Renee Day Website

Renee Day

Crafting Expert

Renee Day is a Crafting Expert and Content Creator based in Michigan. She is a master of paper crafts, and also specializes in brush lettering, journaling, embossing, stamping, stenciling, doodling, and crocheting. Her Instagram account, thediyday, has over 300K followers. She published a book called "Creative Journaling: A Guide to Over 100 Techniques and Ideas for Amazing Dot Grid, Junk, Mixed-Media, and Travel Pages". The book contains 52 projects, from crafting colorful pages to creating dot grid, junk, mixed-media, and travel journals. She also created Chunky Letter Calligraphy, a 30+ page (PDF) all about lettering. She runs a thriving Amazon Storefront, where she curates craft supply collections for her followers. She previously worked as a photographer, capturing engagement sessions, weddings, boudoir, and landscapes.

Education

  • MS, Marriage and Family Therapy
  • BS, Sociology

Professional Achievements

  • Author of "Creative Journaling: A Guide to Over 100 Techniques and Ideas for Amazing Dot Grid, Junk, Mixed-Media, and Travel Pages"
  • Renee has been tapped to work with many craft and hobby companies throughout the world

Favorite Piece of Advice

When you are crafting and creating, go with the flow and have fun; perfection is a myth.

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Q&A Comments (10)

How do I cut them if I use thick cardboard?
You can use a crafting knife and a metal ruler instead of scissors. A metal ruler is important here because the blade is sharp and the plastic ruler could get damaged. For cutting, align the metal ruler along your cutting line and guide the knife to ensure a straight cut. When you’re cutting, make several light passes with the craft knife instead of trying to slice through in one go—this gives you more control and helps prevent the cardboard from tearing or fraying. Take your time, apply steady pressure, and keep your fingers clear of the blade path for safety. If the cardboard is really thick, flipping it over and scoring the other side can also help you get a cleaner cut.
Can I make an envelope using used paper?
Yes, you can! All you need is some used papers, scissors, and glue. Start by choosing the recycled paper you want to use—it could be pages from an old magazine, leftover wrapping paper, or any paper you have that's lying around. If you have an existing envelope, open it up carefully and use it as a template by tracing its shape onto your recycled paper. If not, you can draw a simple template yourself and just make sure there’s enough room to fold the edges. Once you’ve cut the shape, fold the sides and the bottom edges inward to form an envelope, leaving the top flap open. Use glue along the side flaps to secure everything in place. If you want to decorate your envelope, you can keep it simple and draw using pens, markers, and stamps, or be creative by layering on bits of decorative recycled paper for a unique look. You can even take it up a notch by adding washi tape or stickers to give it some flair.
What else can I use to decorate pop-up cards?
If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you could use some washi tape. You could do a striped card and make them either vertical or horizontal, which adds fun colors and pattern. Another budget-friendly idea is to grab a few supplies from a dollar store, like stickers or alphabet letters, and personalize the card with your recipients initials. You can also get crafty with supplies that you already have at home. Try using crayon markers for a watercolor effect. Just add your markers to a plastic bag, a little water, and press your cardstock onto the bag. And when you lift it, you’ll get this awesome splotchy pattern that feels artsy and unique.
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Co-authored Articles (118)

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Make a Pop up Book

Pop-up elements add an exciting new dimension to any book (sure wish textbooks had them). If you are looking for a craft to make for a young child you know (or anyone!), you can create your own pop-up book rather simply....

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Pipe cleaner flowers provide all the beauty and color of real flowers without the pesky bees. They are as simple to make as they are cute. They look adorable in old, glass soda bottles and fit perfectly on window sills. ...

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Coptic Bind a Book

Coptic binding is favored by many readers and hobbyists, as it allows a book to lay completely open when flat and at an angle. It also showcases a clear view of the spine and the colorful threads holding the signatures (...

How to

Make a Paper Popper

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Staple a Booklet

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Fix a Jammed Manual Stapler

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Use a Stapler

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Get Wrinkles out of Paper

Paper is pretty fragile, so sometimes, no matter how careful you are, it can wrinkle. If it's a significant document, such as your homework, a favorite sketch, or an important form, creases and folds can be a serious pro...

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Make a Paper Snowflake

Each snowflake is unique and so will be the ones you make! Whether it's December 24th or July 24th, these snowflakes are beautiful and quite easy to make; all you'll need is some paper and a pair of scissors.. 01 October...

The Expert Guide to Junk Journal Ideas, Crafts, & Techniques

Make your own junk journal from scratch with easy DIY stepsJunk journaling is an awesome alternative to traditional journaling or scrapbooking that’s become all the rage online. So what is a junk journal, exactly? Basi...

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Make a Temporary Personal Nameplate for an Office Desk or Computer

Are you a business person? Has your nameplate fallen apart, your name tag broken, and now you've been requested to keep a name plate nearby? Here's a quick and easy way to make a temporary paper nameplate to use, while...

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Make a Bookmark

As a literary creature, do you often find yourself at a loss for the perfect page-saver in your favorite novels? Have no fear, you can make your own bookmark in dozens of styles so you never lose track of your reading ag...

How to Make a Model Pyramid

Build a DIY pyramid with paper, cardboard, or sugar cubes Building a model pyramid is quite easy if you have the right materials and know how to carefully measure, cut, and glue. You can make a simple pyramid out of card...
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