~~rEVistInG a PAst YeAr~~

For a while my mother would give me a calendar for Christmas each year. And she would really find some uber cute ones that I would love to hang up and gander at as the year passed by. But when it was time to take it down I was just a little sad that the pretty artwork was going away and went into pack-rat mode and tucked it away in some obscure spot. I had that "I-know-I can-use-this-for-something-in-the-future" anxiety attack and my house was one more item closer to being on the tv show "Hoarders".

BUT... I was recently blessed with a new ScrapBox and while transferring all my cra(p)ft items over I came across this cute calendar again! My mission: to find a crafty something to do with this item to justify keeping it five years.

I took this...

And turned it into this...

This is two sets of four cards with matching envelopes and holder. You need a pretty calendar that is at least 12x12, some coordinating card stock, embellishments and some creative mojo (even if you have to borrow the mojo).

First, take the staples out and cut it in half. Take two of the full sheets and make the holders:

Fold it in half to make a triangle. Score at 5 1/4" on each end.

Then score down the folded edge at 3/4". My calendar paper was pretty thick so I had to open it up and make about four turns/passes before it was sufficient enough to fold neatly.

Now, with the middle score line horizontal, bring in the left and right sides and set the folds.

Then bring the bottom up and set the center fold line with your bone folder. It's starting to have so many layers that this tool will really be a huge help. It should be the solid paper side of the holder facing outward.

You technically have an inside-out holder at this point so all you do is set the two score lines that are along side the center fold by bringing each side right-side-out. I hope the pictures will make some sense if my description is lacking.

Now you can put a little adhesive on the tip to make it easier to embellish.

I used a 1 1/4" circle punch to make the handle. I've done it a little different in the past where I just simply used a brad or a grommet. It's really up to you and what you have on hand so be confident in choosing your own method.

I embellished with a scalloped circle and a piece of ribbon.

So on with the envelopes...

Start out with a 8 1/2" square. Then my Martha Stewart scoring template told me what to do.

Score two sides (opposite each other) at 3" and then the remaining two sides at 3 5/8". Use your bone folder to make nice, neat, crisp folds. Decide which is the top of the envelope and snip those little triangles off. This picture should adequately describe it:

I looked at my envelopes that I had in my supplies and based my folds according to that. But I don't think it really matters *that* much.

I chose to take that notch off so I used my scoring tool and ruler and folded it under.

Then put the adhesive on the edges...

A pretty legit envelope, wouldn't you say?

I put a white label on the front of the envelope and tape without removing the backing on the flap. This way there is no need for random supplies if I give it away or if I use it myself - ready to go. I did use my corner rounder to trim the tip of the flap just to give it a detail of intention.

Cards always take me a loooong time to design. But once I have my layout it's pretty quick. My method was to use a 1 1/2" circle punch to choose little scenes from my calendar scraps and then mounted them on scallop circle mats with dimentionals. I gave the scallops a little sponging on the edges to get some depth.

Paper piercing is a nice way to add more texture/interest/detail to cards.

I cut 3x4 1/2" more plain scene rectangles for a back ground. I embossed the card and then set off to put them all together.  I like to use more than one texture for cards to keep them interesting so I added some ribbon pieces to the front and just a couple little pearls to that.

Again, here's the cuteness in finished form...

~~cRaFt NitE~~

Yup, it's that time, my homeschool homies...

Since May is the month of graduation we normally cancel our homeschool mom time, however, there are some of us who are not quite at that stage in our schooling so I decided to host a CRAFT NITE for those ladies that were free.

Here's our project this month!

Cute, eh? Well, I can't take credit for it. I am a follower of the My Chic 'n Scratch blog (Angie Juda is the creative genius at work) and she has posted all the instructions for her original rendition. I have altered mine only to accommodate the supplies I have on hand. This finished project measures 4-1/4" x 4-1/4" and has ten surfaces inside to decorate with your favorite snapshots.

Well?! Why aren't you RSVPing *right now*?!!?!

~tHE grAD ProJecT~

Our buddy at church graduated this year. We were happy for him and wanted to do something a little more than just cash and a card. So, I made him a mini photo album... and, yes, included the cash! Every grad needs the cash, right?? I made it with the same die cut items as this post. This is the cover.

The photo on the left is our grad just before getting all robed up! And the beaming proud parents on the bottom left.

The grad's parents took a photo of the program that had all the names listed and the arrow pointed to our grad. Again, the parents were busting at the seams with pride for their grad!

I used my Cricut to make the cover and this "you did it" die cuts. I had misplaced the power cord and didn't use it for nearly two years because of that fact. I was SO excited to use it again! The people with the grad on the right are his great grandparents.

And here he is with his aunt and cousins on the left. And the right is with his sweetie.

This is the back and is when he arrived home as the GRADUAT*ED* dude!!

~~fOr tHE bIRds~~

I'm not trying to be a miser or anything, but I keep thinking that when I want to send a note off to someone that sometimes a card is overkill. But I still want to make it *pretty* - not just a scrap of notebook paper crammed in an envelope! (ha) I used my Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch from SU as well as the Scallop Trim Border punch. A little Certain Celery grosgrain ribbon to add a little variety to the set too. I tried out some of my Cuttle Bug embossers too. The possibilities were getting ~~crazy~~ so I stopped at that. Now... would it be cheesy to start out a note to someone on one of these with, "A little birdie told me..."? Uh, yeah. It would.

~~jUSt fOR LaS~~

She doesn't know it yet but I made some monogram cards for LAS. When she was here visiting she mentioned that she like fleur de lis and so now whenever I see one I think of her. And would you believe that one of the {ippity} stamps was one in the new line and I found an embossing folder... they just pop up all over the place now!!

This was my first project with my Just Right stamps too and, boy, do I dig those! I have a weird desire to personalize stuff and these sets were right up that alley. I kept this design super simple shooting for an elegant, sophisticated look. I just hope LAS *loves* them... and that she will not hesitate to *use* them!

~~mORe of ThoSE pURses~~

I got my dies for the Big Shot today from Stampin' Up and got all re-energized to get back to rag quilt purse making (say that ten times fast!!).  But before that begins I have a birthday card for a special lady in my life. It's inspired by my SIL over at Scrapper-Wannabe. Can you tell the purse thing is a possible obsession?

I used the Top Note die with the Big Shot. I also got the Scalloped Border Punch and just had to try that. The stamp is from the Whimsical Words stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration promotion.

~~miNi bOOk mAyhEm~~

I was getting just a little obsessed with getting a particular die cut machine and just about when I was going to pass out from the constant compulsive contemplation (CCC - that ought to be a new disorder, huh?) for the umpteenth time I committed. And here is my first fun creation with my new machine and, oh, do I {heart} it!!

The die cuts a rectangle and a scalloped rectangle each with a hole in the top corner to bind it. I used some matting material that I got in the framing department at the local craft shop and then used some lovely glittered design paper to cover it. I will continue to work on it and "gussie it up" (my spell checker doesn't recognize that word - but *you* know what I mean, don't you?) with tags, brads, ribbon, metal pretties and such.

Sizzix Big Shot

Rectangle Book Die

The Garden Party Stack by DCWV