Halloween Countdown Cards - FREE Printable

I told you I'd be back soon.

Today I am sharing a free printable of {30} printable 3" x 4" cards full of fun Halloween activities, jokes, and riddles.  Think things you are already doing for Halloween: carving pumpkins, going to the pumpkin patch, baking pumpkin recipes, etc. The activities are nothing overblown and don't require preparation in advance. If you've made my Halloween Countdown Calendar, they are the perfect size to slip right into those pockets. (The pattern is available here and for only $5 for a few more days. All my Countdown patterns are $5 right now!)

 {I hang my countdown on my pantry door}

 {click on image to access download}

Yes, there are only 30 cards, but 31 days in October. The reason? Simple. I honestly don't see myself doing a Halloween activity a night with my family. I enjoy Halloween but it isn't my favorite holiday. Choose the activities you want to do and slip into the pockets on the day you want to do that activity.  For the days without a card? Do whatever you want! Slip a piece of candy in. Get some fun Halloween goodies from the dollar bins at Target, straws, pencils, etc. Keep it simple. Or you can be like me and just not do something that night! Keeping it real folks! (I did throw in some blank cards to write your own.) The point is to have fun and to create memories with your family. Keep it simple.

Don't have a Countdown Calendar? No problem. Print them out, pick the activities you want to do, punch a hole in the corner and slip on a binder ring. Done. No binder ring? Gotcha covered. A length of cute ribbon works just fine too. See my Thanksgiving and Christmas Countdown cards below? Same idea.

So there you go! Something super simple but oh so fun for this great time of year. I love fall and the lead up to my favorite time of year, Christmas. Can't believe we are already at October. How in the world did that happen? 2015 will be here before we know it.

Be back soon with more goodies. Promise

lovely little 'handmade' cards

Sweet simple handmade cards, love 'em.

Doing them digitally so I can quickly made a bunch, love 'em even more.

A couple of weeks ago, I made these cards as prizes for my sister-in-law's baby shower. They turned out super cute so I just had to share. Each pack had five cards, one each of the cards above. I used digital elements and papers I already had in my files:

'shine on', heart, quatrefoil - from Crystal Wilkerson's Project Life Pack (Love these! I'm using in my Project Life Albums, so darling. You can also buy them in printable format.)
label - from Crystal Wilkerson's labels & stickers pack
chevron - from findingnana (Scroll down to bottom of the post for FREE download links)
font - Lobster Two

I made the cards by making a 3.75" x 5.25" (1/4 inch smaller than the finished card size) canvas in photoshop and sized the papers, elements, and text appropriately. Then I dragged that onto a 4"x6" canvas so I could run off as photos at Costco. Then I just had to trim the photos to size. I also rounded the corners with my handy little corner rounder. Funny story. This was the FIRST scrapbooking tool I EVER bought. Amazingly, I still had it in my crafting stash. (I hadn't scrapbooked in over a decade until I recently started doing Project Life.) I got it when I was like 15. I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Why I remember that...I have no idea. Miraculously, the thing still worked. That is one good product if it still is chugging along after 16 years.

Then I mounted the photos on basic cardstock notecards; don't forget the envelope! (I a set of 50 at Hobby Lobby for 50% off, envelopes included). I did 25 cards for right around $7.00. Score.

Tie up the cards with so me baker's twine and you are good to go!

Makes a great gift, prize, or even just a nice set of cards to have around. I hope to make some more cards using my own designs and when I do I will share them with you all. (I can't share these since the copyrights won't allow me.)

Happy Wednesday!

LeAnne

Merry Christmas Advent Cards

This project has been about a year in the making. Last year when I came out with the 'Give Thanks' Countdown Cards, I got oodles of emails asking when I would come up with a Christmas set of countdown cards. I had every intention on doing it last year, but I could never get my ideas such that I was happy with the outcome.

Well, a year later, I am happy to say that I finished the cards and I love the outcome. They are focused on the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Some of the activities are more 'fun and family' focused, but most are focused around Jesus Christ. There are over 30 activities.  I know families are busy during the Christmas season, so many are ones that can be completed around the dinner table or in a few minutes. Ones that are more time-involved are some of the traditions you may already be doing.

The highlight of the cards to me are the 12 Symbols {Days} of Christmas. Beginning on December 13th, and ending on Christmas Eve, one Christmas symbol will be taught and discussed. (Yes, they are simple descriptions for all ages.) Each symbol also includes a scripture reference from the King James version of the Bible. I know many families have the tradition of doing the 12 Days of Christmas anonymously for a neighbor or friend. So I decided to also include printables and directions for doing the 12 Symbols of Christmas for a friend or neighbor.

I also have the pattern for my Christmas Advent Calendar coming. Hopefully I will get it listed later today! Just a few more pictures and one last edit. I also will be selling a bundle back of the Advent Pattern and Advent Cards, just like I did for the 'Give Thanks' Countdown Calendar.

I love the cards and I hope you do to. I've decided to do an impromptu giveaway for two sets of the cards. (They will be emailed to you and you print them off as 4x6 photos.) It is going to be a quickie giveaway, today only and I will announce the winners sometime tomorrow. The cards are also up and in my shop.

**********GIVEAWAY CLOSED***********

Remember, I am a simple gal when it comes to giveaway entries. Just leave your name and why you love Christmas. (And a way to get in touch with you if your email is not linked to your blogger account.)

Here we go!

My name is LeAnne!
I love Christmas because of all the traditions, magic, and love that comes with it. I love focusing the season on the Savior and remembering all that He has done for me.

Happy Friday,

LeAnne

Give Thanks Countdown Cards

Thanksgiving is truly one of my favorite holidays. Who doesn't love getting together with family and friends to count our many blessings. (Plus the food isn't too shabby either.)

This year I updated the 'Give Thanks' Countdown Cards that I made to go along with my 'Give Thanks' Countdown Calendar.  I've been teaching myself Photoshop this year and had fun one day designing four different card styles. Then I added all the activities on the cards. I also made blank cards so people could add family member's names or even create their own activities. (The card file includes activities, directions, and the jpeg images that you print off as 4"x6" photos.)

This year's version is very versatile, you don't have to have the calendar to use the cards. You can use the cards on their own;

or you can make your own calendar and place the cards in the calendar pockets. 

Either way, the cards are a great tradition to use year after year as a family. 

The card files are up in the shop. You can also purchase the Countdown Calendar pattern AND the  Countdown Cards together at a discount.

Happy Thursday!

LeAnne

Sewing Tips: Yardage Card

So I've had a boring piece of paper holding the vital info of  'how many inches are in 5/8 of a yard?' in the front of my sewing binder for far too long. This weekend I decided to make it not-so-boring. I ended up making it business card size because well...smaller is cuter right? I could even put it in a tiny frame and put it on my sewing table. Hmmmm....just might do that.

When I was done, I figured I wasn't the only one who easily forgot how many inches are in 5/8 of a yard. So here it is for you all. I even made it in different colors. Are you shocked that it involves polka dots?

To print: Right click on the color you like. Click 'Save Image As'. Then click on the image in its saved location and print. (Now my printer defaulted to make the card take up the entire page. I just clicked off 'Scale to Fit' and clicked on 'Scale' and set it to 100%. Now each printer will be different...so can't help you much on that.)

Enjoy!