scrapmonster

Cheap and Easy DIY Valentine {DIY Gift}

2012-02-05T17:25:00.000-08:00

We aren't really big on Valentine's Day gifts around here. In fact, I told B that if he ever bought me jewelry for V-Day, I would probably take it back. I didn't mean for it to sound ungrateful, but I just don't think it's right for us. Valentine's Day is a day that tends to be about showing those around you how much you love them and how well you know them. But, if B were to buy me jewelry, he would be accomplishing the exact opposite - showing me that he doesn't like me at all. So, we have always made each other Valentine's. I will post some of my favorites from the past later this week, but for now, I will give you a sneak peak of my valentine for him this year.

I started with a mini lined notebook from the craft store (you can buy one online here).

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I simply wrote our love story down - all of the things I love, remember, and admire about him and about our relationship. I used tons of stickers that I had left over from my paper-scrapping days. For the last few pages, I made coupons that can be traded in for various activities and surprises.

For the cover, I glued on some keyboard letters to spell "Love" and added some stickers and baker's twine. I think it looks delightfully nerdy and still somewhat cute, if I do say so myself. ;)

This craft/note is so simple to do and can be totally customized to your relationship. If you make one, remember to comment with a link so I can go check it out.

Happy February!!

Repurposed Treat Container {Party Favor}{Valentine}

2012-01-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

I might just be obsessed with gum. This has been an affliction for as long as I can remember. I may or may not have stolen a piece of already chewed gum from under the counter at the bank (I know, right? Disgusting. I would probably throw up if one of my kids did that). I want to show you what I do with all of the empty containers from my very favorite gum by Mentos.

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I love this gum for many reasons. It comes in a bunch of different flavors; the flavor lasts forever; and best of all, the containers ROCK. They actually stay shut in my purse and that, my friends, is awesome. I couldn't bear to part with these bright, well-contained containers when I was done with the gum, so I turned them into candy containers.

It's super easy to do. I think these make a great container for carrying things in your purse (candy, other types of gum, and q-tips fit perfectly) and they would make super fun party favors!

First, I peeled the labels from the Mentos container. I saved the wrapper that was on the lid for easy measuring later on.

Next, I cut some scrapbook paper to the right height. I wrapped it around the container to measure - I know, super technical.

Remember that label from the lid that I saved? I taped it to another piece of scrapbooking paper (sticky side up) and used it to cut out my new label.

Finally, I decoupaged the labels on to the container.

I made a Valentine for my husband (thus the non-girly blue container) and a "demo" treat container for a birthday party favor. I've been wanting to plan a super hero party for so long. Hopefully I get to make more of these for that party soon.

If you try this, I would be super curious to see the result and hear any tips or tricks that you have for making it better!

When Worlds Collide

2012-01-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

I find it unsettling when worlds collide - not bad, not good, just unsettling. I view my world in compartments, you see? Or at least I try to. Work is work. Home is home. Social is social. I rarely venture into a world that combines different sectors of my life. In fact, I am just now getting used to the idea that it is actually possible to make friends at work. I know. I am (almost) 30. This really should have occurred to me about 15 years ago.

Facebook has created this weird phenomenon that makes worlds collide and always baffles me - people I know, know each other. That whole "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" thing exists in the real world and not just in the celebrity world. Weird. Slowly, I got used to that idea.

And then this happened...

Two of my loves in this world are one in the same - and I had no idea.

Love #1 - Gossip Girl. What a fabulous ~~waste of time guilty pleasure~~ show. I can't get enough and you can't think less of me for it.

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Love #2 - The Pretty Reckless. Catchy. Girl Power. Fun.

How was I to know that Taylor Momsen was a part of both of these projects? Well, now I know.

Mind. Blown.

Another cross-over to make me feel weird about just how small this world actually is.

What I Wish I Wore Wednesday

2012-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

Oh, to be stylish. A few months ago, my husband asked me what I would buy if I had an extra $1000 to spend just on me (as if that would ever happen). All I could think of was clothes. And shoes. And accessories. Seriously. If I had $1000 just for me, I would take a giant trash bag, walk over to my closet and fill that sucker with almost everything I own. Then I would start over. And I would dress like this:

My Mom Style by laura-haynes-cole featuring love quotes scarves

Black and white and pop of green, I love you.

And that, Folks, is What I Wish I Wore Wednesday.

A Tile Tale - Scrabble Crafts

2012-01-21T02:56:00.000-08:00

For some reason, Iam in love with Scrabble. I can't win the game - I can barely come up withthree letter words sometimes thanks to "Mommy brain" - but thoselittle tiles are irresistible. Here are some fun scrabble tile crafts andprojects for your enjoyment...

Scrabble Drink Coasters by MadeByMarcy on Etsy

Scrabble Tile Magnets by Cate of Sweetnicks

X O Navy Blue Scrabble Bobby Pins by orangeboxjewelry on Etsy

Scrabble Tile Pendant Tutorial byGracious Rain

((Another great tutorial on Make and Takes here))

and BED Letter Pillows by dirtsastudio on Etsy

Now go spell something.

Rainbow Recycled Art Party {Kid's Art Party}

2011-11-20T13:02:00.000-08:00

**Really, really ridiculously long post. Sorry**

I LOVE PARTIES. Seriously. I will (much to B's dismay) a) look for any minuscule reason to throw a party ; b) spend months planning every tiny detail of said party; and c) decorate the house much too far in advance to be practical, just so that I can enjoy it for longer and see my vision come to life sooner. E's 5th birthday party was no variation from this pattern.

In June or July I started scoping the party blogs I read to get ideas. E said that she wanted a fairy party originally, but after some discussion and reminding her that everyone she knows has had a fairy party, we opted for something a bit different and much more personal - a recycled art party. Here are the details of this crazy-fun shindig:

Invitations

Decorations

I started off by making some rainbow paper hearts for our porch and a birthday sign for the door, just to set the theme.

Next, I made some giant tissue paper flowers (using this tutorial) for the corner of the dining room. Then, we added some streamers in rainbow colors that we had left over from previous parties - it felt so nice to actually use this stuff! It's been sitting in our party box for years.

For the birthday banner, I cut out the pennants using the Silhouette and then used wax paper with melted crayon to fill in the letters. The curly ribbon was left over in our wrapping box from a present that one of the kids got.

For the dessert table, I made some recycled egg carton flowers using this tutorial. I think they turned out just the way I wanted them to!

I also made several tissue paper signs with the scraps from the hanging flowers. It felt so nice to not waste all those scraps. I based these on a tutorial that I found here, but just crumpled the tissue paper and hot glued it on. I also made some paint chip pennant banners that were hanging around the house.

Several art parties that I looked at had mini easels and canvas for the table signs, so I picked up a few on super sale at Joanns and copied the floss and recycled scrap paper banner for the top. The words were made using tiny scraps of black vinyl I had left over from a previous project and using the Silhouette.

We made t-shirts that said "I love recycling" for each of the girls. Of course, I made one for E, too. I just designed it really quick in Photoshop using the heart from Amy Sumralls "Children's Day" digital scrapbooking kit. I printed it out on iron-on transfer paper and went to work. Super simple, but I love the result.

The girls also each got a recycled magazine party hat. E helped me tear up and glue on the magazine pages and then I added some fringe (and glitter, of course ;)).

Food

This being a late afternoon party, I didn’t want to do a full meal. Also, E is so picky, I didn't want everyone else to have to suffer because of her tastes. ;) So we opted for fruit and veggies in rainbow colors and rainbow candies. I found some silly rainbow colored sodas at WinCo for 33 cents, so we just added a cute tag and called it a day.

The cake was made from a mix. A Trader Joe's mix, to be exact. I love these cake mixes - go try them and thank me later. I just frosted in white and added sprinkles to the sides. The surprise was the rainbow colors of the cake itself (thank you, Martha Stewart for the idea).

Activities

The girls made a recycled box castle, recycled magazine bead bracelets and Picasso pops. We kept the activities simple because really, I just wanted them to play.

Goody Bags

As usual, I wanted the goody bags to be special and contain something useful. We started off by using recycled cereal boxes for the bag itself. I simply covered it in 12 x 12 paper and added a few leftover brads from my paper scrapbooking days for the ribbon handles. The ribbon was leftover from previous projects as well.

For the goodies, we gave each girl some rainbow bracelets, a fused-plastic bag pencil holder, and some recycled bottle cap magnets. The pencil holders were loosely based on this tutorial and the bottle cap magnets were nothing more that a quick Photoshop design popped into an old bottle cap with a magnet glued on the back. I made the boxes using my Silhouette.

Of course, the girls also got to take home their recycled magazine bracelets, Picasso pops, and their t-shirts.

All in all, it was a fun party. THANK YOU to everyone for helping and making it possible.

recycled art, recycling party, art party

welcome to scrapmonster designs

2011-11-01T02:47:00.000-07:00

I am not a blogger. I am a blog stalker. I live for tutorials, quick tips, craft and decorating ideas, and I live vicariously through the blogging world thanks to Google Reader. But, it's time I joined in the fun and gave you a glimpse into my crazy, crafty life.

So, welcome to Scrapmonster Designs. I am a full-time paralegal, full-time mommy and wife, and a part-time crafter. I love scrapbooking, painting, drawing, sewing, decorating, knitting, and all things creative. The only problem is that I don't have the time or money to feed my habit. This blog is a way for me to show crafts that I have found, tried, or created using scraps of something else. I love recycling and upcycling. I love creating beautiful things out of less-than-perfect items.

Thanks for visiting and I can't wait for you to join me on this journey. Stay tuned for my first ever craft tutorial (and hopefully many more to come)!