Lil Red Cottage

Tea Towel Aprons & Great Christmas Decorating Ideas

2009-12-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of my favorite holiday finds that I thought I'd post links to. Hope you're not as busy as me "trying" to make your Christmas gifts (wink).

Holiday aprons made from tea towels. Such a cute idea I found on Skip to My Lou's website.

My darling neighbors decorated home...sure wish she'd come and decorate my house. Check out her blog and see what she's creating this week.

Cute Shutter Idea

2009-11-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

What a fun way to organize your desk space or even put CHRISTMAS cards on old shutters that have been refurbished. Check out the instructions on HowDoesShe.com.

Cute Card Creations by Amy

2009-11-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

I was having fun posting pics of some of my Card Swap cards over on my other blog and decided I should show some of my other favs by my good friend Amy. These are some that she's created of the past few swaps and I still have a hard time parting with them. So hopefully now that I've documented them for everyone, I can now start using them!

The center of the flower below was created with the new iTop Tool by Imaginisce.

Paper Crafted Nursery by Heartland Paper

2009-10-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

There is a great local scrapbook store in my area called Heartland Paper and the one thing they do an amazing job at is paper piecing amazing things to decorate with and today their manager Kelly Brown was on our local Studio 5 showing off a baby nursery that had been decorated with paper crafted items. These are a couple of the projects and you can check out there blog, but if you want to see some amazing creations watch the video clip here.

Cute Christmas Card & Gift Idea

2009-10-05T16:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of projects I created for Imaginisce. Two super cute projects I created from the Polar Expressions collection.

Be Merry Christmas Card

This hand-sanitizer (or hand soap) is simple to create. And the message can be customized to fit the recipient too. Click here for a free download of "hand phrase" text sheet used inside of hand soap/sanitizer. Have this copied on to a transparency sheet (with a laser printer, not ink jet). Most local print shops can do this for you.

Supplies Used: Polar Expressions Holiday Trimmings #001614; Cozy Sticker Stackers #001610; Metal Rim Tag; Plastic Dispenser

Be Merry Christmas Card

Supplies Used: (Candy Cane & Diamond) Flannel PJs #001597; (Word Paper) Warm Woolen Mittens #001598; (Striped) Pine & Peppermint; Poinsettia #001615; Medium iTop Brad; (brad cover) Fun Drops #001592; Be Merry Stamp #001601
Notice how darling the center of our poinsettia is with the covered medium iTop Brad daddy!! This is a great new tool that scrapbookers, paper crafters and crafters should all own. Check out the videos showing how much fun you can have using the new iTop Tool.

Crayon Roll

2009-09-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

I saw these earlier this summer and put it in my "must create" folder. I think these Crayon Rolls would be super cute for all my nieces and nephews for Christmas. Now I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it simple and create the felt version or make the flowery and cute for the girls. I found all these fun ideas on a cute site called Skip to My Lou...check it out when you have a second.

Felt Crayon Roll Instructions

(Oh, I decided that if I blog about this cute project that I'll be inspired to actually make it...plus it's easier for me to find if I put it up on my blog!)

Simple Covered Notebooks...yum!

2009-09-09T23:18:00.000-07:00

I saw this fun idea to take a small lined notepad and cover it with scrapbook papers. It's quick and easy and the perfect gift when you need something for a friend. I'll post the instructions on how to make this on my other blog in the next day or two.

The other thing I couldn't wait to make are these cute fabric flowers. I had so much fun I made a bunch of them. Here's some instructions on how to make these!

Recycled Birthday Card (part 2)

2009-08-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

A while back I showed the graphic I created for the card above, but hadn't yet made it into a card. The graphic was created from the Ettes & Company Wonderful World Collection and inspired from a card I saw in Paper Crafts magazine. But you know I can't leave anything "flat," I like dimension, so I printed extra card fronts and cut out the tree, mounted it to chipboard and added it to the card with foam tape!

How To: Fabric Magnet Board

2009-08-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I picked up these magnet boards a few years back at either Roberts or some Enrichment activity and it's been painted a couple of different colors. I've been wanting to try covering the sheet metal with fabric for quite a while and finally found the perfect fabric for my daughter's room. I found this gorgeous damask print in the home decor fabric section. Below are simple instructs for converting your existing or new magnet boards to something a bit more chic.

Supplies: Magnet board (or frame and sheet metal), fabric and spray adhesive. For magnets: graphics, glass stones, E6000 glue (dries clear).

Cover your work area and spray one side of your sheet metal with spray adhesive. You can pick this up at most craft stores and even the hardware store. I could only find my scrappers adhesive, but it worked fine.

Once you've coated your sheet metal with spray adhesive, place your fabric over the metal and rub until all the creases are smooth.

Place sheet metal into frame with excess fabric sticking out back side. Fold nails/brads over to hold metal in place. I then used metal tape (but masking or duck tape would do the job...just not look as great, but who cares it's the backside) to adhere excess fabric to back of metal.

How to Make the Magnets: I'm totally hooked on making magnets with glass beads/pebbles. I created some fun circle graphics on the computer and printed them out. I then punched out the circles with my 1 1/4" punch. I then used E-6000 glue and adhered the paper to the back sides of the clear stones (pebbles, rocks, beads...not sure what to call them. They're rounded on the top side and flat on the bottom...remind me of the stones they put in the bottom of vases.) Push paper into place using fingers (it's a little messy) and let dry. Use the same glue to adhere magnet to the back of the bead. I would suggest the largest magnet you can find to put on the back to make sure it's strong enough to hold the stone and whatever you have on the board. One thing I learned while making this set...always print your artwork off on CARDSTOCK, the glue tends to bleed through on regular paper and you can't read it.

Yes these are "Twilight" inspired magnets...since my daughter's room is decorated with a Twilight theme! Here is a link if you want to print them out and make a set of your own (Note: the resolution is low so they might seem a little grainy...no biggie since you put the stones over them and it distorts the graphic anyway).

Clever Home Decor Ideas for Photos

2009-08-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

We love posting unique and creative ways to feature your photographs. And we found some great ideas on Cassandra's blog. She's unbelievably talented and loved to repurpose or redo old furniture pieces. Check out these and many other idea on her blog.

Screen Picture Hanger - love how she created this and on her blog shows you a full-sized door as well.

Cabinet Photo Frame - I've never seen this before, but she created this amazing piece from cabinet doors. She indicates on her blog that you put your photos in the center panes of the doors. I'd love to see it with photos, but use your imagination.

Fabric Covered Photo Board - I have to confess, Cassandra didn't post this on her blog...a mutual friend sent me a photo of this darling photo board Cassandra created. It was too cute not to share!

SAVE YOUR GLUE...Check these out!

2009-08-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

Once Christmas I was determined to make my mom a 12x12" scrapbooked calendar. I searched for the perfect base, the right papers, embellishments, ribbons and then I searched for the perfect photos. Did she love it? We will never know because I only finished about a third of the calendar and ran out of time to give it to her for Christmas or her birthday even. So every year I'm haunted by that calendar and the fact that she'd never gotten one from me.

Not this year though...I found the cutest calendar designs on BHG's Life in Photos website and I've already started building my calendar. And it's coming together quickly and I think I'll order one for all the grandparents and even my husband. Here's the one I started...but they have other cute calendars here.

Now my friends are sometimes a challenge to know what to buy for their birthdays or Christmas...but I found these customizable photo JOURNALS. I'm a big journal collector, writer and love to give them as gifts. But the fact I can make them unique for my friends will make them MEMORABLE. Check out all the cute designs (shhhhh don't tell my friends about them, but you can tell yours).
Looking for other creative ways to use your photos, check out the most recent blog post at Allred Design.

Fabulous Fabric Wall Decals

2009-07-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

Here's another wonderful find I wanted to share...FABRIC wall decals. And the best part of these is they are reusable...you can even take them down, wash them and put them back on your walls. A darling gal named Mae has a lovely collection of designs in her Etsy shop! You have to check out the fun "Paper Dolls" she has, you can change what they're wearing!

Love this Photo Booth Idea!!

2009-07-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

A friend pointed out this darling site to me called Kiss the Groom and there is the cutest Photo Booth idea I've ever seen. So cute I want to make one of my own for our Christmas photos!! You have to admit, it's creative and fun and who wouldn't want family pictures like these?? If you want to see more photos using the booth, click here!

Felt Aquarium Magnets

2009-07-19T23:37:00.000-07:00

I love creations from felt...fake food items, cute flowers, but I have to admit, fish never crossed my mind. But don't you love these? I found these and the step-by-step instructions on how to create this unique magnets on a fun blog called The Purl Bee. She suggested that these would make great gifts for a child or adult that loves the ocean...but who wouldn't love these swimming around on their fridge or file cabinet??

Very Cool Notebook

2009-07-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

Happened across this today and had to share. How fun would it be to have this fun notebook of paper. A finalist at the European Design Awards, this awesome pad was done by Trapped in Suburbia to encourage clients to have fun at work.

Handmade Family Yahtzee Game

2009-06-30T21:40:00.001-07:00

I happened upon this darling idea this evening. You know me, I love any idea that incorporates crafts and photographs...especially if Mod Podge is involved. Click here to learn how to make this personalized Family Yahtzee game.

Shrinky Dink Earrings

2009-06-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

This is my fun find for the day. The very talented Ettes & Company Creative Team member, Kris Mazy made up these very cute earrings using shrinky dinks and the darling designs from Ettes & Company's new Some Beach...Somewhere collection.

If you're like me, then you want to know how she did it. She printed her design elements on sanded white Shrinky Dink sheets. She then cut them out, punched a whole and cooked them as direct. She then sprayed them with some clear acrylic spray to keep the colors from running should they get wet and then added the fish-hook earrings to them. How fun is this project, I'm already thinking of cute coordinating bracelets and necklaces!!

To see more of Kris's cute projects, check out the gallery at Ettes & Company. They have some beautiful layouts in there using the Some Beach...Somewhere collection!

Big & Beautiful Wall Vinyl

2009-05-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

I love vinyl and I especially love it it it's unique and amazing. So I had to post this one of course. I found it on a website called DaliDecals. Not bad pricing either!

A+ Home Decor Idea: Clipboards

2009-04-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

REPOSTED FROM my other blog...sorry, but I couldn't resist sharing this idea with you all...it's so cute when I have a wall in my office to decorate I'm going to recreate this. Of course the ideas was on the queen of craft, Martha Stewart. It's always amazing to me what you can do with a little Mod Podge and beautiful papers.

CROP CHOCOLATE: Good Enough to Eat

2009-03-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

I found this site a week ago and thought I'd share. They offer great deals and it seems so far all the product is from Making Memories (we have a theory that they actually own the website, but who cares). Anyway, the deals make a daily visit to this site well worth your time. They offer bundles of actual scrapbook products or organization items and often times the shipping is free. So check them out here.

SWEET DEALS FOR THE SCRAPBOOKING ADDICT!

At CropChocolate™, we sell all-things scrapbook. But here's the catch, we only sell one item at a time – at a delicious price. Every day a new item will be posted – so act fast – a limited quantity will be sold at deeply discounted prices. No time to let it temper.

Darling Invitations & Announcements

2009-03-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

My friends over at Ettes & Company have been busy creating these beautiful tags and cards. Even if you aren't a "digi scrapbooker" you can still use these files. Even if you don't have a graphic design program on your computer you can still use these in WORD. So don't miss out on a quick and easy way to create gorgeous cards and more.

Visit their blog too for great ideas and more information regarding their products.

Pie-In-A-Jar

2009-03-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

Little Birdie Secrets blog had a great idea I've been telling all my friends about, so I thought I'd post the idea here and the links. They wrote a feature called Pie-In-A-Jar and also linked to another couple of sites that talked about Cupcakes-In-A-Jar. I'm hoping one of my very talented friends will make me one of these personal size pies and bring it on over to share (hint, hint).

Mom Made This - Great Website

2009-03-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Mom Made That! is THE place to list, shop and support mom businesses and blogs. Moms are the most innovative creators, writers, inventors and business owners. This site showcases their amazing products, ideas, blogs and services.

Had to share this site with my readers. When you have a second check out their cool site by moms for moms!

Chalkboard Place Mat

2009-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

This idea I HAD to share...it's a darling idea I found on Little Birdie Secrets blog today. She made place mats that you can write on with chalk. How fun to write notes to your kids, a menu for the evening or give your kids something to do. She offers a tutorial and more pictures on her blog...check it out!

No Hammer or Nails Required

2009-02-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

Every morning I go through Google Reader and check out the blog feeds...then I venture out and visit some of my favorite blogs to search out cute ideas and inspiration. I found this fun blog last night by Moms Gone Digital by Barbara. And she has some great ideas and links to other ideas I think you'll all enjoy. But it was this fun framing idea that caught my eye and I had to share.

I actually saw Rachel Ray use these on one of her shows where they remodeled some entry-ways, but the idea didn't totally stick until I saw them on Barbara's blog.

BUTCH and Harold offers peel and stick artwork and photo frames. No mess, no fuss, no hammering holes in the wrong places…just peel and stick frames onto the wall. Best part is then you can easily move things around whenever you wish without having to fill nail holes. Decorating apartments just got a whole lot easier since you are very limited in what you can actually do. Peel and stick frames and artwork won’t damage walls and can be moved around easily.

They also offered a set of these cute "mini frames" that they stuck to a laptop which I thought was fun. I even thought these smaller frames would be darling on my fridge too!

Embellished Hand Soap

2009-02-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

I was visiting Little Birdie Secrets and found this cute idea that I had to share. It's a perfect time for a super-duper-simple craft idea. And I have just the thing. They found the original idea and instructions over at Just a Girl. Hand sanitizer is a great way to slow the spread of germs. This embellished hand sanitizer is a quick and easy project perfect for the cold and flu season. It would make a great teacher or office-mate gift!
We peeled the labels off of hand-pump hand sanitizer and let the kids replace them with pretty stickers. Rub-ons used in papercrafting would work great, too. Then we added a stamped tag with a coordinating ribbon and voila, pretty enough for any desk or bathroom! This is a great, inexpensive way to coordinate your bathroom soap pump with your decor as well.

Quick & Easy Invites in MMS

2009-02-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

I needed some quick invitations for church last week, so I turned to My Memories Suite. I started by creating a landscape page from scratch. I dropped in a new paper design from the Be My Guest Pack by Ettes & Company and then added ONLY text. It's amazing what you can do with beautiful fonts!

I exported (share button) my page out as a JPG. And then I printed it out on white cardstock. From most PCs you can print 4-up to a page from your preview screen. But I dropped it into Word and pasted a few copies so I had four to a page. I then trimmed them with my paper trimmer.

Next I trimmed a slightly larger piece of black cardstock, punched the right edge with my very cool Stampin Up punch and adhered them together. I tied a small piece of ribbon to a paper clip and slid it onto the white part.

I thought I would personalize them a bit and add each child's name. I simply created a black shape and dropped the kid's names in white text over it, printed it out onto cardstock and then trimmed the names down and placed them under a small paper clip.

These were very inexpensive and very fast and easy to create...and I think they look beautiful, don't you?

Darling Valentines Treat

2009-02-12T20:02:00.001-08:00

I know I'm cutting it too close to actually matter, but if you're like me you still have friends or family that you didn't think about for the upcoming holiday...so I couldn't resist this darling idea I found on one of my favorite sites called Inspiration Institute. Thanks Bren!!

Instructions: You can’t see it in the photo but they have leaves too and I used floral tape on the stem. I bought cherry tootsie pops at Big Lots for $1 a Bag and they had the pink flower pot candle holder for $1. Breast Cancer Pink M&M’s from Target (on sale of course, with a coupon even better and I used Close to my Heart’s Just Blooms paper flowers and leaves. You could also take apart big silk flowers or cut them out of paper.

Rockin' Valetines Idea

2009-01-23T09:15:00.000-08:00

I found this darling Valentines idea on one the blogs I stalk, but it's actually from the FamilyFun website.

A box of conversation hearts and two mini peanut butter cups in disguise hit all the right notes for a tune-loving babysitter or pal. The idea comes from Grand Island, Nebraska, mom Lisa Toner, whose daughters, Anna, 14, and Maria, 10, wanted a new way to tell friends, "You rock." "Valentines can seem babyish to older kids," explains Lisa. "They really need something cool."

For more cute Valetines ideas...visit FamilyFun.

Making Money with your Blog

2009-01-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

My friend sent me some information about getting paid to share my excitement about the My Memories Suite software I use all the time on my projects....and that I've been promoting for free. So of course I was so excited about this, I had to share. If you're interested you could earn a $20 credit for signing up...well why not?

Here's the information she sent me:

The My Memories suite affiliate program is up and running! Just add our banner to your website and you can earn 20% for every box of software sold. To sign up visit:
http://www.shareasale.com/shareasale.cfm?merchantID=20384

If you need more information contact me at jenn@mymemoriessuite.com!

The process to setup an Affiliate Account is a simple 5 step process that begins with a selection of your username and password. In the future, you will use these selected words to access your ShareASale.com Affiliate Account.

Cute Valentine Treats Bags and Tags

2009-01-20T23:12:00.000-08:00

Well they did it again, my favorite digi designers (Ettes and Company) have created some of the cutest Valentines ever! These very inexpensive digi sets have treat bag toppers, Valentine cards, tags and a very cute Valentine Coupon book. Visit their blog to download your free coupon book idea sheet (too cute). Check out what I did with these designs below!

Here's the fun treat bags and tags my daughter and I created tonight using these dang cute ideas. It was super easy and fast and I'm never buying another overpriced Valentine card set again.

Crafty Chick's iPod Revamped Idea

2009-01-18T20:36:00.001-08:00

So I haven't felt very creative this weekend and so I did a little surfing around some of my favorite craft blogs and happened upon this very cute idea on Crafty Chicks blog. She has a link to a place you can download a free template for a 3rd generation iPod Nano so you can create your own personalize look for your iPod. I was excited because we just happen to have the clear case and this version of iPod nano. Cute, cute idea!!

Cute Card Set

2009-01-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post some cards I made up for a friend. I found this darling semi-new papers from My Minds Eye and these yummy felt flowers from O'Scrap and started creating. The beautiful rub-ons were designed by my friends The Ettes. Won't this be a darling gift?

Ebay Holiday

2008-12-23T11:37:00.001-08:00

Sorry that we didn't let everyone know sooner, but we've decided to take it easy in December. We hope to be posting great new projects for you all to buy on Ebay soon after the holidays settle. We hope you all have a great holiday season!!

My Memories Suite software review

2008-12-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

Some of our customers have been asking me about this new software that we've been using to create some of my digital layouts in and photo books. Most of you know we're pretty good graphic people and love photoshop, but sometimes it takes too much BRAIN power to figure it out.

This new software from My Memories Suite is the bomb! It's easy enough that our 11 year daughter and son love to play with it, but not too simple we can't create in it the way we want. We love that they're templates make it so easy and fast. And we're working on three albums that we're going to have printed in a hard bound photo book. Seriously, if you've wanted to scrapbook and haven't dared then we would recommend this software. You can get 30% right now too, if you put in the code DESIGNMOM.

Check out this short infommercial when you have a minute!! **Updated: I had to remove the video because it was driving me nuts, only because no one has created a player that doesn't play automatically. But still take a minute to go to their website and check out what they're all about!**

To Visit My Memories Suite VIDEO LINK

Day 12 - Sticky Note Holder

2008-11-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Finally! Day 12 inexpensive gift idea is here. Thanks to Janet W., who sent me this darling idea after she found some cute "owl" sticky note pads in the dollar section at Target. She then purchased a small 6x4 acrylic photo frame and turned it over to create sort of a lifted back so the pad surface is slanted (sorry hard to explain). She then took some scraps of scrapbook paper and created the cute background that slid into where the photo would normally go. Added the word "note" with rub-ons and glued a snowflake embellishment to the top right area and stuck the not pad to the photo frame. Too cute and imagine it with a darling pen the matched. She created this for around $2.00!

Day 11 - Clipboard Chore Charts

2008-11-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

This darling gift ideas was sent to me by Andrea. She's been making these to sell at local craft boutiques and they're a huge hit. She created these from inexpensive wood clipboards (about $1.00 each). She mod podges on scrapbook papers, cuts out the titles/chores using her cricuit and mod podges over those too. The final touches include tying coordinating ribbons on the metal clip part. Then select from flowers, buttons or bottle caps that can be moved up next to each chore as it's completed. She attaches these using velcro. Cute idea...thanks Andrea. If you're interested in purchases clipboards from Andrea, visit her blog here.

Free Gift for Winning Submissions

2008-11-07T09:27:00.001-08:00

Day 11 & 12 are missing!!

We need your help coming up with your favorite ideas for inexpensive holiday gifts. Email us a picture and description and your mailing information. The two projects selected will receive a fun gift package from us (valued at over $30) and be posted to our blog. Entries must be received by November 15th at 10:00am.

We can't wait to see your creative ideas!!

Day 10 - Chex & Cutting Out by Pebbles

2008-10-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

"Chex" and "Cutting Out"

I haven't had time to put together all twelve items I wanted to post, so I had to borrow these darling ideas from Pebbles in my Pocket. Both projects were designed by Courtney Cosgrove.

The top of the clear can reads; "Remember Santa "CHEX" His list twice to see who's been naughty or nice....... So be good for goodness sake!" You can pick these darling clear cans up at most craft stores. The smaller quart size cans are about $2.50 and the larger are between $4-5.00 each.

The tag on these two cookie cutters says: "Cutting" out the perfect Christmas wish for you!

Day 9 - Personalize Handsoap

2008-10-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Handsoap with a Message

These are simple to create and you can personalize the message for each friend or family member. First type up your message and print out on regular paper. You’ll then copy your words with a copy machine onto overhead transparencies (not inkjet printer with a scanner…the inkjet inks will bleed). Trim down to fit inside bottle of your choice. Roll the transparency and place inside EMPTY container. Carefully unroll the transparency and pour clear soft soap into container. If you buy the bottles in bulk online you should be able to get them for around $1.00 each. Bottle Source: http://www.sks-bottle.com/340c/fin14f.html or if you're here in Utah, you can pick these bottles up at Industrial Container Supply (out by the RCWilley Warehouse) for $.80 each. However, they're currently awaiting a shipment, so you may want to place an order for these.

Day 8 - Picture Blocks

2008-10-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Picture Blocks

What I loved about this project is that you can create these darling blocks using scrap pieces of wood. These are made from pieces of a 2x4 left over from working on my basement. Paint your blocks using any color of yoru choice. Then take your favorite photos, copy them into onto copy paper in black & white using a copy machine. Cut or tear around the pictures so it fits on the blocks. Mod Podge your photos onto the blocks and you’re done!

I found these darling blocks below on Simply Creative Blog. They offer kits for groups or you can order them just for you.

Day 7 - Small Stitcheries

2008-10-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Scrap Stitcheries

You can create these small 3x3” stitcheries using any clipart, coloring book patterns or stitchery patterns. A friend created twenty of these for her young women with the scraps of fabric she had laying around and while watching TV. Simply type the message of your choice on your computer and use it for the quote pattern. The small frames were a couple of dollars at Roberts Craft. She created a different themed picture for each person.

Day 6 - Pocket Calendars

2008-10-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Pocket Calendar

You can pick up these small pocket calendars at most Dollar stores. Then with scrapbook paper of your choice (I used scraps) you’re going to cover the original calendar covers. Add ribbon, chipboard, stickers, etc. Consider personalizing these with the gift receipient’s name and/or favorite colors.Add the protective plastic cover back over the calendar before giving.

This is what the pocket calendars looked like before I created new covers.

This is the perfect time of year to hunt these down for $1.00.

Day 5 - Personalized Picture Frames

2008-10-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

Personalized Picture Frames

We found these darling faux leather frames in the dollar section at Target one year and we see them pop up here or there..however this same technique can be applied to any solid, flat frame like these. I dug through my extra scrapbook supplies, write rub-ons and ribbon and added these items to the frames. Simply add your photos and what a darling gift you have. See our blog for close-up pictures.

Day 4 - Spiral Notebooks

2008-10-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Spiral Notebooks

After the back to school sales start ending and a lot of note books are on clearance I pick up quite a few very inexpensive spiral notebooks. Then with a little ribbon tied through the spirals and a personalized name or initial I create unique gifts. My 11 year old daughter is making these for her friends this year.

Note: One of our favorite ideas we did like this was a bit of twist. We found square notebooks with flowers on them. We turned it so the spiral was up, strung stiff craft wire from one side of the notebook to the other, but before twisting closed we strung pony beads along the wire to cover it up. Then we hot glued a bead fringe along the bottom of the notebook and attached a pen. It looks just like a "purse" when you're finished. Sorry, I'll try and work up a sample to show you one day.

Christmas Gift Idea Countdown

2008-10-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

I won't be posting all 12 ideas today...but I hope to post a few each day throughout the rest of this week. So check back often!! Below are the first 3 days worth of ideas. Thanks to all my friends who inspired me with many of their ideas and samples they let me photograph.

(Note: I'm horrible at making gifts for others and never keeping one for myself...so if I could do it all over again, I'd make sure to keep at least one of each of them for myself...or my archive of ideas.)

Day 3 - Christmas Fudge

2008-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Christmas Fudge

This fun gift idea is created from a large Hershey chocolate bar. Simply wrap the chocolate bar with fun Christmas papers and tie with ribbon. Then retype the poem below and glue it to the top of the candy bar. Watch the store ads for sales on the candy bars and you can get them for as little as $.50 each, otherwise they’re typically $1.00 each. These make great gifts for co-workers as well.

Here's the text (just copy & past it):

Christmas Fudge

A day or two ago

We thought we’d make a treat

For all our special friends

A Christmas treat to eat.

Our intentions were top notch

But our schedules wouldn’t budge

Hence, here’s this year’s edition

Of homemade Christmas fudge.

Day 2 - Tic-Tac-Toe Boards

2008-10-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Tic-Tac-Toe Board

Again this project is perfect for a little family gift or perfect for your child to give out to their friends. The PINK can be changed to any color you prefer. The base is a 6x6 piece of pine (we bought a 1”x8”x12’ piece and it made a ton). The sheet metal we picked up at a heating & cooling business. We just asked them to cut it to size (5x5”) and it cost very little. Then we used a sharpie to draw the lines on the metal before adhering it to our painted board. The game pieces are clear rocks we found at a dollar or craft store. Simply write or print out your x or o on white paper, trim around it and glue to bottom of stone. Then hot glue small magnets. This looks adorable wrapped up in a cello bag. (Thanks for the idea ANDREA!)

Let the Countdown Begin...DAY 1

2008-10-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Fridge or Desk Calendars

These calendars were created from a digital kit by Shabby Princess that I purchased from www.theshabbyshoppe.com and then printed onto 4x6” photographs. (Note: I bought the one-page calendars and shrunk them down.) Because I was giving these to neighbors I didn't want to add in photos of my family, so I replaced the photo spaces with poems about each month.

Then I wrapped each years worth of calendars up with an acyrlic magnetic frame or a frame stand that I purchased at the dollar store or Walmart (each were $1.00). These were such a hit that many of my neighbors have asked for updated sets of calendars they year as well!!

12 Days of Gift Ideas

2008-10-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

I'm putting together twelve of my favorite do-able gift ideas for the holidays. The ideas I'm working on are specifically created with a tight budget in mind. They all work great for family parties, co-workers and all those great neighbors! I'll either post one idea per day for 12 days or all 12 at once starting next week...haven't decided and it all depends on how productive we can be....so come back and visit often until I start (I'll start posting ideas starting Wednesday 10/28).

Birthday Clear Paint Can

2008-10-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun making this for my good friend's birthday that I thought I'd share it on our blog as well. I've received one of these cute clear paint cans from my friend Janet that I ran out and bought me some of them to make up myself. But they they just sat there for months and months. But I need something that would hold 3 packages of Pixie Sticks (her favorite treat) and how cute did this turn out. I almost didn't give it to her because I loved it so much...but I think she liked it as well.

Live 2 Laugh/Sweet Memories Kit

2008-10-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

One of our first and most popular kits, Live 2 Laugh/Sweet Memories is now available again. If you want this 4-page...hurry before we run out! Only $20 + shipping (and we will combine shipping costs if you order more then one kit). Just email us at sales@lilredcottage.com if you'd like to place an order. Let us know what kits you want and your shipping address and we'll send you a Paypal request for payment.

Amusement Layout Set Available!

2008-10-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

We're so excited to off you this THRILLING 4-page kit that we think is perfect for all those trips to local amusement parks, fairs or even Disneyland. Remember, everything is precut for you and you just assemble all for $20 + shipping.

FAMILY Crop Kits Now Available!

2008-10-07T23:09:00.000-07:00

This is our latest Double-Page Crop Kits (4-12x12 layouts). We've been asked by many of you to start showing these on our blogs. If you're interested in purchasing the kits, please email us at sales@lilredcottage.com and we'll invoice you through paypal. Shipping is typically only $4.75 to most locations throughout the US and if you're local you can make arrangements to pick up your kit from either So. Weber or Syracuse. We do have a limited number of kits available, so order today!

Just a reminder that our kits include all pre-cut papers and embellishments you see on the layout (rub-ons, ribbons, etc). The only items we do not include are the ever popular "chalk inks" from Clearsnap and adhesive. All our kits are easy to assemble and you will receive a color photograph showing you each layout set.

For those of you that are new to the Crop Kit program, here's a quick refresher. You can order kits and host your own crop at your home. Order a minimum of 6 kits and you get YOURS for free! Simply invite 6 of your friends over for a fun night, provide them the project to work on and treats and you'll have a fun evening for all!!

We're Selling on Ebay!!

2008-09-22T00:38:00.000-07:00

Some of you obviously know that we're selling our great scrapbook designs on Ebay...probably because you've bought from us. However, there are a lot of you that know us from teaching local workshops and had no idea we sell on Ebay. If you're local you can save on shipping (wink)...if not, then our shipping rates are good.

Anyway, Amy sells her designs under LilRedHen91 and Lori sells her designs under LilRedCottageBoutique. We've added these great picture galleries to the right of our blog. This automatically updates. If you'd like to to stop scrolling and see something up close, just start clicking on the images.

Last thing about Ebay. For those of you that shop Ebay you know that FEEDBACK is everything!! Amy is new to Ebay and building up her feedback rating...so don't forget to give feedback if you've bought from her. As for Lori, she's so excited to announce that she received her PURPLE STAR...which means she has a feedback rating over 500. Ebay even sent her this great certificate to proudly show off on this here blog (wink).

Our FIRST Boutique: Saturday Sept. 20th

2008-09-18T21:09:00.002-07:00

We are excited to announce our first boutique appearance...not actually our first, but our first as Lil Red Cottage. I you are in the norther Utah area and can stop by...please do, here's the info.

FALL BOUTIQUE

Sat. Sept. 20th

1984 Cedar Bench Drive, South Weber

4:00-7:00 pm

We will have our popular layout kits you can take home and finish and some other wonderfully creative album kits and more. Hope to see you there!!

Spotlight Kits: 2 Page Samples

2008-09-18T21:09:00.001-07:00

School Spotlight Kit

Summer Spotlight Kit

Playful Spotlight Kit

Fabulous Spotlight Kit

Baby Sky Spotlight Kit

Baby Bree Spotlight Kit

Remember Spotlight Kit

Big Happy Family

Halloween Spotlight Kit

Christmas Spotlight Kit

A+ Crop Kit Ready to Order!!

2008-09-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

Amusement Park Crop Kit - Now Available

2008-08-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

This darling 4-Page Kit is available for purchase for only $22.00. Or if you're interested in hosting your own Lil Red Cottage Workshop, you could earn your kit for free. You simply need to get six friends to purchase the kit and we'll either come teach it at your home, or drop the kits off for you to distribute to your friends. This kit is a great value and comes packed with these fun papers (ALL PRE-CUT to size), ribbons and TONS of chipboard!! You'll learn how to ink and cover this chipboard with coordinating papers.

Dust off the Keyboard

2008-08-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you have thought that we have been on vacation all summer...but we haven't. We've just been busy trying to keep our kids entertained. But this is the first official week of school and we couldn't be happier!! We have started creating again and love it. We'll be updating our website soon and we have new Crop Kits available. So please be patient while we get the creaky parts all oiled up and working again.

Thanks!

June's Crop Kit now available!!

2008-06-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Ladies,

We've finally got it together and have put together a fabulous "Crop Kit" for the month of June. The reason we call them "Crop Kits" is because they are intended to be sold not only as kits all by themselves, but we're also offering a crop incentive!! If you're local, we'll bring your kits out and teach your group of friends (you + six or more of your friends) how to assemble the kits and YOU get yours for FREE. If you're not local, you still get your kit for free, but you have to order a minimum of six kits and we can't come to your house (sorry).

We're also going to be offering "ADD-ON" kits. This is a great way to stretch your current 2-page kit into a 4-page kit and get some fun added product. So check out our website today and contact us if you're interested in booking or ordering.

Price Correction

2008-06-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

I just realized that the Home Album kit shown below is showing the wrong pricing. The "Kit Only" is now only $15.00 and the finished Album is $30.00. Thanks!

Home Is Where 6x6 Album

2008-05-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

You will all love this darling album our friend Janet designed for us. It's a house shaped 6x6 mini album. It comes with the paper (some precut), rub-ons, ribbons and chipboard album. You can buy the kit only or the finished album. We don't have a lot of these, so order quick before we sell out of them.

Visit our website today!

Our Website is up & running!!

2008-05-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

We've finally have our first official website up and running. Still tweaking things and adding more images as time goes on, but we so excited to finally be to this point. Be sure to subscribe to our Lil Red Cottage email list so we can update you on new products and changes to the site. Please foward the link to all your friends and family too!!

Visit www.lilredcottage.com

French Country Apron

2008-05-13T00:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post another of our new aprons in honor of NATIONAL APRON DAY this Wednesday. So pull out whatever apron you might have laying around, even if it is a little homely. Then be sure to place an order for one of our aprons so you'll be better prepared next year. This has to be one of my favorites to date!! You'll look good in your levis or Sunday best. The colors even matched my niece's wedding (hint, hint). Hope you like this one!

New Aprons Available!

2008-05-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

We have been very busy working on new "original" apron designs. You will love the bright and trendy colors of this sassy apron. Also available now are our APRON KITS. Yes, if you would like to save a little money and sew you're own apron, we're providing you with a "kit". In each kit the apron pieces are cut to size, include simple instructions and all you need to do is sew it together. But still available are completed aprons ready to wear or give as gifts. Don't forget these make a unique wedding gift this time of year!

New at our Etsy Shop!

2008-05-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to announce one of our first Sassy, Chic Aprons currently available on our Etsy Shop. In the future we will be offering more designs and they will be available finished OR in a kit you can sew yourself. Please take a minute to check it out!! Thanks!

More Yummy Fabrics

2008-04-28T00:16:00.000-07:00

We did a little more shopping for fabulous fabrics last week and we can't wait to show them to you. You will be amazed when you see what we create with these. We hope to have our new website up and running in the next couple weeks, but in the meantime we'll start posting new items to our Etsy shop....but give us a couple days to get them posted. Hope you like these fabrics...we LOVE them.

In Search of Inspiration

2008-04-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes designers need inspiration, so we either go shopping or surfing. Today we visited a couple of quilt/fabric shops in our area and we fell in love with a darling shop called Sweet Lavender. They carry so many of the beautiful fabrics by Amy Butler and Heather Bailey, both of which are at the top of our favorites.

Then later this evening we happened upon two fun sites that were worth mentioning...especially if you're in search of some inspiration. The first is a darling shop on ETSY called RikRak. She makes some really fun and very colorful items!! The second, we're not sure how we found it but it's a fun eco-friendly decor shop called Olli & Lime. If you have time go check them both out!

Twilight Sneak Peek

2008-04-21T14:03:00.001-07:00

Okay on a personal note we have to share with many of our friends a link to a sneak peek of the filming of one of the most exciting movies to be released this year, Twilight. Yes, all of us here at Lil Red Cottage have read all the books and are so excited for the fourth book to be released in August and the first movie to come out on December 12, 2008!! Check this out...

Our Etsy Shop

2008-04-18T16:10:00.001-07:00

Until we're able to get our shop up and running we are going to be selling some of our past creations and possibly some of our new creations on Etsy. This is a wonderful website where crafters like us can sell their handmade items to people around the world. Check it out when you have a little time to surf.

Summer Fun Fabrics

2008-04-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

We're working on some wonderful projects for Lil Red Cottage Boutique. But we couldn't resist showing you a sneak peak of one of the sets of fabric. They will be perfect for summer fun, don't you think?

A New Beginning

2008-04-11T12:08:00.001-07:00

We have to admit that we are not a bloggers and although we've often find ourselves sucked into reading blogs of friends, family and our favorite companies. We've always mocked the bloggers out there, claiming we'd never have time to blog. But admittedly we've always felt that blogs had their benefits. What a wonderful way to keep grandma, that lives across the country, updated on what's new and how amazing is this communication tool for businesses. They can keep their customers updated and offer a bit of a personal point of view. So we will admittedly concede that blogging is a good thing and we now include ourselves among the many that use them. We hope to keep you updated on new products we add to our website, projects or ideas we're working on and our Etsy store listings. We may even throw in a few personal notes about what's going on with us. My partners in crafting thank you for stopping in to read what we have to say.