Pizza Peel/Paddle Recipe or Memo Board

So, my sister is getting married. There's no other way to say it. :)  Congrats!  A few weeks ago we had her bridal shower, and I decided to make her a gift.  Because it was simple and a nice gift to give at just such an occasion, I thought I'd share. So here is how to make this personalized Pizza Peel (I had no idea that's what it was called) Memo/Recipe Board.  Perfect to hang in the kitchen, or to set up on the counter with a photo easel.  

Quote Friday

Being in the scrapbooking, card-making, and crafting business, I am often looking for the perfect quote or tag line to add to my page, card, sign, etc.  I think we can all relate in some degree. Sometimes, a simple word or phrase will do to capture the sentiment I want to get across,

or to tag the feeling or event.

Other times, I want a fun phrase to serve as label or decoration,

or a quote that fits perfectly to a room or friend. 

Often, this entails a lot of searching for inspiration, for that thing that fits "just right" with what I'm feeling for that craft.  For instance, when I was making a Father's Day card for my Dad this year, I wanted something a little silly but that also expressed gratitude.  I came across a card that read: "Well done, Dad!  I'm awesome."  I went with that :) (and then went on to tell him all the ways his example had helped shape me into being so, of course).  

In the spirit of that search, we thought we'd start sharing some sort of quotation/phrase with you each week.  I'm doing a similar thing on my personal blog as a means of just keepin' up that inspiration, or that smile.  These will be great things to pin to pinterest for that time when you just may need them. So, here's hopin' they inspire you and your crafting, or help you with that perfect tag-line for a card or scrapbook page.  They'll be quick, but we hope you like them and keep checking back each week.  Have a favorite of your own that you've seen or used?  Please share it with our readers as a comment on this post!  We all thank you now. :)

So, to get us going with an auspicious start, I stopped by a local diner today and saw this saying on the wall:  

Love supporting small businesses, and the fact that they usually have such personality. Thanks for the quote idea, HoneyDip Donuts & Diner! Crafters--have fun with that one. Now go each a donut cheeseburger. (Actually on the menu there.)

*Note:  If you are interested, each of the images above, minus the last sign, are from previous posts we've shared on this blog, which give descriptions of how-to's and font styles. 

How To: Personalized Silhouette Chipboard Puzzle

Well, I guess my last post sort of left you with a slightly unfinished product. :)  The idea was to have that post be for sharing some basic steps of how to use chipboard with your Silhouette, for those who might feel uncomfortable testing out a new product.  Also, it was easier to only do one video per post. :)  But as you can now see, chipboard is easy enough to use.  So, to follow up and finish off the project, watch the video above for the rest of the tutorial on how to make your own personalized puzzle! However, for those of you who know how to use chipboard and who say "Who needs a tutorial?!  Let me get my hands on that stuff!"--to you, I say "have at it!"  :)  I can't wait to see what you make.  Also, we've obviously got some chipboard on our website for a good price.  Have at that, too. ;)

But, if you are looking to polish off your idea, here's mine:

I took a photo of my nieces from when we got free 7Eleven slurpees on one of my visits, and added on the "Families are cool" (get it?) tagline. Yeah, I'm a little cheesy (or cool), but that's alright by me.  Then I gave them the puzzle as a gift.  Family momento and a puzzle, in one?!  Can things get any better than that?  Maybe. :)  But I still like things that preserve family memories, share family love,...and I also really like puzzles. So have at it.  Make a family puzzle.  Take a photo of your kid's favorite toys having a tea party and then turn it into a puzzle.  Scan a photo of a picture they drew and use that.  There are so many fun possibilities. I think I am going to try one more next week.  

Also, I got the free puzzle file from www.birdscards.com.  Thanks, Bird's Cards!  They have a few different options that you can check out here.

And that's all, folks!

Key Reminder:  Be sure to print your photo with the registration marks clicked on to "show."  This is needed so that your Silhouette machine will then know where to cut out your image, and will match it up with your printed image.   Yeah.  That's important stuff. :)  (The registration marks are those two corner markers, and the black square in the top right-hand corner. 

Puzzled at all?  Just watch the video above.  And have fun!

How to use Sihouette Chipboard

Wondering how to use Silhouette Chipboard?  This tutorial gives easy to follow, step-by-step instructions with a few tips/hints...aaaand...it is the beginning to a great little gift: a personalized puzzle using your very own photo.  Follow up with the next post where I can attach the second video on how to do so, and where I'll also have some photos of the finished product.  Yay.

DIY Travel Guess Who, Disney Style

Going on a road trip with kids, but don't just want them watching Frozen on repeat for the ump-teenth time?  Travel games are great, but why pay the price when you can just make your own, and personalize them to your own interests ta-boot?

Well welcome to another DIY game, this time--a travel version of Guess Who.  Thinking about how my post on DIY Homemade Qwirkle Game has been so popular, I thought I'd come up with another DIY game.  

Simple Summer Craft for Kids

Looking for an easy craft project for the kids to keep them busy one of these summer days?  Try this fun paper tissue art. Here's all you need:

Materials Needed:

* Colored or pattered tissue papers

* Die cut shapes (heart, butterfly, etc.) in cardstock

* Glue sticks

For this project, first cut out a few simple shapes on cardstock using your Silhouette or Cricut.  My nieces really love butterflies and flowers, so those were easy choices for me.

Next, using some scissors, cut the tissue paper into small squares, about 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches.  You can make them bigger if you want the design to come up...taller. ;), but I found that this size works well.

And now...you hand it over to the children.  :)   Because this craft will include children using glue, having a table cloth down is always a good idea. :)

To make the design, you put a little glue on one side of a piece of tissue paper.  Then put your finger into the middle of the paper square on the opposite side and press the paper down onto the cardstock, glue side down.  Repeat with other squares of tissue paper.

Put your finger in the middle and then put a little 

Press the tissue paper down onto the cardstock using your finger and "fluff" the tissue on top.

The kids can have fun making patterns with the different colored tissue papers on their shapes.  If your kids like art, this can keep them occupied for awhile and not make much of a mess.

Isn't my niece a good little design maker?  This is her butterfly. :)  Hope your kids enjoy it just as much!

Treat Gift Box

Are you tired of just sticking some cookies/treats on a paper plate, covering it with foil, and calling it good?  To be honest, that's what I usually do. However, recently I got thinking about how easy it would be to cut out a simple box using my Silhouette or Cricut and putting my homemade treats inside it instead of just on a boring paper plate.

So I made some fudge the other day, found this simple box from the Silhouette store, and cut it out. To top it off, I cut out the word 'fudge' using my 'off set' tool on Silhouette Studio and glued it to the top of the box.  (If you don't know how to use the 'off set' tool on your silhouette, simply go to 'object' then 'off set'- simple as that.)

I loved the way it turned out and it made giving this fudge seem extra special. Also, make sure that you use a heavy card stock for you box so that it isn't too flimsy. 

This would also work for Christmas treats, birthdays, and other holidays.  You can add whatever words you want on top, or just leave it blank.  The possibilities are endless!  Make gifting treats fun again!

You + Me

How are these for a few simple lil' "love decor" ideas?  

You + me = aWEsome.  :)  ('Aint it true.)

Or, you can try "You [I love using a heart as the 'o'] + me = us," and then adding the wedding date at the bottom.

You + me = us, and wedding date.  Perfect to make and give as a shower or wedding gift.

Easy as can be!  The first is just made using Silhouette Studio (or Microsoft Word, etc.) and sent to the printer, and is then stuck in a frame of your choice.  This particular one was actually made for a cousin's wedding and set next to the sign-in scrapbook along with a few other framed photos.

[Idea: Instead of a sign-in wedding book, try making a few mostly empty scrapbook pages of engagement photos, etc, and using those pages as the sign-in sheets.  Much more interesting and memorable than just signatures, and it's a great way to add meaning TO your engagement scrapbook photos.  See examples below.]

The second was just a simple block, painted black, with the words cut out using white Silhouette vinyl.  (You could also easily use clear stencil vinyl to paint the letters on; or, in the reverse, paint the block white, put the letters of the stencil vinyl on once it dries, paint over it black, and then pull off the letters.  So, ya' know, a lot of possibilities.)

Simple as can be, and perfect for decor, to put on gift tables at a wedding reception or on your own mantlepiece at home.  Here's to you (+ me) (to we) (to being awesome).

Keychains and Luggage Tags/Identifiers

So...travel much?  If you answered yes, you know that most everyone in the world has luggage that basically looks like this: 

Rectangle.  Black. And almost exactly the same.  And, if you are like me and have such nondescript luggage, you likely also resemble me when I'm at baggage claim at the airport, lifting up lots of luggage as it comes around the turn-stile, not quite sure if it is mine.  "Does mine have handle like that or not?" "I don't remeeemmmber a pocket there, but maybe it's just because it's upside down?"  And then I wonder, again, why I didn't tie something to it to help me identify it easier, or why I didn't duct tape a giant "X" across the front and back with neon colored tape.  ;)  Which is why something like the following would be useful:

I made these handy-dandy little things just using my Silhouette as gifts for my nieces to put on their backpacks and one for my roomie who is just about to go on a trip (to Russia!).  The butterfly and cat are my nieces' respective favorite animals, and the "S" was meant to be reminiscent of the OSU emblem for my roommate Sarah who is getting ready to leave her work at OSU and move across the country to start med school.  Way to be, Sarah!  Each was simple to make with just some scrap fabrics, and each would be easy to tie to some luggage, a child's backpack, or to use as a personalized key-chain. 

Obviously, such thing won't help you spot your luggage or bag as easily as, say, buying bright orange and yellow stripped luggage might, but it's an easy (and cheaper) alternative.  ;)  Plus, they're just kind of fun to have. Here's how to make them using your Silhouette:

Materials needed:

*Silhouette Fabric Interfacing (sewable or clean cut both work fine for this)

*Fabric scraps (large enough for the various pieces--the size you desire.  My two smaller ones were each about 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches, so obviously only need scraps, especially for the lettering.)

* Ribbon

* Key ring (optional)

Cheap End of the Year Teacher Gifts

Need a quick and cheap gift for your child's teacher this year?  Here are two simple ideas that cost less than $5.00! I created both of these tags using my Silhouette machine and then printed them out on my printer.
 The first idea, is a potted flower with a tag that says: "Thanks for helping me GROW this year!"  I changed the 'o' in grow to a flower to make it look a little cuter.

 Our next idea is some nail polish with a tag on it that says: "Teachers like you PAINT bright futures!"  I like to this one for the specialty teachers that my child sees- computer, art, music, aids, etc.  They tend to get forgotten and this is a cheap gift that you can give to a lot of different people.  If your child has a male teacher- change up the nail polish for some finger paint or watercolors.

And there you have it, two simple and cheap ideas that you can give to your teachers at the end of the year!