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 After a little hiatus to do some major traveling to exotic and tropical locations (Mexico, Hawaii, and -most notably- the Dominican Republic), I'm back! Back in craft. I've been focusing my artistic efforts into other projects lately but I always come back to paper, my one true love.

This card is incredibly quick to whip up and also utilizes scraps of beloved paper not big enough for most other practical uses. Here I used paper I designed myself - a yellow on white marbled by hand, and a red stamped safety pin pattern. I "strung" the triangles on a piece of cotton striped string with a tape runner, attached them to a recycled craft A-2 card, stamped with Distress Ink (by Tim Holtz), and used chunky pink staples as embellishment with my Fastenator (by EK Success). It took about 20 minutes to create 4 matching cards. Why even consider buying a card at the store?

Lacework Headband

I used up some left over yarn from another project to whip up this headband/ear warmer. I am terrible at making knit patterns and since you may want yours wider, smaller or bigger - I'll just give you the general stitch pattern so knitters can customize! I used size 8 needles, casting on 13 stitches, and Lion brand Wool-Ease yarn for this gauge. After casting on, Row 1 is K1 *yarn forward, K2 together; repeat from * to end. Rows 2, 3, and 4 are K to end. These 4 rows are repeated until desired length, cast off, and then ends are sewn/weaved together. I am excited about this machine washable yarn because I wear the headband running in the cold February weather! It keeps all my hair out of my face and my ears toasty.

Sprucing Up a Card with String

Embellishing an otherwise plain (relatively speaking - check out that funky fresh medical tape!) greeting card can be as simple as tying a knot. This string was actually picked up at a local yarn shop in the clearance drawers. I found the colors and texture so interesting I had to have it, though I knew I wouldn't knit with it. Using it in small doses really shows off how unique the string is. I simply wrapped it around the fold of the card and double knotted it on the outside. It's not rocket science.