The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking (Quarto Publishing Group, 2016), by Judi Watanabe, explores a wide range of techniques and end products, making it a valuable reference for any crafter. So when the mood strikes, use the artistry you’ve learned to create personalized greetings for everyone you know!

• 1 sheet white card stock, 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches • tissue paper in a variety of bright colors, yellow, light green, orange, violet, pink, light blue • adhesive • 1 rickrack-shaped band, 5-1/2 inches • 1 white folded note card, 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches • plastic tray • paper towels • paper trimmer • spritzer bottle with water • iron (optional) • hair dryer (optional)

1. Cover the plastic tray with paper towels. Lay the sheet of card stock on top. Cut each sheet of tissue paper into smaller pieces. Crumple the tissue paper and scatter onto the card stock. Spread out, if you wish.

2. Spritz water over the tissue paper and saturate. If needed, press the paper down so all the wet surfaces touch the card stock. Let sit for several minutes. The longer you leave the wet tissues on the paper, the deeper the color transfer.

3. Remove the wet tissue paper. Let the card stock dry. Because the card stock will be saturated with water, it will curl as it dries. To flatten, iron the card stock between a couple of clean paper towels. Set the iron on medium heat. There will be a slight curl, but adhering it to the folded card will flatten it.

4. Trim the edges with a paper trimmer.

5. Adhere the rickrack band to the card stock and adhere to the folded card.

Fold the tissue paper in half, then in half again, and continue until the sheet is approximately 5 x 7 inches. Slide into your paper trimmer and cut off the folded edges and cut every­thing in half. You will have 32 or 64 pieces, depending on how small you make them.

For those of you who are impatient, you can speed the drying time with a hairdryer.

• Using Dried Leaves to Decorate Greeting Cards • Using Fingerprints to Decorate Greeting Cards • Drawing with Tape to Design Greeting Cards • Using Napkins to Design Beautiful Cards

Reprinted with permission from The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking, by Judi Watanabe and published by Quarto Publishing Group, 2016.

If you run a small farm and own a horse, or any draft animal, a horse-drawn sled can help you get more work done. Here’s how to build one. Originally published as “LET IT SLIDE ON A SUISSE SLED” in the January/February 1980 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

This inexpensive weekend project will bring savory, slow-smoked meats straight from your backyard to your plate.

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