Moonrise Tags

Time flies when you are having fun and I'm definitely having fun guest blogging here on SEI Lifestyle this week! And I've had even more fun creating projects with the beautiful new Moonrise collection! I can't believe how fast the week is going and that tomorrow will be my last post. :( Maybe SEI will invite me back? I could happen, maybe? Perhaps you should leave a comment so the gang at SEI knows if you like my crafty shares and posts? ;) Okay, enough chit chat, how about a project?

The focal point of these tags are my favorite accents in the Moonrise line, the Metal Filigree pieces! Look at the intricate detail on these!

Do enjoy making tags? Lately, I've been making quite a few tags! I've used them in the usual ways, to embellish my scrapbook pages and attach them to cards and gifts, but I've also noticed they make beautiful and inexpensive accents around the home. To give you a few ideas, I ran around the taking some pictures for you! :) I also use some of these ideas for my favorite handmade cards!

Place a tag on a stack of books!

Here I hung the tag on this pretty glass pumpkin, attached to the stem.

Simple, simple, simple! I just propped my tag in front of a little iron basket on one of the shelves in our family room.

This last picture shows my tag hanging on the wardrobe cabinet in the bedroom. Are you starting to think of some places to put your handmade tags and cards? How about placing a few tags on a little tray? I also hang my tags on lamp switches. As you can imagine, there are oodles of possibilities!

Well, I hope you enjoyed today's post and can come back again tomorrow for my last day! Now go forth and decorate with your tags and cards! ;) Kathy

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Autumn Goodie Bags

It's time to welcome another member of our design team, Lisa Johnson. You can see more of her projects on her blog, Poppie Paperie.


Lisa made these little treat bags with the Moonrise collection. We like the idea of using these as neighbor gifts or next to a place-setting.



Two of our favorite things about Lisa are her excellent craftsmanship and how well she incorporates stamps into her projects. These treat bags really show off those skills. How would you use these bags?

Spooky Garland + Giveaway [CLOSED]

I just love me a cute bunting/garland/banner. Whatever you like to call them. I have them for almost every season/holiday.

I made this spooky ghost garland simply by sewing through the tops of these cute sparkly ghosts with white thread on my sewing machine. Easy peasy!


I think they look pretty creepy hanging under our family silhouettes!


I have a tutorial on my blog for this autumn bunting:


They're also easy to make with paper-I used some twill tape and paper triangles for this one-from the Spooks line.

Just had to share the bunting/garland/banner love. What DO people call them?

Thanks for having me this week-I had a blast! :D
Jess

Thanks a million, Jess! You so talented and we have enjoyed having you this week. We really appreciate all of the great ideas you shared with us.


Readers, be sure to stop and visit Jess at her blog, Craftiness is not Optional for more fabulous ideas. Would you like a chance to win an assortment of some of the Spooks goodies, including the glittering ghosts Jess used? Then leave a comment on this post by Sunday, October 17th at midnight MST. All you need to do is tell us which post was your favorite this week. We will announce the winner Monday. Be sure to check back to see if you are the winner because if we don't hear from the winner within a week we will pick a new one.

Although the giveaway is now closed, you are still welcome to leave Jessica comments.

Challenge #7 - Dimensional Project

Did you enjoy the dimensional projects we shared Tuesday? Did it get you excited to make something? We hope so. That is what we would like to challenge you to do this month...Make a dimensional project!



Here's one more Moonrise project to get those creative juices flowing. Jessica made this lovely purse for our CHA booth.

To participate in the challenge:
1. Create a dimensional project.
2. Use at least one SEI product.
3. Comment on this post stating what SEI product(s) you used.
4. Make a link in your comment to an image of your project or e-mail it to us at seiblog{at}shopsei{dot}com.
5. Create it by September 1st.

Have fun! We are so excited to see what you come up with.

Dimensional Projects

Everyone is back from CHA now. The party was a lot of fun and our projects were a big hit! Today we are excited to finally share some things we created for the booth with you.



Look at this beautiful drawer Jessica made using the Moonrise collection! She is so talented with 3-Dimensional Projects. I love the thoughtful quotes on these cards that fit perfectly inside the drawer.


This Monsterville box is so cool. We didn't realize until after we took the picture that the lid pops off. The box is actually made out of scrapbook pages cut and folded to make the bottom and sides of the box! So clever.



This card was made using the Spooks collection. At first glance, it seems like a regular card. However, when you open it up the center part twists to show another message. If you'd rather not use it as a card, this could also be a great halloween decoration because it stands up great on its own.


This Kris Kringle mailbox is the perfect place to send letters to Santa. Maybe Santa's elves will stop by as the little ones sleep to pick them up!

DIY Crown + Giveaway [CLOSED]

For my daughter's 3rd birthday a few months ago, I made her a "number 3" crown....and it was a HUGE hit! She wears it all the time! I thought I'd make her another crown so she could mix it up a bit--a girl's got to have options!

You'll need:
your favorite paper /cardstock
decorative brads
lace doilies ( I cut them up and add them to everything:)
glitter (of course!)
glue and scissors


Cut your paper on a diagonal to make a crown shape (it takes two diagonal lengths glued together to fit your child's head.)


Once you have your basic crown, start to decorate! I chose to make flowers out of paper fans. Cut two long strips of paper and fold back and forth like a fan. Glue ends together, and the come around to form a circle. Glue. I always secure the backside with a small piece of paper so it's easier to attach.


I made a stem by taking two thin strips of paper--hold them at a 90° angle and fold one over the top of the other, back and forth until it's done.


Attach your flowers, add a little glitter, and VWALLA! You have a crown!!


And one happy little girl!


--
sheena

We told you Sheena was amazing! Isn't her photography spectacular? We just can't get enough of it. If you want to see more of Sheena's photography, go to her blog, the little red house. Thank you, Sheena! What a great week. Don't you think?

If you want to make a crown like Sheena, or some other fun birthday project, we have just the thing for you. Enter our giveaway for a chance to win some Happy Day goodies! To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us which post was your favorite this week by Sunday, July 18th at midnight Mountain Time. We will announce the winner Monday. Be sure to check back to see if you are the winner because if we don't hear from the winner within a week we will pick a new one.

Speaking of winners, we still haven't heard from our Holiday Fabric winner. Hurry Kathy Burrow (aka Ryansmaama)! Your e-mail doesn't work and we are going to have to pick a new winner soon.

This giveaway is now closed but you are still welcome to comment.

Gift Giving

How often do you guys make 3-D projects? They kind of intimidate me! Lots of planning and scoring and folding oh my. It gets intense. So I got really excited when I saw all the cool 3-D downloads on the Silhouette Store. I had to try some!

My Mom has a drawer in the laundry room full of little gifts so she's always prepared. I've gained that same habit and now love having cute packaging around too. These two projects would be great for quick and impressive gifts. Seriously, I will take anything wrapped in this lattice box!


paper: on the coast plankton
embellishment: juliette ribbon
shape: box_lace_cube_tent_top_C00579_19210

We always have gift cards lying around, and they make great thank you gifts. This box is the perfect size for them! It doesn't even need embellishing with that lovely lid, but I thought I would play a little anyway.


paper: on the coast lagoon
embellishments: on the coast borders, on the coast chiplet, juliette ribbon
shape: adorable_box_5_C00378_20509

Our giveaway today is absolutely fantastic! We have a Rhinestone Starter Kit for you! I know you all love a little bling, so don't be shy. To enter, leave a comment telling us what has been wonderful about your week! This giveaway ends Sunday at midnight. And don't forget to go to the Silhouette Blog for a free download of the shapes from my projects monday!
-Mandi

A flavor of explosion!!

When I was a little boy I would periodically go on vacation with my parents. It became a tradition to buy those cheap, laminated placemats featuring local landmarks. My favorite one was Alcatraz. Now that I'm a grown-up I've felt like we had to use cloth placemats instead, which is all well-and-good for those fancy dinners we have when we wear nice clothes and talk about business and politics during dinner, but what about when it's just my wife and I? Invariably every time we use those cloth placemats they get messy and we're forced to wash them and even though we don't put them in the dryer they are shrinking like crazy. At this rate we'll be out of placemats and instead have some nice cloth coasters before the end of the year. Thus the decision to make ourselves some new placemats, ones that I can just wipe off and won't shrink.

If you want to do one exactly like mine (I can't understand why you wouldn't) here is a list of supplies you will need:

x-acto knife
ruler
tape
carbon paper
pen or pencil
1 sheet of on the coast "reflection" paper
1 sheet of on the coast "still water" paper
1 sheet of happy day "streamers" paper
1 sheet of happy day "candle" paper
1 large sheet of textured cardstock or poster board

Directions:
1. I did my illustration on the computer using Adobe Illustrator. Before printing it I made sure to reflect the image so it was backwards.
2. Tape at least two corners of the printout to the back of one sheet of scrapbooking paper, this will keep the printout from moving. Slip one sheet of carbon paper in between the printout and the sheet of paper with the black side facing the scrapbooking paper.
3. Using a pen or pencil trace the image of your printout. The carbon paper will transfer it to the backside of the scrapbooking paper.
4. Remove the printout and carbon paper and cut out the part of the image that you want in that particular color with your x-acto knife. If you have one of those fancy cutting machines you can use that instead and it will save you from going through steps 2 through 4.
5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each of the sheets of scrapbooking paper.
6. Tape each of the cutouts together and then tape that on to your large sheet of textured cardstock. Mine is 12x18" and I rounded the corners.
7. Laminate it and enjoy eating without ever having to throw it in the washer again!

-Matt

Matchbook Gift Holder

I needed a quick, pretty way to present these bracelets for my niece. So, Mandi and I came up with this little matchbook gift holder.


Directions:
1. Print out this template, place it on your patterned paper (we used BTW) cut it out, and fold on the lines.
2. Punch two holes in the top folded section and thread your ribbon through your bracelets and the holes. Tie a bow on top (we used Mimosa ribbon).
3. Cut a piece of paper (we used pink riot) 3 x 6 and fold it in half. Place your card behind your gift.
4. Seal the matchbook shut with a sticker (we used Jocelyn epoxy stickers).

I hope she likes it and so do you!
Maria

Spring Garland

(a tutorial if you need one and a peek at my heart banner for Valentine’s day here)

“Each moment of the year has it’s own beauty…. A picture which has never before and shall never be seen again.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Project of the Week

St. Patrick's Day is coming up fast! And we don't want you to get stuck in a pinch with no green on. So here is a little neighbor (and yourself) gift!

For this simple project I used Christmas Mint's Meringue and Wintermint and punched out of each paper two 2 inch wide circles. Then, I folded all four circles in half.


The next step is easiest to explain visually! I used glue dots to adhere the circle together and make each piece overlap one another, so in the end they lock together. It's like when you fold a cardboard box in on itself to close it.




Now that you have everything secured (don't glue down those pretty side openings!) I simply used a Moravia Designer Brad for some extra fancy. You could use a Christmas Mint brad too if you want to be all green! You could also add paper, fabric, or ribbon to the center for addition embellishing. Depending on how you want to use this, I would hot glue a pin to the back, or onto a hair clip if you wanted to make a mini one, or anything else you can imagine. These are great for your layouts, too!


Finally, for your neighbor gift, I printed this little ditty onto the back of Happy Day Candle (it's the perfect cream, seriously) and attached it to the back of Christmas Mint Wintermint. The Cream card is 3" x 4.5" and the green is 3.5" x 5".


Now, if you want to pinch someone, be sure to leave them out of your deliveries. ;) Happy St. Patrick's Day!

-Mandi

Amy's Cord Holders

We would like to introduce you to Amy. She helps out in the Art Studio when she is not busy with college, writing, photography, or looking up random facts on her iPod Touch. She got this project idea from one of her favorite blogs, Apartment Therapy. It is really simple and all you need are a few supplies you probably already have.


Yep, you guessed it. Those are toilet paper rolls.


She used Bridgeport's Pavilion paper for this one.


She used Bridgeport's Tennis Court paper for this one. No more excuses for ugly loose cords. Thanks, Amy!