Sparkling Snowflakes Wreath

Isn’t it funny how one thing often leads to another when browsing the web?

I can be searching for something as mundane as “how to remove a juice stain” and before I know it I’m clicking on a dinner recipe, or reading some interesting article, or gleefully wading through a gallery of craft ideas!

Don’t ask me how I bumped into the little project I will feature in this post.

I can tell you one thing, for sure. I was not looking for it. 😉

curlyline

If you’ve shopped the aisles of any of the craft super-stores, you know that the supplies for paper crafts are endless. They call out to me – especially when they’re on sale – and I’ve accumulated a nice little collection. I don’t use them very often, and that’s a shame because working with paper can be incredibly soothing. (Must be the kid in me that feels that way!)

Today, I have an ornament to show you. It caught my eye because it’s made with something I already have – a Martha Stewart snowflake stamp!

In fact I already had most of the supplies!

There was only one I had to buy . . .

I had never used Stickles before (Where have I been?), but are they ever fun! Who could resist glitter that rolls on easily and dries sparkly? I’m of the opinion that everything looks better with a hint of glitter. 😀

Isn’t this pretty? (This is the back side.) Nice for the Christmas tree and gorgeous for a package tie-on!

And here’s the front of the ornament. It has a very cool 3-d effect in person. I think this decoration is holiday-neutral enough to keep on display all winter long!!


If you, too, have an urge to play with paper, the directions can be found here.

Hugs,

crystal-1b3-copy-flatfullwidth

It’s A Secret

If you are reading this and you are my eldest daughter

STOP reading right now!!!

Grab that mouse and click to another page!

I’m going to be talking about a surprise that’s on the way to you. 🙂

curlyline



Is she gone? 😉

Ok, good!

You may remember that my daughter lives with her husband in Europe and that she LOVES the Easter “Peeps”. (There’s a funny story about our efforts to send her some last Easter. You can find it here.)

This year, I found a new way to celebrate her fondness for peeps – I made her an Easter card.

curlyline

Notice the little rubber stamp in the top right of this photo? When I saw that stamp, I just had to buy it.


Here is my “peeps” card! It’s fairly small – about 4″ x 5″. To make the envelope, I took apart an old white one, and then used it as a template for the striped paper.


I don’t think she’ll mind if I show you the inside . . .

(Tulips are her favorite flower!)

Gosh, it was fun to do.

I must try to find the time to play with paper more often!

Hugs,

crystal-1b3-copy-flatfullwidth

Playing with Paper

When a clever marketing person dubbed Sally Hansen’s combination base and top coat “Double Duty”, I’m pretty sure he was touting the fact that it’s two NAIL products in one.

But I’m using it for two separate purposes: Nails and BEADS!

You remember those paper beads we saw on our group-shopping extravaganza last week? Well, afterwards, I was inspired to grab a piece of scrapbook paper and try my hand at making a paper bead. (Can you imagine? This bead-lover had never made a paper bead before this week!)

Here they are with their manicure, um, I mean glossy top coat. It gives them a slight sheen and will protect them from a stray splash of water!

Now to figure out a jewelry design for them . . .

Hugs,

crystal-1b3-copy-flatfullwidth

When you care enough . . .

snowsceneYou’ve probably heard the Hallmark Cards slogan that says “When you care enough to send the very best…” I have a feeling that making the card yourself would probably mean the most, though. 😉

I haven’t made many cards but I love to receive a handmade card and occasionally I have fun playing with pretty paper, rubber stamps, punched-out shapes, and ribbons. It takes me back to the time when, as a child, I’d watch Captain Kangaroo on TV. Does anyone know who the heck I’m talking about? LOL

That really was a long time ago, but the Captain used to pull out the colored paper, paste, and blunt edged scissors for a segment of the show he called “playtime”, where he’d demonstrate how to make something fun.

the_play_date_cafe_challenge__7

Lately, I’ve been entering my jewelry in The Play Date Cafe’s weekly Creativity Challenges, but since most of the others enter cards, I thought I’d try one this time.

Here’s my entry for Challenge #7 with the colors green, white, and red:

Brr card400

I love snowmen and when I saw that I had some appropriate buttons in my button box, I was off and running. The little guy needed a scarf to snuggle around his neck. I decided to use embroidery floss to crochet one. The hat is black felt and the trees were made with a Martha Stewart paper punch. With all that personality, I just knew he must have a heart. Luckily, I had a heart-shaped sequin for the finishing touch!

‘Til next time,

crystal-1b3-copy-flatfullwidth

Easy Gifts to Make

We may be in the midst of the “computer age”, but sometimes you just need a piece of paper handy for jotting down a quick note, or a list, or a message.

Recently, I made some decorative notepads and I thought you might like to see them!

notepads

They cost only pennies to make. The main ingredient is a 12-pack of small white notepads. Add colorful cardstock covers and then embellish them as elaborately or as simply as you choose! I had so much fun with these. What cute little gifts or stocking stuffers they’d be!

notepads1

Clenna has requested some ideas for crafts to make with children to be used as gifts for their parents, grandparents, etc. This might be a good project to work on with the kids – as long as an adult supervises the use of scissors! A child could even showcase some of his/her own drawings for the cover art. Grandma would surely love that!

I can take no credit for the original idea here. I found it months ago, bought the supplies, and have just now had the chance to actually make some. In one of my previous posts, I blogged about the talented designer and included a link to her video tutorial, where she gives complete directions and measurements. You can find it here.

So now I can’t wait to make notepads for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s – well, you know what I mean!

I’d love to see any that you make, too! 😀

crystal-1b3-copy-flatfullwidth