Make It In Moments: Photo Cubes Craft

I LOVE these photo cubes - I've seen "scrapbooked" variations, but they always fall apart shortly after being created, whereas these are designed onto one page that easily adheres to the wood! Stunning :)    ~Julie

Make It In Moments 

Photo Cubes Craft

by Cynthia Coulon, Mar-Com Manager

 

We love creative and cute ways to display our pictures and projects! Photo cubes add a wonderful touch to any room's decor—on a shelf, end table, mantle, or dresser. Once you get the hang of designing and making them, you just might want to make a set for each room and season! They're really pretty simple to make. Here's how.

 To make three 4-inch photo cubes:

1. Obtain three 4-inch* cubes made of wood or paper mache. These can be found and purchased from online craft stores and some local craft stores.

2. Create two 12 x 12 scrap pages with 9 squares on each page. Each square should be 3.75-inches. The squares can be photos, patterned papers, word art, etc., in any combination that you wish. Begin with "Baby Girl Photo Cubes" or "Baby Boy Photo Cubes" (templates 107467 or 107468) for an extra head start. Just drop your own photos into the squares and exchange the art and embellishments to suit you.

 

3. Publish and order your scrap pages. Choose any paper option you like.

4. Prepare your cubes. Sand, paint, stain, etc., as you see fit. Make sure cubes are thoroughly dry and free of debris before you glue on paper squares.

5. Carefully cut around the edge of each square printed on your pages. Plan which square will go on which side of your different cubes.

6. Use spray craft adhesive** or strong double-sided adhesive** to glue paper squares to cube surfaces. Make sure adhesive is applied all the way to the edges of each paper square to prevent them peeling up. Keep your fingers free of adhesive so you don't leave sticky marks on the printed surfaces of your paper squares.

7. Add extra touches like buttons or ribbons to finished cubes.

8. Display and enjoy!

 

*If you cannot find 4-inch cubes, just adjust the squares on your scrap pages accordingly. Design your squares to be about 1/4-inch smaller than the surface sizes of the cubes.

**We are often asked about using liquid glue or Mod Podge for crafts such as this. When you apply a liquid glue to paper, especially that of thicker quality, the paper will soak up a certain amount of the glue and will often warp or bubble. That's why we don't recommend liquid adhesive unless you have prior experience using it to apply paper to wood, painted or other surfaces. It can be a tricky medium to use and can sometimes give less than ideal results. If you want to experiment with different glues, be sure to order more than one set of printed scrap pages so you have replacement pieces if you need them.

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Your Style, Your Way: Father's Day Prints

by Roxanne Buchholz, Studio Creative Team Manager


With Father’s Day just around the corner, we challenged our Studio Creative Team members to create their own unique 11 x 14 print from the supplied gray-scale “Fathers Day Design Map,” template 107538.With so many themed art collections, which ones would they choose? Remember, the challenge each month is to start with the very same project foundation, photo and text placement, and then change it up to fit your theme and personal style.

Take a look at each of these designs. All feature clever ways to showcase a special hobby or interest that a father might have with his child. What does your husband or your father enjoy doing in his spare time? Does he have any special hobbies? Does he enjoy playing sports, being outdoors, or building things with the kids? Is he a cowboy at heart? Is he patriotic?



“Fathers Day by Kari,” by Kari Pieratt, template 107118
“Fathers Day by Cynthia,” by Cynthia Coulon, template 107501
“Fathers Day by Michelle,” by Michelle Bell, template 107483



“Fathers Day by Roxanne,” by Roxanne Buchholz, template 107538
“Fathers Day by Shanna,” by Shanna Vineyard, template 107391
“Fathers Day by Sandra,” by Sandra Dovre, template 107401

If you need a quick and easy project to make for Father’s Day, then this project is for you. Go to our Template Gallery and get the “Fathers Day Design Map” or one of the designer versions as seen above. Drop in your own photos, change the text, and enjoy customizing this print for the special father or husband in your life. And after you’ve published, consider placing it in a simple frame so that Dad can display his gift and always be reminded of how much he means to you!

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Let me call you Sweetheart

Do you remember this canvas that I made of my firstborn, 2 years ago?

Now that Baby #3 is on the way, I figured it was well past time to do up a canvas of our 2nd sweetheart. Don't they look sweet together?

There is room on the wall, waiting for the next canvas :) This'll be a collection to look back on!

I used my first canvas as a template, switching out the pictures and background paper, and adjusting the layout for some variety. I left the white text that goes behind the pictures - lots of positive words like "wonderful" and "loved" and "kind" :) It seemed to have worked for our first child. Hopefully it'll have a similar effect on our current 2year old :)

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Make it in Moments: Fast and Easy Canvases

If you haven’t found the perfect present for a much appreciated family member or friend, or you’ve left some of your most important gifts a little late; check out the canvas gifts shown here. None of them require more than a fifteen minute photo-swapping session and each makes a gift that will show just how much you care.

Repurpose the Holiday Card Photo Shoot Photos

If you just had a family photo shoot for your holiday card, repurpose those same shots as a canvas gift for parents or grandparents. Designer Jill Means’ “Season Series—Winter” is the perfect canvas to display Christmas card photos. It’s a 16 x 20 canvas, template 41484. While beautiful on its own, this canvas is also available in three other versions, making up a seasonal set. Others in the set of seasons make wonderful birthday or other special-occasion gifts, so your gift could grow as the year goes by.

  

Show Off Your Child’s Snapshots

Need a gift for your child’s godparents, aunts or uncles? Take snapshots from across the year and make one of these charming 20 x 20 canvases from Wendy Bailey. The “Little Boys” template is 41904 and the “Little Girls” version is template 41894. Find four snapshots you love and you’ve got a gift that will be as treasured as your child is.

Unique Key Holder Gift

If you’ve got a photo of each of your loved ones, consider this delightful and certain-to-be-used and appreciated holiday gift. It’s a 20 x 8 canvas by Wendy Bailey that you customize with a photo of each family member. After template 40415 arrives, screw cup hooks into the bottom of the canvas’ wooden frame, centering each hook below a picture. Your finished gift is now a one-of-a-kind key holder! If the family you’re thinking of does not have four key-carrying members, consider this. Include doggie family members so they can have leashes hanging on their hooks. Add a spare pacifier to a hook with a baby photo above it for the littlest family member. Hang a belt, sports lanyard or ponytail holder from the hook for a school ager.


  

Statements of Value or Style

For gifts that echo your family and friends’ values or style, try these two 8 x 8 canvases that require absolutely no customization! “Heidi's "BE" 8x8 Canvas” is by Heidi Jackson and template 34271. The “Simplicity Canvas” is by Cristina Brown and is easy to find in the Template Gallery by entering 41963 in the search box.





Family Pride

If you haven’t yet made “name” canvases for friends and family, this too would be a much appreciated gift. The template “Family that Plays Together” by Jenna Muir, template 27195 can be a gift given as is, with no customization or find the large type box that contains “Family,” (if you click right in the middle of the canvas, you’ll get the “quote” type box, click above the quote for the “family” box.) Change the word “family” to your loved one’s last name. “Bailey” by Wendy Bailey, template 42387, was also designed to have the “Bailey” last name replaced with your own. In this case, the name was made with an alphabet that will need to be swapped out for the appropriate family name. And for an extra custom touch, change out the papers in the four corners of this design to match your recipient’s décor.

Canvases: Luxury Gifts at Club HM Prices

A custom canvas is a gorgeous gift that will typically be hung with pride and appreciation for many years. Make yours meaningful by selecting any of our canvas templates and taking just a few minutes to personalize them for your gift recipient. At our low Club HM prices, you can give a luxurious custom-canvas gift at a very reasonable price!

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Make it in Moments: Holiday Place Cards

Brighten your holiday meals and welcome guests to the table with cheerful and festive place card holders--perfect for parties and family get-togethers!

Start by selecting one of the pre-designed place card holder templates, "2012 Snowman Place Cards," template 77693, or "2012 Gingerbread Place Cards," template 77692, by our Lynda Angelastro. Customize the cards with photos and names.


If you search the template gallery, you'll find there are several other holiday playing cards templates that you can easily modify and make into place card holders.


Use small ornaments, like these from Michael’s Crafts, to hold and display the place cards.



This project is really that easy--and your holiday guests will love the personal touch!

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Make it in Moments: Thankful Basket

 













Thinking about décor for your holiday table? For a stunning centerpiece that puts the focus on every member of the family, try this personalized “Thanksgiving Pumpkin Basket” from Lynda Angelastro. It’s made from four 12 x 12 scrap pages inside template 67092.

   


1.    Personalize the front photo and matching back names of “people pumpkins” pages inside the template.

2.    Change “The Jacksons” text on the back and front of the “alpha” pages to your family name.

3.    Send the four pages to print. Request UV coating at checkout for extra protection.

4.    Purchase a 12-inch round basket and heavy duty, cloth covered wire from the craft store.

5.    Cut out all pieces using sharp scissors. Keep fronts and matching backs together. 

6.    Working with a single pair of pumpkins at a time and using hot glue, put glue on unprinted side of one in set, lay wire length in glue and place matching side on top to make a wire sandwich!

7.    Trim back and front again while sandwiched to clean up edge more closely if needed

8.    Hot glue Styrofoam into basket and cover with sphagnum moss.

9.    Insert pumpkin “picks” into the sphagnum moss into Styrofoam.

10.  Tie ribbon around basket if desired before placing in center of table.

Adding a personal element to the centerpiece on your Thanksgiving table is easy with Studio templates and makes family and friends feel like an important part of your event.

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Template Spotlight: Baby Boxes

What do you do with your babies' infant memorabilia? I have had Hospital Baby Bracelets, 1st Homecoming Outfits, Baby Announcements, etc floating around on the top shelves of closets (where they would be safe) for the last few places we've lived, and it's been really annoying finding these things and thinking "These are special. These need to be kept safe." and not really having a good place to put them. So I finally did something about it!

I went to Michael's Craft Store and bought some plain white photo boxes on sale. Then I brought them home and measured them - our 12x12 individual scrap pages would be perfect! I wanted my boxes to look traditionally scrapped, designed with love. So I made a piece for each side of the box and lid - Pink for my first daughter, Purple for the second :)

When my pages arrived, they looked like this:

Then I used my straight edge cutter to cut the pieces apart. I used a UHU glue stick to stick the pieces to my box. Super simple!

This is what the finished boxes look like! You can find these both in the Template Gallery, along with a boy's version :)

Girl's Pink Box: 81056
Girl's Purple Box: 81057
Boy's Blue & Red Box: 81055

Enjoy!!!

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Tips & Tricks: Subway Art (Grad Gift)

This spring make a popular subway poster for the graduate in your life like the one shown here by Lynda Angelastro, template 84423, made from an 11 x 14 poster. Personalize it with the graduate’s name and high school colors. Follow these easy instructions and your gift will be finished in mere moments.

1. Click inside the graduate name on the top line to personalize with the name of your graduate.
2. Change the initials of the high school and personalize it to your graduate’s school colors.
3. Recolor the “CONGRATULATIONS” banner and all other colored text boxes.

4. Change the bottom line to the high school mascot name. If the new name is shorter or longer than the template name, turn on the rulers, unlock the text box and pressing down the CTRL button, stretch the text box until letters line up with the half inch mark as shown below.

Your Finished Gift

Personalize your poster gift in just minutes and send it off to be printed. When it arrives, frame it to make it an extra special presentation. 11 x 14 is a standard photographic size and frames are widely available and often on sale. Your graduate will love your thoughtful keepsake!

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Tile Crazy!

One of my favorite things to do with Heritage Makers is make tiles. I call this a "hybrid project" because I'm using both a digitally-designed page, and my own hands-on paintbrush/scissors/glue craftiness. :D

First, design your tiles. I use a 12x12 scrap page, and fit as many tiles on as I can. For example, if the tiles that I am making are 6x6, I can fit 4 tiles on. If I'm making 4" tiles, I can fit 9 on a page. You get the idea. The tiles themselves are super cheap from any hardware store, and I just use Mod Podge, which I got on sale from Michael's (I bought my bottle about 2 years ago, and it's still lasting me!)

***Update June 2013: Since this original post, we've started offering a "Pearl Finish" on our 12x12 scrapbook pages (and Greeting Cards :)) So you don't need to put an additional layer on top for a sparkle. AND I've discovered that a regular glue stick (I've been using the purple UHU gluesticks) actually works BETTER than Modge Podge, as the paper doesn't get wet enough to pucker, and it's easier to apply. Have fun! 

Here are some examples of tiles that I've made - some of these you can even find in the Template Gallery :)

 

 

 

 

Once you've got your tile pages, get them together with a straight-edge cutter (or scissors if you don't have one), your tiles, Mod Podge, and a Foambrush/Paintbrush (either one works just fine)

Cut out your pages and trim the edges so that your page fits your tile properly. If your tile has a curved edge, trim your page so that the paper is only as large as the flat portion of your tile.

Using your brush, spread a thin layer of Mod Podge over your tile. Then carefully position your paper on the tile, pressing down in the center and gently rubbing the page flat from the center of the tile towards the edges.

Once you've got the paper onto the tile, add one final layer of Mod Podge over top as a coating. If you have a foam brush (easier) then just use a stipple technique to apply the Mod Podge by pressing down and lifting straight back up, over the entire tile. If you're using a paintbrush, be quick: brush a layer of Mod Podge over the entire tile, and then go back over the tile (quickly!) and stipple the coating to create an even finish. You can leave the finish with a brushed-texture, but unless your picture is one of woods or trees, a brushed-texture tends to be a bit distracting.

Once all of your tiles are assembled and finished, just leave them flat to dry! Any bubbles (from too much Mod Podge, too wet) will calm down if you just leave them alone. These make great gifts and home decor! Think outside the box: Use a family picture or a favorite picture of a loved one on a tile! Great Display!

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Julie's Latest: "FAMILY" Blocks

A good friend of mine made some blocks that said "Family" on them, and I thought they were just so cute, I wanted some of my own! So I made them :)

These were so much fun to make, and so much cheaper than buying them from somebody else! I just went to the hardware and found a 2x4 piece of wood, and the guy cut it up for me for free (I told him just 6 uneven pieces). Then I brought the pieces home and measured them, and then designed the letters based on the wood. That just seemed easier than designing my letters, and then trying to cut the wood the right size!

Then I painted the wood black and sanded it smooth to give it that time-worn look. Once the blocks were dry, I used ModPodge to glue the paper to the wood, and another layer of ModPodge over top as a varnish. I only Mod-Podged the letter side though, since I didn't want all sides of each block to be shiny. And finished off the "Y" with some ribbon and twine :) I love it!!! Finishes off my living room perfectly :)

Here are what the original 12x12 pages looked like:

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Scripture Canvas

I can't believe I almost forgot to post this! This is a canvas that I made for my Daddy for Christmas - it's of his favorite scripture, in his favorite colors. He said he's going to hang it in his office, cuz it's that nice :)

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