Crate Paper

Love You: Saying "I Love You" to Family - Jeanette Lee

It's the CP Gal's last chance to show off a little love as we finish up "Love You" week here at Crate Paper. Sharing the "Love You" message doesn't have to lack creativity, at least not with Crate's Valentine's Day collection, Love Notes! This sweet, endearing card set and family album from Jeanette Lee are a superb example of "Love" re-imagined in decorative form to be shared on Valentine's Day...

To love and to show love can sometimes be difficult, especially in a family. I find it easier to express how much I love a person if he is a lover or a special friend, but when it comes to words of affection towards my family, I struggle. Not that I don't love them, but perhaps the traditional society I live in has made social-cultural norms uncomfortable. With that said, I try to show the extent of my love by focusing on doing little projects around the house as a form of expressing how much I love them. With Valentine's Day approaching, it proved to be a perfect opportunity to create another project - solely for them! 

I started off by making envelopes to contain love notes for each family member. I found a used jewelry stand and converted it into a letter holder. This would serve to fit close to seven letters in the upper and lower compartments.

Using patterned papers from the Love Notes 6 x 6 pad, I sized it down to a 5.5" inch square. I scored two diagonal sides to 2" while the other two sides were scored to 2.5". Attached is a sample drawing for easy reference.

Then, I cut the ends that intersected with the score lines. Lastly, I folded and assembled the envelope. To create a more authentic look, I rounded the corners with a punch.

To decorate the envelopes further, I mixed a variety of textural elements together (vellum, chipboard, etc.) while ensuring that some of them be placed with the intention of creating bulk and depth. Layering matters! I ended my decorative process by personalizing the envelopes to the person intended to receive them. Keeping a person in mind as you scrapbook can definitely make the process that much more enjoyable!

Up next, I created an album, focusing on the special moments and memories we shared as a family in 2013.

So, how is this different from a normal album? For starters, both ends of the album are decorated with a specific purpose/intention in mind, which I'll explain later on. To assemble the album, I cut down eight cardstock sheets to 4.5" x 4". Vertically, along the left edge of each sheet, I scored a line at the .5" mark. I then glued the sides together and assembled the album.

I placed tabs along the top edge of some of the album pages; highlighting a special family memory. These cute candy sticks from the Love Notes collection were perfect for the job! I covered the backside of the sticks with patterned papers as a final decorative touch, and to rid of the stickiness.

 

The other purpose I wanted to mention is that the album easily displays as a photo stand. As such, the pages may be readily seen from all angles. The tabs also serve to heighten the album while increasing it's presence from the outside.

While most of the album centers merely around full-page photographs, some of the space is devoted to smaller photographs. For example, on one of the pages I created an envelope and placed four photographs inside it that can easily be removed. As a means of decorating the opening further, I placed vellum and die cuts along the flap using a stapler to secure them.

This last page is special. A quote from Donna Hedges poignantly sums up the reasons as to why my family is important to me.

And there you have it, a completed arrangement of today's creations. I intend to place them in my living room on February 14th. It is a beautiful, heartfelt way to express how much I love my family.

The thought, matters. Start working on your Valentine's Day projects today. I'm sure that whatever you embark on will be timely reminders to your loved ones of your affection and I'm certain they'll be encouraged, and appreciative.

 

Love You: Hand Made Lavender Sachets - Marie Lottermoser

Do you remember making Valentines back in grade school? I've never outgrown the tradition. Every year, I hand make my own Valentines to send out to friends. There is nothing like discovering a pretty Valentine in your mailbox to brighten your day.

This year, instead of making traditional paper cards, I decided to go a step further and turn my Valentines into tiny presents. I used the patterned paper from the Love Notes collection to sew up lavender heart sachets. Friends can use them to scent linens, pillows and drawers, or just leave them out as a decoration. They smell divine!

All you need to make these are some dried lavender (or other fragrant spice), some pretty paper, and a needle and thread. I used a sewing machine, but you can just as easily hand sew them together.

Because my hearts are only 4" wide, I used a 6 x 6 paper pad so I could get a variety of patterned paper. I found it easiest to sew two paper hearts together about 3/4 of the way, and then fill the heart with lavendar before sewing it all the way shut. I left a 1/2" margin around the outside, and then used pinking shears to give the edges a finished look.

Take a pin and poke holes in the sachet to allow the fragrance to come through. I just traced around the edges of the stickers, but you can put the holes in any arrangement you wish.

I sewed hangers made of ribbon onto each sachet, and then decorated them with clothes pins, stickers and tags.

I was so happy with how these came out that I think I might make a set for myself. Are you making Valentines this year? If so, I highly recommend these fragrant little hearts.

Love You: Fourteen Years of "I Love You" - Ginny Hughes

Hi Everyone! I'm thrilled to be here with my first project on behalf of Crate Paper. I chose to create a layout as a way to say "I Love You" to my husband. Sometimes, I forget to document our relationship. It's hard to capture "us" when rarely do we take photos together. Still, I realize the value and importance of such photos. In creating the layout, I searched out a starting point using the oval shaped chipboard piece, "14". Last Fall, we celebrated our 14th anniversary and I thought it a perfect piece for the occasion!

This photo was taken upon our first trip together without the kids - just the two of us! It was a first in over ten years! We had a fabulous time, too!

I love using circles. I think they convey a feeling of happiness. On my layout, I used three different sized circles, all punched from Love Notes' 6 x 6 patterned paper pad. I like the decreased patterned paper prints; they're great when wanting to use small pieces on a project.

It's easy to create a lot of texture on a project just by using different types of materials. Here I combined regular patterned paper, vellum, chipboard, transparent hearts and thread from a sewing machine. I also curled my paper up a bit to make it pop off the page.

I think journaling is such an important part of a layout like this. It's doesn't have to be long - but from the heart. I used an old typewriter to journal about the trip we'd taken together. If without a typewriter, you could easily use a "typewriter" font as an alternative.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope to have inspired you to say "I Love You" to the people most important in your life!

Love You: Valentine Kids Surprise! - Stephanie Bryan

Nothing says "I Love You" like a sweet little gift wrapped in a pretty box. For Valentine's Day this year, I'm surprising my two kids with these beautiful gift boxes filled with fun treats! I've wanted to start the tradition of using the same boxes each year, and as soon as I saw the "Love Notes" collection, I knew I could use the papers and embellishments to create gorgeous little boxes.

I picked up several cubed-sized white boxes at my local craft store and decided to decorate the tops. I started by trimming patterned paper to fit the top of each box. Then I added fun layers of tags, frames, stickers and clothespins. There really are no rules when it comes to layering. I like to begin with my flatter papers and stickers and then add the dimensional tags, chipboard and flair. By layering the elements in this way, you can add so much texture and interest to a project.

I filled each box with some shredded paper and a little gift. I kept the gifts rather simple: candy, a small toy and a Valentine's craft. It's not the gifts that say "I Love You", but the thought and meaning behind each box.

I can't wait to see my children's faces on Valentine's Day when they find these beautiful boxes on our table. And I'm looking forward to many more years of using these boxes to hold special "I Love You" gifts.

Love You: Boxed Treats & Card - Ashley Cannon Newell

 

As we near Valentine's Day, we're taking time to call attention to Crate Paper's heart and arrow collection, Love Notes. This first week's theme is about telling that special someone how much you "love" him/her in a way that is crafty, heartfelt and perfectly sweet. From tidy boxed gifts to enveloped cards, the new CP Design Team has some great ideas for sharing the words "I Love You" using our very own, "Love Notes" collection. Today's "Love You" message includes a treat for that sweet tooth in your life and a matching card....

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Valentine's Day is the perfect time to let those special people in your life know that you love them and treasure having them in your life. This special day does not have to be exclusive for a romantic type of love, but any love. Today, I've created a gift ensemble to gift to my dear sister.

I found her favorite candy treats while browsing a craft store and had to get them for her. She sure deserves to know she's loved by me. It's great having a sister and I want her to know that. So, I packaged up these sweet treats with some goodies from the Love Notes collection.

Using 12 x 12 patterned paper, I made my own gift box to hold the marshmallow treats. I bound it up with a patterned paper wrapped candy box.

I also made a card to give along with the candy. I used the 6 x 6 paper pad for the "Heart Throb" patterned paper layer. Next, I layered a journaling card from "Book of Love" to patterned paper and used decorative scalloped scissors for the border. I added chipboard die cuts and a stamped greeting. Last, I tucked in some ribbon to coordinate with the gift boxes.

To make the large gift box, I used a template system. I scored 2" around the entire border of 12 x 12 patterned paper sheets. I assembled the box base and box lid with double-sided sticky tape and added the candy contents. The polka dot paper is "Classic Love" from the collection.

To cover the candy box, I scored lines around the size of the box and wrapped it just as you would wrap a gift. I used a 12 x 12 sheet of "Heart Throb".

After adding the ribbon wrap, I placed an adhesive badge on the ribbon knot and used a chipboard die cut as a tag.

Most of the time, it's not what you give, but the fact that you thought about someone. I also think adding special gift wrapping lets the recipient know how much you love and appreciate them during this time of year. So, even if it's just candy, wrap it up with some "Love Notes" and make that special person feel loved.

Crate Paper Booth Projects: CHA Winter 2014

We're back today to share even more of the lovely talent that was displayed at the Crate Paper booth this past week at CHA in Anaheim, California. This first project - a shabby chic frame set created from Oh Darling - would be a dream for any young girl looking to decorate a room inspired by all things feminine. It's from our returning CP Gal, Katie Ehmann.

Having two little girls, Oh Darling is one of my all-time favorite Crate collections! I love the pink and mint with pops of sunshine yellow -- so fun! To create these frames, I started with plain wooden frames from the craft store. I chose eight different patterned paper with smaller, graphic designs for an eclectic look. Then, I cut the paper strips to size to fit the frames, machine stitched them together, and embellished. The chipboard and die cut frame pieces fit the openings of the wooden frames perfectly. I'm especially loving the resin bow, gems and super cute ephemera pack. Instead of photos, I used chipboard pieces (how awesome is that roller skate?!) to turn these into cute decorations perfect for a little girl's room!

  

I love the Boys Rule line! The colors and motifs are so much fun and are really versatile. One of my favorite Crate projects has been the chipboard frames. I loved layering them over my photo, here, and using them as the base on my title block. Another favorite is the new vellum. Stars are such a versatile design and I had fun adding the star vellum onto my page to add an extra layer of design.

 

 

Rad: The "Rad" sticker jumped out at me as soon as I saw it! I knew it would be the perfect sentiment on a card. I started by trimming a few patterned papers down to a smaller square. Then, I layered on a few stickers and embellishments and added a few paint splatters to finish it off.

Awesome: On this card, I created a patchwork background from a few different patterned papers. I cut down small squares using scissors to give the background an imperfect look. Then, I added the "awesome" card on top using pop dots for extra dimension.

Love You: Making cards from simple scraps and tags is one of my favorite go-to techniques! This card came together quickly and easily. Most of the papers and tags were left over from my Boys Rule clipboard project. I simply layered them together and sewed them into place. Easy peasy!

 

Hi: Crate offers an abundance of beautiful frames! They're great on top of photos or as part of an embellishment display on either a layout or card. Here, I layered several different frames and patterned papers on top of one another. I allowed some of the papers and frames to extend and peek through to give the impression of depth and to draw the eye inward. I added the sentiment "hi" using the lovely green script Thickers inside one of the frames. I finished the sweet card with a chipboard flower and a pink bow.

Love: I wanted to highlight the gorgeous papers in this collection, so I focused on creating a sunburst as my background. After I trimmed out all of the pieces, I layered them onto my card and sewed them into place while lifting the edges ever so slightly. I kept the rest of the card fairly simple by adding two wood veneer pieces to the top left hand corner.

Love You: The vellum shapes are ideal as embellishments and/or sentiments on a card. I chose the "love you" vellum phrase as my main focus. I layered it on top a beautiful piece of patterned paper and a pocket tab from the ephemera pack. I finished it off with a few paper butterflies.

 

Valentines is one of my favorite holidays to scrap, and Love Notes was a sure hit in my capturing this picture of my sister-in-law with her sweet family. I have an album in process for her, so this is a wonderful addition to their family life. In preparation, I had her email me a small paragraph for the page. I typed it out and printed it out in small strips. I'm really liking the trend of small print at the moment. It allowed me to fit everything she had to say onto the page. The adhesive badges are a big fave of mine from the collection, as are the chipboard pieces. They were the perfect finishing touch!

  

Crate Paper Booth Projects: CHA Winter 2014

It's that time of year again when the Crate Paper booth displays lots of beautiful projects at the CHA showroom floor in Anaheim, California. With the latest and greatest CP products greeting retailers and fans from around the world, the 2014 CP Design Team went to work creating catchy designs from the new collections. Everything from decked out clipboards to cute mini albums found a home at the booth. Check out all the eye candy— it's pretty amazing! We thought maybe you'd like to take a peek!

 

I love the Boys Rule collection! The papers, embellishments and all of the extras are perfect for documenting those precious boy memories! For my project, I wanted to create a wall display using small clipboards, photos and various supplies from the collection. I started by trimming down a few of the patterned papers and then added on my photos and embellishments. I sewed everything into place to make sure they would stay together and then attached them to the clipboards. The colors are wonderful and the embellishments give the photos the perfect pop!

 

 

A black and white typography background takes on a boost of color in this layout! Just because Boys Rule is a "boy" collection doesn't mean it lacks color by any means. Both the new boy and girl collections are composed of saturated color palettes that stand-out and bring energy to the scene, no matter the project. They're a fun bunch for capturing the joys of childhood - skateboarding included!

 

The Oh Darling collection is amazing! I love everything about it, especially all of the embellishments! I love this collection so much that I wanted to use every bit of it on my one page. To do this, I picked pieces from each embellishment pack. The ephemera and chipboard packs were loaded with yumminess. It was hard to narrow down which items I wanted to use - I LOVED all of it!

This layout is about my best friend and her sweet baby girl. Hence the title, "Sweet Girl". I used  journaling cards behind some of the main focal areas across the center of the page to anchor them. The little chipboard air balloons were the perfect item for drawing the eye upward. They also lend the page a more dimensional feel. I added a little collage along the bottom. This draws the eye downward - generating further movement. The Oh Darling collection made it super easy to create this fun, girlie page. It's one of my favorite Crate Paper collections to date.

 

Cards, cards and more cards. Wida created a whimsical assortment of cards from Oh Darling, Boys Rule and Love Notes and the best part, they're totally outside the box and fun! "Call me Maybe" is a quintessential line these days and it's reference here is super cute. The shaker box of vellum die-cuts and sequins is a clever use of both Love Notes' and Oh Darling's itty-bitty offerings. And the boy banner, what's not trendy about that?! All these cards are fab and cool!

 

 Yes, even the Love Notes gets a showing - to us, it's still very much brand new! Overlapping paper layers define Anabelle's layout, as well as an over abundance of hearts! The photos are nearly a perfect match with the color 'red' taking center stage. And we can't get enough of them cute wooden clips - Crate has created dozens of them over the years. They're addictive and have a total DIY feel which we love!

 

I was extremely happy when Love Notes finally arrived at my doorstep - it's one of those collections you have to see in-person to fully appreciate. Like always, Crate Paper delivers Valentine's Day like no other! The camera, xo's, date stamper and frames are just a fraction of the collection's cuteness factor. And considering that I'm as much a collage artist as a scrapbooker, I can't get over the variety here. Love Notes can "call me" anytime!

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