Hb 14!~

This morning I made a little money book, gone wild, for Brett's best bud, Alec, for his 14th birthday.  I also made a coordinating box.

I knew I wanted to use Lisa's coin envelope design and incorporate it into a money holder and last night before bed thought it would be fun to bind them all together to make a book of sorts.   I use these coin envelopes frequently for gift cards and cash; they are so easy to make and are the perfect size for both.

Once I decided on the envelopes, I thought I would use what I have at home to make the project.  Being just a week and 2 days since I came home from the hospital, driving around, while allowed, is a little fatiguing.  So, Graphic 45 A Proper Gentlemen to the rescue. :)

The envelopes are bound together with an O ring.  While I wanted to use the Bind It All to punch the holes, the envelopes were a little wide and would have had half punches on each end,  not something I wanted.  So I made a template by punching a scrap piece of paper and used that to mark where the 4 holes would go on each envelope.  I used a handheld rectangle punch to punch the holes for the O ring.  Once they were all punched I used the BIA to crimp the O ring together. All the envelopes were distressed with a sanding block and decorated simply using G45 coordinated papers and punch outs.  Each page has a Cuttlebug chipboard/ cardstock covered die cut letter that spells out his name.

The box is 4" x 3" x 1" and is made using the Scor-Pal.  The box is decorated using G45 papers, a Nestabilities circle die, Cuttlebug letters and numbers and a Cuttlebug tag.  

There are some kids who don't get a handmade gift holder as I know that it finds itself into the garbage once the gift is opened.  However, I recently learned that Alec's mom (my good friend, Anita) has saved every card, box or enclosure I have ever made for their family, so I know that this will be appreciated.  And, I am not sure I know a teen who doesn't like to see their name personalized on their gift!

On the recouping side, my surgery went well and my recovery is scooting along quite nicely.  I am up to a mile walk and can finally sit and stand easily.  Previously it felt like I had done far too many crunches!

Have a beautiful day!

V.~

Love Struck~

Today I made a couple of Valentine treat boxes for my kids, done a bit early as on Valentine's Day I will be recouping in the hospital following removal of my gallbladder.  It's been a pesky thing I have been dealing with since September and op day is finally happening on the 13th.

No stamping at all was done to make these boxes, it is all done with We R Memory Keepers Love Struck patterned paper, GKD cardstock, eyelets, dies, ribbon and the Scor-Pal.

Finished boxes are 4.5"T x 2.5"W x 2.5"D

To make the boxes:

• Trim patterned paper to 6" x 10.5"
• Placing the 10.5" side to the top, left side of the Scor-Pal, score at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10
• Rotate and align the 6" side at the top (ensure directionality- this will be the box bottom - if paper has a specific pattern) and score at 1.5"
• Cut to where the score lines intersect on bottom.  Trim off small rectangle that is leftover.
• Pre-fold all scores.  Add Scor-Tape to small 1/2" flap and create box form by adhering to inside.
• Fold bottom flaps over each other, add Scor-Tape to final flap and secure.

For the lid:

• Trim coordinating paper to 5-1/16th x 5-1/16th
• Score 1.25 on each side
• Cut to where score lines intersect, 2 cuts on opposing sides, 4 cuts total
• Find center of lid, punch hole, add eyelet.
• Pre-fold all scores, add Scor-Tape to each flap and adhere to create lid form.

Fill box with your favorite Valentine treat.

Cut a length of ribbon that will wrap the box and tie a bow; wrap ribbon around base and up sides, thread through the lid via the underside, gently snug lid in place, tie ribbon.

Embellish box front as desired.

This past weekend we spent a couple days in Tucson, Arizona.  We went there to see a very good friend's change of command ceremony on Friday and played tourist on Saturday before heading home.

We are so proud of our friend in his new role!  And we thoroughly enjoyed our mini vacation!

 

We drove the Cactus Loop Trail in the Saguaro National Park East in the morning before heading to Old Tucson to spend the rest of our time before driving back home.

Thanks for visiting!

V.~

Hugs & Kisses~

Sunday I got to spend a record, shortest that is, time at Winter CHA in Anaheim.  This is the second CHA I have had to sit out as part of the Scor-Pal team (shoulder issues make it too hard to demonstrate).  However, yesterday I was heading up to meet a slew of some of my favorite people for dinner and decided if I was driving an hour plus for dinner, then maybe, just maybe, I could get into the show for a couple of hours.  Well, 3-1/2 hours to be exact, so it was a bit of a speed race through, but fun none the less.  I was able to see many friends from the industry and some new product lines, tools, paper and such. I only took a few pics with friends and none of product and now I can barely remember what I saw.  Oh well! :)

I did learn an important lesson, I should have just tucked a few things in my pockets and left my purse at home.  My arms/shoulders were not feeling so great by the time I got home.

Anyway, I came home feeling inspired (somewhat rested and ibuprofend up for Monday) and knew my Mom was having her painting friends over for lunch and critique on Wednesday.  In the past I have made her little treat items to put at each place setting and know they she and her friends enjoy them.   These started out in a much simpler direction and sort of ended up here - lots of die cuts and extra doodads! 

How the bags were made:

• 2.5" x 4" Kraft bags are flat with a very small flap top  and are stamped with hearts from Wplus9's Heartfelt Mix in white pigment ink.  Bags were purchased at Michaels.
• In lieu of a doily (which I am out of), I die cut a regular paper napkin and separated the layers.  A bit of edge sponging and they fold over the top of the bag.
• Brown organdy ribbon just lays over the top, cascading down front and back.
• Medallion was made by Nestabilities Circle and Petite Scallop Circle and decorated with Wplus9's envelope and heart dies, the cancellation stamp, month and numbers are from Postmarked.
• Sentiment tag was stamped with a sentiment from a long ago retired SU! set, All Year Cheer 1
• Mini clothespins were painted bubblegum pink, dry brushed with a little white and tied with brown ribbon.
• Tiny heart charm from my stash from long, long ago was tied to the ribbon using fishing line.

The only pictures from the day:

 Melissa

Tina

 Cindy

 Jessica, Laurie, me, Cindy, and Tosh

Kim, me, Carole

 Have a great day!
V.~

Sending you Love~

And the final set of 10 for my friend's Valentine Card Campaign; a raspberry, black and white combo, simply delicious!

As much fun as this was, stamping 40 cards this week, I certainly learned my limitations as far as my frozen shoulder issues.  I am still not quite there yet, while it doesn't hurt to actually stamp anymore, which is a huge improvement, I have suffered more pain in the following days than I have in a while.  So I know that stamping a card or two a week is probably okay, but not 40!

Finished cards are 3.25" x 6.5"

V.~

Stamps: Heartfelt Mix and The Birds & The Bees by Wplus9

Ink: Tsunkineko Onyx Black and Vivid! Raspberry

Paper: SU! Melon Mambo, GKD Black Onyx, Neenah Solar White

Patterned paper: Bella! Wedding Tie the Knot

Other: Heart die from Hearts & Clouds by Wplus9, Nestabilities Circle Die, Fiskars trimmer scallop blade, Raspberry Satin ribbon, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Love always~

And yesterday afternoon's 3rd set of 10, a little red, white and blue Valentine.

I worked and reworked the navy base several times until I remembered an old Scrapblock from the defunct Cornish Heritage Farms* that was a perfect compliment to the small grid stamp on the image panel.  Distressed Grid was inked up in white craft ink and stamped on navy cardstock.

The sentiment and grid are from Wplus9's Sweet Nothings; the heart, white craft ink on red cardstock and cut with the coordinated die from Hearts and Clouds, is from Heartfelt Mix.

Finished card is 4.25" x 4.25"

V.~

Supplies not mentioned above:

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx, Vivid! Inky Blue, SU! Craft White

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SKD Lipstick Red, SU! Night of Navy

Other: Black and white gingham ribbon, 1/8" hole punch, Navy eyelet (to tie ribbon thru), Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

*The original Cornish Heritage Farms went out of business a while ago, however, I've recently read that many of the images have been purchased and that there is a new CHF website that offers them in a digital format:

Cornish Heritage Farms

Showering Love~

Second in the series of 10 card Valentine sets for the Valentine Card Campaign.

Finished cards are 3.75" x 5.5"

V.~

Stamps: The Birds & The Bees by Wplus9

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Vivid! Raspberry

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU! Melon Mambo, GKD Black Onyx

Patterned Paper: DCWV Madly in Love Stack

Other: Cloud die by Wplus9, Scallop rotary blade, Corner rounder, Dimensional foam

Postmarked Love~

I just discovered a new to me stamp company before the holidays

Wplus9 Design Studio 

and had several of their items in my shopping cart for a week or so before I hit the send button.  

This was my first major purchase in forever and it felt so good to play with new stamps today!

Well, I have to say I am impressed with the quality of their clear stamps, dies and their super fast shipping.  I ordered on a recent Friday morning from here in SoCal and had the items in my mailbox on Monday, all the way from Florida!  Impressive, yes indeed!

Heartfelt Mix, Postmarked and Love Notes Die were the products that I used to make 10 of these Valentine's cards for a friend who is collecting cards for a Valentine Card Campaign for the military.

I plan on making several more 10 card sets in different colors and layouts over the course of this week.

Cards are 4.25" x 4.25"

V.~

Supplies not listed above:

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk, SU! Craft White

Paper: Gina K Designs Kraft, Lipstick Red and Pure White

Other: Corner rounder, Square punch (to make banner ends), Dimensional foam