Doe-LIGHTFUL tutorial with Brandy

Tis' the season to start gifting! Here is a lovely budget gift that is sure to inspire you for the holidays! Wide washi tape is aboslutley fantastic as a binding for small notebooks and combined with mini composition books and a few index cards will create a clean palette for you to decorate.

You will need:

Wide washi tape

Scissors

Adhesive

sewing machine (optional)

Mini composition notebooks

The first step in this very quick process is to adhere the lined side of each index card to the composition front and back covers. You will want to line the card so that it is flush to the tape binding that is already on the mini book.

Once you have both side finished, use your scissors to trim the index cards down to the size of the composition books.

For this next step you will want to take your wide washi tape and attach it to the mini book. Start with just a small amount attached to the index card, leaving the book closed fold it around the spine. When you have finished trim the extra tape at the top and bottom of the book.

In this final prep step the choice is yours. You may adhere the corners of the index cards to the book so that they will not lift, or you can use your sewing machine and sew around the outside edge.

I tend to do these in batches of 20. Here is my process for efficiency. Adhere all index cards to books, trim all the books, tape the spine of all the books, glue or sew all of the books. I stamp a uniquely handmade or made with love, ect stamp on the back of each book then sign and date. I am now ready to decorate them ;).

I am using mine to document my boys over the last half of the year for close relatives for the holidays. However, I have made mini exercise logs, calorie logs, memory jotters for PL, memory jotters for real life, address books, and one line a day for each child. 

I hope you enjoy! - Brandy 

December Daily with Valorie Wibbens Part III

Hiya everyone! Today is an exciting day for our home as the kids are all out for winter break!!! YIPEEE! I love having them home this time of year! So many fun things to do!

Valorie is back today with all her amazingness!!

I love how Valorie uses larger pages mixed with divided pages.

 Her eye for composition and scale is something that inspires me! 

How are you doing with your December Daily?

I hope you are having fun with it! 

xox

December Color Challenge & a WINNER posted! :)

Happy Monday. 

I hope today you are able to find some happiness despite

 recent events here in the United States.

Maybe I can help..

This layout for the December sketch took our breath away! 

Thank you Marie-France, please email me at freckledfawnDTatGMAILdotCOm

For a little different feel to our color challenge, this month I asked our DT member, Adrienne to pick the inspiration piece, and I have to say... she totally nailed it! Thank you Adrienne! 

Adrienne of course ROCKed it! I LOVE all the gold bits she found! 

I love it when Natt creates a layout, they always make me look at the square canvas in a new way!

I love how Anna-Maria used the arrows and was able to keep her style through these colors. 

I love that Christin made a card! HELLO WIDE GOLD CHEVRON WASHI!

I adore Brandy's take on these colors. First off hello, that photo is too cute. Second, why can't I have handwriting like this? It's just so beautiful, and Brandy, you are an amazing story teller! 

I love the very different styles that this color combo allowed! Thank you team you did a beautiful job!

If you would like to play along please link us to your project by Monday December 31st for your chance to win a $5 gift card from Freckled Fawn!! Thank you so much!

xox

Washi Workshop with Adrienne

Hi, everyone!  It's Adrienne here with a festive Washi Workshop for you today!  

I was sitting in my craft room a few weeks ago looking through some supplies when I found a huge stash of binder rings that I normally use for my mini albums.  I immediately thought of using them to make festive washi wreaths for the holidays!  These wreaths are super easy to assemble and can be used for more than just ornaments.

Here's what you'll need:

Washi Tape (of course!)  Make sure to add a few wide washi styles as well!  

You'll also need medium or large size binder rings (mine were about 1 3/4 inches wide), about 16 inches of baker's twine or ribbon, scissors, glue dots, and 5 inch doilies from Freckled Fawn.

After you round up your supplies, your ready to get started!

*I used about 4 inch long washi strips...you can always trim them down as you add your layers if needed.

*I used about 7 inches of wide washi strips and then folded them in half before adhering them to the back of the wreath with glue dots.  This also makes it easier to see where you need to add extra strips.

*I used my circle cutter to cut out the doily's center, but you could also trace a circle and cut it out with scissors.  

*I added a bit of bling to this wreath...feel free to dress up your wreath any way you wish!

Whether you like traditional or trendy seasonal colors, Freckled Fawn has TONS of beautiful washi tape to help coordinate with your holiday decor!

These wreaths would look beautiful hanging on the tree or attached to a pretty package!  You could also dress up your mantle or place in an open frame for a trendier look.  Have fun and I hope you enjoyed my little Washi Wreath Tutorial!  Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

xoxo - Adrienne

washi workshop with melissa

December 1st is just a day away and I'm finally getting around to finishing up my Christmas Countdown.  Today I have a very simple washi workshop for you showing how you can use washi tape very easily to dress up your holiday projects.

I love the look of washi layered over vellum and glassine because of the translucent look it adds, so each of my samples today use washi combined with these elements.  

Washi is such a quick way to add character and color.  I've just layered strips of washi in different patterns and colors across the bottom of my glassine bags and in an instant, they are transformed.  I used Wide Green Washi and Pink Victorian Washi on this first bag....both so YUM!

A quick strip of Reindeer washi across this fun pink vellum envelope and you're set to go....truly the cutest washi on earth I think!

I used a strip of Red Chevron washi to secure the patterned paper around this spool...I love that washi tape can be repositioned for situations just like this.  Now the fun activity waiting to be explored on Dec. 7th can be unraveled and secured again for next year.

A quick banner created by folding Blue Picnic Table Plaid washi over a trinket pin makes the perfect embellishment.  

A bit of Freckled Fawn Woodgrain washi across the bottom of this bag and more Red Chevron...both perfect patterns for the holidays.  

Day 9 has a punch of Aqua Airmail washi layered over a green vellum tag and then another washi banner attached to a trinket pin created with Pink Picnic Table Plaid washi.

I used a variety of washi strips layered beneath a vellum layer here on this mitten tag.  I love how vellum can soften up bold colors and patterns in a hurry.  

I've still got a few more days to go until I'm done with my project, but with my handy stash of washi nearby, I will love every minute of creating!

Thanks for visiting and Happy December!

Melissa