Favorite Finds for the 15th Week of 2010

Mother's Day Idea: Etched Glass

The Idea Door Blog had this great Mother's Day idea on their blog...to etch glass. A vase, a cake pan or a plate...how great! I love personalized gifts and wouldn't any mom love something you make her?? Check out how easy it is on the Idea Door blog.

Dream Kids Room

HGTV did it again...I absolutely loved this room and was thinking I should talk my hubby into remodeling our bedroom to be like this...I get the top bunk though!! Check out more pictures on HGTVs website.

Zipper Flip Flops

Now these are original and creative, don't you think? Flip flops at the craft store are going to run you $1.99-2.99 at the most, the zipper a couple more dollars...and the end result, priceless. If you'd like to see how easy these are to make, check out this step-by-step flip flop tutorial.

Cupcake Liner Carnations

What a fun way to create flowers, especially for gift wrapping!! Martha Stewart will tell you how to create these fun cupcake liner flowers.

Silhouettes for Mother's Day

When I was about 7 years old my family went to Disneyland. I remembered one of the souvenirs my mom wanted for herself were our silhouettes. There was a little shop that they would "hand-cut" our head shapes out and frame them. I have no idea what she did with those, but I was so excited to see this tutorial online. But no hand-cutting here, it's all done on the computer. How fun would it be to have these of your children as they are growing up...even if you put them in a scrapbook. Be sure to check out the great tutorial posted at Crafty Chicks blog.

Awesome Crafting Table

I'm continually amazed at how small this world is...and a couple of weeks ago proved it. I was visiting a great neighbor of mine and I mention that I've worked in the scrapbook industry for these past 13 years. He was shocked and excited because the company he's working for has created this amazing craft table and is hoping to start marketing it soon. Here's a sneak peek of the first prototype table and with luck I'll be able to share more in the near future!!

Felt Rosettes

This post is for Amy...I thought you'd love those fun spiral roses made from FELT!! Found this one on the Mrs. Priss blog too.

Floral Ring Tutorial

I've made these before as hair clips and scrapbook layout embellishments, but never for jewelry...aren't they the cutest little things. And because I love step-by-step tutorials I couldn't resist sharing this post from Mrs. Priss blog.

Cardinal House Etsy Shop

I think part of the reason I add etsy shop finds to my blog is so I remember where I need to go back to and BUY from when I have money!! Loved this gals necklaces and how she packages her product...a definite must order from shop for me.

Recycled T-Shirt Bags
In honor of Earth Day, I found this cute idea on the Martha Stewart website on turning old t-shirts into bags. There is a video tutorial available, but you have to suffer through about ? minutes of Martha teaching you about gourds (fast forward to about 5 minutes into the tutorial to get to the t-shirt portion).

Customize a Notepad

My cute friend Janet created some of these for Christmas and I LOVED them! So I started making some for no other reason then to "create". Shipped them off to my cute sis-in-law in Washington, I hope she liked them. Materials: Notepads (small) from Walmart; pencils; paper, flowers and ribbon from the Scooter's Vacation from Imaginisce.

How To: Simple Covered Notepads

You may have seen this simple notebook I posted on Lil Red Cottage last week. I promised some instructions on how you can re-create this project so I am going to explain the details with another set of notebooks I created. I haven't embellished them (yet), but this will get you started.

View of completed notebooks:

Open View of Covered notepad:

Supplies Needed: Adhesive, Chalk Ink (optional), a couple of sheets of scrapbook paper (at least one should start off 12x12" and a small notepad. The notepads are usually sold in sets of 4-6 and I think I paid about $3.99 for my pack.
Cutting Directions:

Cover - 8" tall x 10 1/2" wide

Inside Front Cover (optional) - 5 3/8" x 8" Note: I only covered this because the paper I chose was not double-sided and I didn't want boring old white to show. You can certainly skip this step to save time and money.

Pocket - 6" x 7 1/2" (see below)

Small Strip (covers printed band along notebook) - 7/8 x 5"
After I cut all the pieces out, I inked the edges.

First step is to score the cover sheet. I scored it in 5 1/8" from the left and then again 5 1/8" from the right so that there was a nice 1/4" binding (approx). Second step is to hide the blank inside cover. Simply adhere that piece to the left edge. I would suggest scoring it 1/4" from the right edge so it bends with the cover better.
Next, adhere the notepad to the back cover. My adhesive of choice is always Mono Adhesive by Tombow, but mod podge would work well (a glue stick would eventually dry and the paper would come off...I never use glue sticks).
Take the piece you cut for the pocket and trim off approx. 4" from the top left corner down to about 3 3/4" from the bottom edge (confusing I know). So you pocket angle may vary depending on your mood. Score the edges of the pocket about 3/8" from the side and bottom edges of the block. Cut out to bottom corners so you can fold edges and tack down the corners.
Once you've done that, run adhesive along the edges and mount pocket to inside front cover, flush with bottom and outer edge. Note: before scoring both sides of pocket, line it up next to cover and make sure your pocket is the right size...sometimes it's too big and you can easily fix that by re-scoring the edge.

UPDATED 09/14/09: Here's a pattern that helps you visualize the pocket much better then what the photos show.

Mount small strip over the printed edge of your notepad (I thought it needed it). And you're all done. Take some time to embellish the front cover and you will have a quick gift!!

Cranberries & Capers

I happened upon a darling Etsy shop today and had to share. It's called Cranberries & Capers. If you're looking for cute, one-of-a-kind clippies & hair bows for your little girl she has some one of a kind designs. I really loved the clips for pacifiers, but wondered if I could modify it to hold my glasses instead (wink).Cindy started making clippies for her two girls and just fell in love with this new way to express herself creatively. She started selling them through her blog at first to family, and then friends, and then strangers. Then not long ago she opened an Etsy shop in hopes of sharing her clippy goodness with more people. She works hard to make sure they are each super cute and well-made.

Sooo Cute - Baby Bunch

It's a bunch of baby clothes!

Combining practicality with presentation, The Baby Bunch’s line of baby gifts delights new moms and dads. Oh baby! The Baby Bunch is the cutest spin on baby gift baskets ever. Super soft, 100% cotton baby clothes are craftily rolled to look like a blooming bouquet of roses.

A creative alternative to flowers and a wonderful present for a new mom. Want a darling baby shower gift? Make an entrance with a bouquet of baby clothes and get the party started! Hosting a baby shower? The Baby Bunch is an adorable centerpiece.

Check out this video clip from Martha Stewart about the Baby Bunch!!

Photobook Arrived!!

I meant to post about this 3 DAYS ago when my 12x12" photobook arrived for my hubby's 40th birthday gift. It's AWESOME and so much better then I expected it to be....actually I expected it to be great, but until you see the hours of work you've put into a project COMPLETED it's hard to know what to expect. I absolutely love the photo of Kirk on the cover...isn't he handsome?

Just a reminder for those new visitors to my blog, I created the entire book in My Memories Suite software. It's amazingly easy and had I created this entire book in Photoshop (which I could have) it would have taken me weeks and weeks, instead of days. I spent more time scanning in photographs and tweaking them then I did laying them out in the book. I have to send a BIG THANK you to my friend Michelle, she took this gorgeous picture of the Salt Lake Temple and was willing to let me use it in Kirk's book. The year we were married they were cleaning the Temple, so all my wedding pictures have scaffolding on the left side of the Temple. The original, full-size of picture is stunning and I think she should sell the prints...I would buy one!! If you want to see more of her amazing photography, check out her blog here.

Monster-ously Cute Idea

My friends over at Ettes & Company shared this darling idea using the new DUDE Collection. Their creative team member, Mary Ruth printed out the fun monsters onto to t-shirt transfer paper and ironed on the designs onto onsies. Read more by visiting Ettes & Company Gallery.

12 Days of Gift Ideas

For the few people out there that actually look at my blog, I thought I'd point you in another "blog" direction. Over on the Lil Red Cottage Blog I've been posting the some fun, inexpensive gift ideas for the holidays. Hopefully when it's done I will have posted 12 ideas you might find useful.