Three Thoughts for August

Hello and welcome August!

This is one of the hottest months and it's also a pretty slow month (low productivity). Our minds and bodies are on vacation and we deserve to slow down, right?

Today, it's all about cute things: 

1. A Little Collection of Art Prints

There's a Mini Print Vending Machine that gives you a tiny art print in exchange for four quarters. I've found two of these vending machines, one in Manhattan (that gave me the tomato print) and another one in Philadelphia (that gave me the spritz print.) Aren't they adorable? It's a unique and compact souvenir and the thrill of the hunt/surprise element only add to the fun! It's the creation of Ana Inciardi and you can find them across the U.S.A. I can't wait to grow this collection in put them in little frames...TADA!

2. New York City's Duck Library

I'm a big fan of The Little Free Library (where I can leave a book and take a book, even donate some handmade bookmarks...TADA!). Look what I found:  

It's a Duck Library! It's located in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood (West 23rd between 9th and 10th Avenues). 

Instructions are simple: give a duck, take a duck. Adults and kids love them! You can read more about the Duck Library here. 

3. Rubber Ducky Race 

And speaking of rubber ducks, there is a rubber ducky race on the Chicago River called The Chicago Duck Derby every August.

The race raises funds for the Special Olympics Illinois. You simply have to adopt a duck and you even get a chance to win some prizes. If you can't be in Chicago, you can still participate with an on-line entry or make a donation.

A ceremonial "splashdown" happens where thousands of these rubber ducks are launched into the Chicago River. See that yellow section? Those are all rubber ducks...TADA!

Here's a closer picture. The ducks are wearing sunglasses! 😍 I love the rebel stragglers, too. 

After the race, the ducks are rescued so they can be used again next year.

May your August brim with very cute things!

Stationery Made from Junk Mail, Revisted

Last month, I made some stationery out of junk mail:

It looks like a matching set with a bird theme. I used paint, collage, and washi tape to turn junk mail from blah to TADA! 

This envelope used to be a credit card mailer that I painted and decorated with collage. 

This greeting card/folder was an election flyer before the transformation that involved paint, collage, and washi tape.

When we open the folder (upper part of photo), there are pockets on each side...TADA!

Why don't we make a few items we can tuck inside the pockets?

Handmade bookmarks (or gift tags) and stickers are what I had in mind. Here's how I made them:

I made some plain tags by using an existing gift tag as a template that I then traced on white cardstock. I cut them with a pair of scissors and made a hole on the upper part of the tag with a hole punch.   

For the stickers, I used plain sticker paper. I used a paper punch to make these circles, but tracing a round object on the paper and cutting them with scissors should work as well. 

Since we have a bird theme going on, I'm using these cling stamps, an acrylic block, and an ink pad to decorate the tags and stickers. 

I randomly stamped the image on the stickers and bookmarks. I glued on some collage (paper from an old book) on the bookmarks for added visual interest. 

Same process, different bird...TADA!

I added some thin black ribbon through the holes of the bookmarks. 

Then I neatly tucked in the bookmarks and stickers inside the pockets of the folder. It reminds me of stationery sets that you can buy at a store!

By adding a handwritten card and personalizing the envelope, this little package is on its way to brighten someone's day.  

And that is how I turned junk mail, plain cardstock, and sticker paper from blah to TADA!

*****

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Origami Dolls and Angels

I'm pleased to see you today!

Last week, I showed you how to make these origami dolls:

They are made from gift wrap tissue and cardboard following this origami doll tutorial. I used a black Sharpie to draw the face and white glue to keep the folds from unravelling and to attach the accessories (ex. belt, heart).  

Today, I'm going to show you some clever uses for these origami dolls.

By adding the origami doll to a gift bag, the package transforms from blah to TADA!

The origami doll is glued on to a wooden clothespin. 

It easily clips on, looks very adorable, and can be used over and over again...TADA!

Following the same process, I used a combination of gift wrap tissue and construction paper to make these purple-hued origami dolls.

I turned them into angels by gluing on some wings also made from construction paper...TADA! 

I made a care package for a longtime friend and I just had to include an origami angel. You can see her instantly from inside the clear envelope. 

Here are some items I put inside the care package: a handmade bookmark, a handwritten card, a sheet of stickers, and the origami angel. 

It was my intention to send my friend a guardian angel.

I added this prayer of protection at the back of the origami angel. I hope my friend will be safe wherever she goes. 

These origami angels can also be enclosed in fun snail mail or customer orders if you own an on-line shop.

Thoughtful touches like these can turn packages from blah to TADA!

*****

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Stationery from Japan

Hey there, lovely to see you today!

I was given this sweet package from family members who took a trip to Tokyo, Japan:

The packaging is simple but the shop's stamp and sticker are both cute and effective. As an added detail, a small origami doll was included...TADA!

Have a look at the gifts inside. 

The long envelope contained three bookmarks. The material is similar to grasscloth that gives the bookmarks some texture. I just love the kissing bunnies and I can't wait to use them (and I do read two or more books at the same time)!

This is a book containing notepaper. The paper also has texture and I can imagine it would be lovely to write on with a felt-tip pen.

I love stationery and the ones from Japan are beautiful and are of very good quality. As with the rest of my stationery, I always wait for the perfect occasion to use them. 

Now, can we return to the origami doll decorating the package? I'm quite obsessed. I want to make my own version, too.

I looked through my stash of paper remnants left over from card making and scrapbooking and trimmed the paper into squares measuring 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Using this origami doll tutorial, I made these dolls using construction paper, gift wrap remnants, and security envelopes...TADA! I used white glue to hold the folds in place.

These origami dolls are made from construction paper, floral gift tissue, and card stock (heads/faces)...TADA!

Here is a variation...short hair and floral accents. 

Just by adding paper wings, my origami dolls are now angels...TADA!

And that is how I turned my paper stash from blah to TADA!

***

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Three Thoughts for July

Happy July Everyone!

Here are a few little thrills now that the summer months in the U.S. are in full swing:

1. Fourth of July Fireworks

Independence Day is always capped with a display of fireworks, the most popular being the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks live in New York City and broadcast on TV. Did you catch it? It's a show that never gets old, always leaving children and adults in awe.

Our town and the neighboring towns have our own fireworks display. It's usually held in a park where people can picnic and play, until it's dark enough for the light show to begin. A community gathering and a festive atmosphere turns the start of July from blah to TADA!

2. Books and Trips to the Beach

I'm all about summer reading lists and book recommendations. I take a book with me wherever I go (along with a handmade bookmark) -- it keeps me occupied when I have to wait and deters me from scrolling on my phone. Of course, reading on the beach is on top of the list around this time of year...TADA!

3. Always Have Snacks

I love me a good snack: chips, biscuits, cookies, trail mix, chocolate, candy, you name it! I'll always have some around so that I'm ready when the craving hits. That's why I got such a kick out of this storage solution/art installation:

I saw this candy cabinet at a department store and thought this would be a cool DIY project for furniture that needs a new lease on life like an old medicine cabinet. Just add the cheeky message, "In case of emergency break glass" using alphabet stickers, stencils or brush lettering...TADA!

Wishing you lots of thrills this July!

Stationery Made from Junk Mail

I'm delighted to see you!

Last week, I transformed a junk mail envelope from blah to TADA! 

This was originally an envelope from a credit card mailer. I painted it white to cover any words and illustrations. Then I added sponge painting and collage to give it a layered look. This is the back of the envelope.  

Here is the front of the envelope. Notice the recurring bird theme? Since this is just an envelope, I had to make something to put inside. 

Today, I'll show you how to make this matching folder.

It begins with junk mail. It's been a habit of mine to figure out ways on how I can turn blah to TADA! before throwing things out, that's why I'm giving new life to this old election flyer. It's made of thicker material so that it has the heft of a notecard.  

I paint it with several coats of acrylic white paint with some drying time in between each coat. I really love this process because it reminds me of a blank slate. 

Once I'm satisfied with the paint coverage (very little visible signs of its past life), I trim it down with scissors. I want to make a small folder with two pockets on each side. I also make sure this folder will fit the envelope.  

The next step is collage. I'm using torn-up magazine pages applied to the folder with glue. I add it to both sides.  

Now, it's time for some sponge painting for color and texture. Let this dry and repeat on the other side. 

I folded and creased the bottom flaps and glued the sides together with hot glue. I plan to tuck in some handmade goodies in the pockets...TADA!

I added a strip of washi tape at the center to reinforce the seam and for a decorative edge. 

Let's tie the bird theme that appears on the envelope to the cover of the folder. This design was from a fashion catalog. I made flower-shaped confetti from the paper scraps with the help of a paper punch. 

Here's what the cover of the folder looks like...TADA! Can you believe that this was once junk mail? 

This is how I decorated the back of the folder. 

This is the inside of the folder with vibrant colors and pockets ready to be filled. Doesn't it complement the envelope?

This is how it looks on the flip side. 

Instant handmade stationery...this is how I turned junk mail from blah to TADA!

Part Three of this craft will be the treats that I'll put inside the folder. Stay tuned!

*****

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