Round [Circle] Weaving

Today on Studio 5 at 11 a.m., I’m taking my straight line for a curve with some round/circle weaving. I’ve never done this craft before preparing for this TV segment, but it’s one I’ve admired from afar and knew I wanted to try.

Of course, this mean there were a few, ahem, learning curves along the way — things I’ll share so you can avoid. It also meant I searched tutorials for weeks to find you some of the best.

ROUND WEAVING SUPPLIES

You’ll need a loom of some sort — either an actual loom or a hoop. In my experience, embroidery hoops work best. You’ll also need cotton string, yarn and fibers in a variety of thicknesses, a large-eyed needle, and scissors. I found blanket yarn worked well. It’s thick and fluffy and adds personality. (Hey! It’s a bit like me! ;) )

ROUND WEAVING TUTORIALS

Sweet Georgia makes getting an embroidery hoop ready for weaving easy to follow and understand. Plus, her projects are just so pretty. I must have watched this flick at least four times.

The Unusual Pear takes round weaving and breaks it down into several very quick flicks, which I really appreciated. She shows you different weaving techniques and makes it easy to combine styles on a single loom.

To say I was inspired by We Are Scout in making my rainbow loom would be an understatement. They have an excellent tutorial to get this gorgeous look. This is my version. You’ll definitely want to check out theirs for pro tips and a prettier finished product.

LEARN FROM ME

Being my first time with circle weaving, you might say there was a, ahem, learning curve. Each project took me anywhere from 2-6 hours to create. Can you believe I actually had to scrap two of them when they were nearly completed?! TWO! Don’t do this. It’s frustrating and sad. Learn from my mistakes:

BIG MISTAKE #1: Weaving too close to the loom’s edge

I created a gorgeous (if I do say so myself) pink project using this handy loom. Unforunately, I didn’t leave enough space to then get it off the loom. You have to snip the threads and either weave them under or tie them to something else. Because I didn’t leave enough space (at least an inch), my threads were bitty and I couldn’t work with them. The weave unraveled before my eyes.

Leave at least an inch between where your weaving stops and the loom begins.

BIG MISTAKE #2: Not anchoring properly on a slippery hoop

I used two metal rings to create my rainbow weave. This meant slip. I didn’t properly prepare for this, so my rainbow, which should have take up half of the loom, ended up sliding around and only taking about 1/3 of the loom. Not good! To avoid this, weave the entire outer edge of your hoops first. I did red on the outer ring and purple on the inner (rainbow side) and white on both for the cloud side. I also wove my rainbow so it was slightly longer than half of the loom and simply covered up some of the bottom with white yarn to get my 50/50 ratio.

Secure the warp by wrapping the hoop’s edges AND weave slightly more than half with rainbow.

I hope these ideas and tips help you. This really is a fun craft to try. For more on the items I made, watch Studio 5 today at 11 a.m. MT. If you’re local, it’s on channel 5. Anyone can watch streaming from their website.

Cheers!

Today on Studio 5, I’m sharing easy ideas for making your own travelers notebook. I also share my favorite store-bought options (Hello, Freckled Fawn!) and insert choices in case you love the idea but don’t want to invest in the DIY aspect. Either way, I hope you’ll tune in at 11 a.m. (online and on TV [channel 5]) to learn more about these sweet creative journals/scrapbooks/sketchbooks/happiness!

Thanks for having me, Studio 5. Love you guys!

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING CLASSES (including my DIY TN classes!)

I love getting out in the SLC and sharing some creativity with friends. I have some great classes in the works that will be happening soon, including classes on DIY travelers notebooks (creative journals and faux leather journal covers).

Be the First to Know

Simply email me at meghoeppner@gmail.com. Nothing fancy required—you can just say add me to your class list in the subject line and I’ll do it to it.

I know you’re busy and the last thing you want is another bunch of spam filling your inbox.I assure you, that won’t be the case. In fact, I’ve been building a list for years and have yet to send a single email (#epicbusinessfail), but I intend to change that and be better about sharing my classes. I’m asked about them often and don’t do enough to get the word out. So this is my public statement to be held accountable and take the next step. :) Thanks so much for your support and interest in what I love and do!

See you at 11. Cheers!

DIY Traveler's Notebook and Inserts

Hello! Thanks for makng this a stop on your web travels today. (See what I did there? ;) ) Let’s take a look at my latest paper obsession: DIY travler’s notebook covers.

I created this project for Echo Park Paper Co., using the very delightful new Summer Adventure collection.

You can read more about my process and tips for this project on the Echo Park blog.

You can also see a video of the action right here OR on my YouTube channel.

I was inspired to create this project by this video on YouTube by LiveLoveScrap.

DIY NOTEBOOK COVER

Step 1: Cut a piece of patterned paper to 9”x8.5” and gently fold that sheet in half (no hard creasing) so it measures 4.5”x8.5”. Open the paper back up so it's flat but with the center lightly creased/identified by your fold.

Step 2 (optional): Die cut words from your cover. (I used the Explore Outdoors Die Set by Echo Park Paper Co. to cut my outdoor phrases.)

Step 3: Pierce holes along your center fold, approximately 1/4” down from the top of the page and 1/4” up from the bottom, followed by two holes on either side of each of these holes, 1/4” over. Finally, pierce one hole approximately in the middle of the center fold line. (This should leave you with seven pierced holes (three on the top, three on the bottom, and one in the middle..)

Step 4: Score lines running parallel to your center fold, connecting your pierced holes. Fold your paper along those lines to give you your notebook shape.

Step 5: Flatten the cover back out and place it in a laminating sheet; laminate. "
NOTE: If you do not have a laminater, you can use self-laminating pouches for this step.

Step 6: Trim away any excess laminating film, re-fold your book along the scored lines to give you your cover shape, and re-pierce your holes.

Step 7: Thread elastic cording following the steps below.
NOTE: It helps to have a needle with a large eye for this, as elastic cording can be tricky to thread.

A. Starting on the lower right hole, coming from the front of the cover inside, thread elastic cording, leaving approximately 6” of a tail.
NOTE: Pull your cording fairly tight, leaving only enough room to tuck a notebook insert between it and your notebook cover.

B. Thread your cording through the hole directly above the hole you just threaded. (This should have your needle now back on the outside of your cover.)

C. Thread your cording through the center hole, just to the left of the hole you came out of. Thread your needle through the center hole on the bottom of the cover. (Your needle should now, again, be on the outside of your book.)

D. Thread back in, this time using the far left hole on the bottom, followed by the far left on the top. (You should now have three bands of elastic cording running along the inside spine of your notebook cover.)

E. Your needle should now be on the outside of your notebook, at the top. Thread it back through the top, center hole. Leave approximately a 6” tail and trim the rest of your cording away from the packaging. Remove your needle.

F. Thread your first 6” tail through the needle and bring that piece of cording back through the bottom center hole. You should now have two 6” pieces of cording on the inside of your notebook cover. Meet them in the middle, tie them in a double knot, and trim away any excess. This will leave you with a total of four elastic bands running along the inside of your notebook spine.

G. Trim a new piece of elastic cording that is long enough to wrap around the center of your book one and a half times. Fold that piece in half, thread the folded side through your needle, and thread that needle through the center hole of your notebook, coming from the inside of the cover out.
NOTE: Be careful not to pull the cording all the way through the hole.

H. Leave just enough cording to wrap around your notebook as a closure, and tie a double knot to prevent the rest of the cording from pulling through the hole. Trim away any excess cording. This will leave you with a center elastic closure that will hold your notebook shut.

With your notebook cover made, you can now add DIY paper inserts.

DIY NOTEBOOK INSERTS

Creating DIY notebooks to go inside your traveler’s notebook cover is easy and fun. Simply follow these quick steps:

Step 1: Bundle several sheets of patterned paper and fold them in half, making sure they’re cut to measure smaller than your notebook cover when folded.

Step 2: Keep your folded sheets bundled together and pierce three holes along the center fold.

Step 3: Thread a needle with baker’s twine or embroidery floss (roughly 48” in length); thread your needle through the center hole, going from the inside of the paper bundle, out.
NOTE: Leave a tail (approximately 4”) here.

Step 4: Thread your needle through the bottom hole, coming from the outside of the bundle in. Thread back through the center hole again, going from the inside out. Thread through the top hole (outside, in). Your needle should now, again, be on the inside of your paper bundle.

Step 5: Thread your needle under the lower binding loop that’s in place and tie then tie what’s left of your thread to the original 4” tail you left in place. Tie using a double knot. Trim away any excess twin you have. Your book should now be completely bound.

AGAIN, YOU CAN WATCH A FULL VIDEO OF THIS PROCESS HERE.

Don’t let my lengthy list of steps fool you. These techniques really are easy to do. I just wanted to break it down to make it easier to follow for those of you reading the instructions to complete your project (vs. watching the videos). I hope I haven’t left you confused at any point in the process. If so, leave me a comment or send me an email, and I will happily answer any questions you have.

I can say from my own experience and that of students I’ve taught this to—once you create these, you won’t want to stop. You’ll find yourself making books for your family and friends, too. It’s such a happy process and end results. I hope you enjoy this technique and idea.

Happy travels!

Paper Pieced Layering, Studio 5, Free Printables, and NEW Classes

When you only blog about once a month, you tend to cram each post full of info. This one is no exception. But I’ll do my best to keep it to the highlights. ;)

HIGHLIGHT #1: Studio 5

You know I love visiting this show and yesterday was no exception. I even got a little emotional as I took a moment to sing the praises of the show’s audience. The viewers truly are the best. You can watch today at 11:00 AM on channel five if you’re a local yokel. Otherwise, you can stream from their website.

HIGHLIGHT #2: Paper Pieced Layering

The topic of today’s Studio 5 segment—layering to fill a shape. It’s like punching shapes meets paper piecing meets layering. And it’s SO fun! You simply punch pieces and layer them loosely so they have some fluff to them. Super simple. Super cute.

It was inspired by gorgeous RH Baby styling!

HIGHLIGHT #3: Free Printables

I used a couple of freebies to make my projects. Many thanks to the generous designers who so willingly share their work with no strings attached. You’ll find the downloads I used here:

Deer & Bunny Paintings by Burlap + Blue

Teepee Print by A Joyful Riot

HIGHLIGHT #4: New Classes

I have new classes on the horizon that will be launching on the Posh Paperie website soon. If you want first dibs, shoot me a quick email (meghoeppner@gmail.com) with the class you want, and i’ll put you on the list. For now, your choices can be found below:

Beyond the Pallet: Painting with Watercolor Markers, Crayons, Colored Pencils, & Liquid Watercolor Paint
Teacher: Megan Hoeppner
June 1, 2019
6:00-9:00 PM
$35

Take watercolor painting beyond a basic tray of paints and join Megan Hoeppner for this fun test drive of many watercolor mediums out there. From markers to crayons to colored pencils to liquid watercolor, you’ll learn techniques and see which products speak the most to you. Plus, you’ll leave with four unique and beautiful handmade greeting cards and a better understanding of the many watercolor options available to you. All skill levels welcome. Door prizes can be expected. :)

DIY Watercolor Notebook and Laminated Journal Cover
Teacher: Megan Hoeppner
June 21, 2019
6:00-8:30 PM
cost: $35

Why pay big bucks for a watercolor notebook when you can make your own that’s far cuter and reflects your unique style? In this class, Megan Hoeppner will show you how to bind loose watercolor sheets into a stitched notebook. Plus, you’ll create a sturdy laminated notebook cover that will hold up to four unique notebook inserts! And what’s a notebook cover without a stylish clip to hold your place? A bow clip will also be on our maker’s menu. With your completed journal cover and journal insert, you can easily take your painting/crafting/doodling/drawing on the go this summer or simply have a sweet space to capture your work as you practice. Megan will even show you an idea for turning your notebook into a scrapbook, using just a few basic supplies. Of course, laughter and door prizes are also a must. We can’t wait to see you there!

Pssstttt… This class opens up a world of possibility for gift giving, too. You’ll find yourself making journals and covers for all of your favorite people

Phew! That’s it for now. See you in roughly a month with more happenings. In the meantime, you can keep up with my day to day on my Instagram account and my newly formed business page on Facebook. That’s right, I decided to join the other grownups and make an actual page for my work. It’s about time, I suppose. Here’s hoping it goes well. :)

Cheers!

Megan

Sloth Talk, Studio 5, & Upcoming Local Engagements

Chatting trends on Studio 5 has been a favorite of mine for years. Last time we talked what’s hot, it was llamas. This time, a fellow critter has joined the ranks. Waaaaaiiiiitttttt fooooorrrrrr iiiittttt…

SLOTHS

It’s easy to see why fans are flocking to this friendly fellow. Just a few of their lovable traits include:

• That friendly smile.

• Their “Don’t hurry, be happy” attitude.

• Their lanky, drapey ways.

Simply put, sloths are cute critters!

On today’s show (channel 5 at 11AM), I shared some of my recent sloth shopping. Here’s a buying guide for you:

Sloth Clothing

I got the shirt my daughter is wearing from Old Navy this past fall, but you can find a forest of furry sloth friends at Carters right now.

Sloth Stuffed Animal & Mug

This pretty-in-pink pal is from Target. They had a purple version also. They were in the Valentine’s section, so I hope you can still find them. The cutie mug is also a Target find, and it’s only $4! Woot!

Sloth Planter

On the show, I boldly stated that this planter was my fav. I stand by that statement. It looks so cute hanging up and adding some greenery to the home. It’s from Urban Outfitters. And it’s only $18! Again, I say woot! ;)

Sloth Stamp, Spa Gift Set, and Gift Wrap

Paper Source is a regular sloth headquarters. You’ll find all of the aforementioned, as well as books, gifts, and even sloth candy bars.

Sloth Patterned Paper

The new Hello Baby Boy line from Echo Park Paper Co. is sooo sweet. The sloth makes a cameo in the collection, both in the stickers and on paper.

Sloth Talk

Here are a few of my fav. sloth-inspired sayings, puns, and sentiments:

Upcoming Local Engagements

I’m so excited to be involved with two upcoming events that are near and dear to my heart.

Life Documented Event

Connection is the key to this heartfelt engagement, hosted by hygge_an_event. I’m joining two other phenomenal speakers to discuss memory keeping and creative planning. There will be a crafting activity, meaningful messages, community, and so much fun. I hope you can make it.

Click here to register.

Crop Because You Care

I’ve participated in this worthwhile event for years now. It is a full day of crafting, classes, make-and-takes, giveaways, and more! And it’s all for an excellent cause. This year, it’s benefiting the Mascot Miracle Foundation. I hope to see you there! <3

Register for Crop Because You Care here.

That’s it for now. Thanks so much for stopping by and, remember, don’t hurry, be happy! ;)

Advent Books: A Holiday Family Tradition

This is the story of how I proudly became a bag lady. It starts off as kind of a downer. You know, losing my job and all, but it has a happy ending. Promise. And it’s an ending I hope you’ll love enough to work into your own holiday celebrating.

THE STORY OF OUR ADVENT BOOKS TRADITION

Once upon a time, there was a mama who lost her job of 8+ years. This came just before the holidays, adding to the stress and sadness of it all. At home, she had a new(ish) one-year-old baby girl, making the Christmas season more magical than ever. Unfortunately, it also happened to make the layoff that much more stressful. How was Mama Meg going to make Christmas happen when her funds were just cut in a major way?

Okay, we’ll pause the fairytale right here to say I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, Mama Meg, your tiny tot couldn’t care less about presents beneath the tree. Hell, Santa could deliver her an empty cereal box and she’d be overjoyed. Yes, I now know this to be true. But, as a relatively new mom, I wanted everything to be perfect and naively thought that meant pretty presents beneath the tree. Soooo… you’ll have to go with me on this one. ;)

Phew! Glad we got that cleared up. Let’s continue.

Suddenly, Mama Meg was without the money to enjoy extra holiday outings and gifts and all of the things. “Whatever will I do for my little princess,” Mama Meg sighed.

Luckily, MM’s current predicament wasn't the worst thing in the world. You see, MM enjoys a challenge and an opportunity to use her creativity to problem solve, and that’s just what she set to do. She would make the holiday season merry and bright one way or another.

One day, while in ye olde Target shop, MM happened upon Christmas books that only cost $1. This was back in the magical days of the DOLLAR Spot, when all items were $1 in this part of the store. No, it’s true. This isn’t lore. Aww… the good old days! ;) Seeing the affordable book, MM had an idea. “I’ll give my princess the gift of books!” One Christmas book each night in December, to be exact. Just like that, the Advent Books tradition was born!

You might be wondering, did MM and Princess M live happily ever after? You bet! They even had a jr. princess join the castle chaos, making the Advent Book tradition all the more magical. Here’s what it’s all about:

ADVENT BOOK BAGS

You can either create bags from cute Christmas fabric or purchase bags. And that’s if you want bags at all. For the first couple of years, I used old shirt boxes and wrapping paper. I introduced the bags when I had the funds to do so, and I’m so glad I did. They can be used year after year, which makes this project so easy to set up (with far less waste!)

I did a combo of handmade bags and amazon-bought canvas bags. The fun thing about the handmade is you can make them in any color scheme you want. I went with pastel Christmas to complement the trees in my girls’ rooms.

To my bags, I added die cut numbers (actually the same numbers I used when I made my monthly onesies). I simply ironed the numbers on by first treating the back of them with a fusible iron-on webbing.

FINDING AFFORDABLE BOOKS

Books can be expensive. I get it if that’s the first concern to jump to mind when reading this. You’re absolutely right! But there are resources for affordable options. Some of my favorites include:

• Target. While the “Dollar Spot” may be a thing of the past, they still have the “One Spot,” which often includes $1 board books. These are especially good for younger babes, but even school-aged kids can appreciate them.

• Dollar Tree (or your version of a dollar store). They have an entire book and coloring book section. Many of our books came from here.

• FB area yard sale pages. Warning: These can become highly addictive. It’s so much fun finding a person looking to offload their old books. I scored some AWESOME vintage Christmas books this way.

• Traditional yard sales. These are harder to come by this time of year, at least in these parts, but if you live in warmer waters (lucky!), this is another great place to score stories.

• Library sales. Once a year, our city library has a massive book sale. They practically give their books away at these, making it a gold mine for this project.

• Schoolastic book orders. If you have school-age children, the little pamphlets that come home with your kiddos are a honey hole of bargain books. I updated our collection quite a bit when Maggie started kindergarten (and kindermusik).

Of course, you don’t have to rummage and scrounge as I did to make this fairytale a reality. That’s just the boat I found myself in when I set this tradition up. Anymore, I LOVE to visit local book stores and add a new book or two each year. It helps keep them age appropriate for Maggie, too. One of my favorite spots here in Salt Lake is Storybook Nook at Gardner Village. If you’ve seen You’ve Got Mail, it’s kind of like that. The owner loves books and brings in the cutest stories. There’s always a special seasonal assortment on display just as you enter the store.

A PLAN IN THE BOOKS

Now that you have your books, it’s time for a plan. Ask yourself if there are any other holiday traditions that could impact your book opening order. For example, I always give my girls an ornament on Dec. 1, which just happens to be Book Bag #1, so I put the smaller ornament bags in Book Bag #1.

Book Bag #1 also contains our Elf on the Shelf book. It’s something we get going at the first of the month, so it makes sense to have it first.

On Christmas Eve, we read The Night Before Christmas and open new jammies, so that book and the jams can be found in Book Bag #24.

Occasionally, I work other surprises into the bag, such as little coloring books or a holiday movie. I try to do this rarely so I don’t have to replenish my stock from year to year, but it is a nice change of pace on weekend nights.

WHERE WE READ

Each of my girls have their own small Christmas trees in their rooms, so we put the books ‘neath their trees. It makes it super easy to open one at bedtime and snuggle in for story time.

Now that I have two kiddos, I split the books. Half are under one tree and the other half are under the other. We just move from room to room to read. Perhaps I’ll eventually have enough for each kiddo to open a book each night, but I don’t think that’s necessary. Opening and reading together is fun. As Santa would say, sharing is caring!

THE HEALTHY (AND CHEAP!) ADVENT APPROACH

No chocolate or expensive trinkets here. Just books that we can read year after year. Seems like a win to me. Okay, so maybe I also sneak treats in the bags from time to time, but that’s totally optional, you know, if you have self control and all. ;)

I’ve wanted to blog about this tradition for years but never seemed to find the time. Do I have time today? No, not really. But it’s high time I share. I already have my cute neighbor now doing this with her kiddos. Want to join us? We’d love to have you in our Advent Books club. :)

What are your holiday traditions? I’m a sucka for the tradition and love reading about what others do. Drop me a line here or on IG or FB if you have something fun to share. Not fun? I’ll pass. (I kid. I kid. I’d love to read anything you do that makes the holiday feel like “the holidays” to you.)

Thanks for seeing this story to its end. I hope it leaves you feeling inspired.

Cheers!
Megan

Make a Bitty Haunted House Decoration

Your full-size house isn’t the only one to decorate this season. Create a bitty shadowbox house to display your favorite Halloween photos. Heck! Why not make a house for every holiday? They’re fun and easy to do.

See how to make your own house shadowbox today at 11 AM on Studio 5. Watch live online.

Embrace the box’s depth by filling the little compartments with layers of detail. In this frame, I used Queen & Co’s Rectangle Shaker Kit to create an interactive shaking element.

This window pulls out to reveal an accordion-folded section, made with paper from Echo Park Paper Co. and embellishments from Simple Stories. So cute!

Surprise! Add journaling/written details behind a little flap. The paper clip helps indicate the lifting mechanism.

PRODUCT SWAP

If you’re here because you already watched the show and are interested in participating in my planner swap, check out this photo on my Instagram account to sign up. It’s a fun way to get new supplies and enjoy a little snail mail.

THEMED PHOTOS SHOOTS BY JENNIFER LYN LANCE

If you’re here because you want details on the AWESOME Freak Show/Circus photo shoot we participated in, you’ll want to check out Jennifer Lyn Lance on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Lyn Lance

She has new themed shoots all the time and also does gorgeous photos for your favorite occasions—newborn, cake smashing, holiday, and more!

Photo Credit: Jennifer Lyn Lance

No matter your reason for stopping by, I’m sure glad you did. Many thanks for giving me some of your e-time. XOXO

Cheers!

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!