Tutorial: Winter-Themed Message Board

Grab a few coasters, Glue Dots® and a Bind-it-All... Let's get crafty and organized this winter!

Supplies:

Glue Dots® (Glue Lines, Micro, Pop Up)
3 coasters
craft wood (Hobby Lobby)
chalkboard paint
paintbrush
cardstock (Basic Grey)white corrugated cardboard (Jillibean Soup)
stickers (Hobby Lobby, Basic Grey)
black floss (Sew Easy)corner rounder
Bind-it-All
o-wires
sticky notepad
chalk
small pen
ribbon

1. Apply two coats of chalkboard paint to a piece of craft wood. Let dry in between coats. Set aside.

2. Measure coasters, cut cardstock to size and round the corners using a corner rounder.

3. Attach cardstock to coasters by applying Glue Dots Glue Lines®. (Note: Make sure to apply the Glue Lines® where they won't get caught in the binding machine.)

4. Using the Bind-it-All, punch holes at the top and bottom of each coaster. Bind coasters together with o-wires. Do not fully close the bottom o-wire.

5. Decorate the top coaster with a square piece of corrugated cardboard, add stickers and tie a bow with floss. Use Glue Dots® to secure everything in place.

6. Attach the chalkboard to the center coaster using Glue Dots Glue Lines® and add a snowflake sticker.

7. Use Glue Dots Glue Lines® to attach the sticky notepad to the bottom coaster. Cut a snowflake sticker in half and adhere next to the notepad.

8. Tie floss around a piece of chalk and a pen to hang from the bottom o-wire.

9. Tie ribbon to the top o-wire and tie a bow to hang on the wall.

Additional Glue Dots® Tutorials:

• Make a confetti dropper for your New Year's Eve party in less than 30 minutes
• Turn a cereal box into a gift box
• Recycle old greeting cards into party invitations

Disclosure: This blog post was written while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

12 Crafty Things To Do

What's on your crafty to do list? I bet you have at least a handful of projects that you'd like to start (or finish) by the end of the year. I certainly do! 

Today, I'm sharing 12 things on my crafty to do list. These are the photos I took on September 12 for Ella Publishing's Take Twelve Challenge.

1. Decoupaged Wall Chalkboard: The kitchen is STILL a work-in-progress! We started the process by tearing off wallpaper in January, completed the majority of work in April and then I decoupaged a portion of two walls over the summer. Next up, add the chalkboard I painted to cover up the blank spot on this wall:

2. Winter-Themed Wall Hanging: For my upcoming Bind-it-All class and Glue Dots Dottess project, I plan to make some sort of wall hanging using these coasters from Outback Steakhouse:

3. Road Trip Scrapbook: I went to Kings Island in early August, took lots of photos, printed them as 4x6 photo collages and added the cropped pics to the original book I made during my Zutter Certification Course. What's left to do? I need to add the journaling and would like to create a video tour of this scrapbook:

4. Scrapbook With Poo: Yep, you read that right. Elephant poo to be exact! I first found out about PooPooPaper a couple years back and after my last trip to the Toledo Zoo, I finally got my hands on some recycled poo and brought home a pack of odorless scratch paper. I can't wait to scrapbook with this:

5. Decorate Paper Storage Organizers: When I receive orders from MemoryWorks, they are shipped in large boxes and I've turned some into paper storage. They have helped me to stay organized, but I still need to decorate the boxes:

6. Wall-Hanging Stamp Organizer: When my crafty friend, Candy, asked me if I wanted a bunch of plastic packaging from dies and such, I said sure, but had no idea what I was going to do with all of them. Then I saw this large acrylic wall organizer for stamps by Jules and an idea was born. I'll do something similar, but on a much smaller scale and create a stamp organizer that can be displayed on my craft room wall and also portable at the same time.

7. Photo Album Cover: I signed up for monthly workshops at Mindy's house and during the last class I attended, we made photo albums. I learned how to dye ribbon using ink and quickly dried it with my first-ever heat gun experience. Since I had to leave early, I wasn't able to finish decorating the cover:

8. Use Washi Tape: I did it! I broke down and bought some washi tape and will be creating a variety of projects with the two rolls below. I also plan to make my own washi tape and will share the tutorial here when I do so.

9. Make "Green" Scrapbooks: I've been wanting to put together a completely "green" scrapbook for some time now, using only recycled and eco-friendly materials and will finally be tackling this during the ScrapHappy Layout a Day in October. I purchased two eco-binders by TerraCycle for $1 each at a local thrift store and they will become the covers for my ecoscrapbooks:

10. Bind-it-All Class Projects: The day I snapped my Take Twelve photos, I was prepping for my Bind-it-All class at Hobby Lobby. I've been struggling to find students, but happy to say that I have my first one! A one-on-one class was perfect for Nancy since she owns a Bind-it-All, but didn't know how to use it. She left the class with plenty of knowledge and confidence to use her book-binding tool.

11. Toilet Paper Roll Home Decor: 2012 has been the year for toilet paper roll art. I've featured several crafts using toilet paper rolls and have seen a plethora of finished projects on the web. Lately, I've been itching to create one eye-catching home decor item using these tubes that usually gets trashed or recycled. I have an idea and I can't wait to make it!

12. Make Handmade Paper: This has been on my crafty to do list for almost a year now. Last November, I purchased my very own handmade paper kit at the Great Lakes Mini Meet and have yet to use it. I've been saving scraps of paper and fibers in the bag I brought the kit home in, but all of it has been sitting on a shelf, waiting to be used:

Whew! As I tackle each project, I'll be sure to share photos of them right here. With less than four months left of this year, I'm hoping to complete all twelve projects, as well as a few others.

I'd love to hear which project you would like to see most. Please comment below and let me know ;) ~Danielle

See my other Take Twelve posts:

January

February

March

April

May

June
July

August

Upcoming Scrapbook & Craft Classes in Toledo, Ohio

Notebook & Mini-Scrapbook Class Projects

WHAT: Let's Make Notebooks Class

WHEN: September 14, 2012: 5-7 p.m.

WHERE: Hobby Lobby, 5329 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio

We will make three assorted-sized notebooks using the Bind-it-All: 3x3 fall-themed book with folders, 6x6 Halloween mini-scrapbook and a cereal box notebook. You will also get a chance to use the Round-it-All and Distrezz-it-All.

Please bring a cereal box, pencil, paper trimmer, scissors, bone folder, adhesive tape/tabs and a Bind-it-All if you have one. Cost is $12. Contact me (ecoscrapbooker at gmail dot com) to register. Future classes include a DIY wall organizer on October 12 and a coffee sleeve mini-scrapbook on November 16. Click here for more information. ~Danielle

Related:

I'm a Zutter Certified Instructor

Tutorial: Using Paper Scraps to Decorate a Wedding Book Cover

Tutorial: Turn a Cereal Box into a Gift Box

Hobby Lobby Class: Free Bind-it-All Demo on August 24

I'm offering my first craft class at Hobby Lobby in Toledo, Ohio on August 24, 2012...and it's free! If you're in the area, stop by to see the Bind-it-All in action and learn about the types of projects you can make with it.

WHAT: Bind-it-All Demo Class

WHEN: August 24, 2012: 6-7 p.m.

WHERE: Hobby Lobby, 5329 Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio

COST: Free! No supplies needed. Just come and learn!

This class and all future classes will be on my new "Classes" page. Please be sure to visit often for updates. You can also subscribe to my blog or follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

And mark your calendars...My next Hobby Lobby class will be on September 14 at 5 p.m. and we'll be making three assorted-sized notebooks. Contact me (ecoscrapbooker at gmail dot com) for more information and to register. ~Danielle

Related:

I'm a Zutter Certified Instructor

Tutorial: Using Paper Scraps to Decorate a Wedding Book Cover

Upcoming Classes

Tutorial: Using Paper Scraps to Decorate a Wedding Book Cover

Calling all brides! Are you planning a do-it-yourself wedding? If so, I have a simple craft tutorial that can spruce up the cover of your wedding guest book, planner or scrapbook.

Decorated Wedding Book Cover

Supplies:

Glue Dots© (Micro, Mini)

pre-made book*

white paper scraps

flower punch

butterfly punch

vintage buttons

assorted ribbon

*Book shown was created using Zutter 8x8 Canvas Art Boards, O-wire, filler paper and the Bind-it-All.

1. Punch 30 flowers and 10 butterflies out of the white paper scraps.

2. Make 10 three-dimensional flowers by attaching 2 flowers together using Mini Glue Dots©. Secure a button to the center of each layered flower with Micro Glue Dots©. Then make 5 three-dimensional butterflies by attaching 2 butterflies together using Micro Glue Dots©. Fold up the top layer of each flower and butterfly to create the three-dimensional effect.

How to make 3-D flower and butterfly embellishments.

3. Use Mini Glue Dots© to attach all the flowers and butterflies to the front cover of the pre-made book.

4. Tie ribbon to the o-wire.

That's what I call an easy peasy way to add a special touch to any wedding book. ~Danielle

Related Glue Dots Tutorials:

Upcycled Flower Carrier
Birdseed Ornaments + Upcycled Tags
Confetti Dropper

Disclosure: This blog post was written while participating on the Glue Dots design team.

I'm a Zutter Certified Instructor!

As I mentioned last week, I recently traveled to Chicago for a one-day course on the Zutter brand. The end result? A class of Zutter Certified Instructors and I'm one of them! That means I met some really cool and crafty people AND I'm starting to teach classes both on and offline.

Top: Kimberly S., Kimberly C., Joe M., Cheryl, Jennifer, Candice, Danielle (me), Kendra, Betsy. Bottom: ?, Steph, Joe R., Betty, Carole.

Jennifer Priest, also known as Hydrangea Hippo, was our instructor and we focused our learning on the Bind-it-All:

I'm happy to have this pink book-binding tool in my arsenal and actually know how to use it. The Bind-it-All isn't just for books either. You can also make organizers, wall hangings and much more. There are plenty of ideas at the Bind-it-All blog and Zutter Zisters so be sure to check them out.

And if you know my scrapbooking style, you also know that I love to distress the edges of paper and photos. Say hello to my new favorite time-saver:

The Distrezz-it-All is powerful, loud and fun to use. I distressed an entire mini book in less than a minute! Oh, yeah, baby! I've been using this on everything (except fabric since that's a no-no).

And finally, meet the Round-it-All:

You may already have a corner rounder like the old Creative Memories favorite. This doesn't do just one page or one photo at a time. The Round-it-All can round the corners of a small stack of photos or paper and it's perfect for cardboard.

Now it's time to see what I made in class...

It took some muscles to punch through this textured canvas art board by Zutter, but the look is worth it.

Zutter 8x8 Canvas Art Board

Then we played with a cover-all and bound together cardboard, paper bags, tags, gift cards and paper (with rounded corners courtesy of the Round-it-All). The cover-all adds a nice touch and can turn an ordinary project into something more sophisticated.

Zutter Bamboo Spine Cover-All for 8x8 pages and page protectors.

My favorite cover used during the class was a simple corrugated cardboard. I'm looking forward to tearing off the top layer and decorating the cover.

Zutter 7x7 Corrugated Board

Back at home, I had to reorganize my craft space in order to make room for my Zutter products. One thing that had been shuffled from one place to another over the years was a 2001 desk calendar. I had a light bulb moment and made a calendar journal with a cover.

Repurposed Handmade Paper Calendar Journal

And I finally made Girl Scout cookie box notebooks! I've been saving cookie boxes for over a year and cut them, along with notebook paper to fit, earlier in the summer. With the knowledge I learned at the Zutter course, I quickly punched, bound and distressed all these notebooks in one afternoon.

Girl Scout Cookie Box Notebooks

Then I had to get my "distrezz" on with a scrapbook layout:

"The Girls" 8.5x11 Scrapbook Layout

I used textured 8.5x11 cardstock, blue cardstock from my scrap bin, October Afternoon* cardstock and sticker, Jillibean Soup* letter stickers, black ink, letter stamps, ribbon with a Cosmo Cricket* Gluber and one decorative pin. (Companies with * offer eco-friendly products and are EcoScrapbook Approved.)

Well, that about does it for my most recent projects. I'm now on the hunt to find local businesses to offer my services to, as well as developing classes with my own personal touch and finishing up the projects above. Stay tuned! ~Danielle

Related:

Tutorial: Upcycled Summer Memories Container
Sending a Little Love to Ohio & Michigan Bloggers
EcoScrapbook: As Seen on TV