Peace in 2014!

This is my favorite quote of all times that I refer to every New Year:

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” — Oprah Winfrey

I recently asked for a sign as to what I should do. I'm at a lull (and have been for a while) as to what I want to do and what I need to do. We are moving this year and I'm needing to make money but wanting to do something fun and what I love. 

So this morning I was looking for a certain photo and came across this ONLY photo saved in 2004, dated 1/1/2004 ... strange showing up ten years later. I am thinking this may be the sign. I love doing miniature anything. I cannot remember why these pieces were made, but I still have them in a box along with a table lamp, not in this photo. The floor lamp has beads hanging as a pull and the pole is a pop stick painted gold.

Is there anything you are wanting to do, new, in 2014? I want to learn to sew after we move.

Wishing for Peace in the world, in your job place, for your family, in your life and in your heart :o) 

Happy  2014!
~Molly

Tall Favor Boxes

From the Archives:

You can make two boxes from one 8.5x11-inch sheet of cardstock. These boxes are a perfect size for a handful of candy, small toys, money, notes .. just about anything you would like to gift and want a cute presentation ... you can even personalize.

I printed the watermark on the sheets before beginning. Four chocolate covered cherries in mini wrappers fit perfectly in each box. I tied a 10-inch piece of raffia on the fronts and BAM ... very easy, inexpensive gifts.

Below, these were made on a whim, experimenting with the embellishing. I used paper from a DCWV Luxury Stack. The flowers are three different size daisy punch-outs from leftover paper, glued and stacked with a bead in the center. I used a circle and square Coluzzle template to cut out the front piece(s) and covered with a piece of scrap cellophane inside.

The template is below. Use a 5.5x8.5 inch sheet of heavy cardstock. If you use a Scor-Pal, put the edge at the 3 inch and you have an exact 1-1/4 inch score mark at 4.25. Move your first score line back to the 3 and score again three more times. It doesn't matter which side of the template the 1/2" flap is located, either side will work. The flap is the first thing glued to the inside of the opposite edge when assembling the box. The only other piece to adhere is the bottom, and BAM .. your box is finished! How easy is that?

I'm a visual person, but if you like instructions here is a short version.  Score the 5.5" x8.5" sheet vertically, four times 1-1/4" apart with each score. Turn the sheet sideways and score 1-1/4" from one end and 1/2" (and 1-1/4" from that scoreline) on the other end.  The blue lines on the template are cut lines. The red dots indicate the pieces of the template that are cut and removed. I used a corner rounder punch for the top flap piece.

Glue the 1/2" flap to the inside of the opposite side. I use a tape runner, it is easy to get the flap lined up with the edge. Glue the bottom flaps down and you have a box!  It is easier than it looks, I promise. 

Alternate Sizes

As I did in the first photo, you can make a shorter box (less area to fill with candy :) by trimming 1" and using a 5.5x7.5 inch piece. I have also made a wider size box substituting 2" scores for the 1-1/4" measurements (again using the 1/2" flap scores). Use a 8.5" x10" inch sheet for the larger size.The cutout in the front is optional.


Have a fabulous day!
-Molly

Quilled Jewelry Set

I taught a quilling class at a museum in Fort Worth a couple of weeks ago and wore this jewelry set. I read that you should wear your work, I never have, so I wore this white set.

The flower is 2.25" in diameter and the earrings hang about 1.25". Sorry about the photos. I made a mistake and photographed on gray paper thinking they wouldn't show up on a white background. Click to get a better look.

I used a standard 1/4" hole punch to glue a white dot on the back center, thinking someone may look at the back. Sure enough, every person who looked at it turned it over :)

I glued a Swarovski crystal on the earrings and center of the flower for some bling. Each petal is wrapped with the English hologram edge paper. I believe I used 12" bright white strips for the individual shaped marquise.

Thanks for stopping by!
-Molly

Handmade Holiday Bookmarks

Handmade bookmarks make nice, inexpensive holiday gifts. Six 2.5" x 5.5" bookmarks can be printed on one sheet of cardstock.  Place quilled elements or other 3D embellishments on the top half of the bookmark. I used a circle punch on the top corners of the middle one and a corner rounder punch on other two.

Instructions for the quilled leaves can be found on my website here: Fall Leaves

Poinsettia: red petals are 6", green leaves are 8" and center tendrils are 1/2" using bright yellow 1/16" wide.

snowflakes

Hanging Miniature Snowflake: 1/16" wide bright white strips, center and marquise are 1", hanger, tight rolls and closed hearts are 1.5" long.

Happy Friday!

Have a fabulous weekend. (Stay warm :)

-Molly

Olive, the Other Reindeer

I found a box I have been looking for over the past three years. It had all my prototype quilled stickers I designed that Provo Craft didn't accept. It also has three small tablets filled with all the instructions for the 64 SKUs they did accept and manufacture. I really thought that the box was accidentally lost in the move. 

The line in Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer that says 'all of the other Reindeer...', is sometimes misheard as Olive, the other Reindeer. In 1997, author Vivian Walsh wrote a children's book featuring a Jack Russell Terrier as Olive, the other Reindeer. The book was made into a film in 1999. Maybe someday, Olive will be just as much a part of the Reindeer story as Rudolph and Blitzen.

Happy Friday, have a Fabulous Weekend!
-Molly

More Miniature Quilling

Happy November! I hope your month started out wonderfully and you are making time for some crafty fun this month.

Lately, I keep wanting to grab the thin English strips and work on miniatures. I made another tiny bottle necklace but not for the store. This one is for my niece who is a cancer survivor, twice! She had a total Laryngectomy earlier this year with many complications. She has adjusted very well to speaking with a prosthesis. I am so proud of her and want to surprise her with this necklace.

Three hearts, three flowers, the larger have centers on both sides - paper and Swarovski, pink ribbon with a crystal and a bit of confetti

Have a great week! xo

-Molly

Wordless Wednesday

1.5 and 1.25 inches tall

Design credit for boy ghost: Sherry Rodenhaver

Happy October!
-Molly