Desktop Photo Calendar- Tutorial and Giveaway!

Today I am going to show you how to make a simple photo calendar to keep at your desk.  THEN I have a giveaway for you.  Am I going to give you a calendar featuring photos of my baby?  No.  That would be weird.  However, I will give you the chance to win your very own copy of the digital scrap-booking software I used to make it.  Get excited.

I created my calendar using My Memories Suite.  I started with a blank album and added a floral background and then added photos of my baby and monthly calendars for 2014.  I kept it simple, but the software has lots of options for customizing with text, images, and borders.

Once I was finished, I printed the calendar out on thick card stock.  You may notice that the printed copy does not look as bright as the screenshot.  Turns out my printer was running out of ink.  I was happy with the vintage feel of it, but probably should replace my print cartridge.

I finished by cutting out the pages and clipping them on a clipboard.  This can then be hung on a wall or even propped on your desk.

Exciting, huh?  I had a lot of fun using My Memories Suite software.  I was given a free copy of the software to review and giveaway, so let me give you my thoughts on it.

Pros:

• I liked the variety of decorative elements.  Since the pages mimic real scrap-booking materials, there were lots of options for mimicking real paper. 
• Lots of project options.  I have made a card and a calendar, as well as a basic album.  There are options to create slideshows complete with music. 
• Relatively easy to use.  I opened the program and just started to play around.  I was quickly able to figure out basic commands.

Cons:

• While making the calendar, I couldn't figure out how to automatically fill in a complete 12 month calendar.  I had to add in 12 pages and then manually change each page to the correct month.
• I also couldn't figure out how to print two pages on one sheet of paper.  I'm not sure if this is a con or not.  It could be the software but it could also be me.

Overall Impression: Versatile software that is perfect for creating projects at home.  

Now that you made it through all that, want to win your own copy?  C'mon, you know you want to (peer pressure in action folks).  Enter in the rafflecopter below.  I'll announce a winner in two weeks.
a Rafflecopter giveaway I was given a free copy of this software to review.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Footstool Makeover

I'm addicted to thrift store shopping.  I can't help myself.  I mean, even if I was just there, there could be something new.  Which means that I bring home random items on a regular basis.  Recently, I found this little gem:

For $3, it seemed like the perfect project to make over.    To make it even easier, the cushion wasn't attached so it easily came apart into two pieces.  I started by removing the fabric and giving the wood a light sanding.

Next, I attached new fabric using the existing tacks and spray painting the frame.  Finally I attached velcro to both the frame and the cushion to hold it in place.  Done!

It makes a great footstool for a regular sized adult...or the perfect seat for a little baby.

DIY Milk Glass Vase Using Mod Melts

Hello!  I'm back from a two week road trip with the family.  We packed up our four-month-old and drove down to LA to visit family.  A little crazy and a lot of fun.  But let me tell you, after two weeks not crafting, I start to get a little crazy.  Particularly when I read about new craft supplies that I want to try out.

Enter Mod Melts.  I saw them on another blog and wanted to try them out immediately.  Basically, you buy these special hot glue sticks that you can put in your normal hot glue gun.  You then use the melted glue to fill a mold and make an embellishment.  I bought some as soon as I got home and made this vase.  I'm excited.

I started with a clear glass vase from Goodwill.  I squeezed a bunch of white acrylic paint into it and started rolling it around to fill the inside. 

Once covered, I set this aside and started working on the Mod Melts.  This part was easy.  Stick glue stick into glue gun and squeeze into mold.  Let sit from several minutes.  Pop out.  Once I had several pieced that I liked, I glued them onto the vase using more of the same Mod Melt.  [In case you are wondering how well this adheres, it stays really well.  I messed up and it took FOREVER to get the flower piece back off.]

Done!  Do you like it?  Can you tell that my bookshelf is arranged by color?

Bias Tape Daffodils: A Mothers Day Bouquet

Big news guys.  I've started participating in Iron Craft again.  This is my first week back and I'm pumped.  This week we were challenged to create something using sewing notions.  I made daffodils.  Since my mom lives far away, I gave these to myself :) It is my first Mothers Day after all.

Start by gathering some supplies.  Feel free to experiment a little based on the supplies you already have.  I'm kind of a craft hoarder and always buy those bags of random sewing notions that they sell at Goodwill so I had a stash.  Here is basically what you need:

-For the petals: yellow bias tape. 
-For the middle part: orange fabric, lace trim
-For the stem: wire and green fabric or green bias tape
-A hot glue gun

Start by cutting a section of wire that will be your stem.  I used some really thick wire that I found at the hardware store.  This will form the base of your flower.  You will then form the orange part on one end [apparently that part is called the corona].

I formed the orange section two different ways.  The first was using some lace trim I had on hand.  Although it had some orange on it, I colored it in to brighten it up.  Again, you can do this two ways: fabric paint or fabric marker.

The other way to make the center is with fabric.  I cut a square of orange fabric using pinking shears and then folded it in half.

With both of these, roll them around the edge of the wire, hot-gluing as you go.  This will form a nice tube of orange.

To make the petals, cut several small strips of bias tape, about 5" each.  Then fold as shown below.  Hot glue the folded section and the two ends together.

Next glue the petals around your flower.  I liked the way they flopped about; it looked realistic.  If you need a petal to stick up a bit more, just glue the petal a little further up.

Finally, use some green fabric or bias tape to wrap the stem.  Make sure to cover the edges of your petals at the top to keep things looking tidy.

That's it!  You can make a whole bouquet.  I had fun trying out different materials and ways of doing it.  If you make your own, I would love to see what you try out!

Want to check out more Iron Craft projects?  Visit the flickr group here and the blog here.

Refridgerator Gallery

If you are like me, your refrigerator is a graveyard of forgotten items.  Expired coupons.  Save-the-dates for past events.  Random pictures scattered here and there.  I finally decided it was time to do something about this and add some class to my kitchen.  I present, my fridge photo gallery.

I started with some cheap frames.  I found mine in the Michaels $1.50 section.  Some were even on sale so that was a bonus.  If you wanted a different color, you could always spray-paint your frames.  Besides that, all you need are magnets and a hot glue gun.

I started by removing the stands from the back by bending them until they snapped off.  Next, I glued several magnets to the back of each.  I was fine using the cheaper magnets.

Next I inserted my pictures and added them to the fridge.  THAT'S IT.  I decided to cluster some magnets around them too because we collect magnets from places we've been.  You can do whatever you want.

The end.

Nesting: New Home Projects

I'm back!  I enjoyed my time off.  Not only was I in the middle of a move, but I also took a trip to visit my family.  Whew!  Now that I'm back, I'm ready to help pitch in and decorate the new home.  Gotta get ready for baby!!  Here are a few projects I'm thinking about:

Stenciled Rug from Scout and Nimble

Fabric-Backed Cabinets from Pretty Handy Girl

Embroidered Photo Art from A Beautiful Mess

Floor Pouf from Retropolitan

Placemat to Pillow from Sweet Verbena

A girl can dream, can't she?  TARDIS closet from Mad In Crafts

Around the House

I love filling my home with unique handmade and thrifted pieces.  I love thinking that each piece is really special or has a story.  Today I wanted to share some of these.

Here is a glimpse on top of my dresser.  I would have taken a picture of the whole dresser but it was messy :)  So here is the corner.  I have a little jewelry dish from Goodwill that I use to hold pins.  In addition, I have my little notebook that I recently purchased from Beaded Tail.

The pink/purple brooch is from Vintette and the notebook is from Beaded Tail

Right above that hangs a little mirror.  I also found this at a thrift store.  Something about the fabric frame is so charming.

Here is the bookcase on the other side of my dresser.  I got the blue vase for my birthday and originally had it in the living room.  That lasted a day because the cat kept eating the fake plant.  I moved it to a high place.  You can also see the wire I rigged up to hold my particularly long/bulky necklaces.

Here is a fantastic letterpress calendar I ordered after Urban Craft last winter.  I had wanted to buy one all weekend and when I finally went to get it, he was sold out.  Luckily there were still a few online. 

Calendar from Old School Stationers

Finally, a set of paintings that my friend gave me for my birthday several years ago.  She painted them herself which makes them extra special.  They have hung in several different houses and apartments; I keep them with me every time I move.

What extra special pieces do you have in your home?  Are they usually gifts?  Handmade?  Thrifted?  Special splurge items?

IC#7: Freshen Up...My Front Door

For some reason, I'm really into front door decorations.  This is a new thing for me, but since the start of the year I have made four different ones.  This last one was the perfect thing for our Iron Craft Challenge of "Freshen Up."  We were challenged to create something to freshen up our homes with.  Since my St. Patrick's Day shamrock felt a bit out of place in April, I made a new door decoration.

I kept it simple and made something that could last all summer (or at least until my door decoration addiction kicks in again).  I started by stamping the word welcome on some fun printed fabric I had in my stash.  I worked on the back side so the letters would show up better.

Next, I cut the letters out into triangle-shaped pieces.  I glued these onto a wire using hot glue.  I just glued and wrapped, glued and wrapped. 

Finally, I twisted the ends of the wire into decorative swirls.  I attached a skinny, dark piece of wire to hang it from.  This looks a bit dodgy against my white office door, but blends well on our dark front door.

Want to see more Iron Craft pieces?  Check out the flickr group here.  Want to join in the fun?  Check out the blog here.