Happy Mother's Day!

Every Day Is the Best Day of the Year

I never make New Year's resolutions, but this year I've decided to make an "attitude resolution". Ralph Waldo Emerson sums it up perfectly: "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year." Good words to live by, I think. After an especially tough year (um, make that 2 years), I think a more positive attitude certainly can't hurt.

For this small card (2-3/4" x 4-1/2"), I heat-embossed the text with Versamark ink and silver detail embossing powder, and layered it on plum then silver metallic cardstock. Next is a patterned cardstock layered over mauve. Finally, I finished the card with a beige ribbon.

Happy New Year!

How-To: Birthday Gift Tag

On behalf of all of us who were almost born on Christmas Day, I'd like to say how much we all appreciate our birthday gifts, especially since we know you're so busy this time of year, not to mention broke. But (and that's a tiny little but), we love our gifts even more when the package doesn't look like a Christmas present. Maybe it's because we don't get a festive birthday break mid-year, or maybe it's because most December babies feel a little cheated in the birthday party department. In any case, take my word for it -- we really love, love, love it when that birthday gift isn't wrapped in red or green or holiday foil. (OK, I'm done whining, really!)

And think about it. Aren't you a little tired of holiday-themed projects and crafts? But if you still need to work on Christmas items, this tag can easily be adapted to any occasion.

First, stamp a greeting on a small piece of cardstock. Size is totally flexible, depending on what stamp(s) you're using. Layer that piece on a slightly larger piece of contrasting cardstock. Then, layer that onto a slightly wider piece that has some extra length for folding over.

Next, I used my scallop scissors to make a fancy edge. See that pencil line near the scallops? That's how I manage to cut a nice, straight decorative edge. The pencil line won't show once the tag is folded.

Score a fold line using a ruler and bone folder, and fold your decorative edge over the end of your stamped image. If you want, you can hold it in place with adhesive, but it's not absolutely necessary because now you'll add an eyelet.

Now punch a tiny hole and attach an eyelet, then add a pretty ribbon or two. You can tie your tag around a gift bag, or attach it to a wrapped gift.

How-To: Treat Bag Topper

A bag topper is one of the easiest ways to dress up a holiday treat or stocking stuffer. For the 4" x 6" cellophane bag pictured here, I cut a 4" x 4" square, folded it in half, and attached my stamped image to the front with mono-adhesive. I then punched 2 holes and tied everything together with a ribbon. Just be sure you insert the bag into your folded topper before punching the holes.

How-To: Holiday Treat Box

This is a simple treat box that can be cut, decorated, and constructed in no time flat. The box pictured here measures 3" wide by 2" deep by 2-1/4" high. It easily holds 3 cookies in a cellophane bag. At this size, you can make 2 boxes out of a single sheet of cardstock, plus scraps for the greeting.

First, refer to the image below for cutting and scoring instructions.

Next, decorate the outside of your box. Don't worry about getting good coverage on the bottom flaps, since they won't really show.

Fold the box together. The small side flap tucks to the inside, as do the smaller 2 bottom flaps. Glue or use double-sided tape to secure.

Stamp a greeting on a scrap of cardstock and attach to the front of your box.

Fill the box with a cellophane bag of treats, tied with a ribbon.

How-To: Takeout Box Gift Package

I wish I could tell you where I got the template for this little takeout box, but it has been so long since I used it, that I simply can't remember. However, a quick search of the web should result in several free patterns. I just happened to come across a few of these today, already cut out, in a folder, probably left over from a workshop. You can find something similar at Mirkwood Designs, and there are many free templates at By Donovan, although I didn't see a takout box there. Boxes are also available at craft stores, but it's easier to make your own than to take one apart to decorate it. This box measures approximately 2-1/2" tall.

My first step was to stamp a snowflake design all over the flat cardstock.

Next, I used a bone folder and a ruler to score all the fold lines, and carefully folded the box. Once you score all the fold lines, it will be pretty obvious how the box should be folded.

Then I used a long-reach punch to punch 1/8" holes in the sides, through which I inserted a tiny brad. The brads should hold everything in place, so there's really no need to use tape or glue. If you have a Crop-a-Dile (which, sadly, I don't!), you can easily punch holes through all three layers at once, or you could even use eyelets here, and maybe add a wire handle through the eyelets.

To finish off your box, fill it with treats or a gift, and tie it with a ribbon.

How To Add A One-Hole Bow To Your Greeting Card

The one-hole bow has been around for a while, but just in case you've never made one, I've provided some directions below. What I like about this bow-making method is that the bow is always straight when it's finished. I typically end up with bows that are slanted to one side, but not with this technique.

First, punch a hole where you want the bow to be. I used a 1/4" hole-punch for my 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

Next, place your ribbon on top of the cardstock. Be sure you cut a longer piece of ribbon than usual, because it will be wrapping completely around your cardstock before being tied into a bow.

Wrap the ribbon around to the back of the cardstock, then thread both ends through the hole from back to front. Pull one end out below the ribbon, and one end out above it.

Now tie a bow and you're done. I've attached this small element to a card, but this technique is also very effective when used directly on a full-size card, especially if you use a dramatic or fancy ribbon.

Recycling: Using Paint Chips On Your Cards

I've repainted a lot of rooms over the years, and I always end up with a stack of these paint chips when the project is over. If it's a color I actually used, I'll file it away in case I need to buy more for touchups, but I really don't need to hang on to the others. Instead of throwing them in the trash, I've been using them on cards and other projects. They come in handy when you don't have cardstock in the colors you need. I especially like the ones with the little window openings, because they make nice frames for small designs.

Here are some quick instructions on one way I recycle paint chips into greeting card components.

1. Trim the paint chip to the size you need.
2. Glue on a ribbon to cover the text at the bottom. You can cut the text off if you don't want to use ribbon.
3. Hmm, that red ribbon is a bit plain, so I'll add a gold ribbon on top of that.
4. Heat emboss a small design onto a scrap of cardstock, and glue that to the back of the paint chip so that it shows through the window. I embossed a snowflake with Versamark ink and gold embossing powder.
5. Dry emboss a background on the Cuttlebug, or use plain or printed paper.
6. Attach to a folded card, and you're done.

For more stamped projects with snowflakes, go over to Wednesday Stamper this week, where the current challenge is Snowflake Kisses.

Twinchies - Pink Ribbon

Over at Small World of Inchies & Twinchies, the current theme, Pink Ribbon, reminds us that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I haven't sewn on paper in a while, and since I had my machine out for a busy sewing day (first a wristlet key fob tutorial for my other blog, then bedroom curtains out of a bed sheet from the back of the linen closet!), I thought it was time to zigzag some cardstock layers together. I had forgotten how much I love this type of sewing.

For this twinchie, I first stamped onto textured cardstock, stitched that to gray cardstock, then attached those layers to a stamped background. After adding a tiny stamped "Hope" tag, I finished everything off with a pink ribbon.

Wildflowers and Butterflies

I've been trying to change up my cardmaking style just a little bit, and have been experimenting with color combinations I wouldn't ordinarily try. I saw a similar red, green, and teal combo on the Stampin' Up! website, and was surprised at how much it appealed to me. Although the bottom of this card appears to be a different color, it's actually the same cardstock as on the top. The bottom is heat embossed with winter white, and the top is SU!'s Old Olive ink on Mellow Moss cardstock. The letters were embossed as well, then punched out with a 1/2" circle punch.

Leaf Card

All too often I find myself cutting full sheets of paper to make a card, while my collection of scraps grows ever larger. So occasionally I try to pull all my materials from scraps only. That's how this little card was born. It measures only 3-3/4" x 3-3/4", and is constructed from pieces that were tossed aside from other projects.

I organize all my cardstock in hanging file folders, sorted by color, which makes it easier to keep track of all the tiny pieces I save. Rarely does anything go in the trash, because it all has a use eventually. My patterned paper isn't quite as organized -- it's all in the sturdy box-with-a-handle that D's MacBook was packed in.

Thinking of You Card

For a friend going through a tough time.

Supplies: cardstock, ink, and stamp from Stampin' Up!; Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder; metallic gold cord.

Handbag Greeting Card

If you've ever visited my other blog, then you know I love handbags. So when I found Angie Kennedy Juda's video tutorial for this handbag card, of course I had to make it. Angie uses four different punches in her demonstration to very quickly construct her card, but since I don't have any large punches I used my Coluzzle to cut my circles. This added a little bit of time to the project, but it was still very easy. I don't have any rhinestone brads, so I substituted a regular mini-brad. So cute!

Gift Packaging - Brown & Blue

I've mentioned before that I enjoy making my own gift packaging, although I'm not sure the recipients really appreciate or even pay that much attention to the package. Still, I like to do it, especially if the gift is tiny. The package pictured here is nice for things like jewelry or cash, but I think it's most commonly used for treats, such as Hershey's Kisses and other individually wrapped candies.

This particular package is called a sour cream container, after the little pouches of sour cream that you frequently see in restaurants. You can find a well-illustrated tutorial at Splitcoaststampers.

The creative prompt over at Wednesday Stamper this week is brown combo, so I chose a blue and brown color palette for this item, with a single stamped flower for the tag.

Moo Cards - Clocks

The current challenge at Make a Moo or Two is clocks. For my moo cards, I laser-printed a clock onto scrapbook paper, added some stamped images, and completed the project with text printed onto cardstock, and some tiny pieces of mulberry paper. Very quick and easy!

Paisley Thank You Card

I'm just back from my trip to Alabama, and am trying to get back into the blogging groove. I've got tons of ideas, but I'm still tired from the drive yesterday, and my motivation is a bit low. I made this card before the trip, and just never got around to posting it here. Scrapbook paper by NRN Designs, stamp and cardstock from Stampin' Up!

Summer Card

Now that summer is nearly over and school has already started, I'm finally getting around to making a summer-themed card. This blank greeting card was a snap to make, with wavy-edged scissors from Fiskars, Pool Words scrapbook paper from the Paper Studio, grosgrain ribbon, and a stamp, ink, and cardstock from Stampin' Up!.

Hugs and Kisses Stamped Card

I keep pulling out those 2-step stamp sets lately. I usually just "stamp off" once for step 1, then follow up with the same ink color full-strength for step 2, but I've realized that the result can sometimes be boring. So this time, I used a contrasting color for step 2, and I think it's a lot more interesting. I finished everything off with a scrap of mulberry paper and some grosgrain ribbon. All stamps, ink, and cardstock from Stampin' Up!.

Artist Trading Cards - Wednesday Stamper/Two Tone

Now that I'm working 8 hours a day, I'm fiercely protective of my free time, and I don't always use that time efficiently because I'm spending too much of it deciding what I want to do. Tonight, I want to make ATCs, but I also want to finish a book I'm reading so I can stock up at the library again before the weekend. So I challenged myself to stamp something quick and easy, so that I'll have time left over for reading. The current topic at Wednesday Stamper is Two-Tone, and that helped me narrow down my color choices, which really did save time. For the second ATC, I used mostly scraps (have I mentioned that I never throw out even the smallest bits of leftover paper?). Now, I'm off to finish my book. Maybe I'll get done in time to do some more stamping!

Moo Card - Birds

If you love moo cards, you should head on over to Make a Moo or Two, where you can find loads of inspiration in dozens of styles. This week, the challenge topic there is birds. On the moo card pictured here, I've heat embossed a tiny bird in winter white, and simply layered her over some stamped flowers and swirls in cheerful summer colors. As I nearly always do, I've added a bit of knotted ribbon.