Making Easter Cards {the easy way}

I had something of a card-making binge last night. I cranked all twelve of these out in about two hours using stuff I already had in my craft supply stash.

All you need is: 1. notecards 2. paper 3. cardstock 4. adhesive 5. stamps and ink 6. embellishments 7. scissors and/or a paper trimmer.



I had a pack of 16 notecards that I got for less than $4 on clearance at Target recently. They were cute enough on their own but when I decided that I wanted to send some Easter cards out {on time!}, I knew I could jazz them up.

Here's what I did...and YOU can do it, too, and probably with supplies you already have at home!

1. Grab some blank notecards. They can even be thank-yous or birthday cards--and you can just cover up the sentiment with paper!



2. Find some coordinating paper and card stock. Use the paper in your scrap pile--you might be surprised by the combinations you can dream up! {like the one below} I let the hints of orange and hot pink dictate the paper and flowers I used. Funky!



2. Cut and attach some coordinating paper to the card to add dimension and interest. I usually just do a 1-2" strip down the middle like the striped paper, below. Brown for an Easter card, who-da thunk it??



3.Stamp your sentiment onto cardstock. I like to ink the edges, too. Then layer it on more card stock or just attach it right to the paper.



4. Add an embellishment in coordinating colors. I used butterflies {like the one above} and flowers for a springy touch.


{I happen to love the green/turquoise/cobalt blue color combination above}

Then just add a sticker or another stamp inside if you want to, write your sentiment and you're done!

LOVELY!



So much better than a mass-produced card and WAY more affordable!

I hope the recipients enjoy getting them as much as I enjoyed making them!

Flip Flop card tutorial

It's about time I did a card-making tutorial, eh??

I'm addicted to these flip flop cards because there are a million fun things you can do to embellish them and you can use them as cards or invitations for virtually any occasion.

My five-year-old crafting buddy made these. Well, she chose all the "ingredients" and assembled them--I did the tracing and cutting.



Here's another variation....

I printed invitation info. four to a page in Word and used that for the top layer for these. Adorable!!



The flowers are just paper embellishments with a little bling.



First you need to print the template out on cardstock and cut them out.

Materials:
paper
cardstock
glue
flower embellishment
ribbon
scissors

{For these to be sturdy, I prefer card stock for the bottom layer but you can certainly use regular paper, then just add card stock onto the back for durability.}

Using your template, trace and cut the smaller shape out of a solid color IF you want to write on the front. Cut the larger shape out of pretty paper. If the back will be solid, feel free to use two prints for the front.

Before adhering the layers together, cut ribbon for the straps and adhere to the smaller (top) layer. I stapled mine at the top then glued them to the back.

If you prefer to use a silk flower and brad, adhere that during this step, too, so the brad will be hidden between the layers.

Adhere the layers together. If you're using a paper flower, adhere it now.

Viola!!

{notice the ends of the ribbon and the brad are hidden between the layers)



If you use a solid for the top layer, you can stamp a sentiment.



For a folded card, trace the larger flip flop on at the edge then cut. Add embellishments. You could do a double layer on the front, of course. You can use virtually any note card for this but one with a cute print is, naturally, ideal.

I used madras plaid note cards for this one.



Do a search on "flip flop card template" for a gazillion other ideas and templates. The possibilities are endless!

Use them for pool party invitations, birthday invites or just as a thinking of you card. They are so charming! Would also be a fun craft for girls. They love picking out their paper and do-dads.

Have fun!!

Paper flower tutorial

By Dozi Design

Nope, these paper flowers were not my idea.

But I love them!!!

These would be fun for a variety of Valentine's Day craft projects!



Here's a link to

The Tutorial

I used double-sided paper cut into 4x4 squares. The polka dot paper is Valentine's Day, the other two are Amy Butler. I used a dab of hot glue to secure it underneath so it wouldn't unravel. I love how each one turned out slightly different! An imperfect spiral actually makes the flower more interesting! It will be fun to experiment with larger squares.



Here's how I used one of them. Any other ideas???

Gotta have some blank cards on hand

I, in fact, have to un-list items from my shop to give people at the last minute because I--the queen of cards--don't always have an appropriate card on hand for a last-minute "thank you" or "get well." Oops.

So I created these to work for any occasion and, yes, they are BLANK inside!

I love this new paper!
It's so pretty, I didn't even embellish them.
This set of three includes a FREE bookmark.



Here's the inside.



Makes a lovely gift, too!
Buy them
HERE

This set of 2 did get some layered goodness and a 3-D butterfly embellishment.



The back has some flocked action and you can see the FREE bookmark, included.



This set is
HERE

I'm always pleased when I make items that I myself would buy!!

Do you have some cute cards on hand for your last-minute card needs??

New Spring bookmarks {free shipping}

For a limited time

In My Etsy Shop

ORDER BOOKMARKS AND YOUR ENTIRE ORDER SHIPS FOR FREE!!

"Blossoms & Butterflies" bookmarks, just added to the shop!! Lovely to give inside a card, as a "Thinking of You" gift or to use as a tag!













Stock up on Spring cards, tags and more!

When you order any set of bookmarks, your entire purchase ships for free!!

So hippity-hop on over there and start shopping! :)

Proudgrits11 on Etsy

...or am I origami?...

...fold it up and just pretend...demented as the motives in my head...

Yeah, lyrics to some song from, oh, the 90s?? It's stuck in my head now. And I've probably got them wrong. And, no, I can't remember the rest of the song. Grr.

ANYway...my mom got "us" a book on origami cards so I've been trying my hand at it a bit. I had this square paper and it's just right to make a 4" x 3" little note card!! How fun is that?? I made something like twenty of them at the kitchen table last night, it's addicting!

This is from black and white paper. I think it's rather chic. The point tucks into the little square to secure it closed.





They open up to this. Perfect for tucking a note inside or better yet, a gift card!



Cool, huh?? A little more interesting than a typical folded-in-half card!

Then I had to make a set out of Amy Butler paper!!





These are itty-bitty ones from smaller paper. Cuuuute!



All available in my Etsy shop! Get 'em while they last (click link below)! :)

** Blog readers get a free gift with every purchase from my shop! Just write "blog reader" in notes to seller upon checkout!! **

Roots & Wings on Etsy

tri-fold mini cards...& Valentines SALE!!

Do you remember these being popular when you were a kid?? A small, tri-fold card and you'd seal it with a sticker. I had never made any so when I got an order for a set of birthday cards, I thought I'd give it a whirl.

I took a 4x6 piece of heavy paper that was white on the back and folded the first side down about 3/4 of the way, then folded the bottom up to meet it.



Rather than a sticker, I jazzed it up with a stamp of flowers, which I embellished with glitter and a button. Inside is stamped with "Happy Birthday" but they could be used for any occasion, of course.



I think they're cute and a little unexpected! It's be fun to attach a gift card inside, too! :)



~~~~~ P.S. There's a 20% off SALE going on in my Etsy shop right now!!! 20% off all Valentine's Day cards and tags--check it out! ~~~~~

Roots & Wings Etsy shop

New goodies!!

Check out this link for my most recent GIVEAWAY!! Fun fur yarn and tags giveaway

It's been a while since I've shared my recent finds!

This was my first time ordering paper from an on-line source other than Etsy, and it was only because my regular two "suppliers" were out. I adore this set of Basic Grey paper called "Urban Prairie." A customer has requested some notecards made out of it. I think I'll make myself some, too!!



And this line is new to me, it's called "Bo Bunny." I adore these cheerful colors and the birds, of course.



I got these cutie acrylic stamps, too. Can't wait to let lose with 'em!



This is a book I ordered used from Amazon for my on-going study on the Vine scriptures in John 15. "Secrets of the Vine for Women" was written by the wife of the author of "Secrets of the Vine" by Wilkinson (the same guy that wrote "The Prayer of Jabez"). A little book that will hopefully have some useful nuggets of truth!



Then THIS is what I got last night during my visit to see a long-time friend/mentor here visiting from Florida for the big Mary Kay Director's Convention. It's their brand new spring colors--not even released to the public yet! The eye shadows are divine and the gloss is amazing. I was pining for one of their new compacts so I was thrilled to receive this! I love to take it to my mom's when I stay overnight.



She also gave me all of this! There's a travel skincare set I'll be taking to my mom's now, too, plus a self-tanner (I am a Florida girl at heart!), some firming body lotion and THREE new tubes of pink lip gloss! YES!!! I love new makeup and skincare goodies!! :)



Life is good!!