Heartstrings Designs at Scrapbook USA Expo

Hello and good morning..

It's Wendi here and I'm doing my second part of my review on the Heartstring Designs kit. Heartstring Designs is one of the many new and fun vendors that you will find at The Original Scrapbook USA Expo in just a few short weeks...

I used the January Vintage Wonder kit:

I already got 2 one page layouts completed and a 2 pager layout with this kit, and I still have more to share with you.
The kit came with two cards and envelopes and so I was excited to make some cards with this kit.
First up, I just LOVED this cute deer and couldn't wait to use it:

And my second card, is Hello, U Rock.

And last, I was shocked to see that there was even a mini album in the kit!!!! How fun and cool is that. It was perfect for a recent trip we took which I had a TON of photos for. So I created this album about our recent Utah trip:

Here's the opening page:

Here's how a few of the inside pages turned out:

and here is what the album looked like, I fit in a TON of photos:

So make sure to check out Heartstring Designs and their wonderful kits!!! you will be blown away how jammed packed they are with goodies...

Have a wonderful day.....

Gifting Gift Cards Part 4– Pocket Card

As soon as I saw the Kneehighs & Bowties collection from BasicGrey I was totally in LOVE!
There is absolutely something for everyone in this collection! Yesterday I shared a gift card wallet for a girl and today I have something for the boy (or man) in your life. I will stop drooling now but just one more comment on Kneehighs & Bowties. How about the blue and orange together?? I really like this combination!!

This card is perfect for Father’s Day coming up in the next few months! The paper is light and fun but perfect for a male recipient. I love how snug my gift card fit into the pocket. It is a perfect fit and is simple enough but makes a great gift as well!
Make sure to stop by Basic Grey’s booth at Scrapbook USA (just over 2 weeks to go) and pick up some fun product!
Until then,
check out all my Gifting Gift Card ideas on My Craft Channel. My latest episode features all 5 of my ideas.

You can also take a peek at my first 3 ideas on our blog:
Part 1: Homemade Snowglobe gift card holder
Part 2: Gift Card Wallet
Part 3: Gift Card/Candy Envelope

Gifting a Gift Card Part 3–Gift Card Candy Envelope

If you are just joining my Gifting Gift Cards segments. You will want to check out the first 2 segments:

Part 1 – Gift Card in a snowglobe
Part 2 – Gift Card Wallet

Of course you can see the video version of all my gift card ideas on My Craft Channel. My latest segment will show you each of my 5 projects.



My latest installment features a candy/gift card envelope using BasicGrey’s “Hipster” collection. I LOVE this line and have had plenty of fun playing with it!



This project is another quick and easy idea for gifting a gift card. I started with a 12X6 sheet of cardstock. I used a cereal bowl as a template to round the top (scientific it is) and scored the paper in 3 places..
Starting from the flat end (the one that you didn’t use the cereal bowl on) I scored it at 3.5 inches, 5 inches and 8.5 inches.



Separately I put together a little clear bag with some candy and the gift card. I placed 2 holes in the bag and threaded my ribbon through it.



Next I placed the bag onto the template and laid the ribbon out flat.



I could have added another photo here (I didn’t think of it) but instead, here is the finished product…



I used velcro to keep it closed. If you were to look into the side you would see the candy bag sitting there. It is attached by bringing the ribbon around and tying it on top. The base it is sitting on is 1.5 inches thick and is just the right size of bottom for it to sit up nicely.

I hope you enjoy this project, give it a try! Make sure to check out BasicGrey at Scrapbook USA Expo March 22-23, 2013!

VIP Ladies - Your Layout Contest Details!

HEY! VIP ladies! Time for a few details!

I know this is a little s-l-o-w coming but make sure to come ready with your layout for our VIP ONLY layout contest!

Theme: Popcorn and Pj's

Details: no photos included on the layout (leave space for photos bare), 2 page layouts only

Time: Please turn your layouts into the hostess as soon as you arrive at the show.

Deadline: Must be turned into your VIP hostess by 11:00 am

Winners will be announced between 12:00-12:30 pm and winners must be present to win.

If you are a VIP both days you can enter both days but you must enter a different layout

Judging: Judging will be based on creativity, use of theme and creative color combinations.

HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK!

Gifting Gift Cards Part 2 (As Seen on My Craft Channel)

I really went a little crazy with gift card ideas! I was looking for one fun and new idea and ended up with a number of ideas that I plan on using over and over.

You can check out ALL my ideas at once at My Craft Channel by watching my latest segment or you can follow me today and tomorrow while I roll out each one individually!



Earlier this morning I shared my Gift card snowglobe idea. Make sure to check that one out, it is SUPER cute! Now, I have a quick gift card wallet idea that works great for any occasion.

Today I am using BasicGrey’s new “Kneehighs & Bowties” collection. It is a super fun and young collection. This will be perfect for my niece’s birthday.



I cut my paper to 12X6 and scored it in 2 places. I just “eyeballed” my folds to get it the size that I wanted. To get my rounded edges I used a cereal bowl as a template (very high-tech) and rounded it to my desired look. I added a pocket to the inside and some velcro for my closures.

I like how there is plenty of space on the inside to write a little note, personal message or add a photo. This space is perfect for my family of 7 because I like everybody to write their own names on cards and most of my kiddo’s names end with flowers and hearts (at least when they write their own names) so the extra space is perfect.

I think I am going to make one of these for Mother’s Day as well. Instead of a gift card I could add little notes and poems from each of the kids.

Super versatile and best of all SUPER easy! I hope you have as much fun as I have had putting together and personalizing one of these little Gift Card Wallets!

Gifting Gift Cards Part 1 (As Seen on My Craft Channel)

Happy Monday!! When I was planning my segments for My Craft Channel I wanted to put together a cute and creative way for gifting gift cards. Once I got going I ended up with a number of different ideas that I really LOVE!

Since some of them require some measurements and instructions I am breaking up today’s posts into 5 parts that I will share throughout today and tomorrow. You can wait for each of my posts OR better yet, check out a sampling of everything by watching today’s Creative Insights segment on My Craft Channel.



Sometimes gift cards are “gifted” as last resorts because we really don’t know what else to give but more often than not I like giving gift cards because I want to give my friend or family member the opportunity to pick up something special for themselves.

So, I have been brainstorming some fun and creative ways to give the gift card so that the receiver knows that it is a personal gift meant just for them…..

My first idea is also my personal favorite. I probably love it because I have 4 daughters and believe me, I am SO out of gift ideas. In my opinion, they have everything they need and if they don’t have it, I don’t really want it in our house. I have recently started giving them gift cards more often. The gift cards are meant to be used on dates with Dad or I. Last year I gave my 8 year old a gift certificate to Hales Theatre. We ended up having a fabulous time together seeing “The Sound of Music”. So with all the little girls in my home you can imagine that they would probably be intrigued if they received one of these for their birthday…



My 4 year old loves snowglobes and asked for one for Christmas. I had seen tutorials for making them (which I meant to do over the holidays) but never did it. So instead, why not make one with the gift card inside. Putting together this temporary gift is super easy.

Just take a canning jar and fill it with water. Add some glitter (amount is up to you). Next get a ring with a canning lid inside. I used a couple glue dots to attach the gift card to the inside of the lid. I found this cute minnie around my house and she was a perfect fit inside the jar. I had planned on using glue dots to attach her to the lid but I didn’t need to because she fit in so snuggly.

Lastly I put the lid in place, screwed it tight and turned the jar upside down. Of course it needed a little more so I cut that trim with some BasicGrey paper and attached it with the bow and there it is, a cute and intriguing way to gift a gift card.

In addition, I love that after a special gift card is used , like this DisneyLand card, the memory can be remembered by keeping it safe in a homemade snowglobe.

So, Happy Gifting! Stay tuned for more gift card ideas later today...

Cards with Basic Grey's Knee High's Collection

Hello my wonderful friends!

As much as I love the muted colors of fall, and the icy colors of winter, there is just something fabulously thrilling about the bright colors of spring and summer!  

The Knee Highs collection from Basic Grey is full of bright happy colors... and since they are double sided, the biggest problem seems to be where to start!  

This first card is simple and bold. Building layers is easy when using paper collections since they already match, so it was just a mater of choosing colors and cutting them to size. The huge rose was stamped onto the pink side of the "Tic Tac Toe" paper and cut out. I then adhered it to the card using foam squares for some added dimension. 

Although slightly less bold, this one too has fabulous color!  So happy-making! 

Speaking of making....

  

Remember those old label makers?  The ones that would emboss the letters into plastic strips when you squeeze the handle?  You can still get them, they just aren't as popular as the fancy digital printer ones... 

Well, dig out that embossing labeler and some printed paper an get ready for some fun!  You are going to want paper that is heavier weight, like card stock, so it can withstand the embossing without ripping. 

Step 1:  Cut your printed paper to the width of your label maker. I'm using the the "Ring Pop" paper from Basic Grey's Knee Highs collection cut to 1/4".

Step 2: Run the paper strip through your label maker just as you would run your normal plastic tape though.

Step 3: Use some sandpaper or an emery board to gently file off the color from the embossed letters. This will allow the white core to show through, making the letters pop!  

You can use it as it is, or if you want a shiny look, cover it with a layer of Ranger's Glossy Accents!

Enjoy!

~Kassi