Hi! SaraL here with another hybrid post on Girl Talk.

Now, you may have noticed that all of us on Dani’s team rather like using her designs in different ways (did you see Becky’s Pop pops?!) - so this time I decided to try to ‘covert’ another one of her images into a gift presentation idea.

I decided to make a tea & biscuits (cookies for those in the US – and shortbread to be even more precise!)  mini gift for a friend who’s been a little under the weather recently.  Here’s what I came up with: 

…and a peek at the teabag gift bag’s reverse:

This whole gift set was made (naturally!) using Dani’s delightful Tea For Two.

I modelled the gift bag for my selection of fruity tea bags, on Dani’s teabag image, and used her cute cookie image as a ready-to-go gift tag.

As the original design was just a little too plain for a gift bag, I used the gorgeous floral paper from Dani’s kit for the bottom of the bag – deliberately overlaying it with the plain yellow paper so the flowers were visible but not too dominant.  Got to love Photoshop – its a fabulous tool for playing about with until you get just the look you want!

I think this mini gift set will cheer my friend up nicely – especially so, if I present it with a cute shaped teacup card like I made in June!

Bye for now,

Sara

PS  I used DIY Printable Templates:HouseBags by Heather Roselli to make the gift bag, and the font you see is Pea Chelsea K script.

In the life of every kid there comes a time when a good disguise is required.  A tasty disguise is even better.  :)

Introducing Pop Pops – for those many times when a mustache and a sucker are the perfect combination.

Mustache and tag made using He’s the Man by Dani Mogstad and Traci Reed:

Now a few photos – evidence to show the mischief and laughter that ensues once these Pop Pops are popped in one’s mouth.

If you would like to make some of your own, download the stache and tag here.  There is also three on a 4×6 in the same file, all ready to print and get the mischief started.  Cut out the hairy goodness and punch a hole the size of your sucker stick.  So many different options there.  The suckers I used were between the 1/8th inch and 3/16th inch holes in my puncher.  If the hole is too small the mustache rips, if the hole is too big the mustache slips and slides.  My brilliant hunny came up with the perfect solution.  Punch the hole once and then punch the edge of it slightly again to make the perfect size hole.  He thought it was obvious.  Me not so much; thankful for him.

One last view of this delightful confection all wrapped up and ready to gift- just to make sure the fun does not end.

*smiles*

Becky

p.s.  Actions on photos from Sarah Cornish at myfourhens photography.  ”Hand Crafted” from Blended set.  *swoon*

Hi!  Sara here with a short but sweet post featuring Dani’s recent fab collab with MandaBean: Don’t Feed the Animals.

This gorgeous kit is overflowing with cute characters and lovely papers, in a colour pallet simply perfect for both boys and girls!

I couldn’t resist playing about with the monkey image in Photoshop to create this fun card: 

Remember, never be afraid to play with the papers and elements from a kit: magnify in or zoom out;  turn, crop or cut here and there.  Have fun adding your own twist and take on an image to ultimately make it uniquely yours!

Next, how about a silly play-on-words with this Happy Birthday – ooops, I mean Hippo Birdy card?  I think this card showcases the colour scheme of this kit very nicely:

I do love the fresh combination of the orange, turquise and lime!  …and here’s one final card to convince you that you do neeeed this kit!

A peek-a-boo card for a young child, made by simply combining Don’t Feed the Animals with the paper strip templates from Dani’s Scrappers Toolbox: Creative Crops 2.

So why not treat yourself to this kit and have some fun playing and creating with it!   Enjoy the rest of your Summer Holidays :)

Sara

x

Sometimes the beach just isn’t close enough.

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.

This magical magnetic creation is made using Dani’s “Take Me Away” vacation kit:

The other supplies needed are magnetic tape, scissors, a magnetic tin (mine is recycled), and sand:

I made a fun label and printed my sandcastle sections and decorations.  Then I stuck them to the magnet strip and cut around.  I also glued some real sand onto the castle pieces.  I got a big bag at Walmart for $3 and used the rest in a tub for more sandcastle building.  When I had a nice size collection of pieces I put them in the tin.

Here are a few photos to get an idea of how big the tin is:

Wow, my girly was being a ham:

The kit was then ready to be assembled as desired.

Here’s just one of many possibilities:

Here’s to a summer filled with sandcastle building (real and magnetic)!

*smiles*

Becky

Hi!  Sara here with a few ideas for cute invitations.

Dani has created LOTS  of lovely images in her kits that are just perfect for making into simple, unique invitations - with a little fun and lots of style guaranteed!

If the invitations are for your child to handout to others in the playground, then why not opt for a straight-forward postcard invite?  If, however, you prefer a more traditional ‘open-and-look-inside’ style of card, then why not consider a shaped card?

Having a summer party, or pool party?  Then take a peek at these cool ice lolly invites…

My shaped invites were made by duplicating the lolly images from Dani’s vibrant Pop!, and then placing the duplicates edge-to-edge to form a ‘hinge’ for the card, before printing and cutting out.  I also horizontally-rotated the image that made the back of the card in Photoshop, to ensure that when the card was finally folded in half, the two halves would fold together neatly, with little or no additional trimming needed.

I was able to print 3 complete invites on a 8.5×11in piece of card, and I ensured that the final shape of the card was easy to cut out.

Thinking of a tea party?  How about a suitably-themed invite using Dani’s adorable Tea for Two?

For these invites, the card hinge is at the top.  To create this, I rotated the image for the back of the invites vertically in Photoshop and then placed the two images edge to edge.  Again, I made the final card as simple as possible to cut out as possible - the only really tricky part was the cup handle, which I took my time cutting out using a sharp-bladed craft knife.

Want something simpler?  How about these invites, which were made by using a photo frame image from Dani’s wonderful Flying High kit:

I am totally in l-o-v-e with the loopy alpha from the kit, which I used to make the word ‘Playdate’.  Its gorgeous, don’t you think?  A cloud or two here, and a kite there, et voila!

All that remains is to add your party details to the inside, and I think the simplest way is to print, cut and stick the information in place – though there are rubber stamps available to help standardise the details as an alternative if you’d prefer.

So, next time you have need of invitations, why not have a go at making your own using the wonderful images from your stash of kits by Dani!

See you next month!

Sara

x

the Fourth of July, that is!!

Hey Girl Talkers! Leigh here to bring you a quick and easy way to dress up your cupcakes this Fourth of July! This tutorial is so easy, even the kids could help!!

Here’s how to do it:

1. Download and print my sheet of cupcake toppers from HERE. Remember to find your printer’s borderless option to get the best fit on the page. Also, try to use a nice matte presentation paper or photo paper. Card stock will work, but the images won’t be a crisp and it will drain your ink supply!
2. Using a circle or scallop punch, punch the images out from the sheet.

3. Adhere two of the punches together and add a lollipop stick (or stick of your choice) in between the two labels.
4. Decorate with ribbon, twine, buttons or other bling.
5. Add to your cupcakes!

VOILA! Pretty cupcakes that people will rave over!

You can even use the leftover punches as confetti around the table, drink labels, food labels, etc.

Have fun and Happy Fourth of July-ing!

My birthday is next Tuesday – hoo-ray!  I like to take a few minutes near my birthday time to see how I’m doing on my New Year’s goals.  Halfway through the year always seems like a good time to evaluate and recommit.

This year I decided to focus on the word “create”.  I want to accomplish more creating – in many different areas.  I created this fun goal board to track my progress:

Each background section has one area listed on it.  My six sections are storytelling, food, art, music, memories and photography.  Some of my goals overlap, which is totally groovy.  I loved Elizabeth Kartchner’s idea to keep a goal board fresh by adding to it as time goes on – whether monthly or as you feel.

The background papers and embellishments on the polaroids are made using Dani’s Pop Goes the World papers and embellishments.

I glued the background papers together and then stitched around the edge of each.  I then stuck it to cardboard and placed in a frame.  Stretchy bead cord was wound around the frame and then I clipped my photos to the string.  I have a whole list of yummy goals.  My reward is to make a digital polaroid of each goal as I accomplish it.  So fun and a great way to see how much creating I have enjoyed.  Here are a few close-ups:

The little polaroids are by Rhonna Farrer, all embellishments from Dani’s “Pop Goes the World” and the font is DJB Poppyseed.

I now have the projects I would like to work on next written on small pieces of paper and clipped in the corresponding sections:

I can’t wait to turn those into mini polaroids.  And my  framed board?  That was a goal too.  I better get creating.  ;)

*smiles*

Becky

Hi!  Sara here with a few floral ideas for this last hybrid Girl Talk post of May.

Dani recently released Just Stay Little, which is a sweet kit ideal for scrapping childhood photos, with a lovely retro feel it.  Like soooo many of Dani’s kits though, the wonderful images and papers are just too nice not to use for other occasions too!  For example, as soon as I spotted one of the doodled circles in the kit I knew I could use it to make blooms.  So I did!

Making your own flowers can be time consuming and fiddly, but these took no time at all – and I think their simple structure mirrors the retro feel again. 

I simply made circles of the papers I chose in Photoshop, each just over an inch across, and overlaid the doodle circle image to mimic the centre of a rose.  After printing and cutting out (see photo above) I scuffed the edges with a nail file, then gently creased and bent them upwards so that the finished blooms would lie proud on my card.

I prepared the background in Photoshop too – adding the sentiment before printing, cutting and adhering to my card blank.  I attached craft wire stalks to each bloom, and tied them all together with ribbon and stuck them in place with strong glue (I used Daimond Glaze).

This is such a simple way to make flowers – why not give it a go?

Finally I have a floral wall hanging to show you, made simply to celebrate Spring and the warmer weather!

Its just under 2ft long, and hangs by a small loop at the back of the ribbon bow.  I made it using pre-cut chipboard shapes covered in bright and cheerful papers from Dani’s Sweet Cupcake - an all time favourite kit of mine!  I used brown chalk on the edges, and added some clear seed beads to the centre of the sunflower using very strong clear adhesive again.

But its the butterflies I’m most proud of!  I didn’t have any actual chipboard butterflies at the time, but did have some extra 4-petaled flower shapes…:

After cutting them in half, I covered them in paper as I did with the sunflower.  I then used decorative mini hinges to make the body of the butterfly – which also enabled me to just subtly position the wings.  The hinges aren’t very substantial, but for this they were prefect.

So why not the next time you feel like making something floral, go ahead and use your favourite of Dani’s paper designs and have fun. Hybrid flowers can look like and be made from any design you choose – try circles, hearts, triangles…

See you in June!

Sara

PS  All credits for the card and hanging sunflower will be found in Dani’s gallery here or here.

As a mommy of six adorable and quite active children I have to plan my designing time well.  I absolutely love giving handmade gifts and cards, but often do not have the time to make them on demand.  My solution is to sit down and make lots of yummy gifts in a single sitting and then stash them away.  Digital scrapping makes it oh-so-easy to do so.

Here is a simple 4 x 6 print that is used as a holder for cute handmade felt hair clips.  The clips come together quickly and can be added to the print for a special gift ready to go for girls of many ages.

The print is made with Dani’s new kit, Flying High:

Another little secret I have is to use the same designs for different projects.  The cute clip holder up above becomes a cute card when the upper design is just moved down the page.  Simple and still cute.

It can be given with the gift as a matchy-matchy set or used for a different occasion.

Here’s that same concept used again with another of Dani’s recent kits, Just Stay Little:

Little ribbon rose hair pins on these and the card used as is.  Perfect.

Just a few little tricks to get the most of your computer time if it’s limited like mine is at the moment.  ;)

Have a creative, happy day!

*smiles*

Becky

Hi Girl Talkers! Happy Wednesday!

It’s crazy busy around our  house right now with birthdays, Mother’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and end of the school year wrapping up! It seems every time I turn around, I need another tag for a gift!

No fear! With Dani’s awesome kits, you can whip up a tag in no time at all!

Here’s how:

1. In your photo editing software (Photoshop Elements for me) create a blank canvas the size you’d like your tag to be. In this case, I made mine 3.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall. It is similar in size to a professional business card.

2. Once I have the design the way I want it, I flatten it and save it as a jpeg file.

3. Then, I create a new canvas measuring 8.5×11 inches (standard paper size since that’s what I’m printing on). I drag my flattened jpeg tag onto the new canvas and duplicate as many times as will fit!

4. Voila! A set of tags ready to customize!

As a treat for you today, I made two sets of tags to give away. One is more girly using Here We Grow and the other is more manly using Retrospect.

You can use the tags on gift bags or boxes, drop them in gift cards, print them on adhesive paper and make them into stickers. The possibilities are endless! I used them on all of our Mother’s Day gifts and got so many compliments on them!

Just remember to print the file on 8.5×11 paper and use your best settings to get the brightest color from your printer. I prefer matte photo paper and I always get fantastic results by bumping my saturation just a teeny tiny bit!

You can find the tags here (girly) and here (manly).

Hope you like them!

Happy May, everyone!