Calendar Card

I got this cute desk daily calendar a couple of years ago, and after storing it for a very long time I got the idea from my mom to make cards out of it. So I took the pictures with the sayings that I liked slabbed them onto some cute paper added some embellishments and wallah!. Using the calendar makes card making really easy!

Cheap Wreath

I got this idea from good things Utah. I pruned some branches off a tree near by my home. Then I hot glue gunned them to make a square. I also wired the corners to hold it together. The wreath still needed some fluff so I got some more branches and glue gunned them on to fill in the holes. After the wreath base was done I spray painted it. Then I used some tree decorations I bought on clearance glue gunned the pieces onto the wreath. I used a wire to put it onto my door. On good things Utah the lady used more branches at the base, or "square" and rounded them to make it look circular. This is a fun project and you can do so many things with it.

Little Girl Card

Well, I figured since I posted a little boy card, that I should do one for a little girl too.  Start out with a white card stock base, and then choose two corresponding prints for the front.  Rip the edge of the piece that will have the seem on top.  Wrap a small piece of ribbon around the ripped piece and secure with glue dots on the back of the paper before you glue it down.  I used a small metal heart brad on the ribbon, but you could use a little sticker or flower.  I stamped "Baby Girl" directly onto the paper and then used a little metal frame to accent it.  You could stamp it or print it on your computer and use "Princess" or whatever you want to make it age appropriate.  Have fun!

Little Boy Card

For this cute car card start out with a half of a sheet of blue card stock (5 1/2 x 8 1/2).  Fold it in half with one of the edges sticking out about 3/8 of an inch and then fold the edge down over where the two edges meet and glue it down to create an envelope.  With the folded over edge on the back, glue the left open end shut.  Glue on a strip of green paper and black paper, and add your cars cut out of paper and the button wheels.  I used a white marker to make the stripes on the road and the windows on the cars.  Cut a small semi-circle out of the front of the card on the end where the insert is pulled out.

Then for the insert where you'll write your message, create a stop light to put on the one end of your paper and punch a small hole and tie a ribbon around it so that it's easier to pull out.  This will be your son or nephews favorite card!!!!

Cabinet door board

I found this black cabinet door a while ago. I painted the front part of the cabinet with chalk board paint. 

 I cut some paper to use as the frame of the board, and mod podged them on.

 I had the cute black scroll wood stick I used to put between my magnet board and the chalk board

 It was fun to make and really cheap. I love finding garbage and making it into something usable!

Book Baby Shower

My friend had a book themed baby shower. I was in charge of the table center pieces. I wanted to be creative. So I made these box hat towers using a book with old children poems.

 I tour regular patterned paper and modge podged it to the hat boxes.

 Tearing up pictures and poems from the book I inked the edges, and modge podged them over my torn paper.

 I layer them on top of each other and used silky material scraps for the ribbon.

 I was also in charge of the take home treats. I made homemade oreos and wrote baby on them with melted mint chips. Then I bagged them and stapled on these adorable boy shoes I cut from my silhouette machine.
It was a fun shower, and everyone loved the decorations and the cookies!

Another Any Occasion Card

Here's how to make this card:  

-First cut your black card stock in half and fold for the base. 

-Cut out the green card stock to be just smaller than the front of the card and then rip off 

      one of the edges.  Before you glue it to the card, finish everything else on the front of 

      the green.  

-Glue the black polka dotted piece on with the top edge ripped. 

-Wrap the black and pink ribbon around the bottom and secure with glue dots on the back

       of the green. 

-I crinkled up the white paper so it looked worn and then I inked the edges of it before I

       glued it on.   

-Put the small safety pin on and tie the pink ribbon through it with your charm attached.  

      I found these cute keys to use, but you could cut something out of paper or use a 

      flower or pretty much anything.

-Glue the green paper on to the black paper.

-Use a small hole punch to punch the holes for the eyelets and insert the four eyelets.

-Use thread, twine, string, or ribbon and insert through the holes and tie them on the inside 

       of the card and you're done!

Any Occasion Card

Here's a cute card for any occasion.  Choose a paper with a design on one side and plain on the other and fold it so that the design is on the inside of the card.  Don't fold it exactly in half though, leave about one inch of the design showing along the edge.  Then I just used some flowers held together by brads and some white crinkle paper that I stamped "Just for you" on to finish it off.  For the inside of the card, I cut a piece of white paper wide enough to also show from the front and I tore the edge off to give it a worn look. 

Flowers for hair, crafts, etc.

I just learned how to make the cutest flowers to put in your hair, or on a hat, or a purse, or wherever you want.  Here's what you'll need:   

                                 Solid fabric (8"x 8" square is enough fabric for one flower and I like to 

                                                     use a  shimmery / satiny type fabric)

                                 Sheer fabric/netting that corresponds/matches the solid 

                                                     (5"x 5" square is enough sheer for one flower)

                                 beads or a button for the middle

                                 needle and thread

                                 1" by 2" rectangle of felt 

                                 hair barrette

                                 candle

                                 hot glue gun

Okay, first cut out of all your circles* according to the following measurements (you can make smaller flowers by leaving off the biggest circles):

 

4" circle - solid fabric            (you can cut out the layers however you want....more

3 1/2 " circle - solid fabric        or less sheer depending on how full you want the flower)

3" circle - solid and sheer fabric

2 1/2" circle - sheer fabric

2" circle - solid fabric

1 1/2" circle - solid and sheer fabric

*It's probably easiest to just get a piece of paper and draw your circles on it and then cut them out and use them as a pattern.  Then it's easy to see if you can fit the circles on to scraps of fabric that you already have. :)

Now comes the fun part.....burning the edges.  The type of fabric you have will determine how fast it burns, so I would practice on a scrap of fabric first. You can burn the edges of the sheer fabric like I did in the example above, but if you use netting instead of sheer, DO NOT BURN THE NETTING!  It will disintegrate and burn your fingers, because it burns so fast.  You don't have to hold the fabric directly in the flame, the heat about 1/4" to 1/2" above the flame is hot enough to curl the edge of your fabric.  Don't worry about getting it perfect, the different amounts that it curls is what adds to the character of the flower.  

After you've burned all of your pieces, layer them up in size order.  Sometimes I burned a piece so much that it turned out smaller than I thought it would so it fit in a different order than originally planned, but it doesn't really matter, you can layer as much or as little as you want.  You can have the sheer between every layer of solid, or only add two layers.  With the netting, since you don't burn the edges of it, it adds a different look that is cute, and it's kind of fun if you don't line it up exactly with the other layers, so that the netting sticks out here and there.

Take your needle and thread and do two or three stitches through all of the layers to hook your flower together and then sew your beads in the middle, going through all of the layers to further secure the layers.  If you're putting the flower on a bag or something, then you're done!  But if you want to make it into a barrett for your hair, or to clip on to a head band or a hat, then do this last step. 

Cut out the felt to be just slightly bigger than your barrette and sew the felt onto the barrette on each end as shown in the picture.  Then hot glue the felt to the back of your flower. These flowers may sound complicated, but they go together really fast and look adorable!  Have fun!

Valentine's Day Card

Here is a cute idea for a Valentine's Day card.  Here's what you'll need:

Solid dark pink card stock, cut in half (5 1/2" x 8 1/2")

1 sheet of solid light pink card stock

2 corresponding prints

flower/butterfly/heart embellishment

sheer ribbon

Here are the measurements for the rectangles:

large light pink 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"

large print rectangle 4 1/4" x 3"

small light pink rectangle 3" x 2 1/4"

small print rectangle 2 3/4" x 2"

Glue all the rectangles together, add your embellishment to the front, tie the 

ribbon around the whole thing and then glue it on the dark pink card 

stock and voila you're done!

Paper Heart Wreath

At JoAnn's I got this "how to paper" that gave instructions on how to make a paper wreath for Christmas using  paper and a cutting machine. Because I am short on Valentine Decorations I decided to make this heart wreath. I wanted to do black and white, but I think it would look really cute with vintage colored paper.

                                                                   Supplies needed:
                                                   Foam Wreath (any shape will do)
                                                                 Ribbon for hanging
                                                              12 pieces  8x11  Double sided patterned paper (or less depending                                     on the size of wreath, and size of paper
                                                              Package of sewing pins
                                                                     Brown Ink stamp
                                                             Flower die cut, or Die cutting machine
                                                        

First I used my Silhouette to cut out a bunch of flowers, different sizes.

Then I used my ink to ink the edges of each flower. I stacked two or three different sized flowers 

on top of each other, and curled each flower pedal in to make a 3 dimensional look.

I then used my pins and pinned each flower onto the heart wreath.  I found this wreath at a thrift store and it was already covered with ribbon so I left the ribbon on, but you do not need to cover the wreath with ribbon.  I stuck my flowers pretty close together so the pressure of each pedal against each other would help keep them curled up. I also cut out some leafs and used them to cover up any holes.

       After covering the whole wreath I pinned my hanging ribbon on the back using pins. When making this wreath you can use any type of paper for any holiday and any type of flowers. You can use the same flower cutout like I did or you mix different types of flowers. Also you can use brads in the center of some flowers to add a more decorative touch.
                      

Easy Material Flowers

 You will have to forgive my pictures for this post, my camera's flash went out, so if I don't get enough light then they are blurry. Anyways I used my cuddle bug (a hand die cutting machine) with a sizzix flower die cut to make these cute flowers.

 I used three matching fabrics, and ran them through the machine. (I love this machine it was cheaper then a lot of the other hand die cutting machines, and it cuts fabric, metal, paper, and other medium weight materials.)

 I cut out a circle with some felt to help the flower keep it's shape. Then I got some buttons to place in the middle of the flower.

 I sewed the button in the middle of the flower to the felt circle. Then I sewed through the different layers of material and felt to keep the flower together. (When sewing the flower together try to make small stitches so you can't see them.)

Now that the flower is done I hot glued it onto a hair clip for my girls. If you do not want to sew the different layers you can always hot glue gun them together. You can also use these flower as embellishments for cards , scrap booking and other crafts.

Any Occasion Card

I love when I have a card that I can use as a birthday card, thank you card, Mother's day card, or whatever I want it to be.  All you need is two corresponding prints, a stripe of solid and a square of white.  I chalked the edges of the white square with red ink, so that the edges were a little more subtle.  Then I used a brad to hook two flowers together and I punched the brad through the white paper as well.  It's easier to be able to just glue on the white square then it is to try to glue the flower to the card.

Little Boy Card

This card was so easy to make!  Find a cute paper at the scrapbook store that has pictures on it and cut them out and buy a corresponding print and two corresponding solid colors to go along with the pictures.  The paper I found had boats, train engines, trucks, spaceships, and stars on it.  I used three of the little 3D Foam square adhesives that are sticky on both sides to hook on the engine, boat and truck so that they were popping out a little.  What little boy wouldn't love this card?

This is a really simple card.  I used a solid, print, 2 brads, another small strip of a solid and whatever you want for the words.  You could stamp them or in this case I ran it off on my computer. 

Whatever color you pick for the inside is what you see on the front bottom of the card.  I folded the card in half and on the front flap I cut a smiley face by trimming off the edges of the card.  I glued the the print on the front and cut it to match. 

Next, using the brads, I attached the Happy Birthday paper onto the coordinating solid and then glued on the solid to the card.  That's it.  You can change it up and use whatever words you want. 

Christmas Tree Card

I know Christmas is over, but here is a cute idea for a homemade Christmas card for next year!  Just cut out 7 small rectangles out of corresponding Christmas prints and stack them on top of each other.  I cut a trunk out of little piece of brown paper and a star out of some red paper to finish it off.

Christmas Star Card

Since I don't plan on posting again later this week. I will be enjoying some much needed time with my kids I am posting everything today.

I love this Christmas card. The stars really make it.

You will need:
christmas paper
white cardstock
coordinating cardstock
3 cardboard stars (you could cut these out of cardboard yourself*)
string
vellum
brads or hooks of some kind

Cut out your white cardstock and fold it into a card. Print a Christmas message on your vellum. Then cut it into a rectangle. Glue the vellum on the coordinating paper. Cut the coordinating paper a little bigger than the vellum and glue onto the Christmas print paper. Use a needle to put a hole in the stars (you could also use yellow cardstock stars). Thread your string on the needle and use the needle to thread the stars on the string. To help prevent the stars from moving around tie a knot behind the star. Try threading your stars so that they are going different directions. Then tie the string around the hook and attach to the card. If you are using brads then punch the brads through the print paper first and then tie the thread around the brad. Then push the brad down on the other side of the print paper. Lastly glue your print paper on the white cardstock.

*To cut out the cardboard stars yourself download this star, print it out, and then use it to cut out the stars.

Christmas Card (Two for One)

I love Christmas. Back before I was a working mom I used to make homemade Christmas cards. Here is the same card with a different message and paper. It always amazes me how different cards can look when you just change a couple of things.

You will need:

Christmas print paper
coordinating paper

white cardstock

red ribbon (about 3/4 yard)

vellum

4 brads

Christmas sticker or printed message

Cut your card out of white cardstock and fold in half. Then cut your Christmas print paper so it fits the front of your card. Put your Christmas sticker or print a Christmas message on the vellum, cut it out, and attach it with brads to the Christmas print at the top of the card. You can use a background paper behind the vellum to add interest (especially if your background paper has a lot of white) as one of the cards shows. Then it is time to add the ribbon. Wrap the ribbon around the Christmas print twice below the vellum and then tie in a bow. Then glue your Christmas print paper on the white cardstock.

Hands Soap Bottles

It's probably my turn to post, since no one posted on Monday. Sorry. I have the hardest time keeping track of this extra item in my life. But I have two weeks off teaching for Christmas and actually have time to post. I love Christmas break.

So here is my Christmas or anytime craft for the week. It is super easy and cheap. My two favorite things when I'm making a craft.

You will need:
a bottle of soap (get the $1 Equate kind from Walmart)
transparency with hands saying printed on it
netting or ribbon
gift tags
rubbing alcohol or fingernail polish remover

First download a copy of the hands saying, then using your own printer or your local copy store print it onto a transparency. Cut apart the hands saying. Remove the labels from the soap bottle (Equate soap is the cheapest and easiest to remove the labels, Softsoap brand labels are hard to get off). Use the rubbing alcohol (works best) to remove and residue from the label. Then unscrew the lid of the soap bottle. Loosely roll the hands saying up (just small enough to fit in the soap bottle opening), it works better if you roll it back with the saying on the front. Then put the saying in the soap bottle. Use the soap dispenser to push it down a little and help it unroll. Be careful not to push it all the way down to the bottom. Screw the lid back on. Then tie the netting or ribbon around the top, attach a gift tag if you want, and viola a finished gift. You can use red and green colors for Christmas or other colors for birthday gifts.

Here is the download link for the Hands saying.
http://www.4shared.com/file/W0atSoFK/HANDS1.html

An Extra post

I got back from a cruise last week, and posted my Monday post but forgot my Thursday one. I am so sorry, so here is my post a couple of days late!
I made these Dashing through the Snow plagues for gifts. There were easy and fun to do. All you need is three pieces of wood that can be any size. (if you have some scraps they would work well) My wood was 4x4 and 3x4. 1/2 inch thick.

I painted the edge and backsides along with the top sides of the wood pieces
You can use any color you want that looks good with your paper

I cut my paper to be a little smaller then my wood. I then modge Podge the paper onto the wood

I cut these shapes using my Silhouette. And I cut the words Let It Snow in a different vinyl color then my images. If you do not have a vinyl machine you can always print an image onto the paper using your printer, or use some big stickers from the craft store.

There you go a gift for the neighbors or a decoration for yourself.