Hydrangea Hippo

Valentine Treat Box

2012-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

This fun little box is adorned with heart embellishments created with the Epiphany Crafts Shape Studios for a custom look. I cut the box out with a Sizzix Die--I just love how cute it is! This easy peasy litle gift would be great for a teacher or, if you are really ambitious, each kid on her Valentine's list.

Supplies:

EC Heart 25 Shape Studio and Bubble Caps

EC Heart 20 Button Studio and Buttons

Tissue Festooning by Party City

Ribbons and Trims by May Arts, Making Memories

Tulle by Joann's

Diecut by Sizzix

White and Ladybug Cardstock by Bazzill

Fabric Paper by American Crafts

Twine by The Twinery

Colorbox Fluid Chalk Inkpad in Berrylicious

ColorBox Dye Inkpad in Wicked Black

Stamp and Label Punch by Stampin' Up!

"Love" Stamp by Hero Arts

Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses

Patterned Paper by Heidi Grace for Fiskars and Pink Paislee

Happy Crafting :)

-Jennifer

P.S. Don't miss out on the giveaway I posted on my Jan 21st post -- it ends Feb 2, 2011 so there is still time to enter!!

Thrifty Thursdays: Fugly to Fabulous Frame

2012-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Our house was a repo when we first bought it.

Naturally, it had alot of "character" in the form of missing light fixtures, stained carpet, damaged window coverings, and lots of bad bad bad wall colors. My scrap room started out hot pink and peach. Matthew's room was a lovely shade of "Painter's Tape Blue". Katie had a sickly Lavender room. The halls and master bedroom were odd shades of pink and peach. Avocado Green was splashed throughout the kitchen. We set to painting and painting and painting and more painting. Two, then three, then four, then SIX coats of Kilz to cover all those wonderfully dark colors the previous owners had painted. By the time we got to our master bath, which was painted a splotchy single coat of ghastly red, we had run out of steam. Fast forward 3.5 years and my hubby finally painted 4 coats of Kilz to cover the bloody boudoir walls. Another 2 months and he painted the rest. I wanted stripes for a focal wall and he did it -- an awesome job given the wonky walls and knockdown finish which he was not used to as an East Coast native.

In my head I had a vision of what I wanted on that focal wall and finding those items for little money was gonna be a challenge. I found a framed print at Marshall's last summer that had a terrible peach frame. It was $19.99. I used acrylic craft paint in gold and a 1" flat brush to cover the frame with 4 coats. It came out perfect!! The trick was a little patience as I waited for each to coat to dry thoroughly before adding the next.

The next step was adding towel racks. We originally got some at Lowe's and they were $50 each! That was like $3 an inch. A stop at Target solved that issue--I believe this rack was $18.99. The folding wrought-iron bookcase was a purchase I made in Monterey from Pier One when I was 18 years old. It has stayed with me because it folds up, making it easy to move, and it is perfect for towels.

The way I shop Target is I hit all the end caps on the backs of the aisles first to look for clearance deals and on my way, I grab the items I came for. Any awesome deals I put in my cart. Then I stop before I get to the registers to assess what I am getting and if I have a plan or need for it. If I don't have a need but I know someone who might, then I call them or text them right then and there. Most of the time, I walk out with only a fraction of the things I had in my cart. If the line is long, I reassess again while I am standing in line. The checkers know I always seem to find the best deals!! And I will ask them for hints and tips about what is marked down in other parts of the store that I might have missed. Also, if something is damaged and it is not marked down, ask them to take 10% off. They can usually do that at the register.

I found some candle holders and candles from Target with gold glitter, perfect for my new bathroom. The holders were $16.99 regular price, marked down to $8 each. The candles were $7.99 regular price, marked down to $3.24 each. After the Christmas holidays, most stores have fancy candles on clearance so this is a great time to get a deal on elegant, decorative candles.

And there it is, my focal wall in my bathroom. I will be adding some sconces most likely in the future but with CHA around the corner, this is how it will be for at least another week!

Supplies:

Framed Art from Marshall's = $19.99
Acrylic Paint in Gold = $1.49
Candle Holders, $8 each = $16
Candles, $3.24 each = $6.48
Towel Rack = $18.99

I hope this helps you see the possibilities in items you already have, are on clearance, or you love the shape of. You can always change the color!

Happy Creating :)

- Jennifer

Grandma Smiled On This One

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

I created this sweet little mini album for recipes or just for family memories. I started creating apron-shaped mini albums about 3 years ago when I was inspired by a book my friend Elena created for her book club. I've created all kinds of variations ever since, my favorite being this version where we use the Bind It All to make it sturdy and create an easel from the front cover of the book.

Farmhouse Recipe Album Class

February 5, 2012

Scrapbook Daisies in Long Beach, CA

February 25, 2012
Cool Scrapbook Stuff, Poway, CA

Create a handmade, apron-shaped mini album with Crate Paper's adorable Farmhouse paper collection and the Bind It All machine. We'll layer stickers, use vintage ephemera, and adorable buttons to set the warm, country tone in this album. Use it as a scrapbook or to hold recipes--the cover flips to the back to create an easel to stand the book up.

Please bring: Bind It All if you have one, assorted dry adhesive or pva (no Zip Dry or water based glues please - they make the chipboard swell), scissors, paper trimmer, glue dots or hot glue.

Here are some more photos -- check out the cool vintage flash cards!!!

To register for the class, please contact the store where it is being offered. If you are not local to So Cal and would like to purchase a kit, please contact me privately through etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hydrangeahippo

DO you need a Craftcation?

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am soooooo excited to be presenting at the first annual Craftcation Conference!!!

Craftcation is a three-day indie business & DIY conference featuring lectures and DIY workshops with leading industry professionals on art, craft and food-centered small business in Ventura, Ca March 22-25 2012.

Craftcation features more than 50 workshops, lectures and events led by over 30 presenters like Jenny Hart, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Cathy Callahan, Christine Haynes, Lauren Venell, Nicole Vasbinder, Jennifer Priest, Aida Mollenkamp, Evan Klieman, Rena Tom and The Urban Craft Center.

If you want to start, maintain or grow your indie business or take a break from your routine and learn new skills while networking, then Craftcation is for you! Craftcation will ignite the entrepenurerial business spirit and strengthen skills and abilities of both seasoned business owners and newcomers to indie craft business.

Events and topics include:

Indie Business: how to start a crafty business, maximizing social media, blogging, in’s & out’s of indie craft shows, etsy, wholesaling, merchandising, accounting, legal issues, branding, website design, marketing on a budget and more.

DIY Workshops: screenprinting, sewing, canning & preserving, cheesemaking, needle arts, terrariums & edible gardens, organic bath products, jewelry, embroidery, bookbinding and more.

Community: meet & greets, pop-up shops, yoga, bbq & cocktail socials and so much more!

For more info please visit http://www.craftcationconference.com/ or find us on facebook

See you there :)
--Jennifer

LOVEly Zipper Pull

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am delving more and more back into my crafting roots, playing with beads and flowers and jewelry. Katie got a plain zippered hoodie jacket for Christmas and being a teen, she loves to accessorize. I knew she would be game for me accessorizing this jacket!

I created a charm using the Epiphany Crafts Heart 25 Shape Studio to make a custom embellishment using some Bella Blvd paper that Katie loved. I mounted the embellie to an Epiphany Crafts Heart 25 Charm Setting--I love beaded detail along the edges of the heart! Next I adhered the heart to part of a felt flower, also by Epiphany Crafts, sandwiching a bow made with American Crafts ribbon between the charm and flower. Then I threaded a row of beads onto a eye pin and attached that to the charm with a jump ring. Next I attached the eye pin to the zipper. Easy peasy!

Katie can easily change the zipper pull to match the season or her outfits, especially if I add a clasp to attach it to the zipper pull rather than a jump ring.

Supplies:

EC Heart 25 Shape Studio, Bubble Caps, and Charm Setting
EC Frayed Flowers Cherry
Paper by Bella Blvd
Beads, Jewelry Findings by Bohemian Crystal
Ribbon by American Crafts

Happy Crafting :)

-Jennifer

P.S. Don't miss out on the giveaway I posted on my Jan 21st post -- it ends Feb 2, 2011 so there is still time to enter!!

Craft a Handmade Business With Me :)

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Crafting a Handmade Business On Etsy

February 21, 2012

Online Class - 5 Weeks

with Jennifer Priest

Registration opens on Monday January 23, 2012

Have you ever been told you should sell your crafts? Are you looking to make extra money or even support yourself with an income from your crafting? Do you already have an etsy shop but are looking for ways to make it more successful? If so, then this class is for you!

During this 5 week course we will cover everything from choosing a shop name to having a grand opening. We will cover the material in a straight-forward way to help you take focused action to get your shop on the road to success. Similar courses online cost hundreds of dollars and require months of instruction. I have streamlined the process and distilled it down to what I have found to be most important and beneficial during my experience.

I have been successfully selling on etsy since 2007, doubling revenue each year since I started. I will share my story with you, tips and tricks I have learned along the way, and how to stay motivated through tough times. By the end of the course, you should be open for business and ready to make your first sale!

Syllabus

Week One: What Do You Love to Make? Choose a Name, a Theme for the shop, create a graphic for the shop.

Week Two: Setting Up Shop. Set policies, add the headers, set up shipping profiles, link to Paypal. Managing the Business Side - Taxes, Business Licenses, keeping track of money, customer service, how to use etsy's billing system.

Week Three: Creating items, photographs, figuring out what to charge, how to package items, where to get shipping supplies.

Week Four: Marketing - where, when, how, and why?

Week Five: Go "live" and get your first sale -- this week will include a blog hop or cross promo activity with all of the students who choose to participate.

Start Date: February 21, 2012
Course Fee: $50

A Little Bird Perched on My Finger + A Giveaway

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to be demoing two projects I designed at the CHA Trade Show in Anaheim at the end of this month.

A group of 12 CHA Designer Members were asked to create projects using selected products from a group of craft supply manufacturers and I am so honored to be one of the Designers chosen!

I created a card and an ornament, each of which I will be demoing twice during the show at 12:30pm Sunday January 29, 2012 and 12:30 pm Wednesday February 1, 2012.

The card features a stamped "seal" which we will create using ColorBox ink, stamps by JustRite Stampers, Smooch Accent Ink, and Makin's Clay:

The ornament was fashioned from a frame kit by Globecraft Memories and adorned with ink by ColorBox, Smooch Accent Ink, Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest, adhesive by ScraPerfect, and more.

I hung a bead and chandelier style crystal from the base of the globe to complete the ornament.

Just come on by Booth 968 to see what the other Designers and I are demoing. Hope to see you there!!

Also, I have an unclaimed prize from THIS blog post on Jan 2. So that means there is one Medium Priority Flat Rate Box FULL of kits, over $200 worth to be exact, that is up for grabs!! *US only please because it is a Priority Flat Rate Box

To be entered to win, please share a link to my blog on Facebook, Twitter, your own blog, LinkedIn, Google+, or on Pinterest (by pinning an image) and post a comment about what you did on this blog post. You can use the buttons just above the comments to share really easily.

I will choose one winner from all the comments to win the box on February 2, 2012, when I return from CHA. That means there is ALOT of time to share :) Good luck!

A Scrap Room Tour - BLOG HOP!

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the

Show Me Your Scrap Room

BLOG HOP!!!

Misses Crafty got a bunch of crafters together on Facebook to show you our rooms :)

We hope to inspire you with new ideas for your own craftroom/space.

This is a no obligation hop, so if you would like to just browse through the spaces, that is totally ok! This hop will be open all weekend long! So no rush!

However, for those of you who like freebies there will be "blog candy" if you follow and comment on each posting and leave a comment with "your best organizational tip" your name will entered in a random drawing to win a $25.00 gift card from Michaels!!! Winner will be announced on Tuesday 1/24/12 by Misses Crafty.

To sweeten the Hop, I am offering FREE SHIPPING on all US orders over the weekend using the code SHOWME at hydrangeahippo.etsy.com.

Ready, Set, Go!

Here is the line up~

LLuvia- http://sweetbirdmemories.blogspot.com

Brenda- http://brendafrerichs.blogspot.com

CallyAnn- http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com

Kari- http://purplefuntastickcreations.blogspot.com/

Jenny- http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/

Claire- http://scrapmyway.blogspot.com

Linda- http://thefruitofmyhands.blogspot.com

Mindy- http://papercreationsbymindyblog.blogspot.com/

Zenita- http://www.scrappinwithz.blogspot.com

Liz- http://www.scrapiliciousLife.blogspot.com

Doris- http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com

Haidee- http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/

Sam- http://scrappingwithpirkie.blogspot.com/

Lisa-http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/

Perlilla- http://www.perlillapets.blogspot.com/

Vicki- http://mawmawsthoughts.blogspot.com

Barbara- http://barbarab3.blogspot.com

Chrys- http://scrapbookingkampstyle.blogspot.com

Melinda- http://thepaperthumb.blogspot.com/

Julie- http://jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com/

Angela- http://Prettifyyourlife.blogspot

Dana- http://Papermemories4u.blogspot.com

Amy Jo- http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com
Jennifer - http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com ----- You are here

Here is my scrap room, after 2 months of work!!

Thrifty Thursdays: Birdbath and Bird Feeder

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

I was recently challenged with showing an out of the box craft idea I made. Something functional.

You mean, not a scrapbook?

I really took this challenge head on and decided I would create something without paper. Wayyyyy back when I started crafting seriously, I would say around 9 years old, I crafted. I did not "papercraft". I did jewelry, anything you could glue with a hot glue gun, painting, building structures in our backyard to play in, beading, drawing, photography, cross stitch, floral wreaths, embroidery, sewing, clay, shrinky dinks...I did not start "papercrafting" until over 10 years later.

Somewhere I seemed to forget about all my other crafts/hobbies and identified myself solely as a papercrafter. It was as if there were some invisible fences keeping me from straying from the straight and narrow path of "papercrafts".

The last year or two the waters have muddied in the craft industry. Everyone is using the term "mixed media", mixing genres and materials in crafting, working across the whole spectrum of techniques and tools! Embracing that, breaking the invisible fences that were holding us in, is just so exciting to me.

So in the spirit of that, I wanted to create something outside of my norm. I like things that are useful and look as if they could have been purchased in a store. The fact that it is handmade and for under $15 is just a bonus for me!

We have lots of birds that come to my yard but they have nowhere to bathe, nowhere to perch. I have been wanting a bird bath for some time but there was no way I was going to pay $50-$100 for one at the garden shop. I wanted an elegant looking spindle type base but knew wood would be expensive and not survive the elements. But plastic....plastic COULD work!
First, we set off to the thrift store. In the same trip I got the knives for my mirror that I posted two weeks ago HERE, I also picked up two stainless steel ornate trays for about $3 each. They were perfectly shallow to hold bird seed and water and yet ornate enough to seem "fancy".

Next we hit up the 99 Cent Only Store and Dollar Tree in search of plastic stuff. I looked at the shapes of bowls, cups, spray bottles and anything plastic and began stacking items to see what would created the turned wood look I was after. Once I gathered all of the items, I glued them together with epoxy, placing the silver trays on top.

You can use hot glue or epoxy to glue the pieces together. I recommend epoxy if you plan to actually USE these :) Next, start stacking the elements until you like the way they look and then glue them in place.

Once everything is in place, start spray painting. You'll need a paint that will work on plastic and metal and is good for outdoor use. I like Rust-Oleum. Use a box or tarp to protect your work area from overspray and wind, if any.

Make sure to get the underside of the trays:

I cut the tops of off spray bottles using a hack saw so that they could be worked into the project. I then spray painted the pieces with a hammered finish metallic spray paint to give them a uniform, metallic look. The whole project took just a few hours to complete!

Hope this inspires you to think outside of the usual "box" we craft in. Try to use materials you never use and see what happens. You may be surprised!!

Happy Creating :)
--Jennifer

Alter it Yourself!

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Last year (funny to say that since it was only 2 weeks ago that it was 2011) I altered a globe I got on clearance at Target and posted about it on my blog HERE.

Well, I was in Target on Friday and they have a similar globe, just in a different color scheme, on sale. It is ~~full price, $24.99~~, on sale this week for $20 versus the clearance price I got of $6.24, but you'd be hard pressed to find as cute of a globe for any less that $25 anywhere else. I know because I have been looking for more of them to alter since I did the first one!

So get them while you can :) I only saw 2 on the shelf at this Target so it doesn't look like they have too many available. If you do get a globe and alter it, I would love love love to see pics!! Please share the link on my Facebook Page so I can pin your project!

And, I have a winner! On Sunday I posted a giveaway for a ticket to the LIVE from CHA event with Charity Wings. The lucky winner is..............................

Kaneka Chhim

Cool page. I like that you keep it so active. Thanks for the chance to win the Live from CHA event.

Please email your contact information to hydrangeahippo@yahoo.com to claim your ticket!!

If you did not win, there are still tickets available for this 2 days event for $39!
This how you can get in on the action of CHA without the hassles of travel, trying to get a membership ($155), getting a ticket to the show, parking, and so on! What are you waiting for?!?! Register HERE.

Happy Creating :)

---Jennifer

Craftcation Here We Come!

2012-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am soooooo excited to be presenting at the first annual Craftcation Conference!!!

I'll be teaching Social Marketing for Crafters, a seminar all about identifying where you should be with your social marketing and how to do it yourself without becoming a full-on expert. You CAN do this!!

Craftcation: Indie Business & DIY Craft Conference is three days of 50+ lectures on small business and hands-on DIY craft, food & sewing workshops with 30+ industry professionals like JENNY HART, CRAFTY CHICA, CATHY CALLAHAN, AIDA MOLLENKAMP and THE URBAN CRAFT CENTER. March 22-25th 2012, Ventura, Ca. For info go to www.craftcationconference.com or find us on facebook here. Register by Feb 15th for discounts on tickets & hotel

See you there :)
--Jennifer

A Sweet Recipe Book

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Farmhouse Recipe Album Class

February 5, 2012

Scrapbook Daisies in Long Beach, CA

Please bring: Bind It All if you have one, assorted dry adhesive or pva (no Zip Dry or water based glues please - they make the chipboard swell), scissors, paper trimmer, glue dots or hot glue.

Here are some more photos -- check out the cool vintage flash cards!!!

LIVE From CHA

2012-01-15T00:01:00.001-08:00

I am so excited to have been invited to be interviewed on LIVE from CHA with Charity Wings! You can watch this interview along with several days of LIVE coverage from the CHA Trade Show in Anaheim CA by registering online at the Charity Wings website. This how you can get in on the action of CHA without the hassles of travel, trying to get a membership ($155), getting a ticket to the show, parking, and so on! What are you waiting for?!?! Register HERE.

So I hope you join me and register for LIVE at CHA. We are going to have a wonderful time and there are lots of charities that will be benefiting from the coverage and the event itself. Plus you get goodies!! And who doesn't love goodies?!

Oh, one last thing.

I have a TICKET to LIVE from CHA that I can giveaway. This includes a goodie bag valued at $50+!!! Plus the chance to win over 45 different raffle prizes throughout the event!! US and Canada only please.

To enter, you can do one of THREE things:

just leave a comment on the Hydrangea Hippo Facebook Page
leave a comment here on my blog
or post about the LIVE from CHA event online somewhere. Post the link here in the comments section of my blog so I know you shared :)

I will choose one winner from all the posts and announce them on Wednesday. Good luck to everyone!!!

See you online!
--Jennifer

Cookies!!!!

2012-01-14T08:32:00.000-08:00

I have been neck deep in CHA prep, getting the kids back into the swing of school, and getting Katie all joined back into Girl Scouts this week!! I KNOW. Yes, that means cookies!! The sale does not start until Jan 29 so after that point, hit us up!!

I am working on adding LOTS of new items to the shop this weekend. Please keep an eye out for those!! Here's a sneak peek:

Also, Snapfish has 500 prints for 99 cents right now so get 'em while they're hot!
Start 2012 with one of your favorite deals: up to 500 4" x 6" prints for only a penny each when you spend $10 or more on anything else. Prints are the perfect way to share your New Year's joy with friends and family. Use coupon JANPRINTS as many times as you want through January 15.*

Hope you have a wonderful weekend full of inspiration and creativity :)

--Jennifer

Winners!

2012-01-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Today is the day!! I am pulling two winners, randomly from the comments posted on my blog and Facebook Page, to each win a Priority Flat Rate boex FILLED with kits!!

And the winners are....................................

Alison Reynolds Weeks

and

Melanie said...

I liked you on Facebook:)

January 7, 2012 7:26 PM

Please email me at hydrangeahippo@yahoo.com by Friday January 13 to claim your prize! Thank you!

In Transition

2012-01-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Since Thanksgiving I have been working on my scrap room, rearranging and purging like crazy. Sometime this Fall I had the realization that I have too much stuff and part of that is because I have too much storage. No matter how much I purge or try not to overshop, every few months I am cleaning and reorganizing everything because the shelves and drawers are just too full.

I have filled two teachers' cars to the roof with supplies for their classes and my room is still too full.

This weekend, I sold my Cube system to one lucky lady who is actually going to be able to use it, so that is awesome.

Last week I sold a bunch of extra stock, a huge box of paper, and kits to one of my friends who took me up on an offer to come by my house and shop.

I donated a BUNCH of samples to charity.

I am giving away a ton of kits (today is the last day to enter the giveaway here).

Yesterday I went through my paper, which was once a staggering 100+ inches worth, and got it down to 36" of paper and cardstock. The last time I had that amount of paper was 2002. 2002!!! I now have an over 36" stack of paper I am sorting into themed boxes to sell on etsy.

It is still a work in progress at this point, as you can see from the piles and the overflow into my front room, but this is what it looks like this AM, sitting behind me as I type from the new office I have set up in my front room.

Yes, I removed the crop room, moving those sturdy maple tables into my scrap room and removing the Ikea tables from my scrap room. I will still have crops but on a smaller scale and less frequently. I needed to reformat for my life and health. My desk/office was literally next to my bed and I never felt relaxed. Also, the lights from the computer and components kept me awake at night which is really unhealthy. And the working late at night, typing, kept Xaver awake. Also, I felt like I was just creating a huge mess in that space all the time and was embarrassed to have company over. Besides my desk, I have a couch and coffee table and after CHA, I plan to get a couple of comfy chairs too. This will be a nice meeting spot for when I have business visitors and will make my house not look like a warehouse when friends and family come over. I am working to really separate my "work" from my life and still work at home. So, to that end, I now have an office in my "formal" living room, my dining room is a dining room again, and I am moving out of my class supply closet.

Xaver set up a bank of cabinets along one wall in our garage for me to use for my bulk supplies, etsy product, and overflow. I am moving out of my class supply closet so he can create a mini-man cave in there. It is quite a ridiculously large "closet" - who puts a walk-in closet in the hallway? Well, apparently this builder did! LOL In addition to having his garage mostly back from me (I have stuff everywhere and now I am confined to certain areas in there) he also gets his own space to store his stuff. He is already trying to figure out how to get some outlets in there for all his electronics and toys.

I am gearing up for my online organizing class starting early next month, The Organized Crafter. I will be adding a module about my new space and how it differs from my old one. One of the key components to my philosophy is to rethink the way you buy, what you store, and how you use your stuff. I actually do what I say in the class. Just this year, I am doing it in a more intense way than ever!

My one little word for 2012 is "less". So far this year "less" is meaning more work, more achy backs, and more purging than ever but I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel. I feel much less of an emotional attachment to my "stuff" and I feel so much better for it. I don't feel so overwhelmed. I feel guilty for spending so much money (I figured the paper I purged yesterday was worth over $3000 retail) and I think this is a good exercise in helping me stay controlled at CHA. I have yet to purchase any craft supplies this year, save items I actually used to make a project immediately, like adhesive. And that feels really good. That is how it is supposed to be.

-Jennifer

Making it 12x12

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

More than ever before I have seen the conversations about crafting and specifically scrapbooking all centered around one theme--being frugal. Whether that is using your stash, selling old things to free up space, donating items to charity, using what you have before you buy anything new, it all comes down to changing the way we think about our supplies.

Being on a design team I am often faced with having a limited supply of an item to create a project with. Sure, the companies do provide us with alot of product but when we're doing product swaps, we often receive 1-2 sheets of each pattern in a paper collection. Sometimes, I want to use BOTH sides of a double sided sheet and there just isn't enough to go around. That challenge has helped me to look at and use my own stash differently. After years of "collecting" we all have papers we'd love to use but are challenged by only having one little sheet of a certain paper or it is a double sided paper we want to use BOTH sides of.

One of the things I have learned along the way is to never cut the UPC strip off of a piece of paper unless I am using the entire sheet. That strip is an extra 1/2" or 1/4" of space you can use to build a 12x12 background from scraps. Here's a layout I did that with, from a recent Epiphany Crafts assignment where we worked with the Peppermint Collection by Crate Paper.

I loved the scalloped/ledger paper pattern on the front side of the paper but I also liked the word strips on the other side:

I cut the "Happy Christmas" strip and "Then" strip from the bottom of the paper and used them on this page:

Then I turned the paper over and adhered it to a strip of this paper from the collection, which I also used to mat a photo on the layout below:

Here's how I used the two pieces of paper to make a 12x12 background:

Apply tape runner to the UPC strip on one of the pieces of paper. I like to use Crafty Power Tape by 3L Scrapbook Adhesives because it it is easy to apply and holds really well. The box it comes in doubles as dispenser and has a built-in cutter.

Next, lay the piece of paper with the tape on it onto another 12x12 paper, flush with 3 sides. This 12x12 paper will serve as the guide to make sure your finished pieced together page is exactly 12x12. Next,lay the other piece of paper on top to form the new 12x12 page.

And here is what the finished 12x12 piece of paper looks like:

Next create a layout! I used some trim and border stickers, also from the Crate Paper Peppermint Collection, to disguise the seam between the pieces of paper on the background.

I bet you have scraps you could build an entire layout from using this technique! Wishing you a frugal and craft filled year,

Jennifer

Thrifty Thursdays: Starburst Mirror

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

I love the look of starburst mirrors but have not bought one because of the price tag--the ones I like are always over $100! Plus, the finish is never exactly what I want-- too bright of a silver, too gaudy of a gold...I have been looking for one of these mirrors to put in my house since they started getting popular a couple of years ago.

Over the summer I bought three round mirrors on clearance at Target for $3.24 each. They have been collecting dust while I was figuring out what to do with them--the deal was too good to pass up even though I did not have a plan.

Over the holidays, Xaver and I went to several thrift stores looking for good things to alter, stuff for our house, etc. It is silly that I was dropping off loads of stuff to get rid of in the back of the store and then going inside to buy more stuff but hey, it was an efficient visit to each thrift store!

In Salvation Army, Xaver spotted several tubs of silverware, each sorted by type, on sale for 5 for $1. Once we saw the knives, we knew they would be perfect for the mirror! I've seen mirrors like this created with plastic spoons but honestly they look like plastic spoons on the finished mirror and I wanted something a little more unique.

I hung the mirror over our mantle with a couple candlesticks around it -- it was a perfect fit there! This was easier to do than I thought it would be and cost under $30! Between assembly and painting, the mirror took 2 days to create.

Here's how to make it:

Remove all the hardware from the back of the mirror to create a flat surface for the knives to adhere to.

Lay out the knives in a pattern around the mirror. Make sure to vary the patterns and the long and short handles.

Use epoxy or hot glue to adhere the flat part of the knife to the back of the mirror. I tried E6000 and it did not work so well.

Once all the knives are in place, cut a piece of wood or chipboard to to the size of the mirror to cover them. This "sandwich" will help make the mirror sturdier. I tore the back off one of the other mirrors and glued that to the back of the first mirror.

Next, tape off the center of the mirror to prep for painting. I wove wire around four of the knives to make a "X" across the back of the frame to create hanger. Once the mirror is painted, the wire will not be noticeable from the front anymore.

I used Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Paint & Primer in Aged Copper to paint the mirror--two coats is all it took! The paint has a glittery shimmer in it that I thought was really cool. It adhered really easily to the plastic and metal too--my new fave spray paint!

Supplies:

Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Paint & Primer in Aged Copper = $7.69
Mirrors @ 2 x $3.24 = $6.48
50 knives from Salvation Army = $10
Wire = $1.99
Cardboard, tape, screwdriver, hot glue not figured into cost

TOTAL = $26.16

I saved over $100 making the mirror myself! Hope you're inspired to make something crafty AND thrifty this week!!

Jennifer

This Weekend

2012-01-03T20:29:00.000-08:00

...are my first two classes of the year!!

Farmhouse Recipe Album Class

January 7, 2012 from 2-5pm

Scrapbook Daisies in Long Beach, CA

January 8, 2012 from 1pm-4pm

Collective Journey in Redlands, CA

Please bring: Bind It All if you have one, assorted dry adhesive or pva (no Zip Dry or water based glues please - they make the chipboard swell), scissors, paper trimmer, glue dots or hot glue.

Here are some more photos -- check out the cool vintage flash cards!!!

Inventory Day...

2012-01-02T00:05:00.000-08:00

...and that means I know how much stuff I can give for a GIVEAWAY!!!! I am inventorying kits for the Hydrangea Hippo shop and I have lots of goodies to give away.

Also, if you did not receive my newsletter (you can sign up in the box on the right under the Constant Contact logos) then you don't know about my special going on through tonight!! Here's all the info:

Thank you for helping the Hydrangea Hippo etsy shop reach 2000 sales this year!!

Now Through January 2, 2012, for every dollar spent in the Hydrangea Hippo etsy shop you will earn a code towards a future purchase for half the amount of your order. So if you spend $50 now, then you will receive a code worth $25 to use in February 2012 on ANYTHING in the shop!

Here's how it works:

Make any purchase between December 28, 2011 and January 2, 2012 11:59pm PST
A unique certificate code will be emailed to you, including the dollar value of the coupon, when your items ships
Use the code towards a future purchase between February 15, 2012 and Febraury 29, 2012

There are NO exclusions for this offer :) If you have a coupon, yes, you can use it! Here's the link to the shop:

Hydrangea Hippo

Okay, okay, okay, time for the giveaway! I am giving away a random collection of kits from my shop, as many as will fit into a Priority Flat Rate Medium Box (which is quite a few) to 2 lucky winners!! This is for US only due to the use of the Flat Rate Box.

Here's how to enter:

Each time you do one of the following, leave a comment on our Facebook Page telling us what you did, for example "I followed on Twitter":

1. "Like" Hydrangea Hippo on Facebook.
2. Follow Hydrangea Hippo on Twitter.
3. Add our shop to your circle on etsy (click the blue button under our name on the left).
4. Follow us on our blog here (on the left side click the "Follow" Button).
5. Share about this giveaway anywhere -- twitter, google+, Facebook, your blog...

You can do most of these things from our etsy shop--all the buttons to click are under our banner, over on the right hand side. Just start here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hydrangeahippo

I will post the winners on Monday, January 9th, 2012 so you have some time to get to sharing!

Good Luck!
-Jennifer

Wishing you a Wonderful New Year!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

I hope this year brings you all the joy, creativity, health, and love in the world! On this first day of 2012 I wanted to share an excerpt from my latest newsletter with you:

Are you ready for the New Year? It's the time for cleaning and purging, organizing and prioritizing, pondering and contemplating, and most of all, relaxing and reflecting.

In a discussion with a friend the other day she figured my one little word for 2012 should be "less", based on all the things I have been saying in our recent conversations. And, she is probably right. Less debt, less stress, less clutter, less traffic, less irons in the fire, less fat. Well, that last one is not new, we all want less fat, right? LOL If you have not heard of Ali Edwards' one little word project, then click HERE and check it all out. In 2011 my word was "better" and, even though I did not focus on it daily, I did remind myself of it and it helped me think about what I wanted for my life. My life got "better" in the areas of health, relationships, business, and creativity. Not perfect, but better. And that is the point, right?

As we come to this part of the year it is also good to not only look to the future but to look back at the time we have had. I am so very thankful to have had moments, hours, or even days spent crafting alongside you, learning and creating together. And becoming friends even! I really do think about you when I am creating, think about what you might say about a new technique, think about if you would like to try the same experiments I am trying, think about the questions asked and suggestions given in class -- you inspire me too! I am so very very thankful to be able to share that with you and look forward to many more years of creating together!

Wishing you the most wonderfully inspired and creativity filled 2012!! Let's get crafting!

-Jennifer

First Class of 2012!

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

Farmhouse Recipe Album Class

January 7, 2012 from 2-5pm

Scrapbook Daisies in Long Beach, CA

January 8, 2012 from 1pm-4pm

Collective Journey in Redlands, CA

Please bring: Bind It All if you have one, assorted dry adhesive or pva (no Zip Dry or water based glues please - they make the chipboard swell), scissors, paper trimmer, glue dots or hot glue.

Here are some more photos -- check out the cool vintage flash cards!!!

Happy Creating!

Merry Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

I hope you are enjoying everything the season has to offer and remembering what is oh so special about Christmas :)

I will be taking a few days off blogging to spend with the family. See you soon! Wishing you the best!

12 Days of Christmas Crafts - Day 12

2011-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the 12th and final day of the Twelve Days of Christmas Crafts! If you are still trying to shop you've probably noticed the stores look like a tornado hit them and the shelves are literally empty. At that point, your only option my be a gift card. That or you are shopping for a teenager in which your only option is a gift card. As of Thursday, we officially have a teenager in our midst since my daughter turned 13 and yes, there are gift cards under the tree! LOL

This ornament is like the mullet of gift card holders: ornament in the front, gift cards and money in the back!

Here's how to make it:

This gift card holder is easy to make (you can adapt this concept to any empty box or container) and is a cute ornament as well. We will create the ornament from a gift box you might usually thrown away, transforming it into a shadow box style ornament.

Supplies:

• Gift Box for Jewelry, with clear front and batting inside = Free up to $1.50

• Assorted Christmas Papers – Graphic 45

• 3D Foam Adhesive

• Hot Glue or strong adhesive

• Glitter

• Snowflake punch or snowflake sequins

• 1 yard metallic string (usually available around the holidays)

• 2 Buttons

• Bottlebrush trees or other holiday themed kitschy items

• Glitter Snowflake Ornament (optional)

• Border Punch

• Ink for distressing – ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink in Blackbird

• Holiday themed stickers

• Crop A Dile or Heavy Duty Hole Punch

Assembly:

Remove the cover and the batting from the gift box and set aside. Measure the gift box and cut a piece of paper to fit in the inside of the box, slightly smaller than the dimensions of the box. Place the paper inside the box to check that it fits before adhering.

Once you are sure the paper fits inside the box, adhere with glue. For the box I used, it measured 5.5” x 3.5” so I cut the paper just a hair under 5.5” x 3.5”.

Measure the height of the sides of the box. Cut a strip of patterned paper slightly smaller than the height of the box. My box measured 1” tall so I cut my strips to 7/8” tall. For the length of the strip, measure the diameter (outside) of the box. Mine measure 5.5 + 3.5 + 5.5 + 3.5 = 18”. I cut two 12” x 7/8” strips to line the insides of my box.

Adhere the strips to the inside edges of the box. You can pre-score the strips at the corners or crease them as you adhere. Trim any excess length of paper.

Cut a piece of paper to the same size as the back of the box and adhere to the back of the box. That is 3.5” x 5.5” in the case of the box I used.

To create the pocket, cut a piece of paper to half the height of the box (2” or so in my case) and 2” longer than the width of the box (5.5” + 2” in my case). Punch one long edge of the paper with a border punch and ink.

Apply adhesive to the bottom (other long side) of the paper. Adhere to the back of the box, with the straight side flush to the bottom of the box. Wrap the ends of the strip around the side of the box. This will form the pocket. The sides of the pocket will be held in place with strips we will add to the side of the box in a future step.

Cut a piece of batting (from the batting taken out of the box) to the same width as the strips for the sides. I cut mine to 7/8”. Adhere to the bottom of the box. This will set the stage for a holiday scene inside of the ornament.

Adhere bottle brush trees or other mini holiday themed decorations or ornaments inside the box to create the scene.

Add a sticker to the center back of the box with 3D foam adhesive to give it dimension. Double up on the adhesive foam dots if desired for added dimension and to take advantage of the depth of the shadow box. Add punched snowflakes with bling or buttons in the center. I used some dome style pearl buttons I had in my stash that were too thick for traditional scrapbooking but perfect for a project like this.

Punch a hole in the top of the shadow box to make the hanger. On this box, I punched a hole in each corner to create the hanger because of the long width of the box. The heavier and wider the box, more I would recommend a two-hole hanger but a single hole hanger, like on this ornament, is fine as well.

I punched the holes on the top right and top left of the box. I then lined up the cover (plastic) on the box and marked the holes. I punched holes in the cover with the Crop A Dile as well.

Thread the metallic string through the button with both ends of the string coming out of the back of the button. Thread the two ends of the string through one of the holes from the INSIDE of the box. Pull the strings until the button is flush with the inside top of the box. Tie a knot on the top of the box with the two strings.

Tie a knot in the other end of the string, about 2” + the length of the box top (5.5” in my case) = 7.5” from the side with the button in it. Thread the two strings through the other hole from the topside of the box, pulling until the knot is flush with the top of the box. Thread the button onto the string and tie into place, until the button is flush with the inside top of the box.

Adhere the plastic box cover on, cutting a slit from the edge to the punched hole (earlier step) so the string can slip from the edge of the cover to the punched hole.

Cut another set of paper strips to cover the outside edge of the box, slightly larger than the strips cut for the inside of the box.

Punch a hole and snip the paper where the strings come out of the box. Adhere a snowflake ornament to the outside of the box as a final touch.

Hope this is a last bit of inspiration to help you create a crafty Christmas. Wonderful wishes for a merry merry time with your friends and family during the last few days of the season :) Thanks for following along!

Happy Creating :)

Jennifer

12 Days of Christmas Crafts - Day 11

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today is the 11th day of the Twelve Days of Christmas Crafts! I created this project to share over on the Clearsnap blog today for our blog hop. You can join in on the hop HERE -- today is the last day to enter to win a fab prize featuring some of the goodies I used on this project.

These tubes came out last year and this year they seem to be all the rage for making Christmas gifities. I created a hot cocoa gift set--this can be a stocking stuffer or a small gift for a co-worker.

This hot cocoa set features a tube of hot cocoa mix and a tube of Candy Cane Kisses, decorated for the season with Imaginisce's Santa's Little Helper collection.

I used the penguin embossed chipboard sticker from Imaginisce's Santa's Little Helper Collection to embellish the tubes. To create the texture on the penguin's cap, apply *new* EmbossGloss to the penguin's cap.

Then sprinkle with *new* ColorBox Scentz™ Scented Embossing Powder in Peppermint and heat set. This scented embossing powder really packs a punch of mint, perfectly festive for the holiday season. The scent lasts 2-3 weeks after embossing.

After heat setting, apply heat a second time to the embossing powder until it bubbles. This process of burning the powder creates a fluffly, puffed texture in the powder, giving the cap more definition and depth. Apply *new* Smooch Glitz™ in Firecracker to the berries on the Holly Diecut.

Clearsnap Products:

EmbossGloss
Smooch Glitz™ in Firecracker
ColorBox Scentz™ Scented Embossing Powder in Peppermint
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan

Other Supplies:

Paper, Diecuts, Stickers by Imaginisce
Twine by The Twinery
Tubes by SRM Stickers
Buttons, Ribbon, Tissue unknown source

Happy Creating :)
Jennifer