Here it is. Almost Mother’s Day. Have you purchased a card yet? No? How about making one? This one is so easy, you DO have time to put it together by Sunday.

What you’ll need:

• Darice Mini Gold Brads
• Martha Stewart Blue Pansy Stickers
• Core’dinations All In The Family Cardstock- Indigos
• Core’dinations Jillibean Soup Cardstock Collection
• Gold paint pen or permanent marker
• Tape runner or other adhesive
• Sand-it Gadgit or sand paper
• Dry cloth or tack cloth
• Ruler
• Awl

Cut the light blue flowered cardstock to 4 3/4 inches by 6 3/4 inches. Sand and brush off with tack cloth.  Set aside.

Cut a piece of spare/scrap cardstock to 4 1/4 inches by 4 inches. Fold in half down the middle and cut part of the cardstock off from the center out to create a template for the pocket.

Cut a pocket out of the indigo blue cardstock.

Draw “stitches” around the pocket with the gold marker. You may wish to use a ruler to help make the stitches straight.

Crumple the pocket, smooth it out and sand.

Crumple the paper a second time making creases and folds in different areas of the paper. Sand and wipe off with tack cloth.

Adhere the pocket to the blue floral paper, pierce a hole in the three corners with an awl and insert the brads.

Adhere the floral paper to the card blank.

Carefully cut apart the blue pansy stickers and layer them around the top edge of the pocket.

Stamp or write the sentiment inside. I chose to write “A pocket full of posies”.

There are enough supplies with 1 sheet of each color paper and 1 sheet of the stickers to make three cards. Save yourself time and make a few to have on hand when needed.

To see a sample of how I made this same card with different stickers please visit vickiodell.com.

Disclosure

Creating a gardening journal is a great gift for Mother’s Day, teacher appreciation, birthdays, or hostess gift.

Materials Needed:

• 5201-68 Darice® Blank Crinkle Cover Journal – Natural Color – 5 x 7 inch
• 111905SWSPR Flower Soft Scenic Windows- Spring
• 0330017FSLIL Flower Soft – Lilac 30 ml Jar
• 00330021FSBOR Flower Soft – Bright Orange 30 ml Jar
• KC625532 K&Company® Que Sera Sera 12 x 12 Designer Paper Pad

Instructions:

1. Begin by cutting the K & Company scrapbooking paper to fit over the front and back covers of the Darice blank journal.  Score the edges of the scrapbooking paper so that it can fold over the side covers of your journal.

2. To cover the binding over the journal glue a stiff garden themed ribbon.  I used a sunflower ribbon that I had re-purposed from an old sunhat.

3. Optional:  Add a matching bow along the side of the journal using the Mini Bowdabra & Hair Bow Tool & Ruler.

4. To create a gorgeous three dimensional look for your gardening journal use Flower Soft Scenic Windows.  The window is very easy to attach to your journal using foam spacers.  The cover of the gardening journal looks like you are peaking right through a patio door into a beautiful garden.

5. To add the final touches to your gardening journal use Flower Soft to make the flowers in the garden magically come to life.  The flowers will look like they are in full bloom on your gardening journal.

Make this journal for friends, family, or even yourself!  This gardening journal is sure to inspire all of nature’s masterpieces.

Disclosure

I LOVE butterflies! They are so delicate and beautiful. I’ve been seeing them in crafting quite a bit lately. This is MY butterfly craft.

SUPPLIES:

• Bowdabra Bow Maker
• Bowdabra Wire
• Feather Butterflies (or other embellishment)
• Tulle Rolls – 1 roll of each color: Sage, Pink, Yellow, Lavender, Ivory and Light Blue
• 18 inch Green Metal Wreath Form

• Spray paint in a light color (optional)
• Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks

To prepare for making this wreath you will want to watch the DVD that comes with the Bowdabra so you will understand how to make the Tulle Puffs. If you choose to paint the wire wreath form you can paint it and watch the DVD while the paint dries! Why paint the form? In a few places the wire wreath form may show through due to the “see through” nature of the tulle. If you don’t like the dark green wreath form showing you may want to paint it in a light color before beginning.

For the base of the wreath make tulle puffs, leaving the Bowdabra string at least three inches long on each end so that you are able to tie the puffs onto the wreath form.

Keep making puffs and tying them on until the wreath is full. There is probably enough tulle on each roll to make TWO wreaths. You can make one for yourself and one for a friend!

Once the wreath is full, hot glue the butterflies onto the front. Use as many or as few butterflies as you like. You could also use larger butterflies, birds, or just a big bow. It’s up to you!

My little girl has reached the age where she always wants to help me in the kitchen. With this “sweet” apron, she’ll be super-proud to help mommy out, and keep neat, too.

You’ll need:

• One adult apron
• One child apron
• Felt Cupcake Iron-On
• Sequin Cupcake Iron-On
• “Sweet” Sequin Iron-On
• Buttons
• Fabri-Tac
• Decorative trim (about 1 yard per apron)
• Iron (a crafter’s mini-iron is great)

To make the child’s apron, remove the felt cupcake iron-on and place it in the center of the chest portion of the apron. Follow the directions on the package. Then apply the word “sweet” right under the cupcake, again following the directions on the package.

Use Fabri-Tac to apply the trim to the top of the apron, and around the lower edge. Finish it off with a few buttons- I like adding one to the “cherry” on top of the cupcake and a few at the top corners of the apron where the ties attach around the neck.

For the adult apron, apply the sequin cupcake ir0n-on as directed. Use the Fabri-Tac to attach the trim to the top portion of the apron and across the top edge of the pockets. Finish with some buttons on the cherry, at the top of the apron, and a row on the trim. (Use as many or as few as you like.)

Let the glue dry overnight, and wait at least 2 days before washing. Now let the baking begin!

Disclosure

I’m so excited for my gal Cassie- this is her first Mother’s Day as a mommy! To celebrate, I made her a special Tag Brag book to carry in her purse so she can show off her gorgeous baby. Know what? It was simple to make and you can whip one of these up and give as a gift for Mother’s Day in about 2 hours.

You’ll need:

• cereal-box cardboard (raid the recycled bin)
• dry adhesive like the Glue Glider Pro
• 2 pieces of patterned scrapbook paper (I used K & Company)
• 4 pieces of coordinating cardstock (I used Core’Dinations)
• Scraps of ribbon or the Darice Ribbon Accents pack

Tools:

• Paper Trimmer
• Martha Stewart Score Board (optional, but darn handy)
• Scissors
• Cuttlebug and Nestabilities labels dies (optional, but it makes it super- cute!)
• hole punch

Put pictures on the pages and fit more on the tags you tuck in to the folds!

Start with making the two covers. Cut two pieces of cardboard and scrapbook paper 3.5 inches X 5.5inches. Cut two more pieces of patterned paper 4 X 6 inches. (You’ll use the larger pieces to cover the cardboard.

Apply adhesive to  the cardboard and center it on the wrong side of the patterned paper. Clip the corners of the paper, and wrap around the cardboard, using more adhesive. Do this for both the front and back covers.

To make the back cover, center a 12 inch piece of ribbon in the center of the cover. Add more adhesive, then cover with the piece of patterned paper that is the same size as the cardboard.

Do the same for the front cover, omitting the ribbon.  Now let’s make the inside. It’s basically a piece cardstock folded up so that when you accordion-pleat it, you’ve got little pockets in which to tuck little tags.

Start by cutting two lengths of paper (the long way, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s 11 1/2 or 12 inches) so that it’s 8 inches high. Then fold the bottom edge up 2.75 inches. Then score vertically (through the fold) every 3.25 inches inches. It’ll look like this:

Join the two pieces of together by cutting the last section to about an inch, and then trimming the part that folds up. Apply glue and press to the BOTTOM of the next section of page-folds:

Now fold that bottom flap up, accordion fold it back up, and glue into your covers.

Now, my friend had a ga-jillion pictures and we put some pictures on the pages. But for the rest, we made cute little tags using the Nestabilities labels dies. We also fussy-cut the pictures, too. We glued it all down, and then added some ribbons to the tops of the tags.

Cut Tags...

Cut the photos the next size smaller. Use some painter's tape to make sure the die doens't shift during cutting.

Slip your tags into the book, tie it up with a bow, and it’s ready to give. These are also great to give blank, and let the recipient fill it up with their own photos. OR, write inspirational messages on the tags. There are so many ways to adapt it!

Enjoy!

MATERIALS:

• Plain wooden block (scrap from hardware store).
• Old cardboard box.
• Precious Stone powder mix.
• Water.
• Children’s little hands.
• Hobby knife.
• Gesso Spray.
• Acrylic Paints.

STEPS:

1. Get a plain wooden block (scrap from a hardware store works fine).
2. Cut cardboard panels form an old unused box to fit around your wooden block.
3. Use shipping tape around the cardboard panels and also underneath, taping to underside of wood block, creating a box-like structure.
4. Place this “box” on old newspaper to protect your table in case of leakage.
5. MIX your Precious Stone solution. Directions on container say to mix 1/2 cup of water to every 1 cup of powder. I used TWO cups of powder and ONE cup of water to fill the area I needed (12″ x 8″). Make sure solution is smooth, without lumps, before pouring.
6. Pour Precious Stone mixed solution into your box.
7. Let the solution sit for 30-45 minutes. The solution will need to be ALMOST FIRM in order for the hand prints to be imprinted into the mixture. Keep poking the surface regularly with your fingertip to check firmness.
8. Get the kids! Tell them to keep perfectly still while you press their hands into the mixture – press hand down straight and firmly. Hold down for a few seconds and then bring hand up directly so the hand print doesn’t get smudged.
9. WASH HANDS! Make sure the kids wash their hands immediately to avoid mess. This stuff dries like powder very quickly when it’s just a thin layer on their hands. Wash thoroughly so there is no leftover residue on their hands.
10. After washing everyone’s hands, take a hobby knife and cut away the cardboard panels. If you wait until solution is completely dry, you will have trouble – the Precious Stone will stick to the cardboard, impossible to remove without damaging your mold.
11. While Precious Stone is still moist, dip your finger in water and smooth down the edges around the piece so your edges have a nice rounded appearance.
12. Let it sit for the rest of the night. Overnight is best to wait, to make sure it’s good and dry before the next step.
13. Apply Gesso Spray. I had to use liquid gesso (painted on with paintbrush), but Gesso Spray would have been better to get a nice even coverage without brush streaks. Gesso is necessary because without it the Precious Stone will ABSORB any and all pigment you try to apply! I tried using markers on a plain dried Precious Stone surface, and by the next day, the marker spot had VANISHED!
14. Let gesso dry. This doesn’t take long at all. After an hour at MOST, you’re ready for the next step!
15. PAINT AWAY! WHEE! I decided to use acrylic paints, but you can use any medium you choose. After the gesso is applied, it will be like painting on any other primed surface!
16. Display your finished work using an easel to prop it up – makes a nice finishing touch!

This will make an excellent keepsake for any mother or grandmother!

Disclosure

When is Mother’s Day 2010?  Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9th 2010.  Lucky for you, you still have plenty of time to make this great Mother’s Day Gift!

Consumer Crafts sells chalk boards (along with thousands of other great crafty goodness) and when I saw them, I knew that they would make a great Mother’s Day Message Board for the home.  When I received the chalk board it was unfinished just begging for some pizzazz and I couldn’t wait to get started.

Materials:

• 7×10 wood frame synthetic chalk board
• Paint
• Mod Podge
• Scrapbooking Paper
• 5/8 in black memoir alphabet stickers
• Satin Ribbon (optional)
• 2 Thumbtacks (optional)
• Hot Glue Gun

Instructions:

Begin by painting the edges of the chalk board.  The chalk board trim will take several coats of paint.

While the paint is drying on the chalk board decoupage 15 bottle caps with the same color scrapbook paper.  Refer to my tutorial on how to decoupage bottle caps.  You will need the bottle caps for the lettering and then also the Buggy Bottle Caps for the accents around the chalkboard.

Once Mod Podge is dry; attach the sticker letters.  I used 15 bottle caps with the message, “Moms are Special”.

Helpful Hint: The letters are hard to work with when they are on the sheets.  The best way to remove the letters from their backing is to cut them out and then peel the backing away.  Place the letters onto the center of the bottle caps and then add a few more layers of Mod Podge.

Before attaching the bottle cap message and buggy embellishments lay out your work on the chalkboard to make sure everything will fit and look nicely.  Using a hot glue gun to attach the bottle caps to the trim of the chalkboard.

There are many ways to finish your chalkboard.  Strips of magnets along the back-sides will work for the fridge, little picture hanger hardware will work for the wall, or something really simple like I used: Two thumbtacks attached to ribbon, pressed against the back of the chalk board, make for the perfect easy hanger.

Disclosure

The basket base of this craft was designed and featured in Martha Stewart Living Magazine in April, 210, page 160. I just decided that it needed to “kicked up a notch” by personalizing it with photos. And my good friend and decor expert Stacy was the one who thought to use the fan pulls in a non-traditional way. So really, it was a collaboration between Martha, Stacy, and myself. (wink!)

Supplies:

• Mini baskets (Item 2827-38)
• Moss (Item RHSM08)
• Fan Pulls (Item 1976-60)
• Patterned Cardstock (Nana’s Kids) (Item PS00500020)
• 3-D Glue Dots (Item GD12296)
• Feather Butterflies (Item 1300-50)
• Pebbles, rocks, or marbles (for weight)

Tools:

• Cuttlebug (Item PV37-1051)
• Scalloped circles (Item S4-124)

If you don’t have a Cuttlebug, you can trace circles on the paper and then cut it out with fancy scissors, too. And of course, you’ll need some color copies of those cute kiddos!

To make the base, carefully snip the handles off of the basket. Place some of your marbles or pebbles in a the bottom of the basket to help weigh it down so it stays upright. Then place the moss in the basket to cover your fill and mound it up a little.

Now let’s work on the photo flowers! Cut 3 graduated scalloped circles using the Nestabilities shapes. Use the smallest one to cut out your photo. (I really encourage you to either scan your photo onto Xerox paper or have a color copy made.) Place the scallop die right over the face, centering it, and then run it through your Cuttlebug. (Read my “Introduction to the Cuttlebug” post HERE, and my review of the Nestabilities Dies HERE.)

Using glue dots, adhere your photo circle to the smallest cardstock circle, then adhere the medium-sized cardstock circle behind that.

Place the largest circle down on your table, and add a 3-D glue dot in the middle. Place the decorative end of your fan pull on top of the glue dot. Put another glue dot on top of this, securing the fan pull between the layers.

Now all you have left to do is place your photo-circle layers on top of the adhesive, and you’re ready to go!

I just gently poked the fan pull into the moss and the moss/pebbles held it securely. I then placed the butterfly on top. It has an attached wire that makes it easy to poke into the moss to keep it in place. Easy-peasy!

So here are some other ideas:

• Make one for each woman in your family, but use HER mother as the photo. Wouldn’t this be lovely with vintage photos??
• Folks have “furbabies”, too! Use pets in place of children’s photos.
• Add a sentiment. You could make a little paper flag around the stem and write, “Children are the flowers in life’s garden.”
• Make it for a friend & change the sentiment to “Friends are the blooms in life’s garden.”
• Use this idea for a baby shower- but use the attendee’s baby pictures! Cute, right?

Have fun with this easy craft and dress up your table!

Disclosure:

Beaded strands can be used as curtain and lamp shade accents.

As Mother’s Day fast approaches, you have two choices: run to the nearest shopping mall and pick up something mom may or may not want, or dig into your stash of craft supplies and create a special treat that’s sure to knock her socks off.

I opt for creating something special!

Supplies:

• Eyelet Starter Kit (Item 1027-95)
• Beaded Cross Kit (Item 1969-27), one per strand
• Acrylic paint by Studio 71: Pthalo Green, Hookers Green, Cadmium Green, Yellow Ochre (24 Piece Paint Set Item 97848)
• Gold Glitter by Darice (Item 1146-43)
• White Tissue Paper (Item 1192-26)
• Mod Podge (Item PLCS11302)
• Clear Filament (Item 10006)
• Embroidery Thread (Item 1163-28)
• Pen

Optional Embellishments:

• Alphabet beads (Item BAB-15 )
• Silk flowers

Mother's Day star

Tools:

• Comfort Grip Scissors (Item 1149-17)
• 1/8″ Hole Punch (Item 2700-59)
• Optional: 1- 3.5″ x 4″ Tin Star (Item 6500-59) (to trace star-shape)
• Ruler (Item 9137-48)
• Hammer (In tool box, Item 1201-38)
• Embroidery Needle (Item 1124-37)
• Seam ripper
• Thin tipped paint brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)
• Small, square tipped paint brush (Multi-purpose Value Pack Item SB9561)

Instructions:

Rip tissue paper into various shapes and sizes. Avoid creating straight lines.

Rip tissue paper.

Lay two sheets of paper side-by-side, then spread glue over both sheets of paper.
While glue is still wet, lay a piece of tissue paper on top of one sheet of paper. Gently go over the tissue paper with a paint brush full of glue. Press down as you spread the glue, making sure to eliminate any bubble under the tissue paper.

Create water paint with acrylic and water.

Dry brush papers with Hookers Green and let dry. Do the same with Cadmium Green and Yellow Ochre, making sure to allow paint to dry between coats of color, otherwise the colors will blend together creating a mud color.

Dry brush colors ontop of base color.

Add a little more water to the remaining Pthalo Green water mixture, then brush another coat over the dry brushed strokes of paint. (Be careful not to completely cover the work you’ve done. The idea is to use the last coat of paint to bring uniformity to the piece. Don’t worry if you no longer see the yellow paint, you should however see texture and color depth changes.)

Add a color wash over dry brushed colors.

Once paint is dry, turn papers over. Use the tin star as a template to create several stars.

Trace stars.

Cut out stars.

Cut out the stars. Then turn them over, and arrange them so that they all point the same direction.

Use the hole punch to create a hole in the top point of each star.

Punch holes.

Use the eyelet kit to affix eyelets in each hole.

Affix Eyelets

Spread glue over the top of the stars. While still wet, sprinkle with glitter. Let dry.

Adhere glitter.

Measure and cut a piece of clear filament the length of your window, plus 4 inches for knot tying.
Thread the filament through the eyelet of one star. Tie a knot.
Thread the filament through a needle.
Bead the filament the following sequence: 8 mm pearl (p), 8 mm p, 12 mm star, 8 mm p, 6 mm gold (g), 4 mm g, 8 mm p, 4 mm p, 6 mm p, 8 mm p, gold bead, 8 mm p, 8 mm p, 12 mm star.

Bead strand.

Continue beading until you have 4 inches of wire left, or until you can stop at a star.
Loop the filament through the last star, at each point, then back through the middle.
Bead the remaining filament in the following sequence: 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 6 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g, 4 mm g.

Bead and create ring.

Loop the beads, then wrap the filament, four times, around the bottom of the loop—just above the last star.
Pull the needle through the wired wrap, tie a knot. Then repeat. Cut off any remaining wire.

Finish with a knot.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed your strand.

Here’s an idea: embellish your stars before you complete your strands. You can embellish them to match any décor in your home, or to celebrate a special occasion, like Mother’s Day.

Create a special Mother's Day star.

To create the Mother’s Day star shown above, stitch two flowers on top of each other, then stitch a bead (or button) in the middle of the flower. Next, stitch three letter beads together to spell the word, “mom”.

To make it even more special, create a star for each member of the family, alternating each member of the family with your family’s favorite sayings or quotes!

Create a star for each family member and special family sayings.

Or if you’re short on time, spell out your mom’s name in paint or stickers.  Then alternate one blank star, then one letter star.

Disclosure

]]> http://www.craftsunleashed.com/index.php/jewelrybeading/projects-jewelrybeading/project-mothers-day-beaded-curtain/feed/ 2 http://www.craftsunleashed.com/index.php/paper-crafts/crafting-with-the-cricut-mothers-day-card/ http://www.craftsunleashed.com/index.php/paper-crafts/crafting-with-the-cricut-mothers-day-card/#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:52:25 +0000 Lisa F http://www.craftsunleashed.com/?p=1023

Mother’s Day is on the way and what better way to tell Mom “I love you” than with a handmade card?  Creating something with your own hands takes on special meaning for folks, especially when it is your very own mother.  Read on to find out how fast and easy it is to create this card for your mom!

Supplies needed-

Darice Paper Crafter greeting cards
Die Cuts with a View Nana’s Kids stack
Paper Trimmer
Scissors
Cricut Expression or V-1 (“Baby Bug“)
Storybook Cricut Cartridge
Darice adhesive runner

Instructions-

1.  Fold your white card blank in half
2.  Cut a piece of the striped patterned cardstock to measure 2 3/4″ x 4 1/2″.  Attach to the bottom of your card blank leaving a slight border around the bottom and two sides.
3.  Cut a piece of multi dotted patterned cardstock to measure 2 1/4″ x 4 3/4″.  Attach to the top left of the striped patterned cardstock as shown.
4.  Repeat the above step using the green with white dots patterned cardstock.
5.  Cut a small strip of striped paper which includes a yellow and purple stripe.  Cut this to fit between the two patterns in the upper section of your card as a pattern divider.
6.  Cut a butterfly out of the cards sheet which is the first one in the stack.  Attach to card as shown and fold up wings slightly to create dimension.
7. Cut 1″ letters from your Storybook cartridge using purple cardstock and attach these to the upper right hand quadrant of your card.

You now have a lovely card for your Mom on Mother’s Day!

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