Crafting for Charity {What are your faves?}

Hi friends! Have you ever donated a hand knit hat to the hospital for newborns or made a blanket for Project Linus? Have you sold cards to benefit a charity or sent cards to Operation Write Home? There are so many opportunities to reach others with our crafts. I thought with Memorial Day and Independence Day coming up it would be nice to make a patriotic themed cards that would be suitable for a cards for soldiers type of charity. As with ANY of my projects feel free to make them and sell them for charity or otherwise. 🙂

Fun Fact: Most of the card-making magazines donate the cards that get sent to them to charity after they are published if artists do not request them back, yet another reason to submit your work! Watch the video to learn how to make this card, you might pick up a new technique!

Video!

Supplies:

• Cardstock (cream, kraft, navy)
• White glossy photo paper (or any white cardstock but it looks COOL on the photo paper!)
• Envelopes
• Baker’s Twine
• Mesh Ribbon
• Gesso (or white acrylic paint)
• Embossing folders of your choice
• Adhesive
• Rubber stamps (I used the Route 66 set from Local King Rubberstamps, thanks to Lisa-the owner- for sharing her marker technique with me!)

There are many charities to send you handmade items too. I mentioned Operation Write Home which sends boxes of A2 sized cards to American soldiers stationed overseas.

Cardmaker Magazine has compiled a list of other charities you might also want to send your cards and crafts too.

Handcrafting With Love also has a huge list with lots of donation opportunities for knitters and fabric artists here but the website has not been updated in over a year so double check to make sure the organizations listed still need the items before starting a project. Always check out a charity before donating.

Let me know your favorite charity you craft for and leave it in the comments! Thanks to Papermart for sponsoring this post and til next time happy crafting!

Classic Americana & Versatile Kraft!

Hi Friends! One of the most versatile supplies in my craft room is Kraft paper. One minute it is covering my work surface to protect it from ink and paint spills and the next moment is it being used to beautifully wrap a gift. Kraft doesn’t just stop at paper, you can get so many products from Papermart made from sturdy kraft paper and cardboard and with just a few supplies tun them in to beautiful custom party decor and gift packaging.

The big reason I like kraft is that it goes with everything! It is may favorite neutral. Sure black is elegant and white is a pure blank canvas but kraft is comfortable and since it is a mid value color already you don’t have to do much to it to make it look done. Watch the video and see what I mean.

Here is a list of supplies I used:

• Kraft Take Out Boxes
• Kraft Shipping Tags
• Kraft Tin Tie Coffee Bags
• Kraft Jewelry Boxes
• Star Garland
• Jute Cord
• Kraft paper by the roll
• Patterned Scrapbook Paper (Nantucket line DCWV)
• Gesso or acrylic paint, 1″ wide brush and make-up sponge
• Dry Adhesive such as ATG gun
• Stamps: Tim Holtz, Kaiser Kraft and Stampin’ Up!
• Brown Ink

Directions: Distress the kraft paper products with gesso and ink. Layer on paper and stamp. Embellish with jute cord and star garland.

Try dressing up your kraft paper products with pastel shades of acrylic paint for Easter, bridal and baby showers, try mint and gold for weddings and try stamping polka-dots with a wine cork and any color acrylic paint on kraft paper to make a cheerful birthday wrap! The more you use kraft paper the more ideas you will come up with! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

 

 

USA Birthday Card!

Here is an easy card you can make for an enlisted friend or family member or for Operation Write Home:

I made this card for my niece’s husband who is leaving for basic training, it was also his birthday. I built it on a kraft cardbase, tore a book page and sprayed it with my homemade shimmer spray and layered an embossed blue panel that I glided a white Gel Stick on top to bring out the design. I stamped a never before inked Statue of Liberty and colored it with Gel Sticks. Added a few eyelets and a Happy Birthday sentiment and that was it! Easy peasy! Have a great Monday everyone and til next time happy crafting!