Hello, crafty friends! It was a crazy January and between travel and CHA, I had precious little time in the studio. I’m finally back in th swing of things and have been a card-making mo-sheen! I got really inspired this week by the Operation Write Home Sketch challenge (210) that they put out this week, and I realized that it would work beautifully with a new stamp set that my friend Rachel at Stampin’ Up sent me! Here’s the sketch: […]
Easy Gifts- 5 Minute Post-It Note Holder
Ok crafty friends- today I have the EASIEST 5-minute craft ever for teachers, crossing guards/bus drivers, even little neighbor gifties. Behold the 5-minute Post-it Note Holder! You’ll need: (affiliate links below) Heavy-weight cover or cardstock cut to 3 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches (you can get 4 out of a 12X12 sheet of paper by making your first 3.5 inch cut, then rotating the paper 90 degrees and then making the other 3.) Dry adhesive such as an adhesive tape, […]
Candy Box Punch Board Ornament & Ideas for Larger Sizes!
Hey Crafty Friends! Last week I reviewed the Candy Box Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers. And as I was playing, I started getting all of these ideas for making (slightly) large sizes AND for making different things with them! So today I want to share them with you! I made these step-out collages to explain- but don’t worry, there’s a video for you too! Now, finish the box: How about a video? So you see, you can […]
Holiday Place Setting Treat Boxes
The Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner and I’m doing some last-minute crafting and decorating. I decided that this year each person would get their name on their plate along with a little treat. I used the Candy Box Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers to create my Holiday Place Setting Treat Boxes quickly and easily! To make these, you’ll need: Candy Box Punch Board Scor-Tape 1/8″ Cardstock Twine or ribbon Embellishments of choice Small mint or candy […]
Gift Box Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers
After last years’ success with the Envelope Punch Board, it only made sense that We R Memory Keepers would up their game and come up with new versions of the punch board. At CHA last summer they debuted FOUR new ones- and today, we’ll take a closer look at two of them: Gift Box Punch Board. Here’s how they are described on the website: With the release of the award-winning Envelope Punch Board, We R Memory Keepers have helped crafters […]
What is the Difference Between Hot Glue Sticks and Mod Melts?
Earlier this summer, Carolina reviewed the new Mod Melts line from Plaid. Almost immediately, we got a comment asking what was the difference between Mod Melts and traditional hot glue sticks. I took it upon myself to do an extra round of testing- and I’m sharing my results with you today! Both are extruded from a traditional Hot Glue Gun. Both exhibit “stringing” as the glue cools. Both are easily trimmed with scissors. Both react virtually the same way to […]
Instagram-Friendly Recycled “Smoosh” Book & Scrapbook Soup TV Segment
Do you have a purse littered with stubs and bits that you mean to scrapbook one day? Do you have pics on your phone or photo-sharing stream (such as Instagram)? Lastly, do you have a stack of paper that you really don’t care for anymore? Well, you can make this Instagram-friendly “Smoosh” (Smash-style) book in an afternoon and get your memories out of the digital world and into your hands. And it’s a stash-buster, too! You’ll need: 12 X 12 […]
Halloween Count-Down Photo Frame using Martha Stewart Crafts Decoupage
Halloween is one of my families favorite holidays…and this year it’s even a little more special because we have a foreign exchange student celebrating with us. (Did you know that Halloween and Trick-or-Treating has spread to Italy? Go figure.) To get geared up, we put out some decorations and I whipped up this little photo frame using Martha Stewart Decoupage materials. The stars of the show are the Multi-Surface Durable Gloss Finish and the Glow-In-The-Dark Finish. But I also […]
Mod Podge Resist Greeting Cards & Scrapbook Soup TV Segment
I mentioned that last week I went to the set of Scrapbook Soup to share some fun projects for the upcoming season. Wanna sneaky peek? Here’s one of them! This project is great for using up some of the craft supplies you probably have on hand- watercolor paints and Mod Podge! Here’s what you need: Heavy-weight cardstock (110 or higher) or watercolor paper Extra cardstock for mats (optional) Mod Podge Watercolor paints, inks, or sprays stencil foam roller or brush […]
New Cards for Operation Write Home, Featuring Stampin’ UP stamps (and DCWV paper)
As you may or may not remember, I’m using a lot of the crafty goodness sent to CTD WHQ to make cards for our troops via Operation Write Home. I figure I’m blessed with an abundance of craft supplies, so it’s good karma to pay it back with some charity work. So today I want to share with you some cards I made. Spoiler alert- if you are following me on Instagram or subscribed to the CraftTestDummies YouTube Channel, you […]
Scrapbook Soup Segment: Layout Using the Silhouette and Stencil Rubbing Technique
So, rarely do I share scrapbook layouts here. First off, I’m not a big scrapbooker in the traditional sense, and secondly…well, I’m just not that good at it! But when I was asked to come back to Scrapbook Soup and tape some segments for next season, I thought I’d better dust off my scrapbooking skills and make at least ONE traditional scrapbook page. But since my inclinations lean toward the mixed-media side of things (read: I love to be artsy-fartsy […]
Clean And Simple Cards for Operation Write Home
OK, I know I have reviews stacking up to the ceiling. But before I buckle down and get a-testing, I needed to play a bit. You know what I mean? Of course you do. Crafters are like that. We can *have* to make a gift or card, but really we might be itching to do something completely different. We’re fickle like that. So anyway, I got these sweet stamps that I saw on HSN- they are a part of Lisa […]
Heat-Embossed Resist Greeting Cards
Hey, Crafty Friends! As you know, I LOVE a good resist. Since I’ve already shared crayon-rubbing resists and Mod Podge Resists, today I’m going with something more traditional: heat-embossed resist greeting cards! I love making these- they are so much fun to create the background patterns an then whip up into any kind of card depending on what you need. Artsy but yet still formal! You need: Heat embossing supplies: heat tool, embossing ink pad (like Versamark), and embossing powder. […]
Last Minute Mother’s Day Card (Video Tutorial)
Need a last-minute Mother’s Day card? Or birthday or “Thank you” for that matter? I’ve got a quick card you can make in under 15 minutes with basic stamping supplies you probably have on hand. This card hinges on stamps. They can be from the same set or mixy-matchy…. but you need a t least 4 stamps and 4 colors that you like together. Here’s the list: 4 stamps (a selection of large, small, and graphic work best 4 ink […]
eBook Review: Fashionably Fast by May Flaum
Are you like me when it comes to scrapbooking? Over-obsessing over every embellishment, color choice and photo placement? Does it take you two days to finish a page? Do you sometimes NEVER finish a layout? Well the fabulous May Flaum comes to our rescue with, “Fashionably Fast: Ten Strategies for stylish, speedy scrapbook pages.” This is an eBook available through Big Pictures Classes. According to the publisher: Join the speediest scrapbooker on the block, May Flaum, as she joins forces […]
21 Ideas for Recycling and Upcycling Paper Scraps
Yesterday I showed you how I transform paper scraps into paper beads that mimic glass lampwork beads- and today, I bring you more projects to use up, transform and recycle paper, newsprint, sheet music, and more! I’ve got some amazing projects for you to check out!
Product Spotlight: Basic Grey – Knee Highs Collection
Some of you may remember back at Winter CHA 2013 I picked Basic Grey’s new chipboard albums as one of my top product picks. (Go take a look!) I even mentioned that Knee Highs & Bow Ties are two of my favorite paper lines that debuted. Both collections are very similar but Knee Highs is more feminine whereas the Bow Ties is more for boys. Well, lucky me, today I’m spotlighting the fabulous Knee Highs collection 12×12 collection pack. This […]
How-To: Quilled Hearts Jewelry
It’s that time of year again- when we all wear our hearts on our sleeve…or ears….or hands…. or lapel! Time to make and wear some really cut Valentine’s Day jewelry…this year, I’m integrating one of my favorite paper crafts: QUILLING! Never fear, friends! It’s easy and Mod Podge Dimensional Magic Silver Glitter Formula makes it durable and SPARKLY! You’ll need: Quilling strips, quilling tool, and (optional) sizing tool. I’m using a set from 3 Birds Designs Estate Collection. Bottle caps, […]
Valentine’s Day Card Inspiration
I love to make cards! So easy, so fun, and so many opportunities to play with different themes, techniques and embellishments. I hauled out my Valentine’s/Love themed papercrafting box and started to play. I keep my themed/holiday paper, tools, stamps, and embellishments in the same box so that I can easily find them when I need them. And put them away, too. That’s all part of my 2013 crafty resolutions. I get the Operation Write Home emails, and recently […]
How-To: Recycle Cards and Wrapping Paper into Gift Tags!
Do you ever feel guilty on Christmas morning when you see all of that pretty gift wrap torn and strewn all over the place? Ever feel the need to compulsively save it?? Well, I do. And I did. So last year I salvaged some of the “good” bits of wrapping paper, ribbons, and greeting cards, and recycled them into gift tags to use on this year’s presents! There are two ways I used the paper… either as a background or […]
