Showing posts with label Craft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Craft. Show all posts

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Why Thank You...


{Gray & Yellow Thank You Notes}

It does not get better than this. Sunday afternoon.  Birds singing.  Sun peaking in through the trees.  Brownies baking.  Dog peacefully snoring (just like her daddy). Ahhh...time for a craft.

Don't tell my mom this, but I am pretty terrible at thank you notes.  I love the idea of hand-written notes, but often between figuring out the address, finding a stamp, and remembering to put it in the mailbox, something goes wrong.  A quick text or email ends up winning, which is still nice, but there's just something about opening a card in the mail that means so much.  Well, after today I'm at least stocked with cute thank you notes (we'll see if they actually make it to the mailbox!).
I'm on a gray and yellow kick, so I found some scrap paper and other supplies and decided to go for it.  The cards all a little different, and each was fun to make.  To top it off, the whole project used about $2 worth of supplies!

To start, I stamped thank you onto yellow and white cardstock using a small black ink pad and mini letter stamps (ink & stamps can be found in the dollar bin at Michael's).  My stamping skills are far from perfect, but I think the little imperfections add a nice homemade touch.  Next, I used different shaped punches (also from Michael's) to cut out the thank you in different shapes.  From there, I glued on paper, lace, and twine to create simple, sweet card.  Here are some of the supplies that came in handy:

Whatever the occasion, whatever the colors, I hope these cards bring a smile not only to the recipient, but also to you!







Thursday, April 26, 2012

Hello Birdie! Hand Painted Mugs


Today I'm introducing you to one of my favorite crafts...hand-painted mugs!  Last weekend I finished an order of 25 mugs for a baby shower, and I just have to share this so you can try it too...

{Hand Painted Mugs}

Supplies:
-Ceramic or stone mug ($2-$3 at HomeGoods)
-Black & red ceramic paint (Porcelaine 150 brand recommended. Available at some Michaels, JoAnns, or on Etsy)
-Paint brush (or other tool with round edge)
First, use the black paint marker to create the main branch.  I try to create a wavy line that starts thick at the bottom of the mug and winds around the mug, getting thinner as it goes.
Next, create side branches that stem off the main branch.  {Troubleshooting} at the bottom has tips.
Now add a little birdie!  I'm horrible at drawing (no really, you should see me playing Draw Something!!!), so I appreciate how easy these birds are...oval body, two lines for the tail, two lines for the legs, and a little triangle beak.
Now the fun part!  Open a jar of red paint and dip the end of the paint brush.
Gently touch the paint against the branches to create tiny cherry blossoms.
Let the paint sit for 4 hours.  Then place the mug in the oven (turned off), close the oven, set to 350 degrees, and remove after 30 minutes.  This allows the mug to gradually heat up as the oven warms up.  Now you are free to microwave, wash in the dishwasher, and most importantly start the day of right, drinking from your custom mug! 

 These are so fun to personalize with a name, note, or favorite quote!
Perfect for your favorite LOVE BIRDS!
Or change it up and decorate a platter! 
If you try it please send me a picture...I would love to see your creative ideas :)

{Troubleshooting}
Good news: If you mess up, just use a damp paper towel to wipe off whatever you don't want, dry it, and start over!  Also, those pens can be feisty, especially at first! I keep a piece of scrap paper nearby to help with ink flow - feel free to shake/push down on the pen until you have the right consistency.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Weddings, Babies, and Birthdays - Oh My!

Spring is here, and that means lots of babies, birthdays, and of course weddings!  These past few weeks have jam-packed with fun projects.  Here's a taste of the latest crafts & eats...

Baby shower invites...

...and more baby shower invites

Saint Patty's Day cake pops - Chocolate & Guinness cake + Baily's Irish Cream coating

Poker Nigh cake pops -
didn't get a photo, but they were pretty awesome with these mini 1" cards from JoAnn's:



and my all-time favorite... Bachelorette Party cake pops!

I don't know where the month of March went, but it sure was fun!
April is already in full swing...more to come :)