Easy washi tape Easter egg holders

If you need something to keep your boiled eggs from rolling all over the table, try making paper holders decorated with washi tape.

Download and print the egg holder template at 100%.


Apply decorative tape over the surface of each band. I used washi tape and patterned duct tape.

Cut out the bands and the slots. Since washi tape is slightly translucent, it's easy to see the trim lines through the tape.


Form each band into a circle and hook the slots together.

Have a beautiful Easter weekend, everyone!

Floral Easter eggs with printable decals

I dug out some old hand-drawn illustrations I did ages ago and arranged them into little tattoos for Easter eggs.

If you'd like to make some eggs like this, download the free sheet of decals.


Print it on ink jet temporary tattoo paper and follow the application instructions on the package. It's super easy. After the decals are prepared, just place a trimmed shape on an egg (or yourself), hold a wet cloth on it for 10 seconds, and pull off the paper backing. Smooth out any wrinkles with your finger.

I used Silhouette brand tattoo paper purchased at my local PaperSource last year, but you can also get similar stuff from DecalPaper.com.

DIY woven paper flag garlands

Remember Paper Matrix, the team behind those amazing woven paper hot air balloons? Now you can download templates for making fancy woven paper bunting. I love the scalloped ones. Head over and grab the PDFs!

Must-have shirts from The Social Dept.

The other day I stumbled upon The Social Dept., a t-shirt company in Akron that's churning out all kinds of screenprinted goodness. If you're a designer, a foodie, a sports fan, or you reside in a U.S. state, they've got a shirt for you.

I was desperate for that screenprinting workhorse tee, so I wheeled and dealed. I whelt and dealt: gimme the horse, and I'll tell everyone I know about your shirts. Score! My t-shirt arrived in the mail, and I get the satisfaction of recommending this sweet little shop.


I asked Andy and Christy for more details about their business, and here's the scoop.

The Social Dept. consists of:
Andy Taray / Owner, Designer/Printer, Cat-Freak
Christy Taray / Owner, Illustrator/Shipper, Cat-Freak

"We are a t-shirt company made up of man, woman, and cats. We specialize in city and state pride with an overall love for good typography, good design, and a touch of sarcasm. We hand print all shirts one-by-one in our litter box sized workshop located in the heart of the Midwest.

Andy is a graphic designer by trade with a passion for printing shirts, cats, basketball, and eating well. Main duties around the workshop include designing, illustrating, the dirty work, and printing. He also runs a small design shop called Ohioboy Art & Design and has worked on projects for folks like Tony Hawk, JFK, Big Bird, KISS and some guy named Elvis, among others.

Christy is a fashion designer by trade with a passion for crafting, shopping, cats, and eating well. Main duties around the workshop include illustrating, shipping, crafting, the dirty work, and child negotiating. Christy has worked for several Taylors in her time... spending a good portion of her career cranking fine design for both Ann Taylor and Lord and Taylor, among others."
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See their handiwork right here!

Make a paper Hermès clutch

If you need a fancy paper envelope for a card or gift, check out these DIY Hermès Jigé Clasp clutch purses. Choose your favorite design, print the PDF (fit-to-page setting), cut, score the folds, and assemble with a bit of glue.


I didn't make the Kelly bag when it was available, but figured I should give this one a shot just to see if it works. It was a bit unclear how the side gussets were supposed to go together, but I ended up folding a crease down the center of each panel and trimming a bit off the top so the sides would align with the front panel of the purse.

Choose from these designs:

Washi tape thumbtacks

I decided the plain white thumbtacks on my bulletin board needed to be cuter. And by cuter, I mean oranger. I put a small piece of washi tape on each pushpin, smoothed out any fine wrinkles with my thumbnail, and trimmed around the edges with a sharp scissors. Cuter!

Speaking of cuteness, how about these dolls made from wooden sticks and washi tape?

Make an origami bunny for your Easter table

Wouldn't it be fun to have a litter of origami bunnies for your Easter centerpiece? Do big ones, like this guy I made. Or decorate each place setting with a smaller rabbit. Or hide them around the house just for fun.

This bunny model is designed by Stephen O'Hanlon and demonstrated by Mari Michaelis in this step-by-step video. Mine is made from an 18" square of sketchbook paper. It's much thicker than origami paper, and thus harder to fold, but the resulting rabbit is quite a sturdy fellow. He's about 9" tall.

Then after I folded him, I saw these printable rabbit chocolate bar wrappers at Mini-eco. You could have a thoroughly origami Easter!

Pretty, spring-like desktop wallpapers

It's a new week. Perhaps it's time to freshen up your desktop wallpaper or give your iPad or phone a facelift? Take a look at these lovely freebies from freelance designer Breanna Rose in Minneapolis.

And if you live in Minneapolis, my condolences. I've heard that today is blizzardy. Chicago is gloomy and wet. Ugh, I can't wait for spring.