Happy Friday!

This week went by so fast. Is anyone else feeling like there are not enough hours in the day? For me, I have to have several hours a week to release all the creative energy that dwells within. But lately, there have been so many things to cross off the to-do list that my creative time has been limited to smaller, 30-miutes or less, projects. This birthday card is one example. Few supplies, glue scissors, and handwritten type made this card  and matching envelope easy to complete.

Find some time to release some creative energy this weekend. I am even going to help you get started...

Use your own handwriting or download this really nice FREE font.

Writing/Creative Prompt: What is the meaning behind your name? Include a some childhood and recent photos of yourself.

Add these to your journaling if you wish:
• Find out why your parents gave you the name they gave you.
• Did you ever wish you could change your name? What would you have named yourself if you had the chance?
• Were you named after a relative? Do you share any similarities with that relative (looks, personality, interests)? Add a photo of that relative.
• Or maybe create a page about your children's names.

Post your layouts here.

Have a wonderful weekend!
christy

I created this card last night, hoping today would feel more like spring (since it is the first official day of spring) and less like the dead of winter. It had been raining for days, and it even snowed last night in Cincinnati! I made it my goal to think spring thoughts. I believe it worked! The sun is shining and it’s a gorgeous day in southern Ohio. I’m so looking forward to spring being right around the corner.

My other main goal last night, besides bringing springtime weather, was to use some of the old vintage buttons I inherited from both of my grandmothers. I recently sorted all of the buttons by color and had wanted to use them for a project. This button flower was a great place to start. I added dimension to the buttons by using glue dots and foam adhesive.

Do you have any ideas about other projects I can create with these awesome buttons? What are some ways you like to use buttons on your pages and paper projects? Leave a comment to share your great button ideas with me, and have a wonderful first day of spring!

Create something. Inspire everyone.
GinaMarie

Supplies:
Adhesives: Glue Dots, Tombow
Patterned Paper: K&Co.
Pen: EK Success
Misc.: Buttons, foam adhesive, ribbon

With Halloween just around the corner, I decided to make cards for family and friends, but wanted the process to be quick and simple. With premade cards as the base, one sheet of Making Memories patterned Halloween paper and complementary 3-D Halloween embellishments, and orange and black cardstock, I created six cards super fast. Here are three of them. Quick and simple, for sure, and just the thing for sending trick-or-treat greetings!

Hope your weekend includes some Halloween fun!

Best,
Beth

A few days ago on the Tips and Techniques forum someone started a thread on iris folding. (The thread is called “Please respond anyone!” which just goes to show that you need to read all the threads, because you never know what gems you’ll run across.)

Iris folding is something I’ve always thought was cool, but never got around to trying. With the tips and links in this thread, I had no excuse. Circle of Crafters.com has all the instructions and patterns you need, including the maple-leaf pattern I used last night to create this greeting card.

Iris patterns look complicated, but the folding and positioning of the paper strips is actually fast and simple. If you’re in a hurry, I’d suggest using a simpler shape than the maple leaf, because making intricate cuts in cardstock isn’t a speedy operation, as I discovered at 10:30 p.m. last night.

But let’s get back to the forum thread. There you’ll find a friendly discussion of papers to use, width of strips, how to get the same look without folding, and so on—everything except pictures of iris folding. Let’s change that. Why not try iris folding this weekend and post your work here. Looking forward to seeing it!

Holly