Wrap Up Your Gift Card

Making a gift card holder is a simple project that adds a nice touch to giving a gift card this Christmas season or anytime.  I used a Cricut Explore on this project but you can probably find a template online that can be cut out with scissors.  Use a double-sided decorative card stock so the inside will have a design too.

I selected a basic gift card holder design in Cricut Design Space and cut it out with the Cricut Explore.  I had to guess at the dimensions - and it ended up being a good guess -

  W 5.64" and H 4.28"

Here it is!

Turn it over and use a bone folder to score along the flaps to be folded.

This is how it looks after scoring.

Use a strong adhesive along the side, folded over flap on each side.  Do not start at the very top.  Check to see where to start by folding up the bottom flap.  I like to use Glue Dots Stitch Glue Squares as they are very small, hold very well, and are easy to apply.  If you overlap this adhesive at all, just take your finger and push it away from the edge.  The Glue Dot squares/dots will easily move unlike many other adhesives that once applied at all incorrectly sometimes will ruin a project.  

Now that the gift card is in, time for a few finishing touches.

I chose to put a tag on the gift card holder - I actually moved it to the other side and put a pretty tule ribbon around it as you can see from the first photograph.

Have a wonderful Christmas week and be sure to make some time to make some gift card holders!  Craft on!

Make a Planner Pocket Page

Making a pocket page for your planner is very easy!  And for those of you like me who have lots of scrapbook card stock, you have a lot of choices of colors and patterns.  For a classic size Happy Planner, start with a 12" x 12" piece of card stock.  I used a single-sided piece of card stock.  My final pocket page has gold dots - sorry, I forgot to take photos of the beginning of the process so I used a similar piece of card stock to show you how to fold it.

Start by folding up approx 4-5 inches along the entire sheet.  This will be your pocket.  

 Then fold the sheet like a book with the "pocket" area to the outside.

Use a strong adhesive like Glue Dots stitch glue squares to adhere the edges of the pocket closed on each side.  You need a strong adhesive since you will be putting items in your pocket on both sides and you don't want it coming apart!

Then use the Glue Dots stitch glue squares to adhere the ends of the pocket page.

I decorated the edge of the pocket on my page with washi tape.  If you use 2-sided color or patterned card stock your pocket page will already have a decorative flair.  Mine had a white back so it needed some decoration.

Add a few washi tapes!

Next, I punched the newly adhered edge of the pocket page with a strong punch so it would fit into the Happy Planner.

Such a cute pocket page to put in my planner!

Make your own pocket page today.  Craft on!

Make Your Own Planner or Scrapbook Dashboard

Make your very own custom planner or scrapbook dashboard!  Choose your favorite card stock or colors that go with your scrapbook or planner layout.  I then used the free Design Space software for the Cricut Explore to put together my design.

Insert a square shape and then manipulate it into a rectangle.  Add text, copy, and weld and it's ready to be cut.  Very simple and quick!

I chose a very smooth glitter card stock by DCWV - cuts like butter.  This picture shows the machine cutting the top layer of the dashboard.

Now that the base layer and top layers are cut, the top layers can now be glued.

Assembled and ready to be punched so it will fit into my planner.

I used The Happy Planner punch by Me and My Big Ideas as this dashboard will be used in the classic size Happy Planner.  As long as you don't have anything too thick, this will work.

The variety of dashboards you can create is endless.  Make them for a holiday or just for everyday.  And because you make them custom, they can be sized any way that works for you.  A few of the dashboards in the photo above are for use in my Happy Planner Mini planner.  Enjoy making your own dashboards - craft on!!

Making Planner Stickers with the Cricut Explore

It's satisfying and fun to make your own planner stickers.  You can choose your own colors and designs.  Today I'm making stickers for the classic size Happy Planner by Me and My Big Ideas using Cricut Design Space and the Explore machine.

 In Design Space I chose to "Insert Shape" and picked a square.  I then resized the shape into a rectangle with the dimensions of the boxes in the Happy Planner.  I added the patterned paper to each rectangle by clicking on the shape in the "Layers" area to the right of what you are seeing above.  In the "Layer Attributes" pop up click on "Print", then select "Pattern".  A large group of patterned papers comes up.  You may purchase them, have access to several included in the Cricut Subscription program called Access, or have many of them granted to you by Cricut because you are/were an Imagine owner.  Select one of the patterns for each of the rectangles you created.  I added a few decorations on top of the patterned papers in a few instances.  "Import Image" on the left of the screen and pick a few images to add.  Choose to "Flatten" the image after you have resized it.  Drag the image over to the rectangle and place it there.  "Select All" and "Group" the rectangle and image so that if you want to move the image it will move as one item.  Here are my created stickers ready to print and cut.

 I added a few other images to decorate with.  Just be sure to "Flatten" them so they print out as one image and not cut out the several layers that many images have.  Hit the "Go" button to proceed to the next screen in Design Space for printing.  I had to play around with the configuration of my images a bit to get the program to print them all onto one page.  I just kept going back and forth and rearranging until I saw they would print all together.  Follow the directions to print.  Design Space will place Registration Marks on the page so that the machine will be able to cut the images out. After printing (onto a 8 1/2 x 11 Avery Shipping Label sticker sheet), place your printed sheet onto the Cricut mat.  Continue to follow the prompts in Design Space.  Load and hit the Cricut button.  But be sure to set the dial on the machine to "Custom" and choose "Washi tape" so the Explore doesn't cut all the way through the sticker paper.  It will kiss-cut on this setting.  Here we go:

All my stickers are now cut!  You can see that there is a lot of wasted space on the sticker sheet. Currently Cricut Design Space has a limited print and cut capability.  Hopefully this will be corrected in a future Design Space update. The fun part is decorating the planner!!!

And then I added more decorations to this week in the planner. Now it's ready for the pen!

Hope you found this tutorial helpful on how to make your own planner stickers in Cricut Design Space.  If you have any questions be sure to ask and I'll try to help!  Craft on!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The pocket-sized coloring book called Enchanted Faces by Hannah Lynn has become a favorite of mine.  Fifty single sided pages with mermaids and fairies - all with flowing hair that is super fun to color.  This picture was colored with Copic markers.

A Thankful Time

Fall colors, pumpkins, and a beautiful verse in the new book Inspire Psalms - colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils.

Shaker Planner Dashboard and Clip

Yes, I admit that the more bling, sparkle, and glitter the better.  So put some sequins and sparkly do-dads in a pouch or sandwiched behind acetate/card stock and I am satisfied.  This planner shaker dashboard and shaker planner clip were made by two very talented planner friends who are so generous to share their supplies and their knowledge.  I think the best part of planning is the friends that have been made through our meet up group.  Now when I need a pick-me-up I can shake, shake, shake all that sparkly goodness!

Another Enchanted Face

Hannah Lynn's pocket-sized coloring book Enchanted Faces has become a favorite.  If you like to color mermaids, fairies, and fantasy you will like this artist and her books.  Can't get enough!

Mini Happy Planner Before the Pen

The Mini Happy Planner by Me and My Big Ideas is just the right size for a little decorating and writing in my daily appointments, school pick up times, events, etc.  Some washi tape and a few stickers and it's ready for the pen.  Goes into my purse because of its small size too.

Using Alcohol-Based Markers and Colored Pencils Together

Did you ever think about using your Copic or Spectrum Noir markers right along with colored pencils?  They work really nicely together.  Adding the colored pencil on top of an area that has been colored with an alcohol marker (after it has dried) adds more depth and dimension.  This image comes from the pocket-sized coloring book by Hannah Lynn called Enchanted Faces.  What a fun book!  I especially like that it's a small book so the images don't take quite as long to color.

The Famous Washi Tower

Don't laugh too loud!  My inspiration came from the onion ring towers that some restaurants serve.  It's kind of silly I guess but it was a hoot to make and the laughs from my planner friends was priceless.  Chopsticks glued to cardboard circles.  That's it.  Makes it easy to use your washi tape.  Well sort of.

Alcohol Markers are Fun!

Playing around with Spectrum Noir pens and the fun coloring book they offer.  Really great images.  If you haven't colored with alcohol markers you don't know what you're missing.  The Spectrum Noir pens are less expensive than Copics so it's a good way to get started and see if you like it.  Be warned - you may get hooked and want every color!  Color on!

Cut Planner Stickers the Easy Way

I spent a lot of time hand cutting stickers.  I actually didn't mind doing it that way but it just took way too long.  Planner friends were using the Silhouette Cameo or Portrait to cut their stickers.  So, when a good deal came along, I bought a Silhouette Portrait.  Took awhile to figure out and not really helpful when the machine won't read those Registration Marks but have since figured out how to get my stickers cut with the machine.  If you're trying to do the same be sure to check out the YouTube videos online.  Or if you have a specific question let me know and I'll try to answer it for you. Plan on!

I Can Look at Elvis All Week

 A great week in the Happy Planner when you can look at Elvis everyday.  Not sure exactly why I like him but something intriguing about him and his life and the affect he had on the world.  Of course, he's handsome too - especially the young E - at least in my mind.  I love this free sticker set from Victoria Thatcher.  Her blog is a treasure of free planner stickers just waiting to be downloaded, printed and stuck to whatever you want!!

Elvis is back!  In the performances of Scot Bruce anyway.  What a pro.  If you ever get a chance to see him you must check it out.  Especially if you are an Elvis fan or just love the music of that time period.

Faithfully Color

The Inspire Bible makes Bible reading and coloring mesh into a hopeful and uplifting time of encouragement.  Even in difficult circumstances...  I'm thankful for the time I can spend there with pencil in hand.

Before the Pen

Back to school layout in the Happy Planner before the pen.  It's going to be a very busy week so there will be lots of things to write in soon! There are lots of planner stickers available for free online.  Search on Pinterest or Google it and look for stickers that are specifically made for your brand of planner.  This set of stickers is from the Victoria Thatcher blog.  She has SO many great planner sticker sets for free.  Check it out, print them out, cut them out and stick them in your planner.

Memory Planning

The Polaroid Zip printer has been really useful and fun.  Super easy to take the photos off your phone and print them out.  The Happy Planner has become a memory planner since purchasing the Zip.  I decorated this rather heavy with pics only because we were away on a trip and I didn't need room in the planner for recording appointments and such.  Some people like to journal too along with the pictures.  I would rather let the pics tell the story.

The Pen Can Make the Planner, Sort of

Planner stickers, washi tape, AND pretty pens - that's how to plan properly.  Seriously though, it's super fun to have a pretty pen with your pretty planner.  All the colors make me a happy planner indeed.

Be Inspired and Color

Relax and Have a Happy Life

The lazy days of summer...  Be sure to make a plan to kick back for awhile and relax.  We all need that.  I know I sure do!  Grab your planner and relax.

Coloring with JOY

The Inspire Bible provides some wonderful artwork on the margins of many of its pages to color.  There's something very relaxing about coloring.  Guess that's why it is so popular now.  Even more special to sit with your Bible and read a bit and then color a bit.  Is bringing much joy my way.

Washi, Washi, Washi - Not Just for Planners

Washi tape - dreamy, thin, often translucent tape in tons of colors and patterns!  Use it in your planner.  Use it as an alternative to ribbon when wrapping gifts.  That's what I did here.  And I really like using it this way!