For Cards That Deserve Lined Envelopes

I’ve always loved the look of lined envelopes but I‘ve never known how to do it until now. I received a pretty card in the mail with a gorgeous lined envelope and I decided that my cards deserve lined envelopes too! To teach myself how to do it, I headed over to Paper Source in Brooklyn. The sale girls are great about teaching me new projects and showing me what supplies I’ll need. I purchased a plastic envelope liner template and a few pieces of pretty printed paper. I was delighted to discover how easy it is to create pretty envelope liners at the store and I hurried home to do it myself. Gosh this is so easy!! Here is how to do it!

You Will Need:

- Envelopes (I use A2, but any size will do!)

- Envelope liner template (make sure if you use let’s say A6 envelopes that you use the A6 liner template)

- Pretty paper (use light weight paper, wrapping paper works well)

- Double sided craft glue strips, you can substitute a glue stick

- Scissors

- Pencil

Steps:

1) Simply trace the template with your pencil on the back of the pretty paper.

2) Cut it out using scissors, I tried using an exacto knife and I wouldn’t recommend it.

3) Insert the liner in your envelope so it fits snug in the envelope.

4) Place two small glue strips only at the top of the envelope along the edge of the “V”. Press firmly with your fingers.

5) Fold the envelope to create a crease in the liner.

6) The most important step... Admire your pretty work!! Haha!

Soooo easy, right? Now you can create professional looking envelopes with easy to create envelope liners! I think my cards deserve lined envelopes, don’t you?

Happy July 4th!

Happy Summer Cards

 

Looking for an excuse to send a note in the mail? Look no further because it's summertime!  The very best cards to receive are those that are unexpected, so take the time to send a special note just to say "Happy Summer" to someone you haven't seen in a while. Grandparents would love something like this! Happy Summer everyone!

2011 Christmas Cards

Here are some of my Christmas cards this year!

"Your Turn!"

Here is an engagement card I just made for a friend.

The inside text reads: "Your Turn!"

I just love this card. I mean seriously, could this card be any cuter?!!

Congratulations to my dear friend Christine! xo

Just A Note

Hostess Notes

You hosted a lovely party, you made delicious food and a guest has asked you for the recipe to that fabulous dip you served. Why not share your recipe by sending it in the mail? I created these darling (I must say so myself) recipe sharing cards.  They are personalized too, how cute are these!?! You can also use regular correspondence stationery to share your recipes. These notes make perfect hostess gifts or shower gifts and sharing recipes by mail is a stylish and unique way to continue being a "hostess with the mostess" even after your party has ended!

Handmade Valentine Cards

Today in New York City it's the snow day of all snow days. The schools are closed and my work is even closed, wow! This morning when I peered out my window to watch snowflakes fall and see just one car move slowly down the street, I couldn't help but feel delighted that today I was going to take time to make my valentine cards and no one was going to convince me to leave my cozy little apartment for any other plan.

Valentine's Day is the best holiday to make handmade cards. It's a holiday about spreading warmth and love and handmade cards seem especially appropriate for this holiday. At Springside School, during my lower school years, we had a tradition where each student had to hand create a valentine for each girl in the class. On Valentine's Day we would take turns and hand out our creations. It was one of my most favorite things to do and it's proof that your true passion exposes itself very early in your life. Today, as I made valentine cards, I felt reminiscent of my years in lower school making handmade valentines.  I am sooo thankful for this wonderfully white snow day!

I hope my cards inspire you to make a few handmade valentine cards this year. Even if you don't normally make handmade cards, this is your chance to try. They are truly heartwarming!

 

Creamy Hot Cocoa

Snowflakes are falling in New York City and I'm having a craving for hot cocoa. I just tried this recipe and it's very creamy and very delicious!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch salt

1/3 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions:

Combine the cocoa, sugar and salt in a medium sized saucepan. Add the boiling water and keep stirring for about 2 minutes (stirring prevents it from scorching). Add in 3 1/2 cups of milk while stirring. Heat but do not let mixture come to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Divide between 4 mugs. Add half-and-half to the mugs of cocoa to cool them down to drinking temperature. What a perfect treat for a snow day!

Family Christmas Cards

My roommate Kate is responsible for this little rule: When signing a card from a family, the order should go: mother's name, father's name and then the names of children in birth order. You can always just sign from the whole family too!

Pictured below are some Christmas cards I made this year, enjoy!

Glitter It Up!

Glitter looks beautiful on holiday cards, however it can also make a huge mess. I discovered this amazing product last year when I visited Paper Source in Boston. The ladies at the store introduced me to Ranger's Glitter Glue! It quickly became the answer to all of my glitter woes. After the product is applied to a paper surface, it dries quickly and holds the glitter in place. Its fine tip makes application super easy.

Glitter glue comes in every color you can imagine. My personal favorite color to work with is stardust. It adds a clear sparkle to my cards. You can use glitter glue on a variety of craft items. Best of all, it is the same price as regular glitter so you aren't paying extra for the convenience. How nice!

It's All In The Envelope

This post is proof that it's all in the envelope! How much fun is it to find a greeting card envelope in a pile of junk mail? I always save my cards to open last! Your envelopes can stand out even more with a little creativity using some of these ideas.

-Use gold or silver paint pens to write the address and return address

-Create clean and easy polka dots, snowflakes or swirls using glitter glue

-Apply stickers and embellishments and attach well

-Write the return address in a unique way (along vertical edge of the envelope or in a circle on the back of the envelope)

- Purchase post office stamps for the holiday season

- Write words or sentiments along the edge or on the back of the envelope

- Create a design by hand for the address to be placed inside (bookplate, antique sign etc.)

- Use a small, simple rubber stamp to decorate the envelope with ink impressions

- Wrap your envelope in a bow with ribbon or draw on a bow with markers

These ideas also come in handy when you are giving a gift card as a present and want to spice up the envelope.

What A Polite Puppy!

On Wednesday my sister and Bill brought home an adorable cockapoo puppy named Winnie! Winnie is bringing joy to our whole family and last night I had the chance to babysit her while her mom and dad went out to dinner in the city. Winnie played all night and when my sister and Bill came to pick her up she was out like a light!

Having Winnie stay with me inspired me to create some puppy thank you notes. I made these notes as a gift to Jenny and Bill so they can write on behalf of Winnie when a friend watches her or gives her a present. Already little Winnie is learning nice manners. What a polite little puppy!

"Dress Up" A Cocktail Party

The New York Junior League Homecoming theme this year is "Flappers and Dappers". Each party hosted by the Astor House Committee has a theme and it is one of the reasons why our parties are consistently a hit! Next time you throw a party, center it around a theme with the opportunity for guests to dress up if they want to. Last night at my committee meeting a bunch of us were discussing our themed accessories. What a fun way to "dress up" a cocktail party!

For those of you ladies in New York who wish to attend NYJL Homecoming on Friday, September 25th, please visit http://www.nyjl.org/ for more information!

Gratitude

Sometimes when you are reminded just how precious life is, you begin to appreciate each happy and healthy day even more. Your very worst day is someone else's very best day. Never take life for granted and feel blessed for even the smallest of things in your life. Most importantly, tell those you love how much you love them and how grateful you are to have them in your life.

-This post is dedicated to my loving Grandmom

She Said "Yes"!

It's that time of year... summer is almost over, vacations are taking place and people are getting engaged. Haha, well at least a bunch of girls I know are! Engagement cards are my favorite cards to make. There is something so fun about creating a card for a girl who is absolutely ecstatic. Just making the cards makes me ecstatic! Here are some pretty engagement cards I created for girls who said "yes" this summer! Congratulations and lots of love to Kelly, Lindsey and Betsy!