Re-purposing a Christmas Card

I generally keep Christmas cards from special people or if I really like the message or picture or think I can re-purpose it some how. {Don't you know my husband loves that about me!} Actually, I don't think he minds.

Take a look:

Last year, we received this card from our Aunt Willie Sam and Uncle Louis. I loved that it was a shape card and beautiful! I knew my Stickles were going to glam it right up!!! (Apparently I was too excited to get started...I don't have a before picture...image the above without glitter...I know it's hard. Everything is better with glitter.)

Anyone have any tips on fussy cutting chipboard?

I loved Jonathan's Aunt Willie Sam instantly. She reminds me so so much of my Nana. Even her hand writing is similar so I knew I had to save and re-porpose the inside of the card too! Really, it's the way she makes her "L"s.

I cut a piece of patterned paper to fit the chipboard on the back of the card front and mod podge'd the pieces together with the inside of the card in the middle. A little Tim Holtz distress ink around the edges and I thought it turned out great!

I intend to lean it in my kitchen window at Christmas time this year. But it was dark when I finished it all up and got it dry enough to handle so I changed up the photo shoot.

I love that little shelf area in my bathroom...yes, I was taking pictures in the bathroom. :)

It's the bathroom right out side of my craft room. It has a cute pedestal sink and is just quaint. Our guests don't use it because there's a larger one across the hall...but I pretend they do. :)

So, do you save Christmas cards too?

Partying at Jennifer Rizzo's place. Check it out here.

Momogram J + Empty Frame = Pretty Eye Candy

I started with this wooden (MDF) letter that I got a couple of years ago at a shop in Rolla, MO while paper shopping with my Dad and Sister.

Side Note: For part of our Christmas, he took us to this local scrapbook store in Rolla. He gave us each money and let us pick out whatever we wanted. While we were shopping, he walked around and picked out stuff he thought we would like too. We had a blast making memories that day!

In that picture above, I had already used some Tim Holtz distress ink in Antique Linen around the edges. I tried Frayed Burlap but it was too dark and too green (like olive drab green).

I covered the letter in Mod Podge and pressed my paper on top. I decided it needed a bit more pressure so I turned it upside down.

That didn't seem to be heavy enough so I did what every girl would do...

I grabbed my knife block and sat it on top!

Fancy, I know. :)

I let it dry for a bit...like maybe an hour and then cut around the letter from the back. In hind sight, I think I would have let it dry a little longer.

I grabbed an old frame I had out in the garage (from a project that didn't go as planned). Now I have this in our entry.

I wish I could show you how ugly those frames were!!! They were all gold and had nasty water stained mats with stinky pictures that were all crinkly from water. I think I got 4 total and they were $2 each...I'm pretty sure I said "perfect" out loud! And I also got crop dusted by a 'gentleman' that day in Salvation Army. Nasty! But worth it for the frame deal I suppose.

Here's a farther back look:

I added a dainty little crocheted doily, about the size of a drink coaster after...but I didn't snap a picture...oops.

I'd like to add some more too..but I just don't know what yet.

See that green in the corner? It's this horse of an Elephant Ear plant my Mom gave us last summer when we bought this house.

So what else would you add in our entry? I'd love to hear.

Besides Murphy's oil soap and poly the baseboard and get rid of that DREADED green tile!!

I'm linking up with Rhoda @ Here's the Party at which I'm playing.

I also linked up with Jennifer Rizzo. Here's the link to the party at which I'm playing.

They Send You Off To College, Try To Gain A Little Knowledge-- All You Want To Do Is....

Anybody know the Jimmy Buffett lyrics that follow?

Well, it doesn't really matter because this really isn't about Jimmy (sorry old friend).

Where am I going with this?
Oh right, sorry. Focus Laura!

Ok....

Well, I want off to college (several years ago... but whatever!) bought books, read a few of them, graduated, still had books... don't really read most of them anymore. So, what do you do with that book case full of big fat text books about Occupational Therapy for Children?? (I guess I should tell you that I would rather scoop hog poop than be the therapist for small children. I like children. I happen to love my sweet niece very much and can't wait for her sibling to arrive. I happen to think that somehow, JJ and I will be awesome parents, God will help us. But I like adult patients. That's it.)

Focus...

So, while touring homes for dressed up for Christmas, I saw some really cool books (where was my camera??). They were covered with scrapbook paper, similar to how the St. Andrews kids used to have to cover their text books in grade school. And it got me thinking...

I have always wanted a taller lamp at my entry way...but I like the bones of my old one...it just needs to be taller...

So, down to the bookcase I go and find these beauties!


I had this coordinating vintage-inspired print paper from another project I thought up a few years ago and never accomplished.


I busted out the Mod Podge and got to work!

I used a sponge paint brush to apply a coating of Mod Podge to the front of the book.

Those brown scrapers from Pampered Chef came in pretty handy to push out air bubbles.

Then, it was really a lot like wrapping a present...smooth out the paper, make sure all the edges are covered and rounded off and looking nice.

Here:

I cut the paper a little close but I think it is ok. I am not sure anal and if it gets to bugging me, I think I will just ink the edge to hide that blinding yellow.

I used these to boost my lamp by the front door so the mirror looks like it belongs rather than floating above everything else. :)


That waif-y looking stuff sticking out of the top book is waxed paper...waiting for the glue to dry. I guess I just couldn't wait any longer! :)

(Disclaimer: I took these photos awhile ago...I don't really still have out a pretty bowl full of old Christmas bulbs. Promise.)

I'm the hostess!!!

My first EVER!! I'm the hostess over at Cardmaker for the weekly challenge:

"Anything but a card... and make it 'green'!"

I decided to repurpose a few things we had just laying around the house:

This was a galvanized bucket from our local Establishment. I covered it with paper and Modgepodge. I also added strips of ribbon to the handle... pretty cute if I do say so myself!!

I love Laughing Cow cheese! The product comes in the above pictured, cute little paper container. The containers are as fun to me as the cheese is good. I have been thinking of something I could do with/to them short of tossing them in the recycle.

So, of course, I decided to cover them with paper! Luckily, they are exactly 4" across the top. Hello George (shapes cartridge for my Cricut)!!

I covered the top and bottom "inserts" with pearl-escent paper, inked the edges and added an embelishment (Thanks again George!). I also inked the edges of the top pearl flower using my Stampin' Write markers (can't really tell from the picture).

I think it turned out pretty cute. I think I will use it for a gift box...
now what to "gift" and to whom???