Birthday and Other Greeting Cards with Tags!

 How about making some Greeting Cards with Tags? They are very easy and can be made from a variety of materials...

 We made them at Mencap and they loved the idea of putting a message or greeting on the Tag - a surprise for the lucky recipient when the tag is pulled out...!

 For tags we used a variety of purchased coloured tags, as well common brown luggage labels.

As you can see the "Tag Pockets" were cut out of printed paper and attached to the cards with glue on only three sides.

Ribbons and stickers completed these pretty, fun cards!

Make a Junk-Mail Flower Collage!

Collage A

Collage B

Instead of dumping the Junk-Mail, cut it up and make a flower collage! 

I used a clothing catalogue, which had such a large range of shades and hues, it was hard to decide which colours I wanted to use...

You will need...
A4 Card

Junk-Mail (or magazine / comic / newspaper)

Buttons (one for each flower) Or just use contrasting colours, cut out from paper, card or felt.
Glue

Double sided sticky pads or glue dots (to attach the buttons and bow)

Thread (I used waxed thread) - Optional (Collage B)

Bow - Optional (Collage B)

Acrylic Paint or Felt Tip Pen - Optional (Collage A)

Die Cutting Machine (Collage A) Optional - use the Flower Template instead


I have made two collages - the one on the black card (Collage A) - I painted the stems with white acrylic paint - like this...

and then I cut out my flowers using my Big Shot Die Cutter - however if you don't have access to a Die Cutting Machine, then use these Flower Templates, which is what I used for the collage with the cream card (Collage B).

Click here for your flowers templates

How to Do It...

Cut out you flowers as detailed above.

Paint the stems if desired (Collage A)

Place your flowers on the card and when you are happy with your layout, stick them on.

Then place a button in the centre of each flower and attach them on using a double sided pad or a glue dot.

If you haven't painted your stems you can use thread, (Collage B) and if you like add a bow!

I am sure you will come up with many variations of this collage - just use your imagination and create your own design!

Enjoy being creative...! 

Valentine Heart Streamers - Tutorial

 

Its that time of the year again! 

Valentine's Day when hearts are everywhere as we celebrate love...!

So if you want to join in the fun of creating your own hearts, with your groups or maybe with your school class or your own children, here is a very simple way of making Valentine streamers.

You will need...

Thin card - One A4 sheet each of white and red card made 7 large and 10 smaller hearts

Stapler

How to make...

Cut your card into strips - 

Larger heart - my strips are 1.5 x 21cm (cut across the width of the A4 sheet)

Smaller heart is created by reducing the length of the strips - so 1.5 x 16cm

Staple four strips together at one end

Take the two outer strips and bend them downwards to meet at the bottom point of your first heart. 

Hold them together and add two more strips - one on either  side. 

Staple these four strips together and then bend down the two outer strips to form your second heart.

Repeat until you have made enough Valentine Hearts for your desired length of streamer. 

It's so easy and great fun to see them popping into shape!

Hope you enjoy making Valentine Heart Streamers and spreading the love!

How to Make Felt Valentine Hearts - Tutorial & Templates

Valentine's Day on 14th February - time to make Felt Valentine Hearts!

They can be hung on a door handle or placed in a wardrobe....for a delightful waft of lavender amongst your clothes...! 

What a lovely Valentine gift for you to make! 

Here is the tutorial - with printable heart templates...

You will need... 💗💗💗

Felt (you will need approx 2 x A4 sizes of main colour and scraps of contrasting colour)

Embroidery thread

Button

Ribbon or cord to make hanging loop

Stuffing - we used Polyester Fibre Toy Stuffing

Lavender Oil (or any perfumed oil) Optional

To Make... 💗💗💗

Print out the template... Here are the Heart Templates

Cut out two of the large hearts and one each of the smaller hearts.

Attach the two small hearts with a button on top, onto one large felt heart.

Attach your looped ribbon to the top of the other large felt heart.

Stitch the two large hearts together - use either blanket stitch or just a running loop stitch, leaving a gap to insert your stuffing (with, if desired, a few drops of perfumed oil)

Stitch up the gap and you're done! 💗💗💗

These felt hearts are easy to make and are not only for Valentines Day - 

they really are Anytime Hearts!

Quiz - "Songs ... Fill in the Colours!" Printable with Answers

Time for a Quiz I think - the weather is typically January, so we need to keep busy indoors...!

So here it is with "Answers" for you to print out - Enjoy!

Quiz - Songs ... Fill in the Colours!

If you want more quizzes - have a look at my eBook 

41 Easy Quizzes with Answers 

Wishing you all a positive and peaceful 2023

Let's all make it a better year than 2022!

Printable Santa Template - For Tree Hangings - Tutorial

If you want to make your own Santas - here is the link to download and print the Santa Template - print straight onto thin card if you can and then colour-in and cut out the six parts. 

Attach the arms and legs with paper clips (Brads) and then glue a flat lolly stick behing the body, with about an inch sticking out at the top. 

Attach Santa's head to this with a double-sided sticky pad. 

Add a loop and hang him on the Christmas Tree! 

Cotton wool beards and glitter can be added if so desired!

Craft at Mencap Braintree - with Christmas Carols, Tea and Donuts!

Click on the Christmas button above to find all the other Christmas Craft on my Blog...

Quiz - Match the Collective Noun to the Animal - Free Printable Quiz!

 

A new quiz for you to enjoy with your groups - 

Ten common animals to match to their Collective Noun!

Here is the link - Click and Print! Quiz - Collective Nouns

Hope you enjoy this Free Printable Quiz - Collective Nouns!

If you would like more quizzes 

please have a look at my eBook - 41 Easy Printable Quizzes