Nothin Like a Little Herb and Scrapbooking!

Check out this cute little gift Crafty Cat brought to our scrapbooking get-together recently! If there's one thing scrapbookers like- it is gifts!  She brought little baggies filled with her own fresh grown dill, parsley and basil, embellished with a cute little sunflower and fibers (of course!)!! She also bought us a little paw print hole punch!! Too cute-- loved the gift Cat!

Next time you get together with friends, why not bring a little token of your appreciation? It will surely be a hit!  Make it a tradition to exchange handmade treats every few months at your craft night soiree.

Tiny Accordion Book

Why do cute lockets, keychains, and picture frames always come in sizes that are impossible to fill?  Because tiny is just cute.  Simple.  How can I find a picture of my cute niece the size of a quarter?  We always find a way to figure it out and the results are sweet when we open our necklace to reveal the teeny face of someone who we can't get enough of.

If a locket isn't big enough to show off your whole family, make your own tiny brag book.  This is another credit to the girls from Captured Moments in Rotterdam, NY.  They taught Crafty Girl and I how to make accordion books.  We've loved making them ever since.  Start with a strip of paper that you  fold in typical "accordion" style.  You'll need two small pieces of chip board to put on each end of your book...the back and front covers.  Cut pretty paper for your front cover and fold the edges around to the inside.  You'll cover the inside with the end of your accordion strip.

Repeat the process for the other end of the book.  But, put a piece of ribbon on the inside of the back cover, before you adhere that end of the accordion strip.  That will wrap around your front cover to keep it closed.  You can either tie the ribbon or attach a tiny metal clasp.  Throw a few cute flowers on the cover or any small embellishment.  Done!!  Giving credit where credit is due...check out more of the Captured Moments creativity on their website, www.capturedmomentsstore.com.  This is shaping up to be sort of a Captured Moments make-n-take tribute month.  Monday we'll show you a twist on this type of book that they came up with.  Plus, I'll bring you one of my favorite CM creations soon...a paper bag book!!  Keep checking in.  Until then, give this to a friend empty and let them fill it OR fill it with pictures of a special occasion.  I like to keep one in my purse to look at when I need a tiny smile.

Chalkboard doily art.

Remember me?  It's Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, back with another project for your decoupage pleasure.  I've had a dollar store frame hanging around for quite awhile, and I decided it was time to put it to good use.  Given my recent obsession with spray paint, and the fact that I have a large fabric stash, I was inspired to make a sign.  I also love Chalkboard paint, so you can definitely say that I threw this all together.  Enjoy.

Treasure Box

Crafty Girl and I were inspired during a weekend scrapbooking retreat a few years ago.  A group of ladies, who come back every year, have a tradition of bringing small gifts for each other.  Our eyes widened as one woman showed us all of the wonderful things she was given over the years.  We decided our next retreat would be the beginning of a great tradition.

Since I treasure my time scrapbooking with friends, I decided to make a treasure box, full of button, brads, and eyelets.  We did set a price limit of about $10.  Luckily, I already had most of the materials on hand.  It was a big hit and a fair amount of work!!  I found these in Michael's, but you can go to the wood section of any craft store to find ideas.  The good news is that raw wood is reasonably priced.  The bad news is that you have to sand it down.  The edges are generally very rough.  Thin sanding sheets are easy to find in nearby aisles.  The difference in appearance makes it well worth the time and effort.  Then, pick your stain and get the job done.

Once I was done sanding, it was time to Mod Podge.  Our monthly features with Mod Podge Amy offer many great tips and she has an AMAZING website that you need to see.  The basic idea is to cut the paper that you want to use into the exact shapes and sizes you'll need.  I like to cut out pieces of the design for special decorations.  Coat the wood with a layer of the sticky glue with a brush or sponge.  Lay your paper into place, smoothing out air bubbles.  Add another layer of Mod Podge to the top of the paper to seal it into place.  I added letters to my drawers and some glitter glue...to give the surface some dimension.  Then, I labeled each treasure chest with the name of my friends, using wooden stickers.

I meant to make four treasure boxes...one for myself.  My procrastination resulted in a last-minute dash to get the boxes done.  In the end, I was sacrificed.  To this day, when I look at the pictures of my handmade gift, I am jealous that all of my friends have one and I don't.

Spring Flowers In The Winter

Every once in a while I get a hankering to play with yarn. You will often see it in my scrapbooking projects and probably more rarely in an item you can wear. I'm not an expert at crocheting- in fact I'm pretty much a rookie when it comes to it! But that doesn't stop me from trying! A soft, fuzzy hand-made item can be just the right gift for this time of year. While I'm sure there are some of you who are amazingly gifted and patient and can probably crochet a king sized blanket- I'm just not there yet! I wish I was. I thought it would be fun and manageable to make a cute little baby scarf. This was the result. It's perfect for a cute little 3 year old!

If your pockets are kind of empty this holiday season, why not make someone a gift! I love handmade gifts. I always beg my husband to have the kids make me something- it just feels so special to me. You don't have to be perfect about it- it's the thought that counts. Why not try making something out of your comfort zone?