I have made a lot of diamond paintings and have learned so many things along the way, and wanted to share the secrets that no one told me before I started this hobby.

Here’s a link to the diamond painting I show at the beginning of the video that I made for Finn. Astronaut diamond painting: https://tinyurl.com/mshw63db

1. You need to make sure you flatten your diamond paintings before starting. The best way to do this is to put the diamond painting face down on a towel, then put a damp (not wet) towel on top of it and iron it until the lines from folding it are gone. If you don’t do this, you might see the creases in the finished painting and you don’t want that.

2. Diamond paintings are not made to fit the frames that are made in the USA, so I recommend you find a frame that is big enough to hold the frame either top to bottom with a little extra room (2″ extra border is best) for a matt or from side to side…the frame won’t be big enough normally, on both top to bottom and side to side. In my case, the frame is longer top to bottom than the diamond painting (2″ longer) but too narrow side to side, so what I did, was measured the excess top to bottom which is about an inch from the top and an inch from the bottom. You need to measure from side to side, the diamond painting and figure out how wide the frame is side to side (in the opening of the frame) and then subtract 2″ for the border. Then using a ruler on your diamond painting, and the measurement you just came up with, figure out how much you need to eliminate from the painting so it will fit in the frame. If you have a centering ruler, it’s a lot easier to do this, but what I do, is start by laying a piece of washi tape on your plastic covering near the right side of your focal image and then using your ruler, put another piece of washi tape on the left side and if you don’t like what you’ve eliminated, move the washi tape pieces using the same measurement until you do like where it lands. Then I would put washi tape over the plastic covering from top to bottom so you know where to stop laying diamonds..Don’t cut off the excess diamond painting until you are finished, and then you’ll want to leave about a 1 1/2″ border to wrap under the painting. Here’s a video I made showing you how to frame them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZYDnykxUZA

3. The bigger the diamond painting, the better the image. If you get a smaller diamond painting it will be more distorted and you have to stand back to get it in focus. I was sent a 50 x 50 cm diamond painting from a photo of Finn from Coodeals.com and it’s a great size for only his face. If I had gotten a smaller painting, his face would be a little distorted and you’d lose a lot of the colors.

4. I only use round diamonds as I have found square diamonds can sometimes be smaller or bigger and they will make your project wonky since you’re making straight rows and the diamonds butt up against each other. I haven’t had that problem with round diamonds.

5. People all have their way of doing diamond paintings….I always start in a corner and work my way in as if you start in the center and work your way out, you have a better chance of getting your arm or sweater/shirt stuck to the unfinished areas of the diamond painting. With my system, you only take the plastic covering off the corner area where you are working so you are always protecting the unfinished portion of the painting.

6. Framing—find your frames at thrift stores and find the largest frames that will work…measure your diamond painting in inches before you start and find a frame that is at least 1″ larger than top to bottom or side to side, and then re-read my #2 note above as it will help you. Once your painting is finished, cut off the excess (in my case it’s the sides) leaving about 1 1/2″ to roll under on all sides. You’ll angle cut the corners so you can get a clean fold on them and use tear tape under the edges and fold right to the edge of the last row of diamonds making sure you don’t see any of the unfinished canvas. You can also use hot glue to glue the sides down. I always use poster board for my matt and simply cut it to the size of the board that is the back of the frame but you could also trace the glass and cut the poster board to the size of the glass. Glue the poster board to the back of the frame then lay the diamond painting on it and use a very small amount of tear tape or hot glue, lay the painting where you want it then put it into the glass part of the frame, making sure it is centered. Don’t glue it down until you’re sure it’s centered properly.

I volunteered to make 10 birthday and 20 encouragement cards for Cards for Cubs and in the end, made 15 birthday cards and 20 encouragement cards, so I was happy with my outcome. If you would like more information about Cards for Cubs, where we make handmade encouraging and birthday cards for kids in foster care, here’s the link to their organization. https://cardsforcubs.org/

Unfortunately most of the papers and ribbons I used on these cards have been retired, but it was a great way to use up many of them.

I used scraps of paper that I cut to 2″ tall by 5 1/4″ wide. This allowed for 1/4″ between the two papers for ribbon, die cuts, or more paper scraps in a width up to 1/2″ by 5 1/4″ to fill the gap and overlap both the top and bottom papers.

I started with old Michaels card bases that are A2 size, 5 1/2″ wide by 4 1/4″ tall, and inked the edges of them, as most of the bases had a weird mountain on the bottom of the card front…So in order to use them, if the mountain was green and I had green scraps, I inked the edge with a green that would match the scrap paper about 1/2″ all the way around the front of the card.

The card I made on video started with one of the Michaels card base that I covered with tear tape and removed the backing so the whole front was sticky. I had scraps leftover that were 1 1/4″ wide by 4 1/4″ tall (after I ran out of the 2″ wide scraps I used for most of the cards I made.) Then I started on the right side and laid the first scrap from top to bottom against the right side of the card base, then butted the next scrap up to it, and then did the same until all scraps covered the front of the card. I used some old Martha Stewart wet glue (I bought at Tuesday Morning a long time ago) when I needed additional glue for these cards. Since the last piece hung over the edge, I took my Fiskars Guillotine trimmer and cut from the back to remove the excess, and then to make the right side strip match the left side end strip, I cut about 3/4″ off the right side of the card to make both ends look the same. I took three pieces of 2″ square black pieces of scrap card stock and glued them on top of each other, then took a piece of cream scrap and cut it to 1 3/4″ square and stamped Brutus Monroe black ink with an old Happy Birthday stamp from Hero Arts in the center, then glued the cream scrap to the black scraps. I glued the sentiment to the left side near the top and then added some enamel dots to it.

I used Stampin’ Up Pleated satin ribbon on a few of the cards in different colors…here are some links to it on ebay, as it’s retired. https://tinyurl.com/3wfff47v

I made cards with black and white smaller scraps and attached a video showing you how to make these types of cards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrAcOpQcc2k&t=42s

I was happy with the cards I made as I wanted them to all be a little bit different from each other even though I used the same concept of using two scraps that were each 2″ tall and 5 1/4″ wide and laid one above the other, then adding something to the center to make it more interesting. If you can’t tell, I spend a lot more time and energy on the encouragement cards than on the birthday cards, as I truly believe these kids deserve really special encouragement.

You’ll need a piece of 12 x 12 paper to make this card as it ends up being a 6 x 6″ card. I used American Crafts 12 x 12″ paper I bought on Amazon, here’s the link https://tinyurl.com/ypazx39f. As you know I’m not affiliated with Amazon, but want to make sure you can see exactly what products I use in case you want to find them.

Cut the paper in half, so you have a piece that is 6 x 12″ and score on the 12″ length at 6″. Fold and burnish the paper. I used a circle die that 2″ across from a die set and cut a circle in the center of the card front. The die came from a set that had circles and scallop circles, and used the next size up scallop circle die, then taped the circle die inside the scallop circle and taped them so they are centered and used a piece of green mirror cardstock to make a frame for around the circle I cut in the center of my card front, and ran it through my die cutting machine (Tim Holtz Vagabond II machine).

I used a 2 1/2″ circle punch with white card stock and punched out one circle. I stamped a rabbit from a Mama Elephant stamp set called Honey Bunny in Gina K black ink then put clear embossing powder over it and heat set it. I used alcohol markers to color the rabbit. The rabbit wears an outfit, so I picked some patterned cardstock and stamped the rabbit again, then took my scissors and fussy cut the outfit the bunny is wearing so I could make him look really cute. Once I cut it out, I cut off too much of the black outline of his outfit so used a black marker and drew the edges back in. I glued it to the bunny and then used a sky blue marker to color around the bunny and then glued the circle behind the hole in the front of the card. Then I glued the scallop frame I cut out to the circle on the front of the card.

I bought a couple packages of foam carrots at Dollar Tree but can’t find them now on their online site, and cut them in half with a very thin craft knife. You need to do this slowly and make sure you hold the bottom of the carrot to ensure you don’t break that off when you cut it. I scraped the back of each half carrot to get rid of excess styrofoam so they lay flat. I used hot glue and first glued a carrot to every other scallop, then decided to hot glue to the remaining scallops, and chose to glue those in closer to the inside edge of the scallop frame so my carrots (every other one) is offset.

I cut white cardstock to 5 1/2 x 5 1/2″, stamped the back of two rabbits from the same Mama Elephant set on the bottom left corner of this paper and stamped “Some bunny loves you” at the top of the paper. I colored the rabbits with two different gray markers and left the tails plain as I planned to glue small pompoms to them. I stamped “Hoppy Easter” from the same stamp set on white cardstock with Black Gina K ink and added clear embossing powder over it and heat set it, then cut it in a banner shape and glued it to the top left of the front of the card, then added some pastel enamel dots to this banner and to the bottom right corner of the front of the card and some smaller dots inside the circle with the rabbit. I got my enamel dots in a monthly card kit, but you can find them almost anywhere, just type in a search “pastel enamel dots.”

To cover the back of the rabbit that will bleed through his paper on the front of the card, if I had the same green cardstock, I would have used it, but somehow lost the other half of that piece of paper, so I used a green paper with leaves on it cut to 5 7/8″ x 6″, the 6″ should be the height of the paper and 5 7/8″ is the width..I glued it in place with Tonic double ended glue pen. I made a matching envelope with my 1-2-3 board by We R Memory Keepers and needed 9 3/4″ square piece of cardstock, so you’ll need to use a piece of 12 x 12″ and cut it down. You’ll put your cardstock in the envelope board at 4 7/8″ and then use the center punch and put the tool that comes with the punch board and score down the right side, then turn the paper one turn lining up the score you made with the left marks, punch the center punch again and score down the right side, do the same to the other two sides, then round the top of your envelope. I use my corner rounder from Kadomaru Pro on Amazon. I love this tool, and hate the one that comes on the punch board as it hurts my wrist. You add glue under the bottom flaps and make your envelope.

When you make a 6 x 6″ card on the scoreboard, it makes a larger size card and I could easily fit the carrots in the envelope.

As most of you know, I’ve been making cards for Cards for Cubs each March. These cards go to kids in foster care and need to be inspirational or birthday, and must be handmade. Here is the link to Cards for Cubs if you’d like to register to create some cards before the end of the month. This link will give you all of the information you need to participate.

https://cardsforcubs.org/pages/about-cards-for-cubs

I committed to making 20 inspirational cards and 10 birthday cards. I like to make cards for the older kids in foster care as I believe most people tend to make cards for younger kids. I also try to diversify the skin color on their faces, as I want to make sure all skin tones are well represented in the cards I send. I have just finished the 20 inspirational cards and here are my tips to making a lot of cards that are each unique and special, but with a streamlined approach. Here is my list of the ways I create these cards as quickly as possible.

1. I choose sentiments and young women’s faces on the stamps I use. Unity Stamps have the best of both and their red rubber stamps are amazing. (I am not sponsored or affiliated with them, but love their stamps and like to share the products I like best. Links for these stamp sets are below.) I keep all of my “Cards for Cubs” stamps together so each year I know where to pull them from and that saves time. One thing you might want to consider…since each card goes to a different child, you could recreate the same card for as many cards as you’ve committed to making, so would only need one image and one sentiment…or, if you use the Cards for Cubs free sentiments link: https://cardsforcubs.org/collections/freebies, you could use their colored sentiments and put them on a background of colorful scraps to create fun and easy cards.

2. I use my MISTI (or similar stamp positioner link: https://tinyurl.com/7swebcta) to stamp a lot of images at once and then cover with clear embossing powder and heat set to ensure the ink doesn’t run when coloring.) I use Gina K Amalgam black ink that shouldn’t smear, but I don’t want to take a chance when coloring so many images.

3. Once I’ve colored the images with alcohol markers, currently I really like Sanjoki brush tip markers…inexpensive and color beautifully https://tinyurl.com/52kzk45y. I photocopy the entire page, so next year I can photocopy them again and simply cut them out and they’re ready to go.

4. I used a Scan N Cut this year to cut out the intricate women’s heads. Still learning how to use it, but will do a video once I’ve got it down pat. This should save considerable time, but you can also use a die cut machine and oval dies to cut the heads just as easily, or fussy cut them with scissors if you don’t have a tool that will do the cutting for you.

5. Do the same approach with the sentiments you’ve stamped, cut them with paper punches or a die cutting machine or your paper trimmer and create a pile of them to choose from. You can check free printables on google for images and sentiments and print them from your computer. Some paper pads have good sentiments that you can cut out and layer onto matching paper from the same pad.

6. Take your pile of images (mine are mainly women’s heads) and choosing one at a time, go through your decorated cardstock cut to 4 x 5 1/4″ until you find papers that look good with your image and create a pile. I have a lot of older Michaels boxed premade card bases that I don’t like to use as they are textured, so use those for this project. Add a card base that matches (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) to the image and patterned paper and put a sentiment I like with it. Then I start with the top grouping and use Avery Glue Sticks and glue my cards together. If I can’t find a card base I like, I’ll use one that I can alcohol ink 1/4″ around the edge of the card. If it bleeds through to the back, I add another half of one of the cardbases cut 4 1/4″ x 5 3/8″ and line the back to cover the ink. If you don’t have markers, you can add another layer of cardstock to the front that is 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ and glue it over the top of the card base, and trim off any that overhangs the original card base.

I like Unity Stamps for this project and here are the stamp sets I’ve used.

Jane Girl: https://tinyurl.com/ypbj2az9

Indie Girl: https://tinyurl.com/3uw2r3wk

Mouse Wonderful Gift link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8cxsuc

Don’t be Perfect link: https://tinyurl.com/bdfbazu5

Wear confidence link: https://tinyurl.com/693bvhbw

Whatever comes next, link: https://tinyurl.com/nhduap5j

My great nephew Finn’s, first birthday is coming up with his party theme being Monsters Inc., so I made his card to match the theme.

This ladder card has been on a lot of channels, but I like Sam Calcott’s version and followed it for the most part…Here’s a link if you want to follow hers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC5ax1HpdU4

You’ll need a piece of cardstock for the base of the card that is 9 1/2″ x 6″ scored on the 9 1/2″ length at 1 3/4″ and 7 3/4″. On the 6″ length, make a mark at 2″ with a pencil on both sides then take your paper trimmer and line up the pencil mark and the score on the 9 1/2″ length to cut an angle. Do the same to the other side, making the mark at 2″ and cutting from that mark to the score on the 9 1/2″ length.

I used white Recollections Heavyweight cardstock from Michaels for my ladder pieces, but recommend you use cardstock that isn’t as heavy, as it’s hard to fold the 1/4″ scores if you use heavy cardstock.You’ll need steps for your ladder that are:

5″ x 6 1/2″

4 x 6 1/2″

3″ x 6 1/2″

2 x 6 1/2… this is the front of the card that I decorated with a bunch of ones in different colors.

All of your steps, you’ll need to score on the 6 1/2″ length at 1/4″ and 6 1/4″

Fold and burnish all of your scores. Put tear tape on the ladder pieces from the 1/4″ score to the edge of the paper..I used 1/4″ wide tear tape, but you can use wet glue. If you do use wet glue, only put the glue on the left score as we’ll put glue on the right side on all ladder pieces at once later. If you have stamped something on any of the ladder pieces, you’ll want your tear tape or glue on the side that has the design on it.

Take your 9 1/2″ x 6″ piece and the first ladder piece which will be the largest one that is 5″ x 6 1/2″. Make sure the angle cuts you made on the sides of the card base are at the top of the card base. Line up the left side of the ladder piece so it butts up against the left score line of the card base making sure the bottom of the ladder piece is lined up with the bottom of the card base, then shut the left side of the card base and rub it to adhere it. Do the same to each of the ladder pieces making sure the left side of the ladder piece is butted up against the left score of the card base and the bottom of both the ladder piece and the card base are lined up. Once you’ve done glued all of the left sides of the ladder pieces in, fold them so they are flat against the left side of the card base and then put glue or tear tape on the area between the right hand score and the edge of the ladder pieces and remove the tear tape backing, then fold the right side of the card base onto them and rub to adhere. This should make a perfect ladder card.

I used decorative paper from Park Lane from Joann’s in a 12 x 12″ pack called Floral Spice and cut four pieces to 1 3/8″ x 5 3/4″ wide to insert on each ladder step. If you do it this way, you save a ton of decorative paper, because otherwise, you’d line the whole 5″, 4″, and 3″ pieces when it’s not necessary to do so. I glued the first one on the top of the card, centering it so there’s a border of green on three sides, then glued the next one in front of the first ladder piece, then did the same to the next two ladder pieces and rubbed all of them to made sure they were well adhered.

I took a piece of white cardstock 1 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ wide, and colored it with alcohol markers to a green that matched my designer paper and then used herb shears link: https://tinyurl.com/39y8wmsv and cut slits the whole way across the 5 3/4″ length cutting up about 1″ into the 1 1/2″ height. I didn’t like the look of this once I glued it behind the front 2″ high ladder piece, so cut the height down on angles and cut each strip (from the shears) in half so they are thinner.

I used monsters and bugs and a bear holding a sign stamps. The monsters came from a set from Katzelkraft Silly Monsters KTZ193, the bugs came from Tim Holtz Entomology and the bear is from Mama Elephant and the set is numbered SC0767 Bunny and Bear Holding Sentiment.

To write on the card, use a white piece of cardstock 5 3/4 x 5 3/4″ with a stamp from Simon Says Stamp set called so talkative, link: https://tinyurl.com/ye285yxf and glue it to the back of the card.

Just a reminder that Cards for Cubs where we make encouraging or birthday cards for kids in foster card is this month and you can submit cards until the end of April. To register your card donations, simply go to https://cardsforcubs.org/

I bought some stamp sets from Unity Stamps:

Mouse Wonderful Gift link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8cxsuc

Don’t be Perfect link: https://tinyurl.com/bdfbazu5

Wear confidence link: https://tinyurl.com/693bvhbw

Whatever comes next, link: https://tinyurl.com/nhduap5j

I hope you’ll join me in making cards this year..

I thought it would be fun to turn this little briefcase into a watercolor palette for this small mixing set of Daniel Smith watercolors. Since they provided a photo of the colors mixed into swatches, I thought I’d mix mine to see if I could come up with the same colors as they did.

Briefcase business card holder: https://tinyurl.com/yckswk3z or https://tinyurl.com/mr2fnfns

10 Full pan watercolors: https://tinyurl.com/bvwdu95e

Daniel Smith Mixing Watercolors: https://tinyurl.com/487ph2xn or https://tinyurl.com/rnjahpmn

Watercolor tube wringer: https://www.dickblick.com/categories/painting/tools/tube-wringers/

Arteza watercolor paper: https://tinyurl.com/5rmekf83

UHU Glue : https://tinyurl.com/2p94ambn

To make the briefcase palette, I tore the lining out and only left the small strip of black “velvet” in the center to make sure the palette wouldn’t fall apart. I removed as much of the glue and residue left inside the briefcase as I could. I took the plastic empty full pans and laid them in plastic packaging so if I made a mess, it would be easy to clean. I opened one tube of paint at a time and used the watercolor wringer to get all of the paint out, and into the pan. I had to use Rich for this, as getting the paint out from the top of the tube, wasn’t a simple task. Once all of the paint was in the pan, I would gently tap it down so the paint settled in the pan.

I wanted to put the pans into the briefcase with magnets, but the briefcase (that appeared to be metal) did not attach to magnets, so I had to use glue instead. I used UHU glue I had on hand, but you can use hot glue or Beacon 3 in 1 to adhere the pans to the briefcase. I accidentally deleted the video where I showed how to glue the pans into the briefcase…you just need to make sure that you leave enough room on the ends where there is a hinge inside the case, so when you close the case, the hinges don’t run into the plastic pans. I was able to glue five full pans across the front and four on the back row, even though I didn’t have paint for more than six pans.

I took the plastic packaging of the Daniel Smith paints and the “velvet” from the top section of the briefcase that I had removed, and laid the velvet on the clear part of the packaging and traced it with a black Sharpie. I cut out the plastic, then added tear tape to the back of white cardstock and attached the cardstock to the plastic making sure to cut the paper so it would fit inside the briefcase attached to the plastic packaging to make a mixing palette.

I let the paint sit open in the briefcase until the paint had dried. Then to mix the paints, I got my chicken (used for deviled eggs, but works great for mixing paints) and put some of each of the six colors into separate wells. I started with the Hansa Yellow Light (my first category on the top and on the left side)…I mixed it with the Gamboge with using more of the Hansa then put this mix into the second box from the top (in the first row at the top) and then added more of the New Gamboge to make the mix that goes in the second row on the top the first box down. If you use the names of the paints that go across the top of the page and use those as the primary color in the row beneath the name, and the colors that run down the left side of the page are the secondary colors in the mix.

I saw this box and thought it would be great to hold jewelry.

Sam Calcott made a similar box, here’s her version. https://tinyurl.com/2s4zthrk

Products used:

Paper Boutique Bumblebee Dance-no longer sold, but Amazon has a lot of Paper Boutique kits as does Scrapbook.com

Beacon 3 in 1 glue

American Crafts 12 x 12″ paper: https://tinyurl.com/ypazx39f

Black Paper: Michaels Recollections Heavyweight Cardstock

Feet: https://tinyurl.com/kuu6a5w3

If you don’t want to buy feet, use the scraps left from cutting the corners out of the gold paper that will be 2″ long and you’ll need two of these. 2″ x 1 1/2″ then score them on the 2″ length at 1/2, 1″ and 1 1/2″ then put in your trimmer and cut in half on 1 1/2″ length to make them 3/4″ wide, then fold the scores and put glue under the last score to make a triangle shape. You’ll glue the flat piece with the glued seam to the bottom of your box to make feet on your box…you’ll glue four of them on the four corners of the box about 1″ from the edges.

Corner Covers: https://tinyurl.com/uc5yjv3d If you don’t want to buy corner covers, I recommend rounding the corners so they don’t break down over time, and you’ll also want to round the front two corners of your designer papers that go on top and bottom of top of box.

Ribbon: 2 pieces of 12″ ribbon. grosgrain 1/2″ wide white ribbon

Fray Check: https://tinyurl.com/5b32vb6c

Box:

Use 12 x 12 gold paper, score at 1 1/2 and 3″ on all four sides, then on bottom, cut first set of score line at 1 1/2″ up to 2nd score and cut away that score line including the score, so nothing’s left. Then cut the next score line (at 3″) up to the 2nd score and carefully cut across at the first score to get rid of the bottom box, including the score line, then cut small angles on box that’s left behind. Do this to other end of bottom of paper, then turn paper around and do the same to what was the top and is now the bottom. You’ll want to cut small angle cuts off of the long rectangle pieces up to the first score line as well. Fold and burnish all scores. Then put glue on the outside of the small tabs left from cutting, and fold the tab in so you have a corner that is 90°. Do the same to all four tabs and then rub inside with bone folder to ensure they’re well adhered. Then add glue to the inside of the long rectangular pieces and fold them into the box and rub with bone folder so they’re flat and well adhered.

Black Paper: two pieces that are 6 1/2 x 7 3/4″ and score on the 7 3/4″ length at 6 1/4″ on both.

Two pieces of designer paper for top of box 5 3/4″ x 6″ to line the lid.

One piece of designer paper for inside the box 5 3/4″ x 5 3/4″

Designer paper for around outside of box 1 1/4 tall by 5 3/4″ long, three pieces

Black paper, fold the score, then glue the designed paper to the top and bottom centered on the black paper to the score line but not past it. The 5 3/4″ length goes across the front and the 6″ length goes front to back. Put one piece on top of the black piece and put the other underneath the black piece after you’ll adhered your ribbon to the center of the underside of the black paper, then attach the two corner covers.

The second black paper will be glued under your box… first glue the ribbon to the center underneath the box so you don’t forget. I also poked holes in the bottom of the box for the feet brads, so I could easily poke through the gold paper. I poked them 1″ from the ends and 3/8″ from the sides of the box. Then glue the scored end of the black paper to the back of the box, putting the glue on the back of the box and underside of the box and adhere the black paper to the underside of the box making sure the back is flush with the black paper.. Once the glue is dry, poke the brad holes through the black paper and push the brads through so the two brad feet are inside the box. Make sure the feet of the brads are completely flat, then attach the designer paper over it that is 5 3/4 x 5 3/4″.

Add embellishments to top of box lid. I used a black stitched circle 4 1/2″ across and a white stitched circle that was 4″ across and put the bee on foam squares then glued the white and black pieces together and glued them all to the top center of the lid, then glued from the score line of the black paper to the back of the box. I cut three strips of different designed paper to the sides of the box that are 1 1/4″ wide by 5 3/4″ long.

Thanks to everyone who sent me cards..I really loved them.

Just a reminder, I’m not affiliated with any company and only provide links so you can find the same product I’ve purchased, if you’re so inclined.

Round trivets from Dollar Tree: https://tinyurl.com/363tz32z

Fish material from Joanns: https://tinyurl.com/a8yutjf6

Craftstash.us (for USA purchases) or Craftstash.uk

Die Cutting Essentials Issue #90 with hello die: https://tinyurl.com/yhebdfpu

Die Cutting Essentials Issue #92 with triangle layer dies https://tinyurl.com/2wumpks3

Simply Cards & Papercrafts Issue #226 https://tinyurl.com/mrwtu997

Joanns:

Hero Arts Thinking of You: https://tinyurl.com/3rphtpad

Park Lane Floral Spice 12 x 12″ pad: https://tinyurl.com/43s453c7

Tuesday Morning: EK Success Mini Score Board: I couldn’t find this product in their online store, but you can buy it on Amazon link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8bc3c4

Dollar Tree:

Pencil Holder: I couldn’t find a link to these on their website, they are made by Jot

Mini Carrots: https://tinyurl.com/mtwfz488

Aliexpress:

Flower stickers: https://tinyurl.com/5fz9kntn

Leaf/fall stickers: (these are similar but not exactly the ones I bought) https://tinyurl.com/2jp7hj2s

Amazon: Lady fashion vellum stickers: https://tinyurl.com/ya2zbm56

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9545ZZ4pY9Q

Of course I wanted to make my great nephew Finn a Valentine’s Day wreath and card. Luckily, the gnome I bought holds a felt envelope that is Velcro’d shut, so I could put the card in the envelope with no problem.

Tools needed:

Wreath

Foam Dollar Tree wreath: https://tinyurl.com/2p85cbpt

Gorilla Glue dual temp mini glue gun: https://tinyurl.com/38rdkbt8

Silicone craft mat from Dollar Tree–couldn’t find a link on their website

Red 7/8″ grosgrain ribbon: https://tinyurl.com/264nmu3t

Stampin’ Up Mistletoe ribbon (white grosgrain with red stitching): https://tinyurl.com/3mmavh6t

Red Glitter flatback hearts: https://tinyurl.com/4229r5d8

Plush Gnome holding envelope with heart: https://tinyurl.com/3p977jyr

Card: 4″ x 2 3/4″ red cardstock 1 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ white cardstock

Tim Holtz Funny Farm puns stamp set link: https://tinyurl.com/5893546e

SSS Love you beary much: https://tinyurl.com/3u2de6h8 (small candies and sentiments)

Gina K Black Ink

Gina K Red Ink

Prismacolor colored pencils

Glossy Accents

Take the red grosgrain ribbon and tack the end on an angle to the back of the wreath and pull tight. Keep the ribbon on the spool and wrap it around the wreath overlapping the first ribbon strip by about 1/8″ and holding it tight, put a small amount of hot glue on the back of the wreath laying the ribbon into the glue, then repeat this system until you’ve covered the entire wreath. I decided to use the Mistletoe ribbon from Stampin’ Up to add more interest to the wreath. I started on the back, and laid the ribbon edge so it lays on the red ribbon’s seam, then hot glue it in place and wrap it around so the Mistletoe ribbon has a gap where you see the red ribbon, then the next row of the Mistletoe ribbon will start on the seam of the red ribbon, glued on the back of the wreath…continue around the entire wreath.

I ran out of the Mistletoe ribbon and used regular white ribbon to finish the job. I glued the gnome on the inside bottom of the wreath, making sure there’s enough hot glue to cover his entire butt. I hot glued his hat inside the top of the wreath and bent the hat so the heart on the end of the hat could be hot glued inside the wreath as well. I added the red flatback hearts around the wreath and put one on the bottom left side of his apron. For the hanger, I used 4″ of white grosgrain ribbon, folded the ends over each other to make an “x” and then hot glued them together. I put a straight pin through the glued area and stuck it into the back of the wreath, making sure the loop didn’t show over the top of the wreath, then hot glued the above and below the pin.

For the card, I measured the opening of the felt envelope the gnome is holding and it is 2″ tall by 2 3/4″ wide, so the card is 4″ by 2 3/4 in red cardstock, scored on the 4″ at 2″. I cut two pieces of white cardstock to 1 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ for the front and inside the card. I stamped Happy Valentine’s Day inside the card with an old Stampin Up stamp and Gina K black ink. I stamped the white card front with the pig stamp from Tim Holtz set and added clear embossing powder then heat set it. I stamped the candies from SSS Love you Beary Much with Gina K red ink and the sentiments inside the candies with black ink. I colored everything with Prismacolor colored pencils in colors I noted in the video. I used an Avery glue stick to adhere the white cardstock inside the card and outside the card, then used the Made by Sandy Parker stamp on the back of the card. I was right about where I bought the stamp, but the Stampanda website has been taken down for some reason, so you can’t find the Molly square address stamp to create one for yourself, sorry.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jITWwlg0WCM

I have a lot of ribbon, a LOT, so wanted to come up with a way to use some of it and thought it would be fun to make card fronts out of ribbon. I’ve never seen anyone else do this, and thought how simple….

I bought this set of stamps and dies from Amazon and liked two of the three stamp sets, but didn’t like the one that makes tags. Link: https://tinyurl.com/2f7atcrj (I’m not affiliated with Amazon, and give you links just so you know where I bought these tools.) To use these stamps, leave them on their plastic backing, and using a glue stick (I use ones from Avery, link: https://tinyurl.com/55dbn2z7 attach the stamp sheet into your stamp positioner and stamp it three times for a good impression (at least that’s what it took for me to get a good impression.) I used clear embossing powder and heat set the images before running them through my Vagabond die cutting machine. link: https://tinyurl.com/2wehaepm

The first card I showed is using a gold mirror card front that is 4 x 5 1/4″ and I started by putting a thicker ribbon on a diagonal across the gold front. I found it was easiest to lay tear tape on the card front and then put the ribbon on top of the tear tape. I tried putting tear tape on the back of the ribbon, but that was time consuming and not as easy as it sounds. I used different thickness of ribbons and used ones that looked good with each other until the front was covered. Then took a piece of fun foam and glued it to the back of the gold mirror card front, and attached it to a 5 1/2″ wide by 8 1/2″ tall, scored at 4 1/4″ card base, to make an A2 sized card. I didn’t show this card process in its entirety because it was my practice card.

The second card I made I put thick pieces of tear tape 1/2″ wide on a card front that was 4″ x 5 1/4″ on the 5 1/4″ length on either end and put Avery glue stick on the rest of the card front. I used three different retired Stampin Up ribbons in a rusty red, a mossy green color and a dark lavender as well as seam binding in white that matches the stitching in the other ribbons. I laid the Stampin Up ribbons across the top and worked my way down the card front, with a row of seam binding, then back to the SU ribbons covering the front of the card. I used one of the sentiments I bought from Amazon on very thin foam tape link: https://tinyurl.com/5enj47y5 and laid it on the seam binding near the top of the card. I made a bow out of the lavender ribbon laying on the seam binding in my bow jig link to a variety of bow jigs https://tinyurl.com/mtajeudc I attached it to the card with Glue Dots and then put fun foam under the card front and attached it to a lavender 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ card base.

Poppy card: I started with a red card base 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ and put carpet tape link: https://tinyurl.com/yyx2w6sf to cover the entire front of the card with 1/2″ covered with two strips of 1/4″ tear tape. Started with a row of red ribbon, then black ribbon. I had pretty poppy ribbon 1 1/4″ wide (not wired edge, as wired edged ribbon is tougher to put on a card front as the wires aren’t always straight and that is obvious on cards made with only ribbon). I put a row of the poppy ribbon, then the black, then red, then black, red, and ended with black ribbon.

Green Card: Same card size, started with carpet tape covering card front then laid a horizontal row of lime green ribbon, then a row of green diamond wrap link: https://tinyurl.com/488cks8p, then a row of green glitter washi tape then repeated them to the bottom of the card. I added some green enamel dots on either side of the sentiment that I laid on the second row of lime green ribbon from the top of the card.

Blue Lace Card: Same card size covered with carpet tape, used a navy blue w/off-white ribbon, then a navy & off-white striped ribbon, then two rows of navy organza ribbon with an off-white lacy ribbon w/tear tape only on the top edge gluing it to the organza ribbon, then repeating, and the last row is a wavy navy ribbon that is thin. Sentiment is on thin foam tape on the striped ribbon.

Peacock: 5 x 7″ card base with gold glitter card stock to cover it, then glued the peacock ribbon on the 5″ length in the center of the card, and two rows of the lime green diamond wrap on either side. Added a sentiment on foam tape over the peacock feather near the center of the card.

Hope this gave you some good ideas for using up your ribbon scraps.