Markers are Magic

I went shopping for new supplies & I'm showing off my purchases.

Today, it's these brand-spanking new

black markers.

I don't really need that many, but there was

a deal at the store: six for $2.00!

They always come in handy when

labeling stuff & addressing packages.

I also like to use them to draw.

Wanna see?

Blah: a box from the mail

{it contained a Christmas present}

Tada! Same box but with whimsical patterns all over.

My instant design covers any markings on the box &

adds a little personality -- like it was a gift box.

I can reuse it for a new package I need to send.

On top are spaces for the sender's & addressee's information.

All that's needed is to fill in the blanks, seal the top

and send away!

Stocking up on Supplies

It's a New Year. And when I think of "new", I associate it with fresh office supplies. Do you remember when we were still students and a new school year would come around? We'd shop for pencils {that we'd enthusiastically sharpen} and paper {to be filled with notes & doodles}. Now that 2011 has begun, I promptly headed to the store to replenish some supplies that made an exit together with 2010.

All this week, I'll be sharing with you my new supplies starting with this one:

Watercolor Pencils!

They work like colored pencils but are water soluble.

Let's try them out.

I found these blah business cards -- from an old job,

from contacts who no longer work for those companies

and discount coupons that have expired.

Well, let's make this blah more useful!

Glue two cards together.

Make sure the printed sections are face to face;

this is where you'll apply the glue.

You'll end up with a thicker card that's

blank on both sides.

Draw a picture on the card using the watercolor pencil.

{I drew a necklace}

Then brush some water over the image & slowly,

you'll have a washed, watercolor effect.

Tada! A set of little cards with a girly theme.

I can make new business cards out of these!

Have a great day!

Cool Collage

We've made it to the end of the week.

I hope yours was fun & productive!

I've been having a ball reusing the pages

of this magazine.

The pages are almost like card stock,

the fonts are fancy & the pictures

are in full color.

I've read my entire collection

and it's time to let go of them.

But goodbyes like these are never easy.

Therefore I fashioned this collage using the magazine

cover and made cut outs using the pages.

Add this blah paper bag to the mix, and...

TADA! Instant environment-friendly gift bag!

Have a fabulous weekend folks!

Easy Gift Boxes

Today, I still have gift wrapping on my mind.

As the New Year begins, I want to

simplify & recycle -- less clutter at home,

less trash in the world.

Here's a beautiful magazine.

Made with beautiful paper.

But a stack has been hanging around

my living room, gathering dust.

Time for some blah to TADA!

I turned them into little gift boxes.

TADA!

I used an existing box as a template to make

the bottom and the lid.

I made different sizes.

All that's needed is a gift to be put inside.

You can add some color with markers,

paint and magazine cut-outs, too.

Hope you liked today's craft!

Paper Bows

So nice of you to stop by today!

I've got another idea to turn this

old, blah magazine into a Tada!:

The pages of this magazine are thicker

than a regular glossy.

So I took a black marker & drew a bow on the page.

Then I cut around it.

TADA! I used it in place of a 3-D bow

as a finishing touch to a present!

A small ribbon with multiple bows for a tiny gift.

Or a bigger bow for a hefty present.

The possibilities are endless!

Mags to Tags

For all of you living in the US, I hope you had a fun long weekend (we commemorated the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. yesterday). This week, I'm finding new use for these magazines I've been keeping since 2008:

The Edible Magazines are published all over the US,

Canada and some parts of Europe.

They promote healthy & sustainable living.

I like the thick paper they use and

the vibrant photographs -- perfect for

crafting once all the articles

have been devoured.

I whipped out one of my favorite tools,

the circle punch. It's the same one I

used for this craft & this craft.

Tada!

Instant gift tags made simply by punching

around a photo from the magazine.

This set has a farm-like feel with the

animals, fruits and barn photos.

The photo circles were attached to a plain

cardboard circle using a glue stick.

This serves as a sturdy backing & a place

to write a thoughtful message.

Punch a small hole at the top and add a

piece of twine, cord or ribbon.

Tada! Another version using the

printed page with a border of

punched-out daisies.

See you tomorrow!

Magazine Make-over

Happy Monday Lovelies!

When the New Year comes around, I like to get rid of clutter. Easier said than done for a pack rat like me. I like to save things for their sentimental value and for opportunities to turn blah into TADA! Take for example these magazines:

I have different versions from Edible Jersey, Manhattan, Brooklyn, even San Francisco & Marin and Wine Country. These "Edibles" are beautifully produced magazines that shines the spotlight on the local food movement: buy/eat food grown in your town or city.

The photos are engaging {I have the urge to lick the page!}, the articles are insightful and the paper used is thick with a matte finish.

So instead of awarding them to the paper recycling bin, here's what I did:

I used some old, blah cardboard boxes...

And these crafty tools to turn the

magazine pages into:

Terrific and TADA! postcards!

I punched out leaves & flowers and printed

some sincere wishes:

I even decorated the back of the card {natural board}

to add some whimsy:

These will be my official greeting cards for 2011!

Eco-chic, don't you think?