I can’t resist the beautiful shapes and colors of mother nature’s foliage, especially early summer. In the Midwest, periodic rains keep everything growing and fresh. While working in the garden or on a walk, I love picking a few of the prettiest ones and pressing them to use in my crafty projects. My “high-tech” way to press leaves is in old phone books I’ve kept for this purpose. If you happen to still have one, they are great to use because the paper is light and absorbent, and of course phone books are big and heavy…
Who doesn’t love cupcakes? Cupcakes are so popular for celebration treats and themes. So when I found some colorful corrugated cardboard, it reminded me of cupcake wrappers and I decided to build some crafty versions made with the cardboard, felt, and sequins. As usual, I used my favorite large glue stick to adhere the cupcakes to my handmade paper. (How to details here.) Using glue sticks is so basic, but it really works – keeping things completely flat and edges sealed. I usually use an A2 envelope (4 3/8 x 5 3/4 inches) for my handmade cards. I…
I love creating cards with little art collages on the front made of handmade paper scraps, vintage illustrations, and scrapbook supplies. To save time, I purchased a set of blank ready-made cards and envelopes in a neutral cream color. Another favorite is kraft paper cards and envelopes. They both go well with vintage and natural themes. These two spring examples can also become “thank you” or “thinking of you” cards by simply changing out the wording. To adhere the collage pieces to the card, I like to use large glue sticks and red line tape. (refer to past posts…
Hi fellow paper crafters! Here are two more examples of easy personalized journals. This time I used inexpensive composition books and added embellishments to make a travel journal and a garden journal. You can find small and standard size books at any store – even the dollar store! I like using handmade paper and vintage embellishments, including dimensional items, to make them special. For gluing, I use large glue sticks. Just make sure to spread the glue past the edge of the embellishment, and use scrap paper underneath to protect the surface. The glue makes a strong bond on the…