Digital Scrapbooking: The basic approach

Scrapbooking has been a hobby of mine for many years now.  While I don't think you can ever catch up on all of the photos you want to 'scrap', there is a way to get the job done a little quicker and without much effort or knowledge on your part.  If you have adobe or other photo editing software that can read .PSD files, then you are good to go.  Grab yourself some photos and load them into your program.  I chose this one plus a few others:
  
This is me and my hubby last halloween at our church trunk or treat festival.  I was trying to get a scrapbook made for our church with everyone's photos so I turned to my favorite digi-scrap website, scrapbook graphics, for some pre-made 'quick pages' to get the process done in a timely manner. You can buy a kit of about 9 pages for $5 give or take, depending on how many pages are included.  Once you download your 'kit' and load it into your scrapbooking program, its just a matter of plugging your photos into the blank areas, flattening and saving the image, and printing.  The final result of this picture came out like this:

Total time:  15 minutes!

You really CAN do this!

**faces scribbled out for privacy**

 

$1 Frame + Paper = Halloween Wall Decor

I am having soo much fun getting inspired by all of the decorating blogs/pinterest, that I am on such a roll myself.  I spent a good few hours yesterday putting together some wall art with a photo frame I have had lying around for who knows how long.  I didn't really want to put alot of family photos in this one only because I was trying to keep the project focused on color scheme and, well, my family photos just wouldn't cut it.  ( I can be pretty anal sometimes with things being color coordinated).  This frame did come with a little dowel so it could stand upright on its own if you were to choose.  I think, all in all, this project may have run me $5 if I counted costs for the frame and papers individually.  However, I had the materials already.  The paper is from Michael's Midnight Magic paper pack. The drink 'poison' cards were included in it.  That entire pack ran me less than $7 and all of my projects have been done with it.  Talk about getting your moneys worth.  Amazing the things we can do with paper, a paper cutter, and some fancy folding, huh? 

This post linked to today's creative blog

Candy Corn Soap?

Yes, you read that right.  I am a lover of candy corn.  I could eat a whole bag of the stuff in one sitting without evening realizing it.  There's just something about that sweet buttery goodness that I just can't resist.  But, eating gobs and gobs of the stuff is NOT good for my waistline, especially when there are two more weeks til the Big Day.  So, to curb my cravings while still being able to smell the stuff, I decided I needed to make some festive soap.....hence candy corn.  And the best part?  It's calorie free and actually good for me to use!  The ingredients couldn't be simpler, or the process.  I used goats milk melt and pour soap, candy corn fragrance, colored mica powder, and a mold.  Look around your house and in your pantry.  Anything could be a mold, even your bundt pan!  Simply melt small batches of the soap and color them one layer at a time.  You need to wait until a film has formed on your previous layer before pouring the next, otherwise, you will just end up with a marbled mess. (I still mess this up sometimes as I am incredibly impatient.)  Let it cure at least overnight before cutting.  And voila!  Candy corn soap to enjoy in every room of your house as often as you wish!  Happy Halloween!  :)

Witch shoes fit you?

With halloween just around the corner, I really wanted to put together a little something to show the teachers just how much they are appreciated.  They deserve to have some fun with this holiday too!  I decided on filling some witch shoes with candy.  This project has been sooo much fun to do (and very difficult to keep my hands off the chocolate).  All you really need is some paper, a little imagination and a shoe template found here.  This link is part of the split coast stampers blog/gallery/template/ FABULOUS place to be.  I have just been dreaming of ways to use this crazy template.......elf shoes, ruby slippers, birthday presents........

After the shoes were assembled, I filled cellophane bags with chocolate and attached a tag to them with some tweed then shoved them (gently, of course) into the shoe and....POOF!  You have yourself new pointy witch shoes.  I'm thinking this project would also be good for "boo-ing" you neighbors front porches!

Halloween decorating

I'm falling waaaay behind in my holiday crafting.  It's amazing how time can just get away from you if you are not careful to monitor it.  My first project is dealing with my mantle.  My living room remains really dark and my mantle most certainly needs a paint job.  Nonetheless, its the focal point of the room so it remains a priority.  I want my home to look neat and coordinated (I can be a freak about it, I know).  I went to my good old dollar store to try to find some inspiration.  I just wanted to GET STARTED......that's half the battle.  I found a basic wooden plaque and a sugar jar.  The numbers were on sale at michaels for another dollar, and the 'dragon eyes' label was a free printable I found here from a pinterest search (love that place!).  Just add some paper, mod podge, a drawer pull, spray paint,and stickers and I am all set as I had these items on hand. Total cost was approx. $5 minus the candy. This project was really simple and fun to do.   Now off to do some more work on that mantle!