Dan's Valentine

Book of Love...
Finding just the right card or gift for my husband can sometimes be tricky. Over the years I have found that special handmade cards can serve as both the card and the gift.

This year I decided to try one of the word albums by Bo-Bunny. Once I figured out how I wanted everything layed out, it was a lot of fun to put together.



Papers used: Foofala (Red, black and Cream), K&Company, Stampin' Up!, SEI(Holly Lane: Mistletoe)
Tab Punch:Stampin Up!
Book Plate: 2 peas in a bucket
Label embelishments: EK Sucsess (Inspirables), Me and my Big Ideas (Husband)
Ink (for distressing edges): Stampin' Up! Cranberry Crisp
Adhesive: 3m spray adhesive
Binder rings: Office Depot
Ribbon and key (not sure)

Fruit Cup Gift Container Tutorial

I made these for Valentine's Day last year as teacher's gifts...filled with hot chocolate mix. This year, we filled them with m&ms.

Start with a small fruit cup with a pull tab top.

Using a safety can opener (that leaves no sharp edges) remove the BOTTOM LID. Wash out container and dry (make sure it's completely dry).

... and fill with candy (or whatever).

Seal up the lid with a thin bead of Crystal Effects or other clear laquer.

Last, cover can with cute paper.

Just the coolest albums ever!

Today while searching 2 peas for acrylic album ideas, I came across these AMAZING house shaped acrylic albums made by Camille McClelland. They are so creative and I love that the doors open and each section of the house is a section in the album. (you really need to click on the picture to enlarge it to really get a feel for all the details). I've never seen anything like them and can only imagine how much time these take. She posted one on ebay that sold for over $80!!!

Altered First Grade Clip Board

One of the items on my daughter's first grade supply list was a clip board. When I read this, my gears started turning and I decided I would try to make an altered one for her to take to school. I bought all the school supplies on the list about a month ago, but did I bother to work on the clipboard? Oh, no! That would be too efficient. Instead, I wait until the morning before first grade orientation!!! Smart, no...but it did work out alright, so I guess I kinda lucked out. I was a bit nervous cause I've never made and altered clip board before and I've never modge podged anything onto acrylic, but it worked like a charm. I actually modge podged everything to the back (because the clipboard is clear) to avoid a bumpy clipboard since she will be using this at school. It's not as stylish and hip as many of the altered clipboards I have seen, but I think it is just fine for a first grader. Natalie LOVED it and even thanked me for making it for her. Anyway, here it is:

Letter stickers and water background paper is from EK Success. Ariel border strip is from My Paper Garden. Stickers are from Sandylion and the ribbon is from Offray. Natalie drew the picture of Ariel...so cute! The photo of Natalie and Ariel was taken at Disneyland and was the last part of the clipboard to dry, so when I took a picture of it, you can still see the glue...fortunately, it will dry clear...eventually

Disney Autograph Books

I've been busy getting these ready for Disneyland. We leave in 9 more days!!!

Getting ready for Disneyland!

Front and Back





















This is my first attempt at decoupage. I started with a square Sarabinder and some "Disneyesque" paper...add a whole bunch of modge podge and a few hours later... My Disney Vacation organizer/trip planner.

Here is the paper used:

Magic daisies by Reminisce (Real Magic Line)

Magic polka dots by Reminisce (Real Magic Line)

Magic Flowers by Reminisce (Real Magic Line)

The stripes are from the same line. However, I used up the part that has the name.

The paper I used on the tabbed dividers is from Sandylion.


The last 2 photos show the inside with tabbed dividers.

my altered roladex

Here is a fun project I have been working on. It's still not 100% done, but I like how it's turned out so far. This is going in my kitchen which has yellow walls. I've got a french country thing going on in there...or at least that's what I'm shooting for, so that is the inspiration for the patterned papers.

Project for my Girls Night Out on Saturday

Here is an altered fruit cup (ours will be filled with hot cocoa mix) and card for tomorrow's Girls Night Out. All paper, stamps, ribbon and ink are Stampin' Up! I used the "love's me" paper from the winter mini catalog. Love that paper!

Wedding Photo CD Tin

This is a CD tin that I made for all the photos (on CD) that I took when I shot my friend's wedding last Sunday. It was a Luau theme, so I thought this paper was perfect.

Dad's Cancer memory box

This past summer (June) my dad went in for surgery to remove some cancer (he had prostate cancer). The surgery was a sucess. He just got checked the other day at the doctors and his levels are higher than expected, but we are trusting God that everything is okay. He will be checked again in three months.

This is a memory box I made for my dad a few months ago and finally gave it to him tonight, so now I can share it with you. It was really fun to make. I bought the box and the accordian album from Oriental Trading, the striped paper is from Disney and the embelishments on the lid are from Jolee's Botique. I cut out the letters by hand; traced them from a stencil first.

The Spongebob page is kind of an inside joke. In order to have the surgery in the first place, my dad had to fast for a couple days. Then after the surgery, he was ready to eat and all they would let him have was a little pink sponge on a stick dipped in water that he could suck the liquid from. So naturally Spongebob was a fitting name for him. (the yellow ribbons on the side have velcro on them to hold the accordian book closed.

The next picture shows all the cards and other momentos from the hospital that fit neatly in the bottom of the box when you lift out the book.

The following two pictures are some highlights of the inside of the book and the last photo is of the inside of the box lid; a description of prostate cancer.

On the back pages of the book (not shown) I printed out some well wishes and thoughts from friends and family that were posted on his CarePages (cancer blog). It was my complete adiction to reading my dad's blog that I decided I needed to get a blog (or two) of my own. And the rest is history. Thanks for looking!

My little Muffins

Here is my most recent creation. I scrap-lifted it from one of the talented girls at Two Peas. It sits on my kitchen counter and I just love looking at all the cute pictures, they are some of my all time favorites.

Altered CD Tin

Today is my best friend Anne's birthday. Happy Birthday Anne...here is your gift. I decorated a cd tin and inside is a photo cd as well as a small round album that she can fill and decorate with photos and journaling. What do you think?

Papers are Bo Bunny Press and Anna Griffin. Cherry buttons are Paper Bliss

Baby Shower Gift

Here is a paint can I did for my friend's baby shower (18 months ago). There are small pieces of blue paper attached to the side and inside there were things for making baby scrapbooks. On the lid, the text reads:
Baby books are great fun, but sometimes you're so busy... Living with a little one can put you in a tizzy. Milestones pass too fast at times to find the propper page. So jot a note with each event, with date and Isaac's age, then drop it in this memory can to help you remember each wonderful stage.
(This saying came from Pea Soup on the 2 Peas website) The background paper used is from Stampin' Up! (but it's been retired)

Photo Colage

I was asked by my friend's mom to creat a photo display for a coffee table top that would go in their family cabin. I used background paper from Karen Foster Design as well as photo corners a dried fern frond and a couple brass book plates I got from 2 peas.