It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Day #1 of LBH "12 Days of Christmas"

At least in my craft room! Last week was spent finishing up class projects for our Christmas feature at The Little Blue House and today begins our annual "12 Days of Ornaments" blog feature. Each day a new ornament will be posted by one of the LBH gals, complete with a tutorial on how to create it.

My ornament is the first up! I created this little box ornament with photos of my grand boys. I also made one without photos for the giveaway. As an added bonus, it opens and can hold a little gift!

You can see the full tutorial here on the LBH blog.  I even created a custom Silhouette cut file for the base which you can access for free over there as well.

"Memories" Photo Ornament

Be sure to post comments there as one lucky commenter each day will win that day's ornament! 

"12 Days of Ornaments" Blog Feature coming tomorrow!

Join us on the LBH blog for the next 12 days for a different ornament tutorial each day! 

And, I'm first up! So meet me here as well as on the LBH blog tomorrow to see what I have created!

One More Echo Park Tutorial - Father's Day Card

I have one more tutorial for you using the Echo Park "Jack" paper collection. Before you know it it will be Father's Day so I have made a card for Dad using this super cute collection.

Supplies You Will Need:

Echo Park "Jack" Paper Collection

Echo Park Elements Sticker Sheet

Echo Park Alpha Sticker Sheet

4" tan twill trim *

Ten Seconds Studio Deco Leather 

Quick Quotes Chalk Ink - Mocha Mama

Navy cardstock - 4 1/4" x 11" and a scrap approximately 2" x 3" *

"Brown  Sugar" cardstock 3 3/4" x 5" *

Tape runner or Scotch Quick Dry Tacky Glue *

dimensional foam adhesive *

Edge distressing tool 

Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher or stapler *

(all starred items available in LBH store)

Instructions:

1. Fold navy cardstock in half to create a top-fold card base.

2. Cut red "trucks" paper  4" x 5 1/4", ink edges and attach to front of card.

3. Cut out "map" journal card, distress and ink edges and attach over the red paper. Add globe sticker on dimensional foam adhesive over the globe printed on the journal card. (See photo above with sticker in place.)

4. Cut strip of TSS Deco Leather 1/2" x 5 1/4" and adhere vertically to left side of card front.

5. Add "Finest", "My Hero" and "Dad" stickers from Elements Sticker Sheet to card, popping up the "Dad" sticker.

6. Layer tan frame sticker (also from Elements sheet) to scrap of navy card stock and trim around leaving approximately 1/8" border. Add navy alpha stickers from Alpha Sticker Sheet.  Fold over tan twill and staple to top of frame. Trim ends of twill. Pop this up on card as shown.

7. For the inside, ink edges of tan card stock and adhere.

8. Add compass sticker (Elements Sticker Sheet) to lower left corner.

I have had lots of fun with the paper collection. I love the two 12 x 12 sticker sheets! Even though I've created four projects and used many of the stickers, there are still dozens left.  Making more masculine cards would be a great project to use some of these leftovers.

"Daddy and Me" Clipboard Canvas Tutorial

I have another tutorial today using more of the Echo Park "Jack" paper collection.  These papers are perfect for masculine projects - both for boys and Dads - so I created this cute "clipboard canvas" to showcase some photos of my oldest grandson, Carl, and his dad.

Supply List

(* = in LBH store, links provided for products in LBH online store)

10" x 10" artist canvas

acrylic paint (navy)

9 1/2" square denim fabric (I used a piece from discarded jeans)

9" square chipboard

scrap white card stock

Quick Quotes Chalk Ink - Blue Jeans

Tim Holtz Clipboard Clip *

optional: two tiny screws

Echo Park "Jack" Paper Collection 

Echo Park "Jack" Element Sticker Sheet

Echo Park "Jack" Alpha Sticker Sheet

16" tan twill trim *

10" narrow red and white stripe ribbon *

3/4" x 6" torn strip of denim

liquid tacky glue *

dimensional foam dots *

Scor Tape - 1/4" wide

Let's get started!
(Note - I designed this to be a changeable display piece. The layout is attached to chipboard for stability and can be removed from the clipboard clip in order to display other layouts.)

Instructions

1.  Paint the canvas with acrylic paint and let dry.

2. Cut a square of denim yardage (or use a piece cut from old jeans like I did!) and fray the edges. If desired, machine stitch around the perimeter.

3. Using thick tacky glue or fabric glue, adhere denim to canvas.

4. Center and glue clipboard clip to top of canvas. For added security, add two screws in the holes of the clip.

5. Cut 9" square of wood-patterned paper and glue to chipboard. Ink edges.

6.  Cut following papers and ink edges:

solid (dark blue side) - 2 1/4" x 8"

light blue pattern - 2 1/2" x 8"

red cars - 5 1/2" x 5"

diamond - 1" x 5 1/2"

Glue in place as shown in photo below.

7. Add 4 sticker borders (from Elements Sticker Sheet) as shown above. Note that the border along the top edge of the layout is actually the "throw-away" piece between the red plane and blue oval borders.

8. Mat largest photo on the dark blue solid paper (mine was approximately 4" x 6") and one smaller photo on the light blue solid paper (approximately 3" x 4").

9. Add another smaller photo to the back of the "Memories...Having Fun" 3x4 card. Score 1/4" from left edge of side with photo, add Scor Tape or glue to scored edge and adhere to layout. Knot each end of 5" piece of red and white ribbon and glue in place along edge. Add small "Adventure" sticker below photo. Cut blue and white frame from sticker sheet and attach to right side of journal card as a tab. Add red arrow sticker on top. Add large gray "Adventure" sticker on layout under the journal card.

10. Tie 12" tan twill around the bottom of larger photo and mat. Mat "Father and Son" sticker on scrap of white card stock and trim. Attach to tied knot with pin. Adhere this photo along with the smaller photo on the layout.

11. Add large blue camera and "When I Grow Up" stickers to layout with dimensional foam dots.

12. Add blue and white tab sticker and number stickers above the large photo.

13. Tie remaining pieces of ribbons and the denim strip to clip.

14. Clip finished layout to canvas and display!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Please visit The Little Blue House to see this on display and get your supplies. You can also purchase many of the products on our website: www.thelittlebluehouseonline.com

"One Awesome Boy" Layout Tutorial

One Awesome Boy Layout

Echo Park "Jack and Jill" Paper Collection

My layout and full tutorial are featured on The Little Blue House blog today. I used the Echo Park "Jack" paper collection which is darling for little (or big) boys! So many cute stickers and embellishments in the collection.  Be sure to check it out! 

Spring Card Tutorial

It's Day 2 of the LBH Bunny Hop! Have you been having fun hopping to everyone's blogs and seeing the fabulous creations?

Today I have another fun tutorial for you - a spring easel card using the bright papers of Echo Park's "Happy Easter" collection.

Let's get started!

1.  Cut solid (green/blue) paper 6" x 8" for the card base and 6" x 4" for the card front.

2.  Score larger piece on long side at 4" and 6."  Fold as shown below. (Green will be outside of card; blue will be the inside.)

3.  Add Scor Tape on the top section; set aside.

4.  Diecut the birdhouse journal card (Doodlebug Darling Daisies) with the Sizzix Tim Holtz Ornamental die. Ink edges with brown ink. (I used Mocha Mama Quick Quotes ink.)

6. Layer diecut on floral paper and cut out, leaving approximately 1/4" border. Ink with green ink (Limeade Quick Quotes ink).

7. Border punch the bottom edge of the 4" x 6" card front. Ink edges with green ink. Cut a strip of green vellum 1/2" x 6" and glue to card front. Below this glue 1/4" strip of brown floral paper (reverse of scrap leftover from cutting journal card above).

8.  Close card and remove Scor Tape from the top piece. Adhere the card front, matching the top edges.

This is what it looks like from the side.

8. Border punch a floral strip 1" x 6" and cut a strip of green patterned paper 1/4" x 6". Glue in place at bottom inside of card as shown. Leave scalloped edge unglued so the card will stand later. Stack two heart stickers and pop up in the center. Ink around "hello spring" sticker and place inside card. Ink bird tag sticker and pop dot at corner of spring sticker. Tie 2" of yellow twine in a knot through hole of tag.

9. Close card and center layered birdhouse card on card front with dimensional foam adhesive. The top overhangs the top fold of the card.

12. Add Stickles to decorate if desired.

SUPPLIES USED

(available at the LBH or clink link for LBH online)

Echo Park "Happy Easter" paper collection
Doodlebug "Darling Daisies" paper
Echo Park "Sunny Days" green/blue solid paper

Doodlebug "Sprinkles" Vellum - Limeade
2" yellow twine

Quick Quotes Chalk Ink - Mocha Mama and Limeade

Sizzix "Ornamental" Bigz Die

Dimensional foam adhesive

Helmar 450 Adhesive

1/4" Scor Tape
Diamond Stickles

scalloped border punch

I hope you have enjoyed our Bunny Hop and have been inspired by our projects to CREATE!

HAPPY EASTER!