Project Ideas: Pallet Plaques

I have some more fun project ideas to share with you today!

This month we received in a new product and have just started working on some project ideas to help inspire you. Today I wanted to share the first two samples we created with you.

For the first project we used a colorful palate of different paints and painted each panel a different color. Once the paint was dry we simply added the vinyl of Family Rules to the piece and added a little ribbon to the top. You can find a project sheet for this project online HERE.

For our second Pallet Plaque, we painted the piece a single color and gave it a bit of distressed look. A smaller wood piece was also painted, covered with a photo, and then adhered directly to the pallet as well (I love this!). A vinyl saying and some ribbon embellishment was then added to this piece. You can find a project sheet for this project HERE.

Charity of the Week: Big Brothers Big Sisters

Last week our first Charity of 2013 was presented with a check for the money raised during their time as our selected Charity of the Week!

From January 1st-15th all of the $1 donations (with use of a coupon) went to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. We ended the two weeks with $6,300 raised and were able to present them with a check in that amount. Thank you once again for giving back to local charities and for your continued support of Crafts Direct and the Charity of the Week program.

Project Ideas: Wood Painting Panels

Today I have some more projects to share with you!

In our Paints & Basics department you can find these wood painting panels (or wood canvases). These wood canvases actually come in a variety of sizes and we have a bunch of different project ideas to share with you today on how to alter and decorate them.

Using the 7x14" wood canvas and a horizontal orientation, Megan created this project. All that you need to do to create your own is paint the wood canvas, the adhere a photo and pattern paper to the front and layer on a vinyl saying over both pieces. A project sheet for this project can be found HERE.

On the next project we used the 12x12 wood canvas and pieces from the Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic line to create a photo display. You can find a project sheet for this canvas HERE.

Megan used the same sized wood canvas for this "Owl" Always Love You project, but added a clipboard as a photo holder and the adorable Owl Vinyl and saying. You can find a project sheet for this canvas HERE.

You can also add a vinyl saying directly to the painted wood panel as we did here. To add a little something extra we added pattern paper to the outside edges of the canvas and a small embellishment on the front.

One more project idea on using the 12x12 size with vinyl and a photo. For this piece we used pieces from the American Crafts Soho Garden line.

And finally a sample using the small 6x6 sized canvas. For this piece we just painted the canvas, and added some pattern paper and chipboard embellishments from the October Afternoon Farm Girl line. This would be the perfect little gift or addition to your kitchen counter!

Wedding Trends & Ideas.

Our Floral Department has been busy the past few weeks putting together some new ideas and inspiration for the upcoming wedding season.

They have so many great ideas and the displays are absolutely gorgeous!!

I especially love this center piece arrangement they created and then added the letters to spell out "come away with me". You could use this same idea and spell out the bride & grooms names, their last name, just married....there are so many options.

Another awesome thing our Floral Department did was create idea/inspiration displays for the different wedding trends we are seeing for 2013. Some of the trends we are seeing are:

1920's Look & Feel (with Laser Die-cuts):

Braids & Chicken Wire decorations:

Backgrounds & Paper Lanterns:

Bark & Birds:

And a really big color this year for weddings - mint green:

I also love this display they created using the large paper mache letters:

Burlap details are also still very popular:

And in case you didn't know: the "official" color of the year for 2013 is emerald green:

We also have a display using purple & white:

Some ideas on how to decorate a arch:

As well as plenty of ideas on the extra little details and flowers/ bouquets too!

 

If you are in any stages of planning a wedding you will definitely want to stop in soon to check out all the new items and displays!

Project Ideas: 12x12 Frames

Today I wanted to share a few project ideas with you that we created using our 12x12 frames.

Since the frames are 12x12 (and a perfect size to use with the various options of scrapbooking pattern paper we have available) they are very easy to alter to match any photos/decor. I also love that the photo opening on the frame is 4x4, which allows you to use a 4x6 standard sized photo and just trim it down slightly.

For the first frame we painted the piece and then used components from the Pebbles Family Ties line to decorate the frame with pattern paper and some chipboard shapes. We also added the "Together..." vinyl saying to the bottom of the frame.

For the second frame we used the same basic idea - but this time we trimmed and adhered the paper using a vertical orientation to give the design a different look. The addition of the layered group of chipboard embellishments is a simple and easy touch to dress up the frame just a little bit more.

Project Ideas: Organizing Boards.

We recently received in a new product - the organizing boards you see below - and today I wanted to share with you a few samples we created using this piece.

The boards come finished in black so no painting is needed - and the three clips you see on the bottom of the board are also included with the piece (and are already attached).

For this first piece we simply add the "Bless our Home" vinyl directly to the board and then embellished with some ribbon and stickers from the Simple Stories Harvest Lane line. From the clips we attached a couple of photos that had been matted onto pieces of pattern paper and then added a house image from one of the coordinating pattern papers as well. A super easy project that would look great in your home! The other bonus to this project is that you can easily swap out the photos since they are just attached with the clips.

On the second sample we used the board to create a chore chart station. We painted the top portion of the board with Chalk Board paint (which is great because then you can easily add and remove any additional notes you might have - or just to add a title to the board as we did here). We embellished the piece with some pattern paper and cardstock stickers from the Pebbles Seen & Noted line.

Then for each clip we created a little canvas of pattern paper and used alpha stickers to add the names - then wrote out the chores on white paper and clipped them to the board with the pattern paper. The white sheets are separate pieces so each day or week you can create a new chore list and add them to the clip.

This would also work well as a message station for members of your family - you could clip up any notes, messages, reminders, etc. for each person in the family.

New in Fabric.

Today I have some more new items to share from the Quilt Shop!

We just got in this really cute new Dr. Seuss line! I'm really loving the alphabet print - but honestly it is hard to pick a favorite! So many great patterns and designs - plus the bright fun colors are just plain happy.

 The line also includes a bolt of this paneled fabric:

 

A few others lines that caught my eye this morning:

Love the grays and greens of this line:

And the pinks & blues of this line:

 

Also spotted lots of polka dots on one of the four-ways too - which are great to mix with other patterns or solids:

 

Hanging Panel Plaques.

Below you will find a couple of project samples we created using our Wood Panel with Hanging Plaques piece. These pieces are super easy to finish by just adding a bit of paint and some pattern paper! Of course we always like to add some photos and then you can embellish as much or as little as you would like with coordinating embellishments, vinyl, ribbon etc.

Also right now (through January 29th) the wood panel piece is on sale for only $2.48! (You can check out the current ad here.)

Quilt Venture - January.

Next Thursday (January 24th), we will be offering the first session of our Quilt Venture class for January. In this two session class we will be making this TV-Tray Iron Board Cover. You can find more information about the class HERE. Please call or stop in to register if you would like to join us!

CHA Winter - Part 2.

Orders have been placed and Sarah and Shannon are on their way back to Minnesota, but here are a few things that they found yesterday while at the show. Now the anticipation and excitement for the arrival of all the great new lines and products can begin!

Some project samples from the new Crate lines:

Card samples from Paper Smooches:

Layout idea from Epiphany crafts using their new hexagon punch and epoxy stickers:

New Lucky Charm line from Dear Lizzy:

Project idea using the Party Day line from Crate paper:

Mason Jar die from Sizzix:

Project ideas using stamps from Paper Smooches:

Project ideas using the o'flip album (which we actually already have in store!):