Some ways to have fun with paper

• Party idea: Decorate the party table with personalized place cards, place mats, napkin rings and favor bags made from harmonizing papers, die-cuts, accents and rub-ons.

• Make your own "Do Not Disturb" signs for your doorknob. Or, put some other variations on the tags: "It's somebody's birthday." "Baby Sleeping." "Nap In Session."

• Make a set of personalized greeting cards for a friend. Tie them together as a set by using the same look in the layout, colors or motifs; or, use the same theme, such as birthday, wedding or thank you, and make the cards in different styles.

• Try a variety of embellishments: buckles, stencil tags, charms, buttons, stitchable labels, beads, alphabet beads.

• Add an inside layer to your cards to cover up the back side of brads, eyelets, staples or stitching.

• Make a pocket card and fill the pocket with lollipops, sticks of gum or flat candy bars for a fun bonus.

• Make several cards at one time. You have all your supplies already to go, and it won't take much longer.

• Adapt a basic card idea to different occasions by changing the colors and embellishments — a heart charm for Valentine's Day, a ghost charm for Halloween and a snowflake charm for winter, for example.

• Look to nature for inspiration. Small, flat rocks can be stamped with solvent ink (great for a "you rock!" card); leaves or flower petals could be dried and attached.

• Make countdown calendars for different occasions using your favorite quotes and sentiments — countdown to Christmas or other holiday, to a wedding, graduation or other occasion.

• Create a coupon book for Mother's Day or Father's Day, or for grandparents. Friends may appreciate coupons for a free lunch, popcorn and a movie or a ticket to a sporting event.

• Make a set of cards from a panel of distinctly designed fabric. Glue fabric pockets on the front and tuck in message tags or use the fabric as a decoration.

• Put favorite photos on the bed of a tray, then cover them with a sheet of glass, layers of decoupage adhesive or dimensional glaze for protection.

• Anything paper can do, vellum can do, too. It's a transparent paper that can be punched, folded, torn, stitched, crumpled, dry embossed or stamped. Layering vellum softens and brings an air of mystery to the paper behind it.

Source: Paper Crafts magazine