DIY Gift Wrap

Use your craft stash to create the perfect wrapping paper for any occasion! I'm a huge fan of only buying plain/neutral rolls of gift wrap (or art paper like pictured here) for wrapping presents. I have everything I need to decorate my packages right in my craft stash. This is a great way to use up that extra washi tape, or those embellishments you have lying around. 

I started out by wrapping my gift in white textured art paper (the kind that comes on a sheet at the art store) I like the feel of the textured paper and it gives the finished package a little bit more interested than if I would have just used smooth paper. 

My first step was to grab my new Studio Calico neon mists and layer a couple of colors on top of one another for a cool splattered paint look. 

The key to layering mists for splatter is to start with the color you want to see the most of. Open the bottle of mist and carefully hold the nozzle over the gift wrap and tap the top with your fingers a couple of times; drops should fall down. Experiment to create different sizes and splatter patterns. Once you're happy with that color, move onto the next mist and repeat the same steps as above, using about half the mist as you did the first time; repeat with more colors as necessary. 

I added black and white polka dot washi both horizontally and vertically to mimic the traditional look of a present wrapped up with a bow. Instead of a bow, I added a chipboard star. I finished off the box with bold glitter thickers to really make my message stand out.

Tweet

10 Minute Minibook Tutorial

Today I'm sharing a tutorial for a 10 minute minibook. This book was originally seen on the Freckled Fawn blog.

Tweet

Washi Workshop

My washi workshop is up at the Freckled Fawn blog.
The theme is office supplies.

http://www.iamdoe.blogspot.com/2012/10/washi-workshop-with-kristin.html

Tweet

Freckled Fawn October Sketch Challenge

Each Month Freckled Fawn provides a sketch challenge. I played along with the design team and had a great time.

Check out the challenge, and if you play along, make sure to link up your project on the Freckled Fawn blog!
 http://www.iamdoe.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-sketch-challenge-some-lucky.html

Here is this month's inspiration layout from the amazing Christin Gronnslett. 

And my take on the layout:

I changed it around to an 8.5x11 and added a little bit more red to my layout.

I LOVE making a mat with washi tape! 

http://www.iamdoe.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-sketch-challenge-some-lucky.html

please leave a link to your project by Monday October 15th.

I'll have a Washi Workshop up on the Freckled Fawn blog this week as well. I hope everyone has some extra office supplies lying around! :) 

Tweet

Washi Tape & Freckled Fawn: Part I

This month I'm lucky enough to be guest designing at the best washi tape store in the world: Freckled Fawn!!

So far I've made three layouts and a super cute mini-book (look for a tutorial later this month).

Here's a peek at the mini-book:

Check out all my washi tape projects at Freckled Fawn.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Tweet

Guest Designing at Freckled Fawn this Month!

Happy October!

This month I'm lucky enough to be guest designing at the best washi tape store in the world:

Freckled Fawn!!

Freckled Fawn is the best place online to buy washi tape. They have an incredible selection and amazing customer service. Doe is honestly one of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of working with.

Freckled Fawn just released their first line of three brand new washi tapes designed by Lili Niclass and Shanna Nalywaiko. Aren't they awesome? I'm playing with these tapes and more this month, so stay tuned for lots of great inspiration and my very own washi challenge coming up in a couple of weeks!

I'll be sharing great washi tape projects all month. Several layouts, a minibook, some altered projects & I'll even have a washi challenge up for everyone to participate in!

Thanks again to Doe and Freckled Fawn for giving me this awesome opportunity!

Tweet

Layout: He Likes it Hot

Happy Wednesday!

Today I'm sharing a quick 8.5x11 layout. I used a silhouette cut-file from Studio Calico's Trendspotting class to cut out the triangles and placed two different sheets of patterned paper underneath the cut-outs. I added my photo, a little bit more paper, some stamping, and some handwriting.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the triangle pattern. The same look can be emulated with a craft knife if you don't have a die cut machine. 

To get the raised look, I used several foam dimensional dots around the outside of the die-cut cardstock to make it rise above the patterned paper. 

I layered two sheets of patterned paper underneath the cardstock to give the background a little bit more interest. 

And a little bit of stamping & handwriting at the bottom! 

Silhouette Cameo	Ormolu Flair	Grey/White Airmail Washi	Hey Y'All Stamps
Versafine Onyx	White 8.5x11	Zig Pens

InLinkz.com

PS -- There are a few little site changes that you might want to check out:

• New Me Stuff page
• New Project Life landing page
• New Challenge: A Week in Instagram

Tweet

Project Life Essentials: My Must Haves

These are my Project Life Essentials. They are all products that I use week-in and week-out. They sit on my table when I'm making my pages, and today I'm going to share them with you. I only recommend products that I use consistently and really love. If you have any questions please feel free to email me or leave a comment at the bottom!

The Basics:

• Becky Higgins Page Protectors -- these divided page protectors make it easy to break up your week into little snippets and document all the fun everyday moments. I mainly use the Design F pages, but the Design A, and Variety Packs are also popular.

• Project Life Core Kits (currently unavailable: expected mid-august-september) -- these kits have enough cards to get you through an entire year. I tend to use them sparingly throughout my book, but they are great to have on hand for quick pages and jotting down lists or notes. I have both Clementine and Cobalt; but I'm also liking the look of the new Cherry kit as well. 

• Project Life Grid Cards (currently unavailable) -- I use these all the time; both for Project Life and for various notes and lists I write for myself. I even use these cards to sketch out my Project Life layout for the week, the grid lines help to keep everything even. 

***Don't worry if these are unavailable; its super easy to use your own stash to make all the cards you 

need. 

The Tools

• Fiskars Softgrip 8-Inch Scissors - I've tried lots of scissors, and these are the ones I always come back to, especially for Project Life. They are a great size, not too big & not too small. I use them every day, and they clean very easily for a brand-new feel every time. 

• Corner Rounder -- This EK Success punch is the one I use. It's small and fits on my desk. It works every time and never gives me any problems. 

• Silhouette Cameo -- I use my Silhouette all the time, It's great for cutting out titles, and making lots of journaling cards. This starter kit from Amazon is a great deal: Silhouette Cameo Starter Kit Bundle Cutter. There are lots of different retailers who sell the Silhouette Cameo; I bought mine off Amazon because of the reasonable price and the super fast shipping. Here's a list of all the free Silhouette cuts that I've created, please feel free to download and use any of them. 

• Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher -- This is by far my favorite little tool. It's a strong mini stapler that has a good reach. Its great for attaching ticket stubs or any other memorabilia, and for adding a little bit of texture/dimension.

• Zig Millennium Markers -- These are my main journaling pens. They are a pure black color. I use all the sizes but I'm most partial to the .005 for fine writing, the .03 for regular journaling, and the .08 for a bolder look. 

• India Ink Pen -- If I had to use just one pen for the rest of my life; this would be it. It has a great feel, and it writes super smooth. The color is a bit of a faded black, which I really like. Sometimes the Zig markers are just too harsh of a black, and this India Ink pen has just the right amount of fade to blend into pages and pockets that are a bit more muted. 

Paper & Embellishments

• 6x6 Paper Pads -- I love working with the smaller size paper for Project Life, the prints are all shrunk down and look better in the smaller pockets. A few of my favorites: Studio Calico: Classic Calico (probably the best neutral 6x6 pad out there), Crate Paper: Storyteller (love the muted tones & map pages), Studio Calico: Hey Day (love all the various & well coordinating colors). 

• Clear Stamps -- Stamps are definitely the most economical embellishments, I use several of the same sets each week. I keep them right on my desk with a couple of ink pads and integrate them into almost all of my PL pockets. Here are a few of my most used sets:

 Studio Calico: Stepping Stone Alphabet 

Studio Calico: Hey Y'All

Lawn Fawn: Sophie's Sentiments

• Hero Arts Shadow Inks -- I love the saturation of these, they ink a bit blotchy at first, but then spread out as they dry to a really pretty color. I use wet cement the most, followed by soft pool & butter bar. I just recently ordered soft pink & the new neon colors. 

• Prima Inks -- I have these chalk inks in lots of colors. Its a great way to expand your ink colors without breaking the bank. They're also small and don't take up too much room on the desk/in the ikea cart. Starter color recommendations: Ladybug (a real red), Moss Lawn, Teal Damask, Attic Dust, & Old Road.

   

• Washi Tape -- I have lots of washi. I use washi on pretty much every pocket. You get a ton of it on a roll, it can act as ribbon, patterned paper, sticker, access. Two Peas had a great tutorial on using washi in Project Life, I was lucky enough to guest design for the challenge. Washi suppliers: Freckled Fawn, Love My Tapes, & Two Peas has a good selection. 

These are my most loved Project Life products; the essentials that I need each week and can't go without. I'll keep this list updated to include any new products that make their way into this list. If you have any questions at all, feel free to leave them in the comment section and I'll do my best to answer them!

Tweet