DIY Scratch Off Holiday Cards

Inspired by a Dainty Squid post I decided to make Matt and I's Christmas card this year. The image is a painting he did of us about a month ago. LOVE IT! I just scanned it on to the computer and made a matching text side. Over all the process was pretty easy and I will be using it again and again I am sure for all manner of things. 

Though I think in the future I will probably leave more time to send the printing out to get it professionally done on a thicker stock paper. I printed on standard card stock at UPS, who are always awesome but do have more limited paper selection. Another good reason to outsource the printing besides more paper options include a higher quality print and they can do a lot of the pre-shaping (cutting/folding) of your card for you :) Always a bonus! There are many options out there from Flyer Club to Vista Print and many many more. 

                        To make your own scratch off cards you'll need:

*Your Printed Design

I would recommend getting your design printed on a card stock weight paper.

You could do the scratch card on a standard computer paper in a pinch but it  really doesn't hold up as well and visually the weight of the paper looks off in relation to the scratch off paint. I promise you'll be happiest using a good sturdy card stock paper. 

*Dish Soap 

Any liquid soap will do. I used Palmolive

*Acrylic Paint 

Any brand and color will work. I used a metallic silver

*A paint brush or sponge brush

They both do the same job one just leaves less visible streaks.

*Packing Tape or Contact Paper

I used packing tape. It is cheaper and my design meant I was just working with straight lines. 

If you are doing a shaped area for your scratch out I would recommend going with the contact paper so you can trace and cut out your designs with out the head ache of having no backing. 

*Painters Tape

This will help stream line the whole painting process if you're working with straight edges. 

You just want to be careful that you press it down well so no paint leaks under it and that you are careful pulling it up depending on the quality of the paper/ stock you're using it can want to tear at the paper a little. 

*Something to Work On

(i.e. scrap paper, cardboard, plastic table cloth)

This is to protect your home and often times your work. 

 A sturdy large piece of cardboard from an old box side worked great for me. I could tape down and work on a large quantity of the cards but if I got interrupted it was simple enough to put away and pull out again later. Plus I could work on it while sitting on the couch watching movies rather than being forced to the kitchen table. ;)

                                                          Pep Talk

If there is anything life has proven to me it is that the easy or simple things are easy to get frustrated by because they can be simple to mess up. Thats why I recommend doing a test run or two on your cards to get familiar with the process and work out any kinks you might encounter along the way. Be patient and your reward will be the most awesome cards your customers, friends and family have ever seen. You will become legend because YOU did it yourself. Which means thats right you're awesome! Now lets get to work. :)

                                            Here We Go! A Step by Step:

1* Make the Paint

Mix two parts paint to every one part of dish soap. Be gentle but thorough in mixing. You want it try and keep bubbles down to a minimum. 

2* Tape the Area You Want to Paint

With the contact paper or Packing tape cover the area you want the scratch off to be. Make sure that the whole area is covered. 

3* Tape down and Mask Area w/ Painters Tape

Using your painters tape mask off what you don't want painted over to get nice crispy edges. I like to gently rub the tape down to guarantee that its really secure and won't leech paint underneath of its edges. You can mask your cards down to your scrap surface as well if you're trying to keep the project as mobile/mess free as possible. 

4* Painting Time

With either your paintbrush or sponge brush apply THIN, EVEN layers. Don't worry if you can still see the design through the first coat. The paint dries quickly. It usually takes about 2 or 3 layers. 

5* Let it Dry

This is in my opinion the most crucial step. I always want to rush drying things. Laundry, paintings, etc... It never turns out well. I either end up wearing damp jeans all day or ruin the project I was working on. So take my advice and let it dry. This paint doesn't take long to dry completely so let it be. ...Or use a hair dryer.... I mean I'm just saying. Time is precious. 

6* Remove the Bindings

Once your cards are completely dry you can remove the painters tape. Be very gentle with it. Peel slowly and kind of at a diagonal and you should notice a minimum of effort. If it starts to pull at the paper of the card or the paint STOP IMMEDIATELY and start a counter attack from the opposite side. This works most of the time. Once all your masking tape is removed your cards are ready to go. 

7* Victory Dance

Now do a little dance and enjoy your amazing scratch off cards. 

                                                         

The never ending week of Halloween

Man I feel like all I have been doing all week is dressing up for Halloween. Not that thats a problem though I am very stubborn about not wearing the same costume twice in such close relation to one another so its been very busy. The day after Halloween I went a Halloween party for the College Radio Station I do my radio show through. My friends Lori and Anna came as well. Since I was kind of dress up'd out I decided to cop out and be a Zombie because they are fast, easy, and I don't have to change my clothing. Lori also dressed up as Zombie and Anna who hates Zombies decided to go as our victim.
Now I have to reveal how we made our peelie skin because I had an epiphinay as to how to do it a few months ago when I was giving myself a facial. If you purchase a clear cucumber facial peel and apply it then apply your make up and peel some of the peel you get this look. The best parts of this are 1) when the night is over you can just peel all the make up off and rinse. There is no super scrubbing of grease paint-ness or applying of vasaline (which makes me break out even more than the make up itself) to get trouble areas off. 2) You get a facial as you scare and party. My face as super soft at the end of the night and when people asked me if I was worried about it causeing me to break out I actually had no break outs compared to when I wear the grease paint with-out the peel so bonus! 3) The stuff gets cooler as the night goes on. As the night continued the Peel would naturally start to loosen due to the natural movements you make while talking, laughing, dancing etc even flaking off at some point all adding to the overall zombie effect. 4) Make up kits that give you a measly amount of zombie skin peel cost the same amount and don't work very well. I bought my bottle of peel for $3 It covered 2 zombies and I have done 5 facials before doing the zombie outfit( bought the stuff at the beginning of the semster) and one after I took all the peel and make up off. Its a better bang for your buck I geuss.
Last night on the day of the dead. I went to an art opening with my friend Joe. It was a halloween theme with live preformances and art which was fun. I wasn't expecting to attend anything so I just wore a fake beard that Joe had and went as the bearded lady. It was a good time though. I put my information down to hopefully get info about displaying some of my work. This picture is from last years day of the dead party I included it since I don't have a picture of being the bearded lady yet. It was themed so you could dress up along the day of the dead theme so zombies, skulls, mariatchi's, you get the idea. I think only three of us dressed up and the turn out wasn't all that grand since its right after Halloween but I made anise bread which is a day of the dead tradition and very yummy. I'll have to post the recipe becuase it was easy to make. You can see how much my hair has grown in a year if you compare this photo with the zombie ones. Kind of funny.

Tonight is a food themed halloween party. I am not sure what to be. I really want to be a cupcake(I wanted to be that last year at Meg and Erika's party but ended up going as a carton of milk creamer). If I can't get that together than I am going to go as a can of budwiser. I have a dress that has that printed on it. We'll see. I think that will put a fitting end to the week of Halloween.