Clippies & whirly-gigs

I promised I would post some of my clipboards and a brief tut on how to make them.

First it is not necessary but preferred to prime the metal clip on the board.  You can get by without doing this step but the paint may chip off more easily.  I have had reasonable success with using Gesso instead of the spray-on Krylon (or the like) primer.  Then you will paint the wooden part of the board with regular craft paint.  Lots of times I will let the girls do this step.  They love it and they really can't mess anything up.  It is a win-win-win situation.

In case you're one of THOSE (and I'm talkin' to you Coll) that has to know specifics...it looks like here I used Winter Blue for the board and Light Buttermilk for the clip.

 

Oh, I almost forgot...before you start take a twist-tie or florist wire or any kind of wire and twist it to hold open the clip.  I find a set of pliers helps me.  It allows you to get underneath the clip to paint the board and also doubles as a handy-dandy hanger for drying purposes...  Which is especially nice if you're making a gift for an event that you were already supposed to have left the house to attend.  Think I would do something like that?!?

Next is the fun part.  Invest in a lovely set of alphabet foam stamps.  You won't regret this purchase.  Any other classic shapes (like flourishes, etc..) you will find yourself using over and over again too.  These are Making Memories (Misunderstood font).

I used this flourish in a powder room in our first house.  It has served me well.

I like to vary my stamp sizes and colors for interest.

Don't forget to grunge the edges (just dry brush with paint, ink, or both)  See the difference in the before and after...

Before grunge

After grunge

(don't forget to grunge the clip too)

And go here if you want to tie the perfect bow.

Then you're done. (Don't forget to take off the twist-tie/wire holding the clip open.)

The possibilities are endless.  They really do make good gifts for kids and adults alike.  There is something about the wooden clipboard that kids especially LOVE though.  I think it makes them feel grown up or something.

 

 

Now, wanna cute quick project for the kiddos?  I'm thinking this would be cute done in Christmas colors of your choice and used as a garland.  You could even deliberately space them so that you didn't have $400 caught up in felt.

You are going to need several pieces of felt about 4x6" (we cut the precut 4/$1 felt into 4 pieces). 

Place 2 different colors of felt on top of each other. 

Glue the 2 pieces together at one short edge and let it dry. 

Roll it up and glue to hold (think sushi).  We used Aileen's Tacky Glue.  Let that dry. 

Cut them into about 1" rounds, let the kiddos string them (with a needle).  We did find that it was kind of tough to get through all that dried glue with a needle so I had to help them a little with that part.

Now get crafting...Christmas will be here before you know it!

Altered Binder

I just realized the last blog entry was over a month ago.  I know it is a little late in the game but if you're looking for a unique and personal Christmas gift you may want to check this out.  I got this idea from Amy Mowbry but I can't find her blog anywhere so I guess she dropped off the blogging radar.  Her tut was wonderful and I recall she had even photoshopped captions on her photos.  Here's my best shot:

Start with a old, ugly or just plain boring 3-ring notebook/binder.

Begin removing the vinyl covering by cutting an X  ever so gently - especially if you want to deviate and somehow use the raw chipboard instead of covering with paper or fabric...

You'll be left with the spine still encased and 2 floppy sides.

This is one of the trickier parts.  You are going to have to tenaciously seperate the chipboard spine from the vinyl covering.  It sounds easier than it is.  Its not hard though.  You're just going to have to finesse it and put a little teeth in it at the same time. Begin by cutting away your floppy sides...

Then you're going to want to take your exacto knife and cut as close as possible to the little posts on the front and back sides.

This is where you just have to put a little muscle in it and just pull it away.  I'm always afraid I'm going to tear something up here but I never have. 

Then you will be left with bare naked chipboard.  Ahh...a blank canvas!!!

Next you are going to want to use something to bind it back together with.  You could get all fancy and actually use bookbinding tape.  But I'd suggest a cheaper...ahem...less expensive route and use double sided carpet tape purchased from the hardware store.  Eyeball the length needed.  Peel off one side of the carpet tape and attach it to half of the spine. 

Use another piece of chipboard (the other side or if you're good just eyeball the spacing) so that the cover folds properly.  This is a tough part for me.  I always seem to get mine caddy-whompus and one side wants to lay down more than the other.  This is also about where the 80/20 rule kicks in with me and you can tell in the next few pictures.  Remember there are NO mistakes in art.   That's what I keep telling myself anyway. 

It should look pretty much like this.. See that little space between the spine and cover?

Now cut a little notch out of the tape so that your tape will lay flat.

Repeat for the back cover.  Then cut a length of fabric (you could use paper although I think fabric is a little more durable), remove the 2nd side of the carpet tape and adhere the fabric to cover the spine.

Cut a little slit down towards the middle of the spine so that you can work that fabric in.  See where I'm gettin' REAL "whatever-ish"?!?  Keep at it...it will all work out just fine and the altered-binder police aren't going to come and cart you off.

There you have it.  I just folded the overlapping edge and put a little more double sided tape in there to hold it.  Just do the best you can.  It is the inside of the binder for crying out loud.  Do not worry about the raw edge/selvages either.  We're gonna address that later.

Now, trace and cut out a piece of coordinating scrapbook paper, cardstock or I guess you could even use some different kind of fabric here.

I glued it down with this Perfect Paper adhesive because I had it on hand.  Use what you like.  I've heard a lot of people like Tombo mono adhesive and also Zip Dry paper glue.  The stuff I used was just so-so... 

 

When you've glued the front and back covers down, run a bead of Aileen's Tacky Glue down the seam where the fabric and paper meet. 

You are going to cover it with ribbon and for some reason I don't have a very good photo showing that.

You may want to dress up the inside with some coordinating papers.  I cut the navy inside cover a little smaller just for interest.  And I always ink/grunge up my edges with ink.  Keeps things from looking too perfect.

These page protectors were in there and had some writing on them so I used some paper scraps and made it "artistic" (sorry about the sideways photos...not sure what's up with this blogging editor)

Use some alphabet stamps to personalize

And Voila...there you have it.

Tomorrow I will try to post how I alter clipboards.  They make great gifts too.

Cans

Cans are good.  Yes, cans are very, very good things especially for storage.  And you can even make them shabby chic and pleasing to your eye.  Plus you can impress all of your liberal friends by telling them that you are the "greenest of green".  Actually, I do not like the idea of filling up our landfills but I don't like the idea of someone making huge amounts of money off of my raw goods (trash, recyclables, etc...) and charge me exorbitant rates to pick it up it in the process. But that is another blog entry.

You can use them to store things like paint brushes, colored pencils....

 You likey the finish?  Remember the previous post about the American Light Buttermilk and gold stippling over that?  That's what it is...easy as pie!

Q-tips (for art projects)

Pliers and Rulers...hey!  those rulers aren't trash!!!  Guess I better change my tag.

But workbox tags?  Cans are not so good!

Hence my solution?  A clear notebook style case that I got several years ago on Target's Dollar Spot.  (I'm getting my money's worth out of that bulk supply of velcro dots dontcha think?)

 

And look how nicely it stores on the shelf.

 

Make your own playing card holders

Have you ever seen one of these?

In case you've never seen one, this is a playing card holder.  A very ingenious device!  However just a little too rich for my blood.  If you've been reading my blog for long you will notice a recurring theme.  I AM CHEAP.  Enter exhibit A, my home-made playing card holder. 

Wanna know how?  Here goes... Gather 2 lids (one larger than the other) from old yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, or butter containers.

You're also going to need a punch set (or something else like an ice-pick that you can make a small hole with).  Like how I store my punch set?  Before you go judging me...I made this a few years ago in attempt to win a contest for scrapbooking storage supply solutions.  Because if you lure me with something free, I will spend inordinate amounts of time and energy in that endeavor.  I actually won the contest (not with this box, though)...and got just what I needed:  more scrapbooking supplies.  This is one of those boxes from Costco that I just recovered with some shabby chic scrapbooking paper, tied some riboon around, and hot glued a silk flower on top.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming....Punch holes in the centers of both of the lids.  There is usually a little raised bump which is helpful in centering.

You're also going to need a brad, decorative is always nice.  See my collection of "pink" scrapping supplies?  Now are you understanding the tongue in cheek above comment about needing more scrapping supplies?

 Place the lids top sides facing each other and attach with a brad.

Give the girls a sheet of stickers and let them have at decorating.  I helped them place a large butterfly to completely cover the back side of the brad.

Oh yes, I just have to mention.  This kind of thing really bugs me.

 

So, if you don't already have some go today and purchase you some 100% acetone.  Don't settle for any of that watered down Sally Hanson junk...get the full monty.

This stuff will take just about ANYTHING off.  I have removed so many labels and repurposed many things thanks to a handy bottle of 100% acetone.  Plus it is REALLY good at getting dark/bright fingernail polish off.

See that?  Like magic!

And there you have it 2 pretty, inexpensive playing card holders...

Front side

Back side

We have been playing a lot of crazy eights in the evenings and I've been wanting to do something like this to help them hold their cards.  Anyway, today Lil' Bit's Saxon math book, of all places, suggested playing a game called "Make Ten".  You play by dealing 7 cards to each player.  You lay out 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in a circle and each player tries to make a sum of 10 by laying a card on top of another.  So you wold place an 8 over a 2 or a 6 over a 4, etc..  If you don't have any cards to play you have to take 2 cards from the stack.  The first person to play all of his/her cards is the winner.  It is actually a pretty fun game and it helps retention of those 10 facts.

My girls love playing cards with us, it is fun for all, and I think it is a great way for our family to spend time together.  Go fish!