PAPERLICIOUS

Waltzingmouse 12 Days of Christmas: Coin Envelope Mini Album

Welcome to the last day of the Waltzingmouse 12 Days of Christmas.  I hope you've had a chance to see the rest of the Design Team's work.  Awesome!  

My contribution is a Coin Envelope Mini Album

What you will need:

About 2 hours  (ok, it took me 4 hours but that's because I messed up the album and the tags the first time and stopped to pick up the tower of supplies that fell over my desk!)

 

File folder  (any color as you will cover it)
Coin envelopes (2.25"x 4.25" -- I got them at Staples
Tags to fit inside coin envelopes -- I bought Avery 11005 tags and trimmed the sides and bottom by 1/4"
Patterned Paper
Stamps and ink
Embellishments, including ribbon
Adhesive

Here is a the finished album, tied up with a pretty bow:

 

For a video on how to make the album, go here. No it isn't me in the video! It is from Paper Wishes. 

I made a few mistakes along the way, and found myself running back to the computer to check what I was doing, so I am also providing you with directions.  Click on photos to enlarge.

Or, you can watch the video...

Directions (all supplies listed at end):

1. Trim the file folder 7 inches up from the bottom.  Then trim 3 inches.  Opened, it is 14" x 3" and this is the base of the album.  Using a file folder works because the weight is sturdy but not too bulky and it comes with built in score lines.  I used a manilla one but any color works.  (Forgot to take a pic so sacrified this red file folder.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Trim 2 and 1/2 inches off the top of one side and score at that line.  You now have an album! 

3. Cover the outside and inside with patterned papers and re-score the lines.  Set aside.

 

 

 

 

4. Trim the flaps off 5 coin envelopes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Adhere the coin envelopes by placing adhesive in the middle vertically of each envelope and laying one on top of each other.  Be sure to only place adhesive in the middle. Adhere the packet of coin envelopes to the album.

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Make and decorate tags.  I kept it simple, using patterned papers and various WMS sets and a red felt rick rack border.  Keep them flat or they won't fit into the album.  You can use the tags for messages and/or photos.  I used them to adhere photos of my son (I resized some photos and printed them on cardstock to keep it really simple).  The mini album will be a gift for my Mom.  My husband liked it so much he asked me to make one for his Mom. So I'll be making a non Christmas themed one over the holidays.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Make a label or other decoration for front of album. I used stamps from WMS Very Vintage Christmas.

8.  Adhere coin envelopes to album by placing bottom of envelopes into the scored lines on the bottom of the album and adhere the top and bottom envelopes to the album.

9. Wrap with ribbon and then adhere label to long side of album on top of ribbon. 

Hint:  tried using magnets to hold album -- did not work. Album too thick.

10.  Place tags in coin envelopes.  Tie album with ribbon and you are done!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Christmas, Faux Fun and Text It

Ink:  Stampin Up! Real Red, Memento Bamboo, PTI Chai

Paper:  File Folder, PTI Vintage Cream, Avery Tags

Other:  PTI Pure Poppy Ribbon, random button, Liquid Pearls, random red felt, PTI rick rack die

 

Mood When Done = Scared it isn't "good enough."  (Edited per Joyce's comment that I forgot to add my mood. Thanks Joyce!)

Gift Card Holder Again

Another gift card holder.  I'm ahead of the game for Valentine's Day!  Link to the You Tube video directions here.  

Supplies

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Around Christmastime

Ink:  Memento Lulu Lavender (why why why these names??)

Paper:  PTI Kraft and White; Cosmo Cricket Winter Mitten

Other:  buttons, green felt, PTI ribbon, cotton floss, corner rounder, dimensionals, spellbinders round and round scallop dies

 

 

 

November Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz

Welcome to the November Friends of Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz!  If you are viewing all the Design Team blogs and counting "watermarks" (some blogs have zero), you should have come from Lisa's blog and the next blog in the waltz is Carly's. 

You can get all the information you need on the waltz, and what to do once you've counted the watermarks, here.  (Counting them may earn you a prize...)  Or, you can go to the forum and find all the links participating in the waltz here.

The theme this month is Christmas.  And I need gift card holders. 

So I went online and asked around and took Allison's advice and found a very easy pattern on Kristina Werner's blog for a gift card holder.  You can read Kristina's post on this gift card holder here.  Her post contains a link to a you tube video and a link to the pdf file with measurements, etc.  The nice thing about this gift card holder is that it doesn't need an envelope -- so break out the buttons, the bling and the dimensionals!  And you can make 3 from one sheet of cardstock (and have cardstock left over.)

I made 7 different ones (and there is a story there), but I'm only showing one tonight (I'll share more of them and the story in a later post). 

This one uses my favorite image from Waltzingmouse Stamps Around Christmastime. The set is full of images that are perfect for these gift card holders...

Ok, is this cute or what?

 

Untie the ribbon and the gift card holder is in a slot formed by the bottom piece.  Rather than staple the edges together as Kristina did, I glued the sides.  Perfectly easy. 

And after my recipient opens up the holder and tosses it aside, I will grab it and save it for next year!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Around Christmastime

Paper:  PTI patterned paper and white and kraft cardstocks

Ink:  Versafine Onyx; Memento Lady Bug

Other:  Stampin Up ribbon; dimensionals; Spellbinders circle die; Paper Shapers circle punch

Waltzingmouse Stamps Preview Day Three

Here is a fast project that will impress nonstamping friends (ha!).

It uses the largest image from the soon to be available (Sunday Nov 7th) Waltzingmouse Vintage Ornaments  set -- and this time I used the coordinating Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die.   Your friends will want to know how you got all that pretty design on the ornament.  Do not tell them.  Let them think it is hard work!

Die cut (first) ornament using Kraft cardstock and then stamped it with Rhubarb Memento ink, and  embossed sentiment in white.  Punched hole (nicely provided in the image) and attached to ribbon with twine.  Tag is a pretty close match to the ribbon in real life (just couldn't get the perfect light for the photo.)   Open bag; eat cookies!

Mood When Done = Sweet 

If you wish to see some top notch stamping with Waltzingmouse's new sets, go check out Anya, Belinda, Bonnie, Claire, Jennifer, Julia, Laurie, Lisa, Lynn, Mona, & Sandie's blogs!

But before you go, here is another card, this time using another new set -- Around Christmastime.  It's chock full of circular images and sentiments perfect for tags. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Sentiment and Wreath:  Around Christmastime

Cardstock:  SU Wild Wasabi and Black and PTI White

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo and SU Wild Wasabi and Craft White

Other:  purchased tag, button, twine, black marker, and Sizzix (Tim Holtz) embossing folder.

Whew, that's it for now.  See you tomorrow for the Design Team Blog Waltz.  Am I ready?  No way!

 

Waltzingmouse Stamps Preview Day Two: Deck Those Halls!

One of the new Waltzingmouse sets is called Vintage Ornaments.  It coordinates with the Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament Dies.  However, as you can see, you don't need the dies (although they are quite handy...) 

To see more Waltzingmouse Release goodies, check out Anya, Belinda, Bonnie, Claire, Jennifer, Julia, Laurie, Lisa, Lynn, Mona, & Sandie's blogs!

First up -- a bright, fun, surprisingly quick card that isn't very vintage at all!  Used the smaller ornament from the set to make a background.  Color palette -- SU's Pacific Point Cardstock and a variety of blue and green Memento inks. Add a touch of Copic colored bling and you are done. 

 

Stamped directly on the card with Veramark, then Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler ink.  Embossed with clear powder. Added some green bling on the ornaments. Next -- the same image with a completely different look -- formal and a bit classy (IMHO).

Color Palette -- PTI Cream cardstock and Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler ink and paper.  More Copic colored bling. 

Hint:  Notice how the Memento ink on the first card is smooth and the SU ink on the second card is mottled?  SU ink is, understandably, designed to work with rubber, not clear stamps.  It is a bit thinner than Memento.  I decided, though, that the mottled look on the second card was vintage and I'm going with that! 

Edited to add:  I edited this post in the early hours and when I saw it this morning realized that there were quite a few mistakes.  If you were subjected to the first version, which included reference to an item on tomorrow's post, I apologize.

Strawberry Card

We went to a dinner party last night and I needed a hostess gift.  I had a lot of great ideas but little time, so I found this strawberry template and decided to enlarge it and make a strawberry shaped card to go with some strawberry jam.  I think I went a bit overboard on the enlargement, but ....  Thanks to Dina for sharing her template. 

I'm going to describe how I used her template for those of you who have no idea how to use these downloads.  I didn't and had to figure it out through trial and error.  If you are computer savvy and already know this stuff, then feel free to skip my description! 

Card Construction Details:

1.  Go to Dina's blog (link above).  There are pics of a strawberry and the leaves on top.

2.  Right click on the picture and click on "Save Image As."

3.  Give the image (which is a .jpg file, like a photo) a name and save it somewhere on your computer where you know you will find it.  I put mine on my desktop and then move it later.

4. Go to your file and open the picture.  If you have photoshop you can enlarge the picture there.  If not, you probably have Microsoft Word.

5.  If you are using Word, click on Insert, then Picture and browse to find your picture.

6.  Click on the picture and there is a box around it. Enlarge until you get it your size.

7.  Since I have few computer skills, I could not figure out how to get rid of the text, so I printed it out on copy paper, cut out the strawberry and leaves and used the cut out to trace on patterned paper.

8.  Cut out the strawberry.  Take the newly cut strawberry and lay on top of a folded A2 card with the fold at the top.  I moved the strawberry up a bit and traced onto the card.

9.  Cut out the card.  I used PTI White paper and was able to cut through the closed card with my scissors.  You don't have to be absolutely perfect because your patterned paper will cover the card front.

10.  I used Ultra Fine Black Flower Soft for the "seeds" on the strawberry.  (Dotted with glue and then put the flower soft on top and then shake off the flower soft).

11. Wrapped bag in ribbon and put the card over the ribbon. 

Mood When Done = Looking for Shortcake

Hostess Gift

This is my first attempt at using the Milk Made Template from Papertrey Ink. I bought it ages ago and never took the time to use it.  After making the boxes, I filled them with wrapped chocolates.  Mike and I went to a party last night and I gave this to the hostess.

Despite the many errors, I love the way this came out.  It would take too long to describe all the steps I used to make this, so let's just say I learned a lot along the way!

Here are a few hints:

1.  Make the templates using inexpensive typing paper. 

2.  Pick a theme.  I decided I want something that evoked spring and would base it around the Little Lady set from Papertrey Ink, one of my all time favorite stamp sets.  

3.  Once I knew I was making red and black lady bugs, I wanted to incorporate green.  Green is on the opposite side of the color wheel, is part of nature and if I used a light green, Spring Moss, I would avoid any suggestion of Christmas.

4. I added yellow as a spring time accent. 

5.  I decorated the back of the boxes by mistake.  It was only when I was editing the photos that I realized that the front of the boxes show the seam.  Oh there are other errors, some you can see and many you cannot.  However, the end product is pretty and it was fun to make. 

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  Pure Poppy, White, Spring Moss cardstock and Bitty Box Patterned Paper

Stamps:  Little Lady, Honey Bees, Mega Mixed Messages

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Pear Tart and Dandelion, and PTI Pure Poppy

Other:  Crystal Stickles, border punch, ribbon, Nestability dies and lots of Scor Tape, corner rounder

Mood When Done = Springy

****

I hope to finish my ink charts today and share with you later, but I've promised my Mom that I'd take her to the Mall!  What was I thinking????  The walker, the oxygen tanks, etc. are a pain. But, once we are inside I think it will be fun.  Ok, tolerable! 

Review: My Timeless Templates: Worth the $$???

Well, they are not MY Timeless Templates, Lauren Meader's Timeless Templates!  I've been looking to make stuff other than greeting cards.  Having little talent or creativity in the papercraft area, I went looking for ideas to beg, borrow, steal, or in this case, buy. 

There are a lot of free templates on line.  A LOT. So, is it worth $5 to buy a My Timeless Template? 

The short answer is yes, it was worth it for me.  I love being able to just print out a template and not have to measure and then cut and score.  Whenever I follow measuring directions, I almost always get it wrong.  What can I say?  Lawyers don't need a lot of measuring skills, and frankly, we stink at following other people's directions! 

I bought All Boxed Up -- for $5 you get to instantly download a 2 files -- one contains the template and the other contains 5 ideas and instructions from a bunch of the Papertrey Ink designers.  This is good on 2 levels -- the instant gratification feeds the addict's beast and even in difficult times, when you just NEED to buy something, anything, $5 is only $5.  Just don't get distracted and start putting a bunch of other stuff in your shopping cart!!

1. Is it hard to download?

Well, you need access to paypal or a credit card.   As part of the purchase, after you give your a credit card number, there is a "download now" icon.  Press that. 

If you are concerned about downloading documents, get a teenager to help you.  You'll have to suffer the humiliation of listening to the teen grumble about old people, but it's worth it.

No teen?  Practice by downloading the free templates in PTI's store.  Like all downloads, make sure you REMEMBER where in your computer you have placed it.  If you get confused, download it to your desktop.  If you can't download the free one successfully, go to Lauren's blog and look for her posts on her templates (on the right side of her blog).  That might help.  Please do NOT ask me!  I'm still in awe that the TV holds all those little people...

2.  What do you do after the download?

Eat a snack while reading the directions.  Then you print out the templates.

Hint:  take a plain piece of cheap copy paper and write "top" on one side and place it topside in your printer and print.  This way you can figure out how to use double sided patterned paper with the templates. 

After you've printed out the template on cheap paper, cut and assemble.  I have zero ability to visualize anything, so having the item all done really helps.

3. What kind of paper will go through my computer?

I have NO clue. PTI paper is too thick for my printer, so I used Stampin Up's.  Worked beautifully.  Every printer is different, and then there is always "operator error," if you get my drift.  This is why using one of the free templates as a practice makes sense.

4.  What's the deal on All Boxed Up?

All Boxed Up makes a 7" x 5" portfolio, and when closed looks like a VHS Tapes holder.  No need to share with me if you are too young to remember those.   It opens up in the middle and there are two envelopes, with no flaps, designed to hold stuff, including cards and envelopes. 

The directions say that it will hold 8 cards and envelopes -- mine held 4 but I didn't stuff it and my cards had buttons and other thick stuff.  I also included a strip of postage stamps as mine will be a gift.  The idea book that comes with it gives other ideas on how to use this, and they are very cute and clever.  Can't share as that would be unfair to Lauren's copyright...

To make these templates you will need:

1.  computer and printer

2.  paypal or a credit card and money in bank to pay when bill comes due or access to US "stimulus" $$

3.  paper

4.  scissors or paper trimmer

5.  scoring tool.  either a ruler and bone folder or a scor pal or scor it.

6.  the ability to slow down and read directions.

7.  Red sticky tape, scor tape, any of the tapes that are designed to really hold tight. 

8.  Whatever else you will use to decorate your template.  Hint:  winging it is not a good idea.  I put together my envelopes and THEN thought, gee, I could have stamped these, but by then it was too late.

I will be using this template a lot.  Very easy, intuitive, and fun.  DO NOT TELL friends and family you used a template!! Let's keep that our little secret!

Advent Calendar Box/Life Goes On

I signed up to take a class to make this Karen Foster Advent Calendar.  I had to cancel the class, but today I picked up the materials and made the calendar.  The class was a 5 hour class and I spent about 6 hours making it.  Lots of cutting! I made most of the boxes according to the directions, but on some I improvised.

I still need to fill the boxes.  They are big enough for candies, little notes, coins, etc.  I may just put Mom Nag Notes in them!! 

The papers are from Imaginsensce. 

Here's a picture of the back, top and side. 

  

If you'd like to read a bit about my life, please continue. Otherwise, enjoy your week! 

No Sunday Sale post to day.  I am not walking away from the blog or stamping, but I've lost my desire to spend a lot of time on either.  I'm sure this is temporary, as I've gone through this before.  Just need a little time to myself to get back my stamping spirits. 

My Mom continues to continue....she is now a little over 100 pounds and continues to lose weight  every week.  Her heart and kidneys seem ok, and there are no emergencies, but she is just, for lack of a better phrase, aging.  She has good days and bad days and today was not a good day.  However, it was lightened by another NY Giants win. 

I'm trying to spend some time with her everyday.  I know that must seem odd, since she's in the house and I'm cooking and getting her pills, etc. so of course I see her every day.  But, I can't craft in her bedroom, or even read much.  She's got the TV BLARING and her oxygen machine is noisy, so it is even hard for me to talk with her.  And, I've got family chores, etc. to handle.  However, I try and sit with her and watch TV every day.  She is totally together mentally most of the time.  There are days when she forgets what happened, but we've had some great talks about her parents and things that happened dozens of years ago.  Those are good moments.

Then again, she sort of threw me out of her room last night -- apparently I was interrupting her TV watching.  "Leave and close the door on your way out."  Hmm, worked for me!! 

I know that the day is going to come when I look back at this and will be happy I did it.  However, in the middle of it, it's not so fun. In fact, there are days when I look at my car and seriously think about just getting in and driving away.  It isn't the Waltons.  There's no kin dropping by to help out.  It is frustrating and tiring and expensive and worrisome.  But it is what it is and it is life, and that's ok. 

Chocolate Box! Day 4 of JustRite ....

It's chocolate and stamping!  What more can I say?  (Apparently a lot more!)

Mr. DP helped out designing this box (basically telling me when it was not so great), so he got to eat the Hershey nuggets inside the box.  I'd love it if you bopped on over to the JustRite Blog and took a look at what I made. 

I'm not sure why but of the 5 projects I made for JustRite, this one was the hardest -- I went through about 5 versions.  Maybe it was the chocolate sitting there or the fact that I was working on it while my Mom was in the hospital and I was distracted.  Or maybe I just don't have the decorating a box full of chocolates down yet!  In any event, I hope you enjoy it.