Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share Day 1: {Heart} You!

Hi All! Welcome to the first Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share for 2014! WOO HOO!!! We've decided to change it up a little this year and have the blog share run the same days each month. So mark your calendars for some Kraft-y inspiration on the 16th and 17th of every month! 

This month's Kraft-y theme is "Sew Special," which means all the projects have to do with sewing. This theme goes perfectly with Close To My Heart's January Stamp of the Month: Cross Stitch Wishes.  

Today's projects are a couple of super simple back-to-school gifts for my kids. (Have to be honest, I'm so glad school is back in session! Love my kids, but I need to get my routine going!) :-) I'm blessed with two super readers, so I thought a couple of bookmarks would be perfect for them. 

Here's the ingredients list for each bookmark:

Lovely Lady Bookmark:

White Daisy cardstock

January Stamp of The Month: Cross Stitch Wishes

Honey Triangles washi tape

Cotton Candy Exclusive ink

Sky Exclusive ink

4x5-inch acrylic block

Handsome Man Bookmark:

Colonial White cardstock

January Stamp of The Month: Cross Stitch Wishes

Chocolate Woodgrain washi tape

Barn Red Exclusive ink

Ponderosa Pine Exclusive ink

4x5-inch acrylic block 

To make these bookmarks, I cut two pieces of cardstock for each bookmark at 1 1/2 (or 1 3/4) x 6 inches. I stamped one layer with the medium heart and masked-off the "You" from the "You Are The Best" sentiment. I then layered the two pieces on top of each other and held them together with washi tape. I think it took me all of 5 minutes to finish both! These would be great Valentine's gifts for classmates if you changed up the sentiment a bit.

Here are a few close-ups:

Hope you enjoyed this simple little gift idea. Remember, all Stamps of The Month can be purchased for $17.95 OR for only $5 with your purchase of $35!

Now, be sure to visit the always-inspiring Lynn Darda at From My Bungalow to see what she's Kraft-ed up for you today! And don't forget to stop by tomorrow as we continue our Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share.

Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share: Gift-spirations Day 3

Hi All! Welcome to the last day of the Kraft-y Hearts' Gift-spiration Blog Share. Wow! It just occurred to me that this is the last Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share for 2013! Has this year flown by, or what??

So today's project is another easy, lots-of-bang-for-the-buck project that makes a great stocking stuffer or little gift that brings an extra something to the old gift card standby. Anyone up for some Christmas Kisses?

This project is made from treat tubes, washi tape, and a wee bit of paper. Inside are 7 mint truffle Hershey Kisses. (Yep, this could be a seasonal cheap candy fave for the Hill House….) Let's take a look at the project:

I started by wrapping the treat tubes with silver- and juniper-colored washi tape from Close To My Heart's Sparkle & Shine Washi Tape 3-pack. I then used a little Red Shimmer Trim to layer over the juniper tape. I then cut snowflakes at 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 inches from Juniper Cardstock and Sparkle & Shine pattern paper using the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, and then layered the snowflakes together. I popped up the smaller snowflake in the middle of the larger one with dimensional adhesive. I added Christmas Red Stickles and a red sparkle to the center for bling. The "Christmas Kisses" sentiment is from the Season's Tweetings stamp set. I stamped it in Cranberry Exclusive ink on White Daisy Cardstock and fussy cut it into a little Hershey Kiss-like banner. 

For the top of the treat tube, I cut a 1-inch circle from Sparkle & Shine paper and layered it with another 1 1/4-inch snowflake. I added 7 kisses, and voila, a fun little treat ready to be given away.

Here's another look at the treats.  (Not quite visions of sugar plums, I suppose, but I'd prefer chocolate mints to said plums any day!)

I hope you've enjoyed our gift-spirations. Be sure to stop by and be inspired by all the crafty goodness that Lynn Darda has for you at From My Bungalow.

Have a happy, peaceful holiday season!

Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share: Gift-spirations Day 2

Good Yule, Folks! Welcome to Day 2 of the Kraft-y Hearts Gift-Spiration Blog Share!

So today's project is more about the wrapping than the gift inside. These little bags are perfect for everything from cookies to a gift card to candy, and so much more. (I suppose you could put a lump of coal or two in one, but why wast such cute packaging, right?) ;-) The best part about these adorable bags is that they are part of a no-sew kit by Close To My Heart called Season's Tweeting Gift Bags kit, which is from the Holidays From The Heart Gift Guide. 

The kit includes 6 gift bags (3 in each style), 9 tags (that's 3 extra tags just in case you mess up), and the cutest stamp set. All you need to provide is the ink and an acrylic block (3-inch works well). Here are some close ups of the tags I made.

The images are great for coloring. I used 4 colors of Sharpie Markers on these tags (3 greens and a red) that coordinated really well with the fabrics of the bags. The banners were cut out in a New York minute using the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge. I popped some of the images up using dimensional adhesive for added interest. (Is that owl cute, or what??)

If you use Sharpies or alcohol inks such as CTMH's Exclusive Inks Markers, your coloring will bleed through the back of your tag. To cover up the bleed, I added a circle of White Daisy cardstock cut at roughly 2 3/4 inches and stamped "To" and "From" on it in Cranberry Exclusive ink. 

Here's a look at all the bags and tags together:

What could be easier for a gift?? The work is all done for you. All that's left is the fun part: stamping the tags and stuffing the bags with goodies. 

For more fun gift ideas, be sure to hop over and see what the amazingly creative Lynn Darda is up to at From My Bungalow. And we'll see you tomorrow for one last quick gift idea for the holidays!

Kraft-y Hearts Blog Share: Gift-spirations Day 1

Hi Folks! The Kraft-y Hearts decided to share a little early this month in hopes of offering you a few simple, last-minute gift ideas. I don't know about you, but it seems like my gift list keeps growing and growing. We have teachers, coaches, neighbors, friends, family, hostess gifts--and the list goes on. It's always nice to have an arsenal of nice, inexpensive little gifts on hand for those last minute needs.

Today's project is a departure from the norm for me. I decided to forgo paper and work with fabric. (I know, right?!) So my first little gift--perfect for teachers and friends--is a little tissue cover made with Close To My Heart's Sparkle & Shine Textile pack. 

These little holders are much easier than they look. There are some great tutorials on the web. (I used this one, minus the corner tuck.) Even with my relatively novice sewing machine skills, I was able to knock out seven covers in about 2 hours one evening. The Sparkle & Shine Textile pack gives you enough fabric for about 9 tissue covers. I alternated the outer and lining fabrics so that I had 6 different styles.

Here are the finished products:

Not bad for someone who hasn't sewn on a sewing machine more than twice in the last 30 years! If you wanted to conserve fabric to make more, you can cut the lining and outer fabrics to the same size and forgo the little contrasting edge at the opening. (I like that look, though, so I splurged!) 

So there you go. A little last-minute gift that everyone can use! Now for more gift-spiration, make sure you stop over at From My Bungalow to see what lovely ideas the super talented Lynn Darda has for you!

See you tomorrow for another gift-y little share!