Lollipop Flower Valentine

In a burst of enthusiasm for the upcoming paper crafting extravaganza known as Valentines Day, I volunteered to make Valentines for the staff at Liam's elementary school (yes, the entire staff) on behalf of PTA. Loving paper, crafts and Valentines Day, it seemed like a good idea at the time. But handmaking that many without getting burned out? Lollipop Flower Valentines to the rescue. Here is an easy and quick craft that is perfectly cheery & not too smooshy sweet. They were fun to make down to the very last one.

I clipped an image of a similiar Valentine from an old Martha Stewart Kids magazine, a stash I received thanks to Freecycle. Martha probably did it differently, but this is how I made mine:

Gather Supplies:

patterned or colored paper

scissors

glue stick

small lollipops

Xacto knife

cutting mat

Craft:

1. Fold strips of paper lengthwise (about 1.5" wide when folded)

2. Draw four heart halves or just eyeball it like I do. Cut out.

You'll need four hearts per Valentine.

3. Dab heart corner with glue and layer four hearts to form flat flower.

4. Wait till dry. Cut tiny X in center with Xacto knife and push lollipop through center.

Voila!

You can write your Valentines name on one petal. Or write things you love about them on each petal and attach a lable to the 'stem'.

Weiner Dog Valentines

The season of Valentine Makin' is officially upon us! Here is the first of many little Valentine projects I hope to make and share in the next two weeks. I chose weiner* dogs for reasons I can't quite explain. You could use any shape, ofcourse. These craft up quick, once you decide on shapes and quotes. First off...
Gather Your Supplies:
see Resources at bottom of post
cardstock in colors and white for quote bubble
blank cards or postcards
googly eyes
sharp scissors
Yes! paste or glue stick
quotes
weiner dog shape from cookie cutter, childrens coloring book or freehand
Shrinky Dink charms would be sweet hanging from his collar. Shown is the Clear Sugar stamp set from Paper Candy. They shrink to perfect paper doggie collar charms!

Craft!

1. Choose shapes, colors, and quote. Sometimes I have it all in my head and just make it. Other days I cover the entire kitchen table with paper bits, vintage childrens books, cookie cutters, fabric and everything else to come up with a plan of attack. Take time to plan it out before gluing!
2. Use a cookie cutter to trace the shape of your chosen little beast. Cut out. Cut out a strip of paper for the collar in a different color. Glue on googly eye. Assemble this all together with glue but don't glue to card just yet.
3. Hand draw a comic style speech bubble on white paper or draw lightly with pencil first, then cut out. Write something witty or sweet. Find quotes online or, even better, from a favorite book or take a saying your Valentine is fond of.
4. Hand print your quote in speech bubble.
5. Play with your pieces until you are happy with the layout. Finally- glue!

6. Inside, write "Three Things I Love About You:" Obviously followed by three things you really do love about your Valentine.

Now that you have a design you like, crank out dozens more with ease, changing the quote to suit the Valentine. Or...stay tuned for more Valentine ideas in the coming days.

Resources:

Quotes:

The Quote Garden

Valentines Day Quotes

Supplies:

Yes! Paste at the Paper Source

Paper Candy rubber stamps

*while we all remember the "i before e except after c" song, Weiner (Germanic root) and Wiener are both still correct.

Paint Chip Samples Bedazzle Me

As a part of O'Kane Construction, I spend a fair amount of time at the hardware store. The neat rows and rows of paint chip samples (those colorful little cards in the paint section) always catch my eye. Postcard size, long strips, short strips, tiny squares- some are even actual stickers! And with names like Sugar Plum, Bridesmaid, Appletini, and Snow Whites Song, who can resist? I can't! Here are a couple of quick and easy projects I've been working on. There are endless projects already out there. What will you do with your stash?

1. Let the title get you thinking. How many stories can you think while holding a gaudy pink card titled, 'Bridesmaid'? Or Appletini...or Shy Little Piglet...

Write it down, preferably on the back of the paint chip sample, and send it to a friend who would appreciate it.

2. Use the huge selection of colors for punches. Some come on a sticker paper and make perfect, well, stickers!

3. Hangtag or bookmark? It can be both! Write your gift-getters name down the front with your favorite Sharpie and tie to your wrapped present. Choose colors they like with titles that befit them or the occasion. Muttering to myself...is 'befit' a word? Punch a hole in top center, gather scraps of ribbon, poke loop through hole in card, pull ribbon ends through loop and tug tight.

3. Enlarge a favorite at the copy shop to make a poster. $1.98 on cardstock. I chose this particular sample because the color square on the bottom is titled, Sweet William. A little name I called my William when he was tiny. Sometimes I still do. Now I'm hunting for a "Robins Egg Blue".

4. Stitch on Shrinky Dink charms! Next week I will be posting Shrinky Dink tips and tricks with another project tutorial. Rubber stamps of a tiny bird, mod girl walkin', and Mary were used. The tiny girl is from a Dover Publication $1 book of Family Stencils.

5. I have one more project using paint chip samples I want to share with you. Come back February 1st to see the first of Seven Days of Valentines!

Resources:

Papercandy for mod and retro style rubber stamps

Stamp Luis Obispo 1036 1/2 Chorro St, San Luis Obispo CA 93401 805/541.5198

for local artist stamps, papers, ribbons, scrabble tiles, and every supply you could think of

More Paint Chip Sample Projects:

Make Your Own Card Holder

Paint Chip Wallet

Embroider Them! (scroll down)

Send me your paint chip sample projects at missamyo [at] charter.net

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

Make Your Own Envelopes

Though I rarely actually read the articles, I love magazines. It's the ads and photos that I devour. Those slick, glossy pages of color get me ripping up my mags and clipping my favorite bits to be treasured and shared, pasted to bill envelopes or postcards mailings. Here's a simple project to make your own envelopes. You can make cards from cardstock or just fill your envelope with tiny paper bits- photos, a funny comic, the ticket stub from the last great movie you saw...

Gather Supplies:

1. Paper

I use magazines but fancy cardstock, wrapping paper, maps, scrapbooking paper, newsprint and more are all options.

2. Scissors

Dollar Tree has super sharp scissors that last forever and you won't cry when they get lost.

3. Glue stick

Elmer's classic glue stick is the best. It tends to not pucker the paper.

4. Envelope Template

Carefully open an envelope you like the shape of or download one of Ruth Anns.

5. Ball Point Pen

A stylus is best for fine papers and cardstock but you need a pen to see the line on magazines.

Craft:

Trace your template onto magazine pages, after tearing from mag, and cut out.

Be sure you flip your cut-out envelope over before folding and gluing so your favorite side ends up on the outside.

Fold the side flaps A & B in first, using your nail to make a sharp fold.

Run glue stick on top of flaps A & B and fold large, bottom flap C up, pressing to seal to side flaps.

Fill with love notes. When you're ready to seal, fold the smaller remaining flap down and seal with glue, a sticker, or use a return address label. Use another white lable on the front to address. Have a question or have a suggestion on this tutorial? Email me. missamyo at charter.net

Send a Postcard Today: PostcardX

Maggie called with plans for Christmas card craftin'. She called the right girl- head cold be darned- I'm always up for some mail art. Maggie brought tasty treats of croissant and coffee cake, I provided the coffee (cream, no sugar) and one large dining room table. We each had supplies galore to share. We each opened our present from each other early.

Letters, postcards, hang-tags, anything that will stand still long enough, will eventually be decorated by me, written on and mailed away. Sometimes to perfect strangers.

Growing up without family nearby didn't stop me from knowing them or feeling close because I was the excited recipient of fantastic letters from my Uncle Bill, Grandad and great-aunts. We may of seen each other only a couple of times a year but I knew and know them well through their penmanship (Auntie's beautiful swoops and curls, Aunt Iris' neat script, Bill's tiny, messy print, Grandad's yellow legal paper...), stories about their every day life, and feeling loved by the small effort of a hand written letter.

I love writing letters and thinking of someone opening their mail box to a bright red envelope amongst the small, white reminder notices. Or, even better, a handmade envelope from an old map found at the thrift shop. Hence my love for Postcardx. Simply put, postcardx is a listing of people who like to send and receive real mail. Send a postcard with no return address just for fun. Search by hobby to find a penpal. List yourself and see what pops up in your mailbox.

Paper Snowflakes: Martha Did it First but Maggie and I Did it Better

What's a Mom to do when her boys think they are to old for paper snowflake making? Call another crafty girl for snowflake fun! Maggie, a Rolfer & massage therapist friend, agreed.It had been a while since I'd made these festive beauties so I had to Google the directions. I looked all over but I have to admit, Martha Stewart had the best step by step guide. We followed her folding steps and went to work.I made tomato soup with grilled cheese, complimented by a fabulous grapefruit Maggie had brought to contribute. She sliced it in half, topped each with a dallop of honey, and broiled for a few minutes. Yum!We folded, snipped, and clipped for over an hour. Yielding a pile of perfect paper snowflakes, each one unique. Maggie's came out particularly beautiful. Here's a tiny portrait of my favorite: