Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with the NEW A Beautiful Mess actions.
It’s a small thing, but I always appreciate having it when I am addressing my holiday cards, and it looks chic and professional for sending happy mail to our friends and family.
I’ve recently purchased some other types of custom stamps, and in today’s post, I want to share them all with you.
Custom Rubber Stamps
There are so many cool custom stamps that are made to order on Etsy and Amazon. They are more affordable than you think—and so useful.
Here are a few ideas for stamps you can order to use in your everyday life:
- Custom Return Address Stamp
- From the Library of Stamp
- Custom Logo stamp for Small Biz Owners
- Custom Book Embosser
- Kids Art Stamp
- Custom Portrait Stamp (we used this for our wedding invitations)
- Personalized Teacher Stamp
Custom Address Stamps
Each time we move to a new home, I order a custom return address stamp from Etsy. This is the exact design I am currently using, and this is the address stamp I chose for our next home.
Links: Parker Stamp / Andersons Stamp / First Name Stamp / Williams Stamp / Thompson Stamp / Hampton Stamp
Custom Teacher Stamps
I have found so many great options for teacher stamps. These stamps are helpful for grading and personalizing notes from teachers.
Links: Bitmoji Stamp / Like Stamp / Face Stamp / Sign and Return Stamp / Classroom Stamp / Seal of Approval Stamp
Custom Library Stamps
After I built my kids a hidden library, I ordered them a stamp to personalize their books. We don’t do it for every single book, but the kids enjoy adding the stamp and it’s great for books. I give them as gifts, too.
Links: Embossed Stamp / Moon Stamp / Teachers Stamp / Feather Stamp / Leaf Border Stamp / Cursive Stamp
Custom Wax Seals
I purchased an L monogram stamp from Etsy. You can also create fully custom designs. I love choosing from the different colors of melting wax. Wax seals are such an old-fashioned, luxurious way send a letter.
An important note is that when you send a wax sealed envelope in the mail you need to add 15 to 20 cents for “non-machinable surcharge.”
If you don’t want to pay the extra postage, I recommend using your wax seal for cards you will hand out in person instead.
Links: Sealing Wax Sticks / Eucalyptus Wax Stamp / Letter Wax Stamp / Wax Seal Set / Sealing Wax Kit / Swan Wax Stamp
Related links:
]]>We love the creativity and personal touch that goes into scrapbooking, but sometimes it can be hard to take time to complete a few pages, or get your ideas flowing when looking at a blank page.
With that in mind, here are five easy scrapbooking ideas to take you from a basic book to a treasured keepsake in a fraction of the time!
For this post, we are partnering with our friends at Canon USA to show you how you can use the newly updated IVY 2 Mini Photo printer to easily print out all the photos for your scrapbooking project right from the comfort of your own home.
The printer paper actually has a sticker backing, so it’s totally ready to adhere to the page in a flash with no tape or glue needed. This cute printer comes in blush and white and has an upgraded Bluetooth and longer lasting charge so you can keep printing longer!
Looking for more photo ideas? Check out:
- Wooden Ball Photo Holder DIY (Only Takes 5 Minutes To Make!)
- Tips for Family Photo Displays
- DIY Photo Glitter Globes
- Make Your Own Personalized Photo Ring Dish
Supplies for 5 Simple and Easy Scrapbooking Ideas:
- IVY 2 Mini Photo printer
- ZINK Photo Paper Pack
- Cardstock paper or scrapbook paper of your choosing
- Circle Punch, any other shape paper punch or ZINK Pre Cut Photo Paper
- Custom Scrapbook Sticker Download
- Canon Mini Print app (Apple or Google Play)
What can the IVY 2 Mini Photo printer do?
One of the coolest things about the IVY 2 Mini Photo printer is that it prints onto sticker paper in either a 2″ x 3″ rectangle format or with two 1.3″ wide circle stickers.
You can go into the easy to use app and choose a photo from your camera roll to create a custom sticker photo whenever you want!
The app has options to make collages with several photos or add text/designs on top of your photos as well.
How do I use the custom scrapbook sticker downloads?
For these custom scrapbook stickers, just download the designs onto your phone so they are in your photo library and open the Canon Mini Print app.
Make sure your mini printer is on and connected to the app through Bluetooth. The top right corner of the app home screen will tell you if it’s connected or not. Then click on the icon to connect.
Once connected, choose the scrapbook sticker designs you want from your photo library. Click on the print icon in the left hand corner and watch your custom stickers appear!
5 Simple and Easy Scrapbooking Ideas!
Make a paper frame for your photo
All you need is a piece of paper and a pair of scissors to make a cute, quick frame to go around the edge of your photo.
Trace the size of your photo onto some paper and cut out the rectangle a little smaller than your photo for the photo window. This makes sure that the edges will be covered by the paper.
Then, make a fun frame with scalloped edges, pointed zig-zag edges, straight edges … whatever you like!
Add some virtual stickers to your photos
Using the Canon Mini Print app, you can easily add fun stickers or text for any occasion that will instantly jazz up your photos. No trip to the craft store necessary!
Use a shape punch to punch out a photo shape
You can use a punch tool (like these circle punches) to make your photo into a custom shaped size of sticker with just the push of a button.
Whether it’s a circle, star, heart, or whatever shaped punch you have, making the photo into a different shape adds some visual dimension to your scrapbook page.
For a super easy way to make circle stickers, you can also use the ZINK Pre Cut Circle Sticker Pack to instantly print two round stickers per page!
Print a list to customize with your memories
Whether it’s a holiday wishlist from that year or a list of your favorite things from a trip or vacation, making your own personal list is a great way to add a personal handwriting touch. Or, you can fill out the list with text in the Canon Mini Print app.
Print a cute phrase for your page theme
Using a phrase header on your page instantly shows what the theme of that page is. It also helps break up the photos with some text for some page variety.
We made designs you can download to showcase your holiday fun, vacation/trip, or time with your best pals. There are also word stickers and type options in the Canon Mini Print app!
How cute did those pages turn out? Scrapbooking can be an intimidating project, but tips like these make it easy for anyone to create a book of memories.
What’s your favorite way to add to scrapbook pages quickly? xo. Laura
]]>Using custom stickers on the outside of your envelope is a great way to add some personality to your mail and I’ll show you a super easy way to do it!
For this post, we are partnering with our friends over at Canon USA to show you their IVY CLIQ+2 Instant Camera, and how you can print your own mail stickers quickly and easily directly from your phone.
We’ve even made a few extra custom sticker designs to add to all the options that come in the printing app, so you have plenty of options to get started!
Love taking photos? Try these photo DIY projects:
- Wooden Ball Photo Holder DIY (Only Takes 5 Minutes To Make!)
- Tips for Family Photo Displays!
- DIY Photo Glitter Globes
- Easy Photo Keychain DIY
Supplies:
–Canon IVY CLIQ+2 Instant Camera
–IVY peel & stick circle sticker paper
-Canon Mini Print app (Apple or Google Play)
–Custom sticker downloads
-Card + envelope (or postcard of your choice!)
What can the Ivy CLIQ+2 Instant Camera do?
One of the coolest things about the IVY CLIQ+2 is that it prints onto sticker paper in either a 2″ x 3″ rectangle format or with two 1.3″ wide circle stickers.
You can either take a photo with the camera and print your photo instantly, or you can go into the easy to use app and choose a photo from your camera roll to create a custom sticker photo whenever you want!
The app has options to make collages with several photos or add text/designs on top of your photos as well.
For these custom mail stickers, just download the designs onto your phone so they are in your photo library and open the Canon Mini Print app.
Make sure your IVY CLIQ+2 camera is on and connected to the app through bluetooth (the top right corner of the app home screen will tell you if it’s connected or not) and click on the icon to connect.
Once connected, choose the option to “Pre-Cut Sticker” and choose the two sticker designs you want from your photo library (you can also do two of the same sticker by tapping the same photo twice).
Click on the print icon in the left hand corner and watch your custom stickers appear!
Can I print photos for my circle stickers with the IVY CLIQ+2?
Yes! While I love using the sticker designs to create fun custom stickers, you can also choose photos for the pre-cut circle stickers so you can choose a wedding photo for thank you notes, a picture of your kid for their birthday card invite, and more. The options are endless!
Having a fun sticker on the back of an envelope makes the card or letter feel more personal and shows you put in a little extra thought for your recipient.
You can also add these to the front of the envelope or even to the card itself if you’d rather! So go on and send some happy mail and make someone’s day a little brighter! xo. Laura
Make Your Own Custom Mail Stickers!
An easy way to make custom stickers to add to letters, envelopes, and postcards
Servings 20 stickers
Equipment
- 1 Canon Ivy CLIQ+2 Instant Camera
- Canon Mini Print app (Apple or Google Play)
- Custom sticker downloads
Ingredients
- Ivy peel & stick circle sticker paper
- Card + envelope (or postcard of your choice!)
Instructions
- For these custom mail stickers, just download the designs onto your phone so they are in your photo library and open the Canon Mini Print app.Make sure your Ivy CLIQ+2 camera is on and connected to the app through bluetooth (the top right corner of the app home screen will tell you if it’s connected or not) and click on the icon to connect.
- Once connected, choose the option to “Pre-Cut Sticker” and choose the two sticker designs you want from your photo library (you can also do two of the same sticker by tapping the same photo twice).
- Click on the print icon in the left hand corner and watch your custom stickers appear!
For me, making paper collages scratches a creative itch in a unique way. It’s so much fun!
Related: 10 Home Decor Books That Will Inspire You
I have been making a lot of vision boards in my personal journals, and also decorating gifts with these supplies. My kids love making their own collages too!
Links: Extraordinary Things to Cut Out and Collage / Vintage Botanical Plants / The Botanist’s Sticker Anthology / The Antiquarian Sticker Book / John Derian Sticker Book / Women: A Pictorial Archive / Vintage Scrapbook Paper / A Treasury of Butterflies and Winged Insects
I like collecting books to cut images out from, as well as sticker books. It’s fun to mix and match the supplies. I don’t really use much else besides these books, scissors, and a glue stick.
I hope you’re feeling inspired to try and make a collage or art journal of your own! If you love this style, but aren’t into DIYing right now, I highly suggest John Derian’s coffee table book (it’s huge and gorgeous!).
Sending creative vibes your way! xx- Elsie
]]>
I wanted to share a little about my annual photo albums. I’ve noticed anytime I’ve shared about them in the past, like on our podcast or little mentions here and there, I tend to get questions and interest around them. It’s seriously the most simple thing, so maybe to some of you this will be boring. But this is a habit that brings me so much joy in my life, so why not share?
Like I said, these are incredibly simple and straightforward. Every year I have an album that I label with that year’s date that I fill up with printed photos. I almost always print my photos at home (I have a Canon PIXMA TS9521C printer that I use for work and for fun), and I try to do this about once a month. I print both DSLR and iPhone pictures, but I’ll be honest—it’s probably about 80% iPhone at this point. As I have time, I edit my photos with our app, A Color Story, and store them in a folder on my phone called “to print” until I have time that month to print them. Some months I have 25+ photos to print and some months I only have 5-6.
Although I very much LOVE photography and editing my photos, I also don’t get too hung up on the look of my photos for my annual albums. My philosophy is “better than done” than putting it off forever. And I’ve found that sometimes the task of gathering, editing, and printing my photos can feel overwhelming, so I make it as simple as possible for myself so I actually get those photos off my camera/phone and into my album.
I also print photos that are VERY random/not exactly picture perfect. My goal is to remember my real life and not every day is perfectly lit or pretty. Let me show you a few examples from last year’s album.
At the moment, a big part of my relationship with my nieces (and my sister) includes Face Time. So I sometimes screen shot one of us calling the other, just to remember these little moments. 
This was after crazy hair day at Nova’s preschool so she was looking extra adorable.
One of my older nieces got a cell phone for Christmas this year. So we’ve been texting emojis and pictures back and forth a lot and I will probably print a screen shot of that because I just think it’s this cute little picture into our relationship at this age and I love it.
Another big part of my life is my career, which involves a good amount of video meetings. One day Trey, Elsie, and I were meeting over Skype or something and I took a screen shot to print for my annual album (and also to troll Elsie) because it was like 10 a.m. and she was eating a popsicle. Ha! But I just want to remember my life this year and this season because it won’t always look this way, so I’m printing whatever random photos for my albums I can to capture this time.
It probably goes without saying, but the majority of my annual photo album contains the usual, well-edited, pretty photos of vacations and holidays and all that. I just wanted to show a few random things I also include just to show how committed I am to printing my life’s memories and not being too precious about it.
I like to buy fabric albums like this and add the year to the spine. Here are three ways I add the year to a photo album:
First is fabric transfers. In the above photo, you can see I bought a gold metallic fabric transfer sheet, cut out the numbers, and ironed them onto the side of the album following the instructions of the transfer. Super simple and I like that you can find lots of different colors. Although cutting out the numbers is a little difficult, this isn’t pictured but I would recommend an X-Acto knife in addition to scissors (I love this glittery pair).
Another way to add the year to a photo album is to print the numbers to a fabric transfer paper and then iron those in place. I like how clean this can look, and you can use any color or font you have on your computer. 
And if you don’t want to mess with fabric transfers and ironing things onto the fabric, here’s one last way to add the year to a photo album—just buy sticker labels and use any acid-free glue to secure them in place. Easy!
As you can see, the look of my albums vary slightly, but they all look good together on a shelf (to me). When I make more albums, I usually make at least two, but sometimes more just so I’m already prepared for coming years before they sneak up on me. This year, I’ve already printed photos from last month and I’m excited to see what fills up my 2020 album! Thanks for letting me share. xo. Emma
Hi Guys! Most of you know by now that I’m pregnant and our little #gummerbaby is due in May (yay!). We decided to take a Babymoon trip to Palm Springs last month while I could still easily travel and we invited a few of our favorite pals to come along and make the trip even more fun! Since my list of things to do before the baby comes only seems to get longer and longer, I wanted to make sure and make a mini photo book of our trip ASAP before I ran out of time! It’s was pretty easy to get a lot of cute pictures in Palm Springs because, well, the whole place is just so darn cute! Here’s a few highlights from the mini book of our trip…
I love a good transfer project. To me it almost feels like transfer techniques are part craft project and part science project. It’s fun to watch your materials transform into something else, like transferring an ink jet printed photo onto fabric (in this case, a fabric journal).
A few years ago I made this wood transfer of one of my wedding photos. You can see from my video home tour that I still have this project proudly displayed in our bedroom. I think it’s gonna be a keeper for a while. This project is a bit more disposable in that I transferred an image onto a fabric journal. So although you could use this technique to create a canvas display or other display item you plan to keep forever, if you transfer to a journal, you’re probably gonna use it.
-fabric journal (store bought or you could cover your own journal in fabric)
-Liquitex heavy gel medium
-paint brush
-scissors
-water bottle
-copy paper
-washi tape (optional)
–Canon PIXMA MG7720 Photo Printer
Transfers are a project that I think are just easier to show via a video tutorial, so that’s what we did. So watch that, but I’ll go over the steps below as well.
First, print your image on copy paper. I think it looks better if your image can cover the entire journal surface, maybe even hang off the edges a little. So print to the size you need. Your image will transfer opposite of how you print it, like a mirror image. So if you are printing something with text especially, be sure to flip the image before printing.
Next, cover the entire image with the heavy gloss medium and adhere it to your fabric. Allow to fully dry (at least 2-3 hours). Then lightly spray with water. Be sure your spray bottle is set to spray in a mist rather than a stream. Most bottles allow for both, so just make sure yours is on mist. Then you rub off the paper to reveal your transfer. Watch the video to see this! Much easier to see than to explain.
Once you get all or most of the paper off, give it one more mist with water to make the colors more vibrant, and then seal with the heavy gloss medium. If you want, you can add some washi tape to an edge. I planned to do this with both my journals, but then I ended up liking one better without.
I used photos from past trips (Seattle and Costa Rica) because I like the look of the landscapes. But you could use any photo you like if you decide to make your own. You could easily turn this into a fun gift for someone too. Is everyone already thinking about homemade gifts for the holidays yet, or just me? Are you mad I even brought up the holidays already? OK, OK, let’s all just chill and make a fabric transfer. xo. Emma
Credits // Author: Emma Chapman. Photography: Emma Chapman and Janae Hardy. Video: Janae Hardy, Music: Jeremy Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
Hi, friends! Today I’m here to teach you how to marble with shaving cream. If you’ve done any type or marbling with water and nail polish, you know how incredibly fast it dries and how difficult it is to get a desired result. It’s super fast-paced, almost to the point of being a little stressful. Haha! So when I heard about marbling with shaving cream, I was instantly intrigued because I was hoping there would be a little more wiggle room in the timeframe and control over the finished design.
I’ve seen it done with food coloring, but was curious how it would work with ink instead. I wanted something a little more permanent so I could possibly use it on other surfaces besides paper in the future.
-shaving cream
-inks (I used re-inkers from Studio Calico, but any type of bottled ink will work)
-a toothpick
-a flat tool like a spatula
-some plain white card stock
-rubber gloves are optional but recommended (I completed this project with some ink stained hands that lasted for 24 hours—oops!)
Step 2. Use a large plate or small baking dish to spray shaving cream on, creating a surface of shaving cream bigger than your paper.
Step 3. Use a spatula to shape the shaving cream a bit, creating a semi-flat surface.
Step 4. Pour drops of ink all over the shaving cream. Use as many colors as you like!
Step 5. Use a toothpick to marble the ink by simply drawing random designs all over the shaving cream and ink.
Step 6-8. Press the paper down onto the shaving cream. Don’t be shy, really press it down in there!
Step 9. Remove the paper. It should look like this. Time to scrape off the shaving cream. Find a sink or trash can and a spatula!
Step 10. Scrape off the shaving cream to reveal these beautiful patterns! Don’t run water over the paper, it will lighten the ink more than you want. Just scrape the shaving cream off and let it dry!
Credits// Author: Elsie Larson. Photography: Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess Actions.
]]>
I love the simple and graphic style of buffalo plaid, and judging from its popularity, odds are you love it too! Wouldn’t you love to be able to add the simple plaid pattern to any of your crafts? Gift bags? Scrapbook paper? Cards? Even textiles?
-wooden block (in size of your choice) or acrylic stamp block (if using this stamp mounting foam)
–stamp carving kit
–this stamp mounting foam (for acrylic stamp blocks only) or foam tape (if using wooden blocks)
-craft blade
-cutting mat
-steel ruler (optional)
To keep the width of the groove even, keep the pressure uniform across the length of your cut. Try to keep the grooves the same width as the space between them.
Step Two: Cut out your rubber design to be a bit larger than the wooden block. Cut out a piece of mounting foam the same size, peel back the adhesive side, and press the rubber onto the adhesive. If you aren’t using the static cling mounting foam made to work with acrylic blocks for easy storage, then you can use foam tape instead.
Repeat this process with an uncarved piece of rubber for your solid square stamp.
Credits // Author and Photography: Mandi Johnson.
]]>
Hi, friends! I have been looking forward to this post! Today I’m here collaborating with our friends at Pentel to share my tips for practicing hand lettering. With Valentine’s Day coming up this Saturday, it feels like the perfect time for cute, hand-written notes. But regardless of the time of year, I use hand lettering daily to design for this blog and our stationery products. I LOVE practicing and trying new styles. I hope this post inspires you to get out your pens and write because the best way to improve really is repetition!
Watch my video to hear more of my tips for hand lettering:
• Pentel Color Brush
• Pentel Sign Pen
• Pentel Aquash Pen
Well, what do you think? Is hand lettering something you’re interested in? Have a great day, you guys! xx. Elsie
Credits// Author and Photography: Elsie Larson, Videography and Music: Jeremy Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess Actions.
]]>