You will need 3 sheets of 12×12 card stock (2 black & 1 white), 2 brads, ribbon, and tape.

For the TOP HAT:

1.  Cut one sheet of black card stock in half.  Measure your child’s head (or your head!  who says adults can’t wear one too? .  Use these two pieces to make the top part of the hat the correct size.  After they’re taped together to make the correct length, tape the other end together to close the loop.

2.  Draw a large circle on your remaining piece of black card stock.  I found a bowl that fit the size I wanted the brim of the hat to be and I used it to trace my circle.  Now cut out your circle.

3.  Center the top of the hat on top of your cut circle.  Trace around it as well.  You need to cut the center of your circle out, but be sure not to cut right to the line you just traced around the top of the hat.  Instead, leave about 1/2″ border around your line. 

4.  Take your scissors and make cuts all the way around the inside of the circle.  Be sure not to go past the circle you traced in step 3!  Folded all of the cut sections up.

5.  Place the top of the hat onto the center of the brim of the hat.  Make sure that all of your cuts are “inside” the top of the hat.   Flip the whole thing over and carefully tape the all of the cut pieces to the inside of the top part of the hat.

Make sense?  If not, check out the pictures posted below!

For the BEARD:

1.  Draw a beard onto your white piece of card stock (see picture below to get a general idea of what it should be shaped like).  It can be as big or small as you want, as long as it will fit the face that will be wearing it! 

2.  Cut out your beard and punch a hole in each end.  Loop your ribbon through a hole and secure with a brad (repeat on the other ends).  Place it onto someone’s cute face and tie it in back .

All you’ll need is card stock, wire, scissors, and a hot glue gun.

The diagram below shows all the “pieces” to the owl. 

First, you will need to cut out and assemble the pillow box.  A pattern can be found below OR our River Road store has a pillow box die cut you can use for free. 

Use the box scraps to make ovals for the wings.  

Beginning at the bottom, start adding your 1/2″ circle feathers*.  Work your way up until you’ve got 4-5 rows. 

Next, add the eyes (I like to make them a little googly:), wings, beak (fold the diamond in half), and feet. 

Wouldn’t it be a HOOT to fill these little guys full of candy and give them away for Valentines Day? 

*Note – I used one glue dot per feather.  Other adhesives (glue stick/adhesive tape) didn’t hold them securely in place.

1.  Fold your star in half 5 times – starting with a new point each time.  Be sure to make nice, sharp creases!

2.  In the photo the small lines are traced in black.  Force these lines down and the long lines up.

3.  Add to your special Christmas gifts!

 These 3D stars would also be cute on a wreath or as a Christmas ornament for your tree.  The possibilities are limitless!

1.  Pick your favorite card stock.

2.  Decide what size of box you want.  I measure my item at it’s thickest point and that’s how big I need the bottom of my box to be.  If I wanted a somewhat tall box to put cookies that are 3″ across, I would start with a 12×12″ piece of card stock.    I want to leave a little wiggle room so I want my bottom to be 3.5″.  Subtract that from the size of your paper (12″ – 3.5″ = 8.5″).    Now divide the 8.5″ by 2 and you get 4.25″.  This new number is how tall each side will be. 

3.  So, measure in 4.25″ from the top of your card stock and fold.  Do this with the other 3 sides.  You will have 4 fold lines.

4.  Now fold from the corner of the card stock to the point where two of the lines intersect.  Do this with all corners.  We will call these the corner fold lines. 

5.  With your paper on a flat surface (inside of the box facing up), bring the top portion and one of the sides up, forcing the corner fold in.  Crease well!  Do this again with the top portion and the other side.  Tape or glue in place.  Repeat again with the bottom portion and the sides.

6. Wheew!  Your done!  That sounds complicated but It’s really not…I hope   If you’re confused, look at the pictures below.  Perhaps it will help clear the mud!

These boxes can be customized to fit any small gift  you are giving – cookies, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, carmel! 

TIP:  Use a strip of parchment paper to act as a lid for your treats Or wrap with some pretty cellophane.

Place Holder #1: Haystacks

I love these little haystacks!  You can use any combination of browns, yellows, or oranges that you want. 

 I did one in orange, brown, and yellow.  I did the other one in yellow and green because it reminded me of corn stalks, which seemed appropriate for Thanksgiving.

Here’s how to make them:

• 1.  Cut your card stock into 4″x6″ rectangle and fold in half (making it 2″x6″).
• 2.  Draw a line (about 1/4 inch from the fold) from one end to the other.
• 3.  Hold the folded card stock in your hand with the fold pointing up.  Cut into strips starting at the bottom and ending at the line you drew.
• 4.  Unfold the card stock.  You should have an uncut strip running down the center.
• 5.  lace all of your  layers on top of each other.
• 6.  Roll your layers together.  Place a piece of tape around the middle to hold them together.
• 7.  Get some cute string, twine, or ribbon and wrap it around the center.  Fray out the ends a little.
• 8.  Make a little name tag and attach it with some string.

That’s it!  Simple huh? 

Place Holder #2:  Medallion’s

These ones are fun and take almost no time at all.  We have great selection of cute printed paper you could use to match you’re thanksgiving decor.

•  1.  Cut your 12×12 printed paper into 2″ strips.  Each place setting takes 2 strips.
• 2.  Make 3/4″ folds from one end to the other (like an accordion).
• 3.  Place some adhesive on the end of one strip.  Attach the second strip.
• 4.  Place more adhesive on one end and attach the other to it.
•  5.  You should have a loop.
• 6.  Place the loop on a flat surface and press the entire top edge in towards the center of the loop.
• 7.  Put some hot glue in the center and hold in place until secure.
• 8.  Cut 2 concentric circles of any size and distress the edges with an ink or chalk pad.  Add your name in the center.
• 9.  Glue the circles onto the center of your medallion.

Place Holder #3:  Gobbling Turkeys

We are selling some adorable Gobbling Turkey Kits in our store and I’ve been thinking that they would make the cutest place holders, especially at the kids table.  Stop on by to grab a kit before they’re gone!

 All you ned is:

• a pumpkin
• your favorite cardstock
• clear school glue
• foam brush

First, cut your 12×12 cardstock into 1″ strips

 Pour your glue into a bowl and use the foam paint brush to apply a strip of glue from the top of the pumpkin (near the stem) to the bottom (center point).  Then apply your first strip of paper. 

 Add another layer of glue on top of the paper you just placed on the pumpkin. 

You’ll then want to rub your fingers along the strip to help it shape properly to the pumpkin.

(you could also trim the top of the paper to match the shape of the stem so that it fit snugly in place but you don’t have to.) 

If your paper is longer than needed, trim off the excess and set aside.  You can combine the smaller pieces into longer strips to be used along the way

Continue gluing, adding paper, gluing…

…rubbing, gluing, adding paper, and gluing…

…until the pumpkin is completely covered in your cute cardstock!

Cut a piece of scrap cardstock and stick it to the bottom.  This will give your pumpkin something to rest on while drying.

Let it dry completely and you’ve got yourself one cute pumpkin!

Looking for more great DIY Halloween decor?  Stop by any of our locations and pick up some adorable subway art (custom made by one of our talented graphic designers)

and some Halloween Silhouette stencils (bat, witch, cat, cauldron, & owl).

Don’t feel like cutting the paper yourself?  These silhouettes can also be made using our Vinyl!  Ask store for more details.