Quick Tricks: Easter Gift Tags

Today, to break tradition a little bit, I will not be providing a tutorial, but rather I thought I’d share with you some cute little gift tags I made for Easter this year, along with a list of the supplies and equipment used to make said tags. The fun of this project is that there aren’t any directions, no rules for making them. Just take a look at the scrap paper, embellishments and equipment you have hanging around and let your creative juices flow!

Supplies:

·      Scrap pieces of paper in spring colours/patterns

Equipment Examples:

·      Spring/Easter themed stamps

·      Stamp ink pads

·      Spring/Easter themed paper punches

·      Hole punch

·      Tag punch

·      Glitter glue

·      Ribbon, stickers or any other coordinating embellishments that you have on hand

·      Curling ribbon (for attaching tags)

·      Scissors

·      Glue stick

·      Anything else you'd like to use

I wish you all a very happy Easter! I hope you all have lots of fun with your family and friends this weekend.

See you next Friday!

Countdown to Valentine’s Day: Card 4

Key to my heart card and gift bag

 It’s the first post of February and time to get back on the countdown to Valentine’s Day. Today, we have a card and gift bag combo, great for surprising that special someone this February 14.

Supplies:

·      Two sheets of 8 1/2” x 11” red card stock

·      Sheet of 8 1/2” x 11” white text weight paper

·      Scrap of coordinating patterned card stock, measuring at least 4” x 6”

Equipment:

·      Computer

·      Printer

·      Paper trimmer

·      Bone folder

·      Embossing stylus (optional)

·      Pencil

·      Scissors

·      Craft knife

·      Metal-edged ruler

·      Mini heart paper punch

·      Glue stick

·      Glue runner

·      Decorative edged scissors (I used the “double bubble” ones)

·      Wax paper

·      Heavy book for pressing

Directions:

1.     Using a design program, create an 11” x 8 1/2” (letter-sized) document in landscape layout with 1/2” margins. Insert a heart shape (measuring no bigger than 5 1/4” wide x 4” tall), two key images (one 1 1/2” long and one 2” long – I used this image) and the text, “You hold the key to my heart” as shown below. Print the document.

2.     Trim one sheet of card stock in half lengthwise with the paper trimmer to get two pieces, measuring 11” x 4 1/4”. Set one aside for future projects.

3.     Fold the 11” x 4 1/4” card stock in half to make a 5 1/2” x 4 1/4” card with the bone folder.

4.     Turn the card over so that the opening is on the left. Place the heart image over the card, lining it up so that the right edge overlaps the fold a little bit. Using the embossing stylus (or a pencil if you don’t have a stylus) to trace over the heart image to transfer the shape on to the card stock. Cut the card stock with the scissors to create a heart-shaped card (make sure to have the overlap so that you end up with one card that unfolds, not two heart-shaped pieces of card stock).

5.     Trim the patterned card stock with the decorative edge scissors to get one piece measuring approximately 3” x 1 1/4” and another measuring 2” x 1”.

6.     Cut out the key images with the scissors and the craft knife. Cut the individual words of the sentiment into little rectangles with the craft knife and the metal-edged ruler.

7.     Punch out six mini hearts from the left over patterned card stock.

8.     Glue the key images with the glue stick on to the patterned card stock rectangles. Glue the larger key on to the front of the heart-shaped card. Glue the text above and below the key image. Glue the mini hearts along the sides of the image.

9.     Place the wax paper on top of the folded card and press with the book until the glue is dry.

10. Mark the second piece of card stock with guidelines for the bag layout, using the template below. 

Bag template

11. Cut and score the guidelines, using the template as a guide.

12. Glue the small key image on to one of the large panels of the gift bag (on the opposite side of the pencil marks), centered underneath the handle.

13. Use the technique in step 9 to press the key image on the bag until the glue has dried.

14. Use the glue runner to glue the bag together, using the images below as a guide on how to fold in the panels.

 

Hope you like this card and gift bag combo. Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you next week for the final card in the Valentine’s Day Countdown! See you then!

Quick Tricks: Easy water-resistant bottle labels

As it seems that Moose Flu is not so easily gotten rid of, today’s post is a quick and easy craft. In fact, it is so easy that it can be done while in a groggy, fever-induced state. How’s that for an endorsement?

As many before us, Moose and I have been captured by the siren’s call that is Costco. As a result, we have been known to buy olive oil in two litre containers. Since I’m tired of having that huge jug on our counter, I decided to use an old condiment bottle instead. To jazz up the bottle a bit, a label seemed in order. But how to make a label that wouldn’t get ruined by any spilled drops of oil or any random cooking splatters? The answer came in the form of self-laminating sheets from our local office supply store. Now the bottle is adorned with a water resistant label that can be wiped off as needed.

Supplies:

·      Sheet of white text paper

·      Sheet of self-laminating film (example here)

Equipment:

·      Computer

·      Printer

·      Paper trimmer

Directions:

1.     Measure the circumference of your bottle to determine how long the label should be. Determine the height you’d like your label to be and subtract one inch.

2.     Using the measurements from step one, create a label on your computer with design software (or Word). Print the label.

3.     Use a paper trimmer to cut the label to size. Trim the self-laminating sheet so that it is one inch higher and one inch longer than the paper label.

4.     Peel the liner from the self-laminating sheet, exposing the adhesive. Place the paper label face down on the adhesive, making sure the paper is centered (there should be a 1/2” border of adhesive all around the paper).

5.     Carefully wrap the label around the bottle.

That’s it! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to fall back into bed. Seeing as I have no plans to allow the devious Moose Flu to keep me incapacitated for much longer, I’ll see you all again on Monday *knocks on wood*.

Quick Tricks: Last minute gift tags

 

It’s Christmas Eve and there isn’t a gift tag in the house (and of course, none of the presents are wrapped yet!). Rather than fighting your way through the crowds to buy some, why not make your own? All it takes is some scrap card stock, a couple of punches, some glue and a just a few moments to spare. Not only will your tags be more interesting and pretty than the generic ones found en masse in the stores, but you’ll also be putting your own personal touch on each gift you wrap.

Supplies:

·      Scrap pieces of patterned and solid coloured card stock in coordinating colours

·      Coordinating ribbon

Equipment:

·      Tag paper punch

·      Snowflake (or any other festively shaped) paper punch

·      Single hole punch

·      Glue stick

·      Glitter glue (optional)

Directions:

1.     Punch an equal number of tags and snowflakes from your card stock scraps.

 

2.     If desired, spread glitter glue on the snowflakes to make them sparkly (not recommended if you don’t have time to let them dry!)

3.     Glue solid coloured snowflakes on to the patterned tags and vice versa.

4.     Punch a hole in each tag with the single hole punch.

5.     String ribbon through the hole and attach the tag to your gift!

I hope you and your loved ones all have a very Merry Christmas (or if you don’t celebrate Christmas, a wonderful holiday!). See you on Monday for a special card for a very special person!

Wrap it up!

Want a great way to impress your loved ones on Christmas morning? Dress up and personalize your gifts by making your own gift bags and matching mini cards. While this project requires patience, the wow factor of the resulting gift bag set is completely worth it!

Materials (makes one 10 1/8” h x 3 3/4” w x 1 7/8” d bag and one 3” x 3” mini card):

·      12" x 12" sheet of printed card stock

·      3" x 6" piece of matching card stock (either the same print or a coordinating one)

·      10" piece of coordinating ribbon (narrow width)

Equipment:

·      Cutting mat

·      Craft or utility knife

·      Metal-edged ruler

·      Pencil

·      Eraser

·      Glue runner or other suitable adhesive

·      Bone folder

·      Single hole punch

Directions:

1.     Using the template below as a guide, measure and mark guidelines on the reverse side of the 12" x 12" piece of card stock (make sure the design on the patterned side is turned the right way up before marking). If you don't want the pencil marks to show inside the bag, use two or more small notches for each line (as shown in image below template) or have a really good eraser ready to erase the lines after step two. 

Bag template

2.     Use the cutting mat, ruler and knife to score (use the flip side of the knife blade to score without cutting through the card stock or use the sharp edge of your bone folder) and cut the card stock as shown in the template.

Scoring using the dull edge of the blade

Cutting

3.     If desired, erase pencil marks.

4.     Fold at the scored lines. This will help make the edges crisp and will make it easier to shape the bag.

5.     Glue the upper overlap flap (put glue on the patterned side of the card stock) to the reverse side of the other edge, tucking the flap in to make a box shape with the bottom flaps still open.

6.     Holding the card stock so that the lower overlap flap is on the bottom, begin folding over and gluing the bottom flaps in place, starting with the left small flap and continuing to the bottom large flap (remember to tuck in and glue the lower overlap flap before moving on to the right small flap). Finish by gluing the top large flap in place at the bottom.

7.     If desired, make creases in the top half of either side of the bag by pinching together the corners and creasing the middle. This gives your bag more shape and allows for the top to be fastened together to hide the contents.

8.     Fold the small piece of card stock with the bone folder to make a 3" x 3" mini card.

9.     Punch a hole in the upper left corner of the card. Attach it to the handle of the bag with the ribbon. Trim ribbon, if necessary.

You can use the template to make your bags bigger or smaller as desired. Just keep the 2:1 ratio for the sections (the front and back sections are twice the width of the sides and the bottom flaps). Try playing around with different heights and designs. If you plan on using solid coloured card stock and decorating the bag with stamped images, stamp the images before assembling.

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! See you back again on Friday for more paper crafting!