:: Cards ... the easy way!! ::

Following suit with the last "Things I Love" post, I am also going to share a product I love using instead of showing something I made this time.  :)  Something I really like are these pretty blank cards made by DCWV (Die Cuts with a View).

DCVW Box of Cards

They come in a nice variety of styles and colors.  I always find these at Jo-Ann - usually on sale; otherwise using a 40% off coupon makes this a steal!  I'm sure other retailers sell them, too, and you can buy them directly from the DCVW website.

I have found that, with a couple boxes of these blank patterned cards, you are set for any occasion - birthdays (I have even used them for my son to give to his friends since some of the patterns are "plain" enough for boys!!), thank-yous, weddings, etc., on the fly.  It's also cheaper than individual cards and since they're blank inside, I find it to be an all-occasions option when you need a card for someone and fast!!  {I could go off on a tangent here with my thoughts on the value of handwritten communication in a digital world...}   :)

All you need is to add a little bit of embellishing to fancy it up - and you can keep it simple by just using stickers, ink stamping, using a corner rounder or paper punch, or whatever you have on hand.  {If you are my 10-year-old son making a quick birthday card for a friend, you might just draw a couple hockey sticks inside and write "happy birthday"!}  Check out the different varieties and collections here!

Please note: I receive no incentives for promoting this product.  I am not paid to promote it, nor does the company even know I exist!  ;)  I have linked directly to the company's website in this post in order to ensure credit to the product's manufacturer, give credit for where the photo was obtained, and to make sure where to purchase it is properly noted.

~S.

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Make Salt Dough Ornaments!

This time of year has me itching to craft everything more than ever!  I just love making all my Christmas presents and decorations!  Every house, street, shop, and tree is twinkling at Christmastime, filling the air with such a magical feeling --  I just wish the Christmas season was longer!!!  I know some of you are thinking I am crazy, considering they start selling Christmas trees and decorations before Halloween! ;)  It just seems the month flies by and it is all over before we know it!  So, let's try to make the most of it with a few Christmas crafts!

This next project is a perfect weekend craft...salt dough ornaments!  These are super-simple to make and even more fun to paint, decorate, and hang on the Christmas tree.  So grab your kids and dig in!  

To make the dough you will need: 1 c. flour, 1/2 c. salt, and 1/2 c. water.  

Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water

Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix until a sticky dough forms.  Flour your working surface and your pin and roll out the dough to 1/4" thick.

Roll it nice and even!

Use your favorite cookie cutters and cut out the dough.  Don't forget to poke holes in the top of the ornament or on each side of the shape if you will be stringing it like garland (a bamboo skewer works great for this).  Make the holes large enough because you will not be able to ream them once the shape is baked -- I learned this the hard way as a few of my stars crumbled to smithereens in my hand!!

Use your favorite cutters to make the shapes

Place onto cookie sheet

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.  Place all the shapes on a cookie sheet and bake them for 4 to 6 hours.  Some of my larger shapes needed the full 6 hours in order to get really hard and brittle.  Otherwise the middle will still be soft and a little squishy and they won't last!

Pop in the oven at 200 degrees for 4 - 6 hours!

Decorate the ornaments however you want!  For mine I wanted to paint them with acrylic paint and sprinkle them with clear, chunky glitter like snow!  

Painted with acrylic and sprinkled with clear glitter. 

String them up with colorful string or thin ribbon for garland.  For ornaments tie a loop through the top and hang it right on your tree!

My stars and snowflakes strung into garland for the mantel.

You don't have to stick to Christmas ornaments, either!  Use various shapes and colors to decorate a special present, make red and pink sparkly hearts for Valentine's Day, string colorful garland for a birthday party...The possibilities are endless!

Happy crafting and Happy Holidays!

~D.

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