A Betsy Ross Design

After all, she was a crafter too! Her flag as a woodburned aceo...

Spinning Skater Tutorial part 2

Punch a very small hole in the skater at both the top and bottom, then thread a string thru each hole.

Add paper tabs on to the string using any method you'd like. I just used a 1/16" punch to add two holes in each tab for the string and then wrapped it and added glue.
Glue and slide the tabs in to the slots, adjusting them to have just a tiny bit of tension to the skater. Lay the card flat and closed, with the skater centered, to make sure she is positioned correctly.
Once the glue is dry, wind her up on her string axis, and close up the card. The simple extending of the card in to the open position should send her twirling! (Don't forget to wind her up before you put her in the envelope.)

A video of her in motion will be coming soon to this blog, but right now you can find one of the spinning snowflake on U-tube.

Spinning Skater Tutorial

There have been a few requests for directions on how how to make this card. It's not the easiest one in the world to make, so if you attempt this, please don't use the 'good' paper right away.



I have made this card using snowflakes, shrinky dinks, skaters, photos, and ballerinas. Anything that would look good spinning would work. For the prupose of the tutorial I am using a skater, and leaving off any embellishments to keep the photos simpler.



1. Cut out the spinning skater from double layered paper/cardstock. She will need to be pretty sturdy to hold up to all the spinning. (For something super strong, try making her out of shrink plastic.) My skater measures 3 1/2" high and 2 " wide.

2. Cut out the border from double layered paper cardstock, using the dimensions in the photo. Make a valley fold 3" from one end, and a mountain fold 3" from the other
3. Embellish the skater and border at this time. I'm skipping this step... 4. Now for the tricky part. Take the non-blade edge of your exacto and separate the layers a little in the center section on both the top and bottom. You'll be tucking in the paper tabs here later.

Getting "Punchy"

Lots of hole punching here! Can't tell you how much I wanted to throw a grad cap on this guy!

A "Freebie"

I'm always looking for some quick, and simple ideas to use up my ever-growing pile of paper scraps. This freebie thank you card for customers is made using punches, and takes about 1/2 hour to make two.

The Simple V-fold

Sometimes it's just better to stick with the simple design....

Scrap basket with Fitted Lid

Hide that junk in a basket with a lid...

Is it Summer Yet?

It felt like it yesterday! But today is very overcast, and it's not easy to get decent pictures on a cloudy windy day.

Butterfly in Blue....

She's a little smaller than my orange monarch one, but still a nice big size!

The Rising Candle Cupcake

Grad Invites...

I have some classy looking invites for the adults, that include my son's picture, but for his friends - something a little less formal and a little more fun. Attached to the ring is a Shrinky Dink that has his school, "class of 2008", and the phrase, "Now I'm like really smart and stuff!" He doesn't plan on using an envelope for these tag invites.

Earth Day - April 22

This is my first venture into recycled papers. They don't have a huge selection of colors available yet, so the silver paper on the front is not recycled - everything else is...

Double click on the pics for better viewing.

More Reduced-in-Size Items!

I've reduced my pattern for takout boxes to be useful as party favors. My son will be graduating in a month and so party-planning for me is in full swing!

Retro 1970s...

The first crafts I ever sold were plant hangars. I supplied a florist on consignment when I was just eleven years old. Look closely because this one is made for dolls at 1:6 scale. And, of course, there's paper involved because that's what I do! Each leaf is handpainted, scored, and sealed with polyurethane.