Christmas Burrrr lap Bags

 It's "Saturday In The Studio" and this week I'm featuring my burrrr lap bags. There are so many uses for these bags. They can be used for every holiday imaginable. I chose to make some gift bags for some co-workers and here is a tutorial to show you the process. The first thing I did was stamped my words using white gesso onto the bags. Acrylic paint works just as well and would probably clean up easier on your stamps than gesso, I just like the way gesso is so thick.

Then I attached the cinnamon sticks to the jute using the following steps. 

Lastly I stapled the jute and my choice of ribbon to the back of the bag just to hold it in place. Wrap the jute first in a regular bow, and then wrap your ribbon around and tie a nice big bow. You don't, of course need to use cinnamon if you choose not to. Some other choices would be, ornaments, bells, candy canes, etc. These bags are really inexpensive and can be customized so easily. They can be purchased here in my Etsy shop for $2.25 and they measure 10" x 10" Use them to fill stocking stuffers, homemade baked goods place a poinsettia plant or mini Christmas tree inside and tie with a festive bow. Hope you were inspired to be creative. xoxo Toni

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Hi everyone... time for another project using those wonderful Oxford Impressions Large Letter Stamps

This is a glass ornament that I glued mica flakes and glitter inside and then embossed the numbers "25" with gold embossing powder on the front. Added gold diamond ribbon for some added bling, which can be purchased at my Etsy shop.  "I Am Roses" Poinsettias were sprayed with Lindys Stamp Gang "Golden Sleigh Bells" and added some Christmas ribbon and greenery. These stamps are so versatile. Stop over at Oxford Impressions for some wonderful inspiration.

HOLIDAY WEEKEND SALE

My Etsy shop is getting in on the holiday savings and offereing 10% off entire order. Stop by to see all the great art and craft supplies. So many items to get your home and packages ready for the holiday season. Don't forget to use coupon code HOLIDAYCASH

SATURDAY IN THE STUDIO

I've had many customers of mine that have inquired on techniques or ideas on ways to use some of the products in my  Etsy shop. So, starting 11/24 I will be launching "SATURDAY IN THE STUDIO". A weekly post featuring a product in my Etsy store and giving some inspiration on ways to use it. More and more of my customer are branching off and creating out of their box... so proud of you... and experimenting with mixed media products even on their scrapbook layouts, so I thought this would be a fun way to interact with you. Questions, comments are always encouraged. Let's grow, be inspired, and get messy together. 

Hugs ♥ ♥ Toni

It's In The Bag

BURLAP .... mmmmm I love the smell of burlap and even though it's messy and sheds all over the place I just adore the texture. I have sewn it, painted on it, used it as a mask for misting over. I have stamped on it, Modge Podge'd it used it in flower arrangements and gift wrapping. The list goes on and on with burlap. Just recently got a big pile of it at the fabric store... so what to make???? Well as you can see from my previous post I embellished some pumpkins for my front porch, but I wanted to make something to sell in my Etsy shop so I came up with this gift bags.

Very simple to make and such a cute way to gift wrap something little for a friend or loved one for the holidays. I used my Oxford Impressions Alpha Stamps for the lettering and I found that using black gesso for stamping worked wonderful as it dried very fast. I then used black jute and basted it around the bag to use it as a draw string. Dusty Attic Heart chipboards were painted and papered and strung through the jute just for added embellishment. So go get yourself some burlap see where your creativity will take you. BUT... if your not into making these you can always purchase them at my Etsy store. 

Trick or Treat

It's such a fun time of year because people that don't normally craft jump right in with that glue gun and start creating and I just love to be inspired by others. Decorating for the holidays is without a doubt... one of my most favorite things to do. I had these pumpkins from years back and decided to alter them up a bit for the front porch. 

Carve a hole in the stem to insert your ribbon of choice.  I used burlap, I love the texture and it just screams "fall". This ribbon can be purchased in my Etsy store

Next, Oxford Impressions just came out with a new set of ALPHA stamps and their size works so well when creating home decor pieces. I used black gesso to stamp the words on my burlap. 

 Set aside to dry... it doesn't take very long at all...

Meanwhile... the left over pieces of burlap I decided to run through my vagabond to make some flowers so to give it substance I Modge Podged the burlap to black cardstock and then die cut my flowers.  

Last step was putting the flowers together and attaching it to the pumpkins added some black & natural jute to hang from the stem and we have a quick and easy decoration for the front porch. Just a note * I used Modge Podge on the edges of the burlap ribbon to keep it from shredding. Hope this inspired you to get out  and customize some decorations for your home. 

It's Masquerade Time

 Once a month I get a wonderful opportunity to spend girl time with some close friends, and I always love to surprise them with a little something. This month I decided it was the perfect opportunity to use my new stamp collection from Oxford Impressions "Masquerade" for these wooden boxes. 

Purchased at Michaels for $1.00, I used Terracotta walnut stain to give the boxes that orange glow.
Then using assorted images from the collection, I embossed the images on the boxes. 

I then created tags using other images and added a personal note and tied a festive bow for finishing touch. 

Finally, filling the boxes with treats which included, autumn fragrance hand lotion, candles, pumpkin latte mix & Chapstick for the windy days. The girls really enjoyed the little gift boxes and I hope this has inspired you to create this holiday season. xoxo

Dr's Coffin Apothecary

Well Suzanne at Oxford Impressions has out did herself once again with a brand new stamp collection called Dr Coffin's Apothecary.  Believe me when I say, it's right on time for the Halloween holiday right around the corner.

For my design team contributions on this collection I created a coffin with a mini album inside to house those scary trick or treat pictures that I have. The coffin is paper mache  and I painted then rusted it, the tombstone & name plate were textured using the crackled technique  Added old moss and "I Am Roses" rose buds and leaves.  

Now on to the inside. Each page is cut as a coffin shape and the majority of the paper I used was from G45's "Old Curiosity Shoppe collection The skeleton page was stamped on acetate so you can flip it sideways to insert your picture underneath.

 What would a coffin mini album be without a few prescription drugs. 

 Next page I used gauze and the new Mirror sheets from Ranger Can I tell you how cool these sheets are. You can emboss on them, you can die cut them, ink, paint, stamp, and once you remove the plastic coating it really is like reflective mirror. Very cool indeed. 

Upclose of Mirror sheets

 The next few pages were created using die cuts & images from Tim Holtz Halloween Kraft Resist paper. Last but not least is Mr. Skeleton himself (the inside of the coffin case. 

This was such a fun project, and it felt good to get my fingers all inky again. To finish off the project, several different ribbons were added to the ring which holds the mini album together. . 

Several of the products used can be purchased in my Etsy shop (Studio Garage Band)  Listed below are the items.

Frayed Ribbon with Glitter (Black & Orange)

Trick or Treat Ribbon Assort.

Mirrored Sheets

Halloween Muse Token

I Am Roses Rose Buds

G45 Old Curiosity Shoppe paper collection

This piece has been entered into the following challenges: Jump over to their blogs for wonderful inspiration from so many great crafters !

I Am Roses / September challenge Halloween

City Crafter's / An Early Boo

Three Muses / Bird

Hakuna Matata Baby Tin

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Hi there and yet another baby shower to go to. This one is for baby Derrick and his room is adorned with "The Lion King" theme, so I thought it fitting to create a journal tin with all the colorful characters from this Disney movie.

For every month there is a decorated chipboard card for a picture of Derrick for that month and a separate card to journal special moments and milestones he has experienced. The outside of the tin was Modge Podged as a collage of animal print papers. I copied a picture from the internet and fussy cut the picture of the lion cubs to the front.

I took small pieces of wood and stamped his name on each piece, then used walnut stain and drilled holes to run jute through it for a personal touch. Added ribbons, tulle and beads for embellishment. The inside was decorated using wooden lion & palm tree that I purchased at Michaels and I added buttons for coconuts and glittered it up a bit with Stickles. Used Dusty Attic chipboard crown and gold embossed it for the king of the jungle.

To view the individual pages more in detail, double click on the pictures below.

Now it will be "Hakuna Matata" (no worries) for mom and dad to document and post pictures of baby Derrick for his first year. Thank you for stopping by and hope you were inspired. xoxo

Babies 1st Christmas

I don't know about you but I just love Pinterest. That is where I got my inspiration for a gift I made for a baby shower I will be going to this weekend.

I used a Luminarte Glass Bauble Ornament (which can be purchased in my Etsy store here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/78199186/luminarte-brilliant-baulbles-heart-1 ). I shredded the baby shower invitation and curled it, then stuffed it inside the ornament. I added German glass glitter and mica flakes for a vintage snow effect. I then added the vintage tinsel which can also be purchased at my Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/listing/95984909/silver-tinsel-garland-3-yards. I tied a bow and attached a handmade clay tag for a personal touch. I don't know about you but there's something special about a homemade gift and I really hope that daddy and mommy 2 b will love this gift. Congrats Victoria & Daniel on your special gift from heaven. xoxo

Little Darlings Baby Tin

Hi everyone, it seems like it's baby time and I currently have 3 baby gifts I making. It must have been a cold winter...lol. To me there is nothing prettier than G45 papers and the Little Darlings collection does not disappoint. I made a tin for the first 12 months of the baby's birth to record special moments and a picture for that specific month. The inspiration I received is from Kristin Wilson and wonderful G45 designer. The outside was embellished with flat back pearls and  Prima "Say It In Crystals" also added numerous ribbons and Maya Road Tulle. 

An inexpensive way to wrap and give it that personal touch,  I purchased a kraft bag at the dollar store and embellished it with matching paper and made a little onsey tag for the gift tag. 

The inside of the tin is decorated with the beautiful paper from this collection and I fussy cut many of the pictures and added dimensional stickers for depth. I AM ROSES leaves and rosebuds were added as well as more pearls, crystals and metal butterfly from my stash. 

Month 1, 2, 3

Month 4, 5, 6

Month 7, 8, 9

Month 10, 11, 12

Each month included matching pages for a photo and another page with a journal tag to document special memories for that month.  For a detailed view, click on picture. 

To finish off the tin I created a hanging tag that included the baby's name, birth date and weight. Used Glossy Accents and added more pearls and attached a Ideology token. I hope Dominick's mommy and daddy have a wonderful time recording all there special memories with my gift.  The following items can be purchased in my Etsy store. http://www.etsy.com/shop/StudioGarageBand
G45 Little Darlings paper line
I AM ROSES rose buds and leaves
Flat back pearls
Prima "Say It In Crystals
Maya Road Tulle 
Thank you for stopping by... hope you've been inspired. 
xoxo 
Toni