Crate Paper

Crate DIY Holiday :: December Challenge Winner

As December reaches a close and we say goodbye to another inspiring year at the Crate Paper blog, we have one final winner to announce from our Crate Holiday Project Challenge!! This lucky crafter is taking home a generous box of Crate Paper products–talk about the ultimate 'never-too-late' Christmas gift!

Congratulations to Gina Moretti!! Her captivating brooch box is totally original and we love what she's done with our paper and embellishments. We're all about sparkle at the Crate office...

Her Christmas tree brooch collection is super snazzy, don't you think? I bet the box looks great on your dresser, Gina! Darling!!

We shall be in contact shortly–watch your inbox for an address request. CONGRATS! Happy New Year!

Here is a small sampling of other projects we fancied from the challenge. Thank-you to the lovely ladies who submitted them to us. We adore what you've made and greatly appreciate the time you took to play with our products in honor of the holiday.

This was a close second and is from Mandi Holmes–a gift bag and sequin-filled ornament tag. The color palette is super refreshing and the ornament concept is glam all the way! What a fun and fabulous bag you created–we hope the recipient loves it as much as we do! Thank-you!

 

A little on the soft and shabby side, Anita Bownds' gift set was another finalist in the running. We like the handmade touches, the extra frills and the endless Open Book embellishment layers. A very sweet package set-up! Thank-you as well, Anita!

THANK-YOU to everyone who participated in this month's challenge festivities!! There were a lot of beautiful projects that came through and we took delight in every single one of them. We hope your holidays are filled with even more creative opportunity and that you'll continue to make our products shine! Thank-you again!!

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Best wishes on the upcoming New Year! Thank you for your enduring love and support of Crate Paper! 

Talking About :: Maggie Holmes Design

Did you know that our sweet and lovely Maggie Holmes has her very own design team and project-friendly blog? We recently made a visit to Maggie Holmes Design and snapped up a couple of oh-so-cute images to share with you here. We want to spread some Maggie-love and inspire you to take a look at the awesome talent and gorgeous photography that is common place in Maggie's colorful world. She's AMAZING, as is her design team!!

And just 'cause we couldn't resist showing you MORE Maggie happiness....

And a last minute extra or two...

Now, hop on over to the Maggie Holmes' blog to discover even more great Crate Paper ideas and the many Maggie Holmes collections you have come to love this last year! Be prepared for lots and lots of eye candy, too! 

Tomorrow, we'll return with the WINNER of the Crate Paper Holiday DIY challenge. Last minute submissions are due by 8:00pm this evening (Central Time). If you're still planning on playing along, submit your project to cpblog@cratepaper.com

Crate DIY Holiday :: Accordion Album Ornament

We have one more quick "DIY" share in honor of 'Crate Holiday', an ongoing feature at the blog this month. The project itself isn't limited to just the holidays either, but to any occasion! It's also a great way to remember this year's joy-filled days!

Naomi Atkins: For this month's DIY project, I decided to make a photo accordion book ornament! I make one ever year and some hang on the tree, and some are displayed as decoration.

The kids and I love going through them every year. They're similar to a mini album, but present in an accordion album fashion.

I mostly used the Open Book and Notes and Things collections to craft the ornament. I think it looks quite festive, even without using "Christmas" themed lines.

I cut a 12 x 12 sheet in two 12 x 4 strips. I then folded them in thirds and stitched them together. Thereafter, I stitched a ribbon hanger and added my photos and embellishments!

Super easy and fun! Hope you are making time to craft and relax during the busy holiday season!

Crate DIY Holiday :: Holiday Advent Calendar

From all of us at Crate Paper, we wish you much happiness and joy on this merry occasion. We are dedicating the day to Jeanette Lee's Open Book Advent Calendar. Even though the countdown has officially reached an end, there is still ample holiday cheer to go around–trees, deer and all.

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Hey CP Fans! This is Jeanette bringing you another installment of the Crate Holiday Series. With Christmas just around the corner, an Advent Calendar of some sort would be suiting as we count down the days to Christmas Day itself. I'm here to show you a simple step-by-step process of how I created this.

 

 

Start off with a blank ready-made advent calendar. This is easily available at your local craft store. I got mine from Muji. Next, fill each box with a 1.5' by 1.5'piece of square patterned paper. Then, use a small punch to create an opening on the top of the box. Once the patterned papers are adhered, file the sides of the boxes for a smooth easy finish.

 

 

To not over-complicate matters, the design of the boxes were kept fairly simple. Using my Silhouette Cameo, I cut out numbers for each day of the month, as well as typed them out alphabetically. Also, an advent calendar wouldn't be complete without treats. Leave a special treat for a loved one by filling each box with goodies such as sweets, chocolates and biscuits. Yum!

At this point, the advent calendar could jolly stand alone as a lovely mantlepiece. However, I felt that it was somewhat lacking and I decided to complement the calendar with an accompanied Christmas scene.

Using a plastic cover, I covered it with the American Crafts POW Glitter Paper in Silver. It serves as a 'snowy' base, befitting of the Christmas theme. To make it more realistic, I added silver and gold glitter and sealed it with clear craft glue to mimic the look of snow.

Then, let your creativity and imagination shine! Straight from the Maggie Holmes Open Book Collection, I gathered flowers and leaves die-cuts and placed them strategically around the tray. The animals are such a cute edition that I just had to include them as well. To imitate the 3D-look, I backed them up with used chipboard and cardstock. Lastly, I added a few small Christmas trees and beautified them with star stickers and brads to complete the look.

That's it for today! Sending blessings of peace and happiness to you on Christmas! Happy Holidays!

 

Crate DIY Holiday :: Dimensional Thank You Cards

These sweet and simple thank-you cards from Ashley Cannon Newell cater a dimensional effect that is eye catching and fun. They're a cinch to create as well – Cut, fold & glue!

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The holidays are near and those who love and care for you have been generous. Don't forget to send thank you notes for every single thing that your loved ones and neighbors have done for you during the holidays or throughout the year. But, let's be honest. Making intricate designs may not fit your schedule. No worries, I have some fun and creative ideas that even kids can do to make the handmade card stand out and let the recipient really know you appreciate their thoughtful gestures.

First, trim three triangles (for each tree you plan to use). You can use a pencil to sketch, then cut on the lines.

Next, score a line down the center of your triangle (tree) and fold them in half.

Punch, hand-cut, or die cut three circles (for each ornament you want to use).

Next, score and fold the circles in half.

Assemble the tree and ornaments as shown.

Here are the three thank you notes placed on 4 x 6 cards.

Hand write your "thank you" greeting and even draw a frame around the card's border.

Hand draw the string and bow for the ornament.

Whether you need holiday thank you notes for yourself or you want to keep your kids occupied and creative, these easy DIY handmade holiday thank you notes are the key. Sending them in the mail is a breeze because they fold flat too!

Have a safe and wonderful Christmas!

Crate DIY Holiday :: Revamped Open Book Holiday Frame

 

This framed deer would sit beautifully on top a table, greeting guests with a bit of shimmer and shine. It is Anabelle O'Malley's final project at the Crate Paper blog - Thank You Anabelle for enlightening us with your creations the last three years! She has been a member of the CP family longer than any other designer. You will be missed!

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Today's post is rather bittersweet for me. I loved creating my DIY project and am excited to share it with you. But, it is the last project I will be designing as a CP girl. I've loved every minute of my time with Crate over the past 3 years and will miss it dearly.

A while back, I found some very ugly frames at a thrift shop and paid twenty-five cents a piece for them. I've used several for projects and had one last one left. I knew it would be perfect for creating a piece of home decor for the holidays. I painted the frame and pulled out goodies from the Open Book and Notes and Things lines.

I started off by adding a piece of paper to the background of the frame. Next, I knew I wanted to use the deer die-cut and create a glittered deer head to serve as the focal point of the piece. Here is what I did:

Once I cut it from cardstock, I painted on Mod Podge.

Next, I sprinkled on the glitter. I find that the Mod Podge holds the glitter in place well and I was happy with the even coverage.

I decided I wanted to use one of the glitter bows from the Open Book collection. However, the pink was a bit brighter than what I needed for this project. So, I got my brush and painted Mod Podge on it. I sprinkled some lighter pink glitter and it worked perfectly!

I layered together the pieces I'd selected and here is my final project - a glittery, gold, shabby decorative frame that will sit on my entry table.

I started pulling the project together by combining a die-cut tag and chipboard frame. I love the gold wreath die-cut and added it with foam adhesive to give the piece dimension. Next,the deer head. I topped it off with some gold Thickers. At the top of the frame, I adhered buttons from the Open Book embellishment jar. I simply used cutters to snip off the backs and attached them with large glue dots.

I always love the floral elements in Crate collections and the Open Book line is no exception. I tucked a floral sticker underneath the frame. I love how the little leaves look as they peek out. Finally, I placed the glittered bow just below the deer. Finished!

While pink, gold and green may not be traditional 'Christmas' colors, they worked perfectly for this project. I love how it turned out.

Crate DIY Holiday :: Gold & Silver Portrait Wall Gallery

If you're limited on space for holiday decor, today's DIY wall decor assembly from CP Gal, Jina Jean, just might be the perfect solution for you! Even if you're no longer in the market for holiday decorating, we still think this is a great idea. Read on and consider trying.

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This year, I decided to skip the BIG Christmas Tree and went instead with an assortment of beautiful holiday decorations in and around my studio. Even though I hadn't the space for a traditional tree, I didn't want to lose out on that Christmas mood we all seem to love this time of year.

My decoration-of-choice was a festive arrangement of Christmas-friendly frames. 

 Here is a peek at my studio wall prior to the season's start. Last Summer, I chose to fill a collection of various sized frames with Crate Paper's prior patterned paper releases; Boy's Rule, Open Road, Style Board and Portrait.

Many of Crate Paper's beautiful patterned papers look great on their own–and work fabulously when framed individually. This particular set-up was in need of a seasonal update.

First, I chose a gorgeous deer head image to incite the feeling of 'winter'. I cut the image from a black & white striped patterned paper {Boys Rule} using my Silhouette Machine.

I designed a fancy head dress from Open Book's floral die-cuts and a resin flower from Flea Market.

I mounted the deer on white cardstock and framed it!

For my next frame, I used a gold glittered foam phrase from Open Book. I positioned it directly on top the glass and backed it with gold glitter striped paper.

 I did the exact same thing with a third frame, though opted for a heart as the background.

Finally, I echoed the same feel and look with the remainder of the frames and hung them up on my wall in my studio as shown. I decorated the area even further with tinsel-like gold/silver tassels.

I love the end result–my home is officially ready for Christmas!

  

Crate DIY Holiday :: Open Book Family Photo Tree

 

This crafty tree arrangement from CP Gal, Adrienne Alvis, is a clever use of Crate Paper's famous chipboard frames. We think you'll agree!

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Hello and happy holidays, Crate Paper followers! I'm here today to share a quick and easy DIY photo frame tree that I created using one of my favorite Crate Paper embellishments–Chipboard Frames!

I found the inspiration for this idea in one of my favorite home decor catalogs. I just love how the photo frames are arranged like a tree and I knew that the Open Book Chipboard Frames would be perfect to help me mimic this idea with my craft supplies.

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

First, I chose the frames I wanted to use and arranged them in a "tree" shape. Next, I printed off a few 'holiday-themed' photos of my children to fit inside some of the chipboard frames.

I then backed a few of the frames with patterned paper and a journaling card from the Notes & Things collection. This easily allowed for the addition of chipboard stickers, vellum shapes and other Open Book embellishment varieties.

I used my hot glue gun to adhere the frames together, carefully overlapping each one.

I punched a hole at the top of the tree and placed some of my favorite red and white striped ribbon through it. Finally, I hung the photo tree 'up'!

**Secondary Display Option: Prop the project up against a wall with the help of a large frame.

I want to wish you all a very merry holiday season and happy New Year!

Crate DIY Holiday :: 'Let it Snow' Hanging Banner & Snowflakes

There are all kinds of ways to dress up the mantel in honor of the holidays. If you happen to be one of the lucky few with a beautiful fireplace and mantel, then today's project is for you! Our CP Gal, Katie Ehmann, created a custom banner and matching snowflakes to adorn her home, making for a magical arrangement of holiday fun. 

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Upon first glance, Open Book doesn't look like a winter themed collection. However, as I was decorating for Christmas, the colors in my misted bottle brush trees immediately reminded me of the bright tones in Open Book. The blues, greens, golds, pinks and reds are the perfect cheery combination! Each year I hang banners from my fireplace mantel, so this year I decided to craft a snowy decorative piece to coordinate with my trees.

My Silhouette Cameo got quite a workout with this project! First, I cut the flag shapes from a variety of patterned papers, carefully alternating patterns to my liking. Next, I adhered the white doilies from Open Book to each flag that would hold a letter in my saying, "Let it snow." I chose the deep wood grain paper from Open Book so they would pop against the doilies and cut the letters with my Silhouette. The font I chose is called 'Harbell'.

Once my letters were adhered, I punched two holes at the top of each flag and threaded a long length of twine to create my banner. To add fun touches to my project, I decided to create three dimensional snowflakes to hang from the twine between words. These patterns are available in the Silhouette store and were easy to make.

I chose papers with small, delicate patterns to give my snowflakes a frosty look! Since each flake has its own loop for hanging, I simply threaded twine through the loops and tied them to my finished banner!

I love how my banner turned out, and will enjoy it all winter long! Happy crafting, CP Fans!

Crate DIY Holiday :: Merry & Bright Gift Giving + Bow Tutorial

 

 This kraft + bright color combination from CP Gal Rebecca Luminarias is sure to inspire your Christmas gift giving this year. There's an added bonus as well – a step-by-step fabric bow tutorial! Peruse & enjoy.

 

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I've become a bit obsessed about tag-making and gift-wrapping as of late, so now that holiday-time is here, I feel as though I am in my element!  One thing I love about Christmas anymore is that anything goes!  You don't have to be traditionally red and green; you don't have to shroud things in Santa Claus and bells; you don't even have to actually wrap your gifts in paper.  There are so many other (paperless) ways of presenting a gift, and that's what I'm focusing on today.

 

 

I've got some really simple go-tos for you, plus a quick fabric tape bow tutorial, too.  First up, the kraft papier mache box.  I like this for a few reasons:  They are sturdy and come ready to dress up in their lovely, rustic kraft color; they come in multiple sizes and are easily available at most large craft stores; they can be kept by the recipient and used for storage.

 

 

My first one could not be simpler!  With some jute twine, a miniature bottle brush tree, and 2 gorgeous labels from Open Book, the entire look came together in about 2 minutes. Thanks to the vibrant green vellum and the gold foil, it's festive and eye-catching.  

 

 

The first thing I thought of when I saw this gold foil vellum border was a wreath.  And when I paired it with the deer frame, it became instantly Christmassy!  I made the bow from the gold dot fabric tape that came in the OB Embellishment Jar; I'll show you how to make them, too, in just a bit.

 

 

Although Open Book isn't a Christmas collection by any means, it was easy to work the embellishments into my holiday crafting.  There was plenty of gold, and of course the green, and who can resist DEER during holiday time?  With a few basics from my stash (jute twine, sisal trees, red glitter ribbon), the festive possibilities became endless.

 

 

All the way back when I first received the Open Book collection, I knew I was saving this guy right here for Christmas!  It's also one of the things I would normally hang onto so tightly that it eventually goes out of style.  I don't know about you, but I'm sometimes afraid to use my most favorite pieces because I don't want to waste them!  That's why I put this on a muslin bag all by itself.  It's the focal point, it's a gift, and it's on packaging that can be used again and given to someone else to enjoy...

 

 

...if I decide to part with it.  It's one of those things you keep at your workspace so you can admire it--I'm sure you've made things like that, too.  I love the simplicity of this...the fabric tape tree made with triangle scraps from the aforementioned bows and the gold type sticker--wonder.  Isn't that one of the best words to describe the enchantment of the holiday season?

 

 

Another bow on a tiny kraft box, and it only took a minute to put together. So let's make some more of these bows! 

 

 

 

All you need to make them yourself are fabric tape, scissors, and glue.

Step 1: Cut 3 lengths of tape

For my bows, my lengths were:  1 1/2", 3", 6"

 

 

Step 2: Fold the ends of the longest tape piece to the middle.  Dab a bit of glue to each end to bind them and create 2 loops.

 

 

Step 3: Snip the ends of your 3" piece to create V's and glue your looped length to it.

 

 

Step 4: Wrap your shortest length around the center of your bow and glue each end to the bottom.  All done!  Super easy, right?!  (And now you can make some tiny triangle tree tags, too!)

 

 

Use them to embellish packages or even special holiday cards.

 

{If you swap out the "Merry Christmas" sentiment here with something romantic, this card would make a lovely Valentine!}

 

It's not too late to put Open Book to work and add some rustic glam to your holiday gifts!  I wish you the merriest of holidays, Crate Paper fans!