DIY: Pinhole Cards

The Proper Pinwheel has a great idea for homemade cards.  If you love to add your own personal touch to the cards you give people, this idea is just perfect for you!  You could even jazz up a store card with this method!  

Check out their blog for more paper crafting diy!

When I think back, most of my favorite crafts were learned in grade school. Using crayons over watercolor, making art from paper towels, and nap time. Those are some of my fave elementary memories. One of the best skills I learned (and I still use it to this day!), is pricking paper with a pin and creating stationery. So fun. And so easy!

Pinhole stationary has to be one of the best ways to dress up some regular old paper. The font choices are endless, and you can make it as big or as small as you want! Read below for the refresher!

To make your own you’ll need:

1. cardstock in assorted colors
2. scissors
3. tape
4. safety pin
5. mirrored image or text

To mirror your text, copy from Word and paste into Paint. Right-click ”Image” and select “Rotate or Flip” and flip yo’ message horizontally. Easy as pie, I tell you. Tape the words to the inside of your card and start pricking with a pin. Outline the text with the pin. Don’t poke holes all over the place. It’s not as pretty looking. Trust me.

Watch some TV while you poke all of the little holes. I did this while watching The Graduate. I don’t know why I thought I would like that movie. I clearly didn’t remember how strange it was. Finish pricking/poking, remove the tape and paper, and…

Bada-bing.

Play around with a few fonts and see what you like! They look pretty cool when held up to the light.

DIY: Memory Game

We always have left over scrap paper and we love the idea of being able to upcycle it into a fun game for the niece and nephew!  Props to Craftiness is Not Optional for this wonderful idea. 

what you'll need:

16 wooden squares (i found mine at michael's for 30 cents a pop, and they are 2.5 inches square)
scrapbook paper
mod podge
foam brush

cut paper into squares (2 3/8 inches fit the best) 2 each, of course. it's great to use those scraps up!

spread a thin layer of mod podge on the wood and place the paper onto the glue. press firmly into place.

repeat for the other side, using paper that matches.


you can of course put another layer of mod podge on top of the paper, but i opted not to, cause that stuff is messy. then sand the wood for nice smooth edge

DIY: Tissue Paper Flowers

The Craftinomicon Blog has some amazing DIYs, including this one which shows you how to make Tissue Paper Flowers!  It basically is taking the same concept as tissue paper pom pom, but making them into smaller versions that look very flower like and would be gorgeous to change out for each season as it approaches!!  This would be a stunning centerpiece for a wedding or party...

To make these tissue paper flowers all you will need is:

Tissue paper in your desired color
A pair of scissors
Floral wire

Start by cutting your tissue paper to size. For these small flowers, I used 4 sheets of tissue paper cut to 4"x5". Stack them on top of each other, and fold like an accordion as pictured below.

Next, find the middle of your accordion folded paper (it's easiest to just fold your paper in half again, you won't see any fold lines in your finished product). Using a piece of floral wire about 6 or 7 inches long (also folded in half) secure your paper by twisting the wire around the center of your paper like so:

I find it is easiest to work with these in a variety of ways if I leave a longer wire stem. So I twist the remainder of my wire all the way down. You can cover this with floral tape later of you wish.

Now, you get to decide what kind of edge your flower petals will have. A soft, rounded edge will give you a rounder finished flower. A sharp, triangular cut, will give you something spikier, almost like a sea urchin. You can also use pinking shears or other decorative scissors before you fold your paper to get a more subtle edge. I chose a rounded edge for this tutorial.

To make poofing out your flower petals easier, I recommend fanning out your flower before you begin, like so:

Now, all you have to do is gently pull up on each layer of tissue paper and fluff as necessary to achieve a finished look. Be careful not to tear your paper, but don't worry if you get a little snag here or there. These flowers are particularly forgiving.

Continue separating and fluffing each layer of tissue until you are done. If you want a fuller flower, feel free to use more layered sheets. You can also do multiple colors. If you want the middle of your flower to be white, make sure you have a white sheet of tissue on top of your paper pile before you fold, tie etc.

Here is my finished flower:

DIY: Scallop Wall Art

I love my 1" circle punch and am always seeking new and fun ways to use it - so "You are my Fave"'s blog is ideal for my crafting desires!  Check out their blog and see what other DIYs you fall in love with and want to try!

To make your own, you’ll need:

- thin pieces of wood

(the kind I use is called an MDF handy panel, and if you bat your eyes the men at Home Depot will cut it to whatever size you ask)

-colorful cardstock

-a circle puncher

-glue

Punch lots of circles from your colorful cardstock.

Then, mark your piece of wood along the edge at half the size of your circles. For example, my circles were two inches, so I made one inch marks along each side. Then connect the dots and make lines across the wood to guide you.

Using your lines to guide each row, get to gluing!
Let each rows of circles hang on top of the row below – that creates your scallops.

DIY: Make Your Own Stickers

Little Grey Kitteh has a wonderful tutorial on making your own stickers.  This will come in really handy as the holiday gets closer and closer!  Just think, we are already more than halfway to Christmas...Eek!  But, if you start now, maybe it won't be so overwhelming??  What do you think?  Ready for the holidays?  Love these stickers?  We do!!

So for starters, pick out whatever paper you want to use and a hole puncher for the shape that you want your stickers to be. I used some cute cardstock that I had on hand as well as a heart hole puncher that I had purchased at Michaels. You could also be more elaborate and use an Xacto knife or scissors to cut out your design, but I just wanted a simple heart. :P

Now, cut out your shapes! I only made two stickers, but it would be just as easy to make a whole ton! :P

Then, you need to gather the following things:

• White Vinegar
• White Glue (such as Elmer's)
• A bowl
• A spoon
• A paintbrush

Now, the magazine said to combine equal parts of white glue and white vinegar into a bowl. I used a spoonful of each, which ended up being wayyy more than plenty for my two stickers. So combine the two ingredients and stir until the mixture becomes milky and somewhat thin.

Finally, once it's been mixed enough, grab your paint brush and the paper pieces that you cut or punched out earlier. Dip the brush into the milky mixture of glue and vinegar, and liberally smear a thin-medium amount of it onto the backside of your paper. Wait about ten or fifteen minutes, depending on how thickly you applied the glue-vinegar mixture. You just want it to be wet or moist, but not soaked. My stickers were still flimsy when I applied them to the card, and they worked fine. So in short, the drying time isn't an essential and precise part of the process. :P

I didn't have anything special in mind for these guys, so I tested them on a plain piece of white copy paper. I folded the paper in half to represent a card, then I placed one sticker on the front of the card and used the other sticker to close and seal the card. They held up well and they didn't soak the paper, so all in all, I was very pleased! :D

Tuesday Tutorial: Paper Lantern Ornaments

Want a cute, simple decoration that you can make in minutes? These paper lanterns from The Creative Place are perfect!  Make a bunch and string them together as a garland, or put a bunch in a bowl, or in a hurricane glass in a bathroom or guestroom.

What you'll need:
- Paper - enough to cut 15 strips - ½"x4" (7.5"x4")
- 2 small brads
- Ruler, 1/16" hole punch or pushpin to poke holes, exacto blade or
rotary cutter and a cutting mat

1. Measure out and cut your paper into 15 strips - each strip ½"x4"
2. Punch holes 1/8" from edge on short edge on both ends of paper strips. I used a 1/16" hole punch, but a push pin can be used to poke holes - it might take a little longer to get the brad through.
3. Put a brad in each end of your punched paper strip stack.

(Back)

4. Starting with the strip on the bottom, twist it out to begin to unfold the paper lantern. It might look kind of wonky, but it will get better :)
5. Twist out each strip individually in order from bottom to top of paper strip stack.
6. Arrange to your liking and Voila! A paper lantern ornament!
These would make a great garland - I strung a few together and they looked fabulous!