Moving Announcements

Instead of buying separate moving announcements and a new address stamp, why not use a new address stamp to make your moving announcements? Here is one way to do it.

Create a template on the computer for your text. Four per page works well. Here we included boxes to know where to cut, but you can also create crop marks. Leave enough area for the stamp. Do a test print on plain office paper first to make sure your size and spacing is correct, then print on a fun, laser friendly paper. Stamp, trim and adhere to a card.

We made our template smaller than the card so we could have a contrasting border. Before adhering, we used an accent stamp to create a patterned border. If your paper feels good without a card, simply print, stamp and trim. An accent stamp placed on the envelope is always a nice touch.

If you love to create and have a friend that has just moved, consider giving them an address stamp and making them some announcements. It makes for a special housewarming present and will be one last thing they have to worry about as they search for silverware.

To get a pdf of the template above email us at info@butterflyfly.com.

Bake and Share: Banana Bread

Whether it’s no sugar for Lent, a continued commitment to a New Year’s resolution or an attempt at a calmer playgroup, everyone could use a yummy recipe that won’t leave you with regret. This banana bread recipe has no sugar and is made with whole wheat flour, and is still a crowd pleaser- honest. It’s from Super Baby Food, by Ruth Yaron.

Preheat oven to 350˚ F.

Mix wet ingredients:

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (the riper the better)

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs beaten

In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour

(if you don’t use this often keep it in the refrigerator)

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

Combine dry into wet, then fold in:

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Bake in greased loaf pan for 50-60 minutes.

Cool, wrap, throw on a gift tag and make a neighbor very happy. But be warned, it makes your house smell fabulous so you might want to bake up two.

A great second child gift.

What do you give a family when they have a second or third child on the way and you know they already have all the baby basics? A special gift idea is a personalized bookplate stamp. By creating a family library stamp it not only celebrates the arrival of the newest member but it also includes the older child.

Some of the earliest Butterfly Fly stamps created were a set of three family library stamps to welcome a second child. The moth, ladybug and ant bookplate stamps make a great set and are gender neutral.

By using ‘family’ in the stamp text instead of individual names, you don’t have to wait until you know the name of the new baby and it still works if they have more children in years to come. Best of all, it may encourage sharing.

Until March 31, 2010 buy any three bookplate stamps and receive 20% off. When checking out use promotion code: BOOK20

Switching up rubber stamp designs.

As orders come in it’s always interesting to see how people are using different text in their personalized rubber stamps. Here are a few examples.

Some have used the teacher stamp layouts for a personalized library stamp. This is a great solution when you have a really long name or want to use a first and last name. 

On the flip side of that, if you are a teacher with a very short name and using your grade instead of the school’s name, then you don’t have much text to wrap around your stamp. Some people have added ‘from the desk of’ to their personalized teacher stamp and it looks great.

Our handmade by stamp designs are admittedly a bit more feminine in nature. But if you have a little Matisse pulling out the art supplies everyday then using one of our name stamps and giving it ‘handmade by’ text is an excellent option for boys.

And finally, we’re not sure if it’s a solution for twins, but having two names in one name stamp is really fun.

Of course we have changed the names in our examples. But if you have an interesting use of your stamp and would like to share please email photos to ideas@butterflyfly.com

We love seeing your creativity- keep it coming.