Category Archives: DIY

shapes quiet book page …

February 2, 2012

i mentioned a while back that some friends and i got together to make quiet books.  we each made twenty of one page, then we swapped pages to make a complete book of different pages!  we got together in december and finally swapped pages!  it was a huge project that we started way back in march of last year, so it was fun to finally see it all come together!

i am still working on putting the binding on my pages, so i will share all of the pages soon, but today i wanted to share with you the page i made.

i did a basic shapes page.  i am really happy with how it turned out!  i had a lot of time to kill in the car on the way to california last fall, so i decided to hand embroider the shapes onto the page.  wow, did i underestimate how long that would take.  twenty four hours later in the car, i still didn’t finish.  but, oh well.  it’s pretty cute, right?

i used my die cute machine from lifestyle crafts and cut out the basic shapes out of wool blend felt (it only works with thicker felt)

i can’t wait to show you the rest of the book!  everyone really did some amazing work!

and, i can’t wait to get it finished so my kids can actually use it!   that is, if i let them, wink!

packages …

January 27, 2012

i realized i never shared my packaging from christmas this year.
i really enjoy putting together a nice package.  unfortunately, i run out of time to do it most of the time, but it is still fun to put together a nicely wrapped gift when i can find the time.

i’m a big fan of the doily.  it is simple, and adds a nice little touch, without taking up too much time.

 i also am in love with glitter.  so, these little glitter ornaments i found last year on clearance were perfect!  i think it added a nice kate spade-y touch!

i put together these fun name banner packages for my nieces for christmas using the celebrate alphabet kit from lifestyle crafts.  it is a pretty fun one, since you can cut out and spell anything!

i also customized this fringy gift for my niece with her name on it using the manhattan alphabet mini set from lifestyle crafts.  very fun!

as always, you can get 20% off all lifestyle crafts products by typing ARMELLE in the coupon section at checkout!

and, there you have it!

some fun little packages!

my studio closet …

December 3, 2011

I have been trying to get organized in my little studio/office.

When we finished the room, we built lots of shelves in the closet to store all my junk.  and, trust me, I have a lot of junk (there is a reason i’m only showing half of the closet, ha!)

I like the idea of putting things in clear labeled bins, so that i could see what I needed faster.

I love to use the inside of doors for organization whenever i can.  so, i was thrilled to find this wrapping paper holder idea from bri of the collected blog.

I bought the wooden dowels, and had them cut them to the size i needed in the store.
The metal hooks are from Lowes.  it took me forever to find them, like 4 trips to lowes.
there are in the hardware isle and are 3 1/2″ metal hooks made by stanley national.

I just had the dowels cut to the width of the door, and then i screwed in the metal hooks about two inches in, so the dowels wouldn’t slip off.

i love being able to hand my go to wrapping paper from it, i also hung my freezer paper, and i used hooks from ikea on the lower one to hang my rulers.
i added a magnetic strip from ikea to hold all my scissors and cutters.  (high from my children’s reach)
the wooden thread holder is from joanns.  it has been nice to have all my thread in one place so that i don’t always keep buying the same color because i can’t find it.

the other closet door, i hung a hook set from ikea to keep my broom and my favorite go to brown kraft paper bags.

it feels good to get a few things organized around the studio.  now, i just need to keep it clean… ya wish me luck with that.

{photos by me, caroline armelle drake}