{Lovely Bookmarks}

A shout-out to all the papercrafters out there! Although I just love {creating}, paper crafting is by far my favorite crafty passion. Scrapbooking, cardmaking, and miscellaneous 3D type projects/gifts really make my heart flutter. :)

The last several days I've been in a papercrafting frenzy, making projects right and left. In the preschool where I teach, we do a cool birthday idea for the teachers and staff. Instead of buying a traditional gift for each member of the staff, each month there is a birthday bag for each person who has a birthday that month. Everyone is supposed to add to the bag with an item that is only a $1-$2. At the end of the month we have a birthday lunch, and the birthday girls get a bag full of little goodies.

I love the idea, because it doesn't break the bank and often I feel like the little things are the most meaningful.

Instead of flying by the seat of my pants so-to-speak and waiting until the last day to add to the birthday bags, I've been stockpiling gifts for the remainder of the school year. I'll try to do a post for each project, so keep checking back for simple, papercrafting goodness!

Today I wanted to share these sweet bookmarks.

These measure 2" x 7", and the base is made from good ol' cereal boxes out of our recycling bin. :)

I adhered quality cardstock over the cardboard, then sanded the edges. I die cut and embossed the butterflies with a Sizzix Die, added a brad in the center, and some lovely ribbon at the top. On a couple of them I also distressed the edges with chocolate ink.

I adhered the butterflies with sticky strip for extra security. I packaged each one in a cello bag, and tied it with raffia. I will add one more tip and say that for bookmarks, I think you definitely need quality cardstock/papers. I use Stampin' Up cardstock for mine because it really is the best in my opinion. It's very heavy, which you need for bookmarks. Lower quality cardstock is fine for other projects, but bookmarks look better and last longer with heavy cardstock. Just a tip! :) It's frustrating to make something lovely and then realize that your paper is just too thin to stand the test of time. (I've been there and done that!)

 Perfect to add to the birthday bags!

These are really simple to make, and the original I made myself a few years ago still looks beautiful in each book I devour. :)

Any homemade gift says "thinking of you", don't you agree? 

Look for more easy paper goodness to follow. I've been busy!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have questions.

I'm linking up over at:
Friday Flair @ Whipperberry

 

{Easy Spring 'Bouquet'}

For the last couple of years my daughter has started this idea of a 'Spring Party'. In past years, she has even made invitations for her stuffed animals. :) We always pick up spring paper plates and napkins at the $1 Store, make a centerpiece, and sometimes placemats, too. Then we serve her favorite dinner, play a quick game, that type of thing.

This year we simply added to a bucket of dried flowers that I already have in the center of our kitchen table. We always make the 'Spring Party' centerpiece together, so this worked out well. I didn't plan on keeping them there, but I actually think they're adorable, so they're staying! :)

Here's what you need:

skewers

scrapbook paper scraps

die-cuts or scissors

glue dots

buttons

adhesive

We used a Sizzix die to cut out a variety of flowers from heavier scrapbook paper scraps. You could also cut them out free hand, a great scissor activity for little fingers. Mine likes to die cut. :)

Then she layered them the way she wanted and we adhered 2 of them to one skewer, with the skewer sandwiched in-between. I used sticky strip for this, but an adhesive or glue would be fine.

Then she chose a button center and stuck it on with a glue dot.

So cute!

We stuck them in my little bucket of dried flowers and there you have it. I think it turned out nicely, for her 'Spring Party' AND for every day actually. We can take them out if we decide to, and save them for next year, too. Zero cost, craft time together, and a springy bouquet as a result.

It may be in the upper 20's here, but it feels like Spring in the kitchen. :)

Thanks for visiting!

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