Roooarrrr! (Translation: Thank You)

You know, I don't really consider myself a card-maker. I have several friends who make beautiful cards with card stock and pretty papers and ribbons and stamps. And while I can appreciate them, it's just not "me," not something I've had an interest in. Yet, yesterday I found myself working on more hand made cards, and I suddenly realized, "Ah, I guess I sort of do make cards."

I thought about it some more and decided that I don't make cards because I really love card making itself, but because I enjoy giving a card that is hand made. It's just that I don't do it in the more common, "scrapbook-y" way (for lack of a better term). My way is rather "quick and dirty," a little more carefree, but I like it that way. And it's great for using up and sharing toddler art.


Here's how you can make this kind of card too, in five easy steps:

1. Get some construction paper and stamps and ink. I used a set of foam jungle stamps that I found for $1 at Michael's and the cheapest ink pads I could get (because I knew they wouldn't be treated with much care). Let toddler stamp to heart's content (or, if lacking a toddler, stamp the cards yourself in a toddler-ish way).

2. Cut stamped paper into appropriate sizes and shapes for pre-made blank cards (or your own cards made with card stock). I like using my accumulated scrapbooking tools to make decorative edges, and I rounded the corners of the cards.

3. Attach the stamped paper to the cards.

4. Add a few accent stamps to the inside of the cards and on the envelopes.

5. Use a pen to jot your desired greeting on the card. (I then use a different style and color of ink to write a more personal message, so the greeting looks like part of the card's design.)


Voila! It's another quick, simple way to make something that's a little more personal, a little more fun. I like the abstract, colorful look of these, people like having my kiddo's artwork, and she likes making a huge mess all over my craft space. Everyone wins.

This Is Love

Here's another simple embroidered card. It was put together to send along with a baby gift, and since I know my friend received it, I can post it here. From the front I think it looks a little plain since I just used a premade blank card, but when you see it with the scrapbooking paper inside it sort of flows nicely. At least I think so. :)


Some of the stitching is by machine, some by hand, and the photos are taken from when my daughter was a baby.



Ah, new babies and embroidered cards. Some of the things I love best!

Mom's Day, Belated

I know I'm a little late with the sentiment, but Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there. It's hard work, all the face-wiping and boo boo-patching and diaper-changing and so on, but it's the best job in the world. I hope you got some extra kisses and cuddles and enjoyed your day.

I've been experimenting with new ways to use my interest in sewing and embroidery and have recently stitched up a few greeting cards. I'm really liking the result and decided that I wanted to make Mother's Day cards for the moms in our family. I kept the designs simple, using some 3x5" watercolor paintings done by my toddler and incorporating something that was unique to each person--a quilt design for the quilter, a flower for the gardener, a birdhouse for the bird watcher.


I think I'll be trying more of these in the future, using even more variety in the style and materials. It's really enjoyable to use a medium I already enjoy in a fresh way, and the possibilities are endless.


(As always, more photos on flickr.)

Bits and Bobs

I've had this list of projects to finish. I purposely started with the biggest things so that if I got caught up in busy-ness in December I could squeeze in little projects here and there with minimal stress. But a couple weeks ago it started to really bother me that I had a list of small projects looming over me even though I still had one big project to go. It bothered me more than the idea of getting all the little ones done and having one big one hanging in the wings. So I reordered my list. I'm still working on the bigger one, as mentioned in the last post, but I've been making time for the other bits as well.

Here you see what I've been up to today.


I made corner bookmarks to go with a book purchased as a birthday gift. (These recycle old envelopes! I used fancy paper and stamps. Some of the ones at this link are so impressive. I decided to keep it simpler, but I may enjoy exploring more creative options some day.)


I made knotted bracelets as another part of the same birthday gift. (Couldn't find the width of cord recommended so used 2 mm and it worked out fine.)


And I made a notebook as a stocking stuffer for Christmas. (I particularly like this one, for no reason other than that I like to look at it)

These were all great projects in that they were very easy to do (check out the tutorials!), took minimal supplies (most of which I already had), and were very satisfying when completed. I will definitely keep them in my bag of tricks for future quickie-but-impressive gift needs.

I also made some homemade peanut butter dog biscuits but did not take photos. For some reason our family always gives gifts to each other's pets. I ate one to see what it was like, and I have to say it's a good thing dogs aren't terribly discriminating in their tastes. (At least, the ones I know aren't.)

I've one more small project that I hope to complete tomorrow, and otherwise it's back to the larger embroidery. Almost all of the gifts are wrapped, the cards are mailed, the candy is made. And there are still eight shopping days 'til Christmas!



P.S. Thanks to One Pretty Thing for all the great links to these and other projects.