap around the front and back of the book, covering the seam where the patterned papers meet. (I told you you didn't need to be too precise when measuring your papers! Did you believe me??).

4. Cut two pieces of cardstock to cover the inside of the covers. Round corners and adhere.

5. Stamp "thank you" on the sticker. I embossed mine with clear embossing powder to give it a little pop, but you don't have to. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, just like my three-year-old tells me everyday! Adhere to cover, embellish using rub-ons. If you want, punch holes below the label and tie coordinating ribbon.

6. Using the computer, handwriting, rub-ons, or cuneiform, write quote and adhere to inside cover. (Quote reads: If the only prayer you ever said was 'thank you,' that would be enough. --Meister Echkardt).

BOOKMARK:

Staple silk leaves to each end of a 12" piece of ribbon. Cover the staples with circles punched from the leftover patterned paper. Adhere jewel to one circle. Slip into the book and admire your handiwork (it's all about the details, baby!).

VARIATIONS: You could make this book in any size. Spiralbound albums are tough, but possible (and a lot less expensive!). My son's third-grade class did this project using small spiralbound albums at their Thanksgiving party. I've also made a booklover's book journal and a knitting journal. Use your imagination and show me what you come up with!

Christmas Countdown... Project #10

Yes, it's true... Christmas is only 15 weeks away! Ack!

But don't stress yet... instead, get scrapping! Here's the first in a series of ten weekly projects to shorten your gift list and get your holiday spirit soaring. These are quick, cute, and cheap... so hit the dollar store, crank the Christmas tunes, and let's go!

PROJECT 10: UBER-CUTE COUPON BOOK

I don't know about you, but as a mom, scrapbooker and crafter, I have tons (figuratively, not literally) of coupons. For the craft store. For the shoe store. For the bookstore. My challenge is keeping them easily accessible and organized, because as soon as they drop into the black hole of my tote bag, I won't discover them until the expiration date has passed. What a bummer that is!

So here's my solution:

I took a little tiny photo album that I got on sale for $.60 at Michaels (they tried to convince me this was not a photo album and thus not eligible for the "40% off all photo album" special but I threw a major fit... yes, it was only $.40 difference, but it's the principle of the thing, KWIM??)

Supplies:

-Mini PHOTO ALBUM with removable cover insert:

-1 sheet  cardstock (I used Bazzill Bling) and a few pieces of coordinating scrap cardstock and patterned paper
-McGill folder file punch
-Corner rounder
-Circle punch
-Rub-ons (I used Heidi Swapp's newest print rub-ons)
-Dollar sign rub-on (I used Basic Grey's Wholly Cow)
-Heidi Swapp bling
-Prima flower
-Adhesive

1. Slide out covers and measure to use as templates for front and back (mine measured 4.5" by 6.25"). Cut two pieces of cardstock for front and back.

2. Play with patterned paper and coordinating cardstock to find a design you like. I wanted my front and back to look different so it is easier to find the right thing in my capacious bag.

3. Adhere when you're happy, or when you realize "Curious George" will be over in 15 minutes so you'd better get a move-on. You could certainly use a Xyron or Cheetah to adhere the papers, but because these are going to be protected in the plastic cover, I just used a regular tape runner adhesive (permanent).

4. Using rub-ons, write "The more I spend... the more I save." Chuckle quietly to yourself and pat yourself on your back for being so clever. Add dollar sign rub-on, bling circle (swearing several times when the rhinestones come off the adhesive), and flower for added fun. Round corners because you just can't resist.   

5. Carefully slide the covers into the front and back.

 

6. Using the file folder punch, punch about 10-12 file folder tags from different cardstock scraps. Label, and adhere in a staggered fashion on the pages of the book. My categories: Craft stores, clothing, restaurant, activities, office supply, other. I also punched out a few extras and stuck 'em inside the back cover for future use.

7. Smile, and cross one person off your list!

Other uses for this book: receipts, gift cards, to-dos, shopping lists for stores, etc. How cute would this be with a gift card or two slipped into the appropriate categories? LOVE IT.

Come back tomorrow for a bonus project made with the leftovers from this project (which itself was done out of leftovers).