I told you that I recently attended my first blogging conference, Haven. What I didn't share were my business cards that I made prior to Haven.
I didn't make the actual business card. I ordered those but what I did make were the business card holders and swag that I attached to each card. So here's how I did it:
Ordered some snazzy business cards with all my perts.
Dug through my stashes of old handwritten recipe cards
Located one awesome Martha Stewart paper punch.
This paper punch doesn't punch all the way through. Some of the flower image is still attached, allowing it to make a 3D effect. See? Awesome.
I punched the card in opposite corners which made the perfect slot to hold my business card. But, just to be sure my card didn't slip out, I added a piece of washi tape :)
Now, the card was looking great but I needed to add a little something to hold some swag. I found this! A small manila coin envelope. Perfect size to add to the card.
However, the little envelope was just a (yawn) plain...cute but plain. So, I pulled out my rubber stamps and found just the right one. I carved this bee stamp a few years ago and have become somewhat addicted to carving rubber stamps. (I'll be creating a video soon so that you can carve you very own too!)
Under the bee, I wrote "yourself"...get it "bee yourself!"
Time to finish it off and add a little goody to the envelope. I hole punched the envelope after enclosing a small individually wrapped mint that I picked up from the wedding section of Michaels. Threaded some twine through the opening in the top flower punch on the card and the hole in the envelope to tie everything together. Now, they're ready to start handing out! Oh, wait...
Because we DIYers are never satisfied, I had to create another stamp with another saying. In this one, I carved a Ball mason jar because don't all home/lifestyle bloggers love mason jars?! The message here was "Have a Ball" at the conference, at home, at life...whatever you do.
I hope this sparked some ideas for you. I enjoyed sharing these cards at Haven...all 50+ of them. The greatest part was that in exchange, I received 50+ cards from all the great bloggers that I met.
Now, I have to interrupt our post to mention this. The first Ball jar stamp that I carved was totally awesome. That is until I inked it up and stamped my first envelope. Do you know the first rule in stamping words or lettering?? Yep, it has to be mirror image. It actually took me a third try to get the lettering and a jar shape that I was happy with. See, we all have those less than perfect attempts at doing things. Kind of like Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat. Did you know he was also once known as the King of Strikeouts? Yep. Michelangelo said, "If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." No one gets it right the first time, everytime. It does take work but it also takes allowing yourself to fail in the attempt. So, even though I love sharing beautiful projects, I also want you to see that they don't just happen. There are a lot of "fails" beforehand. Beginning this Friday, I am going to begin a regular post entitled "Reality Check". Believe me when I say, I have lots to share in this area.
Thanks for stopping by and God bless!!
I'm linking here:
THE STYLE SISTERS
JENNIFER RIZZO
HOME STORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
COASTAL CHARM'S NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY
STONEGABLE
UNDER THE TABLE AND DREAMING
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