Who Loves Giveaways??

We do, we do!
LizzyJDesigns is featured on a blog giveaway at
Subu today!

LizzyJDesigns is pleased to send one lucky winner this custom handmade frame.




I call it "Vintage Delight." So, go to
Subu and enter the giveaway....ASAP! The contest ends tonight at midnight.

And if you are not the lucky winner (I sympathise, I never win anything either) you can snag one of your very own in the shop :)

Happy Monday, everyone!
Curious?? Read on right here...

Simply Cuteable

LizzyJDesigns was featured in Cuteable!


Cuteable is a great daily blog with posts on cute apparel, jewelry, toys, home decor and more. My cute note covers were featured:



These have yellow sticky notes inside and are great for on-the-go notes. Perfect example -- I'm at a conference right now and have been carring one around to jot down things I need to do and people's names I need to remember. Fits right in my badge holder.

If you are planning a wedding or party, consider these for favors. They can be personalized to your heart's desire.

Go to the LizzyJDesigns shop and get one for you and a few for a friend right now!

Yippee!

Curious?? Read on right here...

Indie Coupons!

I've received my shipment of indie coupons from Totally Indie. What are indie coupons you ask? It is a collective of indie designers and businesses set out to give some great deals fabulous handmande stuff.


As part of LizzyJDesigns' marketing plan, my coupons will be one of 40 included in the latest packs of coupons. I've been slicing and packaging these beautiful coupons from awesome indie designers to include in my packaging for an upcoming craft show and online sales from the shop. Scoring a pack of these coupons will get you deals from indie clothing, jewelry, pet toys and of course--paper goods!

Here's the coupon you'd get from my shop.



You will also get 39 more discounts from different fab indie shops!

So get in on the action and get these coupons with any purchase from the LizzyJDesigns shop!
Curious?? Read on right here...

How to Make a Frame Pretty--Decoupage

Paper crafting has been a passion of mine for quite sometime but decoupage is one of my newest ventures. I love the idea of preserving the pretty patterns of paper on decorated boxes or frames. Creating pretty things is wonderful, but if the "thing" has some functionality, that's even better! I have fallen in love with creating decoupage frames and wanted to share what I've learned with you today.

Materials:
Naked wooden frame
Assorted papers
Decoupage glue
Scissors
Small crafting knife
Bone folder
Vintage seam binding or other ribbon
Your favorite embellishments


The first thing to do when starting a decoupage project is to pick out the papers you want to use for your art. I find scraps from other projects work best because they are all different shapes and colors. Another perk is not wasting paper! What a great way to recycle scrap paper.

I like to place the papers on the frame before I do any gluing. Just to make sure everything fits.

The trickiest part of this project is making sure the edges of the paper and frame line up. I place the paper on the edges of the frame and trim to make sure no paper is sticking out. I repeat all around the frame, rounding corners and snipping excess paper.


Once all the paper is laid out, I begin to glue the pieces to the wood frame starting with the bottom layers.

I find that Martha Stewart's decoupage glue and sealer works best. Each bottle comes with an applicator brush. You can find these at craft stores like Michael's for $3.99. They go a long way. I can make about 6-7 frames with one bottle.




Apply a thin layer of glue on your scrap paper. The glue and sealer has a thick consistency so make sure you apply a very thin later to keep the glue from soaking through the paper. You can also you a strpong bonding glue stick or your favorite adhesive to glue the papers down. I like using this glue only because I am also using it as the sealer.


Use a bone folder to gently scrape across the glued paper to make sure no air bubbles are trapped. You want to get a nice, flat surface when you are finished.


Keep gluing the papers you laid out until each piece is placed the way you like it. You can always add more scraps and layer papers if you get some "naked" spots where the wood shows.



For this frame, I'm using an image and I want to put a pink dresden foil wing behind it. I went ahead and did this because the foil wing is flat enough to decoupage over. If you have embellishments that are on the 3-dimensional side, you want to wait and add it after you decoupage.



Once you make sure there are no air bubbles, you are ready to decoupage. Apply the decoupage sealer over your frame. This top coat will hold all your paper together and provide a nice glossy finish over your frame, so make sure you apply generously.

Hold your frame up to the light to see if brush strokes are visible or if you have empty spots. If so, go over with another coat of glue and make sure the entire surface is covered. Lay the frame on a flat surface to allow frame to dry. DO NOT leave the frame uprigtht as the sealer will droop. I always leave it to dry overnight.

When the glue is dry, it should have a nice finish to it. The colors of the paper will now be preserved! Only when your frame is completely dry, you can repeat to the back.

Cut and layout your paper and glue...

The only difference with the back of the frame is to make sure you leave the hole for the dowel. This is why I prefer to use thinner paper rather than cardstock for the back. This way, I can use a little blade and poke through the paper so the hole is exposed. I kind of scrape around the edges of the hole so the edges are nice and clean.

Now it's time to decoupage the back....

When the back of your frame dries, it is ready to be embellished! I like to use dresden foil trims...
or vintage paper posies....

wings....
....leaf trims, ribbon, lace, baubles, pearly pins and and endless other things. You can also leave the frame as it is. The only limit is your imagination!
For the sides of this frame, I find vintage seam binding is perfect. I lightly glue a strip or ribbon around the entire frame. Make sure you only apply a think layer as seam binding is thin and you will get wet spots of glue showing through.



And now you have your own beautiful creation on your hands.

I never know how a frame will turn out when I begin one, but always love the result. I plan on doing some themed frames for little girls, boys, or bridal showers. Once you do enough of these and find your own little techniques, there's so much you can do with them. They make great gifts for anyone. This one is off for a few more embellishments and then it's off to the LizzyJDesigns Etsy shop!

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial and attempt to try this project. If you do, please let me know how it goes. If you have other tips and technique ideas, do share! Curious?? Read on right here...

Featured Giveway on Handmade Showcase!

Today, I am featured in a giveaway at Handmade Showcase blog! I have decided to give the lucky winner a bundle of matching paper goods.



Handmade Showcase is run by Lynde at Cozy Sister Jewelry and features giveaways from shops that offer handmade items. I am featured in one starting today thru August 21st.

The lucky winner will receive a Birdie Note Set and a matching Birdie Note Cover. Each birdie is hand cut by me from delicious Amy Butler fabric and adorned with tiny rhinestone for eyes. Super cute!



Each note card measures 3 1/2-inches by 4 7/8-inches folded and includes coordinating kraft envelopes. They are blank inside for your own message. I love have these on hand because you can use them for anything!



The same birdie design is featured on the cover of this sticky note book. Perfect for jotting down shopping lists, to-dos, and anything else you need to remember. They're the pefect size for you purse.



Win this bundle! All you have to do is go to the LizzyJDesigns shop and pick out your favorite item, leave a comment with the item link on my featured post at Handmade Showcase and wait until the winner is announced. Contest starts today and goes until midnight on Aug 21, 2008. The winner will be selected on Aug 22nd.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Curious?? Read on right here...

New notes

My mom is a big inspriation and since she was in town this weekend, she helped me design some new cards. These are available at the LizzyJDesigns shop. Hope you like them!


The first is inspired by the design on the Betty Invitation. It features a scalloped window with the message "Thinking of you" peeking through. I can personalize these with any short message.



The card opens to the same beautiful design printed on the left hand side. I offer these in sets of 6 with coordinating white envelopes for $12.

The next set features the same boroque design on a pink and brown scallop and finished off with some bling in the center. This set includes 6 notes with coordinating envelopes for $10.





Each note card is printed and decorated on fine white cardstock with a nice silky finish.

These are perfect for "Just because" notes. Remember you don't need a special occasion to send a note to a friend! Curious?? Read on right here...

We Love Custom!

One of the things I enjoy most since LizzyJDesigns opened is customizing products for my clients. Whether is it's a truely special wedding invitation or a simple everyday stationery set, it's been such a pleasure working with creative minds to create customized paper goodies.



This is custom wish card set I did for a great customer. She wanted cards for a wish tree in place of a guest book at her wedding. The original cards are 5-inches x 4-inches, printed with my gocco and not customized with the bride and groom's names. The bride wanted hers to be a bit smaller (4-inches x 3-inches)and include her and her fiance's name. We printed these using black and metallic gold ink on fine ivory paper.


I also stung some ribbon in her wedding color so they are ready for her to hang at the reception. I like knowing I helped her check one task off her list before her big day!

Another custom order I'm working on is a colorful personalized note set.



At the shop, you can customize to say "From the cubicle of" or "From the desk of" with your name printed on lower right hand corner.



A client contacted me and asked if she can purchase a set that said "From the mother of" Why, of course!



What a wonderful idea. Wouldn't these notes be great to write to your child's teacher, coach, or family friend?! I adore it. It's so wonderful to receive inspiration from clients for new ideas in the shop. Its a wonderful circle that keeps all our creative juices flowing.

A big THANK YOU to all my clients for their inspiration! Curious?? Read on right here...

Brand New

I've so enjoyed adding to my shop this past week. I wished I had more time in the day! I just love the contrast of a fabric texture on paper. My new items feature this wonderful material mix.

As my signature, the owl doesn't get enough respect in the shop. So this is a tribute to my owl friends. A new set of note cards with envelopes.




These cute little note cards are 3 1/2in x 4 7/8in and perfect for any ocassion, kids or grown-ups. The owl figure is cut by me from Amy Butler fabric and embelished with pearly eyes. I always find I need a fun place to jot down a nice note to someone and these have been perfect.

Scallop gift tags. I think I will use these cutie pies as price tags for craft shows.




YES, I said craft shows. I have never done one but feeel that I'm ready for that next ste as I expand the shop. Anyone have experience in this? Either as a seller or a shopper? Would you buy little stationery items like the ones available at my shop at a craft fair?
Curious?? Read on right here...