DIY: Washi Moleskine

Here's a Washi tape project board or two for you to check out.

I checked myself on the how-tos with this DIY  and it's pretty straight ahead. What you want to do is collect your materials.

• Moleskine, notebook, composition book, or any journal you have around.
• washi tape, also called paper tape. (I found it in craft stores and I think they even sell a limited selection in Walmart--just make sure it's paper tape.)
• scissors

I don't have a big collection, but I got some new rolls for my birthday and wanted to put them to use!

And basically, all you do now is embellish! You can go so many directions with this. I chose to totally re-cover mine, since it was plain black. If you want to, you can do neat designs like this: 

or add embellishments like this: 

I chose to keep it simple since I had a mini book. So literally. All you've got to do is put tape on your cover and leave enough on the ends so that you can fold it over the cover a little bit. Washi tape is super easy to remove and re-position, so don't worry if you need to experiment some. 

Here's what I ended up with! 

I decided to do the stripes on the back going top to bottom to mix it up a little. 

I was very pleased with the results, and I think I'm going to really enjoy the colorful, whimsical journal it became! Have you ever done any washi tape projects? Leave a comment and let me know. :)

-Sarah

{{oh sweetheart, i love you}}

We've had tradition in our family since like ever, that we make and give each other valentines on Valentine's Day. :) Every year around this time all the kids are in their own corners with scatterings of paper, glue, and glitter, creating little cards with much love and care. This year I was quite pleased with how the majority of mine have come out, and I only have a few left to make for friends! Here's some of the inspiration I collected from Pinterest:

I did this design on the front of a card. :) 

I tried and succeeded in many of those ideas, and they were very awesome! And then, of course, you have to make a few heart-shaped desserts......

I shall do it myself, please.

Here's a collection of DIYs that I really want to accomplish this fall/winter:

Missing You Card (check!)

Nautical Bracelet Tutorials

Sweater Mug Holder. (isn't this so cozy looking?)

This is a site where they give you tons of ideas for crazy things to send through the mail! :) (and they've experimented, so they know what works!)

Make my own mask for a masquerade I'm (hopefully) going to this fall!

These apple cider caramels are a must-have for me this autumn. :D

And Texas Roadhouse rolls just can't be beat. 

Edible glitter!!! Who'da thunk, right? This would be fun to do with the little kids.....:)

Check this out---freeze dollops of whipped cream for use in a hot chocolate bar, or party, or whatever!

It's oh so smashing!

As I told you all while ago, one of my new hobbies has becoming Smashing. :) I've found that it's really fun, relaxing, and uses my creative energy in a productive way.  Here's their summary of what a Smash book is to be for:

Anyhow, as my book is filling up and getting thick, I thought I'd do a flip-through so you all can see what I've done so far. :) So, without further ado.............

My Smash book as of 9/2/12/.

I'm a terrible pack rat, but this has been a fantastic outlet for all the things I kept *knowing* I'd use them sometime! ;) Tell me what you think!

A SMASH*ing success!

 A friend introduced me to the trendy "Smash book" idea in May or June. I was a bit confused when she tried to explain it, but then totally jumped on the wagon when I watched this video by K&Company.
It made so much sense and looked just like my style, so right away it went down on my wish list! :) I mean, come on! I'm a self-proclaimed pack rat and keep so many odds and ends in various drawers, boxes, etc. that this looked like a perfect place to store them in a creative way!

 Mom had remembered how badly I wanted one, and bought me the "retro-style" book complete with some accessories!

Some pockets, fill-in-the-blank pages, and cute tape!

At my next free time I went and collected all my junky treasures from hither and yon ^. ;) That way I can have it all there when I want to start smashing. 

a pie contest ribbon, a ricola wrapper, a concert ticket, and some cool coins.

 Yesterday evening I spread out my supplies and began to smash! At first I was a little bewildered and tried to figure out if I wanted to theme this book, or just let it be a beautiful mess. As you can see, I decided on the latter. ;)

These pages may or may not be finished....we'll just have to wait and see.

Here's another---it definitely is needing more occupants, but I can add anything later on. :)

Anyways, I'm thrilled with how it's turning out so far, and am really looking forward to filling up this book! (and hopefully will get it busting at the seams and overflowing by the time I'm through with it. :)
Have any of you heard of this new fad? Have you become a Smasher yet?
-Sarah