In the Budget: Valentines Show Feb. 11, 2011

In case you weren’t able to join me live for the most recent In the Budget show, here’s the playback link:  http://www.linqto.com/PlaybackRoom.aspx?roomname=creativeedventures&name=SingleExplicit_2011_02_11_11_57_30_143  In the Budget is all about budget friendly crafting.  This can include dollar store finds, great seasonal buys, things from around the house and out of your recycling bin and more! 
For this show, I shared some Valentine themed ideas but of course, these could be adapted for other times of the year.  I began with some easy crafts made from paper cupcake liners.  There are some beautiful ideas out there on the internet for crafts made from these paper cups and I adapted a couple of these including these cupcake liner lollipop flowers (originally seen on Skip to my Lou: http://www.skiptomylou.org/2011/01/12/paper-baking-cup-flower-valentines/)  Martha Stewart did the same kind of idea without the lollipops as toppers for gifts etc.: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/cupcake-paper-carnations

And these wall/door decorations – I made one that is heart shaped but as you can see it lends itself beautifully to a wreath shape too:

I shared some design hints that I found worked really well and made these even quicker and easier to put together – check out the playback!  You can use the same method to cover a styrofoam ball to make lovely hanging orbs or place the balls on a dowel as a floral like topiary. 
http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentine-cupcake-liner-topiary.html

You can even glue them together and attach them to a piece of floral wire to create carnation like flowers.
If I had more time, I would have shown these too – they look like award ribbons and you can use them on cards or as gift toppers.  Aren’t they adorable? http://urbancomfort.typepad.com/urban_nest/2010/01/cupcake-liner-cards.html
Here is a roundup of some additional links to more cupcake liner craft inspiration: 
http://www.marryyoume.com/2010/07/diy-cupcake-liner-crafts.html
http://meganhoeppner.blogspot.com/2010/09/cupcake-liner-crafts-part-1.html
http://meganhoeppner.blogspot.com/2010/09/cupcake-liner-crafts-part-2.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/cupcake-goodies
http://ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com/party-monday-cupcake-liner-decor/2011/01/17/
http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/how-to-make-paper-flowers-from-cupcake-liners/
http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/2011/01/cupcake-liners-round-up.html
http://scrumdillydilly.blogspot.com/2010/12/cupcake-liner-snowflakes.html
http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/01/whimsical-valentine-wreath.html
I also demonstrated how to make this cute little heart shaped booklet.  It could be used as a greeting card or a little scrapbook/journal.  It was suggested during the show that you could write “in the round” on it for a special effect.  Check out the video for the how to’s!


Finally, I shared this adorable treat box with a heart closure on it.

I showed how I make up a template for making boxes using a ruler and some graphing paper so that you can use this method to create your own box designs.  If you’d prefer to use a premade template, Robi Cohen was sweet enough to take my design and make and share these templates for it: 

R. Birnbaum Cohen c.2011
http://www.box.net/shared/a1yv25lelz (for JPG file)  OR http://www.box.net/shared/fnclacphrd  for the PNG file which you can use with SCAL, Make The Cut,  and other die-cutting software.