More Valentine Boxes

Valentine boxes are HANDS DOWN my favorite craft activity to do with my kids.  {Can you tell?}  OK, Mommy did help her kindergartner quite a bit with this version of the Tissue Box Monster idea from Family Fun Magazine. {The marabou feather eyelash were all mine!} The ears are foam hearts folded and hot-glued in half and the teeth are white felt.  Don't you love that faux alligator paper?

 My son unseated the four-time classroom Valentine box champion with this front loading washing machine box. {She was the room mom's daughter and quite heart broken about not winning the coveted prize, but hey, you can't win 'em all.}  We just printed out logos from the internet and used that weird sculpting stuff to look like bubbles. (Leave me a comment if you remember what it's called!) The washing machine door was the lid to a box of pretty dishes I received. (I'm always looking out for boxes that I can use for just this type of project!)

We just happened to have a box with a cute window for this cell phone box, but you could use a cereal or shoebox for this too and create your own cool text display.  The buttons are fun foam that we stamped numbers on.

Here are the super easy Valentines Kate made.  The inside says "you're out of this world" and we colored the eyes and flower with a white gel pen.  So, what are you making this year for Valentine's Day?  Leave me a note or a link to your creations.

Valentine Treat Cone

This is a sweet and unique Valentine treat to try this year!  I originally got the idea from Martha Stewart's site, but she didn't have step-by-step instructions.  (Hopefully you will have better luck with my pictures ;)

1. Start with square paper (mine was 6"x6") and fold corner to corner in both directions, in half both directions, then push in two opposite corners, so that it looks like the photo.

2. Use an oval shape cutter or a heart shape that you have to make a heart pattern on the square with the folded point down.

 3. Cut the round portions of your heart shape, making sure that the folds are on the bottom.

 4. Push in the the inside valley folds so that it forms a cone or cup shape.

 (It's hard to hold it and take a picture!)

 5. Use some adhesive or a stapler to affix the center portion and add holes, if desired to hang a tag (or hang the treat up, like from a door knob or a coat hook.)

 Wouldn't a pile of these make a pretty centerpiece on a round table?

 Leave me a note if you try these out.  They are not as hard as they look, I promise!

Snowman Popcorn Treat - Great Holiday Gift!

 Keep your eye out for a deal on stretchy gloves and/or fuzzy socks, because you are going to want to whip up a bunch of these treats!  They are great for anyone on your list, but especially kids.  They are inexpensive (I got the 3 pack of gloves on clearance at Big Lots for $1 and the socks were on sale buy 2 packs get one free) and it's a treat that's not too sugary, which is good!

I made a video, but the idea is so easy that you will probably get the idea by looking at it.  The hardest part is fussing with the hat to get it to look right.  You can stamp on the white sheet instead of using a gift tag, if you like.  You can also visit THIS BLOG where the idea is originally inspired from.  She has a free download!  Enjoy, and leave me a comment about who you gave your snowman treats to.

Easy Holiday Teacher Treat: Hand Santa-tizer

There's a sign near the front desk at my children's school that reads "Please Don't Feed the Office Staff!"

So what do you give as a little treat at the holidays that is low-cal and inexpensive, yet useful and shows that you appreciate the folks you work with or that work with your kids?

Hand SANTA-TIZER!

I chose the purse size, because it's portable, inexpensive and who wants a Christmas anything that lasts beyond January?  I got this idea from Pinterest and they didn't look the same, but there are cute bottles with the same play on words for sale here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Double-C-Tree-Farm/126311947405714

My version was pretty easy to do in multiples and I based the paper size on the bottle I found, so you will have to get out your ruler.  The fuzzy trim is made with mulberry paper that I scored, folded and did that trick to tear paper by moistening it on the fold.  That's how I got the fuzzy edges.  (If you don't have mulberry paper, try a coffee filter for a similar effect.)

The belt is Sizzix self-adhesive "leather" paper and I punched buckles with a die cut from gold Creative Memories paper.  I wanted to do an additional tag with a cute saying, but I opted for simple stickers on the back with a fun Santa stamp.  Pretty simple, but they were a HUGE hit!  Leave me a comment if you decide to make these. Merry Christmas!

Cute Fall Cupcake and Easy Bake Sale Packaging

I'm not a huge baker, but I could not resist the super-easy pumpkin & cake mix recipe that kept popping up on Pinterest and I needed something easy for our school bake sale.  I also saw on Pinterest this cute little acorn treat that was made by Design Dazzle and it was the perfect extra sparkle I needed for my cupcakes!

The kids can help you make these cute treats, using Mini Nilla Wafers, Hershey's Kisses, some mini chocolate chips and a little chocolate frosting.  This would be a really fun thing to make on Thanksgiving, but if you do have a fall bake sale like I did, here is another super easy tip:

Use a plastic tumbler and a baggie to package your cupcakes.  (Baggies brand, with the alligator on the package are the cheapest.)  This keeps the cupcakes protected and a little bit of satin ribbon adds a perfect touch!  Now, go try the pumpkin recipe.  It is seriously de.licious!  (And leave me a little note if you have not tried Pinterest yet and you need an invite.)  ;)

Simple and Spooky Halloween Party Drinks

 Bring these simple and fun drinks to your next Halloween or Pumpkin Carving Party!  Instructions and a printable download follow. First check out this inexpensive and kid friendly hostess gift!  Peel the label from an orange soda 2 liter bottle and add a simple pumpkin face with Contact paper.

 They sell some that has a blackboard finish, but I didn't have any and I'm super impatient, so I spray painted some that I had.  Just be careful when working with it, because the paint can fall off.

  I Googled B&W pumpkin faces on my phone and drew on the back of the paper. (I also cut a portion of the label I had peeled off and stuck it to the portion of the bottle where I couldn't get the sticky gunk off.  That will be the back and if they are curious about whether it was Sunkist or generic, they can check the back.  Generic is usually how I roll ;)

Last, I added a punched out leaf shape and some green curling ribbon.  This looks so cute and it only cost me about $1!

Next I did a project for the big people (but you could get orange or grape soda in the cartons for kids.  Just don't bring cartons of both to the same party.  Once they have labels, it's real easy to liquor up the kid down the street when he accidentally gets a Mike's Margarita instead of the lemon lime soda he was expecting.  TRUE STORY! {Sorry Ryan!}

  Add fun labels to the bottles.  (My favorites are "Truth Serum" and "Wart Tonic")

When the bottles are gone, you can use the carton as a utensil dispenser. (And it folds flat to store until next year. BRILLIANT!)

Here are some awesome places to get labels:

Spook Show's Creepy Labels

Kristine McKay' Spooky Labels

Or print your own drink carton label right here:
Carton Label on Scribd

If you are loving the drink carton idea, check out my summer version:

http://paperjewels.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-snack-pack.html

Boo Basket (and Cute Boo Poem)

Do you BOO?  Neighbors in my area give these anonymous, fun gifts during the Halloween season.  I found this "cute" version of the Boo Poem (scroll down) to add some variety to my gift (and throw off those neighbors who were attempting to figure out who left their gift based on the poem version I have used in past years!)

 Here is a closeup of Mabelle's adorable pumpkin girl.  (See her stamps and digi designs here.)

And here is a peek inside the basket.  Isn't this a fun time of year?  Of course, our favorite part is to get dressed in dark clothes, leave this at a neighbor's door, ring and RUN!

Here is the poem:

Boo!

Since this is the time for goblins and bats

Halloween spirits and ghosts and cats

Happenings are weird and witches make brew

The following are the things I wish for you.

May the only spirit you chance to meet

Be the spirit of love and friends that are sweet.

May the only goblin that comes your way

Be the neighborhood phantom, the breeze takes away.

So by tomorrow, pick a friend down the street

And give to them a Halloween treat.

Fill a basket with goodies galore,

Then leave it at their front door.

You only have one day to do this, so hurry

Leave your gifts and run in a flurry

As this boo moves along from friend to friend,

All good wishes go on and never end

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Easy Halloween Treat: Peanut Butter Pumpkins

These are as delicious to eat as they are fun for you and your kids to make!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon orange gel icing color
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• mini pretzels or pretzel sticks

Instructions:

Creme together peanut butter, butter, vanilla and gel icing color with a mixer.  (You can use regular food coloring by combining red and yellow, but the gel coloring is very concentrated and yields the best consistency.)

Add the confectioner's sugar a small amount at a time.  The mixture will become very stiff and difficult to mix.  Use a rubber spatula to combine any of the mix that clings to the side of the bowl.

Roll 1 tablespoon at a time into a ball and make creases with the back of a butter knife.

 Kids love helping make these!  I usually give them a small amount so they can make their very own plate. {wink}

The finishing touch is to add a pretzel stem.  Mini pretzels or stick pretzels both look darling. Refrigerate  pumpkins until ready to serve. Have fun and leave me a note if you enjoyed making these!

Unique Card Size: 3.66 x 4.25 in a Half #10 Envelope Sleeve

Well, the description is a little wordy, but you have to try this cool card size!  The card is 3.66 by 4.25 (so you get three from a standard piece of cardstock) .  For the envelope, I sealed and cut a #10 envelope in half.  For this design, I did a little circle peek-a-boo cutout using a punch.

Isn't it fun?  Leave me a note if you decide to try this unique sized card. :)

UPDATE: Gail W. in San Francisco (Hi Gail!) asked about the Daydream paper I used.  I got it at Big Lots and it is made by GCD Studios in California.  Here is the link :

http://gcdstudios.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

It is double sided and textured (which I <3!) and the weight is about 60-80 lbs. I have found at least a dozen different paper pads from that maker at Big Lots and I really like their paper.  Hopefully they have it at the Big Lots near you!

Easy Easter Swap for Daisy Girl Scouts

When I think about crafts for my Daisies, I like to make sure they are super easy. I also like to make my crafts very inexpensive. This one is both, but it's still way cute! The basic tag shape is paper-covered cereal box that I cut out with a Sizzix shape. I stamped the bunny and applied some chalking to the ears and cheeks. For the pin back, I hot glued a safety pin and a small square of felt. (This is so much less expensive than the pin backs and the pin lies down a little flatter too.)

During the meeting the girls just tied the ribbon on and used a dab of Tacky Glue to adhere their puff ball tails. Voila! A fun remembrance of our Easter celebration and a great way to teach our Daisies about the Girl Scout tradition of making and collecting swaps!

Easter Blessings

There are lots of springtime crafts blooming around here. {Too many to blog about! *wink*} I've been making lots of cards and crafts, and most of them, like this card are simple, with a couple of fun details that give it an extra little sparkle. I found these cards already die cut and just added the stripe and sentiment. The bunny tail on the envelope has a little white puff ball and pink sparkly chalking on the cheek and ear. They didn't take much time, but are super cute. The girls and I are spending the rest of the day making these:

 

I hope you are having a wonderful Easter weekend!

Making Multiples for my Handmade Card Stash

Yesterday, it happened: that wonderful feeling when I need a card fast and I go to my craft area and I HAVE THE PERFECT CARD all ready and waiting.
During winter, I have more time to craft and I've been making all kinds of cards with sentiments that I need often. When I come up with a design I like, I make several of that same design. My card collection is looking more and more like the Hallmark aisle, with little dividers smiling back at me saying, "Girl Birthday" and "Thank You!"
I've been so productive that I'm giving this box to a friend as a Thank You gift. She's a real estate agent who loves handmade cards, but doesn't have the time to make them. (I found this box with the scrapbooking storage items that are being sold on clearance at Target. If you can’t find a box like this, you could always use the envelope box  from my Recycle Handmade Cards Post ;)
 
I think my friend will love these cards and there's one I think is right up her alley. She probably gives out a ton of business cards, so this library card will be a perfect place to enclose her card, while still delivering a more personal sentiment. It would be great for a birthday or thank you, with a gift card tucked inside too!

I hope this idea inspires you to get crafty and build up your stash too. Leave me a note if you think of some other fun ways to use the library card. . . . Ciao!

Crafting for All Occasions

It's a snow day in Colorado and I love getting crafty when the weather outside is frosty. This is a great time of year to get ahead on cards and gifts for the rest of the seasons. This gift idea is great for a thank you or birthday. The shea butter lotion is a welcome winter treat, since everything is so dry and the bright colors remind us that spring and summer will come again soon. (The paper I used is "Flower Child" from Pressed Petals and the stamp set is by Basic Grey and I got both at Big Lots for super cheap!)

I found a set of these cremes at Costco and made them all up, so they are ready to give. I also made a few cards in a similar style, with a variety of sentiments. It's so nice to have a quick gift ready when you need it as a birthday surprise or even a cheer up or get well treat.

Since the creative juices have really been flowing lately, I decided to make a bunch of cards too. When I come up with an idea I like, I make 4 or 5 of the exact same card, so I have about 40 or 50 cards in my stash now!

I've also been working on Valentines. You can see a couple in this pile. To see a few more ideas for Valentine's Day from my blog, CLICK HERE

Cookie Recipe Book with Treat Bag Pages

Whenever I have swapped cookies during the holidays, I’ve always found several cookies that I wanted the recipe for.  This year, as a special surprise for everyone, I asked for the recipes for the swap I organized and gave out these cookie books.

They came out so cute!

I printed all the recipes on cardstock, but the best part of the book is in the back. I made pages that you can slip extra recipes into using plain cellophane treat bags with double-sided holiday cardstock slipped inside. The opening of the bag faces the edge of the book, so that the recipe card can be slid in and out.

The cardstock inserts help create a stiff material for running through the binding machine and this idea would be darling for other seasons, for example, a baby brag book.  You could also use the treat bags as page protectors for a mini book and the pages could be bound with the opening toward the binding so that items would not be able to slip out of the book. 

I just love finding inexpensive items that I have laying around the house that can be used in my paper crafts!  I hope you enjoy this idea and your holidays!