Valentine's Projects

Last year around this time I was invited to appear on our local TV noon hour show to do a few craft projects.

Here's what we did:


It's a bit scary being on live TV but also kind of fun.  Anyone else out there every done something like this?  Leave a comment below~

Flashback Friday: DIY Luggage Tags

I'd like to say that I was so organized before I left for Australia that I had the whole month of projects pre-posted and ready for you all to read....but I wasn't.  So instead, I took the easy route (which saved me a great deal of stress and anxiety) and decided to do Flashback Friday for this month.

It will be a fun look back at some of the projects I've posted over the years that you may have missed if you haven't been hanging out here all that time.

First up are the DIY Luggage tags that I shared with you back in 2011~
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Everyone knows the saying that one person's trash is another's treasure.  Well, I feel like I've hit the jackpot!  Last summer my local library sent out an email to community organizations to tell them that they were purging their backdated magazines.  Everything had to go.  They listed all of their titles and said that if you wanted what they had you had to take it all.  So, you couldn't just say you wanted the 2008 Vogues, you had to take everything from 2002 to 2010 if that's what they had.

I responded with a short list of titles that I would be willing to take once they had fulfilled any requests from community groups.  I didn't hear anything for ages so I figured my request had just been binned or something.  Then, in about November, I got an email asking me to come pick up the 8 boxes of magazines that they had for me!!!! 

There's a load of Elle Decor in there somewhere too!

 If you've been following me for awhile you will know that I love to create Inspiration boards and books.  My initial plan was to use the magazines for that kind of thing, along with using the valuable info inside of them.  Obviously, I have far more than I know what to do with so now I'm thinking of all kinds of other fun crafts I can use this huge resource for.

This week my head has really been in the travel zone so I figured that's where I'd start...luggage tags for everyone!

I sort of made this up as I went along so I don't have the usual supplies photo for you.  But basically here's what you need:

• inspirational images
• travel quotes
• regular paper
• glue (optional)
• access to a computer
• access to a laminator and laminating sleeves
• hole punch
• ribbon or plastic ties

Steps
1) Use Google to find some fun travel quotes.

2) Gather some travel images from magazines or travel brochures. ( You could also just use wallpaper samples or scrap booking paper, anything you like)

3) On your computer use a word processing program to create business card size labels.  You don't have to use label paper, regular printer paper will do.  Each label should have enough info to identify your luggage as yours but not enough to give a stranger the inside track to your life.

Mine have my first initial, last name, originating city, and phone number, with my quote at the bottom.

If you're really not comfortable having any personal information on your bag, that's OK.  Just put the quote.  Having anything on your bag that's unique and identifiable will distinguish it from the rest, and that's the whole point here.

4) Cut out your images to the same size as your labels.  Put a little dab of glue on the back and affix to one of your labels just to stabilize the two together.

5)  Now make a sandwich inside your laminating sleeve (laminating paper/picture face down/label face up/laminating paper).  Make sure to leave at least 1/4 inch space all the way around each piece to ensure the plastic will seal itself.  Run it through the laminator.  (If you don't have access to a laminator try using sticky back mack tack paper and just stick everything together.)

6) Cut all the way around each tag staying at least 1/4 inch from all of the edges.

7) Punch a hole in one end and add a strong ribbon or plastic twist tie.

8) Attach it to your luggage and never worry about picking up the wrong bag again!  Or if the airline somehow manages to displace it, your info will safely identify it as yours...wherever it is~

Now, when my oh so unique black bag comes rolling onto the luggage carousel with all of the other black bags, I'll instantly know which one is mine!

 Happy Travels~
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Update: I still have these tags on my bags, they've never fallen off, and I've never picked up the wrong black bag at the airport.

How do you identify your bag from all the rest when you travel?  Leave a comment below~

Nature at its Cutest

While I'm away I thought I'd share some of my favourite Pinterest Boards.  First up is one I just started recently.  I'm not normally the kind of person who collects pics of cute animals, but when they're cuter than cute I just have to pin~

Nature at its Cutest

Check out the rest of the board  for the sources of these photos or whenever you need to put a smile on your face~

Travel Journal

I always like to take a little journal with me whenever I travel overseas.  It's good to write down my memories, keep track of expenses, log photos, etc.

 Normally I start designing a journal by making my own tabs, but I picked up these cute little Martha Stewart sets for next to nothing so I decided to use them.

I looked through my paper stash and found some pretty pastel papers that matched nicely and made some little folders that I stuck to the inside cover.  That's where I can keep important receipts or other notes.

I even used the filler cardstock from the tag packaging and made a bookmark~

The back cover holds another, larger folder, as well as some sticky notes.

Hopefully a month from now this little book will be full of memories and ideas, maps, photos, and not too many receipts~

Here are some links to some other journals I've created:
Travel Journal

 Pretty Journals

 Journal Gifts

   Mini Journals

Follow My Travels

I was somewhat organized before I left for holiday so you can still expect new posts here throughout the month.

But if you really want to see where I am and what I'm up to head on over to Instagram and follow me there too!

I'll be posting pics from my adventures in Australia (and anywhere else I might end up) whenever I can!

If the link doesn't work for some reason you can either hit that little circle up at the top of the column to the right with the "I" in it or search from me right on Instagram under "Etcetorize"~

Movie Monday - I'm on my way

If everything is going according to plan I am currently, right now, as you read this, high in the sky on my way to.....AUSTRALIA!!!  Bring on the sunshine!

So, in honour of my big destination I'll be playing the most stereotypical Aussie videos on Movie Monday this month.  First up, one of my favourite ladies.

Remember the days when singers really sang and didn't just prance around the stage naked and try to call themselves talented?  Ahhh, the gold old days~