Tag Archives: DIY

Hello! My Name is Long Hiatus

Posted on November 3, 2017 by apieceoflifespie

Hello! Yes, I have been on a long hiatus from this domain. Apparently, I was swallowed up by the school volunteer monster for the past 4 years. It was a gift to be able to be soo involved in my kiddo’s school and sit on a PTA/PTO board. . . says no one ever! If you think the movie, Bad Moms, was satirical, think again! In all seriousness, it was an experience that I am glad I committed to and experienced. There were some pretty amazing bright spots in working along-side my kiddo’s teachers, dean, principal and some very dedicated parents, now dear friends.

Another thing I have been cookin’ for the past few years is being a Girl Scout leader for 20+ girls. Yes, I think I am crazy, but so worth the possible asylum issued straight jacket. It has been a treat to watch these kiddos grow up! I will be sharing some of our fun ideas, tricks and planning I have come up that helped navigate such a large troop.

As I write this, I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation and just wanting to gorge myself on every creative thing I see! So. . . in saying that, be forewarned! 😉

The first order of business in getting me pointed in the right creative direction, the hubs and I worked on relocating my craft space and giving it a HUGE facelift. I have to say, I am obsessed with rainbows. Living in Southern California, they are like finding unicorns. So the only logical remedy to my desire of chasing rainbows (outside of moving to Maui), is use them as the inspiration to brighten up my creative lightbulb hub.

Here are some shots of my new favorite room in the house. I plan on posting a video tour and organizational tips and tricks in the very near future!

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Posted in Craft room, Uncategorized and tagged Craft organization, craft rooms, crafting, Creative spaces, DIY, home decor ideas, Organizing. Bookmark the permalink.

An Easy Teacher Gift Brewed Up

Posted on October 18, 2015 by apieceoflifespie

Hello… I say sheepishly, as I know that it has been clearly over a year since I have posted a project. YIKES! Yes, I am slowly making my re-entrance back into sharing what I make. I humbly hope there are some of you that still remember me as I sneeze through the dust from my poor neglected blog and share this fun idea I came up with for my daughter’s 2nd grade teacher.

My kiddo’s teacher is truly powered by coffee. I am pretty sure it runs through her veins. She even has a Keurig in her classroom for coffee on demand. So coming up with an idea for her birthday was pretty set with coffee. I love making sure the kiddos are incorporated into the actual gift, so I figured out how to combine the both by adding some simple white card stock, Xyron Adhesive, a 2 inch circle punch and some kiddo creativity. I found a cute container for either coffee pods or wine corks at Kohl’s and poof, I got me an inexpensive, but sweet and useful gift for one great teacher!

Here is how I did it:

I punched out 2 inch circles and had kiddos decorate and write one kind word that comes to mind regarding their teacher.

Then I added adhesive to the back and slapped that baby on top of a Keurig Coffee Pod and called it a day! Yup, that easy! I have to say, she absolutely cherished this gift! You could stamp, use pretty paper, add cute embellishments . . . the world is your oyster with this idea!

That is it! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Hopefully you found this one of those ,”Eureka!” type of crafty projects, like I did. AND mostly thanks for stopping by and visiting an old crafty friend.

8 Comments

Posted in Xyron and tagged coffee pods, crafts, DIY, easy DIY crafts, easy gifts, keurig, teacher appreciation, teacher gifts, Xyron. Bookmark the permalink.

It’s Back To School with Goodies!

Posted on August 21, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Oh my have I been in a whirl-wind of summer fun with my kiddos! Today I resurface with this fun little project I made for a “Back To School” Party. I actually dusted off the ol’ Cricut Expressions and pulled out Doodle Charms and whipped these babies out – my kids even got in on the action!

Here is how I did it! The cut was the two basic cuts of the bus cut at 3.5 inches. I then stamped it with My Pink Stamper *retired School themed stamp set. I added some silver Candi to the wheels using a dab of hot glue.

I dug through some random paper I had on hand collecting dust and cut down to 5 1/4 wide x 7 inches long and folded in half. I then wrapped some ribbon around one half securing with tape and then I stapled them onto 5 inch clear bags (after I filled them with the goods).

Using Pop Dots, I added the little buses and called it done! Yup that easy!

Interchangeable Pix Collage

Posted on July 15, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Happy Tuesday and boy is summer flying by here! Speaking of summer I made a very fun gift for a friend that has three beautiful boys and they are all rays of sunshine in my book. When I got my happy mail from Xyron last month filled with May Arts Ribbon and Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine Collection I just fell in LOVE . . . in love enough to schlep out the paint, stencils and a mini pallet to cook up this colorful and full of life interchangeable picture collage that was made for this cheerful brood of boys!

As you can see I went to town with the craft paint using some stencils I had from Hazel and Ruby. Since this was geared for mugs of boys, I decided to be playful with the paint and allow for some rustic bleeding around the edges. All I did was add a very small amount water to the painted area with a paint brush and then smear it with my finger… got a few splinters, but it’s all good!

I cut down and added some card stock design paper from Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine Collection and ran it through my Xyron 5 inch Creative Station and applied it to the painted pallet. I then added the May Arts Ric-Rac Ribbon by hot gluing to the back of the pallet. This is base for anchoring pictures with the help of mini clothespins.

I added some sticker sentiments from the collection and then using Xyron Dots, I added some colorful sequences! Have I ever mentioned that my love for Xryon Dots run deep? This would be one of the things I would drag out with me in case of a fire!

As you can see this project is another super easy DIY number that could be a great gift or personal keepsake. Be sure to head over to the Xyron Blog and check out what my other fabulous partners in crafty crime have cooked up today!

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Posted in DIY, Xyron and tagged crafts, DIY, ideas for displaying pictures, May Arts Ribbon, paper crafting, picture collages, Simple Stories, Xyron, Xyron Creative Station Xyron 5 inch Creative Station. Bookmark the permalink.

DIY Postcards

Posted on July 3, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

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Happy Almost 4th! Today is my lucky day to showcase a fun project I made using Lawn Fawn Stamp Set – So Much to Say and my trusty and I do mean trusty Xryon Mega Runner, that is up on the Xyron blog today. (Side note: I have used several Advanced Tape Guns and the Xyron Mega Runner is by far the BEST I have ever used- No fuss in the refill process and strong adhesive – I think I am in love!)

DIY Postcard

It is summer and if any of your are like me, you are in a fun whirl-wind of road trip travels, camping and kiddo camps. Since I have a 1st grader and a Kindergartner, I wanted to drag along some postcards they could ~~practice their writing~~ share their adventures with family and friends. I needed these to be bigger than the normal postcard due their ~~giant chicken scratch~~ eagerness of being early writers, so these will take a normal postage stamp. These are a cinch to make and you can even have your kiddos help or make on their own.

Here is how I did it (full supply list at the end):

For the Front of the Postcard: I found blank white card stock quality cards at the local craft store with the measurements of 6.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall. Using a paper trimmer, cut down some desired design paper with the measurements of 6.25 inches wide and 4.25 inches tall. I stamped the sentiment and image on the design paper. Using Xyron Mega Runner, adhere the design paper to the plain white card stock.

DIY Postcard3

For the Back of the Postcard: Measure the card and find the middle. Using a ruler, draw a line using a Jelly Roll pen and added some dashes for interest. I printed “To” on the right side and stamped a coordinating image from the front.

DIY Postcard1

I set up an “assembly line” and mass produced these in no time. You can go as simple or as detailed you want – keep in mind these are postcards and they need to be flush.

DIY Postcard2

Supply List:

Lawn Fawn – So Much To Say stamp set
Xryon Mega Runner
Paper Trimmer
Recollections Chevron Paper
Recollections Blank White Cardstock Cards (6.5×4.5 inches)
Ruler
Black Jelly Roll Pen
Stamp Block
Stampin’ Up Ink (Classic Black and Pumpkin)
Close to My Heart Ink (Slate – used for the yellow card)

Happy 4th and Happy Summer!

Arin

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Posted in Uncategorized, Xyron and tagged chevron, DIY, DIY postcards, easy crafts for kids, how to make postcards, Lawn Fawn stamps, summer craft ideas, Xyron, Xyron Mega runner. Bookmark the permalink.

DIY Washboard Welcome Sign

Posted on June 24, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Today is my last post as a Kiwi girl! It has been a really fun run and putting my DIY twist to the templates. Of course I would end on a note of doing it again by turning an old washboard into a summery welcome sign using some fun templates, some fun stencils from Hazel & Ruby and my trusty Xyron 5 inch Creative Station. Click HERE to get all the deets on how I made it! Easy Peasy!

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Posted in Kiwi Lane Designs, Xyron and tagged crafts, DIY, Kiwi Lane Templates, reclaimed crafting, washboard, welcome signs, Xyron Creative Station Xyron 5 inch Creative Station. Bookmark the permalink.

Traveling On. . .

Posted on May 23, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Bonjour! All week Xyron and Paper House have been traveling the world together! If this is your first stop, please head over to Xyron’s and Paper House blogs and see what they got cookin’ in the areas of inspirations and awesome giveaways.

Since I am so lucky to be on both design teams I had a change to take a stab at two projects! My first project is a travel journal I made for my daughter. This summer we are going to travel the world . . . OK we are going to the Vegas strip to give a “Cliffnotes version” of what Paris, Rome, Italy, New York, Seattle and Egypt is like to my 5 and 6 year old. In that spirit, I whipped up a cute travel journal for my 6 year old to record her adventures in each place.

Here is how I took an ordinary $ bin composition book and turned it to this (fully supply list included at the end of this post):

DIY Travel Journal 1

Xyron 1

Xyron 2

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Add embellishments to cover and use faux stitching on the pennant banner. Use letter stickers for the name and Baker’s Twine for the accents. To secure the bow along the spine, use a Xyron Dot.

xyron 5

Supply List:

Paper House Productions – Paris Canvas Stickers
Paper House Productions – Enjoy the Journey
Paper House Productions – 12×12 Garden Pix Paper Pad
Xyron 3 inch Sticker Maker
Xyron Double Sided High Tack Tape
Xyron Dots
Twinery Bakers Twine
Target $ Bin Composition Book
Washi Tape – Pick Your Plum
Stamp Ink
Scissors
Pencil

Now since I am playing double time designer, I made a fun layout (yes, I said I made a layout) of my time so long ago in Yellow Stone using Xyron 5 inch Creative Station and Paper House Yellowstone Collection to represent Paper House. Whew wearing so many hats can get a tad bit sticky (pun intended)! 🙂 How fun is this collection, it brought me back to some fun memories and I almost felt I was there while working with the collection. So if you have Yellowstone on your adventure list this summer, this collection is a must!

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Posted in Paper House Productions, Uncategorized, Xyron and tagged amazing adhesive, amazing scrapbooking kits, crafts, DIY, diy travel journal, paper crafts, paper house, paris crafts, scrapbooking yellowstone, travel journal, Xyron, yellowstone layouts. Bookmark the permalink.

Flower Power!

Posted on May 9, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

TGIF and Happy 3 Year Blogaversary to me! Yes, this week this little ‘ol blog turns 3! I can’t believe that three years ago I posted my first crafty project and look how it has transformed and grown. Thanks to all that have been my cheerleaders, inspirations and faithful followers for making this another amazing creative year!

Today I have a cute way to express your flower power using Kiwi Lane Designs Floral templates and paper from Fancy Pants Designs. Head over to Kiwi Lane Designs blog to check out all the details on how I cooked these babies up!

KiwiLaneMay3

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Posted in Kiwi Lane Designs and tagged crafts, DIY, Fancy Pants, Kiwi Lane Designs Floral Templates, Mother's Day Ideas, paper flowers, Teacher Appreciation gift ideas. Bookmark the permalink.

It’s a Wine-Thirty Clock!

Posted on April 30, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

At the tone, the time will be . . . CHEERS! Oh my did I have fun making this project for Xyron’s Paper Smooches Blog Hop we are in the throws of this week. As some of you may know I have a love affair with fermented grape juice and lucky for me, I live in California so I can tromps around in local vineyards where I was inspired to make this clock to help me keep track of when it is WINE TIME! 🙂

When I saw Paper Smooches “Free Spirits” stamp set I knew I wanted it! I gathered up some cute Die Cuts With A View cork sheets (because when there is wine there is cork) and with the help of Xyron 3 inch Sticker Maker and 1.5 inch and 1 inch punches I turned an old craft clock base into the best time teller on the planet!

The designed cork sheet already had an adhesive backing so that was easy peasy to trace, cut, and adhere to the face. I used the 1/2 inch punch for the “in between number” spots using the design cork sheet.

I used the 1.5 inch punch on a plain cork sheet and stamped it using black and white ink. I inked the edges and ran through the Xyron 3 inch Sticker Maker and adhered to the clock face.

I inked the edges of the clock and added the clock motor and hands and called it done.

There you have it, another super easy home decor project that has some fun character and at least for me, some important time telling abilities.

Be sure to head over to Xyron’s Blog to check out all the fun projects made with Paper Smooches Products!

Supply List:

Paper Smooches – Free Spirit Stamp Set
Xyron 3 Inch Sticker Maker
Recollections 1 and 1.5 inch circle punches
DCWV cork sheets
Stampin’ Up Classic Black Stamp Ink
Stampin’ Up Early Espresso Stamp Ink
Close To My Heart White Daisy Stamp Ink
Ink Dauber

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Posted in Blog Hops, Uncategorized, Xyron and tagged crafting with cork, crafts, DCWV cork sheets, DIY, DIY Clock, home decor, Paper Smooches Stamps, wine, Wine lover crafts, Xyron 3 inch Sticker Maker. Bookmark the permalink.

A View Fit for an Office – Easy Wall Decor

Posted on April 25, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Hello it is Arin here and if you are joining me from the Xyron Teresa Collins Designs/CardMaker Blog Hop you are in the right place. If not, you will need to head over to the Xyron Blog and see what all the fabulous designers have cooked up using the cute and very versatile collections of Teresa Collins Designs.

What I did was some thing super simple. In my Teresa Collins box of “happy mail” I scored the” You Are My Happy” collection and her Basically Essential stencils and combining it with Xyron’s Double Sided High Tack Tape, I decided to cook me up some wall art for the office.

Wall Art

Here is how I did it!

First I took a 8×10 wooden wall plaque base and painted it white and lightly sprayed a paper towel with Heidi Swapp Color spray and rough covered the wooden plaque.

Then I measured out and cut the 12×12 “You are My Happy- Spectacles Paper”. Using some washi tape, I taped down the 8×10 stencil over the design paper.

Using some Heidi Swapp Color Shine, I lightly sprayed the surface and allowed some time to set and dry. Once I carefully removed the stencil, I used some wet wipes and cleaned up perfectly.

Using Xyron Double Sided High Tack Tape, I applied it to the 8×10 painted wooded base and then secured the altered design paper pressing down gently to smooth out. I am telling you this top sheet isn’t going anywhere! That stuff sticks better than anything I have used! One of those products were if you have issues with commitment, you better shy away! 🙂

I then sanded down and inked the edges using Close to my Heart Slate ink pad.

Wall Art with edging done

I know you see me say, “There you have it! Easy peasy!” all the time, but seriously, you could not get any easier for something that will add some fun whimsy to any wall.

Supply List: