Dream Big Graduate!

Today, I'm sharing a mini album at long last!  If you've noticed, I've been making  a lot of cards and notepads lately which is fun, but I am crazy for mini's.  That's why I was so excited when a dear friend of mine asked me to create a junque journal/smash book for her high school graduate.   I had THE BEST time creating this book because I got to come up with all sorts of ways to include her daughter's favorite things like vintage sheet music, Broadway musicals, the Andrews Sisters, Marine Corps and WWII history.  

 

I used Heidi Swapp's Binder Album, which is bare chipboard, embossed with a chevron pattern.  To give it some vintage-inspire glitz, I spritzed it with Color Shine in mustard, and added some pennant flag accents.    One of Scrap Your World's Blooming Beauties in a lovely teal blue was the perfect touch to add some glamour to the cover.

 

 

 Once I decided on the cover, it was time to have fun with the inside!  I knew I wanted to add a ton of hand-stitching and layers.  And of course banners...love this stitched one by Recollections.

 

 

I tried to highlight some important dates in the graduate's life, like this little calendar tab, since her birthday is in June.   I designed some flexibility into the journal, like the removable journaling cards, in case she prefers to add a picture here.

 

 

 She loves musical theater, so I worked in some Broadway Playbills.

 

Her mom is planning to let her classmates sign the book at her graduation party, so made sure there are plenty of places for notes and messages, like this little "Inspire" notecard.

 

 She can stash mementos in this pocket made from Andrews Sisters sheet music.

 

 

November 2nd marks another important date, and I found these wonderfully aged USMC tags to reflect her fondness for this service's history.

 

I really like how attaching the pages by sewing allows you to have layers and "hidden pages" like the doily one below.





Here, I actually used some of the vintage sheet music for a background page on the left and I just had to add an embellished kraft envelope on the right.

 

 

I had a lot of fun creating an eclectic feel because her tastes are so different.

 

And I covered one of the remaining pages with this fun authentic WWII war bond, I hope she loves it!  I added a few of the divided page protectors at the end, filled with journaling cards for her friends to sign.

 



 

 

Thank You's for Teacher

A boxed set of notecards or thank you cards makes a handy gifts for teachers.  My kids' teachers almost always give them handwritten thank you's for any gifts they received, so I'm sure they would be great to have on hand.  Here is one of my favorite sets.

There is just something about this Odds and Ends paper from Cosmo Cricket that I adore, don't you?  I had fun mixing and matching it with some of the My Mind's Eye the Sweetest Thing collection, topped off by some yummy Stampin Up striped ribbon (now retired).

 

 

 

The card folder is a file from the Cutting Café...I can't get enough of her templates!

The stamp is from the dollar bin at Michaels, woot woot! 

 

This set was so much fun to make!

 

Thanks for taking a peek!

 

{{Hugs}}

 

Kimberly

You're a Hoot Notepad for Teacher

Need more gift ideas for teacher?  These thrifty altered notepads are cute and functional!  They are perfect when paired with another item, like a gift card or all by themselves.  These neutral brown, aqua and cream colors are neutral and would work for both genders.  I chose owls this year, but you could use any theme you like.

 

I found this fun ruler/tape-measure paper ribbon at Hobby Lobby for the "Teachers Rule" pads :)  The fun owls are printable clip art from Rhoda Design Studio...printable files are a great and economical way to make your own embellishments.



Don't forget about adding a name to the tag, WHO doesn't love a little personalization?

How will you thank your child's teachers this year?

Thanks for stopping by!
{{Hugs}}
Kimberly

Make it Monday ~ Destination Bermuda

Hello lovelies!  Today, I want to share a piece that is oh so special to me.  It's an altered 7 gypies tray to remind me of my 10 year wedding anniversary.  My parents, kids, hubby and I cruised to a little piece of heaven, otherwise known as Bermuda :)  Unfortunately, at the end of the trip, our bags were too full to bring home a lot of memorabilia (I know that's never happened to you), but what I was able to add along with some other embellishments really helped recreate the special feeling from the trip. 

 The shades of blue, cream, and brown remind me of the sand and surf.  I used some of my favorite materials like burlap which always makes me think of the beach.  The ship key card, layered on op of some journaling cards was a fun addition!

 Aren't these satin blooms gorgeous?  When I saw them on my friend Paula's FB page here, I knew they would be perfect for this wall art.  And what beach project would be complete without a little sand and a message in a bottle?  The go perfectly with the picture of this amazing sand sculpture we came across.

 

I saw this quote, "If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel" and just had to add it, isn't it the truth?

 

 

I hope you enjoyed my little trip back down memory lane, drop me a comment and let me know where your perfect beachy place is!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

 

Kimberly

Saturday Spaces ~ My Dirty Little Secret

Hey Polka Dot Fans!  Have you been enjoying the peaks inside my paper studio?  I sure am having fun re-doing it.  Now, I have to let you in on a little secret...there are still a couple of places in my room that I don't let anyone see...until now!  If you are like me, you love the PROCESS of creating but the clean up part...yeah, not so much :)  But, I am forcing myself to go over every nook and cranny and throw out or relocate stuff that just doesn't belong...too much stuff is kinda cramping my style.  So, I'm showing you a little before and after of one of my favorite storage pieces, this lovely distressed yellow hutch I picked up from the Cotton Exchange in Fayetteville, NC. 

 

Problem is, it became a dumping ground for whatever I didn't have a place for.  It's great for my ribbon and embellies, but somehow, old ink cartridges, paint brushes and other odds and ends found their way in. I love the glass containers, but the ribbon shoved in them just wasn't a good look :/

 

And the drawers, oh. my. word.

 

And the cabinet below...I can cram with the best of them, can't I?!?

 

So happy I finally made time to get this baby cleared out!

 

Here's my newly organized ribbon jars...you can read more about them here.  I put loose chipboard letters into glass jars and buckets, how do you store yours?

 In the drawers. right now I'm storing my sewing notions and some other embellies.

 The bottom is completely empty and I need your help!  What would you put here?

 

What's your favorite storage item in your craft space?

Thanks for stopping by!

 

{{Hugs}

Kimberly

Owl Gift Card Holders for Teacher

Who's Wiser?

Gift cards are fast becoming a popular gift for teachers...and I don't believe in buying something if I can make it cuter myself!  For the first two gift cards below, I used a template from the Cutting Café here...they have the most adorable printables and cutting files.  She's got even more updated styles, so be sure to stop by!  These were so fun to make, from embossing the cardstock to prettying them up with a little tulle.

 

 

I made the ones below a little larger, the size of an A2 card, with the holder inside.  I personalized them and added the sweet little "Thank you for making me wiser" tag.  I didn't use a template for these, just cut the pocket by hand and winged it :)

 

 

What's your favorite handmade gift for teacher?

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

{{Hugs}}

Kimberly

Upcycled Pencil Jar for Teacher

How is it already time for end of year teacher gifts?   I don't know about you, but my kids have some of the most caring, considerate teachers and I try to give them something handmade along with a gift card each year to show our thanks.  Over the next week or so, I'll share some favorites I've created.

These pencil jars make a wonderful keepsake gift that is pretty, usable AND eco-friendly! 

Any glass bottle with a pretty shape will work.  First,  I wash and sanitize the bottle with a little bleach and water and let it dry.  Then it's time to start altering! 

For the coordinating pencils, I used to cover them with paper but found washi/paper tape adheres better and makes sharpening the pencils easier. 

Materials used:
Glass coffee bottle
#2 pencils
Thin chipboard
Chalkboard paint
Cardstock
Coordinating scrapbook paper
Stampin' Up Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tombo Mono Multi Liquid Glue
Michaels paper tape
Assorted embellishments

I love how the Chalkboard tags turned out, which is your favorite?