Monday Inspiration

I have been playing with and discovering new techniques with canvas. I get a lot of inspiration from my friend Lisa, Donna Downey and Kelly Rae Roberts. If you're interested in books-Kelly Rae Roberts has some fabulous ones out there that are jam packed with gorgeous, creative inspiration. This is one the canvases I finished. I love this quote and find a lot of inspiration in it. If we all only looked around a little bit more....

Have a fabulous, beautiful & inspiring week!

Inspiration Monday- Canvas

This really isn't inspiration Monday but Inspiration Tuesday but either way I am excited to share a simple, inexpensive, fabulous little project with you. I made this canvas for my friend Laurie who celebrated her birthday last Friday and decided it would be the perfect little inspiration kick. To get started you really only need a photo, a canvas and what ever fun goodies you have in your collection. I'll give you the details below for this one...

Supplies

canvas ($1 from Dollarama)

white paint

glimmer mist (I used Coffee Shop)

glimmer screen (same idea as a mask)

brown ink

gem swirl or gems

ribbon

flowers, I put pearls as the centers of the flowers

word or label (family is a label)

ornate plate (frame)

scrap paper

picture mounted onto card stock

fabri-tac or other strong liquid adhesive

glue gun

How To

1-paint canvas with white paint, let dry

2-place glimmer screen into desired position

3-cover canvas with glimmer mist, let dry

4-ink edges of canvas, just like you're inking paper

5-add photo

6-add gem swirl

7- add ribbon in accordion fashion, adhere each fold with liquid glue. I place my stapler over the ribbon to hold it in place while it dries

8-add flowers

9-add paper to back of frame, add label

10-add frame to canvas over ribbon with your hot glue gun. These frames are heavy and I did not want it falling off!

There you have it friends- you're all done!

You can always make substitutions, pretty much anything goes. For example if I didn't have glimmer screens and mist then I would just paint the canvas a color other than white. I also used embellishments out of my stash rather than going out to buy something specifically for this project. Use up your goodies, they may not be brand new to you but they are to anyone else. Have fun creating!

{xo} Nadine

Inspiration Monday = Love

With Valentine's Day this weekend I thought I'd give you a few ideas to get you into the spirit and don't cost you a boat load of money. One website I go to that has a bunch of sweet Valentine projects for you to make is House of Three, they are an online company that offers downloadable & printable projects for a very decent price. I buy from them often and think that the ideas are great! Click to check out all there Valentine's projects.

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Be sure to go and get the printable of these Valentine Love Coupons that is absolutely free! You can print them out, cut them out, tie them together with ribbon and give them to your sweetie. Or if you'd rather, you can make your own coupons to give to your sweetie with custom offers and "suggestions" ;-) Same idea, print them onto cardstock, cut them out and tie them together for a quick and very inexpensive treat.

Coupon ideas for you for your sweetie, whether they be your kids or your significant other:

This coupon entitles the bearer to......

- Movie Night (their choice)

- Massage

- Fancy Dinner Night (think Christmas dinner without the holiday)

- Get out of Jail / the Dog House Free coupon

- Chocolate Cake Coupon (the bearer can have a cake baked or bought for them for no special reason- this one is popular in my home)

- Stay up late

- Bubble Bath

- You don't have to clean your room today.... even though you really should!

Anything goes for these coupons, have fun with it.

Another great gift idea that I love to do is Top 10 lists. They are such a wonderful way to tell your loved ones just how much they mean to you and what it is that makes them so stinkin' great! A few of my favorite Top 10 lists are:

-The Top 10 Reasons I Love You

-The Top 10 Reasons You Make Me Laugh

-My Top 10 Favorite Things About You

To finish off the day you can settle down into your couch, cuddle up under a blanket, grab a bowl of popcorn and watch a love story. Sounds nice doesn't it. This is my pick for you, Up from Disney & Pixar. The most wonderful love story I've seen since in a very long time. I will warn you though, it will probably make you cry but it really is wonderful!

(image source)

I hope that this gives you a jump start on your creative energy for the weekend! Have a wonderful week and Happy Valentine's Day!

{xo} Nadine