Reusing my Glass Jars

Okay, so I don't know about any of you, but the prices of glass jars at the craft store are crazy, and even at Wal-mart and such. Sure some of them come in cute shapes, but still, I mean, here is a pic of  a small jar I picked up with flowers in it for about $6. The only reason I picked this up was because I really liked the flowers, but I vowed to never do it again!

So one day, after dinner I was cleaning up and getting ready to toss my spaghetti sauce jar in the recycling, when I realized that I loved the shape of the jar. It dawned on me that I had been throwing away glass jars for months now (years, but months since I started craving jars for my scrapbook room), and here was this perfect jar for storing stuff in. It was a little blah in the cute factor, as in, I really didn't like the lid, but the jar itself was perfect.

So I decided to start saving them and as I found things to put them in I place them in there. Then today while I was cleaning up in my craft room I found some leftover fabric I had used months ago. So I pulled out my hot glue gun, and with the help of my DH, I was able to make a cute top to cover up the lid that was, well a little less cute.

You can't really see it in the picture, but the fabric has monkeys on it, which I thought fit my whole Purple Giraffe thing going, I mean you can have more than one animal in a zoo, right! I took some ribbon that I bought on clearance recently, tied it in a knot, and glued it into place in three spots, and now its ready for storage in the cutest fashion.

So has anyone else done something like this to save on money for your storage. I love having my room all organized (which its not right now, in the middle of redoing things in my room, and its gonna be awhile before its done), but I hate paying the prices, so when I find ways to save like this I love it. If you have a story of normal objects being put to usefulness tell us, who knows, I might have to try it out myself!!!

A Special Father's Day Card

This year, I wanted to make a special Father's Day Card for my husband from my son and myself. I've watching the blogs for some ideas, and I finally found one that I really liked. Recently there was a challenge to make a Father's day card, over at Fantabulous Cricut , and I was looking over the entries that were made when I came across Cricut Crafting Grammy's Fold Card she made for her Son in law. I loved the idea, but didn't think that I had the right paperdolls to get across what my DH means to me and my son, so I fell back on a family thing... I put in dinosaurs! The card is unique in that it starts out looking like a little gift, something I changed up from the original idea I saw.

You can't really see it in this picture, but I also placed a piece of scrap paper of the same design on the top to make it look like its the top of a box. Then I grabbed some ribbon I recently bought on clearance in PA while I was there (of course this was the one color I thought I would never use, go figure). I used a pop dot to hold the ribbon in place.

You open it up, and I placed my sentiment for Father's Day there, and the back of the gift box portion is a great place to sign too. I used the Feeling Groovy Cart for the letters on this page.

Lift up the side that said Happy Father's Day and on the back is another section that we put the word RAWR in big letters. I made this on my computer, I found this awesome font called Dinosaur Jr, and it is great for dinosaur projects like this one.

Pull the next fold open and you see our very first dinosaur. I used the Create a critter cart, which is quickly becoming a favorite. I love the dinosaurs especially!!!

Pull the final fold open and you find our last dinosaur, again from create a critter cart, and the final sentiment is pasted in. Now, I'm not sure if you all know this, but Dinos do not have a very big vocabulary. Their basic word is RAWR, and it means a lot of different things, so for this card we had to make sure that he knew exactly what our dinosaurs were saying to him!

Well I hope you liked the card. I loved this project, and it was so unique. I can't wait to give it to my hubby. I'm entering this in the color challenge over on The Pink Stamper. Check it out, the colors are Orange, Turquoise, and Green (and any other colors can be added). What is funny, is that while I wanted to join in this challenge I wasn't sure if I would be able to cuz I have so much going on right now. However, when I asked my son to pic out a base color page for our project he ended up with the striped color page from my My Mind's Eye, Where The Heart Is Collection. I have to say I love this paper pack, so many cute colors, and I love the shades and extras they add to it. So I used a bunch of scraps for the dinos and for the boxes I used scraps from the My Mind's Eye collection, along with another flowered scrap that went with our colors for the center box.

Enjoy your day everyone!

A Father's Day Card

Before I start on my new card, I wanted to remind you all that Chick-n-Scrap is having a huge giveaway, so head on over there and get yourself entered in. There is a link on my sidebar for it too!

Now on to my first Father's Day card of the year. Since my father passed away several years ago I try to find someone special in my life that I think needs a nice reminder that they are a good father. This year, I stuck with my mother's day theme and I'm sending one to my brother (I sent a card to my sister for mother's day, so figured my bro might like a father's day one). I didn't want to make it too sentimental, because, well that just isn't my brother, so I made it simple and to the point.

I found this cute cut on my Handy Man cart, which by the way is a great cart for all the boys in your life, so many tools and such. I like to use it for our remodeling scrapbook that I have been keeping of our new house (I'll have to share some of those sometime with ya'll).

I used the twisted easel cut that I found on Mary's Cardz Tv awhile ago. I just love this design, and I hope my brother gets that he's supposed to stand it up!!!

Then I added a simple sentiment from my heart, and it was all set to go. The dimensions are the same that are mentioned on Mary's Cardz Tv, and she is really easy to follow along with. If you haven't visited her blog yet, you really should. Love some of her ideas... okay, I love most of her ideas!

I used pop dots on the sentiment to help keep the card standing where it needs to be, and also on the base of the wheelbarrow, just to give it a little dimension. I'm entering this in the Fantabulous Cricut:Challenge Me Monday challenge which is all about Father's day this week. Take a peak at what others have come up with... I know I'm stealing a few ideas from some of the posts I've seen there.

Well I guess that is all for now. Hope you all have a great Wednesday, and I'll be seeing you all soon.

Super Giveaway going on right now!

Hey fellow paper crafters!!! There is an awesome (and I mean, OMG awesome) giveaway going on over at Chick-n-Scrap ! Jessica is celebrating reaching her 300th follower, and she is offering some major blog candy. Here is a look at what is going to be given away!

Head on over to her blog for a chance to win, if you aren't a follower of her's yet, let her know that Mel from The Purple Giraffe sent ya over!!! This is a huge giveaway, and of course everyone wants to be in, and she has a bunch of ways for you to enter, so go on over and check it out!

Bug Bites Chillin'

So as most of you know this weekend was the second weekend of BugBites Grillin' n Chillin' Bug Hop and I spent most of this weekend trying to come up with an awesome card to post for it. I had so much trouble deciding what to do that for awhile I didn't think I would have anything to enter. However, finally today, inspiration hit. I had to make a card for my SIL (yeap, another one), and her birthday lands on the first day of summer (same as my son's if you care to know... LOL). So I wanted to do something with a summer theme, so I pulled out my Paper Doll Dress-Up cart from Cricut. I love this cart,  cuz there are so many different things you can do. I also love how you can make such cute cards for kids using their own imagination to inspire you!!! Anyway, I pulled out the booklet and found this really cute hulu skirt and top and of course there was a palm tree to go with it, so I was almost good to go.

Of course I had to add my little critter, so a little lady bug joined my girl on the beach!!! I mean, I am cool with ladybugs joining me for some fun, some other bugs I could do without, so I figured my girl would not be too upset if I placed a ladybug on the beach with her!

The design of the card was inspired by Mary over at Cardz Tv ,which I have to say, I love her ideas, and she is just so sweet. I can imagine going to her house and having a nice cup of tea... kind of reminds me of my mom!!!  The type of card was called the Z-fold, and it was super simple to put together. Check out her site to find out how to do it. Anyway, here is a few more shots of my card!!! All papers were from my scrap box, and I used a bunch of my pens. I also used some of my handy markers to color in the water and the palm tree as it was not a layered type cut in the book. Hope you enjoy it, and if you haven't already, check out BugBites before midnight tomorrow night to get your selection put in. Have a great evening!

A Simply Cute B-day Card

So I started this afternoon out in one direction (trying my hand at an easel card) and ended up with something completely different (a card with no cricut image... for shame!)!!!

For a little while today I had a creative block, but then I got out of it when I pulled out my brand new pack of Crate Paper ~ Lillian Collection Kit. This kit is full of whimsical birds and swirls and all kinds of super cute papers to work with. So by taking a basic blue background and adding some wonderful colors to it, I came up with a super cute card to send to my best friend for her birthday.

The base of the card is from my stash that I have, and then I layered it with some paper from the Lillian Collection Kit, for the flowery background. I added a curved sentiment, with the sticker letters that came with the kit, and a cute flower that I pushed the petals up so it would look a little more realistic. On the top I put a border that came with the kit, and weaved some ribbon that I had laying around through it. Then to emphasize the bird theme with the kit I added a cute little bird from the pop outs in the kit and placed it on a pop dot to give it a little more dimension.

As you can see the paper comes with some glitter in it, so no need for any glitter glue today.

For the curved sentiment I simply used a stylus I had laying around my desk and drew a curve on the paper free hand, then placed the letters on the curved portion.

I made the card using the measurements of a regular business size envelope, cuz I hate not having an envelope to go with it. True I could make my own, but sometimes I hate using the paper up for that.

I'm entering this card into the CAS-ual Friday's Challenge this week, where we were given a sketch as inspiration that had a curve and the wiggle border look on it. I really liked the sketch, how simple it was, and thought this would work perfectly for this card. I hope you like it!!

Check back later this weekend, as I'll be headed over to the Bug Hop on BugBites! Looking forward to all the great new ideas. See ya'll soon!

A New Award!

Sherrie, from Sherri Scraps with passion, passed on this cute award. First of all, I have to say the little stamp is too cute, and then to have someone say that my blog is a bit stylish... well that just blows me away. I have been enjoying the whole blog experience, and I love learning new things about paper crafting, and every day I find new things to do, and to have a person look at my blog and think its pretty cool... well that just made my day.

There are a few rules that go with the "A Thing of Beauty Award", so I guess I better get on with that part.

Here are the rules for the A Thing of Beauty Award:

I must share 5 things about myself ( 1 of the listed items must be something about crafting) and then pass the award to 5 other blogs.

1.) I am designing a new craft room in my head, and saving up money to put it into effect (can't wait for that day!)
2.) When I'm not working, I am usually hitting the books to finish my bachelors (hopefully by October 2012)
3.) I never thought I could make cards, they always looked so complicated, but I'm so addicted now!
4) I love to shop
5.) When I'm not paper crafting, working, blogging, taking care of my boys, or doing school work, I love to read, books, magazines, text books (I know I'm a total dork now), I just love to pick up a book and read it. 
I would like to pass this award to the following people:)

1)Melissa from Sunshine Honeybee
2)Jessica at Cricut After Dark
3)Peggy Sue from ICrea8Cards
4)Jessica at Chick-n-Scrap
5) Jazzy's Cards

Anyway, the blogs above have some really cute ideas, and I love checking them out! I hope you'll check them out too, and maybe you'll find a new favorite blog to follow.

This weekend is Barb's second Bug Hop the Chillin' team is going to have some awesome projects to share with you, and I can't wait to follow the hop trail to the end. So looking forward to being able to join in this weekend (last weekend was a bit hectic for me, getting back from PA, and dealing with all that fun stuff). Hope you'll join along. Check out Barb's Bugbites Page for more information on the Bug Hop for this weekend!

See you all soon.