Unique Gift Wrapping With May Arts!

Hiya, Folks!!  Today, I'm hoppin' with May Arts as we explore all things Gift Wrap.  By the time you've finished this hop, we hope to have inspired you to grab your favorite ribbon and get your wrap on!

Although I do enjoy the hunt of finding that perfect gift, there are times when a gift card is a better option---soooo, I absolutely wanted to find a creative way to give the gift of plastic!  Here's what I've come up with...

I've combined two 8 inch lengths of the 1.5 inch Black/Ivory Striped Grosgrain ribbon with a bit of tacky glue.  If your ribbon is prone to fraying, a small amount dabbed onto the cut edge will keep those stray fibers in place.

Tri-fold your ribbon and give it a stitch along the left and right side edges to make a pocket.  A length of 1/4 inch Black Silk ribbon and an eyelet make the perfect closure!

Not only is this a quick solution to dress up a gift card, it's a 'perfectly pocket-sized pouch' for keeping cash, cards or photos in.

BAM!!

A gift in a gift :-)

Okay guys, that's it for me!!  Now, hop on over to Mallika's blog to continue with the hop.  If you've lost your way, a full listing of today's hoppers can be found back at the May Arts blog.

Thanks for stopping by!!

xx,

Holiday Sweets With May Arts!

Hello!

Today, I'm hoppin' with May Arts in a totally sweet way!  We're sharing out best Holiday Sweet Treats along with some amazingly sweet (and ribbony!) packaging---'cuz everybody knows it's all about the packaging.  Well, maybe not all about the packaging, but it sure does make it feel a bit more special, no??

Here's what I've come up with...

I kinda have a thing for mason jars, and they're definitely a bit more sturdy than a cello bag, so I decide to decorate one up to hold my treats.

A few silver and gold stars from the Metallic Star Banner Ribbon stitched onto the Green Burlap/Wired Ribbon, bordered with Natural Burlap/Woven Ribbon and my jar was ready to fill.

I made a simple tag (with the recipe written on the back) and tied it on with a bit of my favorite Natural String Burlap Ribbon and my treats were ready to go!

Not only did I get to spend some time with my favorite girl, but now we have one SWEET gift for someone special.

May Arts supplies used;

1.5 inch Metallic Star Banner Ribbon - Gold and Silver

2.5 inch Burlap/Wired Ribbon - Green

1/2 inch Woven/Burlap Ribbon - Natural

String Burlap Ribbon - Natural

Other supplies used:

Neenah white cards stock 

Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

Viva Las VegaStamps! - Victorian Flourish rubber stamp

silver bell

Oreo Cookie Balls:

1 - 16 oz package Oreo cookies (crushed)

1 - 8 oz softened cream cheese

coating chocolate (chocolate bark)

sprinkles

Mix the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese thoroughly.  Roll the mixture into walnut sized balls and chill for 30 minutes.  Dip the balls into melted coating chocolate and add sprinkles to the top while the chocolate is still soft.  Allow the chocolate to set up before packaging.  This recipe made approximately 24 balls.

Okay guys, that's it for me!  Your next stop along the way will be Jen.  If you've lost your way, hop on back to May Arts for the full list of hoppers.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

xx,

Christmas Countdown Chalkboard.

Hiya, Folks!!

Today, I'm over on the May Arts blog with a VIDEO tutorial for this fab Christmas Countdown Chalkboard.

Here's a peek...

Wanna see how it all came together??  Hop on over to May Arts and check it out HERE!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

xx,

Merry. A Hot Air Balloon Christmas Ornament Tutorial.

Hello!!  Today, I have a shabby and dimensional ornament (with VIDEO tutorial!) over on the May Arts blog!

Here's a peek...

It's super easy to make and looks amazing on any Christmas tree!  If you'd to grab the template I created for this ornament, you can find it HERE.  It's perfect for hand cutting or importing into your electronic cutting machine software for tracing to save your fingers some work.

Don't forget to hop on over to the May Arts blog to see my VIDEO TUTORIAL and get the details on all the supplies I used.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xx,

Learn.

Hello!

I've got a little somethin' somethin' over on the May Arts blog today :-)

Here's a peek...

If you wanna hear all about this little box and a bit about how it was created, hop on over to May Arts  and check it out.

Thanks so much for stoppin' by!

xx,

Lace Ornaments With May Arts!

Hello!!

Welcome, welcome to the end of our hop and my little corner of the blogosphere :-)  Today, we're hoppin' with May Arts to inspire you to create with those special kiddos in your life!

Yep---its all about the kids crafts.

And, as always, don't forget to comment on the projects you've seen in the last few days of this hop for a chance to WIN SOME YUMMY MAY ARTS RIBBON!!

Now, here's what I've come up with...

I stumbled along a fabulous recipe for a handmade clay and just had to give it a go.  It's a little bit corn starch, a little bit baking soda and a whole lotta awesome!!  Apparently, this recipe has been around for quite some time and it results in lovely, white ornaments that have almost a porcelain look.

Truly lovely!

Here's a peek at some of the ornaments my sweet baby girl and I whipped up using this soft, dreamy dough.

We've stamped each ornament with some super detailed May Arts lace, and embellished with our favorite ribbons/trims.  Love.

And the best part??

They glitter!!

Look at the lovely sparkle on our dried dough ornaments.  It's subtle and so pretty in person.  I've included the recipe below.

Here's my girls favorite.  Gotta love the girly pink, pink and purple!

And here's my favorite.  I guess we're not so different, after all :-)

This one was colored up with a bit of Delicata ink in Silver Shimmer.

Aaaaannnd, of course, I went a little shabby with some Natural String Burlap ribbon and a few vintage mother-of-pearl buttons.

This was definitely a fun adventure!  I think our ornaments are lovely and we had the best time playing with the dough and embellishing them when they were dry.  I can't wait to hang them on the tree. 

If you wanna see how these pretties were made in live action, take a peek at my video below!!

May Arts supplies used:

3/8 inch lace ribbon

1.5 inch lace ribbon

1 inch eyelet trim ribbon

1/8 inch natural cord/burlap ribbon 

natural string burlap ribbon

natural and white 1 mm waxed cord

Other supplies used:

cornstarch

baking soda

vintage buttons from my stash

Delicata ink in Silver Shimmer

White dough recipe:

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 cup baking soda

3/4 cup water

Pour all ingredients into a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, stirring consistently.  Stir until the mixture starts to thicken and looks like mashed potatoes.

Remove dough from saucepan and put it in a bowl and cover with a damp towel.  Let cool approximately 30 minutes, until dough is at a comfortable temperature to touch.  Knead the dough thoroughly to get out any air bubbles.  Roll out dough 1/4" thick.

Cut out your shapes and let air dry.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you've been inspired to grab your favorite kiddo, your favorite ribbon and get your craft on!!

xx

A Year In Review With May Arts and Core'dinations!

Hello!!  

This week, the ladies over at May Arts got to play with some amazing Core'dinations goodness.  We've each whipped up a little something to hopefully inspire you and we'll be sharing that with you all week---so, be sure to check back each day for more!

And there may just be a giveaway.

We're talkin' Core'dinations.

And May Arts.

Just sayin'.

Ok, now on with the show!

As we inch ever closer to 2015, I find myself looking back.  I love taking a peek at everything that's happened this year, and I LOVE seeing it captured in pictures---so, I found myself smack dab in the middle of my Instagram feed :-)

This mini book---inspired by my favorite insta-photo-sharing site---is filled with my top 20 moments from 2013.

I've layered May Arts wired burlap ribbon and Core'dinations cardstock in coordinating colors to create the camera cover.  A bit of sanding adds a more worn/vintage feel.

The rainbow stripes really help my title stand out.  Plus, who doesn't like a rainbow??

And finally, a hand full of sequins adds a bit of FLASH!  Hee hee.  Ya see what I did there?  Because cameras flash?!!?

May Arts supplies used:

4 inch Burlap/Wired ribbon - Light Natural and Brown

Other supplies used:

Core'dinations Distress cardstock

clear craft sequins

Bind-It-All coils - 1 inch

Aleene's tacky glue

Thickers

Recollections heart punch

Alrighty, then!!  I do hope you've found some inspiration here today.  And don't forget to stop back in all this week for more May Arts and Core'dinations goodness.

OH!  And tune back in tomorrow for a video sneaky peek of how this project came together and a look at the inside this sweet little book.

xx,

Creating A Fall Tablescape With May Arts!

Hello!!

Today, I've collaborated with several of the fabulously talented ladies from the May Arts design team to dream up some inspiration for a lovely Fall Tablescape.

YEP!  We're each rockin' out a piece of the action---from a centerpiece, to name tags to anything you might need to create a stunning table for that special family dinner.

As for my piece of the pie??

It's ALL about the candles...

I've always gravitated toward a more homespun decor, so I decided to jazz up this trio of canning jars with layers of wired burlap ribbon, fall foliage and a few handmade blossoms created with silk ribbon that I've dyed that perfect shade of purple.

A bit of sand in the bottom and they're perfectly safe for burning candles, or skip the fire and go with a flame-less candle instead.

How fun is that baby corn??

And this silk ribbon flower adds a lovely pop of color to the mostly neutral color palette.

And finally, here's a peek at the two smaller jars.  These blooms are a bit simpler, but just as chic!

May Arts products used:

2.5 inch Natural Burlap Wired Ribbon

4 inch Light Natural Burlap Wired Ribbon

4 inch Brown Burlap Wired Ribbon

1/4 inch White Silk Ribbon

1.25 inch White Silk Ribbon

1 inch Olive Faux Suede Leaves Ribbon

Other products used:

canning jars in various sizes

vintage glass pearls

Fall Foliage (leaves, corn)

Starburst Spray in Sweet Violet Purple Teal

Stickles Glitter Glue in Gold

I hope you've found a bit of inspiration here today :-)  To see what the rest of the gals have come up with, hop on over to the May Arts blog.

OH!!  And there may be a prize (or TWO DIFFERENT prizes of TWO SPOOLS each!) up for grabs.

Just sayin'.

xx,

A Christmas Card Hop With May Arts!

Hello and welcome to the May Arts Handmade Christmas Card Hop!!  I'm so happy to have you here in my little corner of blogland :-)

You should have come here via Rhea Weigand's fab blog.  If not, hop on back to May Arts to start at the beginning (and don't forget to comment for a chance to win TWO spools of ribbon from our Christmas Section).

Okay, now on with the show!!

My card was mega-inspired by the quilted tree skirts of holidays past...

I absolutely love the blocked look of a simple, quilted fabric creation---not to mention the fun, homespun feel that applique or topstitching adds.  So, after piecing together some patterned paper, I gave this card a little stitch!!

In silver, of course.

How lovely are those free-form stitched stars???  LOVE!

But, the total star of this show is the yummy silk ribbon bow.  I rigged myself up a bow jig and whipped up a lovely bow to grace the front.  I adore the 1.5 inch Metallic Star Ribbon Banner Ribbon and had to snip off a single star to add a touch more sparkle---'cuz what's a Christmas card without sparkle?!!?

I think the silver sets off this slightly non-traditional Christmas palette, no?

May Arts supplies used:

1.5 inch Metallic Star Ribbon Banner Ribbon 

1/4 inch Silk Ribbon in black

Other supplies used:

Teresa Collins 6 inch Noel paper pad

DCWV Glitzy glitter cardstock

Recollections black cardstock

Recollections sticker alphas

Aleene's tacky glue

Ok, guys---that's it for me!!  Now, hop on over to our next stop on this hop and see what Mallika Kejriwal has in store.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

xx,

 

You Rock.

Hello!!

Today, I have a fun tutorial (with a video!) over on the May Arts blog.

Here's a sneaky peek...  

Sooo, if you wanna see how this rockin' card came together, hop on over and check it out!!

Thanks for stoppin' by!!

xx,

May Arts Hops With Authentique and Imagine Crafts!

Good Morning!!

Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere as we jump headlong into day 4 of hoppin'.  Today, I get to share a sweet and summery project I've created with a combination of  goodies from three amazing companies---May Arts, Authentique and Imagine Crafts :-))  Kinda fitting to pay homage to a summertime adventure as we transition into cooler temps, no??

Ok, onto the goods!!

This mini was completely inspired by the summery color palette in the Radiant collection by Authentique.  It's packed full of bright colors and practically screams, 'Here Comes The Sun'!

I've covered some of the paper with May Arts 4 inch burlap wired ribbon in the Light Natural color to add a bit of fun texture to my cover.

A quick dip into Golden Glitz Delicata ink gave a lovely sparkle to UmWowStudio chippies.  I love how they add just a touch of shine.

Ok guys, be sure to check back in a bit for a peek at the inside of my book.  For now, hop on over and visit Mallika to see the rest of today's lineup, and don't forget to check out the inspiration from days 1-3 by hopping back to May Arts!  Remember to comment on each of the DT's posts for a chance to win one of THREE prizes!!

May Arts Products Used:

4 inch burlap wired ribbon - Light Natural

Other Products Used:

Authentique - Radiant 6 inch paper pad

Delicata Golden Glitz Metallic Pigment Ink

UmWowStudio Circle Confetti

clear sequins

white vellum

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

xx,