Little Birds and Chinese Fortune Plaque

Little birds and Chinese fortune cookie slips* go quite well together, don't you think? I found a few of these dandy little wood plaques at the hobby shop and knew they had wonderful things in store for them. Liam and I made an XTC altar-like plaque for our Jeremy and I just couldn't stop making more. They can be quick and easy or decadent and elaborate. What would you do with a little wood plaque? Here is one way to get started. Send pictures of your lovely (and not so lovely) creations my way when you're done craftin'.
Gather Your Supplies:

1. tiny, sharp scissors
2. pencil
3. Xacto knife
4. ruler
5. cutting mat
6. paint brush
7. acrylic craft paint
8. Yes! paste or Elmers glue stick
9. wood plaque
10. papers: printed and plain
11. fortune cookie slip

Craft:
1. Sand plaque smooth or just try to pick a smooth one at the hobby shop. Paint entire plaque, front and back.

2. On backside of paper, trace the raised front of plaque. See how my pencil is angled in? This helps create a more accurate pattern. Cut out, staying just inside of your drawn line.

3. Lay out all of your pieces and see what you think. Now is the time to add a painted gold border or glue on that sweet plastic squirrel you've been saving. I decided to go sweet and simple, cutting a red cardstock background for my little fortune.

4. Glue. Wait- not yet. Your paper background may be a little too big. Lay it in place without glue first, just to check. Press the paper edges over the lip to creat a tiny crease. Now snip along the crease to remove excess and it should be a perfect fit! Now glue, remembering to begin pressing in the middle, fanning out to the edges to avoid ripples.
5. Attach a small picture hanger to the back, the triangle or toothy type. Whichever is floating around your kitchen drawer. I prefer to glue with E600, rather than messing with the tiny nails that come with the hanger.
6. Gather the neighbors, hold it high and shout, "TA-DAAA!".

A little birdie told me, "You will sleep well at night.". This plaque will be mailed out to a swap partner as yet unnamed through Swap-Bot. I hope it is loved. Write with questions, suggestions, and favorite recipes to missamyo [at] charter.net.

PS: While there are centuries old traditions of hiding fortunes in sweet cakes all over the world, the fortune cookie as we know it is an American invention.

Spend Less, Give More

A vintage book of people, places, and things from 1949- the year my mother was born. Thrift score at .50!

I absolutely love the long run between September and January. With all of my immediate family's birthdays (including my own) sprinkled amongst the Holidays, it is one non-stop party. But it can hit hard if I'm not prepared. Here are a smattering of lovelies to help you be ready next year. As always, click on the blue words to see what adventure they may take you to...
1. Save all of your change throughout the year. You can roll it yourself or use a Coinstar kiosk to get gift certificates for places like Amazon.com, Starbucks, and more. Roll your own if just want the cash- Coinstar charges up to 9% to roll for you, unless you choose the gift certificate option.

2. Pay an extra $5-10 every month on each utility. When November/December rolls around, you should have enough built up extra payments to cover utility expenses in your budget and use the cash to go shopping!
3. Open a Santa Saver account at your bank with a twist. Have $5-20 transferred every month from your checking to savings. Since you’ll be spending less on gifts this year, use the winter cash to see the Nutcracker or buy the bike on the Angel Tree at the Salvation Army.
4. Make your own gifts. Have a gift makin’ party with a few crafty friends and make a batch of the same gift: ribbon bookmarks, photo calendars, decorated cigar boxes…You’ll have gifts on hand for birthdays, housewarmings, and the Holidays.
5. Pick up small gift certificates throughout the year. You are much less likely to spend them than rolls of 5-ers in the cookie jar. Renting a movie tonight? Get a $10 gift certificate to tuck away for a nephew. Meeting a friend for coffee? Pick up a gift certificate to give her for her birthday or Christmas.
6. Give magazine subscriptions (cheaply). Best Deal Magazines has hundreds of magazine subscriptions available for under $10, and tons for less than 5 bucks! I’ve ordered Vogue, Rolling Stone, Family Fun, Budget Living, and more for $4.97 for an entire year long subscription. Make a coupon or gift certificate to let the recipient know what’s coming their way along with the current months issue of their new magazine.
7. Does your great Aunt Ethel really need more stuff? Let her know how much she means and what she has shared with you. Did she send a book every birthday? Donate to her local library in her name. Maybe she was a nature lover. Donate in her name to support a local trail or, better yet, spend an afternoon with the fam helping maintain it. Give a ‘certificate’ stating your donation and a letter explaining the significance.
8. Not crafty but love handmade? You can find the perfect handmade gift for any budget at Etsy.com.
9. Spend the afternoon at your local used bookstore. You’ll find beautiful books, some you would never guess are ‘used’. Give your baking friend a vintage cookbook or your handy hubby a project book to inspire him. Classic children’s books are a winner no matter what age the recipient is.
10. Make your own photo calendar for about $5, not $19.99. Download free calendar templates here. Have prints made of your favorite photos and mount. Save some months to decorate by hand with drawings, a favorite poem or recipe. You can add special dates throughout the calendar. Staples or Kinkos will bind for around $2 per calendar.

Send me your own lovely Holiday ideas to missamyo [at] charter.net