Easy Valentines

These paper hearts consisting of only cardstock, paper and clip-art from old cards take very little time. They are only one layer and the greeting is written on the other side. They look as though the roses are printed straight on the card, but they are cut out and glued on with ordinary glue. Click on for a more detailed view.

This has to be my favorite, made with a piece clipped from an old card. Cardstock, on which it is  glued, can be cut with any kinds of scissors, including children's scissors.

No, this is my favorite. It is just a little card on a white background, glued on.

The large rose has been cut out of a scrapbook paper, and the handle for hanging comes from a scrap left after cutting the shaped edging. Just two pieces, plus a dot of liquid paper-glitter, makes this very easy.

The pattern for these hearts are in the previous post. You can also use fabric to decorate with, by tracing around your card template, cutting it out with fabric scissors, and applying the cloth shape to the cardstock heart with a glue-stick. The liquid glue does not work as well with fabric-on-cardstock as well as the office glue stick. I've used a punch to make holes to insert ribbon for hanging.

I have changed my mind about my favorite, for I believe the above is really my favorite, and it is very simple. Just cut the edges with deckle scissors (sometimes available at dollar stores and discount stores), then cut out a piece of clip art with scissors that will cut details, glue on, add liquid glitter, and there you have it. Please be sure to click on for a larger view. This one is cut of cardstock, like the others.

You can either clip out the rose in detail, or leave it as is and apply to the card as you see above.

These are all made with red construction paper and they look great on a plate for a centerpiece at a table. A slightly smaller white heart, the same shape has been put inside the large heart, and then a picture of a rose put in the middle. The one on the right has a glittered foam heart, applied with white liquid glue.  The clip-art is all applied with Elmer's liquid school glue. The only card that uses the sticky glue stick is the fabric one. I found the liquid white glue to work better with this kind of simple project, but it only needs a tiny bit outlining the piece, and then pressed firmly with your fingers.  These pretty hearts fit inside the long business style white envelopes.

Some of the clip art is available on Victorian clip art sites.

Make Your Own Paper Cupcake or Muffin Wrappers

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Paper Lace Cupcake Wraps

These lace paper wraps come in many different styles and colors, suitable for any occasion, but they can be quite expensive. Some are sold in a package of 12 for $12.00, making it a dollar for each lace wrapper.

You can get them cheaper at Wal-Mart in the Valentine supply section of the store:  $1.88 per package of 10,  in red, white and pink glossy paper.

Let's suppose, however, that for some reason you cannot find them or afford them, or maybe you do not have the time or the transportation to go shopping. I have created a pattern for you here so that you can make them with any paper and in any style you like. I have two styles here: one is for the cupcake shape and the other is a straight edge type for a small cake that is made usually with a cookie cutter. It is the same size as a cupcake but the sides are straight, like a cake.

All you have to do is copy the pattern on cardstock from your printer (or paste the pattern on heavier paper or cardboard), cut it out, and trace around it on the paper of your choice.

After tracing the outline from the cardboard pattern, use your rubber stamps to decorate the paper, or add stickers to suit the occasion.  Pick papers that suit your taste, from primitive and country, or shabby-chic and elegant. 

Cut around the upper edges of the paper with deckle-edged scissors, for a lacy look.

The two papers that I used here were construction paper, above, and printer paper, below. Scrapbook papers will lend it a more upscale, professional look, so try whatever you have on hand and see what you like best.

Place the wrappers around the cake or cupcake and tape the ends together with clear tape. Paper hole punches or any shaped punches can be used on the edges, as you see on one of these wrappers.

This is a cupcake pan liner, which goes in the cupcake pan. After the cupcake has cooled, do not remove this wrapper. The decorative wrapper which we are making, goes around it.

Cupcake baking pan. Line the little sections with the cupcake liners shown in the previous photo.

Trace and cut out your wrapper. This is the straight-sided one.

Fold the strip of paper in half, and then in half again. Fold it once more if possible.

This is the circular cupcake shaped liner cut from the pattern. Fold it in half, matching the curved edges, and in half again, and maybe once more.

Use the deckle-edge scissors to trim off the top edge, and then cut half hearts into the folded side edges.

Unwrap to see if you like your design. If not, start over with a new piece.

This is how the curved cupcake design looks when unfolded.

Above: the two kinds of muffins: one a cupcake shape, and one made with straight sides with a cookie cutter, in cupcake wrappers.

Muffin and cupcake wrapper pattern.

It would be interesting to see this done in checkered scrapbook papers or gift-wrap paper. The next time you have to get a little treat made quickly and need to make it extra special, try making your own cupcake wrapper for it. If your cakes are not the same size as my pattern, just make your own.  Look here for a google list of cupcake wrappers and templates, and see what others are doing. 

There are some beautiful styles of these wrappers here.

You can make just about anything you want, when you become innovative and resourceful. It is a wonderful way to live because you do not have to wait til you find something or wait til you can afford the little luxuries. This might also be a good enterprise for those who sell paper crafts in their own online stores or from the home.

Autumn Paper Crafts

Autumn Solitude

Among the variety of hues produced by the autumn chill are the soft pastels of coral pink, pale yellow and sage green. Make Mine Pink hosted a pink autumn sale in October, to celebrate the pinks of the season. By looking closely at my own back yard I found a huge array of shades ranging from burgundy to chartreuse, which made me want to make simple things for the table, to imitate the glorious nature displayed in this lovely, brisk weather. Below are some samples, instructions and a pattern you can use for children to decorate your fall table.



This craft was made using textured card stock and polymer paints, which cost about a dollar each at JoAn Fabrics, and a little less at the craft section of Wal-Mart.  Glue the pattern on to a heavier paper or cardboard from cereal box or any cast-off box you have that can be cut with ordinary scissors.

Lay the pattern on your cardstock or paper and trace around it with pencil. Attach stands to anything you want to use as a stand-up item, as you see above.

Outline the edges and the little veins with your choice of glitter glue or glitter paint. You can make them to match your dinnerware, or just put them in a bowl as a centerpiece.

With the paint I use, shown in those bottles in a previous photo, it has to be allowed to dry for at least an hour before handling the leaves, but you can find paints for paper at scrapbook stores, which dries more quickly. Another technique that can be used, is to draw your outline with the tip of liquid paste, such as white school glue, and sprinkle glitter on it, being sure to allow a good drying period before using the craft.

Here is a pattern for you. Its copyright free. You can use it to make things for yourself, to sell, or to give away and put your own name on it.

This one has a stand-up piece on the back and  is made with white cardstock, outlined in platinum-gold paint (Polymer or Scribbles are two brands that work), and then painted with white glue, on which is sprinkled a flaky glitter called mica or snow.

A few autumn leaves from my back yard.

Use the patterns for cards, also.

An old craft here: take a a leaf and put it on a paper, then place a blank piece of white paper on top. Color over the leaves with crayons, pressing down with the crayon enough to bring out the edges and veins of the leaves.

They can then be cut out and used for a fall banner by joining them together, or used for tags, place cards, envelope inserts, large confetti on banquet tables, or anything you like. Attach a circle of paper behind each one, and make napkin rings.

There is a very nice paper bag pumpkin tutorial here.

Before my friend in Canada, Candy, closed her blog, she showed pictures of this cute plastic bag that you can carry in your purse. It is a bag inside a smaller drawstring bag that has a sparkled white rose on one end.

When you are finished with the bag, you can put it back inside the smaller rose bag and put it in your purse. We do not have these here in the States, but I sure would like it if they could be purchased here. The brand is called Niftii, and it comes in other colours.





This is one of those empty spools from wired ribbon from the dollar store. Using batting or some kind of stuffing, it can be made into a country pumpkin.

Cut a square of fabric, and as an option, place a square of batting inside it, and tuck the corners into the hole of the spool, til it looks like this:





Instructions are Here.http://www.highcountrymomsquad.com/kids-craft-turn-a-toilet-paper-roll-into-a-pumpkin/

I've used some pearlized dots of Scribbles fabric paint on this fleece pumpkin that I made earlier.

Someone phoned me recently and told me about a physician she knew who would also recommend to his patients that they try to make something and include creativity in their lives daily. He believed that it helped settle the mind and contribute to healing in some ways.

Creativity also gives you a visible results, as your efforts produce things you can own, that  you did not have before. When the hands are at work, the mind is engaged in a special way that produces even more ideas and creativity. Children brought up knowing how to make things will be resourceful adults. When you create something you control your results and you banish discontent. It is better to create something beautiful than to complain about the dark days and bad news.

Someone mailed me a piece of that nice fabric from Wal-Mart that I was using in the beginner's sewing projects, and I wanted to see what one of these style of pumpkins would look like in a print.

The leaves are calico cut into a shape and outlined with more of that glitter-glue in platinum.

Finally, here is one made from a stretch chenille type fabric, decorated with embossed leaves made with the glitter-glue, and wired ribbon for vines.

The fabric on the pumpkin is a wonderful golden butternut with a pretty chenille print on it.

Pretty Cards From Scraps

Three Women in a Parlor

by Josef Laurens, 1811-1888

Flemish

An example of a card or tag made from the picture that sometimes accompanies a magazine insert card. 

Cut the picture, mount it on papers that match the colors, and cover up the advertising spots with stickers and clip art. A foam heart is used here.Stickers and scraps hide imperfections in this kind of artwork. You need not throw a card away when there is a mistake on it. Just find a matching clipping or sticker to cover the flaw.

Here is another one, made into a large tag, by layering matching colors of scrap papers:

Stickers can be used to cover the advertising spots, and glitter glue can be added on the edges of the petals, to make them look rain-splashed.  This is a very stiff card that is somewhat like the decorative pictures on wire hangers that you sometimes see in gift shops.

This card is made by laying the upper part of the heart on the fold of a card, and cut with shaped scissors. The foam heart is added, pasted with coarse white glitter. At the top is an embroidered white rose from sewing notions and trims. A hole is punched to insert a sheer ribbon. Ribbons can be collected from packaging and gifts your receive. Store them in a zip-lock bag, in your paper supplies.