Handmade Cards: Stuck

Five Minute Free Write: Stuck

"Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need"

It's Sunday so I'm going to keep it short today!!

Sometimes, in my card making, I get stuck in a rut. This past spring, my rut was birthday cards, which is kinda funny, because I am horrible at actually mailing birthday cards to my friends and family. I have a variety of birthday cards that I will hopefully be sharing with you over the course of this #write31days series. But today, it's a set of birthday balloon cards that I'm hoping to finish and get added to my shop later this week!!

Sparkly balloons and baker's twine and bright rainbow colors.. You know you want to order a set!!

The question is this: Do you send birthday cards? Would you use ones that are blank inside or do you prefer a little message preprinted?

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month!
Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

Handmade Cards: View

View:
 You can't purchase what you can't see...

I love to create cards and my dream is to have a successful etsy shop (or successful craft show, or a successful spot in a local store)... but I don't have the marketing skills, I don't have the business skills... (Translation: I don't have the discipline for the necessary work).

But I did something yesterday in anticipation of this month long series on my handmade cards! I added a few new cards to my shop. In reality, they are all cards I have listed before and they haven't sold, so they are still sitting in my inventory in my craft room.  But I did it, I listed some cards!!

And what to my surpise happened before dinner?!??!?! I made a sale on one of those cards!!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!! (just a little excited and it's just one card) Every sale gives me a boost of confidence. Every sale reaffirms in my heart that this is what I want to do. Every sale makes me wish I could afford a virtual assistant! ;)

Masculine birthday cards aren't always easy to come by when you are looking handmade. But this one is simple with a touch of class... just like your dad! 

But I know that that sales won't come unless people can see them. So that means taking the time to take quality pictures and edit them, and upload them and give them a description, and take the risk to post them. I also need to share them... Social media is an awesome tool... but only if you use it, because you can't purchase my lovely cards if I don't give you a way to buy.

The question is this: Do I upload 10 new cards to my shop in one day... or should I do one a day for 10 days in a row?

My word prompt came from Kate Motaung who is doing 31 days of 5 minute free writes this month!
Five minutes of writing is about all I can squeeze in these days, but it's better than no writing!!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment as I get moving again in writing and creating... (it might just benefit you at the end of our time this month)

Forever Sixteen

I've tried to write this week and the words just won't come... not that they aren't in my head, I just don't know how to get them down on paper. I have reading to do for class, I have laundry piles to be tamed, friends to connect with, and family to feed and care for... and my brain is just numb.

I haven't blogged in forever, so it seems weird to come back with this... but it's my present to Julia... and her mom.

Today is her birthday, today she would be seventeen... but instead, she's forever sixteen. That beautiful red haired sweetheart, taken too soon.

As far as I know I was only there for ONE birthday... her first! and that was way back when I was still mostly afraid of babies, so I probably didn't hold her much. Then I married and moved away and birthdays were celebrated from a distance. 

edited to add this treasure that my sister sent me... not from a birthday party, but a moment from years past... :)

And even though I make cards for a hobby/etsy shop, my family will attest to the fact that I am HORRIBLE at actually mailing birthday cards to the ones I love most. I managed to send my sister a card yesterday, it will be late, but by my standards it will be right on time. 

And now the birthday parties are over... no more sitting there watching the Kentucky Derby while eating birthday cake (I missed out on those, but I've heard about it more than once).

I still don't know why, it's still not fair. My kids still ask why and talk about how much they miss her. My girls dream about horses and playing the flute and being just like Julia and my heart aches because I don't know how much they will remember 10 years, 15 years from now. I want to keep her fresh in their memory. To remind them how much she loved Jesus, how much she loved kids and babies, how much she loved and gave and had a servant heart.

Today, I'm just keeping my eyes on Jesus and praying fervently for my sister and her family. And praying for all those that knew her better than I did and loved her just as much as I do!

My words are few, but they come from my heart. I miss her. I guess that's enough for today.

A Little Crafty How-to

When I started the Ultimate Blog Challenge at the beginning of the month, I asked you for a few ideas and one thing that was mentioned was a tutorial on the cards I make. I'm not very good at tutorials, I do not have the gift of teaching... But I can show you a few pictures and talk about what I did. You can either attempt to re-create it yourself, or persuade me to open an online card shop so you can buy one yourself! :)



So here is a little glimpse into my card making this past weekend.

So much of the work is just done in my head... thinking and planning and cutting and rearranging all before the card finally takes place, so I often try to make multiples of the same card.

Each card is still individual, still handmade, still made with love. Each card touched multiple times over the process... which is what makes handmade worth more than a simple dollar store card... or even better than Hallmark...

Once it comes together, there is a little bit of this

and a little bit of that...

I love the extra touch of a coordinating picture on the inside of the card.

and then there is the challenge of a matching envelope.  This one, I put out for survey ... on instagram, and on facebook; and if I actually counted the votes, it would probably be pretty even... so I made some of each! :)

I love making cards...

Community Conversation: Do you need a birthday card anytime soon? :)  As I think and dream and plan and hope for an online shop someday, what would you be willing to pay for a handmade card? As I begin to support the handmade community, do you have any of your favorite shops you would be willing to share with us?

happy to be jumping back in this week with regular posting... here's hoping I can stick with it.

Birthday Balloon Box

So, I have a Pinterest idea to share… which is good because my brain seems to be incapable of actually writing.  I pinned this idea for birthdays two months ago and I finally put it together last week. We don't live near any of our family, so I thought this would be a great idea!!

Here is the original pin: Birthday balloons in the mail. 

I think this is a perfect idea for a 5-10 year old. They still like balloons and they like money. However, my nephew is 18 and my niece is 15… but I went with it anyway, So I'm hoping that they didn't think it was too cheese.

Assemble materials… Balloons, a box from the post office, and a bunch of singles!

Roll the dollar and slide into the balloon, and then blow it up and throw it in the box.

 

Repeat.

Repeat.

Because I was sending it all together in one box, my nephew got the red, orange, and blue balloons, and my niece got pink, yellow and white.  The green ones were just empty fillers!

I was really concerned that they would be all flat by the time they got there, but my sister assured me they still had air when they arrived … and I made my niece and nephew work for their birthday money!

Which makes me think… maybe I could do it for the niece/nephews on the other side of the family. They are perfect age, but I missed all their birthdays! I’m great like that!!

So, have you done anything creative like this? Does sending cash through the mail make you nervous?  Do you have any great Pinterest inspired ideas to share?

I’m joining up with Mommin’ it Up and PinFTW!

and this idea Works for me... hope it might work for you!

The Birthday Girl

She has more personality than I think can fit into her little body... which may be why she is so tall! She has a heart of gold! She has never met a stranger and has no concept of personal space. She loves everyone she meets. She doesn't have shy bone in her body.

She is NOT like me, and I am working soo hard not to conform her to my way of thinking.

This morning, she went to school in a flowered shirt and a plaid skirt! When I tried to get her to change, telling her that she wasn't matching she said,
"Mom, matching isn't fun!"

Definitely one of a kind!

But one way she is like me, is her love for CHEESECAKE!!
Here she is with her birthday cake (sans cherries for her siblings sake). She piled the pie filling on her piece.

She's like her daddy in her love for Chocolate Chip cookies... 
This was the treat she took to school to share with her classmates!

We are so thankful for her and the fun she has added to our lives in the last seven years!

Pinterest Inspired - Wrapping Paper Bow

Is it better with...
A?

or B?

So, I was wrapping a present today and finished with some extra paper leftover... and I looked at the plain boring box and decided that even if it was just for a kid, it needed some jazzing.

And I remembered seeing a quick and easy bow made out of extra wrapping paper. So I returned to Pinterest and did a search... do you know how fun it is to search on Pinterest?!?!  and I found it!! so I pinned it for future reference and then I gave it a go for this cute little package!!

Here's the original pin. Wrapping Paper Bow


and here is my cute little bow and the process I took to get there!

Fold your extra paper in half horizontally, then fold it vertically once or twice and cut side folds (close to the top, but not all the way) so the only fold is your original fold.

Then start cutting thin lines within a 1/2 inch of the top.  (the great thing about this project is there is NO need for perfection)

Take scissors and start curling the paper like you do curling ribbon. Always turn the paper so you are curling with the print out.

You will most likely rip a few pieces off completely, but you will never notice when you get it all done.

Then fold it in half again and fluff it a little. (I forgot to photograph that step)
Tape it together if necessary and then tape it to the box and arrange it beautifully.

Admire your work and thank Pinterest for making you so crafty! :)

I can't wait to do this next year with all my Christmas presents!!

Linking up with The CSI Project for Pinterest Inspired week!!  Be sure to check out more great ideas.

Pin It

Ombre Birthday Card

So did you all see my cute Ombre card yesterday? I have another one for you today. This one is for BIRTHDAYS!! Everybody needs birthday cards, so I hope you like this one.  I really love The CSI Project for truly inspiring me to try new things in my paper-crafting!!

Shades of blue used to hand stamp the presents, sentiment and balloons!

coordinating mini presents are stamped inside with the same colors.

and on the envelope! :)

PS. I love my square punch! :)

linked up with the CSI project for the Ombre Challenge.