How is it already the end of September? Slow down 2013, you move too fast! Since this month was so sneaky, I decided to send out this month's 5 pieces of pretty mail in one go. I've had these adorable kokeshi stamps staring at me for months now, clearly needing an outing! Sorry, no source for these - but we do hope to be carrying some cute rubber stamps for the holidays.
You will need:Clear flat polybags - I used 3" x 5" bags 
The latest addition to the shop is some fantastically sparkly sequin trim. I must admit, it's pretty hard to resist sequins - so, rather than resist, I wrapped! Sequin trim makes a great addition to your wrapping supplies cupboard - paired with kraft paper, it's a fun alternative to ribbon. 
For a little more fun, try more colour! Intersecting lines of sequins in bold colours elevate a simple kraft wrapped gift into a mini piece of modern art. 
You will need:
Once the letter is totally covered in tape strips, flip your paper over and cut out the shape. When cutting washi tape letters, I like to make them a little chunkier by cutting a little outside the lines.
Feeling ambitious? Why not spell out whole words or names with washi tape?! I did on the front of these cards and love the look.
While a velvety black nose and mane are the perfect accents for an oh-so-on-trend monochromatic zebra.
I think these will make for a fun mailbox surprise, don't you?
Though, I can't decide which one is my favourite!While creating pictures out of washi tape may seem daunting - it really isn't as complicated as it looks! By sticking with animal heads rather than attempting to create the whole animal, this project's difficulty drops by about 50%. Start with a reference picture (Google Images is great for this) and mentally break it down into simple shapes - for example the giraffe is made up of 7 shapes: neck, head, mane, ear, eye and two horns. Apply the tape to parchment / waxed paper and then cut out your shapes. Do a dry run, arranging the pieces and refining as necessary. Finally, peel off the paper backing and apply to your desired surface.What would you make with animal print washi tape?
You will need:Pencil (with unused eraser)Drawstring bagCraft paint in 3 fun colours (make sure it's suitable for fabric)Cardboard / chipboard
Cut a piece of cardboard/chipboard to fit inside your bag. Slide it inside. You might be tempted to skip this step (what me? cut corners?) but the paint seeps through the other side of the bag and then the two sides stick together when it dries and it's a big ol' mess. So, trust me, you don't want to skip the all-important cardboard step!Squeeze a little of the paint into a flat container you can use as a palette (I used the lid from a plastic take out container). Dab your pencil, eraser side down, into the paint. You want to make sure the surface of the eraser is covered in paint, but not too much paint - we're going for clear impressions but not gobs of paint. It might be a good idea to have a test bag or piece of fabric so you can get the hang of how much paint you need on the eraser.Firmly press the eraser onto the bag. Lift and repeat. I found that for each time I dipped the eraser into the paint, I could make two dots. Randomly apply a satisfying number of dots - for me that number was 10.
Clean the eraser thoroughly, then add random dots in your second colour. 10 more for me!
Clean your eraser again, then add your third colour of dots. Allow to dry thoroughly before removing the inner cardboard.
They look extra cute all tied up with a colourful tag.Fun, right? I just might be a convert to the school of eraser stamping - so simple but so sweet. Have you ever tried this clever technique?
