Brown Bag Greeting Card

Hi Everyone!

Happy Monday to you!  What a great day to start the week.  Not just because it is Monday but because we have been blessed to see it and be a part of it.  It has been raining like crazy here in PA.  It rained from last  week Monday to Saturday morning, stopped Saturday afternoon, and then started again Saturday night and hasn't stopped.  But that's okay because it gives me an opportunity to focus on unfinished projects and to let those creative juices flow. Well the juices were definately flowing over the last week. I went to work on a Paper Bag album, which I will post soon, actually two albums, and had such a great time with them.  I wanted to make an album that was a bit different than the ones that I had recently seen.  Well God definitely answered the prayer of my heart and He also showed me a new kind of card.

After making the paper bag album I was left with all these paper bags that were not ...well, pretty enough for a paper bag album.  I didn't want to just discard the paper bags or keep them until I found a project, I wanted to create a use for them.  Hence the "Paper Bag Greeting Cards" were born. These cards are so simple and it doesn't matter the condition of the bag.  I needed to make some thank cards and so I used this theme to design this "Blessings" card.

I haven't done alot of embellishing for one particular reason, this card will be mailed (yes, it's going postal) and I don't want the embellishments to come off.  This side is the card opening (pic above); kinda like the back side of an envelope.  The gold flourishes are hand drawn with a gold pen.  The butterfly, part of a 4pc stamp set from Inkadinkado, and 'Blessings' are stamped in gold ink from ColorBox.  I also used ColorBox ink in Cream White and inked around all the edges of the bag to soften it up.  I've had the 'Blessings' set for so long that I don't even remember where I got it from.  I also used 2mm rhinestones from Nicole crafts.  They are inexpensive and work great.  The paper I used is the Bellisimo Collection from Autumn Leaves dated 2006.

When You lift up the "Blessings" flap the card opens up; here is the inside.  Some more gold flourishes, rhinestone embellies and a single butterfly.  I used a total of 8 rhinestones throughout this card.  When I started this card I was going for a brown, beige and white combo, hence the chocolate brown ribbon; never thought about using the gold.  But as I got further along I realized that I didn't have one small component - Chocolate brown ink {DOH}.  But all in all, even with the ribbon I don't think it came out too bad.  I going to hand write my note on these two pages.  Once I write the note I will probably add some more embellishments.

I cut out a 1" half circle on the right side where the opening to the pocket is.  Inside is a place for a trinket, photo, gift card or anything else.  I happened to cut out a tag and made slits for a gift card to be inserted.

Now, of course I am not going to give a Costso membership, though that would be a nice gift, but I am just using the card in place of a gift card.  The sentiment on the tag "A Little Something For You" is a set from Studio 112 by K&Company.  

And finally, here is the front of the card where the addresses would go.

I will definitely make some more of these "Brown Bag Greeting Cards".  I think they are just so cute and a perfect way to send a gift card or memento through the mail.  Once I write my note inside and address the card, I will adhere a clear label to seal the package.  This is also a safety precaution so that if the label has been peeled back, I will know if it has been messed with. 

I also used this design to create one of my paper bag minis.  Oooh, wouldn't this be great as part of a Paper Bag Swap.  You could use any color bag you want, embellish however you would like, you would just need to leave 1/2" for the binding on the bag bottom side, I will have to come up with a theme.  :)   I like this idea!!  Let me know what you think and if you would be interested in something like this.

Thanks for spending some time with me, I really appreciate it!  Until we meet again, have a blessed tomorrow!

Kelli
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"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."   ~Psalm 118:24

Butterfly Mini Album using the Cricut Cartridge "Plantin Schoolbook"

Hello All You Creative Geniuses,

Everywhere I turn lately I see butterflies; and not just because it is Spring.  :)  In paper collections, embellishments, in videos, everywhere.  So in celebrating the loveliness of Spring and keeping in line with the butterfly theme, I decided that I would make a Butterfly Mini Album.  Now this album may be a little different than what you have seen so far.  To make this album I will use the Cricut Expression and the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  You're probably wondering how I am going to pull that one off since there are no butterflies on that cartridge.  Well for my next trick or blog (meaning this one) I will attempt to make a Butterfly Mini Album using recycled chipboard and the Cricut Plantin Schoolbook font cartridge.  Now, onto Step One

Step 1:
   Chipboard is everywhere around us.  From cereal boxes, to USPS mailing envelopes, to the back of a loose leaf tablet; all we have to do is look.  So start with some chipboard.  You can buy if you need to.  I am going to recycle this cereal box of Honey Nut Cheerios.  Cut the box apart on each and every fold.

Step 2:

   The length of your box (left-right) will determine the largest size image you can cut.  The box I used is 7 1/2" so I will cut my image at a size of 7".  Cricut time!  Place your Cricut size on 7", your pressure on max, your speed on high, make sure the Plantin school cartridge is inserted, and then press the HEART button and cut.  Yes, I said the heart button.  This heart will create your butterfly.  You will need to cut this multiple times.  I recommend cutting this image 4 times.           

   Once cut, you will need to cut the heart image again on the second panel but this time use the flip image.  The flip is so that the hearts, when back to back, line up nicely.  Make sure to mark which image is the flipped image.  The flipped one will be your back cover.  

Repeat this process for the inside pages.  You can make as many pages as you desire.  If you don't have extra chipboard then you can cut hearts out of card stock and glue them together.  For my butterfly I cut out 4 pages or 8 hearts with my Cricut using card stock.  (Hey, there's only two of us in the house right now and we can't eat cereal that fast).  Then I glued one of the regular cut hearts and a flipped heart together

   When we were kids, one of the first images that we learned to draw was butterfly because it was so easy to do.  Well, at least I did.  I remembered that making a butterfly was as easy as drawing two '3's side-by-side; this gave you the wings.  And then I remembered that to make a heart you use a '3' and a 'V'.  So I added two and two and I got a butterfly.  

Step 3:

   Now measure and cut 2 inches off from the bottom point going to the top of the heart.  This is where the shape of the butterfly really starts to take form.  Repeat this process with each page you created. 

Step 4:

   Cut your holes for binding.  If you are using binder rings then this is the point where you would want to punch your holes; this way when you cover the heart/butterfly wing with paper you know where to re-punch the holes.  If you are using another binding method then you may want to skip this part.

Step 5:

   Now is the time to cut all the patterned paper for your inside pages and covers.  I decided to use a designer stack that I have had for awhile.  So, I chose the "Jolie Chocolat" 8x8 paper stack by S.E.I.  I think this paper is just perfect for a butterfly.  Assemble your patterned/designer paper and glue them to each of your hearts.  Don't forget to mark which pieces are the flipped cuts.  You will probably want to adjust your cricut settings since you are not cutting the chipboard any more.

Step 6:

   Now, all that is left to do is to embellish, create your tags and add your pics.  At this point my album is pretty much done minus the photos but I still have a few more embellishments and tags to create.  But I will show you what I have done thus far.  Feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think. 

This is the cover...

Inside cover on the left and page 2 on the right with two tags...

Page 3 has a butterfly insert with a little mini album hiding inside the butterfly...

  

Page 4 has a circle photo-mat with journaling on the back and a huge floral cut out with room for more journaling.

 

Pages 5 and 6 have pockets with loads of tags...

Page 7 and inside of the back cover...

This is just a quick view of the album as it stands right now.  When I finish the album completely I will do a video and show you all.  We just got a new camera so prayerfully the video will come out nice and clear.

***Update:  So I have created a new album that was Published in the July, 2013 edition of Cricut magazine.  Here is the link to see the photos: http://favor8favors.blogspot.com/2013/10/ive-been-published.html

So until later everybody.  Thank you for sharing some time with me.

Kelli

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"Lord, I open my heart. Fill it with nothing but You.  I open my heart, as the old gives way to the new.  Lord, cleanse me with, Your holy fire, until all that remains is earnest desire.  To open my heart and be filled, with nothing but You."  ~sung by Nicole Binion on album the "When Women Worship" by Mary Alessi & Friends

Apart from you but not Forgotten & Mother's Day card

Hello Friends!

I pray you all are having a fabulous week!!  I know I have been away for awhile and I apologize for that but please know that I thought about you all and each of you were in my thoughts and prayers.

I have been working on a bunch of projects but the reason why you haven't seen them is because of a lack of memory space in my computer.  I have been diligently trying to clear the computer of all unneeded files and programs. I still have a ways to go but I have cleared enough room to import photos from my camera and show you all that I have been working on.

***I have to give a big THANK YOU to Sandy O @ Paper Transformer for reminding me to get it into high gear and create my Mother's Day cards!  :D  ***

So, this blog will be about my Mother's Day card.  I am really please with how this came out and I am really proud of myself.  I pray you like it.  Please let me know your thoughts. So without further delay...

...Here it is!

I used a piece of Paper from K&Company.  I think it is called Garden Paradise; I know that it is an old collection but I thought it was perfect.  The card base is a cream color that I cut at 6 1/4" x 9 and folded in half to make a 6 1/4" x 4 1/2" card.  I cut a piece of tan card stock at 6" x 4 1/4" and then cut the patterned paper at 5 3/4 x 4.  I wanted a very thin border on this card.

I adhered a piece of chocolate brown ribbon onto a piece of cream antique lace and then wrapped it around the patterned paper and tan mat.  I used my Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and cut an oval at 2 1/2" in the tan color and another at 2 1/4" in the patterned paper and adhered them together.  Then I used the Nature's Garden Watercolor Alphabet Stickers by Colorbok to spell out MOM.  I propped the sentiment on some 3D dimensional stickers, added an little bling from K&Company and viola!

I added some cream flowers to the side of the sentiment and the curly wire.  Then I took some glitter glue writer in crystal by Deco Art and outlined the flower petals, leaf and curly wire.  Then I added the butterfly and added the glitter to the butterfly.  Finally I added the K&Company bling to the corners and the front of the card was done.

Can you see the sparkle?  I tried to really capture the twinkle on the flowers but my camera wouldn't behave.

I blurred out the written part of the card but here is the inside.  I didn't want to waste any part of this beautiful paper so I made the open oval part a picture window and filled it with butterflies and covered the butterflies with the glitter.  

Watch on YouTube here

The camera really captured the twinkle on the butterflies here.  I love how this card came out.  I pray my Mom likes it as well.

Alright amigos, it's time to go for now but until we meet again; thanks for sharing your time with me.

Kelli

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To all the virtuous women!  "...Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all."   ~Proverbs 31:10-31  AMP

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY