Valentine's Day Card

Today is my husband's birthday. His birthday always reminds me that Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and I need to do something about it. (smile). So I start by making a card for him. This year, as I promised in my previous post, I'm sharing it with you. 

Supplies Used
Paper: Red, black and white cardstock
Tools: Scalloped and plain heart punches, cutting/embossing machine (Sizzix Big Shot), Basket embossing folder (Sizzix), computer, and printer
Embellishments: black pearls, matches, red and white twine, small red heart gemstone
Now you now what my husband doesn't (aren't you special?) - the card I made him for Valentine's Day 2015. One cool thing about this card is that it can be used for other occasions too, like an anniversary, for example.

Thank you for stopping by, and have a very blessed weekend.

Vanías Reed 

Valentine Project for Kids

Even though people turnedValentine's Day into a romantic holiday, it is not. It's a day to celebrate those who are important to us; a day to remind them of the special place they have in our hearts. So here is a card you can make with your children to give to Grandpa, Grandma, Daddy, Mommy, a friend... The card is simple because it is supposed to be made by your children. This time you will be just the helper. (wink)

Supplies needed for this card
Paper: Large white doily (you can make your own with a decorative round punch), red, and white cardstock paper, peach (my son calls it 'skin color'), and pink craft paper (you can use only cardstock if you prefer)
Tools: Small heart punch, 1/16 circle punch, red twine
Embellishments: Hand doing 'I love you' in sign language (trace your child's hand on the paper, cut it, and glue the two middle fingers down, as shown in the picture above), small heart, bow on the 'corner' of doily heart.

Fold the white and the red cardstock in the middle (separate), trace half a heart, and let your child cut it (the white heart will be bigger). If your kid is too small to handle a pair of scissors, than use your cutting machine, punch, or scissors yourself. The doily is a little more delicate to let a child handle, so just cut it before starting the project with your child.

Glue everything and, if let your children write a message on the back.

Thank you for stopping by. Happy Valentine's Day, and God bless you. Vanías Reed

Cute Valentines Day Card

Wasn't it Christmas just yesterday? How come we are already getting ready for Valentine's Day? LOL. Here I find myself thinking on what to give my husband, what is the card I'll make for him going to look like, how to AVOID chocolate (that's a good one), what to give my students that does not involve candy (aren't I full of jokes today? hahahahaha). Thinking of a card for my husband, I made this one that I'm posting today. I'll post the one I'm making for him sometime next week, ok?

 Supplies used for this card
Paper: Blue, yellow, black, dark red, and white cardstock paper
Tools: Owl building punch, branch with leaves die (Sizzix), extra large circle punch (Recollections), small square punch (for banner edges)
Stamp: Happy Valentine's Day (Stampabilities)
Ink: black
Embellishments: small heart shaped gemstones

Make a Valentine for the special people in your life, but most of all, make them feel special everyday. But, if you are not feeling inspired to make something, you can find this card and some others at Crafts Basket

Thank you for stopping by.

Vanías Reed   

DIY Affordable Photo Booth and Props

Before I begin this post, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you had a great 2014, and that 2015 brings all the good stuff. Most of all, I hope you develop a close (er) relationship with God.  
Now, talking about end of 2014 and beginning of 2015, we had a small gathering for the New Year's Eve, and I wanted it to be fun - especially for the kids. I decided then to create a photo booth that could be done in the short amount of time I had, and would fit my budget. So here is what I did.

Supplies used for booth
Black plastic tablecloth
White and silver bulap
Happy New year sign
Two bar stools (you can use regular chairs or a bench too)

  Props
I bought a 'Happy New Year' hat, a tiara, shiny paper garland, and a mask. Everything else is homemade.
Supplies used
Paper: glitter red, pink, and black cardstock, blue and black plain cardstock 
Tools: computer, printer, craft knife, precision scissors, craft glue, hot glue, hot glue gun, long wooden sticks (the ones we use for smores),

Here is some of the props used

 Except for the glasses with 2015 on, I can re-use all the other props that I made for other parties. So go ahead and make your next party fun too. You can find some of the props to print here , then just print, cut, paste on the glitter paper, and cut again. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Happy New Year,

Vanías Reed   

Christmas Thank You Cards

Well, Christmas 2014 is gone already. Now, to send or not to send a thank you note to those who gave you gifts? ABSOLUTELY YES. Someone took time to go to a store, shop online, and/or make you something. So a thank you card is not only appropriate, but shows kindness and appreciation. And, if you have children, teach them the importance of writing a thank you note. Here is what my 9-year-old and I did.

I made this one - Card 1

We made 5 of this one together. The lights are his finger prints, and he will write the note to thank those who gave him gifts - Card 2

 

,

... and I made this one too. Card 3

 Supplies needed
Card 1
Paper: White and red cardstock paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine ( I used my Sizzix, which I love), Postcard and hollies embossing folders by The Paper Studios, scalloped oval punch, and oval die
Stamp: Thank you Stampabillities
Ink: Black 
Embellishments: gold ribbon, holly button 

Card 2
Paper: White blank note card
Tools: dark green glitter gel pen, smallest finger of a child's hand
Stamp: Thank you
Ink: blue, gold, purple, blue, and green

Card 3
Paper: White, dark red, and vintage striped cardstock paper
Tools: Sizzix Bigshot cutting/embossing machine, thank you embossing folder (Darice)

You can make your cards simple or more elaborated, but what matters is that you are taking time to make something nice to thank those who blessed you. 

Thank you for stopping by, and my the Christ of CHRISTmas bless you and yours.   

Vanías Reed

Merry CHRISTmas

Christmas was love in action because God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His ONLY SON to be born as a little baby on that first Christmas night. You see, without the manger there wouldn't be a cross. Without the cross there wouldn't be an empty tomb. Without the empty tomb there wouldn't be eternal life. My wish is that this Christmas you will have an encounter with Jesus, the Son of God, embrace His love for you, and develop an eternal relationship with Him.
                         
                                          MERRY CHRISTMAS
                                             from Paper Creations, ETC

Stockings Holder + Ornament Idea

I've been posting some Christmas pictures and ideas on my Facebook page. Some of them are decorations ideas for fireplaces. Then it hit me, some people don't have a fireplace, like I didn't for years living in a warm climate. So I made this stocking holder out of an old picture frame that I purchased at Goodwill. Take a look

Supplies needed for this project

Picture frame
Red paint (the spray ones work just fine)
*Small plastic clear ornaments
*Furniture polisher or floor wax
*Glitter
Hooks (you find these anywhere really)
Very small nails (to hold the hooks on the picture frame)
Small hammer
Hot glue gun and hot glue
Push pins
Embellishments: bows, branches... you name it.
Stockings 

Ornaments Idea 
I used the idea found on this blog

* These are to be used if you want to make the ornaments with glitter, if not, you can use small regular ornaments*
 
Using hot glue (be careful, you don't want to melt your ornament), glue the ornaments together to make the letters. Make sure to keep the hangers holes on the same side, which will be the back of the name, except for the top middle one of each letter. You are going to use that one to hang the letters on the picture frame.

Make a beautiful stocking hanger for your family. If you have a fireplace, make one for someone who doesn't. It makes a beautiful and special gift, doesn't it?

Thank you for stopping by, and have a very Merry CHRISTmas! Remember to celebrate the real reason for the season: Jesus Christ. After all, IT IS his birthday we are celebrating, isn't it?

God bless you,

Vanías Reed