Three French Hens...

That is a hint. Today's post is

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN PROJECT #3!!!

AKA The Mini Matisse Thank-You Note Collection

Okay, I may not be as organized as I'd like, but I am a militant thank-you note writer. And my kids have their notes out (usually) by New Year's. They may dress like rejects from the Beastie Boys, they may eat McDonald's a wee tad bit too often, they may talk like sailors, but THEY WRITE THEIR THANK-YOU NOTES!

Of course, the little one is too small to actually "write," so for her I created these little masterpieces. YOU CAN DO THIS.

Supplies:

Scannable artwork from your mini Matisse

Notecards (I use pre-folded ones from Die Cuts With a View) (what is with that name anyway?)

A few sheets of patterned paper (I used scraps from Anna Griffin and Scenic Route)

American Crafts "Kate" rub-on Minimarks

Scanner

Letter stamps (I used KI)

Scraps of cardstock

Stickles

Stamp pad

Trimmer

2" circle punch

Adhesive

Dimensional foam adhesive squares

Step One. Choose a lovely piece of artwork from you child. If you are like me, you have BOXES of the stuff. What a great way to use it!

Step Two. Scan it into your computer.

Step Three. On my computer, I can select the scan area... that's what I am doing here. This is great if you don't have PSE or another digital design program where you can crop. I added this photo merely because it makes me look like I know what I'm doing.

Step Four. Open a Word document and create an entire sheet of your child's masterpiece. I resized the artwork to about 2x2".

Step Five. Print on cardstock.

Step Five. Trim!

Step Six. Trim your patterned paper to 4.25"x1" and adhere to the left side of the card. Punch 2" circle from coordinating PP and adhere on top of strip. Cut cardstock to approx. 3" x 1 1/2" and adhere to lower right corner. (This is the photo where I was laying everything out to make sure it looked good).

Step Seven. Place the rub-ons on the cardstock. (NOTE: I have not yet adhered the mini Matisse masterpiece. It's just sitting there for placement purposes. If you have already done so, you are getting ahead of the rest of the class and need to slow down and stay with us! I used to hate it when the teacher would say that -- but in this case, I have a good reason.)

Step Eight. Place foam adhesive squares in each corner of the mini Matisse masterpiece. Yes, you could just adhere it flat, but I think this looks so much cooler... don't you? This is why I didn't want you zipping ahead and adhering the artwork down. Because you're popping it up, it would be difficult to use the rub-ons AFTER the artwork had already been adhered. Now, aren't you glad you trusted me??

Step Nine. Stamp your child's inital in the upper right corner of the card. Immediately decide this was a mistake and try to figure out some way to save the situation. Decide to call on the old adage, "When in doubt, reach for the bling" and grab your Stickles.

Step Ten. Stickle it up. Decide that it looks MUCH better.

Step 11. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You get the picture.

Variations on a theme: I could see these as a great gift for Grandma (How cute would that be -- a whole collection of notecards using her grandchild's artwork??) Or what about for a teacher? Or if you are like me you are totally loco and have volunteered to be your child's room mom... and when you are looking for a gift for the kids to make for Christmas, Mother's Day, etc., this would be perfect!

If you do not have a scanner, you could simply give your child a set of 2x2" squares and ask him to decorate them. You could use stickers, stamps, etc.

Comments

[Maria]

Totally cute! I've loved this ever since I first saw your x-mas cards last year using your kids' art work. I've always thought it was a brilliant idea. So glad to see you use it here for a project here! :)

[Mary c]

Very cute. My dd's are in their 20's and 30's. I'd probably have to kidnap their first born to get them to draw for me. On second thought, perhaps if I threaten NOT to kidnap their first born they would do it.
Perhaps getting my grandson's art is a better idea...
Lain, these are too cute.

[JenMc]

You can tell I'm working hard today (well, doing boring financial stuff, so I'm hitting ScrapHappy as a break) since I've been emailing you! Actually, I'm re-listening to old podcasts and working, so that's fun.

Anyway, on a break, I checked your blog and this project was posted. So cute!

My son will be happy to draw something for me to put on cards for his grandmothers. Too bad he's obsessed with Star Wars and it will probably be some kind of Star Wars ship.

And I'm with you on the DCWV name. Maybe they liked that Room with a View movie that came out in the 80's. I did think that Julian Sands was dreamy at the time.

[Ginaj]

So cute Lain! I have three little artists and this is a great way to redeem myself for all those times I have thrown away the artwork.

[Christine]

I love this idea! Thanks for sharing! I may have to make a collection of these for my mom with art from all of my kids!!

[Christel]

I have no budding little artists here. Mine is grown also. HMMMM maybe a Taterdawg paw print would work??? Off to get tater to ink her paw for me!!!! Love the idea Lain!!!

[Tammy]

What a cute project! Great way to personalize it!

[kim in Camas - ScrapToMyLu]

thanks for the visit.

Great idea for the Thank you cards. So sweet.

[Kylie]

Funny, I'm actually spending a good portion of my day scanning my preschoolers' artwork in (I do this once every 2-3 weeks, or when the pile starts to take over the windowsill). I checked in on your blog to pass the time while I'm waiting for my scanner and this project was up! I think it's a sign!

Thanks! It's an adorable project! And I always LOVE your amusing instructions.

[Etta]

I love this. I am a stickler about thank you notes too, but I always have Jamie color on each one and sign his own name, which takes FOREVER since he's only four. This is a GREAT idea! Thanks!

[Ashley]

I can't for some reason leave a comment on your blog about finding a Stampin' Up demonstrator. My friends Megan can be contacted at meganee@cox.net. She make take a couple of days to get back to you--she's expecting #4--but she's awesome and I've "used" her for almost 3 years now. Hope this helps.

[Casey Rivas]

SO cute!

[bcre8uv]

You rock! I have done cards with my kids' artwork scanned and printed directly on the front, but these are so much jazzier.

~T.

P.S. I AM totally loco like you - I am also room mom.

[Kylie]

http://hrncirsinghana.blogspot.com/2007/11/thank-you-dzienkuje-cards.html

Here's the link to Seth and my Dziekuje cards. Thanks for the inspiration, I think these will be all the teacher gifts this year (at least for preschool, 8th graders are different;).