Shaker Box Card

Hi. My niece, just like me, loves butterflies. So I wanted to make her a very special card that would not only have butterflies, but would be fun to. I found a class at craftsy in which Kimber McGray teaches how to make a card with a shaker box. So, I put my spin on it, and here is the result.

Supplies used
Paper: White, purple, lavender (for back of the shaker box, and glitter (also white) cardstock
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, swirls and butterflies embossing folder (by Darice), happy birthday die (Memory Box), butterfly trio die (also memory box), 3D sticky foam, transparency, glitter glue
Embellishments: clear gemstones in different sizes, flower sequins (for the shaker box) 
By the way, I found the flower shaped sequins at Michaels after Easter sale for 0.59 cents. How cool is that?

Here is a close-up on the shaker box

This definitely was a fun card to make, and I'm pretty sure my little niece will enjoy shaking it. 

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful everything. 

Vanías Reed

Mother's Day Card with Crochet Applique

Didn't we celebrate Christmas yesterday? hahahahaha. I cannot believe Mother's Day is just around the corner. Is it me or time is REALLY flying by? Wow! Anyway, here is an idea of a card for your Mom or someone you know who is a mom. What makes this card different is the crochet applique.

Supplies used
Paper: Cream, light green, brown and bright pink cardstock, roses scrapbook paper (The Paper Studios)
Tools: label punch, computer and printer
Embellishments: Crochet basket (find both the pattern and the applique here) , paper roses, aqua green ribbon and bow, brown self-stick pearls
This card can be made for several other occasions too, like birthday, Easter, spring, get well... the possibilities are almost endless. So, go ahead, make somebody's day by giving them something especially handmade by you. 

Thank you for stopping by, and may the grace of God reach your heart today.

Vanías Reed    

Pop-up Card

Hi there. Today I'm posting a couple of ideas for pop-up cards. They are not difficult to make, and they have that surprise element that will sure put a smile on the face of the card receiver.

 Supplies used for this card:
Paper: Light and dark purple, white, cream with purple flowers, and white with blue strips cardstock. Green with white polka-dots scrapbook paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, Swiss polka-dots embossing folder, scallop border punch
Stamp: Happy Birthday
Embellishments: balloons and cupcake stickers White ribbon

 

 Supplies needed for this card:                                                                  

Paper: Black, and white cardstock, leopard print, cream glitter, lacy, and white scrapbook paper

Tools: Fancy scallop punch, oval punch

Stamp: small Happy Birthday

Embellishments: red ribbon, red bow, large pearl, 2/3" red ribbon

To watch a video and learn how to 
make the pop-up click here 
Thank you for stopping by, and God bless you.

Vanías Reed    

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