Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Iris Folding

 This is Katahdin. He was one of the first cards I ever made using Iris Folding. He was also my first cat. A big all-outdoor cat who would eat squirrels (except the tails....because really, who would eat a tail when you can have raw entrails?!?!). I would find big, grey squirrel tails from time to time on the lawn. I never really understood him. But, I knew enough to keep him far away from my Munchkin because, seriously, he tended to Stalk and (obviously) he had an appetite. He ran away this past fall, and I wouldn't be surprised if he had set up his own Squirrel burger cafe somewhere out in the woods behind our house.
I digress: Iris Folding is a craft that on the surface appears to be quite complicated, but when you actually give it a try you realize how very simple it is in reality.  I found this great site with a basic tutorial and free templates here .
For my Munchkins first birthday I made this card:
It's really a lot of fun to make these. All you need is an:
Exacto Knife
Cardstock
Decorative paper (origami paper works well, too) 
Tape 
Template (you can make your own easily enough)

For instructions (with pictures) on how to do a basic template....which will give you an idea on how to do *any* template....click here.
Here is where you can find some free templates (in the center of the page there is a tab for Alphabet templates.....I can really imagine some fun children's room decorations coming out of those). There are some simplistic templates ones here.
Have FUN!! Happy CRAFTING!!

I joined these Linky Parties:
Creative Therapy
Make It Yours Day
Show Us What You're Workin' With
Whatever Goes Wednesday
We Did It Wednesday
Thirfty Thursday
Under $100 Linky Party
Get Your Craft On
Bring in the Spring Blog Party
Thursday's Treasures
Strut Your Stuff
Feature Yourself Friday
Look at Me I'm So Crafty
It's HodgePodge Friday
Frugalicious Friday
I'm a Creative Cat
Weekend Wrap Up Party
Saturday Nite Special
Flaunt It Friday
Check Me Out Saturday
Make It For Monday
Just Something I Whipped Up

Monday, April 5, 2010

1949 Birth Announcement

Isn't this the cutest little Birth Announcement?!?! It belongs to my Mother-in-Law. She was born in 1949, a daughter of a pilot from WWII. I love those little goggles on the baby and the little Avaiator cap. 
The Announcement says:

THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW MODEL
Pilot
Co-pilot
Flight Captain Doc
Passenger
Weight____ lbs_____oz
Arrived on
INSPECTION INVITED

What a great Birth Announcement for an avid aviator. :-) This is a Hallmark. I thought maybe some of you might be interested in spinning your own idea off this card.
Here are the Linky Parties I joined up with.....check them out!!
Just Something I Whipped Up 
Making the World Cuter Monday 
Made By You Monday 
Market Yourself Monday 
Make Your Monday 
Make It For Moday 


Saturday, April 3, 2010

A Tisket A Tasket

I've Made My Munchkin's Easter Basket!!!!
I've been dabbling in some very beginning basketry, and I thought I'd give coiled baskets a try. To really achieve a coiled design, you shouldn't be able to see reed/paper that form the coils, they should wrapped fully. But, as I started this project last night and didn't finish until three in the morning (can you say, **snore**) I decided to make the project a little more simple. I like the way it turned out. 
The flowers like it too. There were so many bee's in our garden this morning. I love to see honey bees. That's what my name, Melissa, means. :-)