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craftsdept_hdr_0212.jpg Valentine's Day Crafts

Make It : 3D Valentines

Posted by Blake Ramsey

Already making valentine cards? I know I am! Well, if you're tired of doilies and construction paper, then try a few of our 3D cards from the February issue of Living.  Inspired by classic pop-up books, these cards include garlands, bold accordion folded graphics, clip art pop-outs, and clever hiding spots for an extra special note, gift card, or invitation to date night.

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Our garland cards- aside from basic tools, all you need is a bit of ribbon or cord, our templates, and your favorite scrapbooking papers.

1 Our garland cards- aside from basic tools, all you need is a bit of ribbon or cord, our templates, and your favorite scrapbooking papers.

See how easy??

2 See how easy??

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These templates can be printed straight onto your colored card stock for an easy, but very special, surprise.

4 These templates can be printed straight onto your colored card stock for an easy, but very special, surprise.

Print this classic pop-up clip art onto card stock, and follow our guidelines for cutting and folding.

5 Print this classic pop-up clip art onto card stock, and follow our guidelines for cutting and folding.

Tuck whatever you'd like into these tiny envelopes- a love note, gift card, movie tickets, sweet photo, business card from your favorite restaurant and an invite to date night, or even cash.

6 Tuck whatever you'd like into these tiny envelopes- a love note, gift card, movie tickets, sweet photo, business card from your favorite restaurant and an invite to date night, or even cash.

You'll also find our basic card making tips in the story including some of our favorite tools and materials.

7 You'll also find our basic card making tips in the story including some of our favorite tools and materials.

We hope you enjoy making these cards- please tell us how yours turn out!  They could look very different depending on which papers you choose.  We'd love to see yours.  You may have noticed that our new blog header was also inspired by this story!

Around Town : Crafting + Chocolate = Yummy Valentines

Posted by Marcie McGoldrick

 

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Just in time for Valentine's Day, Matt and Mary have made a series of limited edition chocolate bars.    They come wrapped in marbleized papers that Mary made herself.  She used the marbleizing instructions that we have online.  I am particularly fond of marbleizing because it is one of those techniques where the results will completely surprise you.  It is part skill and part chance.  Try as hard as you can - it  is nearly impossible to achieve the same results twice.  Below are some images from our  marbleizing story.

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Our February 2005 cover marbleized boxes

1 Our February 2005 cover marbleized boxes

Marbleizing bath before paper is applied

2 Marbleizing bath before paper is applied

Valentines and gift wrap made from the paper

3 Valentines and gift wrap made from the paper

More boxes

4 More boxes

 

Behind the Scenes : Craft Room Clean Up!

Posted by Laura Kaesshaefer

With 2012 well underway, we thought the Craft Room here at our offices could use a good clean. This three day undertaking was well worth the work (hauling heavy bins while breathing in dust and glitter), as there's much to be said for working in a clean, organized environment. We even found some inspiration along the way while uprooting decade (!) old projects and development. Take a look below to see the transformation!

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A very disheveled craft room.

1 A very disheveled craft room.

The back of the craft room (pre-clean!).

2 The back of the craft room (pre-clean!).

We gave lots of fun materials to our beloved MFTA (Materials for the Arts)!

3 We gave lots of fun materials to our beloved MFTA (Materials for the Arts)!

Lots of Styrofoam shapes - we stored these lighter materials on higher shelves.

4 Lots of Styrofoam shapes - we stored these lighter materials on higher shelves.

Old Christmas inspiration/ development.

5 Old Christmas inspiration/ development.

Gingham from Silke's story.

6 Gingham from Silke's story.

Blake was so inspired by the back of an old pin board (used for egg dying!).

7 Blake was so inspired by the back of an old pin board (used for egg dying!).

Chocolate tomatoes!

8 Chocolate tomatoes!

Pretty!

9 Pretty!

Color swatching on a bamboo mat.

10 Color swatching on a bamboo mat.

Old paint waiting to be sorted.

11 Old paint waiting to be sorted.

What a mess!

12 What a mess!

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Pearl paint waiting to be sorted.

14 Pearl paint waiting to be sorted.

We are obsessed with our new way of displaying MSC Paint!

15 We are obsessed with our new way of displaying MSC Paint!

A very tidy sewing/ paint station!

16 A very tidy sewing/ paint station!

Organized pens, pencils, scissors and blades.

17 Organized pens, pencils, scissors and blades.

We reorganized our bins so that they were more accessible.

18 We reorganized our bins so that they were more accessible.

The back of the craft room.

19 The back of the craft room.

Freshly papered tables ready to be used.

20 Freshly papered tables ready to be used.

Blake reorganized the paper drawers by color.

21 Blake reorganized the paper drawers by color.

Clean!

22 Clean!

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