Crate Paper

Holiday Decor Week

I've always wanted to make an Advent calendar, but every time I tried, I would get a little overwhelmed.  I felt the same way about a lot of my memory keeping goals, but I developed a technique that really helps to tackle some of these really ambitious projects.  In the broadest terms, my technique involves limiting myself.

For example, it's really helpful to limit the number of supplies and or design elements I use in a project. For my Advent calendar this year, I used the following formula for each of the 25 days:  

1 day = 1 canvas bag + ornament + 1 patterned paper + 1 die cut + clothespin + 1 number

It was so much fun pulling my box of ornaments out of storage and incorporating them into this project.  I limited myself to just using mini glitter balls, but I still had some room to play around with the colors.

Then I pulled canvas bags,  6"x6" patterned papers, and die cuts from my Crate Paper collection.  By limiting myself to CP collections, I was able to create a nice, cohesive look quite easily..

For the numbers, I printed them at home using AC white textured cardstock and I fastened everything with a mini clothespin.

If you notice, I used the same construction for each bag; 3"x4" pattered paper layered with a number on top, then a die cut and ornament with a clothespin on top.  Limiting the design of my Advent calendar in this way, saved me so much time and helped to create a pleasing, uniform look.

I've really enjoyed sharing this project and I hope some of my tips help to save you some time as well.  Have a happy and crafty holiday season!

- Maria

Family Week: A Lovely Layout

I can't deny it. When a new collection is released and shows up at my door I just can't wait to dig in. I hadn't had a chance to play with the new Maggie Holmes collection either so I decided to combine that with the newest Crate collection, Hello Love, for this page. The minute I was assigned the topic of "family" I knew which photo I wanted to use. Sure, my entire family isn't in it... but it 100% represents our overall personality. Total goofballs.

So many little bits of the Hello Love collection work perfectly here. It's not just for Valentine's for sure. I started this page by clustering in papers at the bottom of the page. I like little pops of color so I chose neutral ones for the larger pieces and then bold ones for the thinner strips.

To create the border, I randomly folded a thin strip of patterned paper accordion style. I purposefully made my folds crooked so that you could tell it was folded even when it was flat.

Keeping the top portion of my page empty really allows my wood veneer title to pop!

To finish up my page I added a few more embellishments, making sure to layer them where I could.

And that's it. A simple page that still has layers and a graphic punch!

Family Week: Custom Clipboard

Hi everyone!

 

This week, we're talking about family. For the occasion, I wanted to immortalize a rare picture where I'm with my family. It's always me who takes photos at home or at various occasions, so photos of the three of us are treasures!

I hesitated between creating a frame or clipboard, but since I wanted to put the photo in my office, I chose the clipboard!

 

 

My office is both clean and bright, so when I add pieces, I like to add small colored elements to add some pep! I thought the Shine collection would be perfect--it's such a delight!

First I glued the yellow and cream BLISS paper to the bottom of the clipboard. Then I covered half with DIVINE floral paper. 

 

 

On top of the clipboard I stuck flags and labels (from the pack of stickers).

 

 

I slipped a die cut from the ephemera pack under the left side of the photo and 2 tags (made with the papers in this collection) on the left. On the top I added an embellishment.

 

 

On my lower part of the clipboard, I chose 2 cards cut out of the BRIGHT paper.

I love the font of the word LOVE!

 

 

I made a stitched frame on the sewing machine for the zebra card that I think is just too cute.

 

 

Finally, I added 2 small tassels on top of the clipboard. It definitely completes the look!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

See you soon ;)

Laetitia

Family Week

Happy Thanksgiving week!  It's that wonderful time of year when we gather with family and friends and just enjoy being together.  It has has always been my most favorite time of year.

My heart always leads me home to where my family is...even if we can't be together, my heart is with them as my siblings and I are spread across the country.  That's the beautiful thing about family though...that our hearts keep us knit together even though we may be miles apart.

With family in mind this week, I created a couple of things that reminded me of my family.  They are miracles to me and their love is essential.  Love is what heals, connects, and keeps us going.

I've used the new Shine collection for my card and tag, starting with two die cut tags from the Ephemera pack, and then building on them.  I've used chipboard pieces, cardstock stickers, Thickers, and many other elements.

I love the patterns found in the paper of the Shine collection.  There's a little something for everyone, from bold and graphic, to soft and a bit more subtle.  Kind of like the different personalities found within my family :).

My favorite elements lately, are the lovely, gold Thickers, with chunky glitter.  They are too sweet not to use and a great way to get your point across in an instant.

I hope that wherever you find yourself this Thanksgiving, that you'll be surrounded my those you love.

Melissa

Gratitude Week: A Pretty Pink Layout

Hi everyone! This week on the Crate Paper blog we are talking about gratitude. I am loving the new Hello Love collection so I decided to document a photo of my husband and I since I'm so thankful for him!

I started out with a piece of white cardstock, then used pink cardstock and cut out a heart cut file for my base. I used patterned papers and embellishments from the collections to embellish the negative spaces.

The tags in this collection are beautiful as well. They are embellished with gold glitter and so beautiful!

A few stickers and chipboard and the layout was complete! This collection goes far beyond Valentines day and can be used all year long.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

- Jen

Gratitude Week: Accordion Album

 

Today, I will be sharing my “Grateful for the Little Things” accordion album.  

Documenting the little things always gives me such great joy.  It’s easy to take ordinary, everyday moments for granted, but scrapbooking helps me preserve the memory and reflect on my gratitude.

This mini album celebrates a late autumn day spent hiking in the woods.  

The cover is a horizontal photo that I folded in half.  

To make the accordion folds, I attached a piece of patterned paper and then another photo before folding.

I typed my journaling, printed, and then cut out word strips.  Before I used my Tiny Attacher to staple the word strips into place, I also glued them down using a glue stick.

I kept the words strips short in length so they could function as captions beside my photos.

 

I used a huge variety of patterned papers in this album.  I tried to find designs that share similar colors to the photos I chose to represent.

 

I kept the embellishments very neutral and minimal, so they wouldn’t compete with the patterned papers and photos in my album.

 

White space is a great place to add embellishments right on the photo.

Word strips also look quite well stapled right onto the photos.

This accordion-style album would make a thoughtful present and it was fast and easy to make.  Thanks for stoping by and taking a look!

- Maria

Gratitude Week: Altered Notebooks

I love adding pages to my notebooks when they include lists. And what better way to record gratitude?

As soon as I saw that frame patterned paper in the new Shine collection I knew it'd be perfect for highlighting photos. Something different than I normally do. I picked a frame that was the right size for my photo and trimmed it off of the patterned paper. Behind that I layered a bunch of patterned papers.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be needing a few more packs of those glittered stickers as well! They add just the perfect amount of punch.

Tip // As you can see, I like to include sewing in my notebooks as well. To do this I leave every other page/spread out of my notebook. So the spread following this one will be blank. I'll work on the next and this way I can staple and sew and then just glue the pages together when I'm done.

Thanks for reading!

Marcy

Gratitude Week

Hello Crate fans! This week we'll be showcasing projects that feature things we're grateful for. Stop by every day for beautiful inspiration!

 

Hi everyone!

I want to dedicate this gratitude week to my daughter Lisa

who makes my life so much better!

For this layout, there was nothing better than the pretty Maggie Holmes SHINE collection.

  

To make my page I first pasted the mint, floral paper.

I then pasted the nice wooden frame and die-cuts under the photo. And I added the birds and pink flower chipboard.

On the top of my page I chose two flags from the chipboard sheet and the little yellow one from the epoxy sticker sheet. I then added a few staples.

 

I wrote my title with small labels and 2 beautiful golden alphabets from the SHINE collection.

And I added small embellishments here and there. I love mixing different embellishments.

 

I added a touch of femininity to the letter Y with a sweet bow.

 

 

How about you--who do you want to show your gratitude for?

 

Laetitia

WRMK + Crate: DIY Tent Decor by Marcy

For a while now we've been wanting to create a little quiet space in our school room. Somewhere to go read a book or listen to music... a little sanctuary. When I saw that Crate joined forces with We R Memory Keepers to put out a little teepee I knew it'd be perfect.

The kit in itself is super fun! It comes with these cute pompoms and pennants! Seriously. Adorable. And perfect for everyday.

But I wanted to see if I could customize it. To give it a theme depending on the event or season.

So that's what I did.

I pulled out my scrapbooking supplies as well as some twine and mini clothespins. I draped the twine around the teepee and clipped on a variety of items like tassels, a gold word banner, flags trimmed out of patterned paper and some wood veneer embellishments.

Just as little something fun.

So, now my mind is whirling with other customizing ideas. Adding lights and holiday-themed items for Christmas. Decking it out in red and pink for Valentine's Day. Including clipped on photos for a birthday. By keeping the teepee itself unadorned I've left the door open for a multitude of decorating options! I love that it's so easy to change around just by using the supplies I already have on hand.

Guess it's time to pull out those Christmas lights!

WRMK + CP: DIY Tents

Create and Play with the new DIY Teepee Kit from We R Memory Keepers, featuring fun designs by Crate Paper. Let your imagination take over as you stamp, paint and decorate your easy-to-assemble tent to match any space or event! Perfect for playrooms, parties, photoshoots and more. They're quick to set up and compact enough to easily store.

Read more on the WMRK blog!

 

 

Hello everyone!

I'm very excited to show you the DIY tent that I received and that I have customized for my daughter Lisa.

She was just as excited as I was opening of the package and we couldn't wait to set it up!

I'm so happy We R Memory Keepers + Crate Paper had this great idea of creating a children's tent. I had dreamed of making one for my daughter, but since I'm not a handyman, I never dared to create one.

 

 

Before starting the installation, I first chose the foam pad that I was going to use and two tubes of paint, a light pink and dark to give a girly side to the tent.

I created triangles in two different directions to create a diamond. 

 

 

Once the paint was dry, I started to put up the tent!

Installation is quick and is detailed in the instructions. It's really very easy!

 

 

I placed the garland pompoms and I hung little tassels from the Maggie Holmes's Shine collection for a cute effect.

Then on the last cord, I added the 2 cream and turquoise felt tassels, burgundy felt feather, one pink felt banner, and woods beads, all contents in the DIY Teepee Kit.

 

 

I added clothespins to the middle string in order to hang the letters of the first name of my daughter with large golden alphabet from the latest Maggie's collection.

 

 

Here are some details of the embellishments:

 

 

 

Finally, for a bit of added comfort, I placed a blanket on the ground and I added cushions.

 

 

 

And now, my Lisa has a new favorite place!

 

 

 

The teepee is definitely going on the Christmas list ;)

 

Laetitia