a little bit D.C., a little bit design, a little bit me
A couple weeks before each Valentine's Day when I was growing up, my mother would lay out red and pink paper, markers, glue, scissors, and paper doilies. My siblings and I would spend the evening making Valentine cards for our grandparents and other relatives. I especially loved cutting the lacy doilies into hearts and gluing [...]
I love using kraft paper for gift wrapping. Its plainness is the reason I gravitate to it. Kraft paper creates the perfect canvas for creative, statement packages. This string of hearts is so easy and inexpensive to make, and after the gift is opened, you can use it as table decoration or bunting. Materials: Heart [...]
These sweet little cards are so easy to make with just a few materials. They are perfect for the kids' Valentines, party favors, or friend gifts. You can use any wrapped heart candy for the center. I used Reese's Peanut Butter Cups since I already had some on hand, but you can make them with [...]
As February 14 approaches, you might still be looking for Valentine ideas for yourself or the kids that do not involve more candy. How about giving pencils or pens to your friends this year? This "you've got the write stuff" tag is so easy to make and slides write onto the pencil. You may download [...]
Not every Valentine's Day gift has to be candy or flowers. How about giving pretty little bars of soap this year? It is so easy to create beautiful packaging for any bar of soap using my antiqued collage sheet and simple paper heart embellishments. It is a wonderful idea for bridal shower favors, teacher gifts, [...]
When life hands you a furlough and a snowstorm in the same week, what can you do but make Snurlough cream? There is nothing so capable of compounding the boredom-inducing government shutdown than an old-fashioned blizzard. It kept me home bound for all of Sunday, but on Monday I was determined to get out. I [...]
So I'm furloughed. The federal government shutdown has meant many things to the thousands of Americans it has affected. The biggest story, of course, has been the one that starts and ends with the devastating absence of earned income. But to me, for now, it is a tale of time. Lots of extra, unplanned hours [...]
Like all American children, I grew up exchanging little Valentine cards with everyone in my class each February 14. I especially loved the years when the teacher let us make 'mailboxes' out of shoe boxes. I always covered mine with tissue paper flowers. The more the better. At the end of the day, when I [...]
The tradition of giving small gifts of affection on Valentine's Day dates back centuries. And what could be more perfect than a sweet treat in packaging you made yourself? I designed these A Little Treat for Someone Sweet tags to make it easier. I attached mine to little brown paper bags filled with chocolates. You [...]
This printable itinerary is the perfect addition to your hotel welcome packets for weddings, family reunions, or anytime you have guests in town. Instructions Download the PDF at the bottom of this page and save it to your hard drive. Then open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Even though the PDF will open in your [...]