Just 4 You | less cake {more frosting}

Not So Basic Canvas Tote

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
August 25, 2011 --2:24 PM

Back to school has officially begun at our house. My son began 3rd grade and my daughter started a 2 day a week preschool program. I officially have 3 hours (twice a week) all by my lonesome! It doesn’t seem like much.

I have to admit….I picked up toys this morning and walked back into that room at least 3 times, just to make sure they were still cleaned up. Sure enough. That room stayed that way for 3 hours. Heavenly.

My daughter attends a delightful local preschool. However, they do not allow children to carry backpacks. You have to bring a canvas tote bag. (they say it is easier on the art projects and easier for 4 year olds to open)

You can buy your own or they offer one for purchase.
I cannot purchase the school bag because it is an ugly color.
Forrest Green and I broke-up in 1997 and I cannot go back to him. (My subsequent relationship with Maroon ended badly too. However Plum and I have made up.)

When looking for a tote this year I found myself with not a lot of choices. The store happened to be out of most sizes. And as a professional procrastinator….I hadn’t left myself with a lot of time to look elsewhere. This was the only one that would work. But my daughter DID NOT appreciate the red trim. She is a girl. “And red is a boy color.”

So I unpicked the red trim and purchased some hot pink double-fold bias tape. And recovered the spots that WERE red. It was actually pretty slick. Although pinning it prior is a MUST!

After the trim was attached the fun part began….Decorations!

I covered the handles in a fun fabric. Just detach, cover, re-attach.
I made several fabric flowers and sewed them onto the pocket
I used iron-on rhinestones around the top.
I made a graphic that she liked and printed it out on ink-jet transfer paper.

The ink-jet paper is one of my favorite tools. I’ve used it several times before and have instructions and tips listed HERE:on my Headless Horseman Art, and HERE:on my Surf Art.

I also added her name across the top….but I’ve blurred that part out….

She was so excited to take her super girly bag on the first day of preschool.
And I am super happy that my silent war with Forrest Green is still goin’ strong.

They make great gifts for both kids and adults. And super fun totes for swim gear. I also think you could make one for a teacher. So many possibilities! Go get a canvas bag and see what you can make!

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Filed Under: just 4 you, kiddos, NOT crafts, sew what?

Lifestyle Crafts-Pretty Epic!

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
March 12, 2011 --12:49 AM

Hey guys! I hope you’re having a fab Friday. I know I am. I’ve been MAKING THINGS all day! That’s my kind of day. Am I in the middle of a gigantic mess? You bet! Is it fun? Absolutely!

I had to post today and show you something EPIC! I have a brand new toy, and I know you’re gonna want one too! (And I’m definitely going to name it….just give me a few days!)

I’ve been eying this ‘lil beauty on my trips to Hobby Lobby for quite a while now. It is the Epic Letterpress, from Lifestyle Crafts.
It also works as a Die Cut machine as well. So it’s totally 2 for the price of one! Yipee!!

I LOVE Letterpress. It’s so pretty, and sophisticated, and I just wanna FEEL it!

Are you unfamiliar with Letterpress? It’s like when you get an expensive wedding invite. And the ink is pressed down into the paper. So there’s a ridge there. Kind of REVERSE embossing.

It’s really an art form. And being the designer nerd that I am, I’ve been wanting to give it a go!

Wanna know something really nutty about me? No? Too late!
I LOVE instructions.
No. Really. I do.
Instruction manuals make me happy. So when I got this little machine, I immediately swooped down into the instruction manual.

And I gotta admit, it took me a second. So embarrassing.

Gratefully, Lifestyle Crafts has a FABULOUS blog that has tutorials and ideas. It’s a fantastic read! Even if you’re just wishing for a machine of your own.

The entry on Letterpress 101: How to Ink was super handy. And once I read that little beauty, I was OFF. No problems at all.

Please tell me you get giddy about seeing a bright colored ink on a printing plate! I think its BEAUTIFUL!

I’ll admit that it took me a couple tries before I was happy with the result. But I definitely think that’s just a quick little learning curve. Once I felt more comfortable with the pressure to apply and the amount that looked good…..I was off to the races!

I wanted to start with a very simple, very graphic image….and I love this little tag that I created with bright purple ink.

The other thing that I love, is that each print is SLIGHTLY different. And perfection is nearly impossible to achieve. And that, my friends, is EXCELLENT therapy for me. It teaches my brain to embrace slight imperfections and differences.

It’s kinda freeing.
(do I need therapy? Don’t answer that!)

Then I needed something to do with my new little tag. I decided I wanted to just use the front of the card. I cut it, and saved the backside for next time.

I love putting it on this gift bag. On a very busy paper pattern. The white tag just jumps off the pattern. (okay, it also helps that I raised the tag with 3-D glue dots.)

If you look REALLY close you can almost see the depth there. Can’t you? Can you see how the letterpress paper is thick and has a texture to it? Oh my! I’m sweating. What is it about paper and ink that makes me so happy?

So guess what else is EPIC?

Lifestyle Crafts is offering Less Cake {more frosting} readers

a 20% discount on any purchases made with the code:

BLOGLESSCAKE

That’s ANYTHING in the store. Not just the letterpress stuff. You can get 20% off the cutting dies and ink and even an Epic machine of your very own! Just make sure to put that code in at check out!

I have some more really fun projects that I’ve done with my new machine. (man, she really needs a name. I’ll get right on that.)

And….if you’re really good…..there might be something truly EPIC coming up on the blog this month. Can you guess?
EEK! Squeal!

Have a great weekend guys!

*Lifestyle Crafts supplied me with an Epic Letterpress machine and some product to try. All the opinions expressed are completely my own. *

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Filed Under: just 4 you, NOT crafts

Little Love Notes

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
February 11, 2011 --6:29 PM

Ahhhh….Valentines Day. As a married woman, the day is less stressful than it used to be {single} however, there’s probably a lot less pressure to make it extra special too.

Just in the interest of sharing Valentines stories….

I gotta admit, I HATED Valentines day for….well…

MY WHOLE LIFE!!

I was a loser. I never dated anyone. I didn’t even get asked to prom.
No one sent me a Candy Gram during class.
No one sent a stuffed animal to my work.
Truly, a sad story, indeed.

When I met my husband, he got to hear all my rantings against the “heart-ed holiday”. And on our first Valentines day together, he took me out to a yummy dinner. One of our friends was a waiter at the restaurant. My husband had him bring a stuffed animal, and balloons, to our table with a note saying,

“I would have sent you Candy Grams EVERY valentines day”

Needless to say: HE’S A KEEPER!!

But this idea isn’t just for your Valentine. In fact, the one I made isn’t for my spouse at all. (shhh…..they don’t know yet….I gotta go take it to the post office!)

And it’s not exclusive to Valentines Day either. It’s just a great way to say “I love you!” any time.

I started off with a paper-mache box. I loved this one that is hinged, and pretty big. I got it at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon. (i think it was 40% off about $7)

You could start with ANY container. And in a crunch, you don’t even have to decorate one. Just get something cute. Or better yet….re purpose something you already have!

For another idea for a “box” check out my gals at eighteen25. They have a great idea for notes as well.

This technique is so EASY and great for left over scraps.

Tear some paper into little pieces.
I like to separate the pieces that have a straight edge. That speeds up the process!

Use Mod Podge to put them all over your box. Like a puzzle.
Tear some to fit in holes. And overlap where necessary.
Use the straight edge pieces and corners for extra straight edges.
Not a science. Just DO IT! (sorry Nike!)

I thought I’d throw in this photo in for those of you that have mentioned that your kinda scared of “The Podge”. I understand. It is a little daunting to cover your hard work in white sticky stuff. But just look at this. This is what it’s SUPPOSED to look like. I promise the result will be FAB!!

After your initial Mod Podge layer is dry (I used glossy Mod Podge this time…..my poor Matte Mod Podge thinks I don’t love it any more. And in a way….he’s right)
Embellish the box as you’d like. I went for some coordinating papers and 3-D embellishments, and some ribbon.
I also like to Mod Podge over most embellishments. I love the plastic look it gives ribbon. Plus it makes it really durable. That’s totally up to you.

while you’re waiting for your Mod Podge to dry, print out your “Love Notes”
this box is filled with over 100 notes
they are funny memories, things we love about this person, and just little “I love you’s”
if you’re making this for someone you REALLY love, it shouldn’t be too hard to come up with things. This box has notes from a bunch of people.

(you wanna know who this is for….don’t you….I’m sorry! I can’t spill the beans!)

Here’s the template for our “Love Notes”
You can print it out and hand write your notes, or you can bring it into a computer program and type your notes like I did.
Please follow the regular rules about LCMF printables.

Do not repost without linking back, do not alter or claim as your own. Personal use only.

The final box is dry, filled with notes, filled with love, and ready for a special someone on Valentines Day! I can’t wait!

Do you still have time to make this? YOU BET!

I made it in the last 2 days. You TOTALLY have time. And isn’t it worth it? Let someone know how much they mean to you. I made one for my husband a couple years back, and he took it to work and took one note out every day for several months. You could also add new ones as the year progresses. Tons of fun ways to tell someone that they’re special to you!

Can’t wait for Valentines!!

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Filed Under: I'm In Love, just 4 you, NOT crafts, print it