Father's Day Cards!

It always seems so hard for me to figure out presents for men: fathers, father-in-laws, grandpas, husbands, son-in-laws, etc.  Because, let's face it, I'm not a man and still don't really understand how they think and what they would really like.

Sooooo, the best option is a card!!!!!  I can't go wrong with a homemade card.  In fact, my dad loved my homemade cards (or at least he acted like he loved them!)  And the men in your life will love a homemade Father's Day card too!!!

This years Father's Day card is made with a regular sized (8.5" x 11") piece of paper.  I used scrapbook paper with a design on one side and white on the back.  First, cut 2 inches off the length so it measures 6.5" x 11".  Then, write your sweet Father's Day sentiments on the white side of the paper. Now it is ready to fold.  Here is a how to video I made to show you much better than I could type out . . .

How to fold a Father's Day card bow tie

You know how I have 5 daughters (no sons), so I conned one of my daughters into putting on a white shirt and the paper bow tie.  She was so sweet to model the tie for me!

I also made a tie out of fabric.  It only takes about 5 minutes to make this simple tie.  

It attaches to the shirt with a bobby pin. Simple, huh!

Here is a colorful paper bow tie . . .

To all the fathers and other wonderful men in our lives . . . 

Happy Father's Day!!!

To see last year's Father's Day card, click here: 

  Father's Day Shirt and Tie Card

More Mother's Day Ideas ! ! !

I did it.  I got the other Mother's Day projects done that I wanted to do -- miracle of miracles!
I'm just going to breeze through them quickly. The 3 projects are quick and easy and things that kids can do or at least help with if you'd like (a fun little mother's day gift for a grandma too!).

All 3 projects can also be used for dozens of other things, like:
Party favors (nut/candy cups)
Wedding/ bridal showers
Baby showers
Birthday parties
Gifts
Easter baskets
Place settings

You can access the "how to" videos by clicking on the photos or the link in pink. 

The first and quickest project is a paper plate basket. 
Have the kids decorate both sides of a paper plate (especially the bottom of it).  Then you just need scissors and glue (chenille pipe cleaners are optional). Click below for my YouTube video:

How to make a paper plate basket

Next is a butterfly basket simply made out of 8.5" x 11" cardstock.  Kids will have fun coloring the butterflies!

All you need is cardstock paper, markers or crayons, scissors, tape or glue, and optional chenille pipe cleaners.  Click on the photo or link below for the "how to" video:

How to make a butterfly basket

Last, but not least, is a beautiful dress shaped card for your Mum!

The card in the middle would be more for a wedding/bridal shower and the one to the right might be more for a birthday party.  The dress on the right would be a perfect dress card for mom!!!

This card is made with cardstock, ribbon, and a little scrap piece of fabric.  Here is the link to the "how to" video (or click on the photo):

How to make a card that looks like a dress

Have fun with these projects and to all the mothers out there . . . HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ! ! !

Mother's Day Ideas!

Here are a couple of ideas that can be used for all sorts of things like wedding showers, baby showers, spring and summer parties, birthday parties, home decor, and MOTHER'S DAY!!!



This cute umbrella is easily made out of paper, chenille (pipe cleaner), and ribbon (or yarn).  You can make them any size. 
Large ones, made out of 12" x 12" scrapbook paper, make great decorations. 
Medium size ones, made out of regular 8.5" x 11" copy paper, make great cards (the umbrella can be flat and fit in an envelop), or fill it with candy and it makes a great gift.
Small ones, made out of 6" x 6" paper, make great nut cups or party favors by each plate setting.

You can see the "how to" video I did by clicking below or on the photo above:

How to make a paper umbrella

 

 

The next project is also great for MOTHER'S DAY and for weddings and anywhere in your home.  The natural, rustic look is so popular right now.  The flower bouquet would look terrific as a centerpiece on a burlap table runner. 

 

The possibilities are endless.  All you have to do is start saving all of your toilet paper tubes.  Yes, you heard me, the gorgeous flowers are made out of toilet paper tubes!!! 

 

 

Click on the photo above or the link below for the "how to" video:

 

How to make a TP tube floral bouquet

 

I hope to post a couple of more Mother's day ideas soon -- we'll see how I do!

 





Paper Stained Glass Easter Egg!!!

 

This was a little project I did with my grandkids.  They had so much fun!  They were all coloring and it didn't matter how they colored or if they went outside of the lines.  Just a great big scribbling fest!

I picked up some poster paper (15 cents a foot) at a craft store, drew the egg on it with a pencil and let the grandkids go at it!

I did a little "how to" video with instructions to make the stained glass paper Easter egg and also for the solid colored Easter egg too.  Just click below or on any of the photos to start the video :)

How to make a Stained Glass paper Easter Egg

 

You can decorate a whole house with these large (3 feet by 2 feet) Easter eggs.  You can buy the poster paper in a lot of different colors: pink, red, green, blue, purple, yellow, orange, etc. 

I get more compliments on these simple to make paper Easter eggs than I do on any of my other Easter decorations.

Have so much fun with this quick and easy project and . . .

Happy Easter Time!!!

Easter Egg Time!!!

Happy Happy April Everyone!!!
Isn't springtime the best; not too hot, not too cold, just right . . .

Easter is later this year.  This is good, it's given me time to make something I've wanted to do for a long time.
My mom has this wire tree on a rock that she purchased years and years ago.  When I was a kid, I got to hang cute little miniture Christmas ornaments on it.
Years later after I was grown and gone, my mom started hanging hearts on it for Valentines Day, then eggs for Easter, then little bats and jack o' lanterns on it for Halloween.
Anyway, I have wanted a tree like that for a long time and have never seen one in any stores, so I made one and it was easy!!!

Just click on the photo above or on the link below for a "how to" video I did to show you how to do it:

How to make a wire tree

 

The possibilities are endless on how big you want to make it, or how wide you want the trunk, or what color wire to make it with.  You can also choose how full of branches you want the tree to have etc.

The eggs are a fun, quick, and easy project too.  Not to mention, perfect for my little tree!

These cute Easter eggs are made from oven bake clay.
Here's a "how to" video I did to show you how to make them, just click on the photo above or on the link below:

How To Make Easter Egg Ornaments

The clay eggs can also super easily be made into earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace.  And you can make them any size you want.  Here's a pic of the ones I made with a ruler, so you can see how big they are.

Enjoy this lovely springtime and Easter season!!!

Weave a Heart Basket

Here is a really fun Valentines project to make.  
The "how to" video I did has step-by-step instructions.  The link is immediately below:

How to weave a heart shape basket 

If the kids need something to hold their Valentines in from school, this heart basket is perfect and it is easy to make.

The large size (shown above)makes a great door decoration and you can either leave it empty or fill it with with stuff for your door decor (fillers could include red and white tulle, artificial flowers, more hearts, red cellophane, or whatever!).

On the large heart basket, I used two sheets of poster board (a red one and a white one).  For smaller ones, you can use regular copy paper or scrapbook paper.

The smaller heart basket also makes a pretty Valentine decoration and a great gift with a heart shaped sugar cookie or other Valentine candies inside of it!

This heart basket is a project for adults and kids both. It is quick and easy and only involves paper and scissors (a pencil, ruler, and tape or stapler are handy too).

Happy Valentines Day preparations!!!

~Feel the love start to flow ~

Scandinavian Star Bow

When I first saw this star bow, it was as a Christmas decoration.  I've seen it on gifts, as a tree ornament, and also as a Christmas tree topper. 

With two different colors of paper, I thought the star bow decoration would be super cute as a red and white Valentine decoration.
Here is a link to the You Tube video I made on how to fold the Star Bow:

Origami Star Bow video

For those with secret romantic inclinations, you can write love notes on the strips of paper or ribbon before you fold it for your lover to undo and read.  Oh!

The finished Star Bow measures 4 1/2 inches.  This size bow uses 1" by 20" strips of paper.  For a larger star bow you would use longer and wider strips of paper or ribbon (and, of course, for a smaller star bow, you'd use narrower and shorter strips of paper).

I will be using this as a hanging decoration on my three corner cupboard for Valentines Day.  Maybe, I'll use it as a gift topper too, if I actually decide to give anyone a Valentines gift, hmmmm.

This is a lot of fun to fold as long as the paper strips don't rip.  Ribbon is easier to work with, but it doesn't seem to hold its shape as well and it comes apart more easily.

Have a loving time getting into the Valentines spirit!!!