Upcylce a Chalkboard Into a Beautifully New Room Decor Item: Tutorial

My daughter recently redecorated her bedroom, and believe me, it has been long-overdue for new paint.  She went from Lily Pulitzer hot pink and lime green to a more mature color scheme of gray and dark purple.  The transformation was amazing!  The best and most fun part for her was taking all of the loose change that she found while she was cleaning

Upcycle a Binder into a Wedding Album

Wow! I just about dropped my glue gun when I heard Mitt Romney say "binders full of women" during the Presidential Debate last night.  Not because it sounded goofy, but because at the exact moment that he made that statement, I was putting the finishing touches on a project for a client.  She wanted me to cover binders with fabric for her granddaughter's wedding.  The large binder is for a memory book that the grandmother is going to fill with a history of the bride's life.  The small binder is a journal for the bride to write in on her honeymoon.

Make a Spooky Terrarium Vignette

Even though my day-to-day creative endeavors revolve around making greeting cards, I love to digress every now and then and create something altogether different.  When the opportunity came my way to participate in a campaign during this Halloween season for Martha Stewart Crafts, I jumped at the chance!

Upcycle a Balsa Wood Box into a Make-Up Case

I decided to convert a balsa wood box into a make-up case to store all of those lip glosses and cheap eye shadows that little girls get as gifts and stocking-stuffers.  I wish I would have thought of this when my girls were little.  I HATED finding all of those little pieces of "make-up and lip gloss" all over the place.  The lids always fell off and the make-up always got gooey and gross.

Upcycle Wooden Blocks into a Valentine's Day Home Decor Item

Leave it to our PAL Nancy to come up with these deliciously adorable "L.O.V.E." blocks for Valentine's Day!  (Poor Nancy...she dropped a very heavy table on her toe yesterday and broke it!  ...her toe, not the table...  Please keep her in your thoughts.  She is in so much pain.)

Can't Leave a Good Cover Blank

My husband travels quite a bit with his job.  Every once in awhile he has to attend conferences.  We love when he returns home from a conference because he comes home with lots of goodies for us.  He brings us  promotional gadgets from different companies, like pens, notebooks, Band-Aids, combs, shoe polish, tooth brushes, etc. 
A couple of months ago he brought home this lovely gem:  a blank notebook complete with a pen.   When I saw the blank cover, I couldn't wait to haul out the Mod Podge and paper and go to town!  I think this whole thing took me two minutes (literally) to make.

 

If you ever find yourself in this situation, just grab some scraps of decorative paper and have at it!

Is there a medication for when a person sees a blank canvas and breaks out in hives?  ;)

One Woman's Trash...

is now my treasure!

Last week my friend Chris asked some of us who had gathered for a meeting if anyone wanted this lovely (?) little accordion file folder.  Her friend was going to throw it away.

I grabbed it from her so quickly that none of the other ladies ever stood a chance. 

They were all a little shocked.  Let's face it... it looks nothing like me.  (YUCK!)

But in my mind, I immediately thought of the possibilities.

All it took was some paper, ribbon, and Mod Podge.  The lucky little box went from this...

...to this...

...to which my daughter responded, "Mommy, why do you cover everything you see with paper?"

I don't know.  I just can't help myself.  ;) 

A Fun Summer Project to do with Your Kids

You and your kids can put your lazy summer days to good use by working on this fun project!  It's easy, fun, and useful!

Just take an inexpensive composition notebook, some decorative paper, some embellishments, and a dash of creative juice and see what you come up with!

I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the notebook.  I also used drywall tape (yes, drywall tape!) to add some flair to the binding.  This project is a great way to put your old scraps of paper, ribbon, and embellishments to good use!

This is what you need:
1)  Notebook
2)  Mod Podge
3)  Decorative Paper
4)  Embellishments
5)  A creative imagination!

Just think how stylin' your kids will be when they go back-to-school with these jazzy notebooks! 

You could even have your kids help you make a bunch and give them as gifts.  They would make a great project to do at a summer slumber party.  No?