Motivation Monday Be Unique Be Awesome Be You Free Printable

Click here to download the free PDF printable

Be Unique, Be Awesome, Be You! 

Are you looking for that special quote for your scrapbook page? Do you know someone who is special and not quite conventional? Do you love someone who dances to a different drummer? Then this is the perfect printable for you!

I am always looking for something that will inspire, and as I look around I sometimes feel like I need to be reminded that being unique is a good thing. If we weren't unique then we would be quite boring. I made up this quote after I saw the quote:  "Weird is a side effect of awesome" and I couldn't help but agree with that, lol.  Do you ever feel this way? I have a few people who come to mind, don't you?

Today I am sharing both of these quotes with you, I hope you enjoy them!

Click here to download both of these free PDF printables

As always, I am happy to share my tutorials, freebies / printables and cut files with you, I only ask that you do the following:

• Please leave a comment if you download a  freebie / printable / digi, etc, because I would love to hear from you

• If you enjoy the things I share with you, please become a follower so that you will see all the new stuff when it is posted (no pressure, join only if you want)

• I hope you love PINTEREST as much as I do, would love it if you would PIN this project!
• Please do not share any of my digital images, printables, or tutorials directly with others, but please do send them on over to me so that they can peruse and collect the images themselves.

• I would be thrilled and honored if you would send me links to any images or posts that you've done using something that I have shared with you.  If you say it is ok, I will even feature your work here!

• If you want to recolor the images, feel free! 

• If you have a special request, please let me know and I will see what I can do.

Most importantly be Fantastically Creative You!

 Check out my Link Parties to see the badges of all the lovely places where I am linking to.


I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Hug Card

Happy Birthday Hug Card

Do you have a certain type of card you prefer to make? I really like these Hug Cards.... I like the fact that the gift card slides easily in and out of the enclosure and they are super easy to make.  By easy I mean that you can adjust the size of the card to suit your needs and you practically cannot make a mistake!

If you want to pop on over to this earlier post, you can get see the tutorial for making this card.

Since this is a Birthday Card, I decided to use my Martha Stewart present border punch - this makes an appearance on many of the birthday cards I make :-)

Here is a shot of the slider enclosed in the card.

Happy Birthday Hug Card

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Fabulous Friday Share The Memories Freebies

Hope you are having a Fabulous Friday!!!  Eeks, I won't mention what day it is... so instead I am going to offer you something fun and FREE so we can forget!!!!

I know some of you use the Share the Memories software, and they are such a generous group, they offer these wonderful freebies and great instructions for how to use them... isn't that sweet?

This wonderful birthday card that you see was created with one of their beautiful freebies! Yeah!!  The really nice thing is that you can use them even if you don't have their software because they share the digital files and not just the version that works with their software.  So, please read on to see where you can get them for yourself.

They shared these great papers (yes, they are the patriotic set) and cupcake liners - they are so popular now aren't they? As you can see from my picture at the top of this post, I used mine on a Birthday card for a 10 year old.  Now it worked out for 2 reasons, 1st his birthday is right around Independence Day and blues and reds work for boys... the stars are a bonus!!!

• I started with their background paper, after discussions with my "age appropriate consultant" (my son), I chose the blue background paper... because boys like blue (and red as well, but blue was better - lol)
• I then layered these beautiful "H" and "B" letter buttons (there is probably a more official term, but I'm going with this... these also from Share The Memories and are in my "digital collection" (that is just a fancy way of saying they are in my folder... and added the Happy Birthday to the card.
• I printed them out on this lovely cardstock I got from Couture Cardstock when I attended the Scrapbook Expo in New Jersey with Lucy (you remember her, she is my enabler and is partly responsible for my paper purchases at the expo, I mean I could have said no...not likely, but I coulda - lol)
• I then ran it through my cuttlebug Circles embossing folder (if any of you know the real name, please let me know)... I wanted to give it that extra bit of texture and I am glad I did! I was worried about circles, but then embraced the idea
• Then I added some bling - I mean really, I don't think I know how to make a card without it!!
• For the inside, I cut out some cupcakes from paper that I have, added a sentiment, finally used a tag I had, and yes, more bling and there you have it!!  A birthday card (for a BOY!!!)
• I hope you like it!

Now, onto the freebie that inspired this card... This is the picture that greeted me, I mean, who wouldn't think of a birthday party when they are looking at cupcakes, am I right?

Aren't these the cutest cupcakes? I wish I could get the cupcakes too, don't you?? This is the project that they featured with the freebies... If you want to make your own cupcake liners, simply follow these instructions they provided (with some editorializing by me - lol):

• Start with the cupcakes... you can bake them yourself (let them cool before you add the liner, I mean you want to eat one right away, oh I mean you don't want to burn yourself).  I would probably frost them afterwards, but if they are already frosted, throw them in the fridge and chill them before putting liners on because it is easier to put liners on if the frosting is cold.
• Print your Cupcake liner templates on cardstock and gather supplies (they recommend the following: small craft scissors, tape, foam squares, toothpicks and if you have them 1.25" circle punch and ribbon if you have it).  Note: Each printed page will have enough supplies for 2 cupakes.
• Using the scissors cut along outside line of the liner pattern
• TIP: You can use a 1.25" circle punch to cut out the toppers and it will make it super easy because this is what size they are if printed at full size.

• Wrap liner around cupcake and tape at seam.
• TIP: If using a smaller cupcake, just wrap around at the desired height. You can place a smaller cupcake at the bottom of the liner or make it tighter and wrap it around at the top.

• Using foam squares or tape, attach the front and back circles together to form the topper. Insert toothpick between the circles

• Add ribbon onto the toothpick or at the bottom of the front circle, if desired.
• Insert toothpick into cupcake.  Enjoy the finished cupcakes and share.  Don't forget to use your imagination.  The possibilites are endless!

YUM!!!  You may want to hurry, these freebies will be there until July 17th!  Just click here for the freebies and remember, if you order something, let them know you found them through me and don't forget to use my discount code STMMMS63090 to get your discount!!


I am linking up here:
The Answer is Chocolate Open House Link Party - http://answerischocolate.blogspot.com/2012/07/bff-open-house-link-party-62.html

Whipperberry Friday Flair Link Party - http://whipperberry.com/2012/07/friday-flair-link-party-inspiration-waffles.html

Sweet Stampin - Use the Colors of your flag - http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/flags-are-out-at-sweet-stampin.html

Cards for Men - Birthday Card - http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/2012/07/challenge-14-happy-birthday.html 

Craftionary Friday Fun Party - http://www.craftionary.net/2012/07/friday-fun-party-and-features-127.html 

Marvelous Mess #71  - http://www.marvelouslymessy.com/2012/07/marvelous-mess-71-and-features.html

Make it Monday - http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ 

Disclosure:  I was not compensated for this post, although I am an affiliate with Share The Memories for any purchases you may make with my discount code.  As always, my opinions are solely my own, quirky as they may be :-)


Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Blue Snowman Card

Can you believe it, I am posting another project this weekend, and don’t forget to stop by on Sunday, January 30^th because the final One World One Heart Giveaway starts.

I love this style of quilling.  Just thought I’d share some of my quilling love with you.

Once again, my handsome little boy chose the subject:  “A Snowman” and I put my finger to my head and thought about it, and then thought some more.  I was under the gun on this one, my sister-in-law called me on Friday to say that she was going to have my nephew’s birthday party on Sunday.  So I was a little worried I wouldn’t get one made in time….

The base of the card is a Bazzil blue that is 4” x 12” folded in half to be 4” x 6”.  I then took some snowflake paper and tore it so that the torn edges would be part of the snowdrifts.  I tore 3 pieces and glued the longest directly to the base card, then used a dimensional tape to glue the next two layers.  I used dimensional because I wanted to add a pull out tag.  The tag is also torn and is placed between the 1^st dimensional layer against the back of the front of the card.  What you cannot see is that the tag is also a gift card holder.  The tag is cut extra long and folded up in the back which is where the gift card is tucked away.

For the Snowman I took a long strip of 1/4” wide paper and wrapped it around a bottle – approximately 2” in diameter for the body and a smaller bottle for the head.  Then comes the fun part, cut strips of paper (I used blue, green, and purple) and create whatever shapes you want.  I love the coils and scrolls so if you’ll note, this snowman is filled with them.

I then added a scarf and some matching jewels and he was ready for a birthday bash.  I know that you are thinking that you may be wondering why his scarf is brown, well I wanted to do something with kraft paper since that is everywhere these days and I wanted to use some (if you look closely you will see that it really isn't kraft paper).  He is topped off on both the base tag and on the quilling strips with crystal accents (yes, I love this stuff!)

I have decided to enter this fun fella in the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread Designs “Blue” challenge (as you can see he his really blue)

The Whipperberry  “show us what you have a flair for” challenge – my flair is quilling.

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Cupcake Birthday Card

I’m Obsessed I tell ya... I know that is normally not a good thing, but I must be, because almost all of the cards I have created lately have been gift card holders.  Yes, that is true, I am building quite a collection of photos of gift card creations that I have made (I promise to start posting more of them for you)... Most of them inspired by something that I have seen.  

It has been a ton of fun making them and oh so gratifying when the person who received it (or their mom) says something about how much they liked it - yes, I do melt when someone says something nice about something I’ve done (which is why I so love the comments I receive from you).

So, I have decided to enter this card into a challenge.....

This is a cupcake, gift card holder.  My son likes to give me challenges and ideas (especially when the card is for one of his friends or cousins).  He almost always gives me something that will make me scratch my head to try to figure out how to make his request come alive (well, not literally alive).  

So his challenge for me this time was he wanted a card with a cupcake and he wanted a gingerbread man on the cupcake... I do not remember which cupcake card it was that inspired the cupcake, but I thank all of you who have posted pics of your cupcakes.... I took the idea and drew up a little sketch to make sure I got approval from the requester (lol) and ended up with the following card.

For the top of the cupcake I used paper that was pre-cut in a scallop design that I got from the bargain bin at Michaels.  After I put the card together I wasn’t thrilled with the colors - the paper didn’t pop enough for me, so I tried to add some embellishments and that helped a little... and in the end it looked better in person than the picture I took shows.

For the cupcake, I created my own pattern.  Take a look at the photo with the cupcake open, and you can see that the base card started with a strip of 4” x 12” paper. I used my circle punch on one end, and folded the paper to get the general shape. I then added the scalloped paper and glued it to the top flap and cut around the top to make it rounded (like the icing on a cupcake).

I added some quick open coils and placed them on the "dots" - my thought was like the confetti you can get on your cupcakes sometimes.

The Gingerbread man was based on a gingerbread image I printed and then used as a template to cut out of my brown paper. I then added his "icing", a bow, and 2 buttons. I think he is adorable. He is actually placed on the card with dimensional tape.

Finally, I added the "shine" to the project by painting on the crystal effects.

Hey, I am going to be a busy girl this weekend. I am hoping to participate in a quilling blog hop - see the link on my sidebar (I will post tomorrow if I didn't miss the deadline) and Sunday kicks off the final One World One Heart Giveaway... Stay tuned because I will be giving away a quilled item to one lucky winner :-)

Hope you are having a wonderful Friday!

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Birthday Card for a Boy

Hello my friends... I don't know about you, but I struggle when it comes time to make Birthday Cards.  I can't even explain why? Perhaps it is the pressure of creating something that a child will like :-)  or just the initial inertia of trying to come up with a card idea or design.  Of course, when it comes to children, I am probably giving it too much thought because the card probably wasn't even glanced at and has been forgotten in the midst of opening the gifts - lol.

I think "boy" cards frighten me even more than "girl" cards - I mean with girl cards you can at least fall back on pinks and flowers or glitter, but boys?? Even looking around online it is hard to find ideas that can be incorporated.

Well, we recently attended 2 Birthday parties for my son's friends, and you guessed it, they are both boys.  So I decided to surf the internet looking for inspiration... I passed up many of the designs, although very cute, were a bit too young.  I finally came across one of those pinwheels, you remember the ones we used to make when we were little (well, you do have to be a bit older to remember them - lol)...  And I decided that this would be my inspiration and came up with 2 similar cards based on a pinwheel theme.

Here is one of the cards I made (I promise to post the other one soon because I got a bit more bold with my palette and paper stash)

The card is 4 x 6 oriented with the opening at the top, on the short side.  I used a nice double-sided paper from ancestry.com K and Company paper pad to make the card base.  As you can see, I chose a palette of greens and blues (always appropriate for a boy).

For the pinwheel, I used 2 scrap pieces (Note: Next time I would definitely use a double-sided paper for the pinwheel):

• 2 - 3 inch squares
• I took the squares and cut in from each corner toward the center
• I mark my center with a little dot
• Do not cut all the way to the center, leave about 1/8 inch in from each corner (I added a little picture of a square with the center marked to show that you do not want to cut all the way through)
• This will create 4 "triangles"
• You then pull one corner from each of these triangles in toward the center and adhere it - you can look at the finished pinwheel to see this
• For this card, I used a glue dot and glued each end to the glue dot 
• I then used a K and Company birthday hat embellishment and added it to the center
• Note: on the other card I made, I used a brad to secure it

I then simply adhered to pinwheel to the card

For the sentiment, I printed and matted a nice "Happy Birthday" in Microsoft Word

Now, the only thing left to do was make sure that the inside of the card also looked nice.  So I matted a blank yellow cardstock and added a little header with a strip of paper left over from my pinwheel.

I really liked the way this card looked when I made it, and so did my son :-)

The next card will have a few more elements to make it a bit more interesting to look at.

Enjoy! Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco