19 March 2010

Take Me Away


We've reached the end of the week and I've got
more ideas to turn scrap paper into bookmarks.


Blah: reminders of a trip taken long ago.

TADA!: make your old ticket more useful!

TADA!: a souvenir napkin to mark a page.

TADA!: a museum badge to remind you
where you left off.


TADA!: an old boarding pass to tell you
where
you are in the story.

TADA!: let your books take a whiff of
your favorite bakery.

{This bookmark was created by trimming the paper
bag
and inserting it into a plastic ID sleeve}

Books can take you to new places.
Travel bookmarks can bring you back
to places you've been to.


Have a great weekend!

18 March 2010

Lucky Labels


Do you get these labels/tags when you buy yourself
a new pair of jeans, shirt or bag?


Keep them useful and turn them from
blah to TADA!


Jazz them up with punched out paper
or
abstract embroidery
.

Tada!
You've got yourself a set of bookmarks!

17 March 2010

Mail Make-Over


Digital books are the rage these days. I think they're a genius idea but I still prefer leafing through paper and sniffing a brand new book. It's a simple joy of mine. I'm proud to say I take care of my books. No dog ears -- just bookmarks. And all this week, I'm making them myself!

I'm using these catalogs I got in the mail.

TADA! I get to save these inviting images by turning
the pages into bookmarks.


I think this mailer has a fabulous print.

Just cut a section and TADA! -- instant bookmark!

I love the floral prints on this perfume insert (the ones
you get in a magazine; just open & sample a perfume).


Fold it up, cut the unnecessary ends and TADA!,
another one to add to your collection.


Aren't you drawn to the modern
elements
of this catalog cover?


I was and by now, you know what it did to it!
Bookmark!


16 March 2010

D-I-Y Bookmarks


This week on my blog, I'm turning excess paper
from blah to TADA!

I'm using this bag again today.

Yesterday, I cut out the spoon graphic and
turned it into a bookmark.

Today, I'm using the back side (blank) of the bag, together with
these subscription inserts tumbling out from magazines.


I folded the subscription cards & wrapped the brown paper
around it.
Then I added a sticker, punched a hole and
finished it off with some yarn.


TADA! I've got some blank bookmarks.


Use these for a kiddie party activity.
With some pens & stickers,
it serves as a
canvas for creative little hands and it
doubles as a party favor, too.


15 March 2010

Bookmark Bonanza

Sometimes, I feel like there is so much paper in my life -- paper bags, catalogs, junk mail and ticket stubs. And you know that throwing them out is not my first option. To turn them from blah to TADA!, my go-to idea is to turn them into bookmarks.

This has got to be one of the cutest
paper bags out there.


So I took my favorite graphic from the
bag
(the spoon!) and made it into a bookmark.


I cut it out and mounted it on cardboard.

TADA! It does a great job marking pages in
my favorite cookbooks!

12 March 2010

Bag in Bloom


It's finally Friday! Please tell me you all had a wonderful week?

I hope you're excited to see the final look
on this blah bag.


{cue drum roll}


TADA! This bag is blooming!

I simply sewed on black rose petals (got them from Tinsel Trading Company in New York City) for added drama.


I can't wait to use it for my next formal event.



But why wait when I can use my blooming clutch
to dress up an everyday dress like this one?
(image from Old Navy)


Have a weekend worth celebrating!

11 March 2010

Naughty or Nice?


I'm experimenting with different looks to update
this old, blah evening bag:


It just didn't seem to look current.

Add a black chain, pink tulle & accent with a
black ribbon...
TADA! It's a brand new bag!


Does it remind you of playful lingerie or a graceful ballerina?


Add a sleek wrap-dress (image from Banana Republic)
and you've got a perfect match!