Another Card Set…..for a Birthday!

As promised here is another stationary set. I made these cards for someone I work with. Great “Girl” Themed designs using the same stationary set by Lori Whitlock that I used for the last post. Love this cocktail paper and and the Happy Birthday ribbon to accent the box.

Cut the box from a coordinating paper. Chalk the box with an accenting chalk ink. Add the “Birthday Girl’s” name for an extra touch.

The birthday girl is a cosmetologist. Therefore, the cards I designed for her are also spa themed. If you are trying to save money, try purchasing premade card and envelope sets to use as your card base. When creating card sets I like to add: Birthday Card, a Thank You card, and a Monogrammed Note.

Stay Tuned for a Christmas Gift Project….A Calendar Project! If you like Advent Calendars, you will love this project with boxes for candy and cute monthly themed shapes.

Making Birthday Gifts for Friends….Part One: Personalized Stationary with Matching Gift Card Box

Looking a wonderful birthday gift for a special friend in your life? One of my favorite gifts for a friend’s birthday is personalized stationary in a pretty box. I look for unique boxes for the stationary like Lori Whitlock’s A2 Card and Magazine holder with skeeve. This cute little box and sleeve are perfect for a quick gift. I made this box and cards in a little over four hours using cardstock and scraps of printed paper.

Start out by creating the magazine holder and sleeve with coordinating cardstock.

Fold along scores and glue box as well as sleeve together.

Once the box is done it is time to create the matching cards. Try to do four each of three different cards in a box: Birthday, Thank You and Monogrammed Notes. Here are some of the cards that I created for this stationary set.

If you need a gift card box, this is a really nice one to use. Download the 3D Gift Card Box with Easel Card.

What I like about this project is that it is a box within a box. You have an outside box which just plain cardstock. Once opened there is a inside easel box also made with cardstock. The easel box has a drawer for a gift card or check with little brad pull.

As with the Birthday Stationary project, I used scraps of coordinating prints to create the gift card box.

Next week: More birthday gifts ideas using Silhouette downloads…..Stay tuned!

Happy Birthday! Favors and Scrapbook for a 70th Birthday Party!

This year my Mom celebrated her 70th Birthday! We invited family and friends to share this special day with us. As a veteran party planner, I wanted to create favors and a handmade mini scrapbook to help preserve everyone’s memories of my Mom’s BIG day. Our theme for the day was roses.

This mini scrapbook 11 inches wide and 9 inches tall. It has an accordion binding. For the scrapbook cover, I used Silhouette Roses, a Graphic 45 vintage newspaper printed paper, a couple interesting fonts and some great Prima Jewels.

My opening pages include two very important items: a place for a private journaling space for a special birthday message. and a mat for an amazing photograph of my Mom, our “Birthday Girl.”

The remaining pages include place for photos of family and friends. During the party, we had guests write a special birthday message to my Mom on the opening pages. I have used the Graphic 45 Garden paper and Prima Jewels to decorate the pages.

I used accordion binding for the album and then covered the bound end with a piece of cardstock.

For the matching favors I cut them from a 3D Silhouette rose by Jamie Cripps. These roses are easily to cut and create. The lace favor box is by Lori Whitlock.

Planning Wedding Anniversary Party? Or a Birthday Party? Make a Favor Cake with your Silhouette!

I love planning parties!  Any kind of party! Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, tea, luncheon, scrapbook…and no party is complete without favors…a little gift for attending…to each guest. Do you have a special anniversary or birthday party to plan for soon? I have just the perfect “Showstopper Centerpiece” for you! A couple of years ago my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They wanted to have a tiered cake, but their favorite cake is not available tiered. So we had to go with Plan B…A favor cake! I created a really beautiful favor cake in the colors of the party. Each guest took a “paper slice” with a favor inside it home.

Using Silhouette shape #27762, I cut slices of cake. The slices are three pieces. Top, middle, and bottom. The top cut in ivory and chalked with creamy brown. The center was cut in burgundy, stamped with a floral vine in clear versamark, embossed with clear embossing powder. The bottom layer of the slice is cut with black cardstock. Each slice is decorated with a swirl of black adhesive jewels and two rolled roses (Silhouette #11563). I wrapped each tier with ivory tulle to hold it tightly together.

The cake top is made with tulle, the rolled roses, and a dome of Styrofoam (from Michaels) for the base. I glued the flowers onto the styrofoam base with hot glue. Add the tulle with floral picks. The numbers have toothpicks glued to the backs and then stick them into the styrofoam.

If you are still feeling ambitious, try making a matching guestbook as a gift for the happy couple or birthday person. Here is the book that I made for my parents. During the party, each guest can write something special in it for the happy couple. I also had each guest bring a photo of the special couple to add to the album.

Here is peek at another birthday Favor cake that I designed for a little girl’s 8th birthday party using the same Silhouette shape. You can see this is a very versatile idea. You just need to pick a theme and run with it.

Hope you get a chance to try this great idea out for a party soon. There are additional 3d slices of cake in the Silhouette Online store as well as additional ideas on Pinterest.

I

Celebrate the Grads in your life with this Quick and Easy Mini Album!

Graduation 8 X 8 Mini Album

This little album is really easy to do. Start off with 2 pieces of 9 X 9 chipboard and 8-10 pieces of 8 1/2 X 11 cardstock, score the cardstock into 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 squares. Attached the flap of the cardstock onto the 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 square as seen below to create an accordion album.

Once you have your base completed, you can work on your covers. Cover one side of two 9 X 9 heavy chipboard squares with cardstock. I like to use cardstock that matches the graduate’s school colors. Then using your Silhouette, cut a tassel in a coordinating color as well as a tag to add the Grad Year. Attach the tassel with a large brad to the center of the cover of your album. Cover one side of the base of album with matching cardstock. Using the same color or a coordinating color of cardstock, cover the other side of the covers.

Now you can attach you center pages now or complete your album and then attach. I prefer to attach once the album is complete. To make sure that I do not forget and scrap onto the portion of the album I will be attaching to the cover, I draw a big “X” across it.

Next I used Microsoft Word to create the “printed paper” for my album. Using the Graduate’s name, her friend’s names, the School Name, the School Mascot, and Graduation lingo, I created printed paper for the album plus some other gifts I made her.  I stamped a Prima Julia Nutting paper doll and used the Silhouette to create a graduation gown for the doll.

Now I can create pages with my “printed paper” to highlight each signature event and special moment for graduation . With my Silhouette, I cut graduation die cuts for page decoration. Then I cut photo mats and wrapped them with coordinating ribbon or cord. Here are a few more page ideas….

Once my pages are complete I adhere the back of the first page to the center of the back of the chipboard cover and center the back of the last page the the inside of the base cover.

Completed Album

Please feel free to email me with any questions on how to assemble this little album. I would be happy to offer additional assistance where I can.

And congratulations to all of you who are graduating or have graduates in your lives this year! The best of luck to you all!

Happy Scrappin’

Michele

Going Somewhere? Don’t forget to take along your journal….

Whether you are going on a Romantic holiday, a Family Vacation or a Girl’s Trip, don’t forget to take along a travel journal to jot down events and memories while they are fresh in your head. To create my Savannah & Charleston travel journal, I ordered a spiral notebook from Office Depot, purchased some great travel paper by October Afternoon, downloaded some cute travel shapes from Silhouette, and found a map with Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. I scanned the map into my computer and reduced the image until it would fit into the area on the front of my journal.

Front Cover: Printed paper–October Afternoon, Map of Charleston and Savannah.

Be sure to add pockets to the front and back pages of your journal.  You can store collected mementos until you can adhere them to your journal pages. Today’s travel journals are a step above yesterday’s journal when you add all sorts of memorabilia to the pages. Here are some great suggestions of items to collect during your trip: napkins, to go menus, tickets, postcards, programs, brochures, photographs, maps, sand or shells in mini ziplocs, business cards, labels or package wrappers, receipts, dried flowers, leaves, coasters, money, etc.

Pocket made with cardstock plus bookmark.

Slip lose memorabilia into this side pocket.

Fill your pages with memories, anecdotes, drawings, rubbings from graves or buildings.

Back of journal

Here is another journal that I made a couple years ago for a trip to NYC with a notebook I purchased from the Dollar Store.

 

These journals are easy to make and work great for gifts as well. Recently I went on a Girl’s Trip with my Mom and some wonderful family friends. Before we boarded the plane to our exciting destination, I presented everyone with a personalized journal. During the trip, we picked up all sorts of goodies to add to our books. It was really fun.

Hint: Keeping a journal during your vacation helps to make doing the journaling in your scrapbook so much easier and faster. Especially if you are like most people (myself included)  and are couple years behind on creating pages.

Happy Vacationing this Summer! And don’t forget your journal….

Mother’s Day Fun Continued…Here’s the Little Girl Album!

My Little Girl Album is so cute and a perfect spot for all the little baby girl photos in your life!

Using great little pink and brown ribbons to accent and bind the album.

And velcro to close. Use buttons and colored safety pins.

Great gift for Mom or Grandma!

For more detailed instructions regarding creating this baby girl album with your Silhouette see the previous post for the Little Boy album last week.

In honor of Mother’s Day…Here is a cute little baby album for a boy!

Silhouette Pocket Mini Album adapted to create this cute little baby album.

This week I am posting the boy album and next week you will see the girl’s album. This cute little boy album is perfect for a Baby Brag Book to keep in a purse. Accented with cute baby themed ribbon and baby scrapbook paper, this album would be a great baby shower gift.  Plus it’s super easy to put together!

I used a velcro closure. Cut pockets, printed pages and mats.

Using your Silhouette, cut the Pocket Mini Album, baby animals and photo mats.

These little Silhouette baby animals are perfect! Use cute little safety pins and matching brads to accent your photo mats.

Here is the entire album laid flat. Next week I will be posting the little baby girl album… So cute!

Back at Last! Here’s a new project for you….

Looking for a really special birthday gift for a friend? Well, how about some personal notes cards in a matching box? Here is the check list for this gift: Box, Thank You Note, Hello Note, Birthday Card, Gift Tag, Mini Note, plus envelopes. Here is the Silhouette shape I used for the box and stationary: A2 3D Stationary Box from Samantha Walker, retro cooking lady, pear, card kit, cherries with heart, pretty flourish words-birthday party, cupcake and peace and love bubble.

I used Basic Grey prints and cardstock from Bazzill and Paper Accents to create the entire project. For the Thank you note, I used the Silhouette shape: card scallop rays to cut the base card. The “Thanks” was cut using “Honey Script.” For the Hello card use: “What’s Cooking?” title and the retro lady shape.

The “Cupcake Birthday” card uses a Silhouette shape called “card kit.” I added the pocket for a gift card with a birthday sentiment to the inside and a velcro closure. Use a cupcake on the front flap or a matching birthday shape.

For the “Peace Sign” gift Tag and the mini tags is used: Silhouette shapes “Peace Sign + Heart” and the Cherries with Heart shapes.

Add all cards and matching envelopes to box. I did not add envelopes for the birthday card or the mini cards/tags. Use velcro to close box. Add ribbon to flap, if desired. Create a name plate to add to front of box. I wrapped the box in a clear cellophane bag from Michael’s.

Hope you have lots of fun with this project. More projects coming soon….a calendar project, cards, journals, scrapbook pages and more.

Really cute Fall Dolls! with Julia Nutting Paper Dolls and Silhouette Designs

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my scrapbooking friends! Sending a really cute trio of Fall Dolls your way as a Thanksgiving weekend Treat! With a holiday promise that the “Holly-Day Dolls” will be here soon! I have made my Fall dolls with combination of papers from October Afternoon, My Minds Eye, and Simple Stories. The cardstock is from Bazzill and Paper Accents. The dolls themselves are stamped with the Julia Nutting Stamps from Prima and then used a paper doll cut with my Silhouette for the arms. The clothes are also a combo of Silhouette and stamps. You will find all of the other diecuts online in the Silhouette Online Store.

Happy Holidays to one and all!…and Happy Scrappin’

Michele