Earring Box

I've loved giving the earrings I've made as gifts, and the favor boxes have almost been the perfect boxes for them. The only problem has been securing the earrings in the boxes so they aren't just rattling around or getting lost in a mile of tissue paper.

But - I've found the solution in a simple square of scrapbook paper.

Simply cut a square of paper the same width as the box and about 1" longer.

Then fold the extra 1" or so of the paper.

Then cut the number of slits you need at the fold.

Slip the earrings into the slits and if you'd like, secure on the back with a piece of tape.

There you go - the perfect way to secure the earrings in the box. And it actually works for any sort of jewelry. You can thread the ends of a necklace or bracelet through 2 slits.

Holiday Ornament Cards

My apologies to anyone on our Christmas card list - you're seeing our holiday cards a bit early. But, each one is unique so you still won't know which is yours 'till they are all done and in your mail box.

This idea was inspired by something a friend did last year, they have a tree by their door and with every photo card they get, each one is bunched with a hole, a ribbon goes through it and adorns that tree. So I thought, why can't our card include an ornament???

The ornament on the front of the card actually comes off - there is a photo of the kids on one side, and a lyric from one of my favorite Christmas Songs. (I've set a slide show to the song for friends and family to  check out the rest of our year....)

Here is what I used to make the cards:

• Pre-made cards, purchased at Michael's, 50 of them for $6 using a 40% coupon
• Holiday scrapbook paper, cut into rectangles for the front and inside of the cards, then circles for the ornaments. 
• Holiday messages printed on velim
• Glue Sticks
• Ribbon
• Clear tape
• Photo of the kids, cut into circles

To assemble the ornaments, I paired up coordinating papers and glued the picture to one side and the message to the other.

Then I punched a hole in the top of the ornament and strung a ribbon through it.

Next, time to create the cards. Simply glue one of the rectangles of scrapbook paper onto the front of the card. I also glued a circle to the front of the cards that were more plain so that once the ornament was removed the card could still be enjoyed.

For the inside of the card, I glued in another piece of paper and then our holiday message.

Then a small hole through the front of the card, and then the ribbon from the ornament is threaded through and taped to the inside.

And you've got a Holiday Ornament Card

Analog Bookmarks

When you think of "Bookmarks"... you think of the digital bookmarks you make with your browser not the kind you slip in a book to save your spot. 

I loved bookmarks when I was growing up, I don't know why. But I've realized I haven't seen them lately. So I made a batch.

So far, I've used them as gift tags for presents, used them in magazines and cookbooks. 

Here is what you need to make your own:

• Scrapbook paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Laminating supplies - you can make this easy, with any number of things like laminating papers or contact paper. I had use for a laminator so using a 40% off coupon I picked one up at AC Moore. 

Step 1 - Cut strips of scrapbook paper to roughly 1 inch wide by 5 inches long... though the first ones I made were 1.5 inches wide. 

Step 2 - Using a glue, attach the strip to a piece of coordinating paper.

Step 3 - Cut around the backing paper so that you have a uniform board around.

Step 4 - Laminate the bookmarks.

Trim them and then you're good to go.

And to use them as a gift tag, just grab a dry erase marker.

The lamination creates the perfect dry erase surface. Once the gift is given, the message can be erased and the gift tag becomes their bookmark.

Gift tags, stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, party favors... or maybe next year, they can be handed out instead of candy on Halloween.

What I've Learned Wednesday: Scissors for Everything

You might have picked up on that I'm kind of freak about scissors. My husband fears for the day when I realize he's used my sewing scissors have been used to cut paper. If that happens, he's in trouble.

Scissor for fabric will be ruined if they are used to cut paper. But sewing scissors, good sewing scissors will make your fabric projects so much easier. Ok, we'll maybe not quite as dramatic as that, but once you've cut fabric with real fabric scissors, you'll never want to go back to general scissors again.

But - here is a bit of an ironic part, my favorite craft scissors - as a pair of embroidery scissors, yes, the sister of sewing, embroidery... Technically I should be ashamed of myself. Using embroidery scissors for crafts??? Paper crafts even??? 

In my defense, they were not bought for embroidery, they were bought for exactly what they are being used for. Cutting intricate papers. Nipping stretch magic. Look at the tiny tips on these:

Those little blades can get in and out of anything with ease. 

Now, if you're a fan of embroidery, I don't recommend taking your embroidery scissors to your paper crafts. But do pick up a pair of these little suckers for your paper crafts.

And get a pair of sewing scissors for your fabric crafts while you're at it, just don't let me catch you using them on paper. 

Pumpkin Stem and Tendril Tuturial

Thank you all so much for the fabulous comments about the pumpkins! I can't tell you how much I loved this project and to see that you do to... it's awesome!

Judy did ask for a bit of clarification on the stem and tendrils that were on each pumpkin:

I kind of glossed over those in the tutorial - sorry about that... but I'm back to day with the full instructions on how to make them.

Materials:

• Streamer in the color of your choice
• Scissors
• Chop stick
• The cat is optional, cute, not terribly helpful, but optional.

1st up - the tendrils 
Step 1 - cut a 8-10" length of streamer.

Step 2 - Start rolling the streamer on the long edge.

Step 3 - Then start twisting and twisting and twisting...

Until the entire length is twisted.

Step 4 - Starting at the end of the streamer, wrap it very tightly around the chop stick continuing to twist as you wrap.

Step 5 - Pull the tendril of the chop stick and lightly tug on each end of it to help unravel it just a bit.

And there you have it... a tendril.

Next up, the stem. 

Step 1 - Start with a slightly longer streamer and repeat steps 1-3 above so that you have a twisted piece of streamer.

Step 2 - Tear off another 8-10" piece of streamer and start wrapping the short end around the twisted streamer.

Step 3 - repeat over and over and over to beef up the stem.

Step 4 - Then really start twisting the stem, get out all your aggression on this little sucker.

Step 5 - Fold the stem in half and twist away again.

Then just trim the end of the stem and there you go... pumpkin stem and tendril just waiting to be glued onto your puffy pumpkins... or whatever other pumpkins are in need.

Another thank you to Judy for asking for clarification on how to make these. Any other questions, let me know!