hybrid | handmade christmas gifts

So I took this class on JessicaSprague.com that had me super inspired to bust out the glue and actually make something tangible for once. It was the Mouse, Paper, Scissors Give class that Jessica team taught with Heidi Swapp. The class objective was to create hybrid gifts, just in time for the holidays.

The first gift I made was a calendar for my mother. She has been asking me for years to make her one with my photos, and I have honestly dreaded it a little because I think the calendars you order from online photo sites are dead boring. But Jessica and Heidi got me excited again. Now, their style is a bit (ok, a lot) more frilly and elaborate than mine and my mother's, but that wasn't a problem at all. I just adjusted to fit and it was a done deal.

The calendar is like a book that holds not only a calendar for each month but also a note pad and pen.








For this project I used digital papers from my Get Happy Paper Pack as well as some Bazzil cardstock, and my Almanac Template Pack. The book thingy was included in the class kit, but could easily be recreated. I also used a clip to hold the calendar sheets, and a notepad that I had in my stash.

The second gift was a little tin of "to do" help for my sister.
(Please excuse the lack of quality in these photos, they were taken at 6.30 am the day there were to be given, and there was very little light at that time)






Now this project was super easy to create. I designed a cover for the tin with paper from the Moments Paper Pack and some brushes and fonts, and for the inside lid with paper from the Valpoicella Paper Pack. I also made some notecards, and lastly created magnets by gluing designed cirlces using the same papers, brushes and fonts and then attaching the magnets on the back. After that I simply added a small pen and the project was finished. I have to say, I like hybrid when the bulk of the work is done digitally! Hee!

The third gift was supposed to be something entirely different, but I had a glue meltdown (pun intended) and had to switch gears. For my other sister I created a subway style poster that I framed.
(This photo was also taken that early morning, so again, please excuse the bad photo)


The poster features the places and dates where and when my sister and her boyfriend were born, met, got engaged, and now live. I love, love, love how this turned out. And it was so easy to make as well. Want to make one of your own? Jessica and Heidi has made a little mini class for this one that is available right now. Check it out! The frame, if you are interested is from IKEA - where else?

So that was the extent of my craftiness this Christmas, not counting spending about two weeks on wrapping all the gifts. Perhaps next year if I start a little earlier I will be able to do more?

Oh who am I kidding?

new in store | be merry cards and ornament

I said last week that there would be more from the Be Merry line, and I wasn't lying. This week I have to new products for you guys!

It's about time to start thinking about your Christmas cards this year. If you are going the photocard route, then I have good news for you!



The Be Merry Photocard Pack contains four quick cards with the pretty papers of the Be Merry Paper Pack and custom wordart sentiments. The pack also contains a bonus template for each card design.

If you are into handmade Christmas decor and ornaments then this project is perfect for you. The beautiful paper ornament is easy to make and is very decorative.



The Be Merry Christmas Ornament contains two printable files with beautiful papers from the Be Merry Paper Pack and a printable tutorial with photographs to guide you through the process of making the ornament.

If you go to my Facebook page you will find, in the fan exclusive section, a coupon code to to get the ornament project for free! Please note that you need to be a fan to access the code.

Be Merry Cards Pack and Christmas Ornament Project are both available at JessicaSprague.com today. Both are 25% off today only!


Inspiration

Christmas Ornament project by Camille Robinson

Christmas card by Lauren Madsen

upcoming class | mouse paper scissors give

Jessica Sprague is offering a new class together with Heidi Swapp in November. It's the fourth installment in the hybrid class Mouse Paper Scissors. Registration is open and class starts November 14th.

I'm taking the class, why don't you join me?


(Click on the image to go directly to the class)

Going out with a bang; ending the birthday party with a freebie!

And here we are, on the final day of the birthday party. I feel a little sad almost. But also so excited because today I have a freebie for you guys! Heck yeah!

With the theme of the new kit Meet & Greet, and the partying going on here as of late, I thought it only fitting to provide you with some handy party supplies! Now, wait a minute before you get ahead of yourselves here, the cake is on you. but what about some party printables instead?


(Click on the image to get to the download page at JessicaSprague.com)

In this freebie you get three ready to print PDF files with the following:
3 cupcake liners
1 tube pyramid box
1 envelope bag

All the printables feature papers from the Meet & Greet Paper Pack.

So, with that I say thank you all so much for your support, your love, and your patronage over the past year. I hope you will find great use for these! Party on!

Smooches!

Creative team inspiration

How about some beauty from the JessicaSprague.com CT girls?

by Jenn

by Miki

by Miki

by Becky

by Becky

Love is in the air for Hybrid Project Friday

Just in time for that special love day I have an easy little project for you. This will be a perfect card for someone you love. Just print and assemble and you're set. Of course, I've included a template as well for all those of you who want to add your own papers and stuff.

I think the template would be great for special event and invites as well, such as save the dates or shower invites.

Heartily is available at JessicaSprague.com today.


(Click on the image to go directly to the product in the shop)

Make a book with me!

I am so excited to bring you this Hybrid Friday Project! This project is all about favourites; places, moments, people, quotes, restaurants, pictures, wines - pretty much anything you want really.

We've had a tiny little book for years where we write down really good wines we've tried, when we drank it, what it was called, what it tasted like, and what we ate with it. I really like this kind of collecting and recently I designed a new book  to keep the tradition going.

In this project you will get my design (both printable PDF files and psd layered templates) and you will learn how to hand bind the book with a beautiful exposed coptic stitch binding.


(Click on the image to go directly to the product in the shop)











Little Book of Favourites is available at JessicaSprague.com today.

Hybrid gorgeousness

Lookie lookie what I found at Designsponge. Man that is gourgeous! If I didn't already have three hybrid projects going (or rather collecting dust at various places in the house) I would be all over this. But I will try to restrain myself. But man, beautiful.

New in store - 12 Days of Christmas Hybrid Project Friday

Happy Friday! Bet you never thought I'd have something new up in my shop at JessicaSprague.com on a Friday? Well, times they are a-changing folks. This week is the first week of, I hope, several where I bring you a project for Hybrid Project Friday. Yay!

The project is a handmade accordion fold book devoted to the 12 Days of Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas

(click on the image to go directly to the product in the shop)

The project includes printable PDFs for the covers and inside pages of the book for those who prefer to stay out of Photoshop, fully layered psd templates for Photoshop fiends, and a complete printable PDF tutorial with images to guide you through the bookmaking from start to finish.

The book consists of 12 pages, one for each day of Christmas, with room for one photo on each page. When finished you will have a simple, but sophisticated mini album to remember your Christmas.

Here's my book




Here's what Meg did

Meg used the Frostbite Paper Pack for her book.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I will spend it making Christmas cards and sweets. :)

New in store - Snapshot Beauty Template/QP

Hi kids!

I've got a little something something for you going live today in my shop over at JessicaSprague.com. Whee!
It's a template and Quick Page combo!

Snapshot Beauty

(click on the image to go directly to the product in the shop)

This template includes room for up to four photos and plenty of space for you to add your journaling. The template features a subtle background brush, a beautiful ribbon element, and a screwed tag. The Quick Page features papers from the Mandarin Breeze Paper Pack.

Remember that there is a sale going on so if you get the template now you get 20% off!

Erica did this page























Erica used the La Storia Paper Pack and the Basically {Striped+Checked} Paper Pack.

Here's a page that  Monica did

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Monica used Budoir Solids and Basically {Spotted+Dotted} Paper Packs in this layout.

Crissy did this one

 





















And here is my Quick Page sample

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Then, I am über excited about Friday! OK, so Fridays are usually pretty awesome as it is, but this coming Friday I will have a project for Hybrid Project Friday and I am totally smitten with this project. Do stop back by the end of the week to find out what it is! Woot!
 
Until then, I might be a little scarse around here. The end of the year is always quite intense at my day job and so I have a lot of business trips due to it. This week is no different. So if I don't stop by during the week, don't worry too much about me. :)
 
Love to you all!

New eye candy blogs

Did you know that there is a brand new blog by the JessicaSprague.com team all dedicated to the beautiful digital art that the team creates? Check it out! It only just started but you are guaranteed mouthwatering eye candy if you follow this one!

And if you are into hybrid art, you won't need to feel neglected and forgotten, because there is a whole blog just for you too! Again, you won't be disappointed with the stunning creations at this place.

Now, don't I get the prize for today's best blog tips?

CT Call, CT Call - become our CT

Click on the image to find out the specifics!

Hybrid work

I made this box to hold a birthday present for my mother the other day.
I used my Modernist Papers and iKari's gable box template.


I love how quick and easy this was to whip up in PS and then just print, cut and fold. Super awesome when you want something really unique.

Freebie time! Button Up

Here's the deal; I am unfortunately looking at a two week long forced blog break. In short it means that I won't be able to come on here and share my eye candy. Boo!

To make up for that I decided to share a small freebie with y'all. Woot!
I love butterflies. So much so that my first tattoo was a butterfly. So I I try to incorporate butterflies in as much stuff as I possibly can. That and snowflakes. So what better than to give them prominent feature in this freebie? Yay!

Button up


Clicky clicky right here to download!

In this set you get six buttons; three with a butterfly image and three with a sentiment. They are fairly large (3x3 in) so you can print them and use them for hybrid projects or you can simply plop them into your digi stuff and size to fit. Now isn't that just great?

As usual, please read my Terms of Use. Also, please follow them. And if you want to share with me your work, please link me up!

Thank you so much everyone! I'll see you when I see you. I will most definitely miss you!
Love

Easter project

A few weeks back, when we had our Godchildren stay with us for a few weeks, I got some metal Easter eggs at a local hobby shop. The boys and I each painted three eggs but I wasn't really happy with the outcome of mine. But I gave it a shot to try and spruce them up a little with some ribbon and my Flutter By butterflies. And I think in the end they turned out quite cute.







I think that if I decide to use them for gifts I will give them as a set because honestly, the smallest one doesn't hold much sweets, lol.