Fabric Valentine Cards

Why haven't I tried this before? using Fabric on cards, Papercrafts are such a strange and foreign land to me but give me a scrap of fabric and I can make the proverbial silk purse out of a Sows ear.

I picked up some teeny tiny folded cards thrifting which were a great size and came with envelopes buttt they were birth announcements so the front needed to be altered. A few fabric scraps machine stitched on to the card, some felt, letter shapes, Baby Rick Rack and sequin edging and BAM teeny tiny Valentines cards for my little heartbreakers harem of Preschool girlfriends.

 

For size comparison a regular card sized envelope in the background.

Excuse the hot glue gun, I just do not have the patience to wait for white glue to go off, so if I craft and it calls for Glue there's only one type for me and I make it work, burnt calloused fingers are my hallmark.

Crochet Edged Moleskin Notebook

 

Did'ya miss me? when I thought no one was looking I snuck out for a much needed holiday with the family, just got back today, knackered, hence clipped sentences, very Military, loving it ;)

 

Anyway check out these cute Crochet edged moleskin (alikes) I rustled up. Just your common or garden Mini comp books again, covered with craft paper, holes punched around edges, then single Crocheted in each hole.

 

Pretty simple but I can break it down further into a Tutorial if I get any special requests ;)

 

 

Lots more stuff to share, anything to avoid the enormous piles of washing and unpacking!

 

p.s I missed you guys

xoxo

Security Envelope Hexagon Notebooks

Been crafting up a storm lately, still working on some Xmas decorations to share later on but playing around with those mini composition books and some leftover security envelope designs I came up with these cuties.

Seen soooo many Moleskine revamps lately I had to try my own out, and who doesn't love a Hexi? except here's my dirty secret. They aren't Moleskine (oooohhh the very shame of it) I actually made these myself by covering Mini Composition books with some $ store craft paper. Easy peasy, cheap as chips and much easier to source if you can't get the real deal in your area.

I prefer these too, I like to be able to rip out any lame ideas from my idea books (without other pages coming with), and pretend that everything I come up with is Golden, which it is, all the time... ish.
 
Coming up? more Moleskin revamps, the big project reveal and maybe just maybe I'll go back to my roots and rustle up a refashion.

Security Envelope Crafts - DIY Stationery

Here are some of my favourite uses of Security Envelopes from around and about the net.

A Little Hut - Stationery Set Tutorial

This was the first project that really made me think about using Security Envelopes, check out the covered pencils and bookmark, Genius.

Carolyns homework - Security Envelope Pictures

What a great idea for Notecards.

Mini Notecards

Gingham Cherry - Mini Notecards

Security Envelope Covered Notebooks

I cannot get enough of the teeny Composition Books, and since I've
been hoarding security envelopes for the longest time (over a year) it was time to get crackerlacking and actually use them for something. Just in time, the hubster was on the blower (phone) to Clutterers Anonymous signing me up for a 12 step program ;)

 I had all these grand plans, but sometimes simple is the best option, the patterns on the inside of the envelopes were so pretty (at least to me anyway) that just a glue down and trim up was all I needed to do with those cheeky little pads.

Thinking of making your own?

• Open mail with a letter opener/knife at home and work.
• Ask family/friends/work colleagues to save them for you.
• Keep an eye out for unused return envelopes from Banks and Large Brochure size Envelopes.
• Spacing is crucial when using small envelopes. I used the bottom fold and lined it up with the spine of the book, so the Front and Back of the evelope are used and not the unpatterned flap.
• Some patterns aren't dark enough to cover the composition book cover from showing through so have a play around before sticking.

Wouldn't these make a cool gift for hard to craft for guys for Christmas? (I know, I know enough with the unseasonal hints) I'm thinking of grouping them in Greys and Blacks, Blues, and Greens. Look out for Reds too and more unusual Geometric patterns.

My entry into Blissful and Domestic's Feature Friday Link Party sponsored by Appliances Online.

Ways with Vintage Maps - Woven Notebook Tutorial

Along with the straight up Washi tape peel and stick style notebook covers which need no instruction, I also whipped up this pretty one and thought I'd share the how to with you, I love the look of woven anything and paper? well it just looks so cute using maps.

You'll need two pieces of a Map/Atlas etc that have a mix of watery and land mass areas to give a mix of colours. I chose one piece with solely land and the other was mostly water.

Mark up strips on the opposite side you want to use to avoid ugly black marks. So that you can read the name places you'll want one map piece to have horizontal strips and one to have vertical strips  my strips measure  1/2 inch wide and long enough to wrap around a mini composition book from top to bottom (vertical pieces obv) and front to back (horizontal pieces)leaving an inch around all sides.

Next I weighted the bottom of the Vertical pieces down with some cans and started weaving

When you've woven enough to cover the book front and back, add some tape to the bottom of the woven pieces leaving enough of the tape to be able to fold over and seal the ends together.

Repeat for the top and sides.

 

When you've taped each side and folded the edge of the tape over to the back, you should be left with a piece of woven Atlas 'fabric' you can now use this to cover your Composition book.

Layer Double sided tape to completely cover the front and back, making sure the spine has tape adhered to it also.

Excuse my Blue thumbs!

Then lay the back of the book on the woven Atlas 'fabric' and take the woven piece and wrap it around the book pressing down to make sure it sticks.

Trim around the edges. After trimming you will have some loose pieces that stick up, glue them down then put notebook under a pile of books to make sure all the pieces properly stuck to the cover.

Trim off the excess and enjoy your recycled Atlas/Map notebook.

Can't find vintage Maps but would like one of your own? buy your notebook here via Etsy.

Ways with Vintage Maps - Mappy Monograms

It had to be fate that I logged on to Craftster last night to see this awesome picture, a little snooping around led me to the maker, Jessi at Cinnamon Teal.

If you're as desperate for one of these gorgeous monograms as I am, you'll be pleased to know that the lovely Jessi has posted a tutorial. Sure you need power tools, but that's what husbands and boyfriends are for right? or as I often say, you don't get a dog, and bark yourself do you ;)


Check out the tutorial and remember to say thanks if you make one yourself.  Cinnamon Teal - Map covered monogram tutorial

Ways with Vintage Maps - Print your Own!

So you thought you couldn't make any of these projects because your kids won't let you rip out pages from their Geography text books and your local thrift store is all out of Maps and Atlases, think again, check out this selection of Free Vintage Map Printables from the Graphics Fairy via  So Eclectic

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.ca/2009/10/craft-project-london-map-decor-diy.html

I'm loving the Vintage London Map project, it's been used for framed prints but you could totally use it for covering a notebook too. I'm thinking this must be Circa Peter Stringfellow judging by the aged nature of it ;)

Centre front, a Mullet adorned Peter with some of his 'lovelies', more Peter (literally) here (warning clicking on this link may cause uncontrollable vomiting and the urge to brillo pad your retinas)

Moving swiftly on, another gorgeous printable from the Graphics Fairy wouldn't this make an awesome Gift tag? 

Graphics Fairy - Vintage Printable England & Wales Map

Vintage Printables.com - European Map

The next one isn't free but if you're planning on printing and framing, these are gorgeous maps from The Americas, $5 is a pretty sweet deal for these beauties, they also have some beautiful cityscapes of Paris, Moscow etc.

Stock Images. Antique prints.com - British America Map

British America eh? them were the days ;)

Winding up this series soon, and after that another Brit recipe to share with you.

So did you click on the link? ;)

Ways with Vintage Maps - Paper Inspiration

Found some gorgeous ideas for using old Maps and outdated Atlases across the web.

 Paper Art Dresses by Marcelle Crosby via www.stateofgreen.com        I'd love to see a teeny tiny gift tag made like this or a set of notecards. Gorgeous.

Love this, just simple gift wrap, or how cute would one of these Map boutonnieres look on plain wrap.

Via Discover Paper.com - Paper Boutonnieres

We've all made notecards and envelopes from Old Maps but these are so pretty and who doesn't love Butterflies? Via Celestial Textiles blog and Available to purchase for $6.00 via Etsy

Origami folded Map boxsets, would love to see a yummy Macaron in each one of these, yum yum. Blogged about here and available to buy at Kris Peters Etsy shop I've just becomer a follower of this awesome blog and can't believe all the cool recycling projects, check out the  Origami Cranes folded for charity wowsers that's a lot of patience!

More Map projects coming up ...