Week 7 - Paper

Hey everybody! I hope your weekends were all fantastic. I spent the weekend at the Casual Bloggers Conference in Sandy UT. It was awesome! I have so many new ideas and stuff now that I can't wait to get started on, so don't be surprised if things start changing :) Don't worry...it won't be too drastic, and it probably wont really happen until the break between seasons. I went all by my lonesome and a few amazing ladies adopted me for a few of the classes. I've been following some of their blogs for a long time and some are new friends. Thanks to Darci (Londy Lou Boutique), Amy (The Quilting Diaries), Ashlee (Topsy Turvy Cakes), Michelle (A Little Tipsy), Kara (Creations by Kara), Michelle (Someday Crafts) and Char (Crap I've Made) for making me feel like I had friends and pretending I'm not a loser :)

I still haven't figured out why blogger isn't letting me do picture links (that maybe taken care off with one of my season break plans) so the archives still aren't very pretty. I'm sorry...

So we had a giveaway for a $50 gift card this last week to Staker Sensations. The winner is...announced here.

Now to the results. This week Deidre was supreme with her Outdoor Playmat. Wasn't that cool? Our new place has a giant tree in the backyard. That mat would be perfect for our fun back there. The tutorial will be up shortly.

But that means that someone gets sent home. That someone this week is Shilo. You've got to hand it to her, that Lemonade Stand was awesome. She'll be posting more awesome stuff on her blog, so keep checking in at "Toad"ly Crafts.

This weeks theme wasn't so much a theme as a medium...Paper. Enjoy! Remember, voting is open in the sidebar until Friday night at 9pm MST.

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Craft #1 - Flower Party Lights

What little girl wouldn't love this string of lights for their birthday party or strung across their bedroom?

Each little flower has a light in the center, creating an illuminated pink decoration. They are not only cute, but easy and quick to make.

Craft #2 - Animal Puppets

These animal puppets are a great addition to any bedtime story. You and your child can make up stories for hours and these puppets can be the stars!

They are made using punches and dies. If you don't want to use them as puppets, you can put them inside shadow boxes and hang them on your child's bedroom wall.

I used tiny lunch bags so the puppets are the perfect size for tiny hands. The three-dimensional eyes can really help a child's imagination run wild!

Craft #3 - House Diorama

Did you ever make a diorama in elementary school? Why not take that idea of giving a picture dimension, and apply it to making a keepsake for your home or as a housewarming gift for someone you love?

I found a shadow box frame I liked, and then using cardstock paper and craft foam, made a diorama of this house. In the tutorial, I'll show you the steps I took, so you can create your own. I printed out an 8x10 photo of the house, and then used it as a guide. I divided the house into layers, and then traced and transferred the layers to the paper. This was created using common scrapbooking tools and supplies, and an exacto knife.

Here in the cross-section view, you can get an idea of how the diorama is put together.

Pictures only tell part of the story. It's hard to get a feel for it in the photo, but the details literally pop out, and create a striking art piece.

Consider creating a diorama and you will make a keepsake that will be cherished.

Craft #4 - Ruffle Notecards

These ruffled note cards would be the perfect addition to any gift for a flea market lovin' girl. Perfectly imperfect, they're made from a combination of new and vintage fabrics sewn to white note cards for a simple and lovely style.