Fall Button Wreath Card

I don't know if it is because earthly colors are my favorite, but just seeing fall decorations in the stores makes me smile. Living in a warm climate, I don't get to see the trees' leaves changing color, so I enjoy what the stores do, decorate my home, make cards and other fall projects. Here is another one of my autumn cards. Enjoy.

 Supplies and techniques used
Paper: rust red, grey, white cardstock
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, lace border embossing folder
Stamps: 'Happy Thanksgiving' sentiment phrase, olive leaves circle (I stamped this three times to get the thickness I wanted)
Ink: light and olive green
Embellishments: 1 yellow button (bigger than the others), olive green, rust red and orange buttons in different sizes, red yearn bow (passed through yellow button holes first)
No time for crafts? That's ok. You can find this and other cards in my Etsy store 

Thank you for checking out my paper creations. May God's abundant grace and mercy inspire you to create something beautiful.

Vanias Reed    

Pumpkin Thanksgiving Card

Fall is almost here, and I'm loving it. When you live in a place where summer is extremely hot, the words fall and winter sound wonderful. Just the thought of a cooler weather inspired me to start making my Thanksgiving and Christmas cards. So here is the first one.

Supplies used

Paper: rust red, white, olive green, rust yellow, and brown cardstock

Tools: cutting/embossing machine, wave edge punch, scalloped oval punch, oval punch, 1 3/4 circle punch (to make the pumpkin - see my post 'Fall Ideas' from 09/03/2014), quilling tool (see picture below), computer, and printer.

Embellishments: green gemstones, pumpkin, paper ribbon.
Note: If you don't have a quilling tool, it's ok. You can use small cylinder to roll the pumpkin leaf.
Not much time for crafts? It is ok. You can find this and other of my cards in my Etsy store

Let's thank God for the blessings of family and friends, and give our family members, and our friends nice Thanksgiving cards. 

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you.

Vanias Reed     

Fall Ideas

What can you do with paper rosettes, a large circle punch, and a gift tag punch? A cute pumpkin to decorate your table, a gift... the possibilities are endless. Try this:

Then use a large circle punch to make leaves

Next make a gift tag

Then use your imagination and creativity to create something like this

Supplies needed
Tools: orange, cream and green cardstock, hot glue gun, got glue, large circle punch, gift tag punch, brown stamp ink (for the effect on the tag)

This is the kind of project that your children can help with, and turn it into a family tradition.

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you.

Vanias Reed  

Thank You Note

The other day I just stopped to think about all the things for which I am thankful. Wow! Big, big list. To begin, I'M ALIVE! Isn't it great? Then there is the fact that God sent His only Son to die on the cross, and pay for my sins. I have an awesome husband, and a wonderful son, and the list goes on. How about the freedom we have in this country? This beautiful, blessed country called United States of America. So I decided not to send cards to our troops overseas, who fight for the freedom we have, only at Christmas time. I decided to show them how much my family and I appreciate what they do by sending thank you notes now. Here is one of the cards I made to send overseas. 

 Supplies used
Paper: white, red and blue cardstock, glitter white cardstock
Tools: cutting/embossing machine, lace oval punch, oval punch, star punch, stars embossing folder
Stamp: thank you
Ink: black

I hope you get inspired and decide to show appreciation to someone today. If you have kids, get them involved in this "thankfulness wave" (that's what I call it), and make a thank you card for a soldier today.

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed

Tip on Punches

Hi there. The other day I wanted to use one of my punches to make a card, and it was "sticking" to the paper, and therefore not cutting very well. So I had to find out how to "save" it. Here are two tips that I found to be very helpful for "sticking" punches, or punches that got dull.

How to lubricate your punch

Lubricate your punch by simply punching a piece of wax paper. If the punch doesn't cut a perfect picture, it is ok. The wax from the paper is lubricating it. Repeat the process as many times as necessary until your  punch is no longer sticking when punching paper. If THAT doesn't work, try to spray a little bit of WD40. Be sure to punch scrap paper to clean the excess before using on a good paper.

Sharpening a punch: 

To sharpen your punch, punch a couple of times through aluminum foil or soda can.

Thank you for stopping by. 

May the Almighty God bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed 

Bridal Shower Ideas

Today I posted a sequence of table decor, party favors and gift ideas on my Facebook page. To see the whole thing please click here.

Thank you for visiting my blog and checking out the Facebook page.

God bless you,

Vanias Reed   

Easy, Delicious Cookies

What do you feel like eating on a rainy winter day? Cookies? I like to have a good cup of tea with these "melt in your mouth" cookies. But these cookies, which recipe I'm posting today, are good in the summer too because you can make ice-cream sandwiches with them, and they are SO EASY to make. So whether you are going to wait for winter or you're going to make them right away,  while the children are on school break, here is the recipe for you. 

 2 1/2 cups (20 oz) corn starch
1 can sweet condensed milk
3/4 cup (6 oz) butter or margarine at room temperature

Heat the oven to 350 F
In a medium bow mix the ingredients until smooth (a little sticky) dough forms.
Using a cookie scoop or a teaspoon, place small balls on a cookie sheet (I cover mine with parchment paper first) at about 1 in apart. Bake for 10 - 13 minutes.

Variations
1st. Add 1/2 cup shredded coconut, if you like coconut cookies.
2nd. Add 1 tsp mint or peppermint extract to the mix 

Serve them with tea to your guests. Don't forget to decorate your cups with the little paper butterfly (July 7th post)

 I hope you like these as much as I do.

Thank you for stopping by. May God bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed