Win It Wednesday: Simple Stories DIY Embellishments.

 
Welcome to another WIN IT WEDNESDAY! This week our Win It Wednesday Giveaway includes four embellishment packs from the Simple Stories DIY collection. The winner will receive a package of each: Chipboard Stickers, Burlap Stickers, Enamel Dots, and Office Tags. You can use these pieces for your next scrapbooking or card making project or to embellish any crafty project you wish.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember - to be entered to win - go to our Facebook Page and COMMENT & LIKE the Win It Wednesday post to get yourself in the running to WIN! Good Luck.

*A random winner will be announced Thursday, May 8th, 2014. (Facebook has complete release by each entrant or participant. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.) Winner will be announced on our Crafts Direct Facebook page and has 14 days to claim prize before it is considered void.

National Scrapbook Day!

Tomorrow is National Scrapbook Day! And we would love to have you come celebrate with us! 

On Saturday only - all Single Sheet Scrapbooking Paper and Scrapbooking Stickers will be 50% off AND all Photo Boxes will be on sale for only $1.98!

PLUS we will be offering a Free 4x4 Mini Book Make & Take using the new Simple Stories DIY collection from 1-3pm at the back of aisle 12 (Paper Crafts Demo Counter).

We sure hope to see you there!

Project Ideas: Christmas Countdown Ideas.

At the beginning of the month I shared the Christmas Advent House project idea that we had created - today I wanted to share a couple additional ideas our team has created for counting down to Christmas.

First up, this Countdown Calendar that uses a simple frame, twine, and paper envelopes decorated with paper and embellishments from the Doodlebug Home for the Holidays line.

The second project uses a white paper tree - that already comes put together and ready to decorate! For this piece we then used paper and embellishments from the Simple Stories December Documented line to embellish the drawers and vinyl numbers to add the numbers for the countdown. You can find project instructions for this project on our website HERE.

Project Ideas: 5x5 Plaques.

As part of our current ad our 5x5 MDF Tiles are on sale for only $0.88 each!! 

Today I have a couple of fall themed project ideas to share with you that we created using these tiles. In addition to these projects we also have more ideas and inspiration using the tiles on our website HERE.

FALL 5x5 TILE BANNER

HARVEST LANE 5X5 TILE

Upcoming Events: Make & Takes, Demos and Samples!

We have so many fun events coming up this week!!

I'm very excited to share all that we have planned for this week. We are thrilled to have American Crafts and Simple Stories coming to Crafts Direct on Thursday and they will each be offering Free Make & Take projects. 

On Saturday we are also lucky to have Doodlebug Designs coming for a Free Make and Take. In addition to the visits from the paper crafting companies we are also offering a Make & Take, a product demo of the Loom Bands, and Wind & Willow samples on Saturday as part of our Anniversary Ad celebration! 

More information on each event - along with dates, times, and locations can be found below. (You can check out the complete calendar with a listing of all the events HERE.)

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday (Sept. 19th) from 2-4pm American Crafts will be offering a Free Make & Take at our Paper Crafts demo counter. We will be making these great embellished Hot Chocolate Packet holders. More info HERE.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday (Sept. 19th) from 5-7pm Simple Stories will be here offering a Free Make & Take at our Paper Crafts demo counter. We will be making these 6x8 Snap book Pages. More info HERE.

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Saturday (Sept. 21st) we also have some fun things planned - from 1-3pm at our Paper Crafts Demo counter our instructor Heather will be here to help you with a Free Make & Take project - where we will be making these adorable Halloween Photo Tags. More info HERE.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday from 1-3pm in our Kitchen Display room will be offering samples of a few of the Wind & Willow Dip and Dessert Mixes. More info HERE.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also from 1-3pm on Saturday we will be offering a demonstration on making Loom Band Bracelets at our Paints & Basics demo counter - this is great way to learn the basics and get started on your own set of Loom Band Bracelets! More info HERE.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally on Saturday from 6-8pm Doodlebug Designs will be here and offering a Free Make & Take creating this fun Fall Card. You can join them at our Paper Crafts demo counter. More info HERE.

 

Project & Layout Ideas: Simple Stories.

Over the past couple of weeks we have been working on putting together layout ideas and project samples using all of the new paper lines we have recently received in our Paper Crafts department.

Today I wanted to share some of the new projects we have created using lines from the company Simple Stories. We do have additional layouts and projects that we are posting this week - which you can find on our Pinterest board and Facebook page.

First, using the Simple Stories Smarty Pants line Melissa created these layouts and card:

 

She also made this great little Learn Live Grow sign using pieces from the paper line and a 5x5 Tile. You can find project instructions for this piece HERE.

Another new line from Simple Stories is the Say Cheese line. With this line Melissa created some layout ideas (which she also used divided page protectors on), a card, as well as a few decor pieces.

Magic Scroll Frame - You can find a project sheet HERE.

 

Smile Hanging Sign - You can find a project sheet for this one HERE.

Product Feature: Simple Stories - I *Heart* Summer line

One of my favorite new lines in our Paper Crafts department is the Simple Stories: I Heart Summer paper line. I love the patterns, the colors, and as always with Simple Stories the coordinating stickers and divided pattern papers are so great too!

Here are a few of the fun projects we have created with the line so far: 

A couple layouts and a card: 

A "Hello Summer" hanging sign:

A fun "Summer Memories" desk plate:

And a decorated collage frame using the line:

Simple Stories December Album.

Even though we are a few days into December already there is still time to put together a December Daily album! Or if the daily album isn't for you - you can also use this idea to create an album for any Christmas photos that you take through the month, or even create the album to give as a gift!

One of my favorite ideas for a December album this year is this Merry & Bright album we created using the Simple Stories Snap album and their Homemade for the Holidays paper line. I love how with only a few sheets of paper and some embellishment stickers you have a very unique and creative album. Plus the different page protector/photo space sizes that you can include in the album makes it easy to add photos and/or other mementos from the month as well.

You can check out a few of the pages from our album below (and also view the entire album in store) and for even more creative ideas on ways to use the Snap book for a December album Simple Stories hosted a Blog Hop on their website with links to additional project ideas from other designers.

You can find the albums, the Simple Stories Christmas line and the same on a middle endcap in our Paper Crafts department.

25 Days of Christmas 2011: Day 1

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm very excited to kick off our 25 Days of Christmas blog series!! I have a lot of great project ideas to share with you this month...from decor items to fun crafts to do with your family to perfect gift ideas. Every day until Christmas we will have a new project idea posted here - so be sure to check back everyday for some Holiday Inspiration.

Day 1: Advent Calendars

Since we are going to be counting down the days on the blog, we thought we would share some creative ways you could count down the days until Christmas too!!

The first advent calendar was created using a paper mache tree that comes unfinished in white. All we did was add a little paint, some pattern paper and number stickers and you have an adorable advent tree. Each drawer pulls out also so you have a perfect spot to add a little treat or write down an activity for that day. A project sheet for this project can be found HERE.

The second advent idea I wanted to share was this one I created using the Winter Wishes Advent kit from Little Yellow Bicycle. This project actually comes pre-packaged as a kit so all you have to do it put it together and add a photo - everything you see here is included! This would be a great one to use to write down a daily message or a holiday activity to do for each day. The kit for this advent can be found in our Paper Crafts department.

Our CHA Finds!

Two days of the Craft and Hobby convention in Chicago are over! We've seen so many new Scrapbooking products, many of them Halloween, Fall, or Christmas themed (already?!?). We could go on and on about all the new, amazing things we've seen... but here's a list of a few of our favorites:

1. My Mind's Eye Lost and Found 2, and Christmas. They gave the old line a bit of a make-over... still with glittered die cuts, stamps, brads, and awesome papers. New to the line are adhesive pearls, and 6x6 pads.

2. We R Memory Keepers Sew Ribbon & Sew Stamper. The amazing Sew Easy tool has been remade... into a stamp roller. Now, you can simply stamp the stitching look, instead of having to actually thread the needle! The Sew Ribbon is the same concept as the Sew Easy tool, however you punch your paper with the tool, and weave ribbon into your layout or project. Super cool!



3. Simple Stories... all of their new lines are absolutely amazing! We are already big fans of their scrapbooking papers, and all four of their new lines are better than ever. Pictured is the new Happy Day, birthday themed collection. These papers are awesome, and perfect with the divided We R Memory Keepers page protectors. The other three lines are: Generations, Baby Steps, and 25 Days of Christmas.

4. American Crafts Amy Tangerine. Amy Tangerine is a new designer for the company, and their new line is awesome. This line is great because it is very versatile, and combines the designers love for travel, crafts, and fashion. The line can be used for many of different scrapbooking themes!

5. Doodlebug! Of course we had to mention Doodlebug. A few months ago they came out with their Create-a-Card program... now they've expanded it to make card-making even easier. The rack is now going to have small, dimensional stickers, twine, and "doodles" stickers so you can create your own, inexpensive handmade cards. They also released four new paper lines, that are complete with papers, stickers, and embellishments. (The Halloween lines is ADORABLE, complete with little glittered monsters on it!)



That is just a short list of all the amazing things we've seen in the last couple days. Check back soon to see all of the fun new additions to the Paper Crafts department!