Adding Simple Elegance to your Projects with DCWV and Xyron

Okay, so I have been known to "over-do" a project or two in my day. Honestly I have paper craft projects that have $100 or more of supplies in them. But then again, that was at a different time when I created "competitively" LOL! Today I have progressed in my crafting, or rather digressed. I am in a keep it simple mode. Simple doesn't have to be boring or plain. Simple can be elegant. That is the overall theme that I kept in mind as I created this Photo Keepsake box using Die Cuts with a View Hey Sailor Stack and my favorite Xyron adhesives. This stack can be purchased just about anywhere form Michaels to Joanns and online. I love it's cream and Navy colors with just a touch of gold. So classic. Now I could have gotten all crazy and added--- oh seashells, burlap, coral, gold stars, pearls, netting, and the kitchen sink! Believe me these were all things I considered at one point, but taking my favorite elements and, in the famous Tim Gunns words, "used them thoughtfully" I came up with a beautiful, simple and elegant project. Here are some ideas for creating yours:

{I used Graphic 45s Book Box as my base, then sprayed it with Heidi Swapps Color Shine Spray in Gold}

{I kept it simple on the cover using a Jolees Boutique sticker and three small dried Starfish}

{I used some of DCWV corrugated Cardstock to back up my focal piece}

{I created the accordion using Canson cardstock and the Xyron Mega Runner. I cut 3 panel 1/2 inch wider than the size I wanted, and one at the size- scored the bigger pieces and just adhered the folded tabs to each piece}

{The outside cover and inside were all pre cut and run through the Xyron 5 Inch Create A Sticker}

{I used some burlap and this cool little mermaid I found in my stash. A good way to keep it elegant is to limit the colors you use. I used neutral tan and creams, with navy and gold. Thats it!}

{My favorite part ended up this gold striped interior! I make each strip a little longer than it needs to be. Then I fit it in and press it into the corners using a bone folder- take it out, flatten and run through my Xyron 2.5 Inch Create A Sticker. No gaps in the corners!}

{I just loved this gold and cream paper so wanted to make sure you got a good look at it!}

The DCWV Hey Sailor Stack has these already sized up and ready! I just cut out the 6 panels form the sheet, used one for the cover, and the rest for the accordion fold- I cut the accordion slightly bigger. The black spots will be for this summers beach pics}

{A few other tricks- to attach my twine, I hot glue it onto a strip of glue then hid it with a fatback pearl}

{To close off the box, I glued on a seashell, then used my Gold Twine from The Twinery to close it- and that great vintage pearl drop was just icing on the cake!}

I hope you will make yourself a keepsake photo box for this summer too- would love to see them! Email me at inmyblueroomdesigns@gmail.com with your projects pics so I can show them off on my blog!

http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/02/we-love-hey-sailor.html

-Denise

Heidi Swapp Color Shine Wreath- With Xyron

Okay so I LOVE making banners, and when Xyron Teamed up with Heidi Swapp this month and sent me some Color Magic Jumbo Pennants- all I could think of is how not to do the "obvious" banner! Well lo and behold these pennants make a great wreath too! I LOVE LOVE Heidi's Color Shine Bronzer- truly amazing I can't really explain it- but it sometimes looks gold, sometimes looks silver, and sometimes looks bronze. Just really beautiful depth in this spray. So let me take you a bit through this project to get you started, then you are on your own to embellish away!

{First I sprayed all of my pennants with Heidi Swapp Color Shine Spray in Bronzer- I used a sponge to spread it around}

{I used a paper plate for a template and cut out a piece of chipboard and then some of Heidis cardstock "Believe Santa Baby"  to cover it and attached using my Xyron Mega Runner

{After my Color Magic Jumbo Pennants dried I run them through my Xyron 5 Inch Creative Station with permanent adhesive}

{I then stick them to some heavy card stock- if you don't they will curl and not stand up to being hung vertically}

{I then inked all the edges with ColorBox Silver Pigment ink- there is NO BETTER metallic ink in the universe!}

I then used Aileens Tacky Glue to attach the pennants to my back piece. Why you ask? It needs to be super strong to hang vertically AND you have "play" time to get them arranged just right- no doing that with sticky back adhesive or hot glue}

{Okay so now you can embellish how you wish, but I will show you how I made my tree! Cut 4 to 5 4x6 Inch pieces of "Believe Peppermint Sticks" paper and then score longways at the center mark}

{Then trim from the top of your scoreline to the bottom corner to create the tree shape-trust me way easier to score first then fold-trying to fold the tree shape after you cut it is a pain!}

{Grab some of the awesome ColorBox ink and ink it up!}

{Run a bead of hot glue up the center line and just keep stacking them up!Then fan out to create your tree!I used Heidi's Color Magic Pressed Paper Frames sprayed with more Color Shine Bronzer and her "Believe Jingle All the Way" paper to finish off my design. Here is what I did:

{ I cut out some big letters and glittered them with recollections Fine Glitter in red and attached with Teresa Collins Foam Squares}

{Here is my tree and a few of Heidis Color Magic Flowers sprayed with Color Shine Gold and Bronzer- there's a little Petaloo one in there too!}

{here I just backed the Pressed Paper Frames with the Jingle All the Way paper.You can see in this picture how cool the Color Shine Bronzer Looks-gold and silver all together!}

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{I love how the Pennants have Silver highlights- I just happened to be wearing an orange sweatshirt you can see glowing in the silver part!}

{Such a fun project and the colors you can do this in are limitless with Heidis Color Shine Sprays! How bad do I want THIS for Christmas!}

Happy Creating to you!!!!