Materials/Tools:
Pencil
Felt
Needle
Embroidery thread
Scissors

Step 1. Download and print this template for the bunny face and ears. Cut out the pieces and trace them onto your felt with a pencil.

Step 2. Cut out the 4 pieces you traced and a tiny triangle for the nose.

Step 3. Thread your needle with one strand of embroidery thread and tie the ends together to create a double strand. Stitch the eyes and mouth using my design or making up one of your own. Place the triangle nose on top of the mouth and tack it down, sewing through the back of the felt triangle so the thread doesn’t show through. Then use a simple running stitch to sew the inner ear color onto each ear.

Step 4. Place the face on the head and sew both pieces together using a small running stitch all around the perimeter.

Hope you have fun creating your own bunny finger puppet! You can use this idea to make any animal – bat, bird, monkey – the ideas are endless. We’d love to see your Easter craft idea on Pinterest. Tag us @peartreegreet in your pin!

Classic / Traditional
Simple designs, one or more photos, classic fonts and traditional design elements such as a crest or shield mark these graduation announcements. Most can be customized to the colors of your choice, and all will bring out the best in your grad.

Hip / Trendy
These graduation announcement ideas are standouts in any crowd. Interactive spin cards, pop-up windows, mixed styles and fonts, and hot design elements such as washi tape make these designs memorable, each in their own way.

Vintage / Retro
Vintage looks with a modern twist are everywhere these days, and we have plenty of designs that offer vintage looking fonts, distressed artwork and retro patterns that take advantage of this trend.

Organic Patterns
Go natural with design elements that take their inspiration from animals and birds, flowers, trees and rain. The down-to-earth grad can’t go wrong with these organic graduation announcement ideas.

Standout Year
Big, bold and graphic, there’s no doubt about what year you graduated! Make it memorable with a great photo, and that’s all you need to create standout graduation announcements.

Choose your favorite trend and start shopping for your graduation announcements today. It’s fun to try different photos and colors to make them your own! And be sure to read about other graduation announcement ideas on our blog.

Bangs
Bangs in 2013 are hot! I even cut mine in January.

24 cupcake pan
As a mom I like to save time and this 24 cupcake pan allows you to cook all the cupcakes at once.

The “&”
The “&” is close to my heart as a graphic designer. I love the simplicity and clean shape.

Statement Jewelry
Use statement jewelry to complete your look.

Shimmer
Everyone needs a little sparkle.

Big Picture (theme): Washi tape.
Requirements –
1. My kids would be involved in assembly. (Needs to be easy to do.)
2. My oldest needs to write (in cursive) the names of his classmates. (Needs extra envelopes for potential mistakes.)
3. My daughter could not bring candy. (The “treat” needs to be flexible.)

These are the three Valentine’s Day card ideas for kids that I came up with–easy, mistake proof and flexible!

Materials/Tools:
1. Washi tape
2. Pen
3. Small paper
4. Lollipop
5. Crayons

Variation #1: Lolipop treats
Use the washi tape to add a treat to the front of the envelope and on the back to secure it closed.

Variation #2: Personal touch
Use the washi tape to add a small piece of paper to the front of the envelope for your child to write their classmate’s name on it. Then, on the back of the envelope, use another piece of washi tape to secure it closed. It’s perfect for kids who want to write the names on the front, and it helps with mistakes.

Variation #3: No candy
Use washi tape to add a crayon or a small box of crayons to the front of the envelope. It‘s a great non-candy treat and it’s perfect for our coloring cards.

These were such fun Valentine’s Day card ideas for kids. My children enjoyed creating their valentines for their friends.

Be sure to read our blog for more Valentine’s Day ideas and don’t forget to order you classroom valentines from Pear Tree Greetings!

For the holidays, I like a well set table, a tree decorated with care, and above all, I take gift wrapping very seriously.

This year, when I was thinking of new gift wrapping ideas, I used my holiday card for inspiration.  A chalkboard background with red/white stripes with hand script in white.  To make it work I used black craft paper (that resembled a chalkboard), some striped paper straws, red jute and a white chalk pen.

Follow along for an easy to do Christmas gift wrapping idea:

DIY Paper Straw Bow

Materials/Tools:
4 paper straws
Scissors
Jute or yarn
Glue gun
Wrapped box
Chalk pen

Step 1: Start with 4 straws, cut them each in half. Take 4 pieces from those and cut in half again. Next take the 4 largest pieces and cut a small piece off of each. The goal (see pictures) is to have 3 different length straws. 4 large, 8 medium and 4 small which is a total of 16 cut straws pieces. Then cut 6 pieces of string about 2 inches. These don’t need to be exact.

Step 2: Take the 4 small straw pieces and move aside for step 4. Take a piece of string and add glue to the end. Push paper straw on the string to attach. Add glue to other end and push on paper straw of same length. Do this 6 times using all the long and medium pieces. You end up with 2 large and 4 medium strands. Then add glue to the middle of your string.

Step 3: Place glue piece on top of another crosswise to connect straw and join the 2 pieces.  Repeat until you have all 6 pieces glued on top of each other. After your bow is glued together cut a piece of string to tie around your package. Then tie a knot, set your straw bow on the string and take two small ends to tie around your bow. Add another piece of tied string and tie around the straw bow. You will end up with 4 tails of string.

Step 4: Put glue on the 4 smaller straw pieces on the top of the bow to fill in any holes.  After you are done you can trim the straws or yarn tails to the length you desire. I used a chalk pen to write on the box.

Twistbands
Doesn’t dent, damage or pull your hair. These are great!

Twistbands from thetwistband.com

Apple Corer
Amazing and easy to use – best one there is!

Apple Corer from Cuisipro

Jewel Tone Leather
Fashionable and definitely an accessory piece

Blue purse from coach.com; Emerald purse from target.com; Ruby purse from target.com

Lip Stain
Lasts all day and gives your lips a nice shine

Lip Stain from Revlon.com

These fashion trends and lifestyle trends are what I’ve been keeping my eye on for the past couple months. What are your favorite trends?

Read Love it! Series 1 here.

Neon
Super hot trend for summer (and beyond)

Shoes from Zappos, shorts from jcrew, purse from us.asos.com

Nail Art
One of my favorite trends for, like, 10 reasons

Cupcake Kits
No one will know you made them yourself

Cupcake kits from Williams-Sonoma.com

Peplum Shirt
Cute cut — and so easy to wear

Striped shirt from bluefly.com, White shirt from us.asos.com, Black shirt from bluefly.com

Images:
Nail art: Peach, Blue, Birds

Hon,
Thank you for making the kids’ lunches every day. I don’t know how I’d do it without you.
I love you,
Anthony

Just wanted to share. It made my day.

For 2012 there’s something for every type of bride, whether you love vintage looks or want to showcase your boldness with vibrant colors and multiple photos. The best pieces allow you to match wedding colors while incorporating unique and memorable design elements.

Vintage is new
Vintage styles that recall fashions of the past, with a contemporary twist

Match your color

Uniquely yours

Pocket invitations

Standout shapes