Earth Day Printable 2012 (Print on Recycled Paper!)

Earth Day has always been extra special for us because it was the birthday of one of our best friends. Sadly we lost her to cancer a few years ago.

She loved Earth Day…not just because it was her birthday but especially because she was a pre-school educator. I used to save all of my paper scraps for her to use with her kids and they loved getting new batches of paper to play with. She always had a fun Earth Day project lined up to do with them.

I made this printable in her honor and to celebrate Earth Day. Of course if you print it, print it on recycled paper.

Happy Bearthday Kristine.

BFF Open House Link Party #49 and BFF ReMade Simple!

The weeks just keep going by faster and faster but the problem is so do the weekends! Seems like we just had a party doesn’t it?

I am super excited to introduce you to this week’s BFF Kristina from the blog ReMade Simple! If you are looking for creative ways to re-purpose and recycle items and make them part of your décor, Kristina’s blog  is your go to place!

You might remember her wonderful Spring window from last week’s party features:

Kristina’s got some other lovely Spring projects like this gorgeous flower project …you won’t believe how it started out:



Or her DIY pincushion flowers:

Trust me, Spring has sprung over at Kristina’s place so definitely go pay her a visit and you’ll no doubt pic up some very wonderful and green ideas!

Now, for the party part:

Party on!

Altered Canvas: Stashbusting Tale of Crazy Michaels Lady

One of the most dangerous sections of Michaels for me is their used to be  $1 section that’s now 2 for $3 (sorry Michaels, I’m still not over that although it hasn’t deterred me).

Despite my grumbling about the whole 2 for $3 thing, that section is a treat for me. It gets even better when that section goes on sale. Yes, that is me... the crazy lady doing the happy dance and talking to herself in that section and digging through the bins trying not to drop stuff because she didn't think she needed a basket because she came for just one thing. You’ve been warned.

Last year, I went a little wackadoodle over rub-ons. Completely justified since they don’t take up a lot of room and can be used on everything and I really truly will use all of the ones I bought ( someday).

Then when I was there on a trip not too long ago, I did an extra happy dance because that section had these cool mirrored pins in all kinds of shapes , ON SALE, and one of the shapes was a key that happened to go with key rub-ons I bought last year! Breathe.

Now this would have been cute as a pin,  but I’m not much of a pin wearer. So naturally I snapped the pin back off.

I had an 8x10 canvas in my stash that I covered with some shabby paper by Little Black Dress and then went to my scraps and pulled out some coordinating pieces. Layered them on the canvas w/ Mod Podge.

Reduce. Re-use. Recycle. I used the paper the pins came on and glued those to the canvas. Didn't even tear them or cut them just used as they came.

Tore a sheet from a notepad ( from the same section) and stuck that in the middle. Enter my last year’s rub-ons, an adhesive scrabook border and done and done.

Easy, inexpensive, and “green” since I used packaging from the pins.

Sharing At: 

The Artsy Girl  Connection

Upcycled Dry Erase Menu Board

My mom has been friends with the sweetest couple for many many years. During her recent surgery they were so supportive, caring, and helpful and I wanted to do a little something to say thanks.

They both love to cook and they trade off each week so I thought it would be fun to make them a dry erase menu board.

I started with an old frame and scrapbook paper I had on hand:

I cut out the papers to size and cut on panel in a decorative shape. Put them together as follows:

Cut the letters MENU from black vinyl on my Cricut Expression (poor thing has felt neglected since I’ve been using my Cameron, CoCo) using the Plantin Schoolbook font cart. I had some culinary themed rub-ons in my stash and couldn’t decide between utensils or wine themed because they like both but went with the utensils.

I put one set of the utensils in the lower right hand corner.

I wanted to shabby up the frame so grabbed a couple of paints from my paint stash. Ultimately ended up using just the light blue. Love these Martha paints…they stick to everything! Dry brushed the frame so some of the gold would still show through:

I have divided storage container where I keep alphabet stuff. I have a thing for alphabet stickers, tiles, brads, etc. and often pick them up on clearance for next to nothing, so I went to that and chose a “W” for their last name and glued it into a bottlecap.  I also remembered a metal stand I’d found at JoAnn’s for something like 90% off and knew would come in handy sometime.

Bon Apetit!

Sharing At:

Whipperberry Friday Flair

BFF Open House Link Party #48 Wrap Up and Features

No you’re not confused. I am going to switch things up a bit and start posting the features from Friday’s link party on Sunday vs Monday. Or… you’re confused!

Another great party and I hope you all enjoyed meeting Jen from My Scrappy Chic!

Let’s take a look at a few really cool things that were shared:

Earth day is later this month ( April 22) and I am all for using fewer chemicals wherever I can. I have asthma and get migranes and a lot of the commercial cleaning products set both of those off. Deana from Country Mama Cooks has some great ideas for natural cleaning products that I definitely want to try:

MUST try this one! She’s got a whole series on a greener home that’s worth checking out.

Speaking of nature, Kristina from ReMadeSimple, shared a wonderful idea using twigs from her yard:



Just love the yellow and gray combo and the simple elegance of this.

Yes, this is known for being a chocolate fueled blog but you have got to see these amazing “Tres Limones” ( three lemon) cupcakes from Keri at Shaken Together:

Even I would forego a chocolate dessert for a bite of one of these!

Finally, being a paper addict, I couldn’t resist this paper lolly decorated frame from Ashley’s Dandelion Wishes:



Again, thanks everyone who linked up and hope to see you again on Friday! Make it a creative week!

BFF Open House Link Party #48 and BFF My Scrappy Chic!

Happy almost Friday everyone. I hope that the week has treated you well and all those pesky Peeps are gone for another year lol. I’m back on track with a new “BFF” this week!

Meet Jen from “My Scrappy Chic”. Like me, Jen is a paper addict ( we have to stick together) and her blog is devoted to her love of cardmaking, scrapbooking, and papercrafts.

She’s also a wife, a mom of two, and a Close to My Heart Consultant.

I love this gorgeous card Jen made. Tres chic:

Great textures, colors, and combination of embellishments. Speaking of embellishments., look at the detail she goes into on her beautiful scrapbook pages:

And like many of us, one crafty thing leads to another ( and another…and another….and another…oh we’re not talking about me!) so now Jen has the jewelry making / beading bug:

Can you believe that's her first jewelry project?!

I hope you’ll go over and visit Jen. Her blog is growing and I suspect she’s got lots of fun ideas in store!

Now, what’s everyone been up to this week? Before you know it, Mother’s Day, Prom, Graduation season and Father’s day will be upon us. Whatcha got planned??

You know the rules. If you made it, link it. Papercrafts, recipes, DIY, thrifty finds, upcycle, re-purpose….you name it. Just no shops or ads please and it’s a party so go visit a couple of new friends! Party On!

Yes, I Have A Paper Addiction Birthday Card

I fully admit to having a paper addiction. Mr. Chocolate might disagree but I actually do show some restraint! Since I don’t buy all of the paper that tempts me, I don’t feel so bad about the paper I do buy!

I couldn’t resist this stack from Recollections at Michaels (and of course it was 40% off!) . I love the colors, patterns, and textures. Perfect for a birthday card I needed to make!

The pink background paper I had in my stash. The green floral panel is from the Habitat stack.

The colors went perfectly with some KandCo Grand Adhesions birthday stickers I had on hand and some Studio G rhinestones from the Michaels 2 for $3 section.

I feel lazy using these stickers but they’re so detailed and complete that it would take forever to construct from scratch.

I finished with the Happy Birthday sentiment from the same pack of stickers, a paper flower from the paper scraps, and  rhinestone butterflies.