In my last post I mentioned that I had just discovered smash books.  After doing a little research, I ALMOST bought the K&Company smash book off Amazon, but at the last second decided to go ahead and make my own.  And I must say I am in love with it.  So much so that I have made 3-for different purposes.  I have one for my son, to put special things in for him, 1 for photography ideas, and 1 for me and whatever I want to smash in it.  If you'd like to see the you tube video of the flip through of the remember book, please click here.

I started with a hard back composition notebook-just $1.97 from Walmart.  I prefer hard backs over the traditional black and white composition notebooks because the hard backs give the completed altered book a more pro feel.  It just feels like a real book.

After choosing my book, I mod podged the paper of my choice onto the front and back covers.  When dry, I added embellishments and then did another layer of mod podge for a finishing touch.  Taking the advice of other DIYers on the web, I glued together the pages of the notebook in groups of 3 (and a couple 4's) to make the pages sturdier for painting, markers, etc..... IT TAKES A LOT OF GLUE! and I don't recommend the school glue sticks that start purple and dry clear.  I'm not happy with the strength of their hold.

To finish up the book, I just cut random sheets of paper to the size of the pages in the book and glued the pretty paper right over the lined paper.  Now's it's ready to smash things in.  The only requirement I had was for spreads to coordinate, but the papers in the book are all very random.  It was a great way to use up papers I had fallen in love with and bought then didn't really know what to do with them.  I even used papers I didn't care for on those pages I knew I'd be covering almost the whole page with things (but I saved those for the photography book and not the main book I knew I'd pack around all the time).

Have I ever mentioned that I am the world's worst at blogging regularly?  There are so many things I'm always thinking I should blog, but being a mom and and a wife and a small business owner does not leave me near enough time.  (Or perhaps lack of energy is more precise.)

But  I didn't set out to write this post about my lack of blogging. I actually come across a smash book on pinterest tonight and needless to say it's 2 am and I've spent the last 2 hours researching them.  HOW IN THE WORLD HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THEM BEFORE?!?!?!  Scrapbook meets journal....I'M ALREADY OBSESSED!

So now I'm torn between buying a smash book and making my own.  I'm really liking what I see as a smash book from K and Company (I really love their stuff) and I'm thinking having an already prettied up book may entice me to keep up with it a little more.   Also, I'm wondering if anyone reading this has either bought one or made one?  Or would be willing to comment on your thoughts on creating a smash book, what you put in it, etc....    For those of you who aren't familiar with what smashbooks are-here's a link to a youtube video that features the books from k and company.

Smashbook


I'm thinking I need at least 3...to jot down things about my child, one personal one focusing on me, and one full of photography ideas....sounds like a good excuse to buy three to me!  Yeah-I kinda prefer the old fashioned way of writing things down and keeping up with ideas.  I just love the thought of having something tangible to hold and look at and maybe even pass down one day.


Anyone interested in leaving any tips, feel free to comment on this post.  And then check out Tyler Hilton's new album Forget the Storm.  I've had lyrics to Kicking My Heels going through my head non-stop as I type this.  Be sure to also check out Loaded Gun and Prince of Nothing Charming.  His voice rocks.

the rag wreath fail

After perusing pinterest and the google, I decided to make my own spring rag wreath.  I had about a yard of material combined with (4 total colors) and a wire hanger.  Plus, my son and I had made coffee filter flowers and I thought he might like to see them on the wreath.  Why not, right?  

For the record, I did not have near enough material.  I had cut roughly 6"x1" strips.  I ended up having to really spread the droopy strips out to get them to cover the hanger.  The end result: something I absolutely do not like.  For now it will hang on my door just to have something there because I guess it could be worse.  But I'm placing this one in the fail category.

the Raggy Quilt

It's no secret this blog has sat practically untouched and unused for about 2 years now seeing as how it's my personal blog and any blogging that does get done in this household is usually for my photography business.  So with the increasing popularity of pinterest, I decided why not use this blog to showcase the crafty stuff I do as well-pinterest inspired or not.  Perhaps showcase isn't the best word though, because I'm sure much of what I craft is totally not worthy of a "showcase".

Anyway, on to the first "showcase".  I've known since my son was a baby that I would use his baby clothes to make a quilt.  However, a tutorial found on pinterest kind of inspired a change in the way I would put it together.  Now that he's 4, I'm finally getting started.

So this quilt is a small rag quilt.  But I'm going to be able to add to it with special articles of clothing for the next 15 years or so.  For now it is done.  Until the next special piece comes along.  I've ragged the middle but not the outer edges so that it would be easier to add on to in the future.  This is the link to the original post that inspired the style change to my raggy quilt.

The original author did a good job with the details so I'll just point you in her direction and let her take the credit she deserves (see above link).  I will say that I cut 6"x6" squares to make what you see here.  I even left buttons, snaps, and pockets when possible for that added cuteness.  The back of the quilt is the back of the clothing garment so each square is front and back of a single piece of clothing.  I just sandwiched lightweight batting in between the front and back (be sure to cut your batting slightly smaller so that when you rag it out, you don't have batting in your rags) and then stitched a simple x to quilt each piece.  After the pieces are quilted you can sew them together.  The great thing about rag quilts is that if they are a little sloppy, you can usually hide that with the ragging.  And the even greater perk to using baby clothes-THE QUILT IS SUPER SOFT! Big bonus there.