HOUSE OF HAIRBALL

“Sweety” Mother’s Day Cards

When I saw Stamperia Sweety paper, I swooned. I knew I had to design my Mother’s Day cards from it. The artwork is absolutely adorbs! Every sheet is loaded with heavenly chocolates or decadent pastry images; they soon had me salivating. And the colors are so pretty–lovely pinks, cocoa, seafoam green and aqua. I would cut and paste into the night with a frothy cup of cocoa on my craft table to ease my cravings (and a napkin to sop up any drooling). Warning: If you are watching your waistline, I do not recommend this project.

I chose heavy cardstock for strength and picked a tri-fold folio design with vertical and horizontal pockets to hold my handmade bookmarks and edible goodies. I fussy cut the flowers and chocolates but covering the folio panels, including the back sides, and creating pockets was easy. Sweety paper does all the work. I desired a feminine, wraparound closure so I attached dyed seam binding in pale aqua or pink from Etsy. I am addicted to this crinkly “shabby chic” ribbon. I found lacy, white doilies in my kitchen to layer on the covers. A few Hobby Lobby paper flowers and Tim Holtz bronze brads and mini-clips were the final touches. Then I stamped a few flourishes as needed.

The cards were “gifts” with Starbucks cards and goodies inside. Gathering inspiration from Kathy Clement, I stuffed the pockets with honey sticks, Biscoff cookies, hard coffee candy and chocolate tea bags. Demitasse spoons completed the ensemble. Sometimes sentiments like MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY BIRTHDAY! on the cover are a bit obvious. I often add a private message to a mini-card inside that holds a gift certificate. It’s subtle and often just enough.