Back to School 3x4 Lunch Notes

It's that time of year again! Back to School is in full swing in our house right now. It has been a blur of activity the past two weeks as we adjust to our new non-relaxing, non-flip flop wearing, missing summer schedules. :) It has been a bittersweet return to the hustle & bustle of school. My youngest entered Kindergarten this year, so I am missing my little constant companion. But, let's be real....I know I can find things to fill my "alone time" pretty quick. 

One of the things I love to do during the school year is sneak little notes into my kids lunches. I don't add a note everyday, but when I do I know they love the reminder that I am thinking of them. 

So last week, during my "alone time" I started making a bunch of cards with some school themed me & my BIG ideas paper and goodies. Here are a few that will make their way into a lunchbox soon!

The base of each card is a folded piece of white card stock. I like to make the finished card to measure 3x4 so it can slip right into my page protector in my Project Life album. 

The construction of each card is very simple. I don't want the card making to become too time consuming. All the fun products makes it super fun. All I do is jot a sweet note inside & pop it in their lunch. I think my son will love seeing this one!

My daughter, who has officially become a "big kid" in fourth grade (where did that time go!?) loves getting a little message from Mom too. Man oh man, do I ever have to savor these elementary school years! Don't you feel the same way? I know pretty soon I will be sticking notes in her purse as she drives off to college. Yikes!

Also, I LOVE just using a 3x4 journal card like this one above that has a great message on it. I can just turn it over, write my message, and pop it in. Either way is special. Either way let's my kiddies know that I am thinking of them. Either way - they both know they are special. That makes this Mommy very happy!!

You can check out all these fun products in the mambi shop right HERE.

Happy Creating,

Making Cards with Gelatos

I am so in love with the Faber-Castell gelatos. They are so super fun and easy to use. It is always fun to incorporate new art supplies into the creative mix. I already had white, black, silver, and gold gelatos. I liked them so much that I wanted to add some new shades to my collection. When I went to Michaels to grab some, they only had the package with reds & pinks. I will have to make another trip to see if they have any new colors. Of course I am really WANTING the blue pack because of the aqua. :)

I thought these colors were perfect for some Valentine's Day cards. I made a few that were quick and easy, with supplies I had laying around. The first thing I did was cut down some white card stock to about 5 inches. I also grabbed some sheet music, washi tape, some Dear Lizzy paper, and my embellishment drawer. (I keep a plastic organizer with drawers by my table and one of the drawers is for embellishments. It is convenient to throw things in there that I find around the house, rescue from the trash or buy.)

After I gathered my creative goodies, I started to play. The gelatos really allow you to control the amount of color you want on your project. If more pigment is needed, I simply add more. Easy! It is also very easy to use stencils with gelatos. Just be sure to hold the stencil pretty firm so the gelato does not spread out too much underneath. It might...but, I actually like that.

I was using standard white card stock when making these cards. I had thought about using watercolor paper, but wanted to see how this card stock held up with the water. The paper did buckle quite a bit. If you want to have less warping a heavier paper would be a better choice. I like the way the cards turned out - but, flat they are not.

Look at that cute Dear Lizzy paper from the Lucky Charm collection. I know it is an older collection, but I LOVE it. I have a 12 x 12 paper pad that I am hoarding having a hard time using up. Is it strange to have paper make my heart skip a beat? Ha! My hubby has some competition. :)

The light pink gelato is so soft and pretty. It was the perfect shade for this card. Some vintage sheet music layered with a white doily, Dear Lizzy sticker, and a water colored heart came together beautifully.

I am looking forward to more creative play with my gelatos. SO fun! Do you have any? I'd love to hear about your gelato projects too!

If you are on Instagram, come say "Hi!" Find me @sadieinspired

Come back for a visit tomorrow when I share a special layout! :)

Happy Creating!!

Painted Mixed Media Christmas Card

How fun is this little painted Christmas tree? 

Do you like to make your own cards or gifts? 

Today I have a perfect little project to share! I painted this mini Christmas scene for a holiday card. But, it could easily be made into a canvas for a bit of whimsy art or framed for a gift. It was super easy and fun! Let me tell you how I created it!

First I used a heavy duty piece of card stock from some packaging that I saved from the recycle bin for the base. I created a mixed media background using layers of paper, stamps, ink, pen, acrylic paint and rub ons. Then I used some fun patterned paper from me & my BIG ideas to cut out the shapes for the tree, trunk, presents, and half circles along the top. I didn't measure. I just cut away. :)

Using some matte Mod Podge I glued the scene together. Once that dried, I added paint to each piece lightly with acrylic paint. I wanted to tone down the patterned paper a bit, but still allow the designs to show through. This is a great way to tone down bright patterns for your scrapbook layouts too. A thin layer of white gesso always does the trick for me!

Finally, I added details like shading, bows, and Merry Christmas stickers from Cosmo Cricket. I used a small white button for the tree topper, attaching it with some E6000 glue (use with GOOD ventilation!). Once my mini canvas was complete I added it on top of a few paper layers. Everything was placed onto a card (just some folded white card stock) and now it is ready to send out! 

The great thing about this card - the recipient can stick it in a frame and have it as Christmas decor for years to come. A sweet, festive card perfect for gift giving. 

PS I also think this would be a GREAT project for kids to make as gift too!!

Happy Creating,

Quick & Easy Holiday Card

Here is a super quick & easy card I made using the me & my BIG ideas CARDS in an INSTANT. Seriously, so super easy!

I don't know about you, but I love making my own cards for Christmas, birthdays, or what ever the occasion may be. (DIY wedding card) It just means a wee bit more to the recipient when things have a homemade touch. The mambi cards make everything so easy.

All I did was fold the patterned paper (already sized & perforated) in half, use some scraps from the large 12 x 12 mambi pack to run horizontally, then placed a card from one of the CARDS in an INSTANT pack right on top. I did add some black paper behind to help it pop off the page. I hole punched the top and added some decorative twine. Finally, I made a few of those darling snowflakes stand out by adding a white puffy snowflake sticker (mambi STICKS). Too cute!

On the inside, I didn't want it to be plain white, so I glued a piece of the pretty aqua paper to the bottom. Then I placed the matching card on top. I slipped doilies under the card on the top & bottom. Now, it's done and ready to be given to someone special.

It really was quick and easy! :)

Come see my card on the me & my BIG ideas blog right HERE!

Next time I will share a mixed media Christmas card. It will be a little more messy (yay!), but who doesn't love some paint on their hands!?

Happy Creating,

A DIY Wedding Card

I love weddings. Don't you? There is something so magical about seeing a gorgeous bride walk down that aisle in her beautiful gown. I have been to so many weddings and they all have that little bit of magic. :) With another wedding right around the corner for a family friend, I was inspired to make something unique, special and classy. I also wanted to include a bit of sparkle to capture that magical spirit that was sure to be flying around.

 
I was looking through my stash of creative goodies and I knew I wanted to use a super cute patterned paper from the Becky Higgins Project Life Midnight Edition by Liz Tamanaha (whoa, is that a mouthful!). Remember, I wanted something with a bit of bling too and the new Pocket Pages Specialty Cards from me & my BIG ideas were the perfect compliment. Holy Smokes, do I LOVE their new line of cards! They are so fun with super fine glitter and foil added to their already darling cards. They are so perfect for my Project Life albums and projects like making cards too. I can't wait to use more of these bedazzled goodies in several projects I have planned.

For my wedding card I just used white card stock as the base, added the Midnight Edition paper that had been trimmed down, and began layering the mambi cards. I also used one of the 4x6 title cards in black & white wood grain from the Midnight Core Kit as a base. I just love how versatile all the pocket page cards from the various manufactures can be.

I also used some plain white vellum to soften up the layers a bit. I added some black grosgrain ribbon and some thinner black satin ribbon under the layered paper to make a tied closure. I fell in swoon-y love with the large glittered ampersand and made it the central focus of the card. I added black corrugated Thickers from Amy Tangerine (found at TJ Maxx) on either side. An itty-bitty silver heart fit perfectly inside both of the letter Rs to match the fabulous silver glittered circles on the mambi card.  

 

Doesn't the black and white look pretty with the neutral palette of that patterned heart paper! 

I just love it. 

Elegant, Classy, and Sparkling...exactly what I hoped for.

Now,  I have to figure out what to wear! :)

I hope you are having a creative, happy week with a bit of magic!