Thursday, January 24, 2013

DIY // Elementary Kid Inspired Valentines



Today it finally snowed!  I was beginning to worry that we wouldn’t get any snow here at all this winter, but I woke up this morning to a cold room filled with soft light from the window.  My inner-kid immediately recognized the signs of snow and I pulled back the curtain for a quick glance at the white covered back yard before going back to sleep.

It’s funny how that child-like wonder of snow has stuck with me, even as an adult.  Winter was always an exciting time of year filled with holiday parties in class and hopes of school cancellations.  The feeling stayed with me throughout the day and got me thinking about another favorite thing about winter that’s coming up: Valentine’s Day.


Do you remember the little valentines you have to fold in half that come in the cardboard boxes?  I loved those things when I was little.  They always come in designs of cute cartoons.  In school we would make little ‘mail boxes’ from paper bags to tape to our desks.  Did anyone else do that?  On Valentine’s Day we would have a small party where everyone would deliver cards into the mail boxes.  At the end of the day they would be filled with lots of little cardboard valentines.


 Feeling nostalgic, I decided to make some of my own.  All you need are index cards and whatever supplies you would like for decorating.  Fold the index cards in half, then have fun decorating them inside and out.  This is a great project to do with kids, or you can make them for your friends and family to smile back on those childhood days.

Recommended Supplies:

3” x 5” assorted color index cards
deco and washi tapes
die cut hearts
glue stick
bone folder (for scoring the folded card)
rubber stamps
scrap papers and magazines
kid safe scissors
assorted stickers

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Mini Calendars for the New Year


I kicked 2013 off with sending out some snail mail.  After recuperating from some post holiday sickness I made these little mini January calendars to send to friends.  It was fun to do a little collage work, and I got to use the new slim pastel washi tapes I got for Christmas.  The little floral bits were cut out from the inside of a shopping bag pattern.  I had been hanging on to them all last year, but I never got around to using them.  Still, each time I went to de-stash some of my materials I was never able to throw them away.  You know how it is when you’re waiting for the perfect project to come around?  Most of the time I end up holding on to things forever, but in this case I found the perfect use for them.

 
This year I will need to let go of lot of little bits like those flowers since my sister and I are re-designing our room.  I was hoping to be able to move my workspace into the basement, but that project may have to hold off for a while.  Now I’m left with the task of trying to balance having my room double as my studio.  I really hope I can be more organized this year and get better at separating work things from the rest of my things.  If anyone has any design tips for having a workspace in your bedroom, please share!


Tuesday, January 1, 2013


Happy New Year