Paper Art Greeting Cards I received

My step-daughter is amazing in keeping faith with acknowledging every occasion. She has a large family and never misses anyone's birthday, anniversary, congratulations, holiday or whatever else there is to celebrate. I don't know where she finds them, but over the last couple years she has sent me the most adorable greeting cards. I place them around places in my kitchen because the cards make me smile, make me feel happy.

Thought I'd show off her artsy taste. Here are three of the cards she has sent me.

Project; Envelope Books

I wind up with left over envelopes, and I save them..for - just in case. Still have them, and there has been no 'just in case'. I also occasionally see bundles of envelopes for sale at thrift stores.

Look what some clever people at Church of Craft came up with for ways to creatively use envelopes!









and here is a tutorial with basic instructions for making accordion envelope books at Paper Source.

Project; Making Paper Beads using magazines. Doorway or Window curtain

Paper Bead Art. I never heard of it, but others have. Why it caught my attention was because it uses magazines (and I have too many) plus the suggestion that the paper beads could be strung together to form a doorway curtain (or a window curtain). While the suggestion pictured is using the paper beads as art, I would be more likely to make the paper beads as a project to use the old magazines, so I would need plenty of paper beads to then string a doorway curtain.


For the tutorial how to - see at curbly

and the paper beads are shown in this framed art piece

Project; marbelized wax - melted wax paper - stained glass effect

Marbeling wax papers tutorial link.

Our neighbors, those avante garde weekenders who come down from Seattle, have been our wonderful neighbors for more than two years now. They bought the old church building and property that was once an extended part of our home and property. We wanted to but couldn't swing buying both properties when we bought our home. I so wanted the old church building as my 'studio' and since I couldn't have it, I'm so pleased we got the wonderful neighbors we have who have made it their 'studio'.

They are a couple and in two years are a source of inspiration to me for the creative projects they have done in claiming the old church, making it their get away from it all home. One thing they did was to use colored paper which they mounted on the uppermost windows of the french doors they installed at the side opening. It creates a stained glass window effect and when the sun streams in, creates an interesting play of light.

I like the project pictured as it seems to be a way I could create a similar effect, using the tutorial to marbelize pieces of paper.

Project; Any Day Wreath using paint chip samples

The project shown is Valentine's Day wreath using pink paint chip samples. Why limit it to Valentine's Day with so many beautiful color paint chip samples? Greens, lilacs and lavendars, blues, yellows, and as many colors as there are so can be the wreaths you design.

So here is finished wreath;



made from



by gluing or taping to cardboard wreath shape




Follow the step by step tutorial at Handmade Detroit blog.

Project; antique paper to look like parchment

Tutorial shows you how and this is something ez enough that I would do.

Start here (document):



Add this (coffee):



And wind up with this:



There are a few more steps than these three, of course, but it is still ez project to do, using tea or coffee.
Link to the How To step by step tutorial.

Project: Shredded magazine strips to wallpaper

Interesting recycling use of old, saved magazines. Expand on the idea using recycled newspapers, old greeting cards, wrapping paper, colorful junkmail, past IKEA catalogs, maps. Think up your own creative way to reuse/recycle colorful articles which would otherwise be headed to the trash bin.



instructions posted at decor8 (fresh finds for hip spaces - and a new link I'm adding to my blog)

Shredded Bliss How To: Grab all the magazines you'd like to incorporate into this project, issues you won't mind sending to the shredder, that is. Find a shredder that creates strips (try Staples where you can find them for around $20) and feed your colorful pages through it. Collect the strips that appeal to you the most, that work within your desired palette and the 'look' that you're going for. Grab a narrow paintbrush and apply a craft glue to the back of each strip (Budget Living suggests Delta Sobo from Dick Blick. Locals: There's a Blick across from the new West Elm over by Fenway Park, they have it.).

Place the strips in a pattern on a dry, clean, smooth wall and allow them to set overnight. The next day, brush on an even coat of clear sealant. Let that dry overnight and viola! You've just given your walls a facelift for less than the cost of one roll of wallpaper. Budget Living shows it in a bathroom, but with the moisture factor to consider, I'd suggest this project for a small office space, entry way, guest bathroom (no shower/tub), or just for one wall - behind the bed or your work area, for instance. If you have a galley kitchen, this would look great on the back wall. By the way, Home Cheap Home is loaded with excellent projects, the focus being on use what you have vs. constant spending, so highly suggest picking up a copy.


And another clever idea ....

And here's another cool project that is totally animal friendly and easy to create in an afternoon. Use white linoleum, cut it into the shape of a zebra rug, and paint the black stripes yourself.




So, guess will need a plug for the book then - Budget Living: Home Cheap Home

MAKE: Blog: Make T-Shirt Stencils from Freezer Paper

Make T-Shirt Stencils from Freezer Paper

project photos




Angry Chicken posted up a great tutorial on how to make stencils for t-shirts from freezer paper. Originally found off Craftster.org, this technique is so quick and amazing, you'll be ready to emblazon your designs on all your shirts, bags, you name it! If you can't draw, don't worry, freezer paper must be like magic because you can even run it through an inkjet printer (just make sure it prints on the matte surface not the plastic side). Link.