DIY Crafts

DIY V-Day Gift» Easy I Heart U Shadowbox

by dietingfashion on February 14, 2013

I wanted to make something for my husband for Valentine’s Day 2013. Every year, we just go out to dinner and that’s basically our gift to each other. This year, some DIYs sparked my interest. I was really surprised how easy it was to make this shadowbox.

Materials:

1 Template – download here
1 5×7 Shadowbox (purchased for $9.99 at Michaels)
1 Sheet 8×11 White Construction Paper or cardstock
1 Sheet 8×11 Colored Construction Paper or cardstock
double sided tape or glue
Exacto Knife

Using the template on White paper, I added the date to commemorate this Valentine’s Day using Photoshop. After printing and resizing the printout to fit the 5×7 shadowbox, I used an Exacto Knife to cut out the pop up. Finally tape or glue the pop up to the Colored paper. Fit the pop up into the shadowbox and you’re done!

It took me about 30 minutes to print, construct, and finish.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

{ 0 comments }

DIY» Anniversary Album Gift

by dietingfashion on December 30, 2012

My 8th anniversary was December 19th. Unlike the other years, I actually remembered my anniversary. Shocking right? My husband remembers every year, while I forget. I couldn’t believe it was our 8th! I thought it was like our 6th or 7th. The years have flown by with 8 years of marriage and 3 kids!

I knew I wanted to create something. My husband usually comes up with precious DIY gifts, usually involving our kids. I wanted to do something creative. I scoured Pinterest for ideas and actually landed on The Dating Divas. It was this post Anniversary Photo Keepsake that got me thinking.

My Version:

Supplies:
1 8.5 x 8.5 Photo Album
8.5 x 8.5 Sheets of Card Stock (Designs based on your preferences and quantity on how many years you have been married)
4X6 or 5 x7 Photos of you and spouse every year you have been married
Photo Corner Stickers

Instead of getting individual cardstock sheets and scrapbook sticker packs, Michael’s or your local craft store usually carries themed scrapbook kits which includes assorted cardstock designs and scrapbook stickers. I like these kits better because I know the themes would relate to what I’m making and I wouldn’t have tons of stickers or cardstock left over.

Inside Pages:

For the photos, I created a template in Adobe Photoshop. I found a picture for each year we have been married and inserted the picture into the template. After assigning the year to the picture, I saved each picture as a JPEG. I loaded a total of 10 pictures including the Cover photo and a wedding photo on to a flash drive. You can get the photos developed at your Target or CVS store for about 19 cents for each 4 x 6 or about $2.19 each for 5 x 7 photo.

The template I used is better suited for a 5 x 7 photo however after printing it left a wide white border around the photo that I just used my paper trimmer to cut off. It worked out. To make the template work for a 4 x 6 photo, move the text inwards a bit. When I printed the photos as a 4 x 6, the Year was cut off. I thought the Target printer would resize the pictures but it doesn’t. Their machines will just center the photo.

Download the Template here.

Check out the rest of my photos inside this Anniversary Album Gift.

(I don’t have a 1 year anniversary photo because that year we were displaced because of Hurricane Katrina. I think on our anniversary in 2005, we were actually cleaning out our house to move to Houston, TX. That’s why I have a Texas map as our 1st Year Photo.)