Doe-LIGHTFUL tutorial with Brandy

Tis' the season to start gifting! Here is a lovely budget gift that is sure to inspire you for the holidays! Wide washi tape is aboslutley fantastic as a binding for small notebooks and combined with mini composition books and a few index cards will create a clean palette for you to decorate.

You will need:

Wide washi tape

Scissors

Adhesive

sewing machine (optional)

Mini composition notebooks

The first step in this very quick process is to adhere the lined side of each index card to the composition front and back covers. You will want to line the card so that it is flush to the tape binding that is already on the mini book.

Once you have both side finished, use your scissors to trim the index cards down to the size of the composition books.

For this next step you will want to take your wide washi tape and attach it to the mini book. Start with just a small amount attached to the index card, leaving the book closed fold it around the spine. When you have finished trim the extra tape at the top and bottom of the book.

In this final prep step the choice is yours. You may adhere the corners of the index cards to the book so that they will not lift, or you can use your sewing machine and sew around the outside edge.

I tend to do these in batches of 20. Here is my process for efficiency. Adhere all index cards to books, trim all the books, tape the spine of all the books, glue or sew all of the books. I stamp a uniquely handmade or made with love, ect stamp on the back of each book then sign and date. I am now ready to decorate them ;).

I am using mine to document my boys over the last half of the year for close relatives for the holidays. However, I have made mini exercise logs, calorie logs, memory jotters for PL, memory jotters for real life, address books, and one line a day for each child. 

I hope you enjoy! - Brandy 

Washi Workshop with Anna-Maria

Hello our dear readers, it's time for washi workshop today!!! I would like to show you step-by-step how to make a simple luggage tag - upcycling class.

I used 'Paris' set of washi, alphabet stickers by Lily Bee, Ranger STUDIO gloss medium, Studio Calico wood veneer airplane and an old label.

Ok, let's start with this stuff. I decided to use a tough label with primitive closure as a base of my luggage tag. Because I have to cover all the subtitles I cut a stripe from white ILS 'POPs OF' paper and glued it on the label base.

The next step is to stick a different kind of washi on the front and the back of the tag. Just like this:

Now we have write something... a message for a possible finder... (hope there will not be necessary, ever...)

I used ABC stickers to write 'I am here !' and some rub-on alphabet for 'over here'.

Inside of the tag I wrote a short, funny message :) After this workshop I will add my telephone number there).

The last part of working with a cover is to protect it (we all know how the washi tapes are delicate, don't we?). So I overlaid the front and the back of the luggage tag with a layer of glossy medium.

Than - when the medium dried - I made little holes with rivets and put there a metal chain (I don't know is the construction of this phrase is clear... sorry) :)

That's how the luggage tag looks when it's done :)

It's perfect for my upcoming journey to Paris. But of course you can use all of different kinds of washi tapes! It's up to you. You can choose your own colour palette for your personal luggage tag. If you make any please share it with us in the comment below this post! We would like to see your ideas inspired by this workshop :)

Thank you.

Anna-Maria Wolniak

Doelightful DIY : Washi Triangles

I was so inspired by Natt's washi workshop

that I decided to use her idea for folding the washi into triangles

and incorporate it into a layout.

All the wide washi tapes work grrrrreat for this type of project

which is what I used to make the blue triangles.

The large triangles are made from the tape we printed for the October Studio Calico kit.

It's even wider than the wide tapes we carry in the shop and I love it!

be so proud of me. this is one of my first time trying color mists for ink blots.

its fun!! i'm glad i jumped on the band wagon.

this layout would be complete with some stitching over the washi triangles

but, alas, my sewing machine has started a technological revolution

she and the printer are both on strike, demanding dental plans.

le sigh.

doelightful DIY : autumn wreath

was feeling rather festive this week

and whilst bumbling about the aisles of the local craft store

i plopped a few goodies in my cart than puttered back home.

when i saw the owl all bundled in a knitted sweater

i knew he was to be the centerpiece of my festive wreath.

if you know me, you know i have quite a love affair with owls

and deer and squirrels and all things whimsical and perfect. 

armed with my trust glue gun,
and some hip-hoppity tunes on in the background,
i made a pretty.

we hung our new wall decor on the wall between the kitchen and the front room.
i see it every time i walk down the stairs.
it gives me a little autumn-lovin' pep in my step.

have you ever made a wreath before?
this was my first.
and i have to admit, i'm itching to make another!
so fun. an excellent creative outlet.

Washi Wednesday : Doelightful DIY

Hello lovelies

we are here with a Doelightful DIY!

provided by our guest DT Ursula

Washi Tape Switch Plate Cover

I recently moved a cabinet which had mostly covered up this ugly switch-plate cover in my kitchen.  Before, I hadn’t noticed just how ugly it was, but now, it was the only thing on the wall. Ugh!

Not to worry, Washi tape can cure most such difficulties.

This is a quick and easy project and I happen to think that the results are stunning and oh so much fun!

Start by unscrewing your switch-plate from the wall.  You may want to wash and dry it to get a nice clean surface for the tape to adhere to.

Once it is dry, simply start adding strips of tape.  I covered the whole surface, then went back and added shorter pieces to give it a more random, urban style look.  You can do this with lots of colors or keep it monochromatic, or even use only one tape, depending on your décor. 

My house happens to literally have 8 different bright colors on the wall, Mexico style! So this random bright look works perfectly in my home.

Next, you need to trim out the tape that is in front of the switch holes.  Simply flip the cover plate over, so it is resting on it’s tape side.  Using an Exacto knife and a self-healing matt, cut away only the area of tape in front of those tiny windows. 

When you turn it over, you can lift the edge of the cut out piece with the end of the Exacto knife.  You may need to use the knife from the front to finish the cuts.  Make sure you use a nice, sharp knife to do this so you don’t end up cutting into any more of your tape.

It should look like this:

Finally, shove the screws right through the tape from the top, you can start it with a piercing tool if you need to.  Screw back into place and Voila!!!

This technique can be use on all of your switch-plates, including outlets if you like!  Experiment with it and have fun!

Cheers, Ursula

Doelightful DIY washi style

i have the best tutorial for you lovelies

brought to you by the ever so delightful Brandy

when I discovered the washi bows she made 

i kinda freaked out a little

and demanded she make a tutorial hehe

she graciously accepted!

Hello Friends! It is Bran and I have a lovely tutorial for you today on how to make ribbons from your washi. A dear friend needed something quick and sweet for some tiny gifts she was to give away and these ribbons created the perfect effect. Why keep this to myself when I think you all would love to know ;). 

You will need:
a handful of washi, have fun, mix and match ;).
Wax paper
Scissors
A grid mat

Step 1: 

You will need to tear or cut a piece of wax paper about 6 inches or more 

depending on the length of your washi ribbon.

Step 2: 

Cut or tear 3 lengths of ribbon to these measurements: longest piece 10.5in, medium piece 5 in, 

and the final piece you can choose to use contrast tape measure about 2in of this.

Step 3: 

Leaving a ½ in portion of the longest piece of tape on the mat, 

pull up the rest and attach the tape to it.

Your tape should look like this

Step 4: 

Now attach the portion of exposed tape to create a loop.

Step 5: 

Place the loop on the medium sized tape and center the loop pressing in the center of the loop.

Step 6 A: 

Place your smallest piece over the center of the loop so that it is vertical.

Step 6 B:

 Lift up the center of the medium piece of tape while holding the loop in place and wrap the ends of the smallest piece around the whole piece.

Step 7 A: 

If you find that your bow loops have flattened in this process or after storing them, 

just take a pen or pencil and round out your loops ;)

Step 7 B: 

Should look like this

• You could choose to stop here and plop your ribbon on the wax paper 

or you could finesse it a little bit so that it is ready to use.

Step 8 A: 

Take up each end of the ribbon base and fold each under 1/2in

Step 8 B:

 It should look finished like this

Step 9: 

Cut a triangle from the ends to give it that pretty finished affect.

Step 10: 

Admire your fantastic bow and place it on your sheet of wax paper, and make more, 

cause you know you will want too. 

Your ribbons will be ready for whatever you have coming your way. 

I like to create a variety ahead of time and I use them for everything! I hope you enjoy!
Cheers!
Bran

isn't that AMAZING!? I have to make 800 of my own.

If you use her tutorial, show us! We want to see what you create!

xoxo, Doe.

Doelightful DIY : washi tape magnents

in honor of Washi Wednesday here at I Am Doe

i wanted to share a delightful DIY.

Little Lady wanted to make some snazzy magnets

to hang up her chore chart on the fridge.

i thought to myself

what's easier for us to make than washi tape magnets?

ingredients : three supplies

1. washi tape (get some here!)

2. wood circles (i had some lying around)

3. magnets

that's it. easy peasy.

we made a bunch and they now live happily on our fridge.

xoxo, Doe.

Doelightful DIY : felt cloud decor

i wanted to start a new series on the blog

called Doelightful DIY.

let's shoot for one a week 

(or once every two weeks, realistically, haha)

but if you have a DIY you want posted, email it to me!

_________________________________________________________

i once saw a cloud/raindrop mobile on etsy.

i loved it dearly and meant to make one for Little Man.

He's a tad too big for a mobile now

so i twisted it a bit and made him a sweet wall of clouds instead.

its a pretty easy project

all you need to know is how to use scissors

and how to hand sew two pieces of something together.

but be smarter than me and use a sharper needle than what i used.

shesh.

here's what you will need :

 you will also need stuffing, which i did not photograph

my stuffing was being rather stubborn

and could not be found at picture time.

[ later found it under Bitty Boy's crib

... Little Lady's doing ... ]

step 1

cut out a felt cloud to use as template

pin said cloud to other pieces of felt

and cut out more clouds

and more clouds

and more.

you will need two (or "twoh" as Aunt GiGi says) clouds

for every one cloud you put on your wall.

save your scraps for the raindrops!

step 2

use your [sharp] needle and yarn

and stitch your clouds together

but before you close them, make sure to stuff them!

step 3

cut out raindrops with your scraps.

step 4

hang up and enjoy

you can even point at them

and saw "whoooooooeeee"

like Little Man does.

he and Rescued Dog read a book

while i took the photos.

i love it.

Little Man loves it.

xoxo, Doe.