Friday, May 10, 2013

350 Cards & Gifts Blog Hop!


I am so excited to participate in the Paper Crafts Blog Hop celebrating the newest special issue, 350 Cards & Gifts! AND, I'm happy to offer a giveaway for this issue, compliments of Paper Crafts. Just leave a comment on this post by Tuesday the 14th for a chance to win (each stop in the hop will be giving away a copy, so be sure to visit them all)!


  This issue is jam-packed with ideas for gift-giving using the crafty supplies we already own. Today I'm featuring a gift that I've just finished giving ... upcycled Dollar Store vases! Perfect to accompany a birthday card/gift certificate combo when you want to do a little something special. And they all use the same die in different ways. If you're new to my blog, you can catch up on all my quatrefoil die projects with the gallery link on the side bar.


It started with this one, which uses 4 of the quatrefoil cover plate dies. I cut the long sides off, lined up the ends and carefully glued them together. You can see the seam in this shot ... look directly under the knot of the bow and you'll see the column of quatrefoils is elongated on the left side. Depending on the size of the vase you're using you may have to do some creative cutting to make it work. A vintage ribbon from the 1970s is woven through the quatrefoils.


Let's try some more! These are all skinny dollar store vases. They work well for single, long-stemed blooms. Bonus that they only require ONE cut of the quatrefoil die, so it's easy to make multiples. It's a little short when wrapped around though, so you need to address the seam. The vase on the left has silver foil paper with a strip of gray paper covering up the seam. Turn this into a feature by embossing a sentiment on that strip. 

The seam on the middle vase is treated like a corset ... lace seam binding tape through the holes on each end and finish with a bow. 

The vase on the right has strips of 1/2" paper woven through the quatrefoil holes and joined in the back. The ends of the strips are strategically hidden under the die. One strip extends out with the sentiment.


Here's a close-up of the middle vase with the seam binding laced through the quatrefoil ends to hold it together. The sentiment is on a tag. Sequins peek through the negative heart.


The vase on the left uses 2 dies folded in half to get a more intricate pattern. It stands out even more when backed with white paper. Enamel dots are in the pattern's center holes. 

The middle vase uses double-sided paper folded in half to get a two-toned effect. One of the solid edges is left on the bottom.

The left vase (an antique ink well) showcases a single row of quatrefoils with the centers put back in. An enamel dot in the center of each quatrefoil gives a nice dimension.


Now it's time to fill them! Love the selection and price of the flowers at Trader Joe's. Jackson helps me pick out two $6 arrangements. (My husband used to order $70 arrangements from Pro Flowers until I saw the credit card bill. Now he stops by Trader Joe's once a month, and I enjoy them all year-round!)


 The purple arrangements on the left cost me nothing since the vases came from my house (milk bottle, soda bottle, antique ink well) and the grape hyacinths from my garden. The tall, narrow vases in the middle cost $3 each (I split a bunch of flowers in three, plus $1 for each vase). And the vase on the right only cost $7 for the entire bunch of flowers plus the vase. Aside from birthdays, what an affordable way to give a flower arrangement to a teacher, Mom, a grad (think school colors), or your incredibly kind neighbors!


 Here's a close-up of one of the $3 vases I gave to my neighbor who always stops by with delicious food to share. I don't spend much time cooking to reciprocate, but I do spend time crafting!
 

 Thanks so much for stopping by! Please continue on the hop to see what these incredibly talented ladies have made for you. You are going to LOVE Nina Yang's 3D present-topper at the next stop. And don't forget to comment at each blog for a chance to win your own copy of 350 Cards & Gifts!

Kelly Griglione <-- you are here

 Thanks for looking!
-Kelly

PS. I hope you can play along with the Moxie Fab 350 Cards & Gifts week challenges! I'm linking these vases to the gift challenge.

80 comments:

  1. These are sooo special Kelly! You sure do know how to rock that quatrefoil die. I will never tire of your creations using that beautiful and versatile die!

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  2. A fabulous display of prettiness Kelly!!

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  3. Very pretty. Look so nice with the flowers.

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  4. WOW! These are awesome! :) I must check out my dollar store more, too! ;) Lovin' those skinny vases!

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  5. great idea and it is so beautiful kelly.happy to participate in bloghop
    Adhiraacreations

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  6. what a clever way to display flowers

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  7. The queen of quatrefoil strikes again! I'm always amazed at your creativity! Such beautiful projects, Kelly!

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  8. WAY to rock the blog hop!! LOVE all of your ideas and creations, Kelly!

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  9. Love these. Would have never thought to do this. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. I love how you wove paper through the quatrefoil pattern. Brilliant and beautiful!

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  11. Wow, there is a lot of inspiration going on here. They're all beautiful! Thanks for the tips to hide the seam, too:)

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  12. awesome vases. You did amazing things with that die.

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  13. These vases are beautiful!! Thanks for the tips. I too am a lover of Trader Joes flowers!!!

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  14. Love them , they are even beautiful empty! Yes, why spend 70$ on flowers that last a week when you can spend 7$ and the rest on stamps and dies. Congrats!

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  15. Awesome way to dress up vases!
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  16. All fantastic Kelly, where do you find the time? You amaze me, do you sleep? I may need to CASE some of these fantastic ideas.

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  17. I love how you jazzed up even the simplest jar into a gorgeous vase! Fab project, Kelly!

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  18. Great project - I've got the vases and the flowers - should be fun to try!

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  19. A clever way to fancy up vases!

    Noreen
    http://craftyjournal.com

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  20. Fabulous projects, Kelly! You have totally rocked that coverplate!

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  21. What great inspiration. I love dies. Love the way you used them to make plain looking vases stunning vases.

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  22. Lovely ideas for displaying beautiful flowers ~ great hostess gift too :)

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  23. these are really awesome!! beautiful and so easy to change with your mood!

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  24. Ooh! Love love love! That die cut is amazing!!

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  25. what a great way to dress up a plane vase!!
    mexicopetshop at hotmail.com

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  26. Excellent work! Love this idea!

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  27. I am blown away by the CAS aspect of this gift!!

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  28. Fantastic idea Kelly, and more uses for the quatrefoil die! These vases look fantastic :)

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  29. You are so creative. I have never seen that before.

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  30. The one with oranges and yellows is my favorite. I like how you added the strips.

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  31. Fab idea. This is a great home décor idea too.

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  32. What a fabulous way to dress up those vases!!

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  33. What a fantastic idea. I love all of these. You are just so clever--aren't Trader Joes flowers just the best value around?

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  34. Wow, great job on these. Love the variety you created.

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  35. You really are the queen of quatrefoil....you need a shirt that says that. These are wonderful and how exciting to be part of the hop! Yay for kelly!

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  36. What a gorgeous way to dress up flower vases. Love it.

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  37. Love your decorated vases. Fab ideas to use the quatrefoil die too.

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  38. What a joy to see your beautiful projects, Kelly, they truly are so stunning. What delight you must see in the faces of the recipients when you give them as gifts! Anita :)

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  39. Wow Kelly what amazing vases...i love your idea for such sweet and thoughtful gifts.

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  40. Your vase decorations ae gorgeous !

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  41. What a fun idea! Love how you've altered those vases!

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  42. I love your beautiful vases! Your friends must be very happy!!

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  43. Love, love, love, just wondering, when do you sleep?

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  44. OK. You made me do it! Now I'm thinking I need the quatrefoil cover plate die. You have the most incredible geometry mind. I bet you were a wiz at visual math. You never cease to amaze me with all your creativity. Just wondering; do the ideas form in your mind and you execute them, or does working with the elements make spontaneous innovations? Either way, I'm yours!

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  45. Fantastic post dear Kelly!
    Once again you have inspired me!!
    (+seeing you boy there helping Mama pick some flowers just melts my heart!)

    Thank You~

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  46. Aww Kelly! You always come up with the coolest and beautiful ideas. Love all of these. TFS

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  47. What a fantastic idea!!! Love your creativity Kelly!!!! Your vases are beautiful!

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  48. Great project. Love the various ways you hid the seaming. Good way to take an inexpensive item and jazz it up. Thanks for sharing.

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  49. These vases are incredibly beautiful and so so creative!! Love every single one of them! You have done amazing things with this die!

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  50. Kelly I just stumbled on your blog (blog hop) by accident today looking for ideas that could be in the new magazine... I'm at awe with these vases!!! Thanks for the inspiration, makes me itch to buy my copy now !!!

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  51. What wonderful projects! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  52. I love flowers and these projects will be perfect for me to attempt! Thanks for sharing.

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  53. These are a great idea!! Thanks for sharing!

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  54. These are so pretty! Love this die!

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  55. FAB FAB gift ideas Kelly!!! Just gorgeous :)

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  56. Lots of cool vase ideas! Love them all, great idea to add a person touch while still giving flowers. Thanks for sharing.

    Katie B.

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  57. Look at all the comments, you go girl, well you are the BOMB, how you incorporate that one design in all those different ways you are amazing..Have a wonderful day..

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  58. I so love these vases Kelly and must get this die!!!

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  59. What a great way to jazz up inexpensive vases and found glass objects! Love the quatrefoil designs and the ribbon. Never heard of Trader Joe's but their flower prices are amazing!

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  60. These are absolutely stunning. Who knew you could make such an elegant gift for a few dollars. I'm going to head on over to my local dollar store and see what the have and get to creating.

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  61. Missed this blog hop (how that?). There you go working quatrefoil goodness again!

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  62. What gorgeous vases. I love it when you can dress up dollar items to look so beautiful. Thanks for the idea.

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  63. Hey Kelly! Thanks for linking this up to the Gift Packaging Challenge in the Moxie Fab World! I'm so glad you joined in on all the fun! :)

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I absolutely love reading comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave one! - Kelly