Handmade Holidays Blog Hop- Toilet Paper Roll Gift Card Holders

Hi everyone welcome to the hop! I wanted to make a project that was super compatible with using all of the great companies featured today on the hop- so although I didn't use everyone of them- I am adding in some ideas and options that you can use all of your stash for! Let's start by saving all of the toilet paper and paper towel holders. So many cool crafts to make with them! I manage a grocery store in real life-so I am not a holiday shopper-it's gift cards for all. However I do like to give those cards in a unique and fun gift card holder-handmade with love!

{Can you believe these are toilet paper rolls! I left mine au naturale before I sprayed them with new iZink Pigments. These are imported all the way from France and are being distributed by Clearsnap. You can use any of your sprays including- Stephanie Barnard, and Colorbox Spritzers}

{a single roll will make one holder, a paper towel holder will make 3- just eyeball cutting it into thirds. Flatten and press down with a bone folder- you can seal bottom edge with any glue or adhesive or use a stapler. If you want more true colors and a less rustic look-paint your rolls with a white acrylic base before you spray.}

{For this one i used iZink Tomato. Just drop a few drops with a little water in a spray bottle and spray away. I then used Colorbox Pigment Ink in gold and My First Colorbox Stamps "Snow Day". Use your favorite Sizzix die cut- the Framelits will work awesome. I edged my Graphic 45 die cut shape with Donna Salazar Mix'd Media Inx in Schoolhouse. I layer on a small piece of burlap to echo that natural look then added a vintage button all with hot glue}

{this one is iZink in Opaline-then stamped with the My First Colorbox stamp- I used a stapler to seal up the bottom of this one}

{This one is iZink inTurquoise then stamped with black pigment ink using my Clearsnap Rollagraph "Word Words"}

{this one is iZink in Silver and I used Donna Salazar Mixed Media Inx in Schoolhouse with a Colorbox Art Dauber to make the dots-love these!}

{To finish them all off I used the leftovers from the die cut- cut them 2.5 inches wide and about 4 inches long-inked them in coordinating colors using Colorbox Queties. I used some plain jute twine for the tie}

{I used Graphic 45's 6x6 12 Days of Christmas paper pad. The backs are all solid to make sure you have room to write on your gift card. To attach your gift card just use your tape runner or a glue dot!}

{These little carriers can be hung from a tree too! Hope you have a great handmade holiday!}

4 More blogs to go- you can do it!!!!

Clearsnap http://blog.clearsnap.com

Craft Attitude  http://www.jonathanfongstyle.com/blog/

Smoothfoam http://www.smoothfoam.com/blog/

Donna Salazar Designs  http://donnasalazardesigns.blogspot.com/

Walnut Hollow http://walnuthollowcrafts.wordpress.com/

100 Proof Press http://www.100proofpress.com/_blog/Blog

Graphic45 http://g45papers.typepad.com/

ICE Resin http://iceresin.com/icequeen/

Stampendous http://stampendousblog.wordpress.com/

Sizzix – Eileen Hull Designs http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Jamie Dougherty http://jamiedoughertydesigns.blogspot.com

Nathalie Kalbach www.nathaliesstudio.com

Jen Goode http://www.100directions.com/

Kathy Cano-Murillo http://www.craftychica.com/site/

Tanner Bell   http://www.craftteen.com

Jennifer Priest http://hydrangeahippo.com

Jen Cushman http://jencushman.wordpress.com/

Adrienne Ford http://bry-and-i.blogspot.com/

Joanne Fink http://www.zenspirations.com/home/

Vicki O'Dell http://vickiodell.com/

Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/

Denise Hahn http://inmyblueroom.blogspot.com/ <----------you are="" here="" span="">

Courtney Chambers http://www.alittlecraftinyourday.com <------go courtney="" here="" next="" span="" visit="">

Tami Mayberry http://tamimayberry.blogspot.com/

Norma Rapko http://normarapko.blogspot.com/

Cheryl Waters http://blog.artsyfindings.com/

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ETSY shop now back open!

It's been like a thousand years since I had my Etsy shop open, it's tough though, designing, derby, work, etc. But I fell in love with a company at CHA called American Tag Co. they only sell wholesale, so I bought a ton of stuff, just for MY stash of course! But now I am willing to share the love! I just have my tags in there but will eventually sell some of my Designer projects too, so please stop by: IN MY BLUE ROOM etsy shop!


Time to start scrappin!

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to start working on those layouts! Visit the Clearsnap blog today and check out my Shop till ya drop layout. I used some of my favorite papers from October Afternoon and of course lots of Clearsnap goodies.

Vintage Christmas Gift Bag Tutorial Featuring Graphic 45 and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Okay, so it has come this, Gift Card mode! When did it happen that we stopped buying gifts and just went straight for the gift card section?  I guess since the invention of Gift Cards! Don't get me wrong, I love a good gift card myself, but in a way, they can seem a bit impersonal right? Well no longer, I have a great way to add that special touch to any gift card: Put it in an amazing handmade gift bag! It's the gift that says: I love you so much I went to the trouble to HAND MAKE this gift bag just for you! Now here's your Starbucks gift card... enjoy!

Start by finding a sturdy box about the size you want to make your bag-to be able to use on 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper make sure the entire diameter is no more than 11 inches around. Measure its length (my box 5 inches tall) , then measure its depth (my box 1.75 inches wide) and then add the length and depth+ = 6.75 inches by 12 inches will be what I cut.

Line your box up in the middle and "dummy" fold one of the sides up. Dummy folding is to just fold up against the edge lightly so you can see where to fold, but without making a hard crease

Dummy fold each crease you need one by one, and then make the hard crease with a bone folder-making sure your paper is even- after you do all four creases take your Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Power Tape to glue down the seam-keep the box INSIDE!

Then fold down like a present- your paper will line up perfectly and you will have the 1.75 inch to fold over- again use Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Power Tape- This stuff has an amazingly strong hold which you will need

Next I took my Imaginarium Designs Chipboard Frame and inked it with Clearsnap Cats Eye in Gold-set aside to dry

Cut out a piece of Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper, and highlight with some glitter. I used Clearsnap glitter and a Martha Stewart Fine Tip Glue pen.

And now for my little trick! This chipboard frame is very delicate, and I used Scrapbook Adhesives tiniest 3D foam dots, but they still showed ever so slightly! So I went ahead and put them on.....

Then I flipped it over, hit it with some gold glitter, and pressed the glitter onto the showing part of the foam square with a brush and voila, they disappeared with a sparkle! 

I then attached my cardstock piece to the frame, then added another layer of foam dots

To embellish, I added a sticker from Jolees French General Labels, some upholstery trim to the top (with hot glue) and then some Petaloo Flowers. 

Now, take the box out! You leave it in so you have a nice support to embellish your box with

Pinch in the tops, to give it that "Ima gift bag" look

Hot glue on some Handles. Wire ribbon works best.

Now make some custom filler. Roll up some vintage paper the long way

and with your scissor trim off approximately .25 in slices. But mix it up-it looks cooler (I mean more handmade) if they aren't all uniform

Loosely fluff up the cut pieces and then hit with some Ginger Ale Smooch Spritz to give it a little shine

Then scrunch it up in a tiny ball, then fluff and repeat. Use to fill your gift bag.

{Oh yeah add a little gift tag while your at it! G45 gives you a bunch to choose from}

{can you even tell the 3D squares are showing through??}

{here is another variation. I added another 1.75 inches then just trimmed top with pinking shears, punched to holes and added trim and a tag}

{and anther variation, I added 2 inches and then trimmed with a Fiskars border punch. Then made my holes on the sides, ran wired ribbon and knotted. Then curled the ribbon off to the sides.}

If you didn't come here from the G45 blog head on over for more pics:

Graphic 45



Crown Bracelet Workshop- a few spots left!

If you are in the Rancho Cucamonga area Aug. 19th from 10-4 please join me and my good friend Andrea Villareal as she is hosting my Bracelet "Bar". We will be creating these lovely crown bracelets, the workshop comes with TWO bracelets but you can buy extra crown bases and make as many as you want! Not only that but Andrea is also doing a wonderful make and take using Close to My Heart products!
Workshop is only $52 and includes Andreas wonderful lunch made personally by Andrea. Click here to sign up:

Craft Room Tour of In My Blue Room

Tour of In My Blue Room from Denise Hahn on Vimeo.

Okay so I thought I'd do a little tour of my craft space while it was clean for a half second! This space is magical for me. I am always inspired and love to spend time in here, especially when it's clean!