Snow Day Crafts

A snowflake craft to keep us busy on a snow day.
Idea from Meet the Dubiens

This tree painting was super fun!

Miss A could hardly wait for the tape to come off so she could see her winter tree!

Idea from Meet the Dubiens

Until next time...

Picasa Valentine

Happy Valentines Day!
Ok, so it's not quite V-day but I'm not sure I will get the chance to post on the actual day so now is my chance to wish you happiness on the day of love. Anywho, I wanted to share the Valentine 'card' I made for our loved ones. I made it using Picasa's picture collage tool - shocking I know : ) You can see the tutorial here.

LOVE IT! It's cute, a keepsake, & frugal (cost of a 4x6 print) all in one!

May your Valentine's day be filled with love and blessings.

Until next time...

Picasa Recipe Card

So, my love for Picasa grows more and more each day!
I came up with this totally fun idea for a shower gift for my soon to be sister-in-law. Initially, I had the idea of making her a recipe themed photo book, but then I started thinking that having a big book without removable pages may lead to disaster (ie. a once beautiful photo book covered in dried food and liquids - YUCK). Well, that was that! I knew I wasn't about to spend hours of my life making a beautiful product that I was already convinced wasn't going to last long. However, I also knew that I really had my heart set on making her a cookbook with my favorite recipes. I had received a family recipe book at one of my bridal showers from my mother-in-law and her family and I have treasured it for years. I use it at least weekly. I just HAD to figure this out. So, after some thought (including those of sentiment, usability, durability, & economical sensibility) I came up with this little gem.

LOVE IT!!! I've already completed 12 of them and I can not wait to make up some more!

All you need is Picasa, a recipe, a photo of the recipe (one you've taken or one from the net), and a few minutes of your time (OK, so maybe more like 10 minutes of your time if you are a total perfectionist like me and you just HAVE to find the perfect font(s); however if you figure in the time it would take to write out the recipe by hand on a card then you are pretty much breaking even) and a way to print your photo and you will have yourself the most adorable recipe card you have ever seen!
I can't wait to give these to my future SIL! I'm just sure she's going to LOVE them!

Until next time...

Thank You Cards made using Picasa

So, I LOVE when creativity and frugality meet, fall in love, and produce something great! That's how I feel about the Thank You cards I've been creating on my computer using Picasa and Leo Reynolds Letters. These have pry been made a million times by a million other people but they are totally new to me which makes me giddy and excited. I came up with the idea while lying in bed, thinking about the Cool Word Wall Art I had stumbled across at Under the Table and Dreaming, while trying to fall asleep one night. I was sooo excited about the idea that it took me over an hour to calm down so I could actually try to fall asleep. The first Thank you's I made were for the holidays. I posted about them here. I have made two more Thank You's since the holidays using this same idea. One themed after the kiddos Circus Birthday Party and the other created using pics from Miss A's Ice Cream Sundae Birthday Party. I will post that party soon. Here is the one I made with pics from the Circus party:

I have received so many compliments on my Thank You's and just tonight received a request from my sister-in-law wanting to know where I had them made. So, I thought I would share this fun idea with anyone who is interested.

Picasa Thank You Card Tutorial
Step 1 - You will need to download Picasa if you don't already have it. It's free, so no worries!
Step 2 - Create an album with the Pictures and Letters you wish to include in your thank you collage. You will need 15 photos total (if you wish to copy the layout of my Thank You's) 8 Letters Photos and 7 Picture Photos. For the Letters, visit Leo Reynolds site. Please see Rights Restrictions by right clicking on photo of choice. You are free to use/share for personal use but not for commercial use. Right click on the letter of your choice and select Save Image to the appropriate folder.
Step 3 - Once you have collected all of your Letters and Pictures and have them in the appropriate album you will then want to Create a Picture Collage. Do this by selecting the appropriate album, click on Create in main tool bar, and click on Picture Collage.
Step 4 - In Collage mode, Select Grid in Settings. Be sure to select desired page size. I have used both 4x6 and 5x7 sizes. Now you are free to move around the photos as you wish.
Step 5 - Once you have your desired layout, click on Create Collage. Your collage will be saved in your Projects folder. You can always go back and edit if needed after this point.
Step 6 - All that's left to do is print your Thank You Masterpieces and send them off to all of those caring individuals who deserve this wonderful token of gratitude : )

Feel free to contact me with any questions!

Until next time...