photo crafts

I am slightly obsessive about pictures so it only makes sense that I would love photo crafts :)

These first pictures are some valentines that a professional photographer made for her son to pass out. I love this idea. Not only was it great subtle advertising for her, but it is a fun and personal valentine as well. I think something like this would make a great party favor as well.





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In this next photo you're going to have to get creative. Try to picture these jars (recylced pickle jars, canning jars, ect.) with cute pictures of children in them -- becuase I wouldn't put pics of these guys up in my house.


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I think this craft would look absolutely adorable on shelving in my (future) red kitchen. Something about canning jars used as decoration seems so homey in the kitchen. Plus I'm all about creative ways to display photographs :)

Another new favorite for those with some photoshop/illustrator skills:

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I love this idea and think it would be such a fun creative change over the painted wood letters name trend you see all the time (even though those are cute too :)

Help a fellow crafter??

Hey ladies! Time for a little self-serving plea for help ;)
I'm entering a blog contest -- hoping to win tuition to an amazing photography class (perhaps my craft photographs will improve?! One can only hope!)
If you want to help a sister out, just click ON THIS LINK. It's that simple :)

You rock!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!


I adore these pettiskirts!! They are everywhere in pictures and I know my daughter would look gorgeous in it. Now if I don't win I just have to convince someone with sewing skills to make one for me ...

A few of my favorite things ...

So I had a few spare moments today so I decided to browse the Better Homes and Gardens website for some fresh craft ideas. I'm on a craft kick lately... well, a finding crafts kick ... the "doing" part still has yet to happen.
Here are my favorites from my web searching:

I love these adorable flowers. I've seen this idea used as a Valentine but I think they look SO FUN as a centerpiece! This would be great at a children's birthday party because they could double as favors. Granted I think what I really really love is simply the color scheme. I'm addicted to oranges, pinks and yellows combined .... think Rainbow Sherbet or a sunset. Anytime I see a craft in those colors I instantly love it ... so consider me biased.
Here is the link.

Ok... once again the project is in orange so I'm biased from the start. I actually just love the combination of pictures and craft paper. Usually when I see these letters they are done up in just paper, so adding the pictures makes it really unique. I think this would be a fun decoration even in a living room. Spell "HOME" and add family pictures.
Here is the link.
If you've been a blog follower for awhile you know I also love homemade wall art. I don't care how many times I see an example where they paste scrapbook paper on canvas I still LOVE it. Someday I will have more than one available wall and I will do this. I'm afraid I will go overboard and do it in every single room ....
Here is the link.
How cute are these valentines? So simple too! A little paper, a teeny bit of treats and a whole lot of matches left over.
Here is the link.
These just looked pretty to me. I think votives are one of the most versatile ways to decorate -- just check out Martha Stewart, she has a billion ways to dress up glass votives. I love them all.
Here is the link.
Remember what I said about decorating with candles? HOW COOL IS THIS??? You could use this idea for any color themed celebration. I really adore this idea. Someday, when I have an unlimited budget (ha) I'm going to buy a million votives and sprinkles in every color. Maybe not.
Here is the link.

calender o' love

My friend gave me the neatest gift!! My very own February calendar made of wood blocks, paint and some festive scrapbook paper.

I imagine that most everyone has seen a calendar like this, where you position the blocks to show the correct date (the blocks have different numbers on each side). This turned out so cute. I would love to make one for each month!


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YUM

I absolutely love these health-IER chocolate truffles. Oh how I love chocolate and peanut butter. I adapted the recipe from a vegetarian cookbook I love -- who would of thought you'd find a yummy treat like this in a cookbook like that.
Here you go:
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup chocolate chips
2 T. ground Flax seed
1/3 cup all-natural chunky peanut butter.

Simply layer all the ingredients in a food processor and blend them until smooth. Round them into balls and refrigerate until firm. These are SO tasty and really, not that bad for you ... right? :) If you and your hubby are trying to lay off candy bars and boxed chocolates this Valentines, I think these would still make a milder sweet treat to give instead.

homemade gift

My sister made these pretty ornaments for another sister this past Christmas. These pictures turned out really lame -- I HATE taking still-lifes of crafts. Sorry :)
The ornament base is simply a clear acrylic stamp base. You can find them at Michaels in the DOLLAR section! Sweet huh? (If you don't know what I'm talking about just head to Michaels. They are about 1/2 inch thick and are used to mount those clear plastic stamps that are popular right now).
All she did was take some double-sided sticky paper, cut it down to size, stuck it on the back of the acrylic stamp base and then stuck on her picture (sized to 2x2 and printed on a regular printer). To hide the back where she attached the ribbon she simply glued on some cute scrapbook paper.
This would be an awesome Super Saturday craft -- very inexpensive and easy to make. If you had any talent in graphic design I think you could make a very pretty 2x2 saying (something traditional like "Families are Forever") and then use that instead of pictures.

Doesn't get much easier than this...

My sister made these super cute valentines for a Visiting Teaching swap that I am in. I love the simplicity of paper covered Hershey's nuggets. It really is the easiest paper craft ever -- but look what a difference it makes to look at them wrapped up in pretty paper :)
I'll be giving some to my husband this year -- minus the cutesy clear box. He will love them just as much in a clear cello bag :D