Tissue paper rose

Materials:

tissue paper (or crepe paper)

stem materials (cardboard or card-stock paper, pipe cleaners, floral wire, or straws)

scissors
tape

floral tape (optional)

plates (optional)

writing utensil (optional)

paint (optional)

ribbon or vase (optional)

1) Visit a craft store to purchase tissue paper in as many colors as you like. Whether you want to use traditional flower colors is up to you. Visit a florist to purchase floral tape or floral wire if you choose.

2) Decide what you would like your stem to look like (smooth or furry, rounded or flat, bendable or straight), then choose cardboard, pipe cleaners, wire, or straws as your stem material. If you want a more realistic-looking flower, then choose something green to make your stem, but don't feel limited. Choose any color you desire!

3) Find a medium-sized plate (about five inches in diameter) and place it on top of two layers of tissue paper. You may want to experiment with different sizes of plates, or even with saucers for very small flowers. Use a pen, pencil, or marker to trace a circle around the plate.

4) Hold the multiple layers of tissue paper together, and cut along the line that you have drawn.

5) Continuing to hold the layers together, poke your finger into the middle of the circle.

6) Use your other hand to squeeze the end of the point you've created with your finger, then remove the finger.

7) Pinch this point so that it forms a tight corner.

8) Use a small piece of clear tape to hold the point together while you find your stem material. If you chose to use cardboard, cut a long, thin piece about the width of a pen. Use the size of the flower as a guide for how long to make the stem.

9) Tape the stem to the flower.

10) (optional step) Cut out leaves from green card-stock paper or cardboard. The size of the leaves should be proportional with the size of the flower. Make sure your leaves have a little extra paper sticking out at bottom so that you can attach them to your stem more easily.

11) (optional step) Tape the leaves to the stem using clear tape or green floral tape.

12) If you chose to use wire or a straw, you may want to cover the entire stem with green floral tape when you are finished to make the flower look more real.

13) Make enough flowers to form a pretty bouquet. Use colorful ribbon to tie your flowers together, about halfway down the stem. Or, find a vase and place the bouquet inside it to decorate any table.

Variations:

- Make a one medium- or large-sized flower and a few small flowers with short wire stems. Use green floral tape to attach all of the stems together, making one thick stem with many flowers.

- Try using crepe paper instead of tissue paper for a textured, more pliable flower.

- Use more layers of tissue paper for a thicker, more dense flower.

- Paint the stem to make it more colorful. Try solid colors, stripes, or any pattern you can think of. Be sure to paint the stem before attaching it to the flower for less hassle in cleaning up.

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Heart tempalate

Use this template to help create a festive Valentine decoration or craft.

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Thank You Card

Supplies you'll need:

• 1 piece of white 8-1/2" by 11" card stock
• Six heart punchies and mini brads; primary colors: yellow, red, blue, green
• glue

Tools you'll need:

• Card front(step #3)
• Small hole punch
• Paper cutter or scissors

Place your mouse over the above picture. Right mouse click and choose: 'Save picture as'. Remember what file you placed it in.

In your word processor:

1. You need to set your page to landscape, which means the paper is held horizontally. For MS Word 2000: File -> Page Setup -> Paper Size ->Landscape.
2. Format the page so it has two columns. For MS Word 2000: Format -> Columns -> Two.
3. Set all margins to the edges of the paper. Just slide the margins on the left.
4. In the first column, insert the helping hand. Select the picture and size it to the column.
5. Place it so it is in the bottom half of the first column.
6. Copy this column and paste it in the second column.
7. Check the print page set up and make sure the text is in the bottom center in its column, if so, print out. If not, go back and fix, then print out.

When you have printed this out, cut the 8-1/2" by 11" sheet in half. These will be your two cards.

Fold the card in half so that the picture is on the front and the fold is at the top.

Glue the six heart punchies to the bottom of the card front as shown in the picture.

Punch a hole in the middle of each heart punchie with your small hole punch. Add a mini brad, one that doesn't match the punchie in color. Enjoy!

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Valentine Cards - Love You

Supplies you'll need:

• 1 piece 8-1/2" by 11" card stock, white
• scrap piece of red cardstock for heart punchie
• 2 red or metallic mini brads
• glue stick
• one piece printed vellum

Tools you'll need:

• word processor(ex: MS Word)
• paper cutter and scissors
• small hole punch & one inch heart punch
• Free Adorable Font

Begin by downloading and installing the Adorable font.
In your word processor:

1. You need to set your page to landscape, which means the paper is held horizontally. For MS Word 2000: File -> Page Setup -> Paper Size ->Landscape.
2. Format the page so it has two columns. For MS Word 2000: Format -> Columns -> Two.
3. Set the bottom margin to 7". Just slide the margins on the left.
4. In the first column, set the font to size: 72; color: dark red, Adorable font, Type: 'Be Mine'.
5. Copy this column and paste it in the second column.
6. Check the print page set up and make sure the text is in the bottom center in its column, if so, print out. If not, go back and fix, then print out.
7. When you have printed this out, cut the 8-1/2" by 11" sheet in half. This will be your two cards.
8. Cut the vellum so that it fits above the 'Love You' on the card.
9. Line up the piece of vellum on your card front and hold it there while you punch a small hole on either side at the top. Attach your mini brads.
10. Punch out a heart and attach to the card at the bottom, overlapping the vellum. Use glue and attach the vellum to the card under the punchie. This is so that you hide the glue mark that will show through the vellum.

    Be sure that the vellum is secure under the punchie and at the top where the mini brads are located. After the glue is dry, send it to someone you love.

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School Valentine Card

What you'll need:

• Red cardstock cut to 3 ½” x 3 1/2”
• Craft scissors with a scalloped or zig-zag edge (optional)
• Scissors
• Scraps of patterned paper, about 2” long and 1/2” wide
• Scrap of patterned paper 2” square
• Hole punch
• Marker
• Adhesive such as double sided sticky tape, glue stick, liquid glue or mini glue dots
• Rick-rack, ribbon or yarn about 8” long (optional)
• Candy (optional)

How to make it:

1. Use the craft scissors to trim the edges of the red cardstock. (Skip this step if you wish).
2. Use your scissors to freehand cut a circle from the 2” square of paper. It doesn't have to be perfectly round.
3. Use the hole punch to punch a hole in the circle. It doesn't have to be exactly in the middle; in fact, it looks better when it's off center!
4. Glue the 2” strips of paper on the red cardstock, forming an X.
5. Glue the circle beside it.
6. Help your child write “To” and “From” on the back of the Valentine.
7. If you wish, use the hole punch to punch a hole in the top left corner of the valentine, and thread the rick-rack through it. Tie a Valentine treat, like a candy necklace or lollipop, to it.

Tips:

• If an “XO” card is too “mushy” for your child, omit and use the paper strips to make an “F” (just cut one of the strips in half). Then your child can write “Friend” on the card.
• This Valentine is a great way to use up small scraps of patterned paper. Have fun trying out different combinations.
• If your child and his friends are into a particular cartoon character or sports team, keep an eye out for stationery or other paper that features the appropriate pictures and logos to make the “XO.” Or, you could use plain paper decorated with small stickers from the dollar store.
• Craft stores sell large punches that allow you to punch out circles ½” or more in diameter.
• Craft scissors with a scalloped or zig-zag edge are inexpensive and widely available at craft stores. Craft stores also sell small punches (for the center of the “O”) in a variety of shapes, including hearts, stars and spirals.

Quick switch This card could easily be used as a tag on a gift like a box of cookies or chocolates. Or, for a larger card, just glue the “XO” onto a piece of cardstock cut to 5 ½” x 8 ½”. It would make a great anniversary card too.

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