HangTags

As I get closer and closer to my upcoming Christmas Craft Fair, I'm getting all the little things in order.  One of said "little things" was to make handmade, branded hang tags for my apparel.  I wanted these tags to identify my brand, give information about the product and the price, and of course look pretty.  

This past week I ordered 1000, yes you read right 1000, hang tags from Staples.  Why?  Because Staples only carries the size of hang tag I wanted online and in batches of 1000....I guess I'll be making all my christmas gift tags this year too!  I'm still waiting for them to arrive.  But I had some I had purchased from the Container Store (omg....I won't go into how much I love that place) and wanted to try out some designs to see what would look best.  

I knew I wanted to incorporate the silhouette I have on my blog header since I love it and it's vintage and ties my products to my blog.  A while back I purchased these stamps for this exact purpose. 

The one on the right is the closest to what I have on my blog header, and YES it drives me a little batty because it's not oriented the same way....I will survive. I knew I wanted to make my tags memorable and standout, so of course embossing was the only option...man I love embossing.

So I stamped, I drew, I wrote, I tested, I burned 

off some fingerprints and here's what I ended up with

The silhouette is stamped in Red Rocket Gold Ink and I used clear embossing powder over top.  The words are hand printed by yours truly in 2 sharpie colours.  The back will have the info about the apparel.  It's not as pretty.

Now to make 1000 more when the other tags arrive....

Girls Night Craft Party

While I was at home Saskatoon we had an unofficial house warming for Jill and her new condo/crafty party.  

The hostess with the mostest.

At first it was just an idea with me, Jill and Amy, and then we invited Megan (queen of cakes) and KO (my sister in law and friend) and well it just became a thing!

Jill and Amy had originally made card kits for three, but since we turned out to be five Jill and Amy improvised some make and takes!

Top Left: Megan (Queen of Cakes) & Amy (Jill's bestie & my birthday twin)

Bottom Left: Sisters - Me (duh), Jill and KO (sister in law)

Right: Just some of the sumptuous food we had

Our inspiration while we worked! LOL

Top Left: Jill gets excited about spray ink

Top Right: Megan stamps

Bottom Left: Spray ink scares KO.  

That was SO funny to watch. But using spray ink is unpredictable at times

Bottom Centre: Something makes me smile

Bottom Right: Amy shows off her embossing

This is me and Amy, after a few glasses of wine.  We cleaned up the scrapbooking stuff and started playing Cards Against Humanity.  I don't know what's happening in this photo, but I love it!

Oh, and I guess I should show off what I made?

Mine is the green one on the right hand side, 

with the white doiley and washy tape.

This was our tag make and take!  

Mines on the far left that says "Holiday Wishes"

I had such a blast with these ladies.  

Makes me wish I lived closer to them.

Altered Canvas Wedding Gift

So I just returned from Saskatoon where I got my craft 

on with my sister, some friends and my Grandma.

But first, a quick trip to PURE for some fro-yo!

After having lunch with my grandparents I put my Granny to work making a scarf for my Christmas Craft Fair! When I told her she had to chain 211 she looked at me like I was crazy!

Jill & I made companion canvases as part of Ashely's wedding gift.  I made the 12x12 one, and Jill made the smaller one.

Close up of the photo.  I mounted it on 2 

different papers and popped it up - real high!

Loved this embossing that I added to the edge of the sheet music and the edge of the canvas.  It really turned out beautifully and really pulled the canvas together!

The top edge of the embossing, some bunting 

and buttons to add the finishing touch! 

I added this chip board heart with the embossed stamp to pull both canvases together and added just a little something extra.

I am really proud of this gift! And I really hope that the bride and groom like it as much as I do!

Altered Canvas

I had actually started this canvas as a birthday gift....but I was too busy to finish it.  Luckily I had a bridal shower coming up and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to finally hunker down and finish it.

First I started with a 12 x 12 canvas and a piece of scrapbooking paper.  I Mod Podge the paper to the canvas.  Once it was dry I sanded away the edges of the paper (read time consuming).  I also sprayed the surface with some grey spray ink to give it an antique look.

Next up I added a page from a book that had fallen apart.  I tried to find the most romantic passages since this was a bridal shower gift.  If I'd had a picture of the couple I would have used it instead!

I tore the edges of the book page, inked the torn edges in brown and then used grey spray ink again to add that vintage touch.

Then it was onto the embellishments, which included a bird, the word "love" some washi tape, some lace, 2 fabric flowers, and paper flowers.  The lace originally was BRIGHT white.  I sprayed the back of the lace with a combination of blue and grey spray ink for just the right hue.

These were both wood laser cuts that I sprayed with spray ink so they would match the canvas theme (I think I have a problem?!?!) 

And here's what the finished product looked like!

I won't lie.  It was definitely a big hit at the bridal shower.  And I may or may not have made another one already.  I'm not sure if I love it as much as this one....if you'd like to see it, check out my Instagram.  I'm on Instagram quite a bit.  It's fast and easier than writing a whole post...especially when the weather is nice.  Be sure to follow me to see what I'm up to this summer.

Thank You Card

Teaching dance can be stressful - just like anything.  But when I don't have control it tends to freak me out.  Case in point, two weeks ago when my Geisha costumes weren't done.  I talked to one of our administrators at the dance school and found out that only ONE costume had been made! And the kids were set to compete in 4 days!  Talk about stress.

Long story short, the seamstress really came through and completed all 5 costumes by Sunday night (with only one mock up done on Thursday)!  And I showed up on Monday morning at the competition with the costumes. Needless to say the girls were thrilled.  And so was I!  So we made a card for our seamstress to show her our appreciation.

I brought it to the studio for all the students to sign! 

 It was so sweet.

Gramma's Mini Album

This was my first foray into mini albums.  I was lucky enough to snag a mini chipboard album at Michael's for half price (SCORE!)  My plan was to make a mini album for my Gramma for Christmas, but things were so hectic I never got around to putting the pictures down on the chipboard.

I printed my pics at those instant Kodak picture printers at Walmart/grocery stores.  Definitely not the highest quality prints, but relatively cheap and I kinda liked that the prints were so thin.  The cool thing that Jilly taught me was to create a collage in PicMonkey so I could print mini pictures at the kiosk for the mini album.  I highly recommend that.

Here's the finished product.

Everyone coordinated their outfits (without planning) which made making the album super easy.  I could use matching and coordinating colours.  Primarily coral, purple and beige.

That's my family.  Well almost all of them.  I'm missing an Aunt & Uncle, three cousins, and five second cousins.  Ok so thats 10 people I'm missing.  And my Dad too.

(Like that grey Washi Tape?  Me too.  
I got it a Downtown Tape!)

I'm kinda hooked on making mini albums.  Luckily I'mm be making another one for my flower girl as a keepsake!