Scraps of Me - Pretty Cake Bunting!

A new trend that I've seen making its way around blog-land is bunting.  I adored this Ten Minute Bunting Card that I saw at Trendy Treehouse, and whipped up several this week in festive fall colours.  Many posts on fall decorating have featured bunting on mantles, shelves, and windows, another idea I can't wait to try.  But one of my absolute favorite uses for bunting without a doubt, is Cake Bunting.

I've seen a lot of examples of cake bunting over the last few weeks.  You can purchase bunting ready made, but honestly, it couldn't be easier to make.  All you need are two bamboo skewers, some twine, and a few scraps of pretty paper.  Cut triangles out of your paper (they don't have to be perfect; bunting should have a sort of homespun charm to it), tie either end of your twine to a bamboo skewer, and glue the triangles to the twine.  I made two sets and arranged them so they were a little offset:

How cute is that?  I apologize for the picture; normally I try to avoid plugs, jacks, and empty frosting containers but I had to snap this picture quickly before the cake got consumed!  

This project literally took me ten minutes.  The great thing about the mini bunting projects (such as the card and the cake bunting) is that they are the perfect opportunity to use up leftover scraps of paper.  I used a few scraps of double sided Stampin' Up paper; what I really loved about this is that the bunting is pretty from any angle since the paper is double sided.  I had bamboo skewers, twine, and glue on hand so this project literally cost me nothing to make!

When I go to our local scrapbooking shop next week I am going to pick up some fun Fall and Halloween papers and make some garland bunting for my mantle.  Then I'll save the scraps and make some cake bunting for our Halloween celebrations! I can think of countless Christmas decorating ideas incorporating bunting...oh, the possibilities!

The next time you have something to celebrate (a birthday, a baby shower, or just a really great day!) fetch your stash and whip up some cake bunting!  It's fast and (practically) free Happy!

Scraps of Me - Pickin' Pumpkins...But Where?

As the weather cools down, the leaves begin to change, and a dusting of snow teases the very tips of the mountains that surround our town, my nesting instinct activates and I find myself obsessed with all things "home."  Cooking, cleaning, and crafting fill the quickly shortening days, and, admittedly, the evenings too.  I knew I'd been busy with the domestic arts when the PVR had a full week of my programs waiting to be watched and the most recent issue of "Canadian Scrapbooker" had barely been flipped through.  This was in large part due to the fact that I had actually been scrapbooking!

I find scrapbooking to be one of those crafts that is seasonal in nature.   Oh, I enjoy the occasional crop or girl's scrapbook night during the summer months, but if the weather is fine, I'm probably not going to sit still at a table for hours with my trimmers, papers, and adhesives.  But come Fall and Winter, nothing contents me more than sitting at the drafting table in my craft room, a cup of tea (or wine) by my side, carefully piecing together a memory.

The last year I had gone through a scrapbook "dry spell" of sorts.  I had made a few mini-albums for Christmas gifts, and of course I made lots and lots of cards, but as far as taking on a new album (or even finishing old ones) I hadn't been doing much.  This week, though, I found the perfect project to "kick start" me into scrapping again.  While browsing around a scrapbook store, I saw an adorable mini album adorned with pumpkins sitting on the counter.  A conversation with the sales associate revealed it to be the Fall CD Tin Accordion Album kit by Bo Bunny.  It was a project for a crop night that was going to held at the store, but they were also selling the kits (a smart move in a town that people often travel hours to shop in).  After a few short minutes of consideration, I decided to put back the mish-mash of items in my basket and instead purchase the kit.

It was everything I needed to motivate me!  For the next few evenings, I measured (twice, and cut once!), glued, tied, trimmed, and assembled.  I tend to "freestyle" a lot when I scrapbook, but sometimes, it's good to go back to basics with a structured project.  I had been trying to figure out on my own how an accordion album went together and now I had instructions.  As well, I had forgotten how a little ink brushed along the edges of a page can really complete the look.  I had to get creative with this effect.  The instructions called for "brown ink chalk," which I didn't have, but I did have a set of Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write markers including one in Suede.  Using the brush end of the marker, I liberally applied ink to a cotton swab, blotted the swab on a piece of scrap paper, and then brushed the diluted colour onto the edges of my project.  Perfect!  I felt so creative, and my finished project looked beautiful without having to purchase an extra item. 

I finished my project with the happy, delighted feeling that comes with completing something.  Well, almost completed, that is.  I still have to add some pictures!  The title of the album is "Pickin' Pumpkins," and it essentially gives you a themed album with spaces for pictures of your pumpkin picking adventures.  It even includes a cute poem:

Gotta love a pumpkin poem!  There was no doubt about it, this album requires pumpkin pickin' pics!  Well, no worries, pumpkin pickin' is a favorite activity of ours, we do it every year.  Except, come to think of it, last year.  Last year we got our pumpkins at the local grocery store.  But surely that was because we were new to town, and hadn't yet discovered the local pumpkin patch.  Right?  Unfortunately, no.  Pumpkins apparently require a much longer growing season that our northern climate can guarantee, and it seems there is no farm to visit for pumpkin pickin'.  

So, I'm going to have to be creative.  You're not allowed to take pictures at the grocery store, but I have plans.  There's no rule that says we can't take pictures in the parking lot of me and my dogs excitedly going to pick our pumpkin out of a bin!  Or of us walking back to the car, triumphantly holding our pumpkins aloft! (OK, I'll admit the dogs may have trouble with that one.  Also with getting into the grocery store.  Hmmm, looks like I'll be alone in a few of these pictures....)  Of course we'll take lots of pictures of the pumpkins once we free them from the confines of the supermarket...maybe I could take them around town and photograph them, in the tradition of the travelling garden gnome.  Maybe I could take a picture of the pumpkins with a garden gnome!

And there, my friends, is the magic of scrapbooking; you complete one project and your imagination is off to the races! I can't wait to finish this album and add it to my collection of Fall decorations.  Luckily, I won't have to wait until the album is finished to display it; the reverse side proclaims "I Heart Fall" and will look just perfect on my mantel.  

Having completed one adorable project, I'm itching to start another.  Hmmm, there was a cute Halloween Treat Bag album kit at the scrapbook store that I just may have to have!

Have a wonderful week! See you on Wednesday!

NB - Of course, I promise to post pictures of my pumpkin pickin' adventure, provided I don't get committed in the process!

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