The Art // Rifle Paper Co. always comes out with the most charming greeting cards for every season. Hand illustrated by founder Anna Bond, these paper goods offer a personal and whimsical touch to inspire your holiday.
I love a pretty table for the holidays so today I am showing y’all how to make simple place cards to add a little something special to any decor. This design is versatile so can really be used for any holiday or special occasion but I thought it would be nice for Thanksgiving!
MATERIALS: cardstock / two different colors of paper / pretty font / branch punch / adhesive gel / hole punch / gold brads
DIRECTIONS:
1a. Print all of the names you will need on card stock and trim them to 2″ x 1″
1b. For each place setting trim one 3.75″ x 5.5″ piece of card stock and fold in half to 3.75″ x 2.75″
2. Select two colors of paper for your leaves and punch about 12 of each color
3. Rotating colors, glue down the leaves in rows slightly overlapping them
4a. Hole punch your name cards on each end and insert the gold brads.
4b. Since the hole punch didn’t reach where I needed it on the folded card, I just used the brads to make the holes through the card stock
5. Secure the brads by folding them down on the inside of the place card and you are done!
These directions also work to make greeting cards!
I think I’m over the whole pumpkin carving thing. It’s always harder than I remember and I end up getting frustrated that I can’t get it perfect. So this year, I decided to paint some simple color blocked pumpkins! Although I am calling them paint dipped pumpkins, they are not actually dipped, they just look like it!
The first thing you need to do is section off your pumpkin with masking tape. You can tape it right down the center if you like, but I decided to tape mine at an angle to make it a little more interesting! Make sure the tape is firmly pressed down, otherwise your paint will run underneath it. Once you get the tape in place, you will want to prime your pumpkin with white acrylic paint. This makes sure that the color you choose is not dulled by the orange of the pumpkin. I applied two coats letting it dry in between.
After the white primer is dry, now comes the fun part! Pick whatever color acrylic paint you like and paint over the same area of the pumpkin that is now white.
I painted one with neon pink and one with black. For the pink, it took three coats to cover fully and the black only took one coat, it just depends on the color and thickness of the paint you are using.
Once you achieve the coverage that you are happy with and your colored paint dries, pull the tape off being very careful not to pull the paint off with it. And there you have it, a beautifully simple dipped pumpkin!
I also decided to glam this Halloween up with a glitter dipped pumpkin. For this one, instead of priming with white, I primed the pumpkin with gold acrylic paint. Once that was dry, I painted the same area with Modge Podge and then sprinkled gold glitter over the glue covered area.
Materials for painted pumpkins: masking tape, white acrylic paint, color acrylic paint, paint brush
Materials for glitter pumpkins: masking tape, gold acrylic paint, Modge Podge, paint brush, gold glitter
Even though Halloween is right around the corner you still have time to brighten up your home with these quick and easy DIY pumpkins!
My sister and I worked on our pumpkins together so you can head over to her blog, Sequin Crush, for even more awesome DIY pumpkins!
Hi Ciera Design readers, my name is Bekuh and I blog over at Secondhand Sundays. I’m happy to be guest posting on Ciera’s blog while she’s out of town and have a super easy DIY ready for you today. With Father’s Day just around the corner I thought a project designed just for Dad would be perfect. Stick around and learn how to hand stamp a polka dot tie for that special man in your life.
The supplies needed for this project are minimal; you’ll need multi-surface craft paint, a pencil with an eraser, a paper towel or rag, and a solid color tie (mine was thrifted).
I chose to use two colors for my tie – mint green, and coral. In combination with the black tie it created a nice contrast, and a mid-century americana feel. I couldn’t help but imagine a Dad in the 1950s rocking a style similar to this. You can choose any color combination you want, or go classic with one color like white.
The steps for making this polka dot tie are pretty simple. Start by dipping the eraser end of the pencil in one of your colors and imprint on tie. Be careful not to push down too hard, just lightly dab it into the tie. Continue dipping, and imprinting polka dots on the tie in an irregular pattern starting with the bulk of the tie and moving into the neck. Remember to leave space for your second color of paint (if you so choose).
Don’t worry if your first polka dots seem a little splotchy. You’ll want to do a second coat of paint just to ensure all of the polka dots are fully filled in and a good shape. Once you’ve filled in the tie with one color use your paper towel or rag to clean off the eraser.
Next fill in the gaps with your second color of paint, again doing two-three coats. Let each coat dry completely before starting the second to avoid smearing. I suggest letting the whole tie dry overnight before wrapping.
I think your Dad or significant other will love your creation, it combines two things Dads love, crafts from their kids and ties. Or at least that’s what I’ve always been told (wink wink). Enjoy! Bekuh
Thank you so much Bekuh! This is a great Father’s Day DIY idea, and in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with polka dots ! -Ciera
Hello there! I’m Kelsey from Pinegate Road, and I was thrilled when Ciera asked me to guest post for her while she was away on her vacation in Maine! I remember going to Maine as a kid with my family…oh man, the lobster shacks you can find when driving down small roads off the coast. I have fond memories of those places. At one, my family and I went to eat fresh boiled lobsters caught out of the ocean, and we were all sitting in the plastic chairs, see. Suddenly, my Dad starts slowly sinking in his chair, and then *plop* all of the chairs legs had collapsed inwards towards the ground and he was just sitting there on the ground at this lobster shack with his entire family in hysterics around him. I still laugh out loud when I think of this story. Anways, I regress.
Speaking of Dads, here is a little gift round-up for things that I’d love to give my Dad for Father’s Day! It’s coming up so quickly, wow wow. While these items are specific to my Dad, hopefully they can generate some ideas for your very own daddy-o. Mine is huge into hunting, loves getting a little preppy for the workplace (Mom’s influence as of late), and enjoys a good round of golf. On a trip to Italy a couple years ago I found my Dad a simple leather wallet that he has since fallen in love with. After years of use and abuse, it’s seeing it’s last days. Much the like the wallet, his Sperry’s are in need of a little refresher. Like father, like daughter, I started donning a men’s pair of Sperry’s to go with my high school uniform. Love them, and the man who influenced me.
TIE // STATIONERY // WALLET // PEN // iPHONE CASE // SOCKS // SHOES
Thank you Ciera for having me, and hope that you have a great vacation in that beautiful place of the country! If you’ve never been out to Maine, it’s a definitely must-visit location for sometime in your life. Summers there….oh my gosh.
xoxo
Kelsey
A huge thanks to Kelsey for this awesome Father’s Day gift round up! I just love the story of her dad on the ground at a lobster shack, too funny! -Ciera
Mother’s Day is only a few days away so I wanted to share this freebie with you guys in case you are still looking for a card! I’m trying to branch out a little in my design style so I hope y’all enjoy this whimsical, hand lettered design!
More Mother’s Day Freebies: Bee Card and Wine a Month Gift Printable
Happy Valentine’s Day! I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a day to make the special people in your life feel loved, not just a day for couples. So I’d like to take a sec to tell you how much I appreciate all of your comments and support here on the blog and I hope you all feel loved today!!! xoxo Ciera
* I was planning to post a delicious Valentine’s Day dessert today but yesterday while finishing up Z’s v-day gift I cut my finger pretty badly with an exacto knife and didn’t get around to cooking. Guess I’ll have to save that post for next year 
In honor of Valentine’s Day being tomorrow, I thought I’d re-post some freebies that I designed last year. Click the links below to visit the original posts for downloads.
Valentine’s Day Desktop Wallpapers
Hey guys, I have a very simple Valentine’s treat that is perfect for passing out to friends, classmates or secret crushes. All you need is chalkboard paint
*Chalboard paint takes a few days to cure, so don’t wait til the last minute!
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