LINH creates

Remember the time that you had that really cute patterned paper you bought for one project and later wanted to punch out just a 1″ circle from it?  I used to run into that A LOT!  I don’t like punching out small shapes from a gigantic 12 x2 sheet.  

I organize all of my scraps into two expanding files.  I’ve seen this method before.  But what I love about mine, is that it has two sizes in each expanding file.  There are 12 tabs with a total of 14 slots.  Half of the slots can fit up to  8.5″ x 11″ and the other slots can hold up to 4.5″ x 11″.  I purchased these expanding files several years ago from Target and they were the Up and Up brand.  I think the cost of each one was about $5.  

I used to live in a small 2 bedroom apartment.  The spare room was shared with my husband as the office/guest room/hobby room. In the past year, we moved into a small house with 3 bedrooms.  Now I’m lucky enough to have my very own office/craft room! 

In the apartment, I didn’t have much space to store my materials.  I had half of a closet and a few shelves.  I created a compact and flexible way to organize all of my ribbon.  

Since I have my very own room to craft in, my inventory of supplies and materials have increased.  I took the same concept that I started with and expanded it to my growing collection of ribbon.  

In the initial concept, I had standard 1/4″ dowels cut in half and spray painted white. In the new design, I started with whole 1/4″ dowels. But as I kept adding rolls of ribbon, the center started to sag.  So I upgraded to 1/2″ dowels.  Some spools weren’t large enough to fit, so I cut slits into the center hole.  This also kept the spool from unwinding so quickly. 

MATERIALS:

4   1/2″ wooden dowels

2  yards chain

Cute and simple thank you card with a bow. 

MATERIALS:

Cardstock

Circle punch

Ribbon

Stamp

Embossing powder

My husband and I were asked to be godparents for his best friend’s baby.  I was also part of the wedding party as one of the bridesmaids. My husband and I of course agreed to be the godparents.

I started looking at baby shower invitation ideas.  I was inspired by die cut version of this invitation on Etsy.com. I created the template from scratch.  It was A LOT of work!  Would I do it again?  Probably not. Instead, I’d try to find someone with the die cut at a crop night.

MATERIALS:

Cardstock

Scalloped edge scissors

Scalloped edged square punch

Ribbon

Adhesive tape

X-acto Knife

This card was made to accompany a diaper cake that I made for a friend.  I used the theme colors of grey and purple.  I had left over silk flowers from decorations for the diaper cake and incorporated them as well. 

MATERIALS:

Decorative edge punch

Flower punch

Round corner punch

Silk flowers

Foam letter stickers

My husband asked me to create a sympathy card for someone at his school and this was what I came up with.  I chose neutral colors and some graphics.  

MATERIALS:

Cardstock

Scalloped edge scissors

Journal tag punch 

Small flower punch

My first attempt at a diaper cake for a dear friend.  I spent about 15 minutes searching online for ideas.  There were two main styles, individually rolled diapers or continuously wrapped.  I liked the wrapped styles because it resembled a real cake better.  I saw many whimsical styles and designs, but I wanted to create a diaper cake that looked more like an actual cake.  I stuck with her theme of elephants and the colors grey and purple. 

MATERIALS:

One case (168) – Size 2 Swaddlers Diapers

Plastic party platter

Wrapping paper cardboard tube

Curling ribbon

Ribbon of various widths: 1″, 2″, 3.5″ and 4″

Safety pins 

Silk flowers

I had a pack of left over holiday patterned papers from the previous year.  I don’t remember where I came across the wreath design, but I did remember to draft it in my journal.  I purchased color coordinated rhinestones, but 2011 was way too hectic and they didn’t make on the final product.

MATERIALS:

1″ scalloped edge circle punch

4 different holiday patterned paper

1/2″ wired gold ribbon

Gold ink pad

A friend has recently introduced me to tumblr and I will be in the process of moving my postings over.  Hope you enjoy them!