Handmade Thank You Cards

Here in the U.S., it's Thanksgiving Day this Thursday. Whether or not you celebrate it, giving thanks is always a good habit, turning the most ordinary day from blah to TADA!

One way to show our thanks is through handmade Thank You cards. Let me show you a few that I created over the years:

All of these were made from paper remnants, collage, stickers, rubber stamps, washi tape, paint, and markers. 

Inside, we can fill it with sentiments like Thank you for the thoughtful gift; I appreciate your help during a stressful time in my life; or Thank you for being a friend all these years.

If you're at a loss for words, I stumbled upon this tip on how to start a thank you note (apologies, I don't remember the author's name):

I hope this was helpful for all the future thank you cards that you are going to write, an exercise that's good for both the giver and the recipient.

And because we are on the subject, I want to say THANK YOU to all of you, my new and regular blog visitors. I'm delighted that you are here to read, listen, and have always been supportive of my wild ideas. Please continue to join me as I turn blah to TADA! 

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Sketchbook Practice: Sketching Soda Cans

I have a weakness for packaging design. Time and again, my decision-making is based on how cute the package looks.

Take these Italian sodas for example. Don't they instantly whisk you to the back roads of Italy? I mean, even if I just had an Italian sandwich and this drink for lunch, I felt that I was in Italy even if I wasn't.

I wanted to preserve the packaging so I turned to my sketchbook. 

With watercolors and colored pencils, I tried to capture the package as best I could (but trying to avoid perfection). 

I likewise added some journaling to capture feelings and memories of that moment. 

It's a nice addition to a travel journal if you keep one, especially if you can't take the packaging home with you.

Here's another sparkling drink that I tried out of curiosity. I did a quick sketch and a short review in my sketchbook. 

These are some flavors that remind me of Philippines where I was born and raised. I live in the U.S. now and when I'm feeling a little homesick, this drink and this drink (not a sponsored post) perk me up and bring me back to tropical living. 

This is another fun drawing exercise. I included the Philippine mango, calamansi (similar to a lemon) and dalandan (like a tangerine), too.   

If you're at the supermarket, liquor store (the craft beers/IPAs have some of the best designs) or dining out, take notice of the packaging. It might inspire you to add something new to your sketchbook practice.

And that is how I turned a blank page of my sketchbook form blah to TADA!

*****

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Hand-lettered Menus

Hello everyone! In a previous blog post, I wrote about illustrated and hand-lettered menus. Here's a sample:

It's a list of items we served during Thanksgiving 2023. It's a quick reference for guests and becomes a souvenir afterwards...TADA!

Celebrations after the pandemic have become so precious to me -- grateful that I survived those worrisome years and blessed to be back in the company of family and friends.

So I'm making it a tradition to create these menus for every gathering I attend.

This was a from a Christmas Party where our hosts prepared the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American tradition. Here are a few photos from the buffet:

The spread was abundant and left us very, very stuffed! 

This menu was for a Lunar New Year Party and the selection of dishes are key in ringing in good luck and prosperity, such as dim sum, seafood, roast pork, and noodles:

This buffet lasted from lunch to dinner, with some games played in between...TADA!

This menu was for a family potluck. I chose the background colors of the menu to look like the Aurora Borealis since it was visible in some areas that weekend. Here are a few food shots:

Even after all the food is gone, an illustrated or hand-lettered menu allows the meal to last for a very long time. Maybe you can do something similar for the reunions and parties that you'll be attending.

And that is how I turned a blank page from blah to TADA!

*****

You may subscribe here if you'd like my future blog posts delivered straight to your inbox and you can follow me on Instagram for more crafty ideas.

Three Thoughts for November

We're almost nearing the end of the year. What are your feelings about that?

It's autumn here in the U.S. and the cooler temperature, cozy outfits, and changing colors of the leaves only emphasize the passage of time. I feel a slight panic (have I achieved my plans for the year?) and a bit of nostalgia because we'll never get this time back again. 

I'll make sure to go on an autumn drive, have my fill of warm apple cider and apple cider doughnuts, and some crafting inspired by the autumn leaves. 

November is also when we usher in the holidays. I have a few blog posts about entertaining coming up, whether you are the host or the guest.

We're also celebrating Thanksgiving at the end of the month, a time for family and food, and of course, giving thanks for all the we have.

Wishing you a very memorable November!