Make your own Greeting Cards

  The gift of greeting agrees with me.

The enjoyable experience of crafting and posting a greeting cards
 is only compounded by the recipients joy of the experience.

Greeting Cards are in season every season.  

A reason is not required.

Through the love of another we are inspired

to share the words that transpire

on the greeting card of your hearts desire.

 

DIY CRAFTs

I have been crafting and selling Greeting Cards for over 30 years. 

                              The production of same has been a great source of pleasure for me. 

                             

                    HANDMADE CARDS PROVIDE THE SPACE
                                                         FOR CREATIVE FREEDOM TO ROAM

       

Craft Blog  DIY Cards

 The brown corrugated cardboard above left on the card was rescued and recycled from a box of biscuits.
 The black corrugated card was taken from a box of chocolates.The gift tag with coin, is a sticker that I mounted on foam core before gluing into place. The ribbon was saved from a satchel of sorts, somewhere along the way and glued on top.The writing is done with fabric paint that comes in fine tip bottles.

             Keep it simple. Limit the writing on the front of each card. Personalize to perfection.

Greeting Card DIY

#1Gold corrugated cardboard.#2.Pink and yellow Dollar Store card/scrapbook accessory. #3. Buttons and Feather. #4. Wire bangle.
                                    
                                                Work to a finished card - one layer at a time.

Greeting Card @ Lillian the Domestic Engineer

#1. White paper square. #2. White corrugated cardboard. #3. Red parcel Dollar Store item,
#4 Fabric paint writing and parcel tree glitter.

Greeting Card DIY Craft

#1.Sketch out your thoughts lightly in pencil.  #2. Detail outline in fine black pen. I used a water soluble ink so I could smear it slightly with a wet fingertip. I did the writing with a black fine tip sharpie. I did not want it to smear.. #3. Pink crayon.

Simple can be super too.
Sometimes a little humor is necessary.

Simple black and white with a touch of Gold Metallic Foil.


Paint between the lines.
The following two cards are painted on a water color paper.

Best Craft Blog -Cards

 Greeting Card- Water Color

Using strips of masking tape, create a border shape to paint within.
Make sure the tape is pressed firmly against the paper to avoid having the paint bleed under the tape edges.
Once the paint has dried carefully remove the tape. Don't forget to sign your original artwork.

Stamping it out. HERE
 One potato - two potato

Lillian the Domestic Engineer.Blogspot.ca

Life is a great bundle of little things.

Create your own Potato stamp and stamp away.

Make Greeting Cards

Embossing Tinsel is a simple, effective way of bringing a degree of shine and professionalism to your card.
Sprinkle tinsel onto wet stamp print and set with a warm iron. Click above on Stamping it out for details.

Recycle.  Recycle.  Recycle.

Make use of the marvelous 

Make your own Greeting Cards

                                                                Think inside the box.
The following three Cards are created using the marvelous selection of papers and prints from old greeting cards. The bits and bows were all dug out of the drawer where I keep the little, shiny things that hold the promise of commitment to card.

                                                          Put your Heart into it!

                              Give it a Gift Tag

           Pretty pastels pieces of paper, pinking shears and gift tags help turn the simple into the superb.
          Fabric paint finalizes the thought behind the project.


    Pop it up a bit....


Although pop up cards do require some fore thought and a little more work,
 I am always thrilled with the results

More Cards HERE

Don't let the blank slate intimidate. Build up your card one layer at a time.

Jewelry Display Frame DIY

I've had this old frame for years.
For a long time it hung near the front door where it was used as a post it place.
Kids photos, artwork and notes were tacked or pinned onto the front of it.

 For as many years and longer, I struggled with a practical way to display the collection of costume jewelry that was amassing in every little box and bowl in my room.
It was always difficult to dig out two of the same earrings to wear for the day so typically I wore
 the same 2-3 pair of earrings day after day.  I would just leave them on the bedside table
instead of stuffing them into one of my jewel boxes or bowls.

For the large part otherwise, I had resolved to be happy with wearing two different earrings.
I don't know who or why the rule was made that insisted the earrings need to be the same but I
did know that the system wasn't working for me.
I was surprised how many people were quick to point out the fact that I was wearing
 two different earrings.

 In an effort to organize my piles one afternoon, I moved the large frame that had been stripped of the photos and notes it once held and delegated to the floor, where it sat for several months, before being motivated to get organized on this particular day prompted me to pick it up.
 It finally occurred to me what a great Jewelry Display the frame would be.
 I set out to transform the frame into a practical, beautiful wall display for my jewelry. Instead of putting it
in the closet, I put it up on my work table.

I began the transformation by hot gluing a framed cork board to the lower front portion of the frame.
It was a perfect fit.
To the front of the cork board, I then hot glued a black piece of screen window mesh that I had laying around. Many years ago I had first used the mesh in the production of funky, fashionable earrings. It would now work perfectly for hanging earrings.
To the top portion of the frame I hot glued a piece of black silk fabric. I had first folded back the edges to avoid any fabric fraying. The Black would serve as a wonderful back drop for the jewels I would pin onto it.

This photo is sideways. The black fabric area is at the top of the frame.
 The cork board is glued below the fabric.

Craft Blog

I then searched through my collection of broken jewel bits, fabric and fringe trim and buttons to find pieces that could be hot glued on, to trim the tiny gap between the cork board and the frames edge
as well as to finish the outer edges of the black silk area .

DIY Jewelry Frame

               The trim at the top of the frame was created
    with a broken string of fake pearls and the three round buttons. 

                                   Both sides of the frame as well as the bottom
                  were covered and filled in with an assortment of buttons and broken jewel bits.

                      A thin broken chain was hot glued to the inside edge of the cork board frame itself.

                            Earrings with a hook can be easily slid into a mesh hole and hung.
                            For earrings with a stud back, it was necessary to be able to lift the mesh
                             to secure the earring backs.
                         

                                                           As seen at bottom here.
                 As it were I found at least a half a dozen Kilt Pins in my treasure collection,
              several of which were used to secure a separate piece of mesh over the first layer of mesh.


                                    This allows me to lift the mesh and secure the earring back.

To top it all off

I used a sewing strait pin to hold this lovely ladies head to the wall. 

It is pinned so that it sits on the lip of  the framed Jewelry display.

 

 I am thrilled with the over all appearance and ecstatic about the practicality of the project.
Now at a glance, I am able to select the piece of jewelry that I chose to adorn myself with.

My jewelry no longer lays lost and forgotten  in containers.
I can now appreciate the beauty of my collection, after all that is why I collect it.


Check out The other things I do for the love of Crafting

Valentine Potato Stamp DIY

One potato, two potato
Let your LOVE grow this Valentines Day

Straight from the Heart

Potato Print Valentine Day Card

  ..one step at a time.


Potato Prints
These are easier than pie and simpler than Borsch to make.


 #1. Select and slice a raw potato in half.
You could slice on the long side for a larger working area.

Potato Print

Valentine Craft

#2. Using the tip of a small parring knife,
slice/ outline the design into the top,
cutting into the potato about 1/4 inch deep.
Keep the design simple.
 The area you do not cut away becomes your stamp.






#3. Slice a 1/4 inch slab off the potato,
cutting all the way around.
being careful to cut just up to the knife outline of your design.
Remove the slice, taking care not to disturb the design edge.

Craft Blog

#4. Detail can be added to your basic stamp
shape at this point.
Using the tip of the knife,
carefully cut out detail by slicing down into
the potato. 

Potato Print Craft

Valentine Potato Stamp DIY

Your Potato Stamp is now ready to be printed.
Water based ink stamp pad are fine for many projects.

I used a green ink pad first
and then just tipped the leaf end areas
 onto a blue ink pad. 

#5. Press and gently wiggle the potato stamp onto the ink pad. Remove and press the inked potato stamp onto your card, taking care not to wiggle it.
Press firmly and hold  for 20 seconds.
Lift the stamp directly and away from the paper to avoid smudging or rubbing ink elsewhere.

 Embossing powders can be added for a professional looking finished effect.
Find it in craft stores.


#6. Sprinkle Embossing powder onto the WET inked print of your stamp.


#7. Shake excess embossing powder off onto a clean sheet of paper
 so it can be easily funneled back into the container for re use.

#8. Gently press the back of the card against a warm iron.
The tip of a knife can be used to press the card.
Hold for 30-40 seconds or until embossing powder has been heated. This will help set the Embossing glitter in place.


Eat your heart out Craft HERE

Paper Heart Craft HERE


Happy Valentines Day

Are Bullies born or raised?

Sticks and Stones by Ruby Redfort

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can also hurt me.
Stones and sticks break only skin, while words are ghosts that haunt me.
Slant and curved the word-swords fall, it pierces and sticks inside me.
Bats and bricks may ache through bones, but words can mortify me.
Pain from words has left its' scar on mind and heart that's tender.
Cuts and bruises have not healed, it's words that I remember.

From where arise the cruel things that people will say?

Are Bullies born or are they raised?

The bully can bring others to tears with the power invested in them by the words they possess and their ability to use them. Words that hurt as they were meant to do, words that mock and tease as intended to do. Words that hurt more than time can say. Words of which bad memories are made.

Do unto others before they do unto you differs greatly from

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Children learn as they see.

 Trust must be present for faith to survive.

Why seek faith where trust doesn't thrive. 

Children learn that life isn't fair and that's unfair.

Bullies can and do grow much bigger than the playground.

Intimidation and humiliation are practiced on the playground,

 in Class Rooms, Board Rooms, Back Rooms and Bedrooms .

Do little bullies grow up to be bigger Bullies?

What's in a name anyway?  

Hey Moron. Come here Stupid. Are you an Idiot?

It's just a name, ignore it, it can't hurt you we are told.

Don't be a baby, stand up for yourself we're then scolded.

They're just idiot's people say oblivious to the hypocrisy. 

Perhaps within the community of a Cyber City where morals and dignity can be as absent as love and empathy, where what we like is posted on a profile not necessarily reflective of thee, where the faceless of a community act without the hesitation of responsibility or the ownership of accountability, the time has come to check the Virtues of our reality against the Reality of our virtuality. 

  The right to change ones mind may be the right one to make.
A wise decision to ponder that no fool would make.
  Freddie Lake  Only a Fool never changes his mind
My Mother always said
“If you are arguing with an idiot just make sure they are not doing the same”

Are you acting or reacting to what people say?



 Tis through the rights of the ownership of name 
that we posses the right for ourselves to proclaim,

 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

Do bullies just grow or are they made?
The long term effects of the things we say cannot be overstated.

In the name of  rights
 let us celebrate our differences.

Ponder on.. Here

Parenting IS hard work.

To parent or not to parent?

 Friends of mine did not have children

because of their inability due to infertility.

They did not have a choice to make.

Friends of mine chose not to have children.

Their decision was based on personal choices.

I had initially viewed their decision as a rather selfish one.

However, after some discussion with them and hearing them say

that they wished people would think about having children

as long and as hard as they had about their decision not to have children.

I felt a little differently.

It suddenly didn't seem selfish not to indulge in the duties of parenthood.

In fact, their obvious lack of desire to have children
coupled with the expressed lack of time for self and each another, already in their busy lives,
choosing not to parent didn't feel as selfish as it did wise.

Giving rise to Parenting

A parent may give birth to a child

but child alone does not give rise
 to the birth of parenting.

Parenting is a learned thing, years in the works.

A King is born
I was 30 when I had my first Son. I was all in.

I had finished my 16 year working/career two days before giving birth.

 
 

Lillian the Domestic Engineer

I bumbled, I fumbled, I bawled.
I leaked, I laughed, I cried.

I fell in love.

 I have to say that it was not love at first sight.

The first sight of my son frankly had startled me. 
He was dented and colored shades of red and blue 
as a result of my having attempted to have a bowel movement
instead of heading off to Hospital to have a baby that morning.

My Dr. had informed me that it was common
 to have a bowel movement during delivering 
so I had decided that I was going to spare myself the embarrassment 
and the Dr. the grief of it all by relieving myself at home.

However, instead of having my morning b.m. before my departure 
I had instead squeezed the crap out of my Sons head!
He had been pushed down into the birth canal 
where he then waited for me to move, as it were that morning..

My Son resumed both normal coloring and a normal head shape

not long after birth. 
 

The infant(s) who had grown in me, would grow on me.

Literally.

I had four children in five years.

I was not without baby on board either sucking from or eliminating upon my body,

from at least one orifice of their warm, little bodies, for at least 6 years running.

(I can assure you that it was no slow waltz)

It does takes two to tango but it only requires one mis-step to tangle.

Children teach you that plans are made to be changed and that steps need be taken.

Parenting

The dance between a parent and a child 
is not mastered on the dance floor.

Rather it is first learned in the nursery
 and then practiced on a sticky, kitchen floor.

Parenting requires a stick to it ness

that is stronger than what is stuck to you!

Not all dances are graceful and lovely to see.

Parenting is the get down, get dirty dance

that drives you to keep everyone clean. 

Parenting is not romantic.

Parenting requires putting one foot in front of the other

no matter the music, the whine or the weather.

We may be right but we may be wrong, that's the challenge of discovery.

Parenting will most certainly age you.

Parenting requires that one learn to rock and to roll with the punches.

There are no time clocks to punch but no pay to collect. Time simply ticks away.

I am reminded when I listen to my elderly clients speak of their own children.

They are always quick to remind me that their Son or daughter are now in their 70's!

Parenting is forever.

The Dr. who would help deliver my second son showed up wearing a head piece 
with a full face shield and a pair of rubber boots.
 She knew the mess I was getting myself into!

Why...?

Why...?

Why...?

Why...?

Parents are required to answer the little "whys" a thousand times

with the love and conviction that is necessary in growing great minds.

Parenting will challenge you and all you thought you knew.

Parenting requires patience.

Kids can say the darnedest things

but a parent can and will say stranger things.

Laughing at yourself is vital to survival.

Parenting requires a sense of humor.

Parenting requires great discipline

 
Cute babies of every species do grow up.

Outgrown outfits are replaced 
by peer pressurized stuff.

The duty to parent must come before
 the desire to befriend.

No if's ands, buts or whys about it.

Parenting requires great discipline

My second Son was born 22 months after my first Son.

My third Son was born 361 days after my second Son,

My fourth Son was born 15 months after my third Son.

The birth of a parent demands the skills of a Domestic Engineer.

Parenting is not easy.

Parenting requires the ability to realize and the courage to admit to being wrong.

To err is human. 

Beauty sleep be damned, Parenting will keep you up at night.

My Knights  Clicking takes you to a new page.

Craft you own Crayons

                                 Make your own Crayons

Crayola Craft Lillian the Domestic Engineer

 Chances are very good that if you have children in your home there are also broken Crayola Crayon
 bits laying around waiting for a Sunday afternoon when they may just be found and put to good use.

I have always enjoyed coloring. I remember as a youngster the thrill of getting a new set of Crayola Crayons along with a brand new coloring book at Christmas time. It really was one of my favorite things. 
I liked the thick Coloring Books that came complete with maze puzzles and word finds.
Mixing and blending colors was my favorite pass time but I have always been a color only between the lines
kind of colorer. Lol.

I did not however like to color with a broken crayon. 
That fact remains.


 Here is an easy, enjoyable, functional was to use those old and broken bits of crayons.
 Make your own Crayons

These are a heavy rubber mold meant for making soap but perfect also for crayon creating.
They are flexible which allows for the finished crayon to be easily popped out of the mold.
They are also a nice sized crayon for pint size hands.
 

Make your own Crayon

Make Crayons

Sort bits of crayon by color. Remove all paper from crayons.
 Drop crayon bits into a coffee or soup can and melt on low heat.
Stir occasionally and do not over heat. Wax will create an unpleasant smoke.
 Never leave melting wax unattended.

I mix light colors like yellow, lime green and light blues together to create
original colors.
Shades of red and orange can be blended for a bright sunshine color.

 Once melted the wax is poured directly into the mold.
Leave the crayons in the mold to cool and set for 15 min. or so.
The mold can be carefully placed in a fridge to lessen the setting time.

 Don't worry about over spill.
The hardened crayon can be easily cleaned up around the edges
once it has cooled and been popped from the mold.





Package the home made crayons in a basket with several envelopes and sheets of folded card stock.
Include and a fine tip marker and a tube of glitter paint for a great make your own card gift.
.

Craft Crayons

 Crayons DIY

Craft Blog DIY

 Stack the crayons up in an up cycled tin box and present them with your own personalized Coloring Book

 Make your own Coloring Book HERE