inspired

there is always something about the new year that is inspiring. new beginnings, new pages…new doors and opportunities. a way to wipe the slate clean and try something new or different. it’s energizing, refreshing, and inspiring.

i love being inspired. by people. by things. by acts. by nature. i decided that this new years was a good time to document one of the things i find most inspiring in my life. butterflies. they have shown up frequently on projects over the last few years…but i have never done a LO about why they inspire me. so i created a LO. butterflies have a deep meaning for me ( going all the way back to my post partum after my third baby)…and they inspire me completely….they are a reminder for me…of beauty, of strength, of adversity and growth.

butterflies inspire me

so today i am challenging you. i want you take something that has inspired you in life and create something. share why it inspires you…and don’t forget to link up to this post with your completed project!! we would love to see what inspires you and why!

hope you all have a fabulously creative weekend :)

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ideas for a handmade holiday…

Pop Quiz

If you are anything like me, you have:

a). a big stash of creative supplies & a plethora of random items in your possession.

b). lots of friends, family, co-workers, &  teachers to buy gifts for.

c). little or no money to buy those gifts.

d). all of the above.

 

If you answered (d), you have come to the right place!

Today, i’m going to show you & give you a few ideas for a “handmade” holiday using stuff you probably already have lying around the house.

idea #1:

recycled glass jar

i took a simple glass jar that i had left over from some pasta sauce (washed weel, of course), glittered the top of the jar, and added a few simple strips of  paterned paper & a label from my kenner road october kit. voila!

i made mine into a “piggy bank” type of jar.  you can cut a slit into the metal top of the jar for easy insertion of coins, but make sure you file/bend down the edges to remove any sharp/jagged pieces.

you can also fill the jar with some treats, or any small fun gift.

 

idea #2:

mini board book album

I purchased these 2 board books at the target dollar spot a couple of years ago. they’re about 6×6″, very sturdy & come with a little button in the bottom right hand corner that says a phrase. the one i already stripped (on the right), says, “that rocks!”. i’m going to fill it with pictures of my daughter’s friends for her.

you can use almost any childrens board book. i found that they are usually laminated with thick, glossy pages that can be easily peeled back to reveal a smooth cardboard surface to decorate, paint & embellish! if the one you have doesn’t peel back easily, you can always sand/roughen up the pages to give you a surface that is easily alterable.

 

more ideas:

for a truly “HANDmade” gift…

how about make a wreath of your children’s hands to give to a grandparent?

trace your child’s hand onto brightly colored patterned paper & attach to a wire form. this a great keepsake to remind you and them of the size your tiny child once was (sniff, sniff).

 

how about:

a jewelry/earring holder using an old frame, some material or paper?

or using an old embroidery hoop for the same above idea or mini tack board?

 

i hope you make this the year of a “handmade holiday”…

your family, wallets, &  planet will thank you!

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august gallery winner !

helen_blogchallenge0909

favoriteworkofart : you’re a girl!

we had the kenner road creative team go through the flickr gallery and choose layouts that inspired them and hands down this sweet layout won the most votes. from the beautiful layered lollipop flowers to the journaling lines and frames, we adored it!

helen, email me info [at!] kenner road [dot!] com and we can chat about how you can get your free september add-on.

but…. there’s more. :)

we were so impressed and happy to see everyone loading their projects & layouts into the gallery so we pulled one name from everyone else who uploaded over the last month to win a kenner road vintage trim kit… it is our first birthday afterall!

so… laura achilles congratulations !!

email us your shipping addy at the email address listed above and we’ll get your vintage kit out to you too!

happy wednesday!
xo

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gallery challenge ends tonight

CD_FlowerCorner

photo detail : cd muckosky

i just wanted to remind everyone that our august gallery challenge ends this evening at midnight pst. make sure you check out or original post {here} for more details and get your images loaded into our flickr gallery {here}. you could be our august winner and receive a september add-on of your choice.

and even if you didn’t have the time or can’t upload a project make sure you check out the current kenner road gallery anyways, there is so much amazing work being uploaded this month. i have been adoring seeing it all.

happy weekend :)
xo

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embellishments : august gallery challenge

CD

cd muckosky

It’s time for our monthly gallery challenge and for august our emphasis, but in the challenge and the creative teams monthly blog posts is embellishments! show us how you rock the embellies and load your creations, whether layouts, mini books or projects, into our flickr gallery by September 6th and you could win a free september add-on of your choice!

and to get the inspiration started make sure you check out the amazing canvas above that our august guest designer cd muckosky created and scroll down below for the entire kenner road creative teams projects.

AMY

amy

CELESTE

celeste

DEBEE

debee

DINA

dina

GIGI

gigi

JESSI

jessi

KATIE

katie

KL

kl

LISA

lisa

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Vintage-inspired scrapbook kits, digital elements and ephemera