Birthday Toppers - use up scraps and extra embellishments

Good afternoon, all.  I have found a new charity that needs birthday toppers for zip lock bags.  Sounds a bit weird, but this charity fills a gallon zip lock bag with birthday goodies and distributes them to children whose birthdays might otherwise be overlooked.  This just pulled at my heartstrings!  So, I am making birthday toppers in between my cards.  It is a fun break and it uses up extra papers and embellishments.  Now, for all of you who already donate cards to me for my other charities, please note - I am not collecting these like I collect cards.  I will post the info at the end of this section so that if you are interested, you can make some toppers and send them in to the charity itself.  First, some pics of what I have made:

Aren't they fun?

Unfortunately, when I went on to the web site, there were very few instructions.  This is what I know:

Start with a 11 x 8.5 piece of paper.  I use the 65 lb. weight in colors or just white.  Cut 1/4" from the bottom to make it 10.75 x 8.5.  Cut this piece in half length wise.  Now you have two pieces of paper, each  10.75 x 4.25.  Fold each piece in half length wise and you have two toppers, ready to be decorated in any birthday way.  I just decorate one side.  I do not know how they attach these to the zip lock bags.

If you are interested, here is the charity:

BRIGHTER BIRTHDAYS

3 Central Plaza  #383

Rome, GA 30161

Tip of the Day:

I know I say this a lot, but please remember - line the insides of your cards if the base is not white or ivory.  Even pastel colors and tan need to be lined.  

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugs, Jill

March Madness

Good morning.  This past weekend was so beautiful and balmy, hubby and I spent it working in our gardens.  We pruned, trimmed and mulched and made everything look so nice.  The flowers were blooming and Spring looked near.  Then, last night the freezes came.  Oh, my. We tried to cover our orange tree which of course is in full bloom but sometime during the night the winds took the cover off.  I am afraid to go look and see what the damage is.  The best laid plans of mice and men...

Today's post is in reference to a commission I had a few weeks back.  The founder of one of the charities we send cards to referred me to a friend of hers who owns a AirB&B in Paris, France.  I was unaware of this until I received an email from this woman who asked me to do a cover for her Guest Book.  At first I panicked - I always hesitate to do commissioned work because what if they don't like it in the end and are too afraid to tell me?  I finally decided that if she didn't like it (and mind you, she has never seen anything I have ever created) then she didn't have to pay me.  I went online, found her property and printed off a picture of her building.  That became the background of her cover.  I did some geli pulls on top and then printed off the tower and words.  I actually made 6 different pieces and offered her a choice.  This is the one she chose and seemed to like....

If ever you get over to Paris, I have a recommendation for where you can stay.  LOL.

Tip of the Day:

This tip comes from one of my friends that I haven't met yet (aka card maker donor), Kayte W., and sounds like very good advice.  I am headed out today to check this out.  If you use the mirror cardstock (I am assuming she is talking about the glossy silver, or red or whatever colored cardstock), instead of using the sheets you can buy in a package for lots of money, go to the section where the posterboard sheets are carried and buy on of those.  It will be a lot cheaper.  Anything to save a little money, right?  That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Hugs, Jill