A Very Small Pizza

Happy Labor Day everyone!

It's so nice not to have to rush around this morning to get ready to go to work. There's definite beauty in that. There's also definite beauty in me only having to work 3 days this week. Nate and I are going to New York this weekend for vacation and I'm so excited. It's going to be my first time ever in the Big Apple!

Everyone knows that pizza is synonymous with New York and Chicago. I think these 2 cities have been fighting it out for decades.

Personally, I couldn't tell you. I've only ever been to the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and they definitely don't have pizza vendors in the terminal. Although, that would be a very good idea. You wouldn't have to eat the crappy airline food that now comes with needles. Am I right? Yes.

Why am I talking about pizza? Well, because of this tutorial that I found on Pinterest on how to make a very small pizza box out of cardstock. The tutorial is courtesy of Split Coast Stampers and it is soooo easy.

Clicky here for your amazingly easy pizza box tutorial.

This is my version of the pizza box. Of course, mine isn't as detailed and as pretty as the one on the tutorial but it's fun. This was the first time I had ever used this stamp and it broke. Those acrylic stamps are really hard to get off of that plastic sheeting.

These boxes would be great for jewelry or candy. They would also make great wedding favor boxes! I do not recommend these for pizza. The cheese would slide everywhere and the grease would just ruin your box.

You can also make 2 boxes out of one 12"x12" cardstock sheet! You really don't have any scraps to throw away which is nice and they are pretty cost effective!

Stay dry on this Labor Day. It's going to be another muggy and wet day here in Winchester, VA.

...until next time...

-Sam

Simply Smashing Friday: Issue No. 8

(Insert TV Host voice here - maybe a little Martha Stewart-esque)

Today we will be having a new guest on the show, Samantha from Just Darlin', and she will be showing us how to make our own homemade journals! Welcome, Samantha!!!

(Insert the crowd applauding and cheering here)

Me: (Waving and smiling) Hey everybody! I'm so glad to be here today! I wanted to share with you a journal that I have in progress made out of a few simple elements that most hoarders of the crafty sort have lying around their craft room.

Martha Stewart TV Host: Wow! That's beautiful. What a great job you did on that! Tell us more about this.

Me: Of course! So, the first thing I did was to paint the kraft cardstock with yellow paint. I didn't do it neatly because sometimes messy turns out better. Then, I added the blue and tan border with the doily attached to the tan washi tape down the right side. The striped border is a cardstock sticker as well as the hot air balloon. I had to come up with a title and those letters are just some alphabet stickers that I had lying around. The last thing that was done on the cover page is the punched border. 

Audience: Ooooooo, ahhhhhhh!

Martha Stewart TV Host: Can we see the inside of this homemade journal now?

Me: You sure can! 

Martha Stewart TV Host: That is very interesting. I see where you placed some envelopes and what it up with this popcorn box?

Me: Haha! I used up some popcorn and I just thought that instead of throwing the whole box away I would use the front of it and place it in a homemade journal. It could be used for a movie night page or a girls' night out page. Whatever you want it to be. That's what Smash*ing is all about. It doesn't have to be the best or the neatest. You can just use the things that you have around you. You can even use a composition book. All you have to do is dress it up a little bit or you can also use an old hardback book.  The options are endless. 

Martha Stewart TV Host: Is this book completed? What would you change?

Me: No. I have several more things I want to add like a back cover, of course. Haha! I would also like to get more binder rings. The one that I have in the middle is too big so I would like for them to be a bit smaller. There is quite a few more pages than what I have shown you. A lot of the paper that I have isn't two-sided so I doesn't really make for a pretty picture. There is definitely a bunch of blank canvases in this book to make what you want out of it. 

Martha Stewart TV Host: Samantha, it was great having you on the show today. I'm sure you have inspired many people to create their own homemade journal or to go out and purchase a Smash* journal. 

Me: Thanks for having me. I loved being here. One more thing, I just want everyone to know not to stress about their book. If you like it, that's all that matters. Your personality should shine through your pages. 

Martha Stewart TV Host: That's great advice! Everyone give Samantha a round of applause. You can also find her creations on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jdgreetingcards!

Audience: Woooooooo!!! (Clapping)

Me: (Waving and leaving) Goodbye!!

Current Projects

I want to keep everyone updated on what I am currently working on. So, keep your eyes peeled if you follow me on Facebook for new things!

Over the past several weeks I have been cutting up scrap paper in 8.5"x11" sheets and piling it all together. Why am I doing this mundane task you ask? 

...to create one of these. Of course, this isn't my journal but it is a bit of inspiration.

 [source: The Creative Place]

It's a homemade Smash*/art journal. I can't wait to compile more paper to throw into this thing. It's so easy. I have tons of patterned paper, an overlay, envelopes and a luminary bag from Relay for Life and part of an old popcorn box.

I haven't made the front or back covers yet. I can't wait to share the finished project with you!

Yesterday, I started to make Washi tape magnets but they aren't made out of Washi tape at all. They just look like it. 

[source: Little Lovlies]

These are so easy to make and you can find the very simple tutorial at the blog pictured above. I found this idea on Pinterest and I'm so glad that I stumbled upon it.

Other projects include coasters, magnets, Smash* journal (which I worked on last night. I finally got around to Smash*ing Relay for  Life that happened in June!), organzing, printing printables (which I am totally addicted to doing!) and there are some other random things that are thrown in there as well. 

To be updated on all the new stuff going on please follow my Facebook page. You won't be sorry! I would love to meet you!

...until next time...

-Sam 

Simply Smash*ing Friday: Issue No. 4

Yes, I know it's Sunday, therefore the title of this post is a complete and utter lie. You can't trust me. I'm evil. Just kidding. I'm really not. I worry about everything and I'm really honest about things. I'm a horrible liar and I'm reeling from the guilt about lying to you about what day of the week it is. =)

Anyway, I haven't smash*ed in a while and I finally sat down Friday and Saturday, put my nose to the grindstone and smash*ed away! It felt really good to finally actually do a few pages that don't involve magazine clippings or just writing.

This page is about Apple Blossom. If you don't know what Apple Blossom is, you should inform yourself, here. If you click on that link, you will see the Grand Marshall from this year's festivities. MARIO "A.C. SLATER" LOPEZ! I thought I was a 13 year old girl when he rode by on the parade. He's a pretty big celebrity to come to the little town of Winchester, VA. Who doesn't love "Saved by the Bell," with Zack, Kelly, Jessie and the rest of the gang? I watched it yesterday morning, actually. It's so nostalgic for me.

This is the other page that explains what Apple Blossom is. The arrows that I put on this page are so old. They were so hard to get off the sticky page and the top arrows didn't fair well. I've also had this paint sample thing sitting around for a while. I made it into a pocket!

This was today's project. I thought it would be neat to see how this chalkboard paint that everyone is talking about, works. It's AWESOME! I'm going to be chalkboard painting everything now. It makes a neat page for your journal.

BEWARE: chalk is not the most permanent of writing utensils. Duh. It smears, so be careful of where you are doodling or you will erase your doodle. I just had an awesome idea about chalk. They should make it in a pen form where it's not so bulky. They make fine point paint pens....why not chalk? Doodling would be so much easier!

I guess if you wanted to preserve your doodle, you could spray it with hairspray. I know that works on charcoal drawings, so it may very well work for chalk as well.

The little bird and flowers are Heidi Swapp rub ons. I have no idea what brand the little black and white frame is. 

I just came across these free journaling cards on Pinterest that you can download and print out. They are so cute and would look great on a Smash* page! You can download them here!

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone! It's back to the grind tomorrow. 

...until next time...

-Sam

Eat, Drink and Make Stuff

As most of you know, I have a love for coasters. I admit it. It's probably a little weird but they are so much fun to make as I've said before. So, on this Sunday morning while laying in bed and still feeling a little off from the flu, I started thinking about other coasters that I could make. 

1. Chalkboard Coasters

2. Glitter Coasters (I couldn't find a picture of these that I liked...so I guess I'll make my own tutorial)

3. Fabric Coasters (if I only knew how to sew...I may have to involve my cousin to do this one. She just got a new sewing machine and she lives next door.)

4. Washi Tape Coasters

5. Monogrammed Coasters (I haven't really seen a handmade version that I liked...I'll make my own.)

6. Comic Book Coasters (Great for the guy in your life)

7. Paint Sample Coasters

8. Instagram Photo Coasters 

9. Marbled Coasters - this would be like marbling your fingernails. I've seen where you can do a glass ornament - why couldn't a coaster be done?

Now, what do you put on a coaster besides paper, glitter and chalkboard paint? Drinks, of course! So, what goes better with fancy coasters than fancy glasses? Nothing, other than something yummy to put in the fancy glasses but we'll get to that later.

1. Polka Dot Glasses

2. Marbled Glasses

3. Glittery Glasses

4. Chalkboard Paint Glasses

Well, I hope you enjoy all of these great ideas. I would love to see what you create! You can comment here or post on my Facebook page!

...until next time....

-Sam