Make a Change Monday - a New Holiday Tradition

I spent a good part of last December (well - ok - every December) obsessing about Christmas cards. Handmade or store-bought?  Intricate or simple?  Mass produced or individually created? I wrote about an article from Dear Abby on this very topic, then justified not getting them finished by making some New Year's cards instead, and then just putzed out altogether...and felt guilty about it the whole time.  We can talk about my weirdness at a later date.

This past weekend I went away for a much needed scrapbooking retreat and in my "projects to work on" pile was the list of people who didn't get a Christmas or New Year's card. I was ignoring it - and feeling guilty, when I came across this image on the Canvas Corp blog:

I had just been working on some MnTs using crepe paper and finger folding, so had all the supplies I needed with me and thought "what the heck - why not make some Easter cards"?

You know what? I actually ENJOYED it. I loved working with the spring colors and new papers and fun techniques.  I loved being able to work on 30 cards instead of 300.  I loved being able to finish the whole thing in an hour or two instead of setting aside an entire day or weekend to plow through my list.  I loved that it reminded me of WHY I enjoy paper crafts and surprising someone I care about with something hand made. It got my creative juices flowing, got the cards off my to-do list, and gave me an idea for a new holiday tradition.

Instead of scrambling to make hundreds of Christmas cards during an already jam-packed season, I am going to make and send cards during different holidays throughout the year.  No minimums, no time line, no pressure - I'll do it when I have time and when I am inspired.  People "expect" cards around Christmas - but what a wonderful surprise to get an unexpected card for Easter, or 4th of July, or Halloween! I can make 2 per holiday or I can make 20, and this will also give me the time to personalize each card instead of just signing my name because I am in a hurry to "get it done".  I am SO EXCITED about this - and can't wait to spread the word to my other card making friends. Wouldn't you love to know that people are thinking about you throughout the year?

So to the 24 people on my Christmas list who thought I forgot about you, look for this little spot of springtime in the mail this week.  The rest of you...you never know when a card full of love will arrive from the Kingstons!

(products used: WRMK Cotton Tail collection - Thicket and Bunny Tail patterned papers, Bazzill Basics Dotted Swiss cardstock, Xyron 510, 250 and Mega Runner, Silhouette Cameo, crepe paper, scrap paper, Gelly Roll clear pen, May Arts ribbon, tag, joy stamp)

Happy Easter to all!

2 balls + 4 t-shirts = halloween genius!

Thank you Pinterest, for the world's greatest Halloween costume idea.

Thank you organized craft room,  for letting me find a long enough piece of pink felt.

Thank you beachballs.com, for existing. (Have you ever tried to find a beach ball outside of the state of Florida in October?)

Thank you husband, for being man enough to be called "a giant boob" and letting other dudes fondle you all night.

Thank you said fondling dudes, for being aware enough to know what the pink ribbon stands for and thinking it was "pretty cool of you to put that on your costume" before going back to your jokes about motorboating.

Thank you Christy and Dave, for having a Halloween party. Apologies for our giant boobs knocking both plates and people to the ground throughout the evening. It was Don's fault - he doesn't know how to handle his boob.

Thank you Mom Jones, Karin, my Conyers, Lisa and all the other warrior women who remind us what strength and beauty really mean. Love the ta-tas!

last minute Halloween projects!

Waiting until the last minute for a little Halloween craftiness?  Yeah - me too.  With the weather getting colder (SNOW anyone?) in several parts of the country, this weekend is the perfect chance to put together a few fun, easy projects - with instructions included! Got little ones? Check out our kid-friendly mummy candy box below.  Happy Haunting...err...Crafting everybody!

Mini Halloween Garland 3 or more 12x12 patterned papers fromBella Blvd Too Cute To Spook collection Scrap pieces of cardstock Sizzix Sizzlits Mini Paper Rosettes die* Manual die cutting machine (this project used the Xyron Creatopia with the Shapez component) Trimmer Adhesive Runner Liquid Glue Coordinating Twine (this project used The Twinery's charcoal twine) 1 1/2" punch 1" punch Xyron 1.5" Create-A-Sticker (also known as "the X")

*Don't have this die?  You can also create these manually using a scoring tool.  Here is a great tutorial for how to do it!

Using the scrap cardstock, punch a 1 1/2" circle for each large rosette you will be creating and a 1" circle for each small rosette you will be creating.

Run the circles through your X and lay them on the table with the adhesive side facing up. Arrange them approx 3" apart alternating small and large circles.

Lay the twine across the circles and press gently to adhere.

Cut patterned paper in to 2 1/2" strips.  You will get a large rosette and a small rosette from each strip, and the paper is double sided.

Run paper through die cutting machine using Rosette die until you have the desired number of rosette strips.

Fold the rosette strips in to an accordion and use either liquid glue or an adhesive runner to attach the edges to each other, then gather the top of the paper together and gently push down so that the bottom spreads out to form the rosette.

Apply liquid glue to your first scrap circle and adhere rosette to the circle (press down for a few seconds to make sure it holds).  Repeat for all rosettes.

The mini rosette die also cuts out small circles for the center of your rosette that you can run through the X and apply.  You can also use buttons, letter stickers, whatever tickles your fancy!

Welcome little ghouls and goblins with this darling door knob hanger featuring Maya Road and Echo Park!

Boo Hanger Maya Road ATC Coaster 1 sheet of patterned paper from Echo Park Apothecary Emplorium collection Xyron 2.5" Create A Sticker (also called the 250) Xyron 1.5" Create A Sticker(also called the X) BOO diecuts or stickers (letters in photo created using Cricut) WRMK Crop-A-Dile Coordinating Kaisercraft Gems and/or Pearls Trimmer Sandpaper Black ink pad Decorative buttons (skull button in photo purchased at Michaels) Coordinating glitter or flocking Coordinating ribbon Scissors

Cut patterned paper to 2.5x3.5.  Run through 250 and apply to ATC coaster.

Sand edges of coaster to round corners and eliminate any overlapping patterned paper.

Ink edges of coaster.

Adhere BOO letters to coaster (letters in photo adhered with the X)

Insert decorative buttons upside down in to the X.  Rub thoroughly and gently peel button from adhesive backing.  Place adhesive side up on your work area.  Sprinkle glitter or flocking on button, spread with finger to cover entire button, and tap off excess. If you have excess adhesive on your button, use the tip of your scissors to remove. Insert decorative button with glitter/flocking side up in to the X.  Peel off adhesive backing and apply to coaster.

Use Crop-A-Dile to punch holes in top two corners of coaster.

Select length of ribbon and tie both ends through holes in coaster.

Decorate as desired with gems/pearls.

Mummy Candy Box 1 sheet 12x12 kraft cardstock Approx 1 yard of white party streamer (could also use toilet paper or gauze) 2 googly eyes Xyron 2" Runner Xyron Mega Runner Clear tape Trimmer with scoring blade Scissors

Score the kraft cardstock at 4" and 8". Rotate paper 90 degrees and score again at 4" and 8" - this will give you a tic-tac-toe pattern.

Using the top left square as #1 - cut the cardstock between squares 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 7 and 8, 8 and 9.

Add adhesive to squares 1,2,7 and 8 with the 2" Runner.

Fold squares 2 and 8 at a 90 degree angle to begin to create the sides of the box.

Fold up the 1,4,7 side of the cardstock, adhering square 1 to the back of square 2, and square 7 to the back of square 8.

Fold up the 3,6,9 side of the cardstock, adhering square 3 to the inside of square 2, and square 9 to the inside of square 8.

Apply tape to one end of the party streamer and begin wrapping around the box.  Once box is completely wrapped, tape the other end of the streamer to the box.

Apply adhesive to the back of the googly eyes using the Mega Runner.

Adhere to one side of the box.

Fill with treats and enjoy!