Advice Needed From Card Connoisseurs!

As Valentine's Day draws nearer, I am sure many of you are trying to decide what to do for your loved ones.  Although my husband and I do not really celebrate Valentine's Day (I don't care much for it... lucky for my husband, huh?) we will usually share a card or a little note just to say that on this day (and every day) how much we love each other.  This year, I thought of making a spinning wheel card with different things that "I promise to" on it.  The problem is, I am not a card maker!  Really.  I can do many different areas of crafting but I really struggle with card making.  However, I know a LOT of you out there specialize in it, so I want your opinion on today's post.  Will you help me out?

As you can see, the wheel itself looks pretty good.  I absolutely LOVE that paper, don't you?  I also used a heart shaped brad for the middle- perfect for the occasion.

I made eight different things that "I promise to" do.  Everything from "kiss you goodnight" to "encourage you".  I even threw in a few fun ones like "make you supper" and "warm your spot" (like on the bed or couch)... two little things that mean a LOT to my husband.

{Of course, I had to include "love you" and make it stand out from the rest}

{Here's where I need your help!}

I need to attach this to a card somehow so that I can include the part that says "I promise to"... otherwise we just have a wheel that says "kiss you goodnight"- which doesn't make much sense.

Here was my first idea:

 A vertical card with the wheel under it.  I didn't like the way it looked- too crowded at the bottom.

So then I tried a horizontal card:

{I think I would print out the writing, I just wrote it to get an idea of how it would look}

Something about this seems wrong too.

As I was preparing to write this post, I thought of one last solution:  Taking a small tag on a string and letting it hang from the heart brad.  Then, have the "I promise to" written on the tag  That way I don't have to have a card backing but I can still get the message across.  What do you think?

{What do you think?}

Any suggestions on how to make this look better?  I know there are card connoisseurs out there!  I really appreciate your help on this one because I am STUCK!  I am sure my husband would love it either way but it would make me happy if it looked good!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

LINK LOVE! Linked up to: Every Day is an Occasion

  

A Christmas Greeting Printable

Can you believe it is December 10th already?  DECEMBER TENTH!!! That means I have 15 days to get all the Christmas shopping done and wrapped, all the treats made and delivered to the neighbors and all the Christmas cards put together and sent out.  Worst thing is, I haven't really begun any of these *panic setting in*.  Oh well, for now I will just drink my coffee and take a break with you fine folks.

I would love to give you all a sneak peek of our Christmas Card that we are sending out but I am running a shade behind on it's production.  In lieu of that I will give you a Christmas "card" online!  I will even include a link to the image so that you can use it for your own season's greetings, for wrapping paper (think tiled images) or even just to print and put into a frame for some last minute decor or gift giving.  You can use it for whatever your heart desires- my gift to you!

I love when words literally take shape!  As I was thinking of what to write in here, I just kept thinking "mittens on kittens" which is what my husband says when referring to the "My Favorite Things" song.  Isn't that funny?  I guess that is one of those personal jokes that only we think is funny... so I left it out.

Interested in having this?  HERE is the link to print or save it!

{Your Turn}
I hope that you all are farther on your Christmas to-do list than I am and have enjoyed today's post. I should probably get myself around and get working on that other Christmas card... you know, the one I actually need to send out in 2 days! See you on Thursday!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Homemade Cards for Any Occasion

Receiving a card in the mail is one of those special moments that can really brighten someone's day.  Receiving a handcrafted card pushes the envelope even further (pun intended) by showing someone that you really care.  Taking time to make and send a homemade card is a timeless treasure made especially valuable during this instant message/texting/tweeting world we live in today.

That being said, here are some cards that my mom and I made for a local fundraiser.  Feel free to grab some inspiration from them.  Each set comes with a card and matching envelope:


Christmas/Winter

{That reindeer stamp is one of my very favorites- isn't it beautiful?!}

Halloween

{The spider was made sort of 3-D looking so it jumps right off the card.  Spooky!}

Love/Valentine's Day

{Loving the "lumpy bumpy" stuff on the card?  Learn how to make them in any design HERE}

Mother's Day

{You can make 3-D flowers like this yourself too!  Just check out this post for the how-to}

Father's Day

{I love how the "BEST" pops out from the card}

Birthday

{This was my first craft to use bakers twine and I loved it!  It looks like a little gift wrapped up, doesn't it?}

{MY FAVORITE} Good Luck

{I love the colors, the brackets, the birdcage on the envelope... I love it all!  Plus, "good luck" cards can be used for almost anything}

Your Turn!

Next time you want to show someone how special they are to you, forgo the tweet stating that #momrocks and get crafting!  I can promise that the gesture will be appreciated (and it's fun for you too!)

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Link Love!  Linking up to the Craftaholics Anonymous Fall Frenzy Link Party and Every Day is an Occasion!

Fun With Flowers {Congratulations Cards}

Oh, it is that time of year... flowers bloom, a soft breeze blows through the trees and yes, people get married.  I love this season.  I would attend every wedding that I passed- whether I knew the couple or not- if I didn't think I would be dubbed the "crazy lady" in town.  Really, I don't need food and I will bring my own chair; I would be no bother at all.  I would be happy just to experience this occasion.

This summer of love has been especially dear to me.  My husband and I tied the knot in June and since then we have had two separate friends get engaged!  How exciting this summer has been!  In the spirit of the season I have made a few "congratulations" cards to send to our newly engaged friends:

I remember feeling such joy every time a new card came in the mail for us.  There is something about friends and family taking time out of their day to send you well wishes that gets me every time.

Want to know how I made them?

I'll start with the yellow dotted one:

{1} I used my Silhouette to cut out a basic card shape in the white (actually speckled) paper.
{2} Next, I cut a rectangle out of the yellow dotted paper to fit just inside the border of the white paper- also with my Silhouette.
{3} I printed the words "Congratulations" onto the yellow paper with my regular printer. 
{4}Then, I attached a shortened piece of lace onto the yellow card using spray adhesive.

{5} After that, I wrapped a piece of twine around the card twice, having the ends meet in the back and letting it set just at the top of the lace.
{6} I then attached the yellow paper onto the card.  Doing in this way makes sure that the ends of twine are not visible from the inside of the card.
{7} Now, here was the really fun part, making the flower!  I got the idea from the Silhouette Blog
 and I had to give it a try.  For instructions, see the link.
{8} After allowing the flower time to dry, I attached it to the card (using spray adhesive) and used a pen to push down the glued spots without crushing my flower!

{Can you believe that flat flower became this 3-D beauty?  Me neither!}

That's it!  Want to know my favorite part (no, it wasn't the flower)

This card was made using several pieces that we had in our wedding.  The speckled white paper was used in our invitations as well as in our favors and the yellow paper was used for our favor boxes.  The lace was on our invitations; the flower paper (which says "I love you" over and over again) was used on some of our guest cards; and the twine, well it was used everywhere! 

I LOVE that so many pieces from our wedding is being passed on to help celebrate a friend's upcoming wedding.  Maybe I am just sappy like that.

Onto the blue and purple card:

I was inspired by something "peacock" on the internet and decided to construct my card in those colors.

For the shape of the card and the flowers I used the same technique as before. These flowers however, came from a thicker textured type of cardstock than the last card did:

Because they were a heavier material, they required more "wetting" and started to bleed and fray as I folded them.  It turned out great though and the only difference was that these flowers look more like fabric than paper!

{Have I mentioned how in love I am with this flower making technique?}

This time I printed the "Congratulations" straight onto the speckled white paper.

Then I used some DMC thread (that's right... it is not just for needlework!) and wrapped it around the card three times.  Instead of tying it in the back however I made a bow on the front that looks like a couple of little leaves.  When the card is opened up, the string can be seen- but it's not tied back there so it still looks nice and crisp!

Lastly, I attached my flowers in the same way that I did the first card.

Aren't these flowers so lovely?

I cannot wait to make more of these flowers and if that means more engagement cards for friends then even better!  Okay, okay no pressure- I'll make a few birthday cards too.

What about you?

Besides on cards, how else would you use these flowers?  I can't wait to hear everyone's ideas and I am sure my house will be covered with these in no time at all!

Notice: If you have tried to comment on previous posts and were unable, the problem has been fixed.  Please feel welcome to share your thoughts with me and I am sorry for the prior trouble.

Sending my Love,
Kelsie Ann   


Link Love! This post is linked up to: Every Day is an Occasion

Thank You Card with Skrinky Dink

Hello my friends!  I am happy to say that I am back from Alaska and ready to craft (when am I not?)!  I hope you all enjoyed Laurie's tutorial on Shrinky Dink necklaces- I sure did!  As a matter of fact, it inspired me to try my own Shrinky Dink craft:

Yes, yes, I realize this is a paper card, but look at the fish!  That's right, Shrinky Dink. 

I wanted to send a Thank You card to the person who so generously allowed us to go on the Alaska trip.  Since it was a fishing trip, I figured a "fishing" theme would be perfect!

{That's me with my "biggest catch".  Considering that I haven't been fishing since I had my 2 foot Mickey Mouse pole, I thought it was pretty good.  My husband and I brought home 160 pounds of fish... and neither of us eat it, which means that for us, right now is the "season of giving"!}

Anyways, For the shape of the card, I used my Silhouette.  I then found the fisherman image and cut him out, leaving a small border around him.  For the waves I just tore different shades of blue paper to look like waves.  Easy Peasy.

The fish was a different story.  First, I made one that was much too small, then I made this one that I used:

{See how the corner of his tail flips up?  Apparently I need  more practice with Shrinky Dinks!}

I figured it gives it character... right?  I did paint the piece before shrinking, but wrote out the "Thank You" afterwards and it seems to stick just fine.

One more thing...
Do any of you ever catch yourselves doing something and then realize that you are slowly becoming your parents?  For me this happens ALL THE TIME.  It's a good thing that my husband likes my mom, because I am so much like her.

As I finish writing up the message inside this Thank You card, I realize that a few of my letters are starting to look an awful lot like hers:

Well, I guess it happens.  She's a pretty good person to be like.

Thanks for sitting through this post with me and for listening to all my thoughts as they spew out onto the screen.  I was excited to tell you about Alaska and this project, but there was just so much to say!

Please comment and let me know about YOUR Shrinky Dink experiences.  I am still *in love* with Laurie's projects and accepting the fact that it is just not my forte!

With Love,
Kelsie Ann