This is one of my favorite times of year, for sure! I love the colors of fall and spookiness of October. Welcome to my happy place!
I’ve been busy in my new home of South Dakota – trying to find my rhythm here and the best place and time to create. It’s not without it’s challenges, however, it’s sometimes nice to have a fresh start too.
Here are some of the layouts I’ve made this month…
Of course, I’ve had to make some darling greeting cards too – they just make my heart so happy!
What have YOU been up to this month, my crafty friends? And where do you like to craft? What is your favorite space and time of day. I think I’m *just* starting to hit my stride, and it’s so nice to get back to making pretty things after the summer’s move.
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today – keep in touch!
If you’re anything like me, you still have lots of paper crafting magazines lying around. I found a bunch the other day while cleaning my craft room and thought it would be fun to find some old sketches and “modernize” them.
The magazine I’m starting with today is an older Card Design Handbook. I love this sketch idea and thought it would be a great card idea for beginners or any level paper crafter!
Here’s my first in what may turn out to be a series. This card making design is super full and happy, yet easy to replicate to just about any occasion. Let me know what you think!
Here’s the image I used for the card. Feel free to save and print!
Do you like this idea?
Would you like to see more like it in the future?
What’s the oldest publication you have in your house?
You can purchase items used in this video from the following links:
It’s springtime once again! It’s a season of sunshine, happy rain, and beauty. Some of my favorite printable images are those of Vintage Easter illustrations.
I have a brand new YouTube tutorial today in which I’ll show you three super easy card sketch ideas, with an alternate version of each one.
Here is a copy of the printables I used. Feel free to save and print:
Adding some Stickles to my images really brought them to life and made them pop!
You can also find the products used in these links:
Be sure to stop by my eBay shop too, for lots of handmade cards and premade scrapbook pages! Thanks so much for crafting with me today, and keep in touch! xoxo
Printables are amazing for so many reasons – producing multiples, resizing, and more!
Find out why I enjoy them so much in today’s YouTube video:
I’m a new member on the Calico Collage design team, and was so excited to make some fun shabby chic greeting cards with you today, using their Sew Vintage collection.
For some of the additional products used in this tutorial, please check out these links:
I was so excited about this card! It really validated the years (and YEARS!) or hoarding washi tape! It was so easy and looks fabulous – that’s my favorite combo!
Check out my YouTube video about how to make darling backgrounds with washi tape.
Here is the printable too, if you’d like to make this same card (I printed this lovely retro lady 3 inches tall).
Here are some of products you may enjoy too, to make a similar card…
Welcome! What a “lucky” day to be here! I have a fun YouTube video detailing the step-by-step process for making this fancy vintage-inspired St. Patrick’s Day card and folio.
I love vintage style everything, but these colors really are some of my favorites to work with.
This special greeting card is also fully embellished inside with pockets, banners, tags, and more!
Here’s a printable collage I made for you, if you’d like to make this card as well (or just play with some fun St. Patrick’s Day ephemera):
For some of the other products used, please check out the following photo links:
Hope you have just as much fun with this card and tutorial as I did making it.
Please keep in touch, and thanks for crafting with me today! xoxo
P.S. – My blog uses affiliate links at no cost to you. 🙂
I made this for a very special four-year-old’s birthday party this weekend. Like it? Want to make one yourself?
I created the SVG cut file for my Cricut SCAL. Feel free to email me at gspeegle@gmail.com for the free file (WordPress doesn’t let me attach SVG files), if you want to make a card for yourself as well.
For Emmet’s outfit, I chalked the edges with light blue and then added some custom details with a Sharpie and strips of hand-cut gum wrapper. I printed out this image on the side here so that I could cut out the hair, smile and Emmet badge.
I also cut out several .5 inch circles and inked them with green Color Box Cat’s Eye chalk ink, before affixing them to the background with foam pop dots.
Inside, is a custom song, based on the “Everything is Awesome” tune from the Lego Movie:
“Everything is awesome!
Everything is awesome when you’re no longer three.
Everything is awesoooooome
At your birthday party!”
Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy crafting!
I love the kitsch of 1950’s retro. Just absolutely love it. Paper crafting is a way for me to enjoy ephemera in a whole new way – by taking the illustrations I love and making one-of-a-kind collage art from them.
Below are some of my recent creations. I have also included a free “Pressed for Time” pin-up image, which is a one-of-a-kind collage I made myself. Enjoy!
Like that last card? Here is the image I made using Photoshop. Feel free to save it and incorporate it in your own crafts.Be sure to check out my Etsy shop for lots more goodies. Thanks for supporting handmade!
So much amazing scrapbook paper! What shall I ever do with all of it?
I’m glad you asked! Here are ten fun ideas for what to do with all that delightful card stock. I would love to hear YOUR ideas too, so please feel free to comment. 🙂
1. Card Making
I love making greeting cards. Here are just a few of the pieces available now at my Bella Stitchery Etsy shop.
Let’s Do Lunch Card
Drive You Crazy Card
2. Canvas Art
Super easy and a great way to display your favorite paper collection. This idea is from Better Homes and Gardens.
Canvas Art
3. Bookmarks
These darling monsters are sure to delight kids of any age. Learn how to make these cuties at Tally’s Treasury.
Monster Bookmarks
4. Ornaments
SOOOO many darling, simple ideas on the Internet to inspire ornament making! Here is just one example, from Houzz.
Star Ornaments
5. Gift Wrap
These boxes are flippin’ adorable – who cares what’s inside?! The paper used is from October Afternoon, my current favorite brand.
Gift Wrap Embellishments
6. Envelopes or Envelope Inserts
No matter what year it is, snail mail will always mean something special. You can easily personalize your envelopes using scrapbook paper. You can find some template designs at Apartment Therapy.
Envelopes
7. Flowers
I found this great blog with a tutorial for twenty different paper flowers. Check out It’s Always Autumn for the directions.
Paper Flowers
8. Banners
I have to admit, I’m a huge fan of banners. I make them for my fireplace mantle for the holidays, baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays. I am kind of obsessed. This is one I made for a baby shower a few years back.
Baby shower banner I made for a friend.
9. Decorate Office Supplies
This adorable file folder is from This Art Makes Me Happy. What a great idea! I’m sure you can extend this idea to include things like desk drawer liners, pen holder cups – the possibilities are endless!
File Folder
10. Scrapbook Pages
Let’s not forget the obvious, too. Scrapbook paper is perfect for….scrapbooking! Here is a page I made for my shop.
My girly scrapbook layout on Etsy
Thanks so much, friends! Hope you feel inspired! Keep in touch – I would love to hear your ideas too, and see what wonderful works of art you create!
My friend Callie and I share a passion for pin-ups! When she was recently promoted to Catering Manager in my sales office, I wanted to make her an extra-special card to welcome her.
This image was perfect, since it mixed a lovely retro pin-up girl with office supplies! lol
I love embellishing inside the cards, too. I think it adds 87 points to the fun factor (this card, for example, has a fun factor of 132, of course). 🙂
