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

Custom Stationary for a gift (or yourself!) with Xyron and Paper Smooches



Okay so I stole this idea from my Auntie Sharron. I had given her a bunch of paper scraps and she said she was using them to make stationary for some of her friends and parishoners. I thought, what a great gift idea- don't just give a card, give them cards for them to give. I wanted to keep mine super clean and simple. My Paper Smooches Streamers Stamps were perfect for this project so I built it around them. I have always loved wax seals, but after a few failed attempts a using crayons to make mine I came up with idea to use some glittery hot glue to make my own Faux Wax Seals. And how do I give Faux Wax Seals as a gift? Xyron sticker maker to the rescue! Here are some pics- but if you wan to see how I made them step by step just follow me on over to Snapguide and I will show you!

Check out How to Make Custom Stationary for a Gift by Denise Hahn on Snapguide.

Supplies:

Xyron Mini Sticker Maker

Paper Smooches Stamp- Streamers

White Cardstock

Punches- hole, circle and corner

Twine- The Twinery Lilac Stripe

Colorbox Pigment Ink Plum

Clearsnap Fine Embossing Powder

Tim Holtz Safety Pins

Imaginisce glue sticks Glitter

Xyron and Paper House Vacation Memories

I got lucky and when I received my Paper House Productions goodies to create with there was some Chicago 3D stickers! Yippee! Hey I HAVE been there and I have the photos to prove it! Sadly it just brings to light how few places in the United States I have been in. Now international travel, I got! But I think its time to get out and see my country more, especially the Pacific Northwest, New York, and somewhere down south. I created a unique Picture Box today. If you are covering a box, you NEED to have a Xyron 5 Inch Creative Station or Create a Sticker Max! Seriously, I do not know how I could craft without one of these- the coverage and adhesion you get with these is second to none. The cool little detail that makes this box special is that I printed my picture on inkjet transparent film. I then put some cool paper from the Paper House in the background along with a 3D sticker for a very unique effect. To add some of my vintage flair I used a distressed tart tin for the base and some vintage dymo tap for my sentiment- two little things that give that retro feel even though I am using a more modern style paper and embellishments. Supply list to follow-Denise

{This is one of those things that looks better in person! LOL- but you can kinda see the arrows in the background paper peeking through}

{Adding a dymo tape label to anything brings vintage to the piece}

{I added the little metal faucet handle from Hobby Lobby to go with that} industrial Chicago feel

{This sticker is the star of the show!}

{another little vintage detail}

SUPPLIES:

Paper House Productions 6x6 American Road mini paper pad

Paper House 3D Stickers Chicago

Xyron Create A Sticker Max

Xyron Mega Runner

Graphic 45 Staples Matchbook Box

Paper Studio Spare Parts Faucets-Hobby Lobby

Dymo Label-vintage label maker labels available at most office supply stores

Colorbox Pigment Ink Cherry

New Publications!

Please check out the current issue of Jewelry Affaire Magazine for some of my jewlery and Scrapbooking and Beyond for one of my layouts featuring me at my roller derby best!



Not Xyron, but should be! DIY Glass Candle Luminary

This week we were tasked with choosing a cool Pinterest project that was not made using Xyron Adhesives- but should be. We were to use the project as inspiration for our own creation and the second I saw those washers, I knew they were calling my name! Why you ask? Because my husband is a hoarder of tools and supplies. I only say that in a half joking way, because he does truly have an acknowledged problem. One of the things that drives me crazy is he always buys 3 or more of things. ALWAYS! So I KNEW I would have a major stash of washers somewhere in our garage. And sure enough he said we did- and gently set a package of washers on my craft table. However the next day- lo and behold he has bought me three more packages of 3 different sizes. Hoard Prevention FAIL! What can I say, I love the dude? here was my Pinterest Inspiration-



{I used Clearsnaps Designer Foils to color the back sides of the washers}

{Looks amazing my bathroom, and I got a "that's pretty cool" from Hubby}

{ I of course used my Xyron Create A sticker to make it! Want to see how, just watch this Snapguide!}

Check out How to Make a Glass Luminary With Metal Washers by Denise Hahn on Snapguide.

Xyron and Anna Griffin "For the Boys"

I have never worked with Anna Griffin Products before so I wasn't sure what expect when I got my goodies to create with for this post. What I was expecting was some beautiful floral prints and lots of pastels. Although I did get some pretty 6x6 papers, I also got this set of "For the Boys" 396 Die Cuts. I LOVED all of the images inside! Everything was vintage and masculine, yet still had that soft Anna Griffin touch. So I set aside all the floral pretties and decided to make a gift box for my hubbys Birthday- not until July so I am way ahead of the game! I found this plain box at Target in the markdown area for $3.45! Now, if you HAVE to cover a box like this you HAVE to have a 9 Inch Creative Station.

There is simply no better adhesive to use for amazing, smooth, and strong coverage. I also decoupaged this box- and if you don't have your paper adhered to its base properly you are asking for bubbles. I love how this came out following my hubbys instructions that he doesn't like things with flowers, bows or lace!

{Before}

{After}

{I loved the slight wood grain of the background 6x6 Cardstock. After I adhered everything down with my Xyron Creative Station- I decoupaged it using Glossy Mod Podge}

{To bring out the red in the box I sprayed these Heidi Swapp Alphas with ColorBox Spritzers Dye Ink Spray in Fireberry}

{I added these vintage screw heads from my stash with some Hot Glue}

{I made this cool soldered key piece ages ago and had it in my stash, so I tied it on with some Jute}

{I used the uncut 6x6 for the center then cut another piece into 4 1.5 Inch pieces and then added them on with my Xyron Tape runner- Then I ran the whole thing through the Xyron Creative Station to adhere inside}

{The sidewalls have a little Graphic 45 Good Ol Sport paper cut to size and run through the Xyron Creative Station too} PS Graphic 45 Good Ol Boy goes GREAT with these die cuts!

{Yeah, he is a keeper!}

{ now what sort of trinkets to put inside? I am thinking Gummi Bears, Starbucks gift card, maybe some new roller skate wheels...}

I hope you enjoyed the project today and keep your eyes out in those markdown bins for things you can cover up in all the delicious paper you have been collecting!

-Denise

Supplies:

Xyron 9 Inch Creative Station

Xyron Tape Runner

Anna Griffin For the Boys Die Cuts

Anna Griffin 6x6 Cardstock

Anna Griffin Tags

Heidi Swapp Chipboard Alphas with Resist

Colorbox Sprtizer- Fireberry

Awesome News! I am on The Twinery Design Team!

I am so thrilled to be chosen to be part of The Twinery Design Team. I love, love, love twine and am so excited about getting to design with it. And the best part is it compliments so nicely with my other teams....paper, flowers, ink, adhesive, and now TWINE! I just got my twine delivery yesterday so really haven't had a chance to create anything but I couldn't wait so figured I do a quick little embroidery- but alas I need a needle with a much bigger eye for Twine, so I just threw my sewing machine into a small zig zag- wrote my words with disappearing ink, and stitched that twine right on! See all of their wonderful colors HERE!

And why not check out my other teemies pages too:

Denise Hahn

http://www.inmyblueroom.blogspot.com/

Jen Cuthbertson

http://www.jencuthbertson.blogspot.com/

Christine Meyer

http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Grecco

http://hugsarefun.com/

DoBea Alberts

http://dobeaalberts.blogspot.com/

Rebecca VanDeMark

http://rebeccavandemark.wordpress.com/

Andrew Roberts

http://downundercrafter.blogspot.com.au/

Melyssa Connolly

http://www.fantastink.blogspot.com/

Suzanna Lee

http://www.lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Tobi Crawford

http://tobicrawford.blogspot.ca/

Jeanne Jachna

http://akeptlife.blogspot.com/search/label/Poppystamps

Stacey Schafer

http://stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/

Anita Mulcahey

http://happypapercrafthappenings.blogspot.com/

Melania Deasy

http://melaniadeasy.blogspot.com/

Katarina Damm-Blomberg

http://krumeluran.wordpress.com/

Returning Designers for 2014

Monika Wright - Sr Designer

http://iloveitallwithmonikawright.com/

Jamie Cripps - Sr Designer

http://jamielanedesigns.blogspot.com/

Ashley Bores - Sr Designer

http://heartmadelife.com/

Amy Crockett

http://www.scrappingmommy.com/

Tifany DeGough

http://inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com/

Jaclyn Miller

http://designsbyjax.blogspot.com/