TwoFriendsTwoCitiesOneVision

I’m so lazy when it comes to sending Christmas cards.  Something about running to the store , buying a box of cards and frantically trying to sign and mail them at the last minute just doesn’t seem appealing or meaningful to me.

Wait a minute. Meaningful?

Maybe that’s why I never looked forward to sending Christmas cards!

There were some pictures I wanted to send family and friends for the holidays and that’s when it dawned on me – sending generic mass produced commercial cards doesn’t have much meaning.

So this year I created my own holiday cards – with photos and images I loved and wanted to share.

This was one of the easiest projects I have done in a long time!

I already had a package of 4 x 6 photo paper stock but it’s possible to buy a box at Target for $6.

Then I printed away!

My printer is an HP C4795 that we received FREE when we bought an Apple computer this year. It is an amazing printer and the color pictures print like professional developing.  It prints, scans and copies.  If you are looking for a printer, you can also buy this one on Amazon for $63, just click HERE

Now my family and friends have photos they can cherish forever.

It is possible to mail photo cards like a postcard but it will probably get damaged in the mail.  To protect it, it’s best to put it in an envelope.

I journeyed to the store… and couldn’t find any envelopes to fit my 4×6 photo cards!

So guess what?!

I created my own.   Again…easy!!!

There are lots of ways to create envelopes.  Most involve cutting and making a V shaped flap.

My way is the simplest.  No cutting.

I didn’t have any nice paper so I bought some at Target for $4.14 (Astrobrights).  100 pieces so there will be plenty left over for future crafty projects.

Umm…can you tell I live near a Target?  :)

Fold a piece of letter sized paper (8 1/2 x 11 inches) 1 1/4 inch from the top (on the long side).  Use a hard surface to create a crisp fold. I used a bamboo board but a counter or table top would work well.

Then fold the bottom portion in half so that it reaches the first fold mark.

Now glue both sides 1/4 inch from the border and close together. Any craft or paper glue will work.

Let dry.

Then insert photo card.  The flap can be glue shut to completely close the envelope but instead I sealed mine with a sticker.

Ready to mail!

Happy Holidays!

Etching produces a frosty design and is permanent. It can be a fun way to add a dramatic flair to glass!!

AND…you can do it yourself with cream.   A special cream that can be bought at any craft store.

It’s easy and quick and can be completed in less than 10 minutes.

Here’s how to etch glass Christmas ornaments!

I bought this pack of 9 glass ball ornaments for $6 at Tar-zhay (Target!).

Some sort of template is needed to etch your pattern.  A Cricut or Silhouette that cuts vinyl stickers would be ideal but since I didn’t have one, I used plain ol’ stickers!

Something that adheres well to the glass well is required.  Otherwise, the etching cream will penetrate under the stencil. I tried painter’s tape and it did not work well.  Since painter’s tape has a light hold, the etching cream seeped under it and the design was ruined.

You can create whatever patterns you like.  I am using snowflakes, Christmas trees and stockings for these ornaments.  I am also going to do a few without stencils and frost them completely all over.

Adhere the stencil.

Now time for the etching cream!!!!

I bought my etching cream at Michael’s (Armour Etch).  There’s not a Hobby Lobby in the state I live which is unfortunate…because I’d die to have one of those 50% off coupons!  Etching cream is not cheap.  This bottle was $29.99.  But it was large and will last a long time.  They sell much smaller bottles but the Michael’s I went to was out of stock.

This cream has to be toxic if it changes the composition of the glass surface!  It would be smart to wear gloves.  However I wasn’t smart and passed on the gloves. I actually got a small bit on my hands but it didn’t irritate or burn them.  I was expecting some pungent acid like stench but the cream didn’t really smell much either.

Now, paint it on!  You need to paint it on pretty thick. It is okay if you get it on top of the stencil.

Next let the cream set on the ornament for 5 minutes.  I hung mine on a clothes hanger outside.

While I was waiting on that, I made another ornament using the outline of the sticker.  This will create a different effect on how the ornament design will look.  The first ornament will be completely frosted and the area where the stencil was will be clear.

On second one, the entire ornament will be clear and the stencil area will be frosted.

This is a good way to use a the part of the sticker packaging that typically would have been discarded. And this method uses a lot less etching cream!

Here is how to use the stencil (sticker) outline.

Cut the area around the sticker outline out.

Then stick on ornament.

Now paint on the inside of the outline.  Leave the rest of the ornament naked.

After the ornament has sat with the cream for 5 minutes, rinse in water.

Once the ornament is washed and the sticker removed, the stencil design will not be visible and the glass won’t look frosted.

Don’t be discouraged, once the ornament dries for at least an hour…

the frosting and stencil design will become DRAMATIC!

Ta-da!!

For my friends…here is the easiest, fastest, you-can-do-this-with-your-eyes-closed wreath tutorial.  Start to finish:  less than 10 minutes.  I made this fluffy wreath on a Friday after school with kids running all round and still managed to make something absolutely fabulous and blog-worthy.

So here she is…{Fluffy Wreath}…enjoy!

The Goods:

recycled grapevine wreath:  FREE

1 yard red fleece:  $6.99 less 40% at Hobby Lobby – $4.19 (you can use any type of material but be sure it can hold its shape well)

Hot glue and lots of glue sticks

Start with this:

Cut 2-3 inch strips from your material, the length of the fabric:

I used about 3/4 of yard of the fleece…enough to make a scarf later!

Start with 1 strip and wrap around…and around…and around.  No need to hot glue this step but you can…I didn’t because I had kids running all over my house.

Then you end up with this:

Now the fun part.  Start with one strip of fabric at a time…and start bunching and curling and hot glueing and you will end up with this:

You want to make little loops all the way around:

Next you will need a small strip of fabric to make a ‘hanger’.  I totally eyeballed this:

And another loop on the back and hot glue to make a hanger:

And here she is…bright, pretty, and Christmas-y!

These would make great teacher gifts…you could hang a gift card from the center of the wreath or you use a funky fabric for your children’s bedroom doors.  We decorate little Christmas trees for our children’s rooms and Sweet P is in {love} with this wreath.  So…another fluffy wreath is in our future.

At less than $5 and 10 minutes, I hope you make a {Fluffy Wreath} too!  Please share pictures with us in the comments!

Happy Monday!