AWDML Design Team Blog

{12 Days of Christmas} Day 3- Pine Cone Ornament Tutorial.

Here's a Tutorial on how to make a Paper Pinecone Ornament. I just want to note this is NOT something I have made up I've seen several tutorials on this I'm just simply passing on the way to make these adorable pinecones.

Just a Reminder all American Crafts products are on sale this month!

Day 3 Sale at AWDML

Glue Glider Max Dispenser and refills 50% off!!

Supplies:

Paper Cutter, Cardstock, Ribbon, Buttons, 3 in. Styrofoam Ball, pins.

Cut a 12x12 piece of cardstock in 2 inch stipss



Then cut all of the 2 in strips at 1 inch. So you have have a handfull of 1in x 2in pieces.

Fold the corners down..

So it looks like this make sure the side you want showing has the folds on the opposite.

Fold them all..



On the ball pin all 3 sides..this will be the bottom of your pinecone.

Add 3 more pieces so it looks like this,

On the opposite corners add another of the folded triangles like here.

Repeat...

As you go up higher you can start to see the pattern and the pinecone taking shape.


Once you get about half way pin your ribbon to each side like shown here.

And continue up the ball..


Until there's no more styrofoam showing.


Add a bow and if you choose put a button in the center!

Hope you enjoyed this Tutorial

12 Days of Christmas Day 3

Glue Glider Max dispenser & refills for 50% off

You can Check out HERE

{12 Days of Christmas} Day 2

Sarah gave to me- ideas for recycling thingys. Ok I tried to be clever and rhyme, but I guess it didn't work out so well. I know at this time of year everyone is very busy shopping, baking, scrapping and doing all other sorts of activities so I kept this project quick and simple. You can make these cute gift bags for everyone on your list in no time. I also left off measurements so you can use this idea on any sized bag.

I hate to see anything go to waste so I save all the Christmas stuff I think I can recycle for next year. For this project I used a gift bag that I had at home, old ribbon that was wrapped around a gift last year, an old christmas decoration that I decided I didn't have room for and the cutest Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper and chipboard. Seriously, this is some of the cutest Basic Grey I have ever seen! You can use any old decoration or buy some really cheap ones at the dollar store that you won't mind cutting up.

This is the old decoration I used. I cut two branches from it with really sharp scissors to use for my gift bag.

Step 1: Cut a piece of the Reindeer Games paper so it is slightly smaller than the gift bag and adhere it on the front.

Step 2: Cut a smaller piece of the same paper and adhere to the front of the bag using the pattern on the back.

Step 3: Trim two strips of ribbon, the same width as your patterned paper and adhere with glue dots.

Step 4: Using glue dots adhere the braches along the bottom strip of ribbon.

Step 5: Trim another strip of ribbon and tie into a bow. Trim the ends to your desired length and adhere with a glue dot where the branches overlap.

Step 6: Adhere chipboard sentiment to front of bag.

Step 7: Create cute tag to tie to gift bag. I used my scallped circle punch, circle punch, left over reindeer games paper and October Afternoon Good Cheer stickers

We can't wait to see how you create your own special gift bags with recycled goods. Use the Mr. Linky at the top of the page to upload your creation and you will be enterd to win a prize package from the A Walk Down Memory Lane store.

And I'm not done yet! As you may know there is also a sale going on to coincide with the 12 days of Christmas crop. The sale lasts until the 13th at midnight. You can shop everyday, check out and Lisa will save all of your orders until the 14th. Talk about an early Christmas gift when these goodies arrive at your door! So without further ado today's sale is.....

The Maple Lane starter tool kit for $40.00!

Thanks and check back tomorrow for another great project. - Sarah

12 Days of Christmas Day 2

Maple Lane starter tool kit for $40

You can check it out HERE

{12 Days of Christmas} Day 1- Mini Album

TOn the first day of Christmas, I made a commitment to actually document our Holiday traditions this year.  I love the holidays.  Christmas really is my absolute favorite time of the year, and this year I am determined to document some of those traditions.  Yep, I'm making my very own version of a December Daily album.  I already have a ton of ideas for things to put in there.  I'm not going to commit to a picture or "entry" every day, but I do want to make this conscious effort to treasure the time.

It's a little flat now without all of the inner page decorations, but here is the basis of my album.  I used Making Memories' Christmas line, Mistletoe from the AWDML Store.

Here are some things I plan to include

-Advent Calendar fun
-Christmas parties
-Christmas lights around town or at special shows
-The Nutcracker Ballet or other Christmas shows
-Christmas cards sent/received
-Hot Cocoa
-Christmas music
-Stockings
-Decorating for Christmas
-Trimming the Tree
-Christmas tree lit up by the fireplace...so serene
-Wrapping gifts
-Christmas baking
-Cookies for Santa
-Christmas pics of your family
-Christmas Eve festivities with family
-Reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve
-Christmas morning
-Travelling to visit out of town family members
-Christmas dinner

I'm sure there will be other things that come up, but I hope this is a good start to give you some ideas of what to include in your own December Daily albume :)

12 Days of Christmas Sale- Day 1

Lisa has some special deals for the 12 days of Christmas as well...On the first day of Christmas, Lisa is offering up  My Mind's Eye Chip buckets of shapes & alphabets for $3 This sale is good while supplies last, or until December 13th at Midnight.

You can check it out HERE

A Walk Down Memory Lane- 12 Days of Christmas

  

Welcome to our 12 Days of Christmas

The Design Team will be posting wonderful project ideas for you from Dec 1st to Dec 12th.

We will also have SPECIAL SALES going on in the AWDML STORE each day and you have till Dec 13th to order.

Day 1- My Mind's Eye Chip buckets of shapes & alphabets for $3

Day 2- Maple Lane starter tool kit for $40

Day 3- Glue Glider Max dispenser & refills for 50% off

Day 4- Basic Grey Card Kits for $9

Day 5- Maya Road Chipboard in lunchpails for $4

Day 6- Scor-It Mini Board for $20

Day 7- Cricut Carts (full carts at $45 and solutions at $30)

Day 8-  ALL AWDML collection kits are $10 (does not include Copic or card kits)

Day 9- Bazzill cardstock multipacks Smoothies for $5, Bling for $8, Special Value packs $7

Day 10- Just Rite Stampers discontinued sizes 50% off

Day 11- Fiskars Border Punches

Day 12- Idea Books 50% off

We will have Mr.Linky on this thread and for every project you do on those 12 days, your name will be put into a random drawing for a prize package from AWDML

All projects are due Dec 24th

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Tuesday's Tip! Can you SMELL it??

Did you know that you can make SMELLY Cards?!?!  Well, you can!  Imagine getting a handmade card from a friend or loved one and not only is it beautiful to look at, but it SMELLS GOOD, too!!

Here's what you do-  Mix 2 parts clear embossing powder with 1 part smelly powder (cinnamon, nutmeg, no sugar added Kool-Aid, cocoa...).  Stamp your image with an embossing ink, cover it with your powder mix, heat and VOILA!  Now, I did mine a little differently- I cut an image with my Cricut using the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.  Then, I dabbed my embossing ink all over it.  Then I added my powder and used my heat tool.  It smelled like Mrs. Claus' kitchen in my scrap room!!

**NOTE:  It is important that your "smelly powder" does NOT have any sugar (or sweetener of any kind) in it, or you will have a nasty, sticky mess!

**Another Note:  You can also add some colored embossing powder to match your "smelly powder" for more even coverage.

 Materials Used not mentioned above:  Three Bugs in a Rug "Let it Snow" Caboodle Kit,Nestibilities Circle and Scallop Circle Dies. Stickles

Have fun!

~~Nicole~~

Card Box Tutorial and Challenge

Today, I want to share a card box that I created for notecards.

Step 1.  Cut a piece of cardstock to 5 x 9.5.  On the 9.5" inch side, score at 3.5", 4", 7.5" and 8".  On the 5" side, score at .5" from either side.

 

Step 2: Fold and crease at all the scores.

 
Step 3:  Cut tabs.  You should cut the .5" section at each score mark, as shown. below, and the remove the .5" section on either side of the top 1.5"  This will become the top flap closure.

 

When folded up, your box should look like this.  I rounded the corners of my front flap:

 

Step 4:  Decorate your card box.  I chose to keep mine simple.

 

I used some of the papers to create some simple notecards to go along w/ this box.  The patters were just perfect for them.  The box will accomodate 3.75" x 3.5" notecards.

My challenge to you is to create your own notecard holder.  It doesn't have to be just like mine, show us your creative notecard holders/boxes :)

♥ Crystal

Halloween Treat Bag Tutorial

Today's Tutorial is on how to make a "Halloween Treat Bag" for your Halloween parties!  It's super easy and super cute!

Here is what you will need:

1. 11" X 4" piece of Cardstock
2. 1 1/4" X 3 3/4" piece of Halloween Patterned Paper
3. Scallop Circle Nestibilities Dies
4. Circle Nestibilities Dies
5. Halloween Stamp
6. Small plastic bag with candy
7. stapler
8. Ribbon scrap
9. Scrap of  White Cardstock
10. Scrap of Orange Cardstock
11. Black Ink
12. Scoring Tool
13. Adhesive (not pictured)

Step 1:  Score your Black Cardstock at 1 1/2", 5 1/2" and 7 ".  Fold on the score lines to form a bag shape.

 

Step 2:  With your Scallop Circle dies, cut a hole in the Cardstock about 3/4" of an inch above the 7" score line.  Be sure to center it on the cardstock.

Step 3:  Adhere your Patterned Paper (I used Doodlebug Hocus Pocus) to the Carstock between the  end and the 1 1/2" score line.

Step 4:  Cut a Scallop Circle (about 1 3/4") from the Orange Cardstock, and a Circle (about 1 1/2") from the White Cardstock.

Step 5:  Stamp your image on to the White Cardstock and adhere it to the Orange Cardstock.

Step 6:  Tie your ribbon scrap around the Patterned Paper and ahere your Stamped Image to the Patterned Paper (I used foam tape).

Step 7:  With a Stapler, staple the plastic bag with candy to the INSIDE of your bag.  Be sure to staple it so that the candy will show through the "window."

YOU ARE DONE!!  Just fold up your bag and keep it closed with some re-positionable adhesive, or a small piece of velcro!

We would LOVE to see your Halloween Treat Bag!!  Be sure to share yours with us in the AWDML Gallery.

~~Nicole~~

{Saturday Tutorial} Christmas Tree Card

Origami Christmas Tree Card Tutorial

By Lucy Chesna

Supplies
Double sided paper
Trimmer
Bone Folder
Adhesive
Scraps
Inking (optional)

Download PDF file for your directions and step by step tutorial
http://www.easy-share.com/1906912528/Origami%20Tree%20Tutorial.pdf

* The tutorial is used on a layout so you wont be using all the trees for the reg. card- just need 4 of the smaller ones

*When you got to the link, you have to wait till it uploads then enter the code that is given to upload the pdf file of the tutorial

Nestabilities Flower Fun!!

I have been having so much fun playing with my Nestabilities Scallop Circle Dies.  I have used them for cards, layouts, journaling, and even flowers!  Flowers??!!  YES!  FLOWERS!!  I have found three different flowers to make with just these tools:

Here's the first one:

Step 1:  Cut Scallop Circles of different sizes (you can do more than three if you want!)

Step 2:  Make a dot in the middle of your Scallop Circle to use as a reference point.  Then, with your scissors, cut on either side of one scallop and cut a "wedge" out.

 Step 3:  Repeat Step 2 all the way around your circle, cutting out every other scallop.  When you are done it should look like this:

 Step 4:  Repeat on all of your flower layers.

 Step 5:  Stack your layers from biggest to smallest and finish with a brad.

 Here is this flower used on a card:

Here's another one!!

Step 1: Start with your scallop circle the size that you would like your flower to be.  I also ran my Scallop Circle through my machine with the Swiss Dot Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.

 Step 2:  With your scissors, make a cut toward the center, skipping TWO scallops between cuts.

Step 3:  Find a piece of soft foam (I used a piece that came with some brads) and put your flower FACE DOWN on the foam.  Use the back of your paper piercer, or something similar with a rounded end and rub each petal hard to make it curl up.

 Step 4:  Repeat Step 3 on each petal working your way around the flower.

 Here is what your flower should look like FACE DOWN when you are done.

 Step 5:  Flip your flower over and finish with a brad or button.

 Here's how this flower looks on a card:

 ARE YOU READY FOR ONE MORE??!!!

Step 1:  Cut three Scallop Circles from a patterned paper and one from a cordinating piece of cardstock.  Cut each of the patterned paper Scallop Circles in half.  All four Scallop Circles should be the same size.

 Step 2:  Put some adhesive on the edge of one of your Scallop Circle halves.

 Step 3:  Roll your Scallop circle half into a cone shape matching up the scallops and press down on the seam to adhere.

 Step 4:  Repeat Step 2 and 3 with all of your pieces of patterned paper.  You should end up with SIX cones/petals.

 Step 5:  Cover your cardstock Scallop Circle with a quick drying glue.

 Step 6:  Place one of your cone/petals on to your piece of cardstock and match up the scallops on the two pieces.  Remember to put your cone/petal with the seam-side down.

 Step 7:  Continue to add your cone/petals all the way around your piece of cardstock.  Be sure to match the scallop in the cone/petal to the piece of cardstock.

 Here is what it should look like with all of the petals put on:

 Step 8:  Now finish with a button or brad in the center.

And, now, use your flower on a Layout or Card: 

I hope you enjoy making these flowers and I hope that you try them yourself.  Be sure to share them in the AWDML Gallery!!  We would love to oooooh and aaaaaah over them!!

Enjoy!!

~~Nicole~~

Saturday's Tutorial: A Daisy Bucket Card

 

I love making cards that don't always open like a "regular" card.  This one opens in the center by pulling the edges!  I love this design and plan to make LOTS more!  I hope you do, too!!

I also ADORE this Summer Cottage Paper by Daisy Bucket.  Daisy Bucket is this month's featured manufacturer at A Walk Down Memory Lane!

 

Step 1-

Cut your base cardstock to 11”X 5 ½.”  Score at 2” and 3 ¾.”  Rotate your paper and repeat the scores on the other side.  Fold on the score lines.  You paper should look like this:

 

Step 2-

Cut two strips of Daisy Bucket Patterned Paper (I used a piece of the Summer Cottage Line).  They should each measure 5 ¼” X 1 ¾.”  Adhere these strips to the two outer sections of your base.

   

 

Step 3-

Now for the inside!  Cut a coordinating piece of cardstock to 4 ¾” X 3” and adhere to the middle section of your base. 

 

Now would be a good time to stamp your sentiment on the inside of your card, too!  Daisy Bucket has some gorgeous stamps that would be perfect for this!!

 

Step 4-

Now to decorate the front!  I used Nestabilities dies to make a 3 ½” Scallop Circle and a 3” Circle and I attached the circle on top of the scallop with my adhesive.  (You could use any shape for this!)  If you wanted to save the inside of your card for a special note, you could also stamp your sentiment on the circle!

Step 5-

Flip over your circle/scallop that you made and apply adhesive to only ONE HALF of the circle.  Then, adhere your circle to ONE strip of the patterned paper on the front of your card, but so that it is centered when your card is closed.  If you adhere to both sides, your card will not open.

 

Step 6-

If you chose not to stamp a sentiment on the front of your circle, then you need to decorate it!  I used a Prima Flower and also a flower cut from one of the papers from Daisy Bucket’s Summer Cottage line.  I adhered both using foam tape.

 

Step 7-

And, now finish your card with some ribbon.  When your card is to be opened, just untie the ribbon and your card will unfold before their eyes!  Beautiful!

 

We would love to see your cards that you make with this tutorial!  Please share them with us in the AWDML Gallery!

 

~~Nicole~~

Differnt sort of paper flower.

Supply List:

12 x 1 inch of Patterned Paper
Mod Podge or other fast drying glue, a glue gun works too.
punched circle
anything you wish to decorate, brads, buttons flowers ect.

Next take your 12 x 1 in. piece of paper and start making folds like in the picture below.



Continue folding back and forth as evenly as you can till your paper looks like...



Then connect the 2 ends using your glue or even double sided tape will work. Your flower should like like this..



Then push the center down making sure the patterned part is visible. Put some Mod Podge or your hot glue gun glue on your circle and hold firmly, you might want to place something kind of heavy like a punch to hold it while it drys. May take 5 min or so.



Once dry you can decorate the center.

Here's mine.



and here's the full page I put it on, Using the Sketch from AWDML July Sketch!

Products used:

Patterned Paper: Dream Street Gracie Daydreamer

Embellishments: White Flowers, Pink Flowers, Buttons, Brads

Misc. Chipboard and ribbon.

Have a great weekend!
Hugs, Mindy

Tips for Taking Better Photos

The grass is turning greener, flowers are beginning to poke their heads out of the ground and the sounds of kids outside are present.  Time to tune up the camera and get ready for taking some great photos.  I love taking outdoor shots!  There is just something about the crispness of the colors and lightening.

Whether you take indoor or outdoor shots these 10 photo taking tips are sure to help you enhance your photos.

1.        Get down to your subjects level.  They eye level angle will create a more inviting and personal photo.

2.       Use a plain background.  A cluttered background can be distracting while a plain background will emphasize your subject.

3.       Use your flash outdoors.   By using your flash outdoors it lightens shadows.

4.       Move in close to your subject.  By filling your frame with your subject you’re sure to make an impact.

5.       Remember to take some vertical pictures.   Your subject may look more appealing from another angle.

6.       Lock the focus.  Center the focus, press the shutter half-way down, reframe your picture and depress the shutter all the way.

7.       Move your focus from the middle of your frame.  Bring your picture to life by simply moving it off to the side.

8.       Understand your flash’s range.  Pictures you take out range that use a flash will appear dark.

9.       Watch the light.  For people shots try taking photos on cloudy days for the perfect light.  For landscape photos use early and late day sunlight.

10.   Direct your subjects.  Add props and rearrange your subjects. 

(For additional photo tips check out Kodak.com or even Snapfish.com gives excellent tips for bettering your photography skills.)

-Angie