Ideas for Halloween

Good to see you today! This week, let's experiment with a different kind of craft material.

Have you ever heard of flocking powder? I can best describe it as microscopic glitter but instead of a sparkly look, it gives a surface a velvety finish.

Since Halloween is coming up, let's see how we can use flocking powder to dress up some crafts.

Let's turn these blah book pages into TADA! 

Fold the book pages into pouches and secure the edges with glue.

Using all purpose glue, draw creepy-crawlies on the pouch.

Make sure to cover your work space with newspaper/scrap paper.  Working quickly, shower the drawing with a generous amount of flocking powder. 

Tap out the excess. If there are "bald spots", add more flocking powder.  The excess powder can be poured back into the container.

I'm not sure if you can see it here, but the spider looks and feels like velvet. The flocking powder adds not only texture, but dimension as well. The spider looks embossed!

Fill the pouches with tricks and treats {fold the top and secure with a sticker or tape} and they're ready to be given away on Halloween. TADA!

Paper Cuts on Cards

Handmade greeting cards are as satisfying to make as to give away. I've experimented with basic paper cutting but would love to make intricate ones that breathtakingly turn a blank sheet of paper from blah to TADA!:

via etsy

via etsy

via etsy

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via etsy

Lovely, aren't they?

I wish you all an exciting weekend!

The Pink Ribbon

Howdy! Today, another handmade greeting card.

Here's how I turned a blank piece of card stock from blah to TADA!

I filled it with all sorts of pink ribbons using watercolor.

I chose these bows in shades of pink because they remind me of sweet baby girls, little girls' pigtails and dresses, and dreamy weddings. 

And because it's Breast Cancer awareness month, these are also a symbol of courage for

each and everyone touched by it.

Paper Quilled Cards

I've been making my own handmade cards and I've been wondering how many people make theirs, too. So I trolled around Etsy and found many, many crafters committed to card making.

I was especially attracted to these cards with paper quilled designs. Paper quilling, also known as paper filigree, is a method of rolling thin strips of paper into shapes and gluing them onto a surface to form designs like flowers.

Here, have a look:   

via etsy

via etsy

via etsy

via etsy

via etsy

via etsy

Pretty, right? I like how they add color, dimension and texture to a handmade card. I would love to make my own using recycled paper, of course -- blah to TADA!

If you'd like to dip your hand into paper quilling, you may read more about it here.

Balloons and Bicycles

Card making is a low involvement craft that you can do in a few minutes. It's handmade and heartfelt.

With this as my inspiration... 

And these for my materials...

A plain canvas changes from blah to TADA!

This card is on it's way to cheer up a friend. {I hope she likes it!}

A Collection of Cards

Hello there! I hope your week is off to a productive start. I've told you before that I like making handmade cards. They're therapeutic to put together and are guaranteed to be one of a kind. 

Simple materials like watercolor, craft punches, double-sided tape and markers can transform blah card stock to TADA! 

This week, I'll show you some of the cards I've made recently.

This one is for my little niece who is turning one month old this October.

And this one is for the parents, my brother and his wife, who will mark their first month as "dad" and "mom". 

They say, "You'll always remember your first" -- whether a first birthday, first anniversary, first car, first home, first job...these are milestones worth celebrating.

A Chalkboard Vase

Today, I have a final chalkboard craft to share.

I'm turning this bottle from blah to TADA! by making it into a chalkboard vase.

After removing the label and cleaning the bottle, I put a strip of tape around its belly. Then I painted on three coats of chalkboard paint {with a one-hour drying time in between, and letting it fully dry overnight}. 

I gently removed the tape, hoping for a clean line. But the paint would cling to the tape as I peeled it off, thus the jagged edges. Oh well, it adds a homemade touch.

Because it's October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, I'm dedicating this craft to all those affected by Breast Cancer. 

I would fill my chalkboard vase with blooms and refill it often. I hope the words I write on it with chalk will tell my loved one battling the disease that we're here for her.

I would also send flowers to the primary caregivers because it's their battle, too. Emotionally and physically. 

And to all who fought the good fight, especially my dearest Auntie A and Auntie E, you will always be loved and remembered.

Have a good weekend, everyone!