Entries for September 2008

By Julie Jones 

I love sending my friends and family sweet things in the mail. It makes my heart happy to send a sweet surprise to someone I love. I try to send out at least one note to someone special each week. To help me achieve this, I have come up with the quick solution.

 

For this craft you will need:

 

A jar (I used a small canning jar)

Acrylic paint

Rub ons or stickers

Scrap paper

Cardstock

 

Step 1: Cut strips of paper out of some scrap paper. I had a half of a piece of a pattern that I really liked left, so I just used it. I free hand cut strips about an inch wide and two and a half inches long. You just need them big enough to write a name on.

Step 2: After you write the names of your loved ones on the slips of paper, wrap them around your pen or pencil to make them curl. This helps them stay in the jar and you can easily pull out a name each week.

Step 3: Cut squares of cardstock. I cut these to 4x4 in size because they will easily fit into an envelope without having to be folded.

Step 4: Decorate the squares of cardstock. I used random rub ons that I had and some tiny flowers. Glue dots are great for adhering the flowers to the cardstock.

Step 5: Brush paint on the lid of the jar and then wipe it away. This will leave some paint on the lid and give it a weathered look. I used brown paint, but you can use any color you’d like.

Step 6: Once your painted/wiped off lid is completely dry, apply a rub on to it. I also punched a little heart and added it to the lid with a glue dot.

I have this little jar sitting on my desk, along with my stack of pre-made notes. It is very easy for me to pull a name out of the jar each week when I sit down to pay bills. I quickly jot down a sweet note and stick it into an invitation-sized envelope. Then I send it along with the other mail I am sending that week.

by Julie Jones 

Don’t toss those empty orange juice or milk boxes! They make great containers for a personalized piggy bank for your kids.

 

Supplies:

One empty orange juice or milk box (rinsed and cleaned thoroughly)

Glue

Paper (patterned, construction, etc.)

Ruler

Scissors or paper trimmer

Alphabet stickers

Various other embellishments (buttons, sequins, stickers, etc.)

 

Begin with an empty orange juice or milk box. I used a Tropicana orange juice box. The size of the lid is slightly larger than a quarter, so I thought it would make a great piggy bank. Rinse the inside of the box thoroughly. We wouldn’t want any milk or orange juice left over!

 

Next, measure and cut papers to cover each side of the box. I would not recommend painting the box because it has a slick finish. If you wanted to paint it, I would try sanding it a little bit first to give the paint something to stick to.

 

Evenly spread glue over each side of the box, working on a section at a time and apply your paper to it. I used Tombo Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, but I’m sure any adhesive would work well. After all sides are covered, including the top, set aside for several minutes to dry.

 

Decorate the outside of the box in any way you’d like. The papers I used were very decorative, so I just suggested to my daughter that we put only a title, “Barbie Fund” on the front of the box.

 

This was a quick, fun craft. I also enjoy that I will be teaching my daughter the value of money as she saves for her Barbies!