Monday’s @ Mere’s : Holiday Happenings

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Susan

Well it is that time of year when we need to come up with some quick and inexpensive gifts. Here’s a hybrid scrapbook project idea for you!

One of my favorite things is to find something already in a fun package and make it cuter with a little personalization. I found these yummy rolled cookies that I love so much that are in a fun tin container.

I used Meredith’s cute Christmas kit “Christmas Wishes” to make a template of sorts to cover it. I used papers and elements to make a fun design. I printed it on regular copy paper because I knew it would be discarded and I didn’t want to waste my photo paper(it would have looked a lot brighter and crisper with photo paper- so if you make something they would keep I would go that route.)

Because the paper was a little shorter than the tin I printed out an extra blank page to fill in the extra inch or so and to use for the top of the tin. I cut the circle for the top with my Cricut but you could just use a pencil and draw around the lid on the back of the paper and then cut it out by hand. You could also ink or chalk around the edges to add a little pop.

I used clear tape to wrap the tin and a glue runner to adhere the top piece. I then found some cute red/white ribbon to tie around the top and finished it off with a cute glittery mini ornament.

Now I just have about 8 more to make so I will have gifts ready in a moment’s notice.

Happy Hybrid Day!

Susan C.

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Monday’s @ Mere’s Many Thanks

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Susan

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Susan here with another hybrid scrapbook project for your Thanksgiving table.

I began with the new kit by Meredith Cardall called “Attitude of Gratitude.” I loved the look of the big yellow flower element so I chose that as my centerpiece for my name place cards. I then added a name plate with each of my family members name, a leaf and the word “Thankful” to each one. I also created a little family frame picture with more of the flower/leaf elements to spice it up. I printed it on photo paper with a background paper of brown with blue polka dots from my Memory Mixer file.

I printed X2 on photo paper so the backs will be as festive as the fronts. Then I trimmed it all out.

I then cut out some 5 inch brown circles with my Cricut and adhered them all together. Then I used some black wire that I bought at Lowes or Home Depot and with my handy dandy needle nose wire cutters I twisted and twirled the wire to make some holders for the place cards.

You just make a little vertical swirl at the top and a bigger horizontal swirl at the bottom. Easy way to make pictures holders too (use any color wire)

So now I’m ready to set the table for a Thanksgiving feast with the ones I love.

Happy Hybrid Day

Susan C.

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Brand New, Again

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Susan

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Hi! It’s Susan here, with a hybrid scrapbook project for you! Don’t you just hate throwing things away that you know can be used again? Well I want to save the environment as much as the next person but I also want something NEW! I’ve found a way to do both. You can call it re-purposing or what ever you wish but I call it “Brand New, Again”

I discovered this tin box that has previously held some foam stamps that now have a new home in a glass jar so I figured it was ready for a makeover.

I used papers and elements from Meredith’s darling kit aptly titled “A Brand-New Day“ I also used the dottie alpha from Meredith’s kit “Bushels Of Fun” I printed on photo paper and then cut it to fit the tin. I used a corner rounder for the edges and used some turquoise chalk around the edges to give it definition.

Then I used mod podge to adhere the design to the tin. One thin layer on first. Let it dry then one thin layer on top to seal it in (if you didn’t seal it and you got moisture on the photo paper it would damage the image) Then I added some fun ribbon to the handle and it’s ready to load some of your own personal items or fill it with goodies and given as a gift.

Happy Hybrid Day!

Susan C.

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Mondays @ Mere’s Treats Only

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Susan

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Happy Halloween everyone. Oh, how I love this time of year. My porch is loaded with pumpkins, hay bales and soon a whole bunch of trick or treaters.

I love to have containers of candy all over the house and I decided to make them a little more cheery with some fun digital designs by Meredith. I used her kit “Treats Only” I love the look of three jars together so I filled them with candy and made the word BOO with her great black glitter alphabet on a fun orange paper.

Then I cut it out and placed on black cardstock and adorned it with some Halloween “Bling”

Placed inside with the candy and then found this fun Trick or Treat ribbon and added it to the lids. You can change this out all year long. You can make JOY for Christmas, I (heart) U for Valentines, HOP for Easter, FUN for summer.

Then I found some super fun Halloween colored gumballs and loaded them in some glass containers. I tied them with the Trick or Treat ribbon and then I found some adorable accents from Meredith’s kit. I printed them on photo paper and then punched them out with a big round punch. Added them to black cardstock. Put an eyelet in them and tied them to the jar with some black floss.

Then I needed to get my boys Halloween treats for their school classes ready so I created these two different tags to attach to them. I found as I printed them out that they were a little large so I just doubled them up on a page so I got 8 to a page. Cut them apart. Hole puched them and then attached to the bags of candy.

Now that’s a whole lot of treats!

Happy Hybrid Day

Susan C

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Mondays @ Mere’s Easy Card Creations

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Susan

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Are you ever in a pinch for a cute card that says just the right thing? Well I can tell you that you can make two cards, yes two cards in about 5-10 minutes.

I created the two different card fronts with the fun new kit “Bushels of Fun” by Meredith Cardall. I put both of them on a landscape page so I can print from my home printer and cut to make two different cards. I printed on photo paper so the image is bright and crisp.

Then I use 8 1/2 X 11 inch cardstock and fold in half. I cut all pieces to fit nicely with each other.( you can also use your 12 X 12 paper and design your front page to fit that size.) Then I ink the edges to give it some definition.And then place the design on the front of the card with some adhesive.

Then you’re ready with two brand new cards.

Happy Hybrid Day

Susan C.

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Monday’s @ Mere’s – Back to School Fun

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Susan

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Are you kids gathering up all those school supplies and heading back to class? Well if you’d like to make some of their things more personal you can take this fun idea and make a plain old composition notebook and turn it into a fun, envy making school must have.

I used the darling kit by Meredith Cardall “Sunshine on a Cloudy Day” I used papers to create the background for the front and back of the notebook, I then used all the fun elements to create the design on the front. I also created some little tabs with some ribbon pieces. I then printed it all out on photo paper and then gathered up all the supplies I would need to finish the project.

I then cut the papers to fit the notebook. I used a corner rounder on the corners and I inked the edges of the notebook and the paper. I use a solvent ink (like StazOn) it will dry on the shiny surface of the photo paper. Otherwise you might have an inky mess.

Then I use my good friend Mod Podge and put a thin layer on the top of the book and then add the paper. I use a brayer(or small rolling pin) to roll along the top to make sure it stays smooth. Do the front and then the back and WAIT for it to dry, then do the top layer over the front/wait/ then do the back cover too. Oh, that waiting can make you crazy.

Then I found some purple grosgrain ribbon, a few paper flowers, And some fun blingy brads for the center of the flowers.

Tie the riboon onto the notebook, and add the flowers with some glue dots.

Then I used the little tabs and stapled them on random pages in the notebook. Now I have a personalized notebook for pennies. As a hint : I buy lots of the composition notebooks at the end of school season. I got mine for 12 cents each. But even at 40 to 50 cents that’s an inexpensive gift if you need one. These notebooks can be customized for any occasion and are very quick to make.

Happy Hybrid Day!

Susan

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Monday’s @ Mere’s – Altered Art

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Susan

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Hi, it’s Susan here!

Do you love containers?

Do you sometimes buy products because of the cute container its in?

Well I do too and I have a closet full of them to prove it. So if you are looking to personalize a cute container and alter it into something even better, here’s an idea for you.

I’ve created an altered art Pencil Box. I used papers and elements from two of Meredith’s kits called “Road Trip” and “Poppy Field“. The colors worked together nicely.

I saw this box that use to have cards in it and I knew it would be perfect as a pencil box. It has a magnet closure in the front.

I created the name area on top of the digital paper. I printed the designs out along with a few other elements on cardstock. I mod podged it all on. Then added a fun red ribbon, a few paper hearts and a tag that says “I get by with a little help from my friends” popped an eyelet on the tag and attached with some bright yellow floss.

Now it’s all ready to add your pencils, pens, scissors, rulers, markers and maybe a treat or two.

I actually made this special box for my friend Meredith Cardall for her birthday but you can make a box like this for your kids for school, for your desktop or to keep some chocolate by your bedside. YOU DECIDE.

Happy Hybrid Day

Susan

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