The Envelope Please

A million and three years ago, back when I first started creating cards, someone sent me a clever card that was a card and envelope in one.  It had flaps that folded shut and a ribbon to secure it closed. 

I really liked that design for something different and kept the card for inspiration.  The card is so old that it is frayed and faded now but I still keep it to remind me of the technique.  Back in those days, I had to trace the inspiration card and cut it out to get the shape made.  Nowadays I can use the Envelope Maker to get the shape made perfectly, with rounded corners and all, and I have a variety of sizes I can make.

Even though it is a card and envelope all in one, I put it inside another envelope to mail.  I think the post office would frown on the ribbon closure and flower embellishment as well as mangle the card (because that's what they are good at).

 So when you are looking for something a little different to make, this is a fun one.  And now you know the Envelope Maker trick you don't need to know the dimensions-you can do whatever size you like. This one is roughly 4"x6".

The Fine Print: Since the technique was from 'back in the day' I used a stamp set from that time frame as well--an oldie but goodie by Stampin' Up.  Envelope Maker by We R Memory Keepers. I later received a similar card that was secured shut with a sticker, which while nice was kind of hard to open without ruining the card.

A Birthday Story

In honor of my birthday I am going to share a birthday story with y'all.  Many years ago, there was this lady at work who took pains to let all of us, but especially me, know when her birthday was.  Poor thing, she obviously mistook me for a responsible adult.

It was a milestone birthday for Winnifred and she wanted to make sure we didn't forget.  "Remember, my birthday is May 9th!" She reminded us often.

The morning of May 9th rolls around and I'm sitting in my office when I suddenly remember, "Oh shit! It's Winnifred's birthday today!"  So I quickly left the office, ran to the parking lot and drove to the nearby grocery store.

I bought everything that people would bring to a potluck birthday lunch.  I got cake and other sweets, a veggie tray and dip, potato chips and dip, tortilla chips and salsa, potato salad, macaroni salad, a selection of nuts, a selection of lunch meat, little rolls, a bag of lettuce, toothpicks to pick up the meat, plastic flatware, plates, napkins and some big plastic bowls for serving dishes.

I snuck everything back into the office and set up Winnifred's lunch in a room we don't usually use for potlucks.  I everyone came and then we called Winnifred over to celebrate her special day.  She was pleasantly surprised.  She thought it was brilliant of us to use a different room so she had no idea what was going on.

The names and dates have been changed to protect the innocent.  My name has not been changed because I'm not so innocent. So anyway, that's the time I single handedly catered a "potluck" birthday lunch.  And what do you know, not once did anyone ever question where all that food came from.

The Fine Print: These are some of my birthday cards.  That's all you get for now because believe it or not I have other things to do today besides blogging.  Shocking, I know!

A Black and White Thursday

Have I mentioned lately that I really like Iris Folding?  Well, I do. I know they have lots of different shapes that you can fill in but I'm partial to the basic circle. Probably because it was the first thing I learned how to do.  This circle, however, got a little crazy big.

I like how it came out, but it was a little touch and go along those close edges.  The middle piece isn't the usual iridescent shiny piece.  It is a piece of white glitter paper but you can't tell it from the photos.

The Fine Print: Black and white papers by DCWV from a big fat pad of black and white papers (squee!), greeting by A Muse Artstamps, small flower brads from my stash.  Have a happy black and white day.

More April Birthdays

I just remembered that I didn't share the rest of the April birthday cards with y'all.  This one is made with one of those large stamps that I have mixed feelings about. I like design, I don't like that it is so large because in my mind that limits what I can do with it (and still have an A2 card).

 Here I was using my new die from the Stamp Doctor to make these fancy flip top cards. I traced the opening and hand cut the designer paper to fit around it with a bit of a border.  Since I was crunched for time I made two very similar cards.

This card was a fun one to make with all its happy multicolored zig-zags in the background. I like seeing cards with random pearls on them for accents, but I couldn't quite make the leap to do it myself.  So you see here two lined up pearls and one unobtrusive one randomly off in the bottom right corner.

This dotted card made me smile with its cheery macrocephaliac girl on it. I love this card so much that I want to make another one for a friend who has a birthday this month.  The balloon was a die cut/punch that I was given but I'm sure I can rustle up another balloon for similar card.

The Fine Print: Card One-stamp by Penny Black, chevron punch by EK Success. Cards two and three-dog by Penny Black, greeting by Crafter's Companion, die by the Stamp Doctor, flower brad from my stash. Card Four-stamp by Crafter's Companion, fabulous new designer paper but I put it away so I can't tell you who makes it.  Card Five-All products except the balloon and Copic markers by A Muse Studio.

A Fly-By Hi

I'm rushing around so much that I have no idea if I'm coming or if I'm going, but I do have time for a fly-by hi.

"Hi!"

Like I said...

The Fine Print: Greeting stamp by Club Scrap, butterfly dies and shaped die (for getting) by Simon Says Stamp, vines probably by Cheery Lynn (given to me by a friend), flowers by Prima with Liquid Pearls for centers, designer paper by DCWV, dark metallic paper by Recollections, and copper cardstock from my stash, and brass brad by Recollections.

Make Believe Monday

Today we are going to Make Believe that it is really Make Up Monday and that it isn't at all odd that I haven't blogged for the past two days.

We are also going to Make Believe that I was doing something fabulous, fun, and exciting and that is why I neglected my blogging duties. You can also Make Believe that you are insanely jealous if you'd like.

We should also Make Believe that this is an exciting blog post, filled with factual but entertaining knowledge that has left us both enlightened and educated.

Or not.  We could just admit that it's just another Monday.

The Fine Print: I daresay this is the last of the Peacock cards from Club Scrap.  I'm pleased that this version of Firefox was willing to Make Believe that it was friends with Blogger.  Usually I use Internet Exploder for blogging but I hear that IE has cooties now.

Doo Hickey Flower

I've long admired the Magnolia Doo Hickey lacey looking flower so imagine how thrilled I was to discover that I put it in a recent on-line order. I love it when I surprise myself like that, which is getting easier to do the older I get. 

I offered this stamp up for sale at a recent used craft sale with the idea that if it didn't sell it was going back in my stash.  I like it but it is big. I pretty much only make A2 sized cards so the BIG stamps aren't quite as appealing, but I made this 4.5" x 6" monster just to prove that I can.

The Fine Print: Stamp by Stampotique, floral vine by Memory box, doo hickey flower by Magnolia, designer paper from some really old stash as is the fancy pants brad.