Crafting: Vintage Valentine Placemats (free printables)

Making Christmas placemats from old cards got me thinking about vintage Valentine's...  I thought placemats composed of old school valentines would be really cute. And so easy, as it turns out!

Because they are laminated they are easy to wipe off and perfect for a kids' table. My girls love reading the valentines on their mats and sharing the often silly greetings with the rest of is. Keeps them occupied, but these are also great conversation starters for adults. For instance, it was interesting to see the traditional role models reflected in these vintage cards. Some of these would never fly now!

Rather than finding or duplicating vintage valentines to print out, I found a bunch of free vintage images online and composed some layouts. I've got four different versions, each with unique valentines. If you'd like some vintage valentine placemats for yourself you can download these images (they are very large files!) and print them at 12"x18".  Costco photo conveniently prints images at that size. 

Then just laminate and trim, and enjoy!

Vintage Valentine's Day Placemats

Crafting: Holiday Card Placemats DIY

Have you found a use for that beautiful stack of Christmas cards? It seems such a shame to throw them away...  When I was a little girl my grandmother gifted our family a stack of placemats she'd made from holiday cards she's collected. On the reverse side you can see handwritten notes from the senders. They were from the old days when greeting cards were purchased in boxed sets and each addressed and signed by hand. I remember my mother struggling to find just the right Christmas card to send. I confess I miss those days a bit but, it's pretty great that we can now design our own perfect greeting cards and send and receive updated family photos. 

In any event, you may have a stack of holiday cards you can't part with. Or you may just enjoy the look of these kitchy placemats and want some of your own. In either case, I've got a quick how-to for you.

These placemats could be really cute, and entirely different looking made with pictures of your family and friends, but I wanted to duplicate the old school Christmas card look. So I ran out after Christmas and purchased some boxed cards on clearance. In addition I searched for vintage Christmas card images online and printed some of those on cardstock. 

The first step is to gather those cards and images and punch them out in circle shapes. I used a Martha Stewart Crafts Simple Circle Cutter tool and some Uchida circle punches in 2.5" and 3" sizes. I found that bigger is better so the circle cutting tool was really handy.

Once you have all your images cut out, the fun part begins! This is a great project to do with your kids! Have them sign and back the reverse side.

You'll need a 12"x18" sheet of paper as the background for this project. I used a finger painting paper pad, which was the perfect size.

I found it easiest to start with the bigger images, glue them down (glue sticks are perfect!) and then fill in with the smaller circles, but it's a good idea to try a layout first to plan your design.

You'll want to cover all the white space with your holiday card images but leave a scalloped oval shape overall.

The next step is to trim the background paper around the scalloped border.

Then laminate the placemats to protect them and make them easy to wipe off. I used a local school supply store but office supply stores also provide lamination. Or maybe you have your own laminator at home.

After laminating you'll need to trim the excess plastic close to the scalloped edges of each placemat. Be sure to leave about a 1/4" border to ensure the lamination stays sealed.

Now you're all set for next Christmas with some cute and slightly kitchy placemats!

Craft: Spray Dye Swim Towels (Kids' Craft)

I love taking advantage of summer to get creative with my kids. I especially love an activity that is easy for them to do, and not a giant mess for me to cleanup. Though the idea "dye" might cause concern, this dying project can be done on your lawn where there's little chance of permanent staining. 

Because my girls love swimming, and they love playing with color I thought this would be the perfect craft to keep them busy for an afternoon. Adding a monogram acts like a signature on their art and is handy for keeping track of which belongs to whom. And now they have colorful towels to take to the pool and beach to show off their creative work!

Click through for the how-to.

Craft: Rainbow Boho Tassel Necklace DIY (Tutorial)

I've been loving the Boho tassel necklace trend and thought making a rainbow version would be the perfect way to celebrate my friend, Katy Dill, on her birthday. Katy is a compulsive rainbow-tizer. Just one of the many ways she creates art and beauty in her life. No doubt you are a fan of hers too.

Skirt Fixation organized this virtual birthday party for Katy and I am so happy to be among the other creative women wishing Katy the best. Katy certainly brings joy to those around her as well as farflung virtual friends lucky enough to get a glimpse into her world. I especially enjoy her photographic eye and her appreciation for the teaching moments and beauty we should cherish in our lives.

This tassel necklace is so simple to make! It's seriously a fifteen minute project (assuming you start with a simple beaded necklace). It would be great for a kids craft too! Maybe as a party favor at a Rainbow Birthday Party.

I'm going to love wearing it with a simple black and white outfit (coincidentally, another favorite palette of Katy's) and Scarlett has already asked if she can wear it with the Rainbow Wrap Skirt I made a few years ago.

Want to make one? I've got the tutorial after the jump.

Crafting: Easter Bunny Banner and Free Bunny Template (Tutorial)

Note: This post is sponsored by the We R Memory Keepers HSN Party Pack. All opinions are my own. 

I'm getting Spring Fever in a big way with some sunnier weather. Bulbs are pushing through the ground, trees are budding, I'm dreaming of Easter dresses, and I'm craving Spring colors. So I decided to bring Spring indoors with a new Easter Bunny Banner, in one of my favorite combinations: pink and yellow.

Lucky for me I received a We R Memory Keepers HSN Party Pack last week with more than I needed to whip up this cute banner. Except for the bunny silhouette. I traced it in Illustrator, but I've got the the file to share with you.

The The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection will be available exclusively on HSN starting next Tuesday, March 24th. The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection on HSN is the only way you can get the 1-2-3 Punch Board and Banner Punch Board, which make cutting gift boxes, envelopes, bows, and three kinds of banners super easy. I love that each of these tools cuts a variety of shapes but they aren't larger than they need to be. The collection also includes a 12"x12" paper pad of colorful two-sided card stock in fun graphic prints, packaging tape with fun phrases, two colors of baker's twine and an idea book with all sorts of projects to get the wheels turning.

So let me show you what I came up with. I've got a quick tutorial so you can make your own Bunny Banner.

You'll need:

• The 1-2-3 Banner Punch Board (part of The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection )
• 2 pieces of 12"x12" pink and white striped card stock (included in The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection )
• 1 piece of 12"x12" pink and white polka dot card stock (included in The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection )
• 2 pieces of 12"x12" yellow and white polka dot card stock (included in The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection )
• Bunny Silhouette Template (you can download the bunny silhouette jpeg file here and the bunny silhouette .svg file here with multiple images)
• Your favorite adhesive for paper (I used a glue stick)
• Baker's twine (included in The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection )

To make the Bunny Banner:

Cut the pink and white striped card stock into 6"x12" pieces (you should have four pieces). You will use these to cut four 6"x8" pennants.

Insert the pink and white striped paper so it is aligned with the 8" line near the top of The 1-2-3 Banner Punch Board.

Insert the cutter in the grooves at the side with the cutting blade to the inside of the shape and make two cuts to create the pennant shape.

It doesn't get easier!

To create the flag shapes, cut the yellow and white polka dot card stock into 6"x8" pieces. (Cut each of your two pieces into two 6"x12" pieces, and then trim them to 8".) Then insert the card stock so it is centered on the 1-2-3 Banner Punch Board and pushed all the way to the top. Insert the cutter in the grooves at the side with the cutting blade towards the top and make two cuts from the outer edges to the center.

And there's your flag shape.

You should have four striped pennants and four polka dot flags.

Punching holes in the corner for stringing is super easy too. There are grooves at the top of the 1-2-3 Banner Punch Board for lining up the straight or angled top corner of your banner shapes. Then push down on the button and there you go.

Print my Bunny Silhouette jpg and cut out the bunnies to create template. Then trace the bunny shape onto the pink and white polka dot card stock and cut out. If you have a Cricut Explore or other electric cutter you can download my Bunny Silhouette .svg file and use it to cut out the bunny shapes.

Glue a bunny to the center of each yellow and white polka dot flag.

String your pennants and flags onto the cute mint green and white baker's twine and hang up your Bunny Bunting!

The 1-2-3 Punch Board and Banner Punch Board are available as a limited-quantity, one-time special on HSN in The 1-2-3 Punch Board Party Collection at a discount of retail pricing. This "Daily Special" on HSN will start Tuesday, March 24.

You'll have to hop on over. (Sorry)

Craft: Covered Comp Book with Leather Cord Gift for Men (Tutorial)

Got a man on your gift list? I find them more challenging to give handmade, which is my favorite way to give. A bit more tricky to knit or crochet or sew for them. So I came up with a handmade gift for men they don't have to wear: a paper covered comp book with a leather strap. In this age of technology a notebook with a vintage vibe is such a great change of pace, don't you think!?

I love this map and license plate paper I found at Jo-Ann. I used it to make this comp book for the Jo-Ann Fall Lookbook a few months ago. I purchased the suede lace there too.

To make this comp book you'll need:

• a standard composition book (9 3/4" x 7 1/2")
• 2 yards of suede lace (as in shoe lace) or thin leather cord
• Krylon Easy Tack Repositionable Spray
• 2 pieces 12"x12" scrapbooking paper (I used Paper House Productions sku#67636 53499 from Jo-Ann)
• X-acto knife or scissors
• Drill with 1/4" bit

To make the book: (you may also want to refer to my phototutorial for covering a comp book)

• Overlap the two pieces of scrapbooking paper by at least an inch and use the spray adhesive to adhere them to form one larger piece of paper. This overlap seam will be on the backside of the composition book.
• Follow the directions on the adhesive spray and coat the wrong side of the scrapbooking paper.
• With the composition book closed, position the composition book with the front cover down on the wrong side of the paper close to the edge, on the opposite side from the seam, and with a bit of extra paper on the three sides of the cover. Press down firmly on the book to adhere the paper to the front cover.
• Fold the remaining paper over the spine tightly and across the back cover. Smooth down the paper and press it firmly to adhere.
• Using an X-acto knife or scissors, carefully trim the extra paper from around the cover.
• Open the cover of the composition book and place it on a piece of wood. Drill one hole through the front cover from the inside of the book. Place this hole about ½” from the front edge of the composition book cover and center it from top to bottom.
• Take your suede lace and thread it through the hole. Tie a double knot to secure. Wrap the leather around the book and tie a loose knot to close it.

Now you've got a handmade gift that would work for the men in your life too.