Another 2012 Valentine Project

Ah yes. I forgot to mention the super simple project that we're offering at our upcoming class for those who only have a few pictures...or about 10 minutes to finish a project!

You finish the project the exact same way as we detailed in the previous blog entry. The beauty of this project is that it's so fast that you can make one for each family member!

Free downloadable file for project here: Love Blocks Valentine Project .pdf. Just be sure to use a laser printer!

Beth Graham is an amazing photographer. She shared some darling pictures of her own kids which we used for this sample. Be sure to check out her blog for more examples of her work.

Grandma's Snicker Doodle Cookies

It's been a busy couple of weeks around here. Our grandmother passed away Christmas morning. Some people would think that it should have been a sad day...but it wasn't. We'll miss her immensely, but we were comforted by the fact that she didn't have to suffer. (She had been diagnosed two weeks earlier with pancreatic cancer.) Right up to the very end, she was thinking of everyone else by leaving earth life when it would be most convenient for family and friends to come together to celebrate her life. Because her funeral was during the Christmas break, everyone got to attend and it really was quite a joyful occasion.

This past Sunday evening I learned that another grandparent had passed away. He wasn't a direct grandfather, but he was a Grandparent Superhero by his incredible love and amazing example.

If you ask my kids about their memories of Grandma, they'll be sure to include stories of her Snicker Doodle cookies. One time, my kids had a cookie eating contest to see who could eat the most Snicker Doodles (I happened to have been out during this grand moment of brain loss.) We got to enjoy the game for weeks as my youngest WON the contest and shared the spoils later that night by literally tossing his cookies all over the car!

As we were clearing out Grandma's things we came across a treasure... a copy of her cookie recipe. I knew immediately what needed to be done! Each of my kids got a copy in ornament form.

These cookies are GOOD! We'll share the cookie recipe here. If you want to finish the project, it's been designed for a 5x6 placard. To finish the backside of the ornament, you can use scrap book paper (pink - on right), fabric (brown dots - on left) or personalize it with a family picture (center one is going to my son in the Netherlands so he can enjoy a little bit of Grandma love!!!)

We'll be offering this project at our March class at Deseret Book for those local to the Salt Lake area.

Get recipe cards here. (BIG file, be patient while it loads!)

Still trying to think of something to keep our memories of Stan close to our heart. More to come!

Family History Subway Art

I've been dreaming about this project for months. Back in May, I bought a large piece of canvas (24x48") and painstakingly hand-painted 4 generations of family names onto the canvas. NEVER AGAIN!

In my typical hurried fashion to get the project done, I slathered on what I thought was a clear antiquing gel. Turns out that opaque crackle paste doesn't turn transparent over time.

Lesson LEARNED!

At first, I thought the sign was ruined. But the good news is that this little faux pas simply forced me to find an easier way to do this project!

My computer is my favorite art tool. I decided to create a poster-sized print and with the aid of my second favorite art medium, Mod Podge, get this project done.

First I created two different layouts for my 24x48" canvas. I really preferred the vertical design as it's more in keeping with Subway Art, but I have the perfect spot to hang the horizontal version so I went with design #2.

Here's a nifty cost-saving trick. Print your poster using only black ink. It'll save you you a TON of money!!

Once the poster is trimmed and checked, you're ready to glue!

Here's another helpful hint... Get a BIG bottle of Mod Podge glue. I used most of a 16oz bottle. Also, go for the matte variety. I think a glossy sheen would have made the end result look too modern.

I wish that I could say that the gluing step was easy, but alas, it was a major pain in the bum...and since I have 'mod-podged' 1000's of projects over the years I'd like to think I'm not a mod podge newbie. You'll wrestle with curling paper and bubbled paper. Don't give up! I spent the better part of a day trying to tame my bubbled beast, but I think the end result was worth the effort (and my kids definitely didn't mind frozen orange chicken for dinner!)

Once the glue is dry and bubbles popped (yes, I ended up popping a few bubbles), you want to beat up your lovely masterpiece. This step might be hard for the perfectionist. I happen to love that my slap-in-on, tear-it-up approach only makes the end result that much more authentic looking.

I distressed...


And sanded...

And painted touch ups.

Once everything was to my liking, I added layer after layer of Mod Podge glue, letting each layer dry and giving it another good sanding before slathering on another layer of glue.



Anyone who has taken a craft class from me knows that my mantra is 'Less is More' when using Mod Podge. This is one of the few times you want to ignore that advice!

Loving my new piece of family artwork!

Valentine Top Ten Project

Getting Started:

Step 1:
You will need a wooden plaque (ours measures 5x6), Mod Podge glue, a foam brush, archival quality pen, a damp cloth, a dry cloth, background design (see FREE downloads), a razor blade or exacto knife, scissors, sandpaper, Krylon Acrylic Matte Finish spray and distressing supplies, if desired.

There are a couple of different options for finishing your project. If you want to create the photo montage, you will need a variety of family pictures printed using a laser printer. We sized our pictures to measure about 3" each. If you fill a standard 8.5x11" sheet with 10 - 14 pictures, you'll have plenty for this project.


Pick your favorite background paper. You can download our files here (BROWN, RED, PINK).
These are big files, so be patient while the files download. Be sure to print the pages using a LASER printer! You can also use scrapbook paper for a background.


For the TOP TEN Side:

Step 2:
Apply a thin layer glue to one side of your plaque. Place your paper over the glue. Make sure you get all the air bubbles out by gently rubbing the picture with a dry cloth.


Step 3:
Write down your Top Ten reasons for LOVE on the blank strips of paper. (Make sure you use a pen that won't run when it gets wet.) Cut each strip out and glue onto the paper that you just glued to the board. Let dry.




For Picture Collage Side:

Step 4:
Cut your pictures out Starting in one corner, apply a thin layer of glue to the plaque. Place your first picture on the glue and rub out any air bubbles using a dry cloth. (Be CAREFUL! Wet pictures can tear if too much pressure is applied.) Spread another thin layer of glue where your next picture will go. Be sure to overlap the first picture. Place picture on glue and gently rub out bubbles. Use your wet cloth to wipe away any excess glue. Continue applying pictures until your board is filled. Let project dry.

Step 5:
Once both sides are completely dry, sand the edges to remove any excess paper. You can use a razor blade or exacto knife to trim the edges. If desired, distress the edges of the board with Distress Ink or Chalk.

Step 6:
Spray both sides with a matte finish acrylic sealer to protect your project. Punch holes in the top and string a ribbon through to hang.


Once you see how easy this project is, you'll want to make a top ten plaque for EVERYONE that you love!


Please join us at our Saturday class at Deseret Book in Fort Union. We are bringing the supplies and our know how. You'll leave with a perfect Valentine to share with someone you love!

October Challenge: Create a Treasured Heirloom

Look at that. We're already falling behind on our own challenge. Isn't it interesting how life gets in the way of the best plans? We really have made progress... we just haven't had two minutes to share our tiny little baby steps with you.

I had planned to gain control of my kids stack of VIPs (Very Important Papers). Once again, I've let the pile get out of hand, but I'm confident that I can knock it down to size in a matter of an hour (or two)! I'll share my easy, no fuss approach in the coming week. (Yah, right! Ok, so it's a worthy goal.)

Suni and I got to catch up this past weekend as we shared our passion for preserving stories with two different groups of ladies. In between helping our class participants create their own work's of art, Suni reported that she has had success with her personal efforts of COLLECTING and PROTECTING. She plans to share her strategies in the coming days (er, or weeks... another reality check!).

While I didn't quite make Week One's focus of COLLECTING and PROTECTING, I did make a solid home run with Week Two's endeavor.

This week's focus is to CREATE some sort of treasured heirloom. I wanted to preserve Suni's beautiful memories of welcoming baby #3 into this world. Because I was lucky to be the one holding the camera, I had easy access to all sorts of fabulous memories. I just knew that these pictures needed to be turned into block ornaments!

I just couldn't share the project with you until I gave Suni (and baby) a chance to check it out.


This project took about two hours from start to finish. All I needed was six blocks, 6 metal eye screws, some decorative paper and ribbon, a jewelry stand and 24 fantastic pictures! Go here to get the complete set of instructions for making these easy Block Ornaments. A rather boring, but very detailed video is available here. The jewelry stand was picked up at a local store called Rod Works for under $10.00. If you have an old mug tree from the 70's, it'll work equally well!

The best part is that I didn't have to pick ONE favorite picture to feature. I got to share 24 fabulous memories!

Here are some additional ideas of things that you can create that are sure to become a treasured heirloom:

1. Make a pictorial Family Tree.
2. Create a family heritage recipe book.
3. Work with extended friends and family members to collect personal memories of an individual to share with that person as a gift.
4. Display a digital picture frame that includes pictures of your extended family.
5. Create a family calendar. Record family members (current and ancestors) birthdays throughout the year.
6. Start a family blog or web page featuring your family stories. Be sure to print copies of stories for a book version.
7. Collect family history questions in a jar for a grandparent to answer about their life history.
8. Start making Block Ornaments so you can turn your Christmas tree into a Family Tree this holiday season. (A personal favorite!)
9. Create a world map showing the birthplace of each ancestor using pins or tiny flags.
10. Poll family members as to their favorite family tradition and create a book documenting these memories.

Next week, we'll look for ways to DOCUMENT and RESEARCH our family history.

Letter Blocks for Dad

I can't believe that our Dad's Day gift is ready! Our family tradition for this holiday usually consists of two gifts. One is a family activity. The other gift comes from the heart {and on some occasions, the store!} Usually, we're giving Dad his tribute with wet paint or partially put together because we didn't quite get our act together. This year's hand-made gift turned out quite nice...AND, I might add, doesn't require him to wear it to church to show his kids how proud he is of it!

Project calls for 3 blocks. We used 3.25" blocks, but you can use whatever size you happen to get your hands on. You can create the D-A-D letters using a text editor. Just make sure the letters will fit your block. Print the letters to scrapbook paper. You can use the extra scraps for the covering the top and bottom of the project. Now you just need some pictures.

The hardest part is deciding which pictures to feature!

The kids did a version using memories that they have of their father. I did a second version using pictures of his dad and granddads. Both are equally meaningful tributes to the amazing man we call Dad.

{I happen to be a little sepia crazy, so many of my projects use pictures converted to black/white and brown tones. This project looks equally good with colored pictures!}

You can get your pictures ready using Photoshop or any other photo editor. Our Photo Wizard will get your pictures to the perfect size for our blocks. We just shipped this project (and several other fun block projects) to several local Deseret Book stores in our area.

Instructions for gluing your pictures to the blocks can be found here.

An easy gift with nine reasons why we call him Dad!

A Face Bracelet

I can't wait to share my follow up to the post Giving Gifts that Tell Stories. I've been meaning to try this project that we found at Another Day in the Life for months now. If you're faster than I am, you can easily get this done in time for Mother's Day!

While I absolutely LOVE the sweet vintage artwork, I just knew this was the perfect way to share my cherished photographs of those people most important to me! I had plenty of pictures, I just needed to gather a few supplies...

1. Shrinky Dinks for Ink Jet Printers. You can buy them online, but I was able to find a package at my local Michaels Craft store for about $10.00 for 6 sheets. (Be sure to use an INK JET printer. The instructions implicitly state NOT to use your laser printer as it gets too hot, but always the one to test theories, I sent a sheet through and can personally confirm that laser printers will not work for this project!)

2. 1/8" hole punch. I can never find my tools when I need them. You can be the most organized person in the world (WHICH I'M NOT) ...but if you have kids that abscond your equipment for their own random art projects, you'd better be familiar with their hiding spots!

3. Corner rounder punch. Ugh! I have one of these too. I gave up trying to find mine and just curved the covers using a pair of scissors.

4. Clear Acrylic Sealer. I have boatloads of this...and the real miracle is that I know where it is!

5. Charm Bracelet with jump rings for attaching charms.

6. Scrap paper and Mod Podge glue - This is optional, but I felt like the white back of each charm was PERFECT for some fun scrapbook papers that I could attach with my ever handy bottle of Mod Podge glue.

7. Oh yes, you'll need an oven too!

8. This project also requires a computer with some type of photo editing software (i.e. Photoshop Elements) and an ink jet printer.

Pictures need to measure approximately 1.5 x 3". Once the material shrinks your final charm will measure a mere .6 x 1.2" so photographs of individuals with simple backgrounds work best. You'll still need to make some cropping decisions. Notice that I cut off a few tops of heads and even an ear or two. Using Corel Draw, I started with a grid (5 across, 3 down) that I could use to place each picture. Once the picture filled the rectangle to my liking, I cropped it to its final size. I am showing the final page using all black and white pictures, but color pictures worked well too.

This next step is VERY IMPORTANT. You must decrease the opacity of the pictures to accommodate the shrinking process. Here are the pictures at 50% transparency. The original color / intensity will return after baking. Also keep in mind that the Shrinky Dink sheet measures slightly smaller than the standard Letter size sheet. Make sure that your pictures will fit on the 8 x 10 sheet.Print the sheet and cut out each picture using a pair of scissors. If you want, round the corners using the corner punch.

Use the 1/8" hole punch to punch a hole in the top corner of each charm.

{I like a vintage look, so I antiqued the edges of each charm with a quick rub of Jim Holtz Distress Ink. I LOVE the color Vintage Photo on EVERYTHING!}

Instructions for baking your Shrinky Dink charms come with the packaging, so I wont go into too much detail here. Just be prepared for the edges of the charms to curl. I used two flat pieces of metal to flatten each charm AS SOON as they came out of the oven. They cool quickly, so only shrink a few charms at a time.

After the pieces have cooled, add some coordinating scraps of paper to the backs of each charm. You could also add names / dates of each person. Spray the charms with the sealant. Allow the sealer to dry completely.

{At first, I was regretting this extra step because it added so much time to the project. Now that it's finished and dangling from my wrist I am OH SO glad that I took the time.}

All that's left is to add a jump ring that will let you attach the charm to your bracelet.

I've been wearing my face bracelet for about four hours now. I LOVE everything about it. It's the perfect weight...very light! It has just the right level of tinkling sound...not too loud, but just enough to notice it! I'm going to be careful not to let it get wet as I don't think water will be kind to it.

The best part is staring at the bracelet and thinking of the stories that accompany each picture. Right now I'm practically carrying a library on my wrist!