InspireMe Crafts

Baby Shower Party Favors: Pink and Black Magnets

Here are some pictures from my latest magnet order for a baby shower party favor. This was my first time doing the magnet party favors in the pink and black color scheme and I LOVE IT! I have two boys so any chance to do things in girly colors just makes my day J.

The customer chose 8 words to use: Sweet, Love, Diva, Wish, Hope, Dream, Laugh, Fun

She also chose to have me package them for an additional fee. It's amazing what some cellophane bags and ribbon can do!

If you are interested in ordering some magnet party favors please contact me at inpsiremecrafts@yahoo.com or check out my listings in MY ETSY SHOP.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

More Wall Letters & Magnets

Its been awhile since I've had a chance to do any new craft projects and share them with you.  I've been busy with wall letter orders and magnets, but I'm glad orders are keeping me busy :).  So I thought I would give you a quick little peek at a couple of things that have been keeping me busy in between some mini summer vacations.

CUSTOM WALL LETTERS

    

  

 

MAGNET PARTY FAVORS

Order for Bridal Shower party favors...

We are getting back into the swing of things so I'll definitely have some new project ideas up soon! If you have questions about the letters or magnets just let me know at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com.  To purchase you can:

1) My Etsy Shop:  Checkout with PayPal credit/debit.

2)  Custom Order Form:  Fill out form and I'll email you an invoice to pay with debit/credit through PayPal.

And, as always, thank you so much for stopping by!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Juice Box Flower Vase

"Earth laughs in flowers."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

Nothing says summer like a backyard barbecue with bright colors and beautiful colors.  When we were on vacation last week (hence the lack of posts), we went to my cousin's wedding reception.  Besides the fact that my Aunt and Uncle have a yard and garden that should be featured in Sunset Magazine, they also added a few creative touches to their backyard barbecue wedding reception.  At each rectangular table were a couple of Juice Box Flower Vases full of bright flowers.  All she did was clean out a juice container, cut off the top, add some water, and add a bouquet of your favorite flowers.  So simple, so economical, and so adorable!  You could use these juice box flower vases for Baby Shower decorations, barbecue decorations, Mother's Day gift, and I'm going to use it as a little hostess gift this weekend for a barbecue we are attending. 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Custom Party Favor Magnets ...Now Available!!!!

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."  ~Oscar Wilde
 

As many of you know, I've got the Spring Cleaning fever and it hasn't stopped with just my "personal" life.  It has now poured into the business side of things, which includes getting some of the things I've wanted to do with the shop done instead of letting the idea or thought sit on a piece of paper. Adding the custom magnets that have been very popular for party favors to my Etsy Shop has just been waiting to get checked off.  So I will....today (that feels good!).  I have made a listing for the custom magnet party favors at MY ETSY SHOP.  It is for 30 magnets, however, I will do any amount.  You get to choose the color schemes, words, etc.  Typically 4-5 letters/numbers are the maximum that I can fit onto the magnet.  However, if you have something particular in mind, I will be more than happy to try it!  

SAMPLE WORDS:
Love
Hope
Wish
Joy
Dream
Sweet
Baby
Girl
Boy
Diva
Laugh
Fun
Play
-Initials-
-Date-
Thanks
4 Ever

These custom magnets would be adorable for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, anniversary celebrations, stocking stuffers, End of the Year student gifts from teachers, etc. 

If you would like to order and are familiar with Etsy go to My Etsy Shop to purchase or you can contact me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com .

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Last Minute Baby Shower - Part 8: Party Favors

This project was one of those accidents that you are glad that happened. I wanted to give a party favor, but knew I couldn't spend a lot of money, so simply looking in my closet full of stuff that I've held on for the right time, did the trick! I've had leftover business card magnets for 3 years and I finally found a use.  I simply took various papers I was using to decorate the magnet, cut to size, attached to the magnet, and then added different words.  They ended up being a huge hit so I've decided that I'll start selling them on my Etsy shop shortly.  So stay tuned.  :)  They could be great for anything really...baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, and one guest is even thinking about giving them to her students at the end of the year.  If you want more info about the magnets or would like to inquire about purchasing them please contact me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Wedding Memory Table

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow." - John Lennon

Want to add a special personal touch to your wedding?  If so, consider creating a memory table at the entrance to your wedding or reception site.  My hubby and I chose to do one because both of our parents and grandparents have been married 35+ years.  Marriage can be difficult, but when you are surrounded with examples of healthy marriages it gives you the support you need.  To celebrate all the love in our families,  we asked our relatives for all the wedding photos they could find of family.  It was so much fun going through all the old photos.  I found frames at Wal-Mart for the photos, put some love poems and quotes in smaller frames, added my mom's veil, and a few other accessories.  Voila!  The guests will enjoy it and so will your family!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Wedding Card Box

"For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked." - Bill Cosby

Organized chaos.  We all know wedding days are often full of organized chaos along with any other entertaining function.  However, a little creative trick here and there will be sure to keep your guests "aww-ing" at how beautiful and effortless everything seems.  Going into my our wedding, I knew from experience that keeping cards with the gifts and having a place for just cards was essential to make sure everyone received their thank-you note.  Have some tape handy for your gift transporters so they can be sure to tape that card down to the present quickly and easily.  Secondly, make your own wedding card box!  But come on...we've got to be creative here.  Don't think that placing a plain box on the table is going to do the trick.  After all, this is your wedding day and you don't want any detail to go unlooked. 

I had a blast making my wedding card box.  In fact, the deep brown paper and the green ribbon were my original inspiration for my wedding colors.  And of course, I had to add my favorite color - red.  Whenever people asked my wedding colors, they thought I was crazy, but once they saw the three together they totally understood.  I wish there were more pictures to share with you, but this is it.  Which actually ends up being perfect, since this site is meant for inspiration.  I used a wedding cake-slash-gift type theme for mine.  I'm not really sure if its suppose to be a wedding cake or a wedding present....but it worked for me and that's all that mattered on my our wedding day.Hopefully this idea will inspire you for your wedding and you'll run with it!

MATERIALS

2 different sized boxes - tops and bottoms.  Thin, light weight boxes work best
Wrapping paper
Scissors
Double sided tape
Ribbon, pearls, embellishments

HOW-TO

1.  Put the top and bottom together on the larger box. Place the top of the little box on top of the larger box. 
2.  Trace where the little box meets the big box.  Cut just inside of the lines on the larger box.  This will allow the cards to fall all the way to the bottom of the box. 
3.  Wrap your boxes with the paper separately, being sure to leave the openings so the cards can fall to the bottom. Use double sided tape and try to avoid visible lines.
4.  On the top of the small box, cut a long opening where the cards can be slid into. 
5.  Connect the boxes together using tape or glue. 
6.  Add your embellishments.  I used small craft roses along the top of the opening so any imperfections could not be seen. 

At the end of the day...I mean the next day, I knew exactly where all the cards were and did not have to worry if any were lost.  So go find some beautiful paper and ribbon in your wedding colors and get to it!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Decorated Tin Candle

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared" - Buddha

My baby sister graduated from high school on Friday and it still hasn't quite sunk in.  When my hubby and I met she was only 11 and most of the time that's how I continue to visualize my sis. That is until I got her senior picture in the mail.  Holy Moly!  She looked like she was 27.  I was mixed with emotions.  I know she has to grow up, but I'm always going to remember that once shy little girl.  Maybe its just hard because it makes me realize that I too am growing up.  I've gotten married, had a son, moved to 3 different states, yet I still see myself as being 23.  I'm not sure when it will sink in that I'm just not quite that young anymore. :) 

I'm very proud of her and I know that there are many more adventures to come, but at the same time I remember some of the not so fun adventures and the hard times.  The big sis comes out in me and just wants to be there to protect her from all that junk.  But part of growing up is overcoming all that junk.  If someone had protected me from all the hardships and road bumps and provided me a free ticket, I would not be the woman I am today - far from perfect, but certainly trying to be the best I can be. I give props to my parents for that.  So many 'kids' are being coddled these days and they are not allowing their children to figure it out and learn to work hard to get what they want.  (I could go on in a whole new post about that and the effect on the work force, but I'll try to stay focused for you!).  So I guess I am just going to have to let go, let her enjoy, and just standby for when she reaches out for a helping hand or a listening ear.

I couldn't make her graduation so I sent a little "Care Package" to start college off.  I included this personalized tin candle that I made.  I found a plain tin candle at the DollarTree and used my favorite papers to decorate it. As simple as that!  No "How-To's" needed.  I loved this idea so much that I am thinking stocking stuffers for Christmas!  They could also easily be made into wedding favors, bridal shower favors and even baby shower thank you gifts!  The ideas are limitless...so let that creative side start flowing and go stock up on these tin candles!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun! 

Gotta Make It: Just Married Sign

"...happily ever after"

Here's my latest project that I did for our friend.  She wanted a "Just Married" sign to hold in their getaway car for a photograph.  She gave me her color scheme and I went from there.  As a special 'thank you' for everything she does for us I also made her the "...happily ever after" sign.  I can't wait to get the photos from her photographer to share with you.  I really think they are going to turn out adorable. 

If you are getting ready to tie the knot and would like a customized "Just Married" sign to match your theme and colors email me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com for a quote.  In general, they run between $22 - $40 depending on the details and embellishments you would like. 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Bridal Shower Invitation

"Two souls with but a single thought, Two hearts that beat as one." - Franz Joseph von Munch-Bellinghausen

 Sorry I haven't been around lately. :(  I really wish I could have been crafting up new ideas and sharing them, but things got busy.  Let's see...my husband had an insane work schedule for the last two weeks so I was basically a single mom, my little man has gone into destruction mode so there is no chance of using the computer or crafting when he is around, and then we went to watch our Washington State Cougars in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in Charlotte, NC.  Its about a 4 hour drive from Charlottesville, VA and although we lost (bad) it was well worth the trip.  For the supermoms out there, that may not seem like a lot but for me it was!  Its amazing how much work and energy it takes to travel with a toddler even if its just for a couple of days. 

But now I am here so that's all that matters :).  My neighbor is getting married in May and she loves RED almost as much as I do.  I saw this invitation on her fridge and just had to share to prove to you how much of a difference a little ribbon can make.  You can clearly see the before and then the after.  Which one do you prefer?  Hmmmm...... :)

She used an XActo knife to cut out slits along the upper portion of the dresses and then wove the ribbon in and out.  In the back she used some white mailing labels to hold them in place.  Genius and gorgeous.

So next time you have a store bought invitation, or are even making your own, take one more look at it and see if you can add some adorable ribbon some where to add that extra special touch!  I can't wait to bring you some more ideas so you'll see me back here VERY SOON....I promise!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Easter Topiary

"Live in such a way that those who know you, but don't know God, will come to know God because they know you...."

I've had some requests to post some Easter ideas, and to be honest I just haven't had any 'aha'! moments. I'm going through one of those creative dry spells for this holiday (I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon).  Plus, it just snuck up on me!  I always think of Easter as being in April.

This weekend I started on one project and I really like half it, but I am still trying to figure out something for the other half.  So until I finish that project (hopefully tonight), I thought I would share this quick, inexpensive idea that would be a great Easter gift for teachers, Sunday school teachers, babysitters, neighbors, etc.  You could easily make a handful of these for under $10 if you buy a lot of the materials at the DollarTree.  Even if purchased at your craft store, its still an inexpensive and darling gift. 

MATERIALS:

Terra Cotta Pot ( I used a 2 in tall one sold in a pack of 5 for $1 at the DollarTree)
Floral Styrofoam (sold in a pack of 5 squares at the DollarTree for $1)
Wood Skewer
Artificial Flowers
Large wood bead  or circle Styrofoam (I used a 1.5 in wooden bead.  Sold in a pack of 6 for $3)
Flowers
Ribbon
Paper
Glue

HOW-TO:

1.  Take your wood bead (or circle Styrofoam) and start gluing the flowers to the bead starting at the top and filling them in where needed.  If using the large wooden bead be careful not to glue over the hole. NOTE:  Depending on the type of arificial flowers you buy, you may need to cut off the wire stem.
2.  Stick wooden skewer through the wooden bead (or insert into Styrofoam). Add a couple more flowers if needed.
3.  Decorate pot.  I used ribbon and cut out a simple "Happy Easter" square.  You could paint or decoupage the pot as well. 
4.  Cut floral Styrofoam to size to put in Terra cotta pot.  Insert into pot.  Insert other end of wooden skewer into styrofoam in pot.  NOTE:  You may need to shorten wooden skewer depending on the size of pot and bead/circle styrofoam you use.  I was able to break mine just using my hands.  Superwoman!
5.  Tie a knot with the ribbon right underneath where the topiary and skewer meet.
6.  Add some sort of material to cover the styrofoam in the pot.  I used some Easter shreddings found at the DollarTree.  You could also use glass beads, jelly beans, etc.

There you go!  I chose to use smaller materials for this project.  Mine stands about 6 inches tall which makes it perfect for gifts, but you could also make this on a larger scale to make quite the statement in your home. They would also look great grouped together in three on a mantle or shelf!  This project is great for Easter, but you could also use it for weddings, baby showers, Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day, home decor, etc.  Have fun and stay tuned for some more Easter projects...I know my creative mind will have that 'aha' moment soon!  If you have any ideas or materials that you would like me to try and use for the projects please leave a comment or email me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun! 

Gotta Check It Out: Avery FREE Clipart

"I smile because you are my sister, I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it!"

I had to share some FREE Clipart that I found on the Avery website.  They have about 200 free backgrounds and images to use. They also have scrapbook paper and tags you can print at home now.  But back to the free clipart...  I got the background and the flower used on my Sister memory page from the free images that they provide.  There are some really cute clipart for babies, weddings, vacations, and just because. It was such a relief to find some modern designs and not that cheesy clipart that's available. Go check it out and have fun!  If you use some of the clipart to make cards or a memory page like I did... please share! 

Take care...

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Paper Pinwheel

"The world would be so lonely, In sunny hours or gray, Without the gift of friendship, To help us every day."  - Hilda Brett Farr

This morning was one of those where you look out your window, the sun was shining, and you immediately begin your day on the right foot.  Then you step outside and the wind just about blows you over and slams the door on you...but we'll just try and forget that part!  Then the power goes out...but we'll forget about that too.  We'll just remember the bright sun.  The beautiful weather (minus the wind) we had today just reminded me of how much I am looking forward to Spring and the end of the cold season.   With Spring on my mind, I decided to try a bright and cheery project today.  On top of this being a project where we get to use some of our favorite papers, we also get to categorize it in our Dollar Diva section...and that's always bright and cheery on your wallet. 

A while back, I saw this idea for a paper pinwheel in a PaperCrafts Magazine and I've been meaning to try it to see if it was easy or a little more difficult.  Luckily it was quick and easy so I had to share.  Then I went a step further and made a little Paper Pinwheel Bouquet with most of the supplies from the DollarTree.  Let's get started...

MATERIALS:

Favorite papers (I used scrapbook paper that had patterns or colors on both sides)
Wooden Skewers
Brads/Beads
Glass Vase
Ribbon
Styrofoam square
Embellishments
Ink pad
Scissors, glue (strong and quick finishing like Krazy Glue)

HOW-TO:
Pinwheel-
1.  Cut patterned paper to 4.5" square
2.  Using a ruler measure to find the exact center of your paper square.
3.  From corner cut 2.5" towards middle point.  Repeat on all the corners (see figure diagram below)
4.  Ink all the edges with inkpad
5.  Fold corners one at a time to the middle and attach using fast drying glue (see diagram)
6.  Once all 4 corners are adhered add embellishments.  For center piece I used brad, glass marble, and jewelery bead.
7.  Attach the wooden skewer (DollarTree) to back of pinwheel with glue.  I used the glue gun for this one.
8.  Let Dry

Vase-
1. Cut patterned paper to size.  Insert on the inside of vase (DollarTree).
2.  Cut styrofoam (DollarTree) to size and insert into the vase.
3.  Decorate outside of vase with ribbon and embellishments if you desire.
4.  Insert pinwheels and arrange
5.  Add glass decorative marbles (DollarTree) to the top to hide styrofoam.
6.  Voila!  All done.

There are so many uses for this project I don't even know where to begin.  They are cute enough just to add some spring decor to your house, they would be cute at a baby shower or kid's party, a baby announcement, a party favor, and the ideas could just keep going.  So get creative with what you could use this project for!  Enjoy the sun...if you are lucky enough to have some right now!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Have It: Memory Quilt

"Families are like old quilts.  Although they tend to unravel at times each can be stitched back together with love."

For most, our Weddings are one of the happiest days of our lives.  Some hate the planning and some love it, but one thing is always the same...everyone wants to remember their special day and everyone wants their wedding to reflect who they are.  I was one of the bride's who enjoyed the process of planning her our wedding.  As a result, our bank account dwindled as our my bridal magazine collection grew, and hours were spent tearing out pages of ideas and color schemes.  There were just too many choices.  Although I liked a lot of the choices, some just did not reflect who we were....I wanted something more personal. 

The wheels in my head started to turn, and the ideas started coming.  I really liked the idea of people signing a frame, but EVERYONE was doing that...I wanted to be unique.  The wheels started to turn again as I started thinking about what I could make.  No ideas came.  The wheels started to turn again as I went through every family member and their talents.  Then it came to me!  My grandma makes beautiful quilts.  She quilted me the most beautiful one for my college graduation and it meant so much to me.  You just know how much time goes into making one and you know its made with love.  I gave her my color scheme and asked her if she would create a small quilt for me with space for the guests to write a message to the newlyweds.  Once again, she created the most beautiful quilt and it was more than I could have ever dreamed for.  It sits at the end of our bed on a trunk that has all our wedding mementos in them.  It was the perfect solution to accomplish all my goals...  I personalized an aspect of our wedding, created a great way to remember our special day and our guests, it was unique, and it was beautiful.

I was not a quilter so don't fret if you like the idea, but don't have the talent.  Please don't try to learn at the same time you are planning a wedding...you'll go crazy!  There are plenty of people out there who will create a quilt for you.  Check your fabric stores, online, etc.  On a side note, you do use a special fabric pen and then set it with heat.  Once again, check your fabric or quilting store or look online.  I ended up ordering them online in order to get the colors that I wanted.

And don't think this idea is only for weddings!  This would be great for baby showers...have it made to match the child's room and have the guests write a message or blessing for the baby.  They will get to keep this the rest of their lives and maybe even pass it down to their children.  Or how about high school and college graduations?  Bar Mitzvahs?  Christenings?  Birthdays?  The list goes on and on.  Just use this to spark your imagination and creativity!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Damask Wedding Program

"I love you to the moon and back again, to infinity and beyond, forever and forever...."

I kept this program because I was so in love with the white and black damask pattern and the punch of color for the accents.  It was a beatiful Greek wedding and the reception was just as spectacular.  It looks like they simply chose the white and black paper, cut it to size, folded it, punched some holes on the side, inserted the inside additions and then ran the ribbon through to secure it.  On the outside they used the same color cardstock to frame their wedding day information.  I absolutely love this and thought you would enjoy it. Hopefully it will spark some ideas for those of you planning your special day.

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Animal Valentine Tags

"I'll love you 'til the day after forever"

I didn't really make any  New Years Resolutions, but if I did, I would say that learning new things would be one of mine.  I've been trying to learn Adobe Photoshop whenever I have a 2 minute break from my son..which isn't that often, so it has definitely been a slow learning curve for me.  These witty (and silly) Valentine's tags are one of my first Photoshop projects that I am proud enough to show and share!  They are about 2in X 2in.  I simply cut them out and glued them to some cardstock.  They would be adorable solo with a little note on the back or you can make chocolate lollipops like I did and attach the Valentine tag with ribbon to it. 

The chocolate lollipops are so easy and inexpensive to make.  Go to your craft store and grab a lollipop mold ($1), some chocolate ($2), some lollipop sticks ($2 for tons), and some lollipop bags ($2 for 15).  All the stuff is grouped together at the store so it will be a quick stop if you have a squirmy kiddo with you like I usually do!  Then all you do is follow the directions which is melt the chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute, stir, put in mold, add the stick, put in fridge, chill, take out, put in bag, add ribbon....and Voila!  You are done.  Phew...

If you really like the tags go ahead and check out my PayPal Storefront in the right sidebar.  I'm going to sell the tags for $3 for me to email you the document that includes all 6 and then you take care of everything else from there.  If you would like me to print, cut, put on cardstock, and mail it will be $8 for 6 tags or $10 for 12 tags and that includes shipping!  If you want more than 12 email me at inspiremecrafts@yahoo.com and I will give you a quote.  But you better hurry because Valentine's day is just around the corner. 

These would also be adorable as flowergirl gifts or if you are a parent you could put the tags in lunch boxes as little surprises for your school-aged children.  I hope you enjoy it!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Hangover Helper Party Favor

"To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the wedding cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up."
- Ogden Nash 

'Tis the season for love and happiness and parties....lots of giant wedding parties. As spring gets closer and closer the wedding lists start to grow longer and longer and the last minute idea searching begins!  I thought I would share some ideas from my wedding that seemed to be popular with our guests. 

My husband and I love to laugh and we made sure that everyone had a good time.  Needless to say the beer and wine was flowing generously so we decided to create our "Hangover Helper" or "Survival Kit" wedding favor for our guests. It was a HUGE hit!  You need water to hydrate, a mint to make sure your breath smells good for your significant other, and of course some ibuprofen to avoid that dreaded morning headache.  All this will help avoid that hangover in the morning...what guest wouldn't appreciate that? 

We started with water bottles and stripping them of their original labels.  Then we went to www.myownlabels.com and ordered the personalized lables.  I absolutely LOVE this site!  Great customer service and beautiful designs to choose from. Once we received those in the mail we started sticking and sticking and sticking, and keep going 247 more times.  We got ibuprofen from Costco (or a Sam's Club) to help on costs.  We looked at doing individually wrapped packets but we would have been broke before we even started!  Add the mint, punch a whole in the plastic bag, add ribbon, tie, and voila!....a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable (thanks to avoiding the hangover) wedding favor that everyone is sure to enjoy!

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!  If you decide to give it a try yourself I would love to see the designs you choose!  Stay tuned for more wedding ideas to come....

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Love Quote Wood Block

"Love overflows and joy never ends in a home that's blessed with family and friends"

I love quotes..(just in case you couldn't tell from my blog).  They are always so inspirational and wise.  I've always dreamt of being that "wise" mom that always had the right quote to say for my son's life lessons. The problem?  My memory! My memory just doesn't seem to be as good as it use to be (if it ever was good).  Whether its me getting older or the post baby memory loss so many moms talk about, we'll just never know.  So until I have the fancy video games to improve my 'brain power' (or have the time to play them) I have come up with a more creative solution....the Love quote wood block!  All I'll have to do is take a quick sneak peak of some home decor in my house and I will have the perfect thing to say.

Since Valentine's Day is around the corner, I decided to go with a "love" theme, but wanted to avoid the whole purple, pink, red color scheme.  Instead I used a chocolate brown, maroon, and light green color scheme (one of my favorites).  On the top of the wood block I chose to simply put "Love".  Then on each side I showcased one of my favorite love quotes.  The four quotes I chose were:

1.  Love overflows and joy never ends in a home that's blessed with family and friends.
2.  The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.
3.  It doesn't matter where you go in life, it's who you have beside you.
4.  I have learned that being with those I love is enough.

Once you choose your quotes this is what you'll need:

MATERIALS:

Wood Block (I chose a 3.5 in one)  Find at local craft store or cut your own.
Paint
Paper
Printer (or quote stickers)
Ribbon
Embellishments
Scissors, glue, paint brush

HOW-TO:

1.  Paint block and allow to dry.  (I chose a tan/light brown color)
2.  Measure each side of block and cut paper to size.  (I chose 4 different papers to use)
3.   Attach with glue. 
4.  Print quotes on desired paper.
5.  Add quotes and embellishments.  Get creative and decorate to your liking. 

What I love about this project (besides making me seem smarter and wiser) is that its so versatile.  It will make a great creative Valentine's gift for your loved one, famiy, or friends and it can also stay out all year long if you choose.  You could also make an adorable centerpiece for a wedding or anniversary party.  Just choose a larger block, decorate it with your party colors, put some pictures of each other and your favorite quotes about love. Add some candles and little flowers around it and Voila!  You have a very unique table setting that will  entertain your guests, save you some money, and capture your favorite moments. 

Like the idea, but don't have the time to make it?  It's available to purchase on my Paypal Storefront (in the top, right sidebar). Enjoy!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Decorated Tin Paint Can

" Thank you for the food before us, the friends beside us, and the love between us" 

If you are looking for a fun and creative way to give your gifts this Valentine's Day (or any holiday), consider using a craft Tin Paint Can.  There are endless possibilities with this and they are just too cute.  All I did was measure the height and width of the can and then cut out the papers I wanted to use.  A little glue, stickers, and ribbon and Voila! You are done.  Fill it with your favorite cookie recipes, candy, or your favorite trail mix (try the Archer Farms Trail mix from Target...its delish!) and give it to someone who has been especially sweet this year!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun! 

Gotta Make It: Decorated Frame

"It doesn't matter where you go in life, its who you have beside you."

  As you know I love paper and ribbon and creating something "pretty" with the two.  I've always done my projects without all the fancy tools they offer out there, but Santa (my parents) were very good to me this year!  They gave me the Cricut machine.  I LOVE THIS!  If you are not familiar with the Cricut, its a portable machine that you can load your own paper into and it cuts out shapes and letters in a matter of seconds.  You can see why I love it so much.  My first project with testing it out was this frame and card.  With Valentine's day around the corner, its time to start thinking about those creative gifts for your loved ones.  Be sure to check here regularly because I have all sorts of fun ideas for you and your kids. 

This frame and card is pretty self explanatory.  I started by painting the frame brown.  Then I traced the paper to fit the wood frame.  Attach the paper (which I adore...its basicgrey and ki memories) to the frame and smooth out.  I then used the cricut machine to cut out my letters.  I used the Martha Stewart Fine Point Glue Pen (love it) to attach the letters.  To finish it off I glued the ribbon around the edge.  Then I made the corresponding card.  I read the book "P.S. I Love You" by Cecilia Ahern and now its out as a movie.  I haven't seen the movie yet, but I LOVED the book.  It made me laugh and cry out loud - which books usually don't make me do.  That book inspired this card. 

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Photo Gift Tags

"Every time we love, every time we give, its Christmas"

You'll be so proud of me...we got most of our holiday shopping done this weekend and I even got the presents wrapped.  Although, in the midst of wrapping I realized that my gift tags looked so TACKY!  I went the old school route of using wrapping paper scraps to fold in half, write the name, and slap it onto the present.  And to be honest....writing three names in the "from" portion is just so much more work than one!  So that little brain of mine went to work and came up with the photo gift tag.  The photo gift tags make your gifts so adorable and it took me about 10 minutes to make 15....that is so worth it!  Luckily, I had some of the luggage tags that I love so much.  You might recall that I used them in the Thanksgiving banner (which making one that says Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Peace, Hope, Joy, etc....would be adorable).  So I measured the luggage tag and sized my picture appropriately on the computer.  Use copy and paste to put as many as you can on a page and then print a few pages. I then took my luggage tag and traced the shape around the picture.  I cut out the picture and used spray adhesive to attach it to the luggage tag.  I used the hole from the luggage tag as my guide to punch a hole in the picture, ran my ribbon through it, wrote who the present is for on the back and voila!....you have an absolutely adorable DIY photo gift tag that will not only save you writing who the present is from, but will be a great keepsake for that special gift recipient!

I hope you enjoy the idea and ...

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!!!!!

Gotta Make It: Chinese Takout Box Party Favor & More

"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." - Reverend Larry Lorenzoni

I hope you got a little chuckle out of the birthday quote!  I'll be honest...it took me a second because at first I thought he was referring to material things when he said "the most" and then the lightbulb went on in that little head of mine and it all made sense...

Anyway, I thought I would take a one day break from the Christmas ideas to share some pictures from a Surprise 30th birthday that I helped plan for my friend.  Her husband chose the location which was a cozy and hip Asian restaurant and then I had a $100 budget to get the cake, party favors, decor, etc.  Luckily the restaurant was already decorated well with lots of bright colors and candlelight.  1/2 the budget went to the cake so I basically had $50 for everything else.  For the party favors, I used chinese takeout boxes from Michaels.  They were 10 in a box for $6.  I then used fortune cookies from World Market to place in the boxes as a favor.   To personalize the favors I used her favorite colors - pink, purple, and green - and designed a Happy Birthday message for the front.  With a little help from my nifty glue gun and some adorable ribbon... the favors were done!

We also wanted to have a keepsake for her so we bought a frame that everyone could place their 30th birthday wishes on.  I wanted a picture of her from her childhood for the frame, but we were afraid she would notice if the pictures were gone.  So instead we placed a Happy Birthday message in there that I designed on the computer.  At the celebration, we made sure to take a picture of everyone that she could place in there later.

Lastly, I added some trivia and special messages in some standing frames.  I had these frames for my wedding (purchased at Target) and I have used them for so many different things!  The trivia were all questions from the year she was born, 1977.  One was sport themed, one was entertainment, and the other was economy.  These can be great ice breakers for a group who may not know each other that well and will always give the birthday celebrant a good laugh....along with everyone else.   I also would have done pictures of her when she was younger if we were able to get to them...everyone's always curious to see what fashion trends you decided to follow!

So there you go...some ideas for your next party!  It turned out to be a great evening, but then you realize that as much as all the small touches count its truly the people you surround yourselves with.  They make the party! So remember to surround yourselves with the people that you love and the ones that bring the best out in you...not the worst!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Photo Magnets and Decorated Tins

"Christmas is not in the presents, but in the presence"

Our kitchen table is officially a disaster zone.  I decided I couldn't procrastinate any longer on getting all the presents made if I wanted any chance of being at the post office less than an hour.  I'm not sure if that is possible this time of the year, but I am sure going to try.  So if you are like me and both sides of your family are huge and leave you a zillion aunts, uncles, and cousins to think about for Christmas presents than this is the perfect gift for you to make!  Its inexpensive and relatively quick!

Go to your local craft store and pick up the following:

Small tins (like the Altoid tins) or Already decorated tins (I found the tin in the 3rd picture at the Dollar Tree)
Instant Krazy Glue - Brush On (trust me...the others don't work)
Magnets (I used ProMag - they come in various sizes and are circular)
Clear Marble Accents with a flat side (make sure they are clear.  The best ones I found were at the Dollar Tree....better price and clearer than the ones at Michaels)
Circle Punch or Circle stencil
Favorite Paper, Accents, and Ribbon
Favorite pictures, photo paper, etc

Ok- so now that you have all the supplies lets get going on the How-To's.

1. Using your circle punch or stencil cut out your favorite photos or designs from paper.  (Note:  I glued a plain piece of photo paper to the back of my picture and scrapbook paper to make it thicker and so you wouldn't see the magnet.)

2.  Using the Krazy Glue Brush, apply the glue to the flat side of the marble.  Quickly apply the picture face down to the marble.  This next step is key:  Press down firmly for 30 seconds with your thumb and fingers.  You want to make sure the glue spreads out and that you don't have any bubbles.  I had quite a few that I had to toss because I wasn't doing this step well enough.  You might want to have nail polish remover (to unglue you) near you because this glue is strong and there were a couple of times I thought I glued my fingers together....ooops!

3.  After letting the picture and marble dry for a couple of minutes, take the magnet and apply the Krazy Glue to one side.  Then attach that magnet to the back of the marble.  Hold firmly for 30 seconds and let it set for a couple more minutes.

4.  Voila!  Your magnets are done.

5.  Now decorate your tin. I used spray adhesive to attach my paper to the tin and then Mod Podged the top (I did a couple coats).  I added some ribbon around the bottom of the tin and some embellishments.

6.  Place the magnets in the tin and you have completed one of your gifts...good for you!

Like I mentioned before, if you want to make this a quick present you can find some cute tins at the Dollar Tree.  I purchased the "Paris" tin from there and decided to go with that theme for the magnets so I just used leftover black and white scrapbook paper.  I also used scrapbook paper for the wine magnets and then created my own photos and "I love U" magnets in Microsoft Word.

I hope this idea gets you moving on getting those Christmas gifts all done.  This would make a great stocking stuffer along with presents for all those extended relatives and friends!

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Have It: Wedding Mugs

"It doesn't matter where you go in life....it's who you have beside you."

These adorable mugs make the perfect bridal shower or wedding gift!  The inside of the mugs say "happily ever after....." - how cute!  I've used them as a shower and as a wedding gift and created my own "gift basket" by adding my favorite coffee, coffee pot, chocolates, biscotti, etc.  You can really do anything with it. I then add a note saying something about how busy our lives get, but that you always have to put your marriage first and make time for each other so enjoy a cup of coffee together in the morning....blah, blah, blah.  You get the idea.

Oh yeah....I almost forgot to tell you where I purchased them.  Silly me!  I found them at Hallmark in the wedding section.  I've also found the wedding anniversary set, but they are a little harder to find.  The outside of the mugs say "I still do" and "I still do too".  I can't remember what the inside said, and like I said I have only seen them at one Hallmark and it just happens to be the one all the way across the country.  That's convenient!

If you have any perfect wedding gifts you would like to share please send them to inspiremecraft@yahoo.com or leave a comment!

Have a fabulous day and be inspired, get creative, and have fun!

Gotta Make It: Christmas Ornament & Magnet

"Marriage requires falling in love many times...Always with the same person"

Ok - this is one of my favorite projects lately.  It really did turn out beautiful.  This creative handmade picture ornament is for a wedding gift for our friends.  It has two different purposes.  First, since they are having a winter wedding I decided it would be nice to make them a Christmas ornament for their first Christmas tree together.  And second, I put a magnet on the back so if they want to enjoy it all year round they can put it on their refrigerator.  The magnet also has another purpose... of course!  It holds the actual ornament in place since the container is a tin.  Ok ...this is how we did it.

You'll need:  your favorite paper, tin, ribbon, circle stickers, frame embellishment, stick-on magnet, and any other embellishments, glitter, etc that you might use.  I found everything at a Seattle boutique last time I was home called Packaging Specialties.  It is an absolutely wondeful store and I wish I had one where I live now.

1.  Find some paper and embellishments you love. I've had this beautiful gold and baby blue paper forever waiting for the right project and I finally found it!

2.  Using a plain piece of card stock I traced the bottom of the tin for a template.  I cut out the template and placed it inside the tin to make sure it was the correct size.

3.  Take the template, trace, and cut out two of them on your favorite paper.  ( You could skip the template part if you're only making one, but since I am going to make some for Christmas gifts I decided to use a template to save me time)

4.  Mod Podge one piece of paper to the inside of the bottom part of the tin.  Set aside and let dry.  Mod Podge the second piece of paper to the top outer part and set aside to dry.

5.  Find a ribbon that compliments your design, cut to size, and attach to top of tin. Do another layer of ModPodge and let dry.

6.  Take your circle sticker and stick it on top of the ribbon once the Mod Podge has dried.

7.  Place an embellishment in the middle of the circle.  You could also run the stickers through the printer and make your own design if you are savvy with the computer.

8.  On the inside sticker I used a stamp, embossing ink & powder, and an embossing heater to get the raised gold look of "happily ever after...". Again, you could use your computer or any embellishment there as well.

9.  Find your favorite photo.  Size to fit inside the frame embellishment (these can be found in your scrapbook embellishments section at your craft store).

10.  Tape the photo to the mini-frame on the back.

11.  Take your ribbon that matches the front and glue it to the frame.

12.  Then take a magnet and cut it to size.  I bought some that are business card size and you just remove the protective sticker and then stick it to your item.  They worked great!

13.  Put your ornament into the tin and the magnet will keep it in place.

14. Voila!  All done.

I love this idea because you could use it for almost anything.  For a baby gift or a baby announcement, you could put their picture in it and then on the inside circle sticker you could put their birth weight, height, etc.  This would also be a beatiful and unique wedding favor that would have all your guests talking.  So have fun with this one....

Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!