hearts to clovers

February has Valentine's Day, and March has St. Patrick's Day.
This project can be used for both.
Cuz you see, I'm always trying to figure out themes for 'get-togethers', cards, gifts, etc.  Because...that's just the way I am! :)

And I hope that's the way you are too. Because it's fun to make things, and I think most people really appreciate handmade items.
Hope you are planning on some fun events this year. And I hope I can help jazz up your celebrations.
Today we are folding paper, which in Japanese is called Origami. And a little bit of cutting paper, which is called Kirigami.

today's project is:

Origami folded card

You will need:
paper (cut into squares), scissors, glue, ribbon

1. Fold the paper point to point (diagonally). Then flip it over and fold edge to edge. And then rotate and fold it edge to edge again.

2. Then gently guiding it with your fingers, close it so that you will have the (unfolded) square shape on the outside of it.
3. You will make four of these.

4. With the folded corners on the bottom, you will cut a heart shape out of the 'open' top side. Then you will trace this shape on to the rest of the folded papers, so your hearts are all the same shape.
5. Trace this heart shape onto 2 other papers. I used a different color of green, and the paper is stiffer card stock. This will be the outside covers.
6. Stack two hearts and glue together.  Continue stacking and gluing until you have all four shapes glued together.
7. Tape one end of a ribbon onto the last side, put glue on it, and glue the lighter green card stock heart onto this. Do with the other end also.
8. Now you can fold up the hearts, tie the ribbon and it is flat (for mailing or putting in an envelope). When the recipient gets it, they will untie the ribbon, open up and re-tie.

If you want to make a necklace out of this, cut a ribbon (long enough to get over your head). You will need a pony bead large enough to thread through both ends of the necklace. Then glue the ribbon ends onto the hearts, as shown in red ------>
I glued little words from a magazine, but you can write messages inside, too.
Instead of tying the ribbon, now you will slide the bead to fasten the folded shape.

tip of the day:
you can take one of these clover shapes, cut a small X with an exacto knive in the center, and push a straw through it, and use for your next party for sippin' in style.

That's all for this week!
:D




The paper I used to demonstrate is purple on one side, and orange on the other. To make seeing the folds easier. But I used green paper for the final project.

Sew what what now?

Well, the Valentine/hearts/flowers/love stuff is over. Fun while it lasted.

Everyone was screaming for the earrings I make out of recycled aluminum cans for Valentine's Day. So I was making tons of pink and red heart earrings.
I ran around to the shops that carry my stuff, to make sure they were stocked up on the Valentine/hearts/flowers/love stuff. I sold some, but...
Now, I have a bunch of these pink and red hearts leftover. That's okay, I'll put them away for next Valentine's Day.
And guess what...next holiday is St. Patrick's Day. So I have to get revved up for that.

And now we are all drinking sodas out of cans that have green on them...
Except my husband who opts for beer out of green cans.
We're all trying to get into the shamrock groove.

So while I'm transitioning, this week I'm highlighting my daughters' blogs:
Dana's blog:
http://www.apairofneedles.blogspot.com/
Betsy's blog:
http://melittaberze.blogspot.com/

Please check them out, they are clever crafters/sewers/knitters/artists!
I'll be working on the leprechaun stuff.

tip of the day:
I went shopping today, and bacon was on sale, buy one get one free.
So of course I bought 4! But I know I can't use all that bacon at once. So what I did was cut the package in half, and froze the individual packs in quart size zip loc bags. So now when I need bacon, I can thaw out 1/2 a package, which is just the right size for the two of us. (what we don't use at breakfast, I make BLT's or bacon crumbles for salad.) Plus, the 1/2 pieces fit into the pan a lot easier than larger pieces.

That's all for this week.
:D

Circle of Hearts

Well that special time of year is here.

Fighting the pounds we put on at Christmas and New Year's parties just in time for another hurdle.

Valentine Chocolates!!! eek...

But this week's project is totally guilt free, and you can have as many of these around to celebrate this heartfelt holiday without gaining an ounce.

Paper Heart Rings

You will need:

~napkins (square)

~scissors

~freezer paper (optional)

Look at the napkin. See the way it's folded? It has an 'open' corner and a 'folded' corner.

You will be folding this napkin into an ice cream cone shape, with the open end always up. Fold 2 times.

Take your scissors and cut two curve shapes (like the top of a heart) off the top. This will cause all the folds to turn into a heart shape, when opened.

Then you need to cut the bottom off so you leave a point.
Open up for your heart ring! If you use large napkins, you can also use the bottom cut out for a coaster. (See photo at top.)
You can scatter these heart rings all over your Valentine table. Under clear plates, under cookies or chocolates, under glass vases, votive candles, etc.

Now if you want to have these delicate napkins a bit stronger ~ iron on some freezer paper (the waxy side to the napkin) BEFORE you cut the heart shapes out. This works with delicate fabric also.

You can use either large or small napkins, or both.
These are real cute and easy, so make a bunch!
IF you don't have napkins, you can use wrapping paper, origami paper, etc.

tip of the day:
My dad gave me this tip a long time ago. If you get something in your eye, such as an eyelash, take a kleenex, fold up a few times to create a pointy end (like the ice cream cone shape we made above).
Gently touch this onto the irritant, and it will be absorbed onto the kleenex. If it doesn't work the first time, refold and use a new, dry end, and try again.

That's all for this week...
:D