Thursday, December 16, 2010

Ordinary to Extraordinary

Hello fans, Andrea here.  I'm really excited to join in the fun of our May Arts/Jenni Bowlin blog week.  I have simple project I think you will en-JOY! Wink!

Supplies Needed:
wood block letters, craft paint, paint brushes, mod podge, Jenni Bowlin paper, May Arts Ribbon, scissors, pencil, and hot glue gun.


First, I painted my letters and beautiful hunter green.


Second, I traced my letters on the back of my fabulous Jenni Bowlin paper.


Third, I glued the paper to my letters with mod podge, the gold glitter type which gave it an aged look.
Fourth, I cut and glued May Arts spectacular ribbons 379-15-25 burgundy pleats, AG15 green gold edge,  and G58 around my letters and voila............

from ordinary to extraordinary!!

I absolutely love the way they turned out.  I hope this triggers some inspiration for your Christmas decor.  See you soon!
Project made for http://www.mayarts.com/blog/


Many Thanks!

It's all in the way you wrap it. A simple gift that's packaged with class. 

In September of this year,  I had to have my gall-bladder removed.  I had two attacks in one week and 4 days after the second attack, surgery.  Wow!  I had no idea recovery would be so difficult.  Why am I telling you this?  Well, this project has to do with the way I wrapped my Thank you gifts for some wonderful neighbors who brought in dinner to my family while I was recovering.  What gracious people. 
I found some cute in-expensive bowls and placed a jar of home-made pineapple jalapeno jam, yummm, in the middle and surrounded it with individually wrapped life-savers.


Wrapped them in cellophane with the help of a cute little fairy!



I use pipe cleaners that I've cut in half to wrap around the cellophane to hold it and then tie the beautiful ribbon over the pipe cleaner.


May Arts has a wonderful selection of ribbons with yellow and orange combinations, so we tied them up beautiful and then made some cards to match the ribbon.

With the help of some Hero Arts stamps, embellishments and ribbon, I made them clean and simple.  Pattern punched at the bottom, then added some solid card stock behind it.  All adhesives were Glue Arts products of course.
The glue glider pro, ribbon adhesive, and extreme adhesive squares.

On this particular one I stampled directly on the ribbon.
This patterned ribbon was even more beautiful than I imagined once I had it in my hands.




Lovin' the ric rac, aren't you?








Ric rac on a plain white card, printed card stock on top and some more ric rac.  Bright and fun.








I don't have room in my house to keep every card that I've been given, but I also hate throwing them away. So, I make my cards with the note either attached with brads so they can remove it and put there own note in and reuse the card or simply just place the note inside without brads.


Who wouldn't love getting a re-useable Thank you card?  A simple gift that screams thanks all in the way I wrapped it.

AR-27,28
ER-27,28,46
MH-28
335-27
MR-28
Project made for http://www.mayarts.com/blog/

Friday, November 12, 2010

File Folder Make-over

Hello all I don’t know about you, but I know I have a few hot spots (problem areas) in my house that I’m in the process of trying to find a simple and useful solution to fix the problem. One of my hot spots is in the kitchen where I always seem to have piles of mail, notes from school, invitations, etc.

I started thinking about how I could solve this hot spot that drives me completely bonkers to say the least. I do have a file box by the computer in the family-room. However, it’s used more for bills, taxes and business stuff. Besides it’s just your ordinary box with file folders, boring. I wanted something quick, simple, and decorative. Something my kids would also like to use and get in the habit of putting papers somewhere besides piles
 This is how I came up with my file folder make-over. Here is the list of supplies I used and the companies that deserve the credit for their talent in making wonderful products.

 May Arts Ribbon- 365 series 2” color 10 (black/ivory stripes)
            379 series 1.5” color 10 (black satin pleats)
            RG- 33 1.5” (brown/ivory stripes)
            360 series 3/8” color 32 (antique gold, scalloped trim)
            363 series color 33 (brown twisted burlap)

Glue Arts (http://www.gluearts.com/) - Glue glider pro, I love this nifty tape runner
            Ribbon adhesive, also an awesome product
            Extreme adhesive squares, fabulous.

Jenni Bowlin (http://www.jennibowlin.com/) - Embellished butterflies
            Sew on buttons

Bazzill Basics (http://www.bazzillbasics.com/) - Paper flowers

Martha Stewart Crafts (http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com%29%20-/  Self adhesive labels

American Crafts (http://www.americancrafts.com/) - Mementos metal embellishments

Scrapbook paper
Hot glue
Scissors
Lighter (to seal ribbon ends)
Ruler
File folders

Step one:   Use your glue glider pro and apply to all edges on the front of the file folder.


Step two: Place you paper aligning the bottom edge of the paper with the folder and press down.  There is no need to cut the paper before.


Step three: You will cut the excess paper off following the edge of the folder. Easy peasy!
Step four: My paper was double sided so I then cut a piece of the excess paper and again used my glue glider pro to attach it to the inside of the folder.  Cut off the excess following folder edge.

Now for the fun part, adding your ribbon and embellishments.


 Cut the ribbon with enough excess to fold and glue around edges. Always seal the ends of your ribbon.

 Measure and cut Glue Arts ribbon adhesive. Place the adhesive on your ribbon. Hold the ribbon and run your finger down the ribbon adhesive strip pressing firmly.

 Simply pull protective plastic off and attach to your folder.
 On the smaller more delicate ribbons like the 360 series scalloped trim, use your Glue Arts extreme adhesive squares.   These are so awesome.


Doesn’t it look great?  Here are more pictures of the other file folders I completed.  I have a folder for each individual: Mom, Dad, Dakotah, Makayla, Makinley, and other optional folders like coupons and mail.  When I bring in the mail I sort it between mine, my husbands and the left over in the mail folder if I don’t have time to sit and open it all.  Things I put in the kids folders are homework project papers and other important papers to keep track of them, etc.
It’s not just functional, it adds pizzazz to the kitchen and keeps the piles off the counters


What are the hot spots in your house? I hope this inspires your mind to help you think of creative solutions of your own that are not just functional but have beauty and class.

Project made for http://www.mayarts.com/blog/




Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Art Canvas Turned Spooky!

Hi all you followers.  Are you ready for some ric rac fun?
Art canvas is a wonderful treasure that you can use for more than your traditional paintings.
But, you already knew that right?

If not, here we go.

Supplies needed include:
art canvas
craft paint and brushes
mod podge
vinyl cut outs
hot glue, and glue gun
upholstery tacks or some kind of button type embellishment
and
Ribbon: ARR 27, 1/8" yellow
ARR 28, 1/8" orange
KBB 10, 1/4" black
It can be ordered here.

 First you will paint your canvas with the color of your choice.
 Second add some fun splatter touches.  Use a brush that is all worn out at the bottom, dab it in some paint and gently dab it on your canvas.

Third you will add your embellishments of vinyl or whatever you choose.


Fourth paint over it completely with 2 layers of Mod podge.  I used the glitter kind.  Lovin' the sparkle!


Fifth when it's dry glue on your ribbons of choice.


 There you go, a piece of cake and so fun!!






See you soon!!  Andrea Miller
May Arts Design Team

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Glorious Ribbon

Look at all this amazing ribbon from May Arts, http://www.mayarts.com/, I have chosen to do some projects with. 
Are you as excited as I am about what you'll be seeing next? 
You better be!  Please visit May Arts and check it out for yourself.  They also have a lot of fun contests and give-a-ways that are so fun to enter.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Beautiful Baskets

May Arts Ribbon Project
With holidays just around the corner, it means family gatherings, parties and time spent together. I don’t know about you, but I know when I’m having guests it means cleaning the house from top to bottom.  I like everything to look presentable.  Yes, even the bathrooms.  So, for this blog post I have made some Beautiful Baskets.   


What do Bathrooms and Beautiful Baskets have in common?  Well, these beautiful baskets were made specifically for the bathroom.  All though I always put a brand new roll of toilet paper on the roll, when you have enough guests you may run out.  My bathroom may be clean but I still prefer that no one is reaching in the cabinets to find another roll of toilet paper, so here is my awesome solution.






Find some really cute baskets, preferably on sale.  Mine were 50% off, and oh so cute.  I love baskets.  Next, find some attractive scrapbook paper that will coordinate with the colors of your bathroom, some candles and last but definitely not least, ( most important actually ) is to pick out some oh so beautiful ribbon from May Arts of course!!

A few more supplies and we’ll be set.
1. Mod podge, yes I told you I love this stuff.
2. Paint brush or paint sponge
3. Craft paint
4. Hot glue and gun
5. Embellishments of your choice
6. Ribbon used from May Arts:http://www.mayarts.com/
FR-35 1" plum,
370-14-47, 1/4" purple
WA-32 1" antique gold
360-38-32, 3/8" antique gold
360-38-03, 3/8" navy
363-33 brown twisted burlap
DA-05 3/16" lavender string loop
NE-09 5/8" sheer ivory
Now let the fun begin!!

First you will completely paint the basket.  Yes, even the inside.  You never want it to look unfinished and you may be able to see part of the inside at times.


Second you will measure your baskets to determine widths of slats.  Decide where you want your scrapbook paper and where you want your ribbon.  Measure and cut the paper and ribbon.  Always, always remember to seal the ends of your ribbons with either a hot knife, lighter or fray check.








Third,  start putting the mod-podge on and placing your paper and ribbons where you would like them.  Because these will be used in the bathroom make sure to mod-podge over everything even just the painted wood so the moisture will not damage it.






Last, glue any embellishments you may have and voila you have some beautiful baskets.

Have fun!!
Project made for http://www.mayarts.com/blog/

Tara's Gift




For those of you who don't know, I had my gall bladder removed September 22nd.  I had two gall bladder attacks in one week, went to the ER and then 4 days later surgery.  My best friend Tara watched Makinley, while the other two kids were at school during my surgery.  My dad was oh so kind and surprised me by coming up to the hospital.  It was so comforting to have him there as well.  Later that day after Randy and my dad brought me home from the hospital, my dad went to pick up Makinley and was going to take the kids to Artic Circle.  Of course my dear friend had home-made chicken noodle soup, with home-made noodles, and some freshly made rolls for him to bring to me.  It was heaven to have that soup for the next five days, during the toughest part of the recovery.


 I wanted some how to thank my dear friend for her gracious kindness.  She's re-doing her bedroom in red and black so I decided to make this gift set for her to hang on her wall.


It really was very simple.  Some art canvas, material, mod podge, silver plates, ribbon, brads and hot glue.


Apply the mod podge to the art canvas and place your material on.  Fold around corners and glue with mod podge.  I also put black card stock on the back of the silver sayings so the words would stand out.  Glue your metal plate, ribbons, and flowers on and voila a beautiful gift!!

Thank you so much Tara for being the kind of friend you are!!