Crafting Up Summer Fun!!

Here on the Gulf Coast, we have tons of sunshine during the Summer!  We love to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather and probably spend a lot of time in the sprinkler, pool, or ocean to get a break from the heat!

On my last visit to the store, Christy gave me a fun assortment of papers from TCP Studio to work with.  Well believe it or not, I decided that I didn't want to create a layout with these papers, but a couple of fun projects instead.  Now, I hardly ever stray from my layouts to do projects, so if I can do these, then you definitely can too!!  :)

I chose to do a mini matchbook for my first project.  These are great to give as gifts to friends, grandparents, or other family members.  You can fill them with photos and they are perfectly portable in a wallet or purse.  Here is how I created mine:

1.  Start by cutting a 3 inch x 7 inch piece of paper.  Then score your paper at 3 inches and 6 inches.

2.  After scoring and folding, cut a piece of paper at 2.75x2.75 to place on the front cover of your matchbook.  Cut a 1 inch strip and use some Edger scissors to cut a scalloped edge and place it over the 1 inch fold. 

3.  Next, decorate your front cover using stickers, Thickers, and a handmade sun embellishment.  I created a fun little flag for my cover, using a toothpick, tiny type, stickers, a piece of scrap paper and baker's twine.

4.  Once you are done decorating the front of your book, cut a second strip of paper at 3 inches by 9 inches.  Score again at 3 inches and 6 inches.  Accordian fold your paper strip.

5.  Choose the photos you would like to add to your inside strip.  I printed my photos at 2.75x2.75.  You will have space for 6 photos.

6.  Add your strip to the inside of your matchbook, once you have them adhered to your paper strip.

The next project I have, is great home decor for a kid's bedroom or in a beach house.  I used a ceramic tile and the patterned papers from TCP Studio, to create a wall hanging.  These tiles are available at your local Home Improvement stores and the 12x12 floor tiles can be available for less than $2 each.

1.  Start out by gathering your supplies.  You will need a 12x12 Ceramic Tile, Mod Podge, foam brush, patterned papers, Thickers or letter stickers, ink, and a few optional items for decorating your tile.

2.  Select a full 12x12 piece of paper to use as your background.  Tear around each edge of the paper and then distress with your preferred choice of ink. I like to use brown.  Then paint the Mod Podge all over the background of your tile and place the paper over it.  Push your paper to adhere it to the tile.  Let it dry for about 10 minutes and then paint a coat of Mod Podge over the top of your paper.  Don't worry if you have a few air bubbles pop up under your paper...it adds character!!  :)

3.  Start adding some decoration to your tile.  I used some bubble wrap and the brown ink to stamp onto the sand on the patterned paper, just to give it a little more interest.  You can create a fun umbrella embellishment for you tile, buy using a dowel rod, bamboo skewer, or sucker stick.  Cut out the umbrella shape and glue the stick to your tile and then add the umbrella cover, using some pop dots, to give it a little more dimension on the tile.  I topped mine off with a button and added some baker's twine to the dowel rod.

4.  Use a mix of Thickers, letter stickers, and die cut words to create a title for your tile.

5.  Finish off your project, by making a hand-made sun embellishment, a couple of clouds, and a tropical flower.  I used my Expression to cut my shapes and then embossed them using my Sizzix Big Shot.

     
I hope you enjoyed both of these projects, and that you will stop in to see Christy and pick up some products at ScrapHappy for your next layout or project.  Have a fun and crafty Summer!!  :)