Die-cut Flowers Card

Hi everybody,
In my last post I showed you a card I made with my Cricut  .Today I'm posting a card that has the same style - die cut roses - but made with a die by Sizzix . So, if you don't have a Cricut Explore YET, you can always work with your embossing/cutting machine. Let's see the card?

Material used
Tools: Big Shot cutting/embossing machine, Detailed Floral Thinlits Dies, Magnetic platform and precision base plate
Paper: Red and white cardstock 
Stamp: Happy Birthday (Sizzix Happy Birthday To You thinlits with stamps)
Black ink
Embellishments: Red ribbon and bow, pearl and red gemstones
                                                              
Then you ask me, but what if I'm not a card maker? It's ok, you can find this card, and the one from my previous post at Paper Creations, etc shop

  
Thank you so much for stopping by, and may God bless you and yours.

Happy Crafting,

This post has affiliate links. When you click on them and make a purchase, I make a few bucks. Thank you so much.
   

Inspiring Glitter Snowflake Card

Hello everyone. Getting ready for Christmas? I just love this time of year. Everybody, or most of everybody, seems to be nicer, kinder to one another. They don't even cuss as much in traffic! LOL 
Today I found out what my Christmas/wedding anniversary gift will be. Yep, our anniversary IS in December, and I am very excited. As a matter of fact, my husband is in the store picking it up right now. What an inspiration. No wonder I sat here and wanted to write another post. Hehehehe. So here is an idea for you to make and get someone to smile as big as I am smiling right now.

Supplies used
Paper: Gray, dark blue, and glitter white cardstock for the outside, white cardstock for the inside of card
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, snowflakes dies, heat gun, white embossing powder, white glitter pen
Stamp: Merry Christmas
Ink: Versamark
Embellishment: large pearl

Now you are probably asking, "What is she getting for Chirstmas?" or "What does the card have to do with the gift she's getting? ", etc.
Well, my amazing husband got me a Cricut Explore Air, and is picking up a nice computer to go with it today. So now I can cut way more than these two snowflakes, and create even more things that require a cutting machine. This was the very last card I made before I got the Cricut. Am I going to stop using my Sizzix or the dies? NO. Absolutely not. But it's nice to have other means of creations and execution, don't you think? - I bet you too are smiling now. ;)

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderfully blessed Christmas.

Vanías Reed    

 

Business Card Holder - Free Tutorial

The other day I as talking to a young lady about crochet and card making. She showed a great interest in my crochet class, so I looked for my business cards in my purse. To my disappointment and embarassment, I couldn't find my card holder. I had those cute cards made so I wouldn't have to write my phone number, or any other information on a piece of paper. And here I was grabbing a little notebook to write down the information the lady needed. Thank God I have learned from my oldest sister to laugh at my mistakes and misfortunes. But, when I got back home, I headed to my closet where I found my card holder in another purse. So I decided to make one card holder  for each of the bags I use the most. Here is the result of my creating process to avoid any more embarrassments. 

You will need:
Paper size 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Score 1st line at 2"- like shown in picture- turn the paper around

Score at 3 3/8" - like in picture - turn the paper aroung again

Score at 2" again, turn paper, and score at 3 3/8" again
Slide the paper to the right and score at 3"

(I used a different scorer this time because if you don't have one like mine, it's ok, you can use a different one, or even a paper cutter and the point of a mechanical pencil)


Turn the paper and score at 2 1/2"
Turn the paper and score at 3"
Turn the paper and score at 2 1/2"
Here is what your scored paper should look like

 Now with a fine point pair of scissors you will cut off the corners like this

 
Round the points for a better finished product. If you don't have a scorer with a side to round edges, an edge punch will do just fine.

Fold the box on each crease you created with the right side of the paper in, then make two pencil marks on each side of the bottom part like in the picture below. That's were you will cut off the point.

Fold the box with right side out. This is how your box should look like

Using a medium size punch, punch the part which point you just cut off. 
Using adhesive, glue the bottom and sides, and your box should look like the picture on the left. With craft knife cut top and bottom of a strip. 

That's where you will close the box. See picture below

Now you can decorate your little box/business card holder, and carry your cards everywhere. I glued Paper Creations, ETC logo on the strip of one box, and used a little ribbon to tie a bow on the other box.
Note: Adhere the ribbon on the back of the box, so you will have it free on the front to tie the bow, but the ribbon won't keeping falling off.

 Thank you for stopping by, and may God bless you abundantly.

Vanías Reed   

Gifts or gift cards? (Last part)

Hi. To finish my series of posts on gift cards, I'd like to say that there are other reasons why to give them instead of gifts. Distance is one of them. A couple getting married and moving away, a high-school graduate going to a distant college, and serving in the army are just some examples of that. So here is another idea for a gift card holder.

Supplies Used
Paper: Light purple cardstock, polka-dots scrapbook paper
Tools: Embossing/ cutting machine, score board, extra-large and large oval dies (for handle), large scallop circle die.
Stamp: To, from
Embellishments: lavender pearl

Please remember that you can transform your handmade greeting cards into gift card holders too. Just use your imagination, and the technique in the video I posted the link to on my first post entitled 'gift or gift cards? (part 1)

Remember you can always make a greeting card/gift card holder in one, like I transformed the card I posted on Thursday, July 11, 2013 into a gift card holder (see picture below) to give to a bride who is going to live in another state after married.

In this case I just created a pocket inside the card, and crocheted a board using the same stitch used in the dress.

Thank you for checking out my ideas. I hope they are useful to you.

God bless you, and happy crafting, 

Vanías Reed 

Gifts or gift cards? (Part 2)

Yesterday I talked about how I prefer to get a gift card over a gift that has no meaning to me. By the way, what do you write on a thank you note when you get a gift that you don't like? Feel free to answer to that in the comment space below(smile). The gift card holder idea I'm posting today is for a masculine one, which can be used as a greeting card too. How clever is that? Here it is.

 As you can see, I used the same technique for the card holder itself.

Here you can see I stamped a birthday message to turn my gift card holder into a Birthday card.

Supplies Used

Paper: Dark blue, black and white cardstock paper

Tools: Embossing/cutting machine, top note die, large and medium oval punches, 1/16in circle punch, scorer board

Stamp: Birthday sentiment phrase (cover), Birthday message

Ink: black

Embellishment: white and black ribbon

Thank you for stopping by. I wish you a wonderfully blessed day.

Vanías Reed   

Gifts or gift cards? (Part 1)

Have you ever gotten a gift that makes you think, "Why in the world would someone give me THAT?" (smile). I have. What do you do in those cases? Exchange it, re-give it to somebody who will really use it, sell it on Ebay? (LOL) I have to confess that while those thoughts did come to mind, I realized that I'd rather get a $5.00 gift card to one of my favorite craft stores, than something expensive (or not) that I have no use for. (as impersonal as some people might think gift cards are) That's why I think it is so important to find out one's likes and dislikes before giving them something. It is also important to me to look hard until I find a present that will make the other person smile that smile that tells me, "Right on target". Do I accomplish that 100% of the time? NO, but about 98%, which makes it worth the work. When I go to a store to buy a present, I look for something that reminds me of the person I'm giving it to, and, if I cannot find anything that special, I'd rather give a gift card. At least they will buy something they will enjoy, don't you think? But just a gift card won't do, you have to make it special. So you make a beautiful, unique gift card holder. It is with that in mind that I made some gift card holders, and will be posting them here. So here is the first idea.

As much as I'd love to take credit for the idea for card holder itself, I can't because I founded it here.

Supplies Used
Paper: white and brown cardstock, yellow with polka-dots scrapbook paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, scorer board, scallop board punch
Embellishments: yellow 1/8 ribbon, vintage rose sticker, small brown pearls, sentiment phrase

 Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy gift giving. 

God bless you,

Vanías Reed  

Butterfly for Tea Bags

I saw this idea online and fell in love with it, so I decided to put my head and hands to work and figure out how to make it. Here it is, or I should say, here they are because I made more than one. 

It's a little butterfly attached to the string of the tea bag. Isn't it cute? You can find them in my Etsy store

Supplies Needed
Paper: cardstock
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, butterfly die, precision scissors, hole punch, glue and coloring pens.

They are delicate and add a touch of decor to your cup.

 You can give them as a gift (they come in sets of 8 unless custom ordered differently), use for different occasions or just for some tea with friends.









Thank you for visiting my blog. Enjoy a good cup of tea, relax and craft for fun. May God bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed    

Animal Print Bookmarks

The school year will begin soon and, even though I don't like to see my vacation ending, I'm excited to meet my new students and see the "old" ones again. So I'm making some bookmarks to welcome them. You can also find the video on Youtube showing how I made them clicking here

Supplies used

Giraffe
Paper: giraffe print, mustard and white (Paper Studios)
Embellishments: Giraffe sticker and brown ribbon
Tools: computer and printer, fine point golden pen

Zebra
Paper: zebra print, black and white paper (Paper Studios)
Embellishments: zebra sticker, white ribbon, star sticker
Tools: computer and printer, black fine point pen

Tiger
Paper: Mustard, black and white (Paper Studios)
 Embellishments: Tiger and tiger paw stickers, black ribbon
Tools: computer, printer and fine point black pen

 Bear
Paper: Bear paw print, brown and white (Paper Studios)
Embellishments: Bear sticker, brown with light beige dots ribbon
Tools: computer and printer

I glued the print paper to a white cardstock to make the bookmarks firm and more durable. I also used a Bible verse to encourage the students. The verse is found in Philippians 4:13 and it has been a great source of encouragement to me.

Thank you for checking my blog. Blessings to you and yours.

Vanias Reed     

Today I'm going to tell you a story. 
There was a man who was just an average person. He had never killed or robbed anyone; he had never done anything to hurt anybody intentionally. He did tell a couple of lies here and there, but who didn't? He wasn't completely honest here and there, but who was? One day, this man was driving home thinking about the things he had to do that evening when suddenly a young man crossed in front of his car. It was raining and even though the man stepped on the break as hard as he could,  he still hit the boy. He got off his car, checked on the boy lying there on the pavement and tried to call someone. No signal on his cell phone. He was afraid of picking the boy up and hurting him even more. Confused, wet, desperate, the man got in his car and drove away to find help. When he got back there was an ambulance, the police and some people there. They were talking about this cruel person who hit the boy and left him there in the rain, on the pavement to die. The man wanted to say it was him, but he didn't find the courage nor the strength to do so. 
The next days were terrible for him. He couldn't sleep nor eat. All he could do was think about what he had done. Until he finally could not take it any longer and decided to confess what he had done. He went to the hospital where the boy was recovering, told the boy's parents what had happened, and begged them to forgive him. How surprised they all were when the young man opened his eyes and said, " I forgive you. I completely forgive you, and I will make sure that my Mom and Dad won't press any charges against you." The man then, with tears in his eyes, told the boy, "Son I deserve to be punished. What I did was wrong." The young man replied, "But if I forgave you, you no longer need a punishment, because forgiveness erases the wrong that was done."
What do you think? Should the man still be punished?
Our story, real story, is a lot like that man's. We might be good people, who haven't made any "major" mistake. But, you see, to God that doesn't really matter. Whether our sin is just a "little white" lie or an abortion; "just" keeping a couple of cents given to us by the cashier by mistake, or robbing a bank. We all need forgiveness. The only way to be free from the punishment we deserve (hell) is to be forgiven by God. However His standards are based on perfection because He is perfect. We are not. We were born sinners. We have the tendency to do what's wrong. So, how can we reach a perfect God? Through His Son. God loves us so much that He doesn't want to spend eternity without us. So He sent His son to pay the debt we could not pay. When we accept that His Son is the ONLY way to HIM. When we confess that the wrong we do is called sin, and therefore hurt God's holiness and perfection. When we accept His endless love for us and surrender our lives to Him. He will forgive us, and there won't be any charges against us. We will be free from the eternal punishment. WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT! That's right. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves from the punishment we deserve. The only way is to accept God's forgiveness that is FREE. It is a gift that we receive through Jesus, because He is the only one who died and rose from the dead. He defeated physical death, so we can have eternal life! Eternal life with Him, our loved ones, who also chose to accept His love and forgiveness. 
Would you like to receive this gift? Would you like to be forgiven and free from the weight of your sins? Then just tell God that. Tell him you are sorry for what you have done, "big" or "small" and ask Him to forgive you.  There is no sin that He can't forgive. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or less than He does already. I promise you will have an amazing peace. Your heart will be filled with His love. He will be with you during the good times and the tough ones. So, accept God's WONDERFUL GIFT  of forgiveness today. Celebrate Easter for the real reason: Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for you.

Happy Resurrection Day!

 

Gift card holder 2

Yesterday we made a gift card holder for a lady. Today we are making one for the guys. We would not forget them, would we? So here it is.

 Paper: plaid, washed jeans, black and white cardstock (Paper Studio)
Tools: Template, circle and parallel punches, precision scissors, 3D glue dots, colored pencil, glue, paper creaser, ruler and crafts knife.
Extras: computer and printer

 

Here is the shirt template for you. Right click on the picture, save to your computer and print.

 Now we have gift card holders for both ladies and gentlemen. 

Vanias Reed  

Gift card holder

 Finding the right gift for that special person isn't always easy, so we buy a gift card for their favorite store, restaurant, etc. But who said gift cards have to be placed in those boring envelopes or little boxes we find in stores? We can make the gift card experience more exciting by making a customized holder. Here is one for the ladies. 

 In this picture you can see how deep the gift card will be into the 'dress'.

 

Below you will find a template I made for you. Just right click on the picture to save it in your computer. Print it as many times as you need it.

 

  There you go, now you have a customized gift holder that will be treasured.

Vanias Reed