The most amazing man.

We all have someone we adore and look up to.  I was blessed to have parents whom I cherish beyond words... for all they sacrificed in order to give me the most amazing childhood.  My dad isn't my biological father, but I've always considered that just a technicality.  Biology doesn't make you a dad.  Sitting down with you and meticulously going over algebra does a dad make.  Playing pass with you in the front yard makes you a dad.  Holding your hand in a crowd so you don't get lost makes you a dad.   Grounding you because you didn't make it home by curfew makes you a dad. 

I could go on and on, but the point is that anyone can be a father, but it takes a very special man to be a dad.

We celebrated my dad's 61st birthday this past weekend.  I made him this card (to go along with the gift that took me forever to find).  I wish I could remember where I got the design idea for the card because that person deserves the credit.

My dad is one of those men that has EVERYTHING!  So finding him the most perfect gift is essentially a month long process for me.  My dad carries Nitroglycerin tablets, and I found this amazing pill holder on Etsy made by the talented Nathan at moonskywoodworks.  It was crafted from a 217 year old elm tree that was just recently cut down in Yarmouth, Maine due to Dutch Elm Disease.  This tree, Herbie, gained notoriety on the national news with Katie Couric.  Perfect....practical and a piece of history.  He was impressed...with the pill holder and the Pumpkinhead Ale! 

Happy Birthday to the most amazing man in my life...my dad!

Thanks for spending some time with me and while you're browsing around the internet, take peak at Nathan's Etsy shop for that something special!

M.

Flea Market Party Organizer

Manila file folder = pocket organizer.  It just amazes me that something so simple can turn into something so darn cute...and practical!  Who doesn't collect notes and receipts when they're planning a party?  Especially a baby shower or bridal shower.  This little organizer is so adorable that you could pass it onto the bride-to-be or mother-to-be as a keepsake afterwards. 

Cover and double-sided tags

The prints on this remind me of flea market quilts and antique bedding. 

Inside pages with tags in pockets

The back side of this organizer has a partial calendar (Sept-Dec 2010) for planning and a Party Planning Guide/Checklist.

close up of cover

I love making these and have them available in my Etsy shop.  I can also customize it to fit your party theme or specifications.  The uses are endless.

Material used:  Echo Park paper, Scarlet Lime exclusive paper, October Afternoon paper, paper doilies, cupcake liner, Making Memories brads, vintage dictionary pages, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Plum Pudding and Pearl, fabric leaves, SEI designer brads, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Weathered Wood, Kaiser rub-ons, American Crafts flocked chipboard butterfly, Prima pearls, vintage buttons, vintage lace and Scarlet Lime exclusive stamps.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week!

M.

Mariposa Moments

I created yet another memory album for my Etsy shop.  This one took quite a bit of time to finish, but I absolutely love the way it turned out.  If I weren't so impatient for the finished product, I'd certainly make more of these...

Cover

Mariposa Moments with envelope inserts

Ten pages of embellishment heaven!  Butterflies and blooms all around.  I also included some vintage printed images and flowers made from vintage dictionary pages.  There are two built-in pockets within the album, and so I created two envelopes with twill pulls for extra journaling and photo storage.

Measures 6"x6" and 1.5" thick

Inside front cover and page 1

Pages 2 & 3

Pages 4 & 5

Pages 6 & 7

Page 8 and inside back cover

Handmade with love and lots of quality materials:  paper bags, Colorbok chipboard, DCWV paper, 7 Gypsies paper, white acrylic paint, crepe paper, hand cut glittered frames, fabric leaves, vintage buttons, vintage printed images, vintage dictionary pages, Stickles, Making Memories rivets, Tim Holtz distressing ink in Antique Linen, grosgrain ribbon, sheer ribbon, twill, satin ribbon, crinkled seam binding, twine, bakers twine, OTC chipboard frame, Kaiser Rub-ons, Smead labels, clear flourish stamp, OTC seam clear stamp, Prima pearls, Kaiser pearls, Prima rhinestones, Crafty Secrets journaling tag, paper doily, Shimmerz in Plum Pudding, Making Memories brads, Fancy Pants chipboard shapes, handmade sheer ribbon rose, paper roses, Jenni Bowlin embellished butterfly.

Mariposa Moments Memory Album

Thanks for stopping in and be sure to head on over to my Etsy shop for all the new items!

Have a wonderful day!

M.

Ideas and Inspirations

If you're anything like me, you get a creative idea and draw it out with little notes ... like colors, what paper/prints you want to use and embellishment ideas.  Currently, I use a standard 8.5"x 11" size notebook with divided pages - the top is blank for drawing out your image and the bottom is lined for jotting down your ideas.  I'm not sure where I picked it up, but I've been using it ever since and love it!  I thought I'd make something for all my creative friends using the same principle.  I wanted it to be a bit more compact so that you could carry it with you...you just never know when inspiration will hit.

Inside front cover

I started with two 6" x 6" chipboard covers.  On the inside cover I attached a handmade pocket and added an envelope handmade from a vintage book page for any loose papers.  Just a little extra storage. 

There are 25 double-sided pages inside.  One side is lined for jotting down your ideas like color combinations and product information.  The reverse side is graphed for drawing out your idea.  The paper I used is recycled from an old tablet that I cut apart and trimmed down to size.

Inside back cover

I left the inside back cover void of any 3-dimensional embellishing so that it would be smooth for writing, and I used "o" rings to hold it all together so that you could add to it at anytime.

I like it and am planning on making myself one!  It's listed for sale in my Etsy shop.

Materials used:  chipboard, SEI paper, Ki Memories paper, My Minds Eye paper, DCWV paper, vintage dictionary page, OTC chipboard alpha, Tsukinek pigment ink in Malted Mauve, embossing powder and ink, 7 Gypsies measuring tape trim, vintage button, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen, vintage lace, vintage printed image, recycled paper, seam binding, Smead labels, handmade crepe paper roses, vintage book page envelope and hand cut frame.

Thank you again for spending some time with me, and I hope you're having a great weekend.

M.

Imagine the Journey

I just finished updating my Etsy shop with a darling little shabby-chic memory/photo album that I finished yesterday.  What a fun project!  I used a lot of embellishments with this and so it measures just over 2" thick.  Most of the products used came from The Scrappy Gourmet's Inspirations card kit.  Obviously, I didn't make the cards...I opted, instead, to use all the goodies for this album.  I also used quite a bit of stash.

Cover of "Imagine" Memory Album

Pages 1 & 2

Pages 3 & 4

Pages 5 & 6

If you love the shabby-chic styling and you have a few really special pictures that need a home, then this 6" x 6" memory/photo album can be purchased in my Etsy shop. 

List of materials used:  chipboard, 7 Gypsies Victoria paper, Prima Jewel Box butterfly, hand cut and glittered frames and hearts, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen, vintage lace, crinkle seam binding, handmade fabric roses, Kaiser pearls, taffeta ribbon, Me & My Big Ideas rub-ons, cameo, Prima pearls, Tsukinek pigment ink, Maya Road chipboard frame, glitter, grosgrain ribbon, sheer ribbon, shipping tags, Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons, tissue paper roses, paper roses, flourish clear stamp, glitter glue, and a whole ton of love!

Thanks for spending some of your precious time with me. 

M.

Pretty just got shabby...

Happy August!  I can not believe that it's August already and that summer is almost over with.  It won't be long now before the girls head back to school. 

I couldn't help myself...I made another organizer.  This time I used the shabby & vintage style that I love so much and colors that make me happy.  I'm not sure if I'm going to list this one in my Etsy shop or not.  I absolutely love the way it turned out, and you have to love the fact that it's made using one manila file folder from the Dollar Store.  How much thriftier can one get?

Cover

Pages 1 & 2 with double-sided tag

Pages 3 & 4 with double-sided tag

Calendar - July through December 2010

I used lots of goodies from my  stash to create this gem starting with Scarlet Lime's exclusive Vintage Ruby paper, GCD Studios paper, DCWV paper, paper doily, Making Memories chipboard clock face, hand cut and embossed time piece, vintage buttons, bakers twine, OTC clear stamps, shipping tags, brads, Petaloo fabric flowers, vintage dictionary page, vintage printed image,  Glitz Design rub ons, and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tea Dye.  I also found some cool gold ribbon in my infamous ribbon jar!

There are so many projects going on at my house right now, and I certainly could use this organizer, but I think I'll list it in my Etsy shop anyway.  My way of spreading the love!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

M.