Grandkids give back! Another craft idea!

Let's face it. We do a lot for our kids and our grandkids. I think it's about time they give back!

I'll get to that in a minute but first I have to tell you that I have still not used up all the pages of the semi-chewed up book!

So on Sunday I made another wreath......and 10 "Thinking of You" cards...
The cards didn't interpret as well outside of my head as I thought they would. In fact, they might be even considered childish.

Which works out OK for me because I have a built in excuse! Grandkids!

The advantage of babysitting Grandkids is that if someone interprets my feeble attempts at paper crafts as juvenile I just say..."The grandkids had so much fun making that card for you!"

Or I can say, "Oh gosh, look at that ink-y mess the Grands made on the back of that card...but, oh, they try soooo hard!"

Works like a charm.

Then the recipient thinks a) you are a wonderful creative Grandma and b) that your Grands are brilliant. Win, Win either way I say.

If the Grands are present during the exchange...as in your friend says, "Oh, what an ....ummm... interesting card..." And you use your built-in kid excuse and then the kid says "But Gramma! You made those cards!" then you simply cover yourself by explaining, "I am teaching them to be modest of their accomplishments!"

See? Grandkids give back! Win/Win!

Just in case you want to make something like these cards (or ahemmm.... I mean your Grandkids or children want to make them) here's some simple instructions.

Cut some more of your chewed up book into skinny little strips... Find the center point of one of the strips (see that little green line?) ...Lay five more skinny little strips on top into a sunburst pattern, pick the whole shebang up carefully and put a staple in the middle of it...

Now fold the little strips toward the center but leave one sticking out...and then put a staple in the center to hold all the strips...
And then cut some leaves out of your book and some little circles and slather some watercolor all over everything... Slather? Oh that's just a technical art term. Sorry.

Then stamp all over the front of your white card with a dark blue stamp pad...(I only did this because I didn't have any colored cards on hand and I thought the flowers looked blah on the plain white)... ...and then...put all the stuff together with whatever adhesive stuff you like AND since is no project is complete without glitter use your little stickles and put a swirl or some dots in the center of the flower......stamp some Hallmark-y sentiment in the inside like "Friends are the watercolored book cut-outs on the card of life" (or some such nonsense) and...drumroll please...ta da! Do you like them???? Please pick the appropriate response below:

You like them??!!!! Well thank you very much! I worked long and hard on them and I thought they turned out charming and quaint.

You don't like them???!!!! Well. I think you are being mighty critical considering my three-year old Granddaughter made them. But seriously, if you feel the need to bash little childrens art projects perhaps you should not visit my blog anymore.

Sigh.

This post is linked to Trendy Treehouse!