Llama Rama: Trend Spotting on Studio 5

Growing up, my pop always said he was going to buy us a llama and put it in the backyard. He never fulfilled his dream, but our family has always had a soft spot for llamas nonetheless.

This hottie is one of three alpacas currently at The Farm at Gardner Village, a lovely local animal rescue and petting zoo.

So when the trendy Steph Bryson, Studio 5 producer, asked me to report on this adorable trend on today’s show, you bet I replied with “alpaca my bags and see you soon!” ;)

The Llama Rama trend is definitely hitting its stride in the mainstream, with stores like Target and Layers and Old Navy carrying super cute llama delights.

Let’s take a look at how to add a little llama drama to your life!

1. Home Decor

1. Llama Planter: I picked up this handsome fella at Down to Earth at Gardner Village. He can be used for plants (go figure). Or, if you’re like me and have a black thumb, he also makes a great pen holder.

2. Llama Lamp: A gift from my sis-in-law (Thanks, G!). This llama light is part of Target’s Pillow Fort collection.

3. Llama Plush: Another cutie from Target. And he was only $14! Nice! He’d look great in a baby’s room, a kid’s room, or even your room. :)

4. Llama Wall Art: This paper-plate-turned-llama was a quick after school craft Maggie and I did together. If you follow me on Instagram, you know my child is a picky crafter. She simply doesn’t care much for papercrafting. However, she really enjoyed herself with this one.

I hope this seal of approval means the project will pass your kid craft test, too.

A special thanks to Handmade Charlotte for inspiring our art with this darling idea!

image credit: Handmade Charlotte

2. Get Your Llama Craft On!

There are many ways to work this friendly fella into your crafting. Alpaca the puffy stickers, the felt, the poms, and the yarn. You paca the imagination! We have a date to make. :)

1. Llama Banner

This one combines all the awesome fa la la la llama texture—yarn, poms, and felt. I hand cut the critters, looking at my stickers as a guide. I then used hot glue to attach the decorative extras. Oh, and I embroidered the faces.

2. Llama Layout

The new Hooray line from Crate Paper is a llama lovers treasure trove. It has many party animals, including that lovable llama in a party hate. Use the pre-made cards for a quick project or start from scratching using their chipboard, die cut shapes, 3D stickers, patterned paper, and more!

I used the same line to make an accordion-folded birthday photo card. Pop may not have ever had his pet alpaca, but he can have pics of them in this greeting.

This was so easy to make. I simply cut a strip of 3x4 journaling cards from the Hooray patterned paper, not separating the cards. Instead, I scored along the lines between each design and then folded to make the accordion. I then adhered photos to two of the four cards. Using chipboard and die cut shapes, I dressed it up a bit more.

I added pom strips for added llama flair.

The back of the card is simply the back of the double-sided paper, but I did add another journaling card and a tag. The card now has lots of room for writing notes of love to our birthday guy.

If you’re sending a card across the miles, it will neatly fold down and fit inside an envelope.

3. Wear Your Llama Threads

Llama fashion is easy to come by. Just this week, I spotted this gray T at Old Navy, and the pink and orange llama top I’m wearing is at Target in the juniors section.

If only I were bitty. Kids llama gear is THE CUTEST! This shirt and the shoes are both from Old Navy. Technically, I think the sneaks are bunnies, but they can certainly pass for ‘pacas.

4. Llama Party Planning

If you’re ready to get your llama drama underway, a party is the way to go. I saw a lucious llama party set at Target (I swear I don’t work for them!). And, of course, the original piñata is… yup! A llama! Plus, check out this DARLING balloon idea by Babble.com!

That’s it for this llama love. But, before I go, I must give Brooke Walker some love. Today’s show was her last before she goes on maternity leave. Studio 5 is never the same without her. Congrats on the wonderful little babe headed your way, Brooke. She’s a lucky girl! We’ll miss you on set!

Llamaste, friends!

Hoppin' Around the Christmas Tree with Hero Arts

Hello, hoppers! I just love hopping around the Christmas tree... Wait! Christmas!? In August!? You betcha! If you’re a card maker, you know it’s never too early to be thinking about your next handmade design. 

When it comes to holiday cards, I ask the following questions:

1. Is the card bulk-friendly? Will the supplies stretch and are the techniques simple enough to be done in multiples? I typically make between 75-100 cards each Christmas, so my design must pass this test.

2. Does the card support an inclusion? It needs to have space for a family photos and a message of some sort.

Thanks to the awesome new dies, stamps, and ink from Hero Arts, the cards I’ve created for today’s hop pass my test. Let’s take a look!

CARD 1: WHITE CHRISTMAS (or, as I like to call it, ‘Hood ’n’ Wood)

White on white on white—it’s elegant and, despite its lack of color, can be quite interesting. The trick is texture. Where color lacks, various textures will add interest.

To create my textures, I used two new Hero Arts dies—the Woodgrain Texture Fancy Die and the Paper Layering Neighborhood Die. I die cut both from white cardstock and then stitched the ‘hood to the wood.

TIP: USE THOSE LEFTOVERS!
When it comes to die cutting, there is nearly always an extra piece (negative image) that can be put to work somewhere. For example, my sentiment actually comes from the Very Merry Tree Fancy Die. (More on that with my second card.)

The bitty snowflakes come from my third card. This gorgeous neighborhood scene made me think of a snow globe, so the flakes were a must.

HERO ARTS SUPPLIES USED
Woodgrain Texture Fancy Die
Paper Layering Neighborhood Die
Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die
Very Merry Tree Fancy Die

CARD 2: TREE IN THE WINDOW

I love placing our tree in the center of our front window. It stands out as a holiday focal point. Perhaps that’s why I had my eye on the Very Merry Tree Fancy Die--it creates a window card!

The window offers much creative potential. Have fun exploring options. Design backgrounds to place behind the tree. See what speaks to you.

Here it is with a Glimmer Metallic Ink background. Shiny!

Here's a softer, watercolor background. Soothing!

Or, one of my fav window card pairings, a photo!

Also, cut the tree from various paper types (patterned and solid) and see what stands out.

Ultimately, I decided to double up on the die, removing the sentiment from the white version and layering it over the sentiment-ed patterned version. (This is where I got my sentiment for card one.) 

TIP: MIX TO MAKE A MATCH
I decided to watercolor the front lightly. I wanted a color that matched my patterned cardstock, so I combined 3 squirts of the blue to 1 squirt of the green, making sure to also add plenty of water.

I then used the pretty Frost Shimmer Mist to add a little splatter texture.

TIP: TEST DRIVE FIRST!
Uh oh! I painted this animal using the Glimmer Metallic Inks and hated it. When working with a new project, it’s always wise to take a test drive before committing. Oh, how I wish I had done so here so I didn’t end up wasting a die cut piece and the paper to make it. D’oh!

TIP: FOLD A FLAP
I cut the back of the card base longer than the front and folded it up to create a pocket for a photo. The stitching along the sides ensures it stays in place, but you could also use staples or strong adhesive here.

AS SEEN ON TV
This window die offers SO MUCH potential. It’s why I included it on my latest Studio 5 TV segment—Five NEW Must Have Items.

HERO ARTS SUPPLIES USED
Very Merry Tree Fancy Die
Gold & Pewter Glimmer Metallic Inks
Green & Red Glimmer Metallic Inks
Frost Shimmer Mist

CARD 3: A SNOW SHOW

I wanted to create motion with this one, so I created a pull-out element.

First, I used the yummy Pewter Glimmer Metallic Ink to paint the insert. This ink can be used in its full capacity or watered down to a lighter shade by mixing water. I did a little of both to create the dip-dyed look.

Once dry (which happens in a jiff!), I cut the piece to a tag shape. You know I love me some tags!

I just adore the sparkle the Glimmer Metallic Ink adds. Plus, you can even stamp on top of the ink for added detail. I used the Color Layering Christmas Tree stamp set to add some detail.

I also stamped on the outside of the card for a little something extra.

To create the pocket, I used the Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die, stitching the flakes to a gray cardstock piece. I now have a place to put my jumbo tag. As the tag slides out, the snowflake action takes place!

Remember! Save those flakes. They can always work as confetti within the envelope, or, as we've seen, they make cute embellishments.

Now, as you pull the Glimmer tag out, you can see the shimmer in the flakes. I wish you could see it IRL. The glimmer is SO pretty!

On this card, a photo can be attached to the back of the tag. An easy way to do this that will make the photo detachable is to use photo corner stickers. With them, recipients can simply remove the photo from the card and keep it out long after the holidays are over.

HERO ARTS SUPPLIES USED
Snowflake Confetti Fancy Die
Pewter Glimmer Metallic Ink
Color Layering Christmas Tree stamp set
Intense Black Ink

JOIN ME IN A HOLIDAY CARD CLASS

If you want oodles of tips for creating holiday cards in bulk, my Annie's Online Class, 10 Festive Christmas Cards for the Busy Crafter, is just the ticket. Right now, it's only $7.99 to sign up, and you can watch from your computer or smart device as your schedule allows. It's never too early to start thinking holiday card making. I hope to see you there. <3

Sign up today for just $7.99.

BE A WINTER WINNER!

Hero Arts will be giving away two $50 shopping sprees, drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. Please comment by 11:59 PST on Sunday, August 26 and Hero Arts will announce the winner the following week.

**Hop On!**

Hey, kid. Rock and roll. Hop on!

* The Hero Arts Blog

* Yana Smakula

* Wanda Guess

* Nichol Spohr

* Michelle Short

* Megan Hoeppner That's me! :)

* May Sukyong Park

* Lydia Fiedler

* Libby Hickson

* Laurie Willison

* Kelly Latevola

* Jessica Frost-Ballas

* Jennifer McGuire

* Jenn Shurkus

* Janette Kausen

* Ilina Crouse

* Emily Midgett

* Clare Prezzia

* Amy Tsuruta

* Amy Kolling

10 Fab Finds: New Crafting Goodies

List my fav new releases coming to the paper crafting world? This was my latest Studio 5 assignment. Twist my arm, why don’t ya? ;) As a kid, I always loved Show & Tell. Clearly, some things never change. From too-cool tools to brilliant color mediums to pristine paper and accents, there are definitely fun things happening in the world of paper! 

The segment airs today on channel 5 at 11AM, or you can watch it streaming online. 

Top 10 New Crafting Goodies To Catch My Eye

Company: Altenew

Product: Watercolor Paint and Washi Tape

Cool Factor: The paint colors! Soooo pretty! And washi tape that’s large enough to cover an entire card front!? Talk about a time-saver! 

Company: Hero Arts

Product: Glimmer Metallic Ink and Christmas tree Fancy Die

Cool Factor: Hero knows ink, and Glimmer is no exception. It’s rich and shimmery! And a Christmas card made from this die is sure to be a favorite with its script font and window design.

Company: Cutter Pillar

Product: Glow LED Light Board and Crop Trimmer

Cool Factor: The blade on the trimmer self sharpens as it’s used, and it cuts with such precision.  It even has a light to mark where the cut will be, which is SO nice! The LED Light Board has a glass top option for cutting, it’s super thin, and it can even run on batter power for up to four hours at a time. Great for tracing, cutting, and even quilting. 

Company: We R Memory Keepers

Product: Emoji and Word Punch Boards

Cool Factor: Planner fans will love that you can use these to embellish planners using nothing more than cardstock. But they’re also great for card making, scrapbooking and other paper crafts. Plus, the font looks like a label maker, which is extra nifty! 

Company: Freckled Fawn

Product: Scrapbook Inserts

Cool Factor: It’s just a piece of plastic… or is it? Nope! This is 20-page protectors that fit perfectly in traveler’s notebooks. Now, you can keep the TN pages you create protected under high quality plastic sleeves. Awesome!

Company: Simple Stories

Product: Dream Big collection

Cool Factor: Talk about a cute collection! As a mom of two girls, I'm head-over-heels for the mermaids, unicorns, rainbows, and other whimsical motifs. 

Upcoming Planner Class: Try the Tools! 

Want to test drive these tools? That's what my planner classes are for. Even if you don't currently own a planner, you're more than welcome to attend. It's $50 without a planner or $70 and you'll get a new Heidi Swapp planner with your class kit. You're more than welcome to bring your own planner as well. We'll use many of these new supplies this month. Hope to see you there. 

DATE: Friday, August 24

TIME: 6:30-9:30 PM

WHERE: Lehi, UT

REGISTER: Email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com to sign up. I'll send an invoice via PayPal or Venmo. Please let me know what works best for you. I also take Apple Pay. 

Cheers!

Paper Crafting with Patches

"Sew it, stick it, do somethin' with it." That's the tagline on the packaging of one of the patches. Isn't it perfect?! There is so much you can do with these little textured treats. Whether you sew it on or use it as a sticker, you're sure enjoy working with this up and coming crafting trend. Think beyond clothing and backpacks to paper crafting. Patches are a quick and easy way to add texture without adding bulk. Use them on albums, scrapbook pages, cards, gift wrap, and home decor. 

About the Patch

Many are sticky-backed, some are iron-ons, and others are meant to be stitched on. 

Like the enamel pins, patches seem to be a throwback to the '80s. They're back in a big way! Of course, you can use them on your clothing. In fact, many clothes are currently designed with patch designs already in place, like this cute Cat & Jack pack that I picked up at Target (which Maggie promptly claimed as her own).

Where Are They?

Patches are available locally at stores such as Target, Michaels, and Hot Topic. You can also find them online. There are so many to choose from. You'll find something for everybody. Try searching "iron-on patches" or "embroidered patches." I have a Pinterest board with a few fun possibilities. Prepare to be '80s inspired! ;)

Paper Craft Using Patches

Pair patches with fabric bags to create fun gift wrap or even add them directly to the fabric liner of your planner. Both are fun iron-on options. The peel-and-stick variety stick very well, so proceed with caution but also know they'll stay put, even on textured surfaces like this awesome Jillibean Soup frame.

Of course, patches are a natural partner to pair with paper projects. They're flat, so they work well on scrapbook pages.

Maggie loved making a quick card and gift bag. You might say these are stickers with pizazz, making they quite kid friendly.

Some are small enough to make awesome planner extras. Taco Tuesday anyone?

As Seen On TV

I'll share even more ideas today at 11:00 AM on Studio 5 (Utah channel 5 if you're in the 'hood, otherwise, you can watch live streaming here).

Thanks to My Production Assistant

I have to give a special shoutout to my help. She made going to the show more fun (which I didn't know could be possible). Thanks, Mags!

Upcoming Classes

I'm so excited to have four local classes coming up. I'd love to see you at any or all of them. Space is extremely limited, but I'd be happy to give you dibs. To receive an e-mail when class sign-ups are posted, please email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com and I'll add you to my mailing list. I hope to see you there! :) The classes are:

1. Wreath Making

2. Creative Planning (November and December classes)

3. Creative Journaling Using a Bullet Journal

Cheers!

Fun news! I'm on my first design team!

I've worked in the paper crafting industry for 11 years, but I've never been on a design team... until now! I'm delighted to be on the Queen & Co. team as a card maker and scrapbooker! Queen & Co. has such fun goodies. It's a treat to be a part of their group. Since I'm the new kid on the block, I decided to start with a house warming card.

I saw the Pretty Presents Kit and immediately thought 'windows,' and this card began to take shape.

A little framing...

Some roofing...

And, of course, some landscaping and decorative finishing touches...

And the card's complete!

Welcome to the 'hood! ;)

Card 2: I Got You Something

For my second card, I went with a vibrant birthday greeting. My sweet girl turns five this week, so I knew it was the perfect time to celebrate in color with a cute card for her!

For more detail on how these cards came together, include step-out photography, check out the Queen & Co. Instagram feed. I am in very good company over there, with many talented designers. You'll definitely want to see what they're up to.

Cheers!

Paper Collaging (as seen on TV)

I had lots of fun sharing paper collaged ideas today on Studio 5. Take a look! 

PROJECT 1: Paper Punching & Tearing

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Put those paper scraps to fun use on some wall art! By layering shapes, it creates interesting texture.

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The project comes together in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Come up with an idea and sketch it. 

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TIP: For a fun change of place, try digitally drawing your project first. I used my new birthday present--the Apple Pencil. L-O-V-E!--and the iPad Pro to doodle my design. A great activity while sick in bed. ;) 

Step 2: Outline your lettering using a fine point pen (mine was a .01 Micron), and punch and tear paper so you can begin filling in your blocks of color.

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TIP: Use a good quality eraser to remove the pencil lines. I use a white eraser from Faber Castell, which I picked up at Michaels. NOTE: It may remove some of your ink. If so, just go back over it with your pen when your project is complete.

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TIP: Use a decopauge glue, such as Mod Podge. It is easy to work with and holds well. 

TIP: After creating a few spaces, I realized it's easier to first fill each section of space with a solid piece of the paper you're going to use and then layer the punches. That way, if you have gaps in space, it's no biggie.

TIP: Watch out with the ink. If the Mod Podge touches it before it has had time to set, it will smear. :(  

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Uh oh! Watch out for Mod Podge smearing. You may want to fill in all of your paper spaces and then trace in ink to avoid this mistake. 

That's it! A three-step project you can do for or with your children. Or make more sophisticated looks for your living room, office, bedroom... the sky is the limit!

Because my daughter LOVES Trolls, I went with this line from her favorite song. That's the fun thing about creating your own art--you can customize to load it with meaningful touches! 

PROJECT 2: Paper Cutting

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You can also cut basic shapes and piece them together to create art. Nothing but a few triangles, and I have a sweet little mountain scene shadow box for my baby's nursery. 

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For added touches, I did add a touch of glitter glue in spaces for sparkle.

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The Wish Upon a Star is a chipboard sticker from Crate Paper. 

PROJECT 3: Mixed Media Piecing

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Now that we've mastered paper, try mixing in other finishes. For this card, I created the shamrock in the following steps:

1. I placed a shamrock-shaped cardstock piece on the plaid paper and sprayed the sheet with green spray ink.

2. I removed the shamrock mask and painted the outer dot layer by dipping a pencil eraser in acrylic paint. 

3. Next, I added a ring of watercolor paint.

4. A small row of clear glitter glue (Stickles by Ranger) came next. 

5. Time for alcohol ink. I used a Chameleon Pen in a grass green color to add the center color.

6. Finally, it was rhinestones in the center. I used small gems from Close To My Heart.  

Just like the paper collage, this mixed media collage creates cool texture and was a fun exercise in blending mediums and techniques to try something new. :)

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I stamped the sentiment using an alpha set and ink, also from Close To My Heart. Bringing in another medium, I then colored the sentiment using a green colored pencil. 

TEACHING A PLANNER CLASS ON MARCH 24

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I would love to have you join me at Paper Crush in Lehi, Utah, on March 24. I'm teaching another planner class. It was actually my students' idea. They had such fun at our Feb. class that they asked if I'd turn it into a monthly affair. Don't have to twist my arm. LOL 

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We'll learn new planner tricks with each class, and each class will come with a new and awesome class kit. If you've never attended, you can easily jump in at any time. That's the beauty of planners any more--there is no definite start and stop period. Just join when it's convenient for you!

SIGN UP FOR CLASS HERE

Thanks for stopping in. Enjoy your creative journey!

Cheers!

Setting a St. Patrick's Day Scene

Since having Maggie, I've looked for fun rainbow spots to snap quick St. Patrick's Day pics. The first year, I happened upon a little pot o' gold. A wall painted with a rainbow on it.

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We returned the next year.

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Poor Mags was sick on this visit, so we only snapped a couple of pics and then headed home.

This brings us to 2015. It dealt our rainbow work a double blow. 1. The wall had been painted a pathetic shade of everyday gray. Bummer! 2. I was pregnant and home with an IV much of the time. The combination of these two things put this year on hold.

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Last year, I had two kiddos in tow, which meant less energy and less desire to seek out the magic rainbow, so I decided to create my own with our sweet friends using balloons.

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This year, it was paper to the rescue. I had just received a box of goodies from Close To My Heart, including a gorgeous assortment of paper offering a full spectrum of color, so I set to making paper chains.

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Once complete, I threaded them on a yardstick, which I hung above my table. My paper rainbow makes a nice St. Patrick's Day decor element and also a fun photo backdrop for this year's pics.

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Since I was feeling lucky and had some pretty new Close To My Heart products on hand to play with, I continued to set the stage with some table fun.

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First, I covered my kitchen table in kraft packing paper. Then I set to decorating. I framed each spot at the table using the CTMH gold glitter tape and stamped our names using CTMH stamps.

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Wanting our decorated table to serve two purposes--fun and memory keeper--I drew rainbows across each taped "place mat" so we could write what we feel lucky to have. I loved helping Maggie make her list. What a doll she is!

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Time for the fun! I gave Mags some colored pencils and let her color her rainbow in.

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I used CTMH cardstock in three shades of green to create a little pop on my table. Fist, I cut cardstock hearts in small, medium, and large sizes, and folded the smaller two sizes in half to create a center crease.

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I then stitched along the crease to create the pieces of my clover. I pieced three heart stacks together to create a shamrock. A little stamping along the hand-drawn stem, and I was ready to welcome the luck o' the Irish.

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I used the Some Kinda Wonderful stamp set from Close To My Heart to create the #lucky tag.

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I love the end result. I will definitely snap pics to save it in my scrapbook.

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Since our sweet Lulu is too young to create a rainbow, she stamped a clover with her bitty thumb.

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Time to add our St. Patrick's Day treats to make the table time complete.

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Oh, and I've found another way to use the 3D clovers when our table is cleared. I'll send a little luck on to others. I used the same CTMH #lucky stamp, masking the outer frame around it.

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I stitched a vellum bag on the inside, creating a pocket for some chocolate coin.

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Speaking of gold coins, I created a few four leaf clover bowls from cardstock to hold my coins and other sweet treats.

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To create these, I first cut larger paper hearts, cut a slit, pulled the heart onto itself, and stapled it in place to create each clover petal.

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I then used a scrap of cardstock as a base and glued the petals in place.

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Once all four petals were in place, my clover dish was ready for it's pot o' gold!

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Maybe I should move this to the living room, where I made a rainbow garland, with gold on one end and happy cloud on the other. The rainbow is made from one of my favorite crafting supplies--felt beads!

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The "gold" was punched from Close To My Heart glitter cardstock. I then stitched the pieces together using my sewing machine.

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All in all, it was fun crafternoon, making rainbows in our home. I look forward to pulling these pieces out year after year to make March a little more fun for my girls.

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May the luck of the Irish be with YOU this spring.

Cheers!

Create & Celebrate! It's World Card Making Day 2016! (giveaway)

Hello and happy World Card Making Day! A creative holiday near and dear to my heart. Did you know I was part of the team who actually MADE this day? Yup! You can make nationally recognized - or internationally, in this case - holidays! When I first started working for Paper Crafts magazine in 2006, we put this holiday in motion. It's SO AWESOME to see how much it's grown over the years!

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The original purpose behind WCMD was to kick off the holiday card-making season. Those who make their holiday cards know this is a giant task. As fun as it is, it's one you want to start on early. The first Saturday in October, to be exact. ;)

And the first Saturday in October, it is! So I'm here with a holiday gift card-holding card idea. It's a companion card to the one I created for Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine, where I now work as the editor-in-chief. You can see all of the BRILLIANT business going on there with a little click here. BUT, before you go, I hope you'll take a moment to check out this little number.

Do It To It: how to make this card

To create this card, I started with a gorgeous piece of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye's new Sugar Plum collection. LOVE! Here's how to turn the sheet into two cards:

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1. Fold the pretty paper in half and remove an inch along the bottom using a trimmer.

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2. Slice the folded sheet at a place that feels like a good cut-off point for creating two cards. Machine stitch (or glue with strong adhesive along the bottom ONLY) the one-inch strip to the back of the card to create a matchbook effect (a placethe front of the card can tuck into).

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NOTE: For this card, I tucked a vellum treat bag between the card base and the strip before stitching to secure it in place.

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3. Add a mellow pattern to the back, inside panel of the card, offering a place to add a sentiment or handwritten note.

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4. Dress up a basic shipping tag with patterned paper and stitch a small strip of paper to the bottom to create a pocket that a gift card can be tucked behind.

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We'll pretend this is a gift card to your very favorite shop instead of a poorly written note on the back of a business card. ;)

5. Pretend this is a gift card. ;) Add the card to the pocket on your tag and tuck it in the bitty bag.

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6. Final step: Cut a small slit at the card's fold that you can then pull the twine of the tag through. This way, the card doubles as either a gift tag or a tree ornament. I just adore cards that can be used in various ways.

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IDEA: Create this card, add an itunes card, and wrap up a cool set of headphones (if they even call them that anymore). Add this card as the tag on the gift for a little extra jam.

Card #2

To see how I created the second card in only 20 minutes, check out my specific post on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog. There's a giveaway in it for ya. Woot!

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WCMD Giveaway

Since World Card Making Day was originally thought up as a way to kick off the holiday card making season, how about I throw a giveaway into the mix? You know, in the spirit of the season and all? I'll select a winner to receive my 10 Festive Christmas Cards for the Busy Crafter class from Annie's Online Classes.

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I'll also throw in a card stash goodie box, filled with fun things you can use to craft your own card cuties. I'm doing a major home purge at the moment, so the box promises to be full. I can't swear all items in it will be the latest releases or even holiday themed, but they'll be goodies. I can promise you that.

How to Enter

Simply leave a comment on this post or email me at meghoeppner @ gmail with WCMD16 in the subject line between now and next Saturday, Oct. 8. I'll randomly select a lucky lady or gent from the notes received.

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Thanks for being a part of my World Card Making Day today. I actually made this card TODAY so I could create a card ON the actual holiday. It was an awesome way to celebrate. I hope you're having a great time, too.

Cheers!

Wanna Play Cards?

I got on a card kick last night. Well, that's not exactly true. I had a need for cards. Sadly, a need for support/sympathy cards. Several I know have suffered loss lately. Yet another reminder to hold those we love close and truly live and value our time.

Shaker Cards

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supplies: PAPER: Echo Park Paper; VELLUM: Stampin' Up!; "Thinking of You" STRIP, VELLUM ACCENTS: Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper; WOOD HEARTS: ummmm... I think they're Freckled Fawn.

Throw kindness around like confetti.

This quote holds extra meaning for our family and reminds us of someone special we lost, so I put confetti pockets on several of my cards.

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supplies: Exact same as previous card :) Except the pre-made heart in the circle, which is part of the confetti mix. It's from Simple Stories.

The confetti is a mixture of crepe paper scraps, foil bits, wood veneer pieces, and pre-made paper bits. 

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supplies: Same as first card. Additions are: SEQUINS: Doodlebug; ROSE: Pink Paislee (I think); "I'll be there" STICKER: Simple Stories

I stitched vellum to my card fronts to hold the confetti bundles in place. This is a fairly quick way to create a card. And I love that stitching adds such reinforcement to my cards. I don't' feel like there's room for concern about the cards coming apart in the mail or anything. Phew!

Rub-Ons

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supplies: PAPER: My Mind's Eye; VELLUM: Stampin' Up!; RUB-ONS: BoBunny; CORK HEART: Pink Paislee; ENAMEL HEART: My Mind's Eye

For my second set of cards, I used the foil rub-ons from BoBunny. I adore these, because the finish is such that it looks like the cards have been heat embossed, even though they have not. Hooray for shortcuts.

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supplies: PAPER: Crate Paper; VELLUM: Stampin' Up!; RUB-ONS: BoBunny; HEART: Simple Stories

These particular rub-ons apply with little effort, too, which is so nice. You simply trim around the letter, peel away its backing, position it on the card, and rub. The letter then transfers to the paper. I wish rub-ons were more of a "thing" again. I always enjoy using them. Especially when they're as easy to use as these are.

A Few Extras

I need to mail nine cards today or tomorrow, so this isn't even all that I need, but sleep started to get the best of me around 3:00 AM, so I made a few more quickies and hit the hay.

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supplies: PAPER: Crate Paper (black/white), Fancy Pants Designs (gold stripe); BUTTERFLY AND ROSE: Simple Stories; VELLUM SHAPES: Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper

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supplies: PAPER: Fancy Pants Designs; ALPHA STICKERS: Elle's Studio (small gray), Fancy Pants Designs (floral); CORK HEART: Pink Paislee; VELLUM FLOWER: Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper; ENAMEL DOT: My Mind's Eye; ADHESIVE: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (red permanent runner)

A common theme throughout is that these designs are fairly simplistic. No fancy techniques or tools needed. They also require minimal products. A few sheets of paper and a few extra bits was all it took.

Life is short. Take time to hug those babies, hold someone special's hand, and eat that sweet treat you've had your eye on. (Orange rolls, here I come!) Call a friend. You know, actually dial a number and speak into a phone. (Say whaaaat!?) Tell your parents thank you. And, for pete's sake, exhale. I tell you this as a way of also reminding myself. It's too easy to get caught up in the crazy. Breathe. It will be okay. The crazy can wait. How about I leave you with a sweet pic of Lulu I just snapped? Because babies sure are a wonderful piece of it all, and I kind of adore this one. ;)

Thanks for your visit!

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"Uh uh uh ohhhh!" Even though her throwing everything out of her crib and onto the floor was in no way an accident. But I sure do love the way she almost grunts uh-oh at such times. And the more recent development of throwing her hands over her mouth as she says it only adds to the cute. ----> Lulu, 11 months

Breast Cancer Campaign (Blogs for Boobies Auction)

"Breast cancer"--Two words that hit far too close to home for far too many. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, and witnessing her go through more than a year of care and treatments was one of the most difficult things I've experienced. I feel very blessed to be able to say "survivor" when telling her story. What I'd give to be able to say the same for a friend of mine. She lost her life to breast cancer earlier this year.

...She was a special person and is missed by many!

So when I was asked to participate in the Blogs 4 Boobies event with Skipping Stone Design again this year, I was happy to join in. I decided to make a card set that includes two cards, two envelopes, and a gift bag and tag.

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I'm auctioning my cards off, which is kind of scary, but the goal is to bring in some money for the Susan G. Koman Foundation. 100% of the proceeds I raise will be donated! More on how to bid below.

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How My Cards Came Together

To create the cards, I first painted the background using watercolor paint. I then added foil using the DecoFoil pen by Therm O web, which allowed me to hand-write "love" and the butterfly trail. Photographing foil is the pits. This is a shiny, pretty silver in real life. Wish it showed better. Sorry!

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I used the Heartsong stamp set from Skipping Stones Design to stamp several butterflies.

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I then cut out the butterflies and painted them a bit to better match my painted background.

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I layered several butterflies together and sewed to create a popped up look. I purposefully left some of the thread to work as the antenna.

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With a little wing fluffing, my cards were complete.

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To top it all off, I made a little gift bag and thank-you tag to go with the set.

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Free Stamps Included!

Here's a fun bonus! I'm going to include my stamp set with my cards. Yes, it was gently used to create these cards, but that's it. Otherwise, it's brand new (and so cute!). I thought it would be fun to give it to the winning bid so you can make more of this card style (if that's your kind of thang). But whether you win or not, you're going to want to do some shopping at Skipping Stones Designs. For every stamp set purchased between now and June 14, they're donating $2 to the Koman Foundation! Isn't that wonderful? You'll definitely want to check out their newest stamps, released today in honor of the celebration. They're amazing!

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You'll definitely want to check out their newest stamps, released today in honor of the celebration. They're amazing! Here's a peek at one of the sets. So cute!

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How to Bid on My Card Set (and stamp set)

I'd LOVE to send this set your way. If you feel so inclined to bid, this is a card auction (more on that below). I'll collect bids here. Skipping Stones Design is donating all money raised to the Susan G. Koman Foundation.

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Hop On!

Here are the rest of the blogs participating in Part 1 of this fun hop today:

Connie Mercer

Ilina Crouse

Kelly Gettelfinger

Amy Sheffer

Deana Benson

Megan Hoeppner (so nice to have you here!)

Giovana Smith

Stephen Kropf

Jacquie Marie

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Thanks, from my heart, for your support. Breast cancer, be gone!

Warmly,
Megan