Saturday, June 4, 2016

Crafty Saturday: One Sheet Wonder- win for lazy people

I really like to do crafts, specifically scrapbooking and card making, but considering I'm always exhausted while being pregnant and having three kids running around, I have little time to really be creative. So when I do get in the mood for such things, my go-to project is and always will be a One Sheet Wonder.

This is literally the easiest thing to tackle if you feel like you aren't creative enough to make your own cards. You can crank out 8-12 cards in less than a half hour. If you know me at all you know that I absolutely hate buying store bought cards. A little piece of me dies every time I do. I have a hard time justifying $3 or more on something that most people throw out. With $3, I can make a set of these and bam- I have a quick gift, I have enough birthday cards to last me a few months, whatever. If you are trying to cut money out of your budget, considering getting into this because truly, it's inexpensive.

I should also note, this is a GREAT project for kids to make thank you cards for birthday and holiday gifts. I'm a big believer in teaching kids the value of sending an actual thank you versus just saying it, and this is something my kids like doing. Give them a pack of cards, help them pick out paper and assist with cutting and leave the rest to them. You'd be surprised at what they come up with!

To get started, go on Pinterest and look for some free templates. HERE is a great page of endless templates. It doesn't really matter which one you pick out, but if you're a beginner I would suggest picking one with the least amount of cutting.

I've had this one on my desk for awhile that I printed out so I figured I'd just use this versus wasting time looking for a different one. The easiest way to start, for me, is to pick out a piece of 12x12 scrapbooking paper, preferably something with an all over print. Then I look at my template and figure out the easiest way to cut. Obviously, this one is divided into four columns, so I started by cutting out the far left column, then cutting that strip into the sizes it tells me, and repeating for the rest of the paper.
So now I have a bunch of super cute pieces of paper all cut out. Will I use all of these? Not for this project, but with most templates you'll find on Pinterest, people show their finished cards so you can essentially just copy their layout and change the embellishments to fit your project.
Another thing I use for these projects are these little packs of cards, normally $1 at Michaels. They aren't always cut perfectly, but if you're looking for a quick gift or inexpensive project, this is the route to go.
My paper had citrus fruits all over it so I found these two stamp pads and this little stamp set to use. I'm making thank you cards, and I just like the font on these stamps.
I didn't have any citrus embellishments, so I opted for these flowers which also come in $1 packs at Michaels and they are the perfect something to put on the card. Some cards got ribbon, some didn't. I decided to layer a piece of matching card stock under my cut up pieces so it stands out more from the card, stamped my sentiment on, and done. You'll notice some of the cards have more than one pattern paper piece on them, some only have one- it's really up to you how you want them done. They are super simple, super easy. I'll share another One Sheet Wonder set I made next Saturday using a different template and different paper. Stay tuned!

And of course, if you are in need for some fun stamp colors (that last a LONG time), or inexpensive and cute stamps, embellishments, or paper packs- head over HERE and shop! Check out the Clearance Rack (link on the top left column)- there are some SUPER good deals on stamps, paper, punch sets, etc. You can order from this demonstrator online, have it shipped to your house, and sign up for the email alerts to get the good deals!

Happy crafting!

1 comment:

Ruth said...

I am not very crafty at all. But, I also never have cards when I need them. Seems like I am in need of a lot of sympathy cards lately. I never thought about making my own using templates. I do have a greeting card program that came free with a scanner I had years ago. Which is nice but uses a lot of ink. Plus, my printer has an ink malfunction of some sort.
Thanks for the ideas.