'Go Hog Wild' Pig Birthday Card

There are many things I love about craft club: seeing the girls each month, hearing what's new with everyone, Kathee's homemade dinners, DESSERT, working on my to-do list, seeing what everyone creates, the list goes on and on.   In addition to lending each other stamps and tools, we also bring supplies we no longer use to set out for grabs, which is how I came to acquire a stack of cut-out pigs!

I came up with this card to use-up the pink paper pigs that says, "It's your birthday....GO HOG WILD!"

Here's the inside:

Cuttlebug Folder Reference Ring

It's so hard to remember what Cuttlebug folders I own, so one night at Craft club I decided to make a reference ring with samples of each folder. 

I simply cut white paper to size and embossed a sheet for each folder.  I folded a piece of washi tape over the top and punched a hole through it so I could put the sheets together on a ring.  I used a ring so it would be easy to add more as I buy more folders.

The tape not only kept the hole from tearing, but I used different colors for different size folders (regular, extra large, tags, and borders).

I store the ring all of my folders and sometimes put it in my purse when I'm shopping so I don't buy duplicates!  There are some folders that I hardly ever grabbed, but when I saw how the patterned looked embossed they were some of my favorites!

Memory Wire Bracelets

When the girls at craft club were making memory wire bracelets, I knew I had to make some too! They are so simple and easy to make, a great craft to do while watching a movie. Since any color beads can be used they're great to make in the colors of your team or school.  This would also be a great craft to do with a group of friends. Simply supply memory wire and a variety of beads and see what combinations everyone comes up with!

The wire used is called memory wire, which holds its round, coiled shape making them perfect for bracelets. Simply cut to the desired length depending on how many times you want them to wrap around the wrist, and string with any beads that will fit the wire.

To finish, use a pliers to make a loop that will keep the beads from falling off.

On some bracelets I added a charm to the finishing loop for some extra 'bling'.

Here are a few bracelets that I made.  These make excellent stocking stuffers and would be a great post-Thanksgiving dinner craft.

Retirement Wine Cork Ornaments

This year both my mom and my friend Kathee from Craft Club retired.  For something special, I made them both cork ornaments  using corks from the wine served at their retirement parties.   

Above are ornaments I made for Kathee symbolizing things that she would do in retirement, and below is a Christmas tree I made with the remaining corks. 

With some eyelet screws, beads, ribbon, and glue the possibilities of cork ornaments you could make is endless. This is an easy way to make a little reminder of any special occasion, just remember to save the cork!

'Craft Room Survival Kit' Retirement Gift

My Friend Kathee who hosts our craft club recently retired. She plans to spend more time crafting now that she is retired, so I put together this 'Craft Room Survival Kit' as a gag gift to celebrate her retirement!

Here are the items I included in the kit:

CRAFT ROOM SURVIVAL KIT CONTENTS:

·      Candle & Matches- to continue crafting through the night if the electricity goes out

·      Coupon Organizer-because you shouldn’t buy anything at Michael’s without a coupon!

·      Notepad-to jot down ideas, keep a list of projects, or start a tally to keep track of the days!

·      Dessert Gum-a hands-free dessert to keep you crafting without missing one of the best things in life

·      Waterless Toothbrushes-incase you can’t bring yourself to get away from the crafts, even to go across the hall to brush your teeth

·      Water-to stay hydrated, or for a sudden need to paint with watercolors

·      Nutrition Bar-for extra stamina

·      Energy Chews-for those really intense stamping projects

·      Extra Adhesives-to run out is truly an emergency. Don’t let anything slow you down!

·      Lotion-don’t let flipping through all that cardstock with dry hands leave you prone to paper cuts!

·      Small Containers-to contain those small pieces that could be hazardous (or just make a mess)

·      Card Magazine-to overcome a case of crafters block

·      Postage Stamps-incase of a true emergency, quickly make a card and send it out asking for help

Inside I included a list of all of the items: 

The sides of the box included 'Emergency Contacts':

Felt Heart Wreath

Although this heart wreath is made out of felt, it almost looks like roses from far away. It was easy and inexpensive to make, although it took some time!

I started with a 12" foam heart from JoAnn's.  I traced the bottom of a soup can to create a circle template, them cut about 200 circles out of red felt.  I folded the fabric to cut more than one a time, but it still took a while!

I then folded the circles in half, then half again, and used a pin to hold the fold and apply the felt circles to the front side of the foam heart.

I strongly suggest investing in one of these thimbles if you are going to be pushing in a lot of pins to make a wreath--totally worth it!

I pinned a pink ribbon to the back so the wreath could be hung. Here it is on my door!

Box of Homemade Cards Gift

A few years ago I made some cards for my mom and mother in law which were a big hit as it saved them from always having to go and buy cards. Whenever I make cards I usually make a few of the same style, as it's just as easy as making one.  I decided to make a box of cards for my mom and mother in law again using the extra cards I make.  After about a year and a half of making cards at craft club, they each got a box of 130+ cards for Christmas!

That's a lot of cards!

The dividers are made out of index cards to distinguish the different occasions.  I printed the titles on colored paper, cut, and glued them to the top of the index cards.

I included this birthday calendar which I printed from here so they can easily keep track of everyone's birthdays.

Here it is all packed up with envelopes and ready to give!

Here are some examples of the different cards I included by occasion.

Baby:

Engagement/Wedding/Bridal Shower/Bachelorette:

Any Occasion:

New Home:

Sympathy:

Holidays:

Thank You:

Boy Birthday:

Girl Birthday:

Paper Cutting Tip

I learned this tip from Kathee at Craft Club! Wrap a piece of tape around the ruler of your cutting board at 5.5" so you don't have to measure each piece of 8.5 x 11"card stock when cutting for cards!

Birthday Balloon Wreath

I made this balloon wreath at Craft Club to hang on the door for Birthdays--like this:

It was pretty east to make and looks really neat.  There are may tutorials on-line and on pinterest, but here's my advice:

1.) Start with a foam wreath like the one above from Joann's. It's east to put pins in. Don't mess with a straw/wicker wreath.

2.) Use straight pins to pin the balloons to the wreath--just stick the pin right though it. Some people use 'U' shaped pins to pin the balloons down, but they are just too expensive!

3.) If you're going to push in 200+ pins with the same index finger, spend $3 on a thimble. Not the old school one that looks like a barbie drinking cup that's useless, but a gel-lined,  adjustable one that only covers the bottom half of your finger that pushes the pins in.

4.) I used 210 balloons, 30 of each of the 7 colors:

Pink

Orange

Yellow

Green

Teal

Blue

Purple

5.) I got all of the balloons at Target (Two-15ct. packs of each color) except for Teal and Orange. I had to go to the party store for those colors to round out the assortment.

6.) This might be common sense, but I'll say it. Don't put balloons on the back side.  They won't get seen, it won't lay flat, and you'll spend more $ on the project if you do.

Wine Cork Letters

I made a few of these wine cork letters to give as gifts.  They were so easy and fun to make, and easy to take to craft club!  Thanks to everyone who contributed corks!

I started with these wooden letters from Hobby Lobby. Then, I put tacky glue over the entire letter and hot glued individual corks.

They stand on their own to display on a mantle or shelf, but would look cute hanging on a wall too!

Mummy Cards

The blog is back!  Just in time for Halloween!  I took a break while some work was getting done on our house and everything was a mess!

I made these mummy cards at craft club.   I just ripped white paper then rubbed the edges against a black ink pad to make them black.  Each one has its own personality! Here's the inside: