Thumb Print Turkey

A few days ago I posted a Christmas card as a preview for Christmas. Today I'm posting a Thanksgiving preview. You will make this card with your kids because it's made with thumb or finger prints. This is the kind of card that makes grandparents, uncles and aunts very happy. Enjoy.

Supplies Used
Paper: White card, green, orange, dark red, yellow, gold and brown card stock (some of them are glittered)
Stamp: Happy Thanksgiving
Ink: brown, orange, gold and red
Everything else: orange and red felt, small wiggly eyes, acorns sticker.
Main tool: my son's thumb

Detail inside

My son and I had fun making this card, and the person we made it for loved it.  I hope you make one (or more) too. 

Thank you for checking out my blog.

 God bless you,

Vanias Reed     

Wedding Card With Crochet

Recently I made some bridal invitations, and they inspired me to create a 'bridal' card. I like to crochet so I decided to put the two together. Here is the result.

Card 'Recipe'
Paper: light green (Paper Studio), pink (Recollections)
Stamp: Wedding series - Roses corner and roses bouquet
Ink: Ebony (Recollections)
Tools: Crochet needles 3.25mm (D), pliers, pink and green coloring pencils, spray adhesive.
Everything else: paper clip (hanger), green ribbon (to cover hanger), white lace (veil), white Red Heart Fashion Crochet Thread, Size 3, adhesive faux pearls (tiny and small) and pearly beads, white paper rose with leaves, Winter Wonderland glitter (Martha Stwart).
 
Dress directions
Abbreviations:
ch - chain
dc - double crochet
sc - single crochet
sl st - slip stitch
sk - skip

Skirt

Ch 7 then ch 2 to go up. 
Row 1: 6 sc , remember that last 2 ch count as 1sc
Row 2: ch 3, remember this is your first dc, 1 dc in every sc
Row 3: ch 3 (your 1st dc), 1dc  ch 2  2dc in the same base st, 1 dc 1 row below in the next st, 2dc ch2 2dc in the next st; 1dc 1 row below in the next st; 2dc ch2 2dc in the same st
Row 4: sl st until you reach the ch in the middle of dc from previous row
ch3 (your 1st dc) 1dc ch2 2dc in the ch; sk next 2dc; 1dc 1 row below; sk next 2dc; 2dc ch2 2dc in the ch; sk next 2dc; 1dc row below; sk 2dc; 2dc ch2 2dc in the ch
Row 5: sl st until you reach the ch; ch3 (your 1st dc) 2dc ch 2 3 dc in the ch; sk 2dc; 1 dc 1 row below in the next st; sk 2dc: 3dc ch2 3 dc in the ch; 1dc 1 row bellow; sk 2 dc; 3 dc ch2 3dc in the ch.
Row 6: Repeat row 5 - except that you will  sk 3dc this time
Row 7: sl st to ch; ch3 3dc ch2 4dc in the ch; sk 3dc; 1 dc 1 row below in the next st; sk 3dc;  4dc ch2 4dc in the ch; sk 3dc; 1 dc 1 row below; sk 3 dc: 4 dc ch2 4 dc in the ch
Row 8:  sl st to ch; ch3 9dc in the ch; sk 4dc; 1 dc 1 row below; sk 4dc; 10dc in the chain; sk 4dc; 1 dc 1 row below; sk 4 dc; 10dc in the chain; sl st to join
Sl st going up the skirt 

Spray the skirt with adhesive and sprinkle glitter on it before gluing the dress to the card.

Top

When you get back to the first row of the skirt, (that will be the waist)
Row 1: ch 2, sc in every precious sc (they will be up side down) 
Row 2: ch3 (your 1st dc) 1 dc in each sc
Row 3: ch 3 1dc 1 row below; 1 dc; 1dc 1 row below; 1dc; 1dc 1 row below; 1dc
Row 4: Repeat row 3
Row 5: ch 3 2dc in the next 3 dc; sl st; 2 dc in the next 4 st; sl st.
Sl st all the way to the bottom of skirt
Tie off and weave in ends.

Add a few pearls to the bouquet.

Detail inside the card

Thank you for stopping by. Blessings unto you.

Vanias Reed      

Organizing

We have seen several cards and a few gift wrapping ideas. Today I want to start posting some ideas to help you organize your spaces saving money. Remember that I am all about recycling. Today's idea is a pencil container for your child's desk. If you don't home school, it is ok too, you can make one for  your own desk.

Empty container + craft glue + thick yarn = new pencil holder.

I used a large container because we keep crayons, scissors, ruler and erasers in it too. But if you want to make one just for pens and pencils, a thin container will work too. Use one that you have at home. Wash it well, and cover with thick yarn or twine.

I made this one for my son. 3rd grade here we come!!!!

Thank you for stopping by. Have a very blessed day!

Vanias Reed       

Card + Crochet + Tip

Making cards is one of my passions, the other one is crocheting. I used crochet in one of the Mother's Day cards in May, and now I'm using crochet again. So enjoy the card. The tutorial for the crochet is included plus a new tip. 

 Card 'Recipe'
Paper: Light and dark purple (Recollections), white (Paper Studios)
Stamp: Happy Birthday (Stampabilities)
Ink: Black (Stampabilities)
Tools: Cutting/Embossing machine (Sizzix Big Kick), Polka-dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Decorative label die (Die-namics), ruler, craft knife.
Embellishments: Wired pink, light purple and white ribbons, clear gemstones, crochet flower

Crochet Flower Tutorial

Abbreviations used:
ch – chain
sl st – slip stitch
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
RS – right side
BO – bind off, cast off

Row 1: ch 6, join with a sl st
Row 2: ch 3, 17 dc inside the loop created with the 6 ch, join with the sl st into the 3d ch of ch 3 (18 stitches)
Row 3: ch 3, skip 2 sts, sl st into the next st, repeat until the 18th st (6 loops of 3 ch)
Row 4: sc, hdc, 3dc, hdc, sc in every loop around (6 petals)
Row 5: ch5, insert the hook into the 2nd ch of row 3 skipped chains, from the back (while your flower is still facing you the RS), sl st, ch 5 and repeat, end with a slip st. (6 loops of 5 ch, underneath your first flower)
Row 6: sc, hdc, 5 dc, hdc, sc in every loop making 6 petals, sl st to end the row
Row 7: same as row 5, except your sl st goes in the remaining 1st chain of the row 3 skipped chains, end with a sl st (6 loops of 5 ch, underneath your first two flowers)
Row 8: repeat row 6, end with a sl st, BO.
Finished size came to be about 3″ wide.

 Tip

My tip for today is on how to layer a decorative label. You don't need to have all sizes of labels. You can layer them. Check out the pictures below.

1. Using a ruler, mark the back of the decorative label

 2. Cut on the lines and paste them 

underneath the label to provide a raised effect.

Please notice that I used a different decorative label from the ones on the pictures that show how to make the layers.

You can add more layers if you choose to do so.

Thank you for stopping by. Happy crafting!

Vanias Reed    

Twin Girls - card and tip

A dear young lady from our church is having twin girls. How exciting!!! So,  I decided to make a card to go with the gift we are giving them. Below you will find the tip of the day. Here is the card.

Card 'Recipe'
Paper: Baby Pink, Itsy Bitsy Ditsy Cherry Pie and yellow polka-dots (Recollections), White (Paper Studio)
Stamp: Congratulations (Stampabilities)
Ink: Ebony (Stampabilities)
Tools: Fine point pliers, cutting/embossing machine (Sizzix), stripes embossing folder (Paper Studio), 1/2 in circle punch.
Embellishments: hangers, onesies, white, brown and silver pearls, picture.
Extras: 3D circle glue dots, old magazine, paper clips, brown twine 

This is my tip for you: DO NOT be afraid of recycling. For instance, I cut a picture frame from a magazine and made the little duck picture. You can also use paper clips to make the hangers (see my post Fathers Day 1 - posted on 06/12/2013 for "how to make hangers from paper clips").  The circle punch was used to decorate the corners of the paper with the sentiment. When you recycle, you save money and exercise your creativity. 
 Let me know in a comment if you have any questions.

Thank you for stopping by. Blessings on you and yours.

Vanias Reed   

Christmas Preview

Today I went to my favorite craft store and was delighted to see that they have the autumn decoration on the shelves - the only way we have fall colors here in Florida. They also started putting out Christmas stuff. Ahhhh Christmas in July!!! It reminds me of Christmas in Brazil because it's summer there in December. So I decided to go ahead and post one Christmas card here for you. I'm not going to keep posting Christmas cards though. This one is more like a preview of what is yet to come. Enjoy.

Card 'recipe'
Paper: Light and dark blue cardstock (Recollections and Paper Studio)
Stamp: Snowflakes, Merry Christmas
Ink: Tinted embossing ink pad (Top Boss)
Tools: Embossing heating tool (Paper Studio)
Embossing powder: Winter Wonderland (Stampendous)
Embellishments: Clear and white ribbon, pearls 

Thank you for checking out my blog. Happy crafting and God bless.

Vanias Reed    

Wedding/anniversary

Today I was looking at some pictures of a friend's wedding. So beautiful and so inspiring. So I decided to post a card that you can make for a wedding or anniversary.

Supplies Used
Paper: White, glittered white and silver cardstock (Paper Studio)
Stamp: Congratulations (Stampabilities)
Ink: Ebony (Recollections)
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine (Big Kick), Floral Oval decorative die (Nestabilities), butterfly shape puncher (Paper Studio), Swirl embossing folder (Paper Studio)
Embellishments: Transparent white ribbon, wired silver ribbon, clear gemstones, glittered butterflies

I hope you also get inspired to make a card for that special couple that you know.
Thank you for stopping by. God bless you and your family.

Vanias Reed