Wow, feels like it’s been forever since I’ve done a DIY so here one is! I’m going to show you how to make these great little gift tags, an easy way and an up-a-notch way. I shared these last week over at Celeste’s blog and now I’m sharing it here! These ones are holiday themed but it would be really easy to change some colours and stickers and use them on birthday gifts or for another occasion.

You will need – cardstock (colours and some white), stapler, paper cutter/scissors, adhesive
Optional fun goodies – ribbon, stamps, stickers, embellishments, ink or markers

Cut the coloured papers in 2 1/2 x 7 1/4 inch strips. The white papers should be 2 1/2 x 5.

Fold the white pieces in half, these will make the inside ‘pages’ of the card.

Fold the coloured paper at 2 1/2 and 5 inches. The remaining section will be slightly less than 2 1/2 inches in width. Using scissors or a punch make a cut out in the middle of the card.

Next grab one of the white scraps and decorate it in some fun way. I chose to use a snowflake stamp and my markers. I used the snowflake to create a patterned paper.

Then place adhesive around the opening for the stamped white piece to stick on. Keep the adhesive over to the one side so it doesn’t peek out later.

Then add some more adhesive on the back of the white paper and fold the last bit over to hide it all.

Place the white piece inside the card and add a staple.

Now turn the card over and add the embellishment on the outside. Voila!

Depending on the supplies you want to get your cards can get really fancypants. The holly one was made with a button and leaves from a scrapbooking punch. The snow flake one has 2 pieces of an overhead sheet with some fake snow stuff I got at the dollar store inside.

Or you can also just put some stickers or cut outs on the outside.

THEN unexpectedly, my hubby asked me if I wanted a sewing machine our friends are selling.  He even came home this morning with a piece of fabric stitched with cute little hearts and leaves and the other fun embroidery designs it does. (You knew that would seal the deal right Tabatha?) How could I say ‘no’?  It’s a BabyLock, which I know nothing about, hopefully it’s pretty user friendly.  My current machine is pretty basic.  He’s meeting them later this afternoon and will bring it home for me.   It’s like an early Mother’s day with so many presents.

I hope my sewing machine cover fits! I may have to break out One Yard Wonders again!

I have returned from my weekend away!! It seems like it went by in a blink.  I arrived on Friday night, a tad late, at 7 and joined everyone for dinner and then off we went back to the huge room where all 11 of us were set up on our own huge table to work on our projects.  Somehow I’ve come home totally exhausted!  All I did was sat in a chair all weekend!  The first night I climbed into bed at 2am then got up at 9 and rushed to grab some breakfast, which was at 8:30.  Last night I went to bed at about 1:30 and woke up at 9.

I completed over 30 double page layouts, so over 60 12×12 pages! I finished a book of our Christmas trip. From start to finish I got it done, journaling and all!  This page with the kids at the playground is my favourite part of the book.  I love the photos and the lettering.  There were so many neat little gadgets, like the wonderful lovely Cricut which I need to have.

It was loads of fun. I’ve never been to something like this and it was great to have so much time to focus on layouts and have a big work area. It was also nice to have a break from being mommy. Big thanks to Kelly who set it all up.

OOoooohhh and the bestest part was that I had taken some of my taggie blankies to ask the crafty ladies present what they thought was a fair price, just to get an idea before my show.  The 3 ladies I showed them to each bought one!!  It was great.  Thanks ladies!

ABC cover

I used a hinge bound 7 x 7 scrapbook, it was from Creative Memories ages ago so I doubt you can still get one. There are so many school themed books out there I’m sure one of those could work.

ABC poem

I found the little poem online, not sure where but you can download the document here. (as soon as my techie hubby helps me)

An easy letter to fill up, B. Here's the 2 page spread.

I made each page a 2 page spread for the letter, except near the end I used 1 page for those less likely to fill up, like W, X, Y, Z. In hindsight I should have done that for Q as well, other than quilt I’ve been stuck on that one. I used a bunch of different coloured alphabet sticker sets, again from Creative Memories, but you could just by I sheet and use it for your entire book. I just had a lot of alphabet bits and pieces.

S is for sunglasses, smiles and snowmen!

You can use scraps and bits of paper to decorate the pages. If you have punches it’s even easier.

C is for cookie

This is also a great way to make use of sticker odds and ends you have lying around. I also find it handy for using up photos I printed but didn’t scrapbook, I have a bad habit of overprinting. I also print a lot of wallet sized pictures for this project, since the pages are smaller and I can fit 9 of those photos on a sheet it works out well.

I started writing the words next to the pictures as well. Depending on your child you may want to add words.

Guess I’d better get updating!