Merry Motifs Card with matching envelope: Strathmore blank greeting card in the colour of your choice, Safety-Cut block, lino cutter and blades, Speedball block printing inks, brayer. Draw or copy a design motif that can be used as a repeat, such as leaves and berries, ornaments, stars and moon. This means that each card can be made to be different with little or no extra effort.
1. Transfer your design to the print block and cut.*
2. Lightly pencil marks on the card to guide in placing the block while printing.
3. Ink your design and print.*
4. Lightly pencil marks on the envelope back flap and place a print of a single motif from the card design. (If you make your own cards and envelopes, this idea can be carried further by printing the design on the paper for the envelope, and then folding it so the design is on the inside.)
5. Erase all guide marks when the printing ink is dry. Variations: Play around with the placement of the motifs. Print on a contrasting piece of paper, and insert into a Photoframe Card. Embellish the print with metallic pens, glitter, beads, fibres, found objects?the sky is the limit!

Masks for the Monsters' Ball? Pop Art plaster gauze roll, water, petroleum jelly, gesso, paints, decorative or other thin paper, wallpaper paste, white glue.
1. Make a plaster full or half face mask using the plaster gauze (Pop Art plaster roll bandage).*
2. To use this as a decorative mask, finish by gessoing, painting and embellishing by the method you desire. Use acrylic paints, gold and metal leafing, or glue on 3D objects.
3. To use as a mould for making a lighter, wearable mask, support the plaster mask in a box of sand or crumpled newspaper and coat the inside with petroleum jelly.
4. Mix the wallpaper paste?, and then add a bit of white glue for extra strength.
5. Tear the paper into strips. For the first layer, moisten strips with plain water, and press into the inside of the mould. Add two or three more layers of paper strips dipped in the glue mix.
6. Let dry and remove from the mould. You can then finish the papier mâché mask in any way you choose.

Light the Night Lantern: Tea light and a small, wide-mouthed jar/glass, or a tap light (push button light) or small flashlight, thin decorative paper, acrylic medium, 1/8" wire armature.
1.Print or paint a motif in acrylic paint or ink on the paper you have chosen if you so desire and allow to dry.
2. Wrap the armature wire firmly around the base of your light container. Spiral the wire so that it widens out from the base and then spirals back inwards towards the top. (If you are using a tea light, make sure the spiral creates an open space above candle flame.)
3. Remove the wire spiral from the light and cut your paper to a size that will cover the wire shape.
4. Using the paper and acrylic medium, cover the armature. You may need to cut out areas if your paper is thicker, to accommodate the curves in the armature. Thinner paper can simply be pleated to the right conformation. Allow to dry.
5. Place the paper covered wire spiral back over the light and light it up! (You may like to fasten the lantern to a base to stabilize it if you are using a tea light. Hot glue the bottom of the wire spiral to a square of heavy card stock, scrap matboard or wood.)

Variations: Use plain paper and paint decorative motifs on the surface of the glass or tap light. Make small paper covered spirals that will fit around the bulbs on light strings.

Beautify a Brush Holder: Plain ceramic brush holder, Pebeo Porcelaine 150 ceramic paint, Pebeo Porcelaine Outliner or marker, small synthetic decorative painting brush, graphite transfer paper. The shape of this particular brush holder makes it perfect for displaying a written message or the recipient's name.
1. Clean the brush holder with soap and water, and wipe with rubbing alcohol to make sure the surface is entirely grease free.? 2. Trace your design onto the surface of the brush holder using the transfer paper. If you are very confident of your handwriting, you may simply place the transfer paper over the surface, taping it in place, and write the name or word.
3. Use the outliner to highlight the word. Add stars, flowers, squiggles (or nothing) as embellishments.
4. Paint the background colour/s of your choice. (If you prefer to use the marker to execute the design, you may paint the background first, and then use the marker over top when it is dry.
5. Bake, following the manufacturer's instructions? and give to the artist of your choice.

All that glitters: Sculpey or Fimo polymer clay, gold leaf supplies, stiff card or paper, Translucent Liquid Sculpey (TLS) or Superglue, metallic thread or yarn, or wire for hanger.
1. Cut a block of clay into eighths and condition it.? Roll out into a sheet 1/8" thick.
2. Make a template from stiff card or paper in the design of your choice.
3. Lay on the sheet of clay and cut out the shape. Repeat the shape for a second part. Lift free carefully.
4. Measure a length of thread or yarn, form into a loop, place on top of one cutout with a dab of TLS or Superglue.
5. Place the second cutout on top of the first, sandwiching part of the loop. Press or roll gently together, taking care not to distort the shape.
6. At this stage, the shape can be embellished with gold or other coloured metal leaf. Just press on to the surface without using size. (If you use this method, glaze the ornament with a varnish to protect it later.)
7. Bake following manufacturer's instructions.?
8. If you wish to gold leaf after baking, simply apply the leafing steps outlined in the manufacturer's instructions to the baked ornament. Varnish if desired.

Variations: Make a tassel from the yarn or thread, attach to the end of the loop and let it hang from the end of the ornament when you sandwich it together. Embellish the unbaked ornament with beads by pressing into the surface with a dab of TLS or Superglue.

* Further information may be found in the Opus Handouts: Block Printing Tips and Mask Making Ideas & Materials.

? Follow directions given by the product manufacturer for best results.

Have fun, and don't forget to check out our other "how-to" handouts for project ideas and techniques.