Working On Recycled Card Blanks

I like when cards have an earthy feel to them, so a lot of times I work with recycled card blanks or recycled paper to make the card. On this card I used fabric, handmade and corrugated papers to create the mini collage on the front.

Making Holiday Bookmarks With The Kids

My kids decided that they wanted to make bookmarks this morning (not something that I'd planned, but it was doable). I have a lot of holiday stickers and stamps laying around since I'd been working on all the Christmas and Holiday cards, so finding supplies was not an issue.

We decided on a basic layout that we would use as a guide, and then I let them go to town. It's always interesting when everybody gets the same stuff to work with and you end up with 3 different outcomes.

Stamping On Painted Papers

I do a lot of work on canvas and acrylic and mixed media papers, and because I tend to be obsessed with minimizing waste I save scraps that I know I'll be able to use again.

When I was working on this 'Thank You ' card I stamped the dancing images on a scrap sheet of acrylic paper that I had already painted on (a remnant from another project) and the burnt orange really did the trick. I liked the way that the painted acrylic background made the dancers appear to 'pop' right off the card and added just the right amount of color to the composition.

Christmas and Holiday Cards are Finally Finished

I've finally finished working on my own stash of cards for my family and friends and the last batch will go out today. I know-- they're late -- but USPS says that if you get your cards out by Thursday, they'll get there in time. We'll see if this happens.

I did a mixed batch this year. Some cards had mini artwork on them ( some from the doodle pad), some were simple, and some were more detailed. Hopefully I've done my job well by matching the right cards with the right recipients.

Using Photographs On Cards

I have a friend that takes awesome pictures, and she's very good at capturing 'the moment'. Her shots are perfect for making cards. I decided to make a set of cards for her using her images. I kept this card simple and clutter free so that the picture remained the focal point of the card.

I know that there are many of you out there that have pictures that capture that perfect moment in time, don't leave them laying around or stuffed in a shoe box somewhere -- print them and use them on a card!

Here's Another Christmas Tree Card

I like to put Christmas trees on my Christmas cards. I guess it's because they are such a vivid symbol for the season, and they're easy to make. This one is made from corrugated paper to give the tree some dimension, and the small beads and wire add depth. Using the bright striped paper as the back drop adds just the right amount of color to make the Christmas tree stand out even more.

Positive Thinking Journaling Cards

Many people recommend that you should always highlight the positive things in life to help keep you focused on the good things that make your life special. Every now and again I will make a list of the things that make me happy and put it somewhere where I can see it on a regular basis (especially when I'm having a bad day and need all the help I can get to focus on happy thoughts).

I got tired of looking at plain notebook paper, so I came up with this little layout to jazz things up a bit. Now my 'glad list' showcases a whole lot better.

Use Your Artwork to Make Hang Tags

There are times when I like to use my own drawings and paintings ( even the doodles and practice pieces that don't turn out too bad) for gift tags. They add a very personal touch and just as with adding mini paintings to the front of a card, they become mini pieces of art attached to the gift.

Don't Forget About the Envelope

When you're done making your cards, don't forget to choose an envelope that will compliment your work. There are lots of really neat pre- made envelopes out there that will compliment your cards, or you can make your own from matching paper. If you're not up to making an envelope from scratch, then just add matching embellishments to a store bought one. Which ever way you choose to go, just remember that you don't always have to go with the plain old white envelope.

Flat Note Cards For Christmas and the Holidays

I like the idea of not having to send out a lengthy Christmas or Holiday letter. It takes a lot for me to sum up the events of an entire year! My solution to this is to make simple flat note cards that have the Christmas and Holiday spirit as their theme and send them out instead. This way I can write a brief note filled with well wishes and because they're done on card stock, they can double as the card as well.

Color Washing on Coffee Filters - A Kid Friendly Project

Coffee filters make a great canvas for creating color washes that you can incorporate into collage and mixed media designs, and they are easy for kids to work with too. When my kids and I did these we just used markers and a spray bottle filled with water. We used the markers to color on the coffee filters (no specific pattern necessary and scribbles are allowed), and when we were done, we held the coffee filter on the outer edge and sprayed the water on it.

It does get a little messy as the colors start to run when you are spraying so it's a good idea to work over a sink.

I've experimented a lot with coffee filter designs even for grown up projects. It's always a lot of fun.

Layering Handmade Papers To Create Interesting Effects

Layering handmade papers can create very interesting effects. Most times when we think of layering we focus on the background of the piece. In this case I decided to do a watercolor wash for the background and then layer the papers to create the figures in the piece, giving them some depth and dimension.