Transform a Note Card

If you follow this blog and/or my Facebook page, you know by now that I am all pro-recycling. For instance, the other day, cleaning up and organizing a drawer which cleaning was way overdue, I found some cute note cards that I bought before I started making my own cards (THAT tell you how overdue the cleaning and organizing were - smile). I looked at those cards and thought, "I can embellish these blank cards, and turn them into something with a little more 'pzazz', (word chosen by my 9-year-old son - LOL). So here is how I transformed a blank note card into a thank you card. 

How I did it
Paper: White and black cardstock
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, medium rectangle decorative die (Spellbinders), 3D foam glue dots
Stamp: Thanks 

Embellishments: small pink pearls, swirl stickers.

As you can see in this picture, I used the black cardstock to make the back of my label.

 Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful week.

God bless you,

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  

Why do We Celebrate Valentine's Day?

 The fourteenth of February is called Valentine's Day. But who was Valentine? What does Valentine's Day mean?
Valentine was a good man who lived in Europe nearly two thousand years ago. He was a teacher - a Christian teacher. At that time the emperor of Rome was not a Christian. The emperor hated the Christians and had many of them put to death.
Those Christians who were real martyrs, and Valentine was one too. He was sentenced to death by the emperor because he taught people about Jesus' love for them. It is believed that he was killed on February 14, A.D. 269
It was more than 200 years after Valentine's death before people began to call any day after him; but at last the 14th of February was chosen, and it has been called Valentine's Day ever since. In France, England, and in the United States the day has been celebrated every year for a long time. 
In France and England ladies and gentlemen used to play games on Valentine's Day. Here is one of the games:
The names of all the ladies were written on pieces of paper and thrown into a box. Then the gentlemen came up, one at a time, and were blindfolded. When one was blindfolded, he put his hand into the box and drew out a piece of paper. The lady whose name was on the paper he drew could then claim him as her "Valentine" for a whole year.
Sometimes they would exchange presents; sometimes the gentleman would make the lady a present, but receive none from her.
In the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated by the exchange of letters, flowers, cards, pictures, chocolate or other gifts. The pictures that we call valentines are of many different shapes, sizes, colors, and styles.
The true purpose for Valentine's Day is for good friends to try to make one another happy. It is a day for beautiful things - for beautiful words, beautiful pictures, beautiful thoughts, beautiful deeds.  Valentine was a good man - his very name means goodness and strength; and Valentine's Day ought to represent that. 

So, now that you know the real meaning to celebrate Valentine's Day, make something for those you love. Cut a paper in a heart shape, write something nice and give it away. In other words, cheer someone up.

Here is an idea from  this website

Valentine's Day Conversation wreath by disneyfamily.com

  

Thank you for stopping by, and have a beautiful and cheerful Valentine's Day. 

Vanías Reed  

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