Luxury Envelope with Merry Christmas Tag

Luxury Envelope with Merry Christmas Tag

Hi Friends,

Today I'm so excited to share this lovely envelope and tag which I created for my Christmas Card Club this year.  The original designer of this envelope fold is Christina Bitts and you can view her easy folding technique on YouTube.  To follow along, grab one sheet of medium weight 12 x 12 double sided cardstock and your tape runner or glue.  Click here to go to Christina's envelope folding tutorial. 

Once your at Christina's video, you'll see other variations of this envelope done in different sizes and styles.  The one I really like was done by Tara and rather than a tutorial, she shows us her collection of different envelopes she's decorated.  This one really got me thinking about what other items I had that I could use to make mine unique.   Click here to take a look at a few of Tara's beautiful styles. 

Luxury Envelope with Ornament Magnet Closure

Luxury Envelope with Festive Merry Christmas Leaf Tag

Merry Christmas Leaf Tag Close-up

As a designer myself, its very important to me to give credit to these talented artists for sharing their beautiful work and creative ideas.  I encourage you to give Christine and Tara's video's a look (they are both short and sweet) before you get started on your own ideas.   With your stash, who knows what you'll be inspired to do! 

I'm just amazed at how simple Christina's folding technique is and what an amazing envelope it creates.  Embellishing the envelopes can be clean and simple or as elaborate as your heart desires.  No matter which way you go, they are easy and fun!  

Christine and Tara chose to adhere seam binding or ribbon to tie their envelopes closed. You can see by the pictures below that I chose to use a magnet for a closure.   Even as I write this, there are several more ideas floating around in my head.  The sizing and decorating possibilities are just endless! 

Top (Open) Magnet Closure

Bottom (Hidden) Closure

A word of caution:   I used a heavily glittered page which did two things.  First, it created a massive glitter bomb which I am sure to be cleaning for weeks (or months) to come.  And second, since my paper was heavily glittered on the front side when I folded my flap the score line across the inside was rough enough to almost split the heavy paper. To get crisp clean fold lines, I recommend using a medium weight double sided paper (rather than a heavy weight) and remember to cover your entire workspace if you chose glitter paper! 

Close Up of Tag Top

Well friends that's it for me today.  The balance of this post is dedicated to my supply list and sources.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  If you have a minute to leave a comment, please know that I always appreciate hearing from you! 

If your new to my blog, please 'follow' along or sign up for emails so you don't have to wander any further than your in-box to see what's next!   Until next time, remember to create from the heart and live life inspired!  ~ Dawna

Ornament Magnet Closure

Luxury Envelope and Merry Christmas Tag

 Supply List

1 ea 12 x 12 Tinsel Paper from MME Joyous Collection
1 ea 12 x 12 Bazzill Textured Criss Cross - Kisses Cardstock
1 ea 12 x 12 Bazzill Canvas Textured - Ivy Cardstock
1 ea 12 x 12 Bazzill Grass Cloth Textured - French Vanilla  Cardstock
1 ea 12 x 12 Bazzill Gold Foil Cardstock
Elizabeth Craft Designs:  3-Leaves No. 953 Tag Die Set
Elizabeth Craft Designs:  Ornament No. 3 Die Set
Elizabeth Craft Designs:  Merry Christmas Die Set
Martha Stewart Frond Leaf Punch 
Spellbinders Poinsettia Die Set (used med flower for leaves)

12" of Websters Pages Velvet Red Sparkle Ribbon
12" of 1" wide Venice Lace from Tresors de Luxe at Etsy
6" of 7/8" wide Sheer Red Organza Ribbon
Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive (Use on Ribbon and Rhinestones)
Aleene's Easy Flow Glue  (Paper to Paper)  
1 set 1/4" Magnets (for flap closure)
5 ea 5/8" Red Rhinestones
11 ea 1/4" Red Rhinestones

*** END OF POST ***

BELIEVE Holiday Blocks

 Morning Friends,

Can you "BELIEVE" it, the holidays are upon us!   Where did the year go?   This morning I'm kicking off the holiday season by sharing my last friendship swap gift for my dear friend Debbie.  She loved getting them and is threatening to keep them up all year round!  Hey, Christmas in July is allowed!   Right?  lol 

Here's a few more close up pics I hope you enjoy:

Tim Holtz Tattered Poinsettia

This display is about 30" Wide

Close of Holly Berry Block

Add a little lighted greenery to complete this centerpiece and BELIEVE! 

Well friends that's it for me this morning. For a list of supplies, please visit my gallery, Dawna's Place at Scrapbook.com.  

Undecorated painted blocks are available in stock at my Etsy for $3.00 each or decorated blocks can be special ordered for $6.50 each.   Undecorated blocks ship immediately, decorated blocks can be customized for Christmas, Hanukkah or any other special occasion and require 7-10 days to ship.   

Thank you for dropping by and enjoy a beautiful Sunday!   ~  Dawna

Happy Brithday Card

Morning Friends,

Sharing a simple birthday card I made for my dear sweet friend Patti.   I used Graphic 45's beautiful Botanical Tea paper collection.  I've made a few projects from this collection and just love working with these feminine images and beautiful soft colors.   

To create this card, measure and cut your pink polka dot paper to fit your card base then distress and chalk the edges.  I used A7 or 5x7 card base.  Cut the 3"x5" wild rose card and distress it.  Then cut two small blue butterflies and one 4" doily in half.  Add one small pearl to the your butterflies.  Even though your pearls already have an adhesive backing, always add glue to them otherwise they maybe easily knocked off especially if they are mailed.  Next cut the "Hello Friend" sentiment from the boarder paper and gather up 6 baby blue pearls (2 ea of 3 graduating sizes).  If you don't have this color, you can use a Sharpie or Copics marker to color white pearls any color you'd like. 

To assemble the front, adhere your distressed pink polka dot paper first, then dry fit your doily halves under the wild rose card so the cut edges don't show.  Once your happy with its position, mark their places and glue down your doily halves.  Center and adhere your wild rose card using 3D pop-up foam tape.  Now your ready to add your flower cluster. 

 

Here's are a few close ups to see some of the smaller details:

Flower Cluster Close Up

To create the flower cluster, use Prima wired thread and wrap it several times around a slender ink pen to create these great green flower curlycues.   Make three of them about and 1.25" long.  Then you'll need one piece of Prima's lovely floral lace.   Cut the 5 pointed flower in half creating a 3 piece section and a 2 piece section.  Use these as the foundation for your flower cluster.  Tuck them under the top and bottom of the pink Petaloo Botanica flower just so the lace tips peek out.  Add glue to the wire and tuck your curlycue sprigs under the flower along with a few die cut leaves.  Do not glue down your leaf near the "Hello Friend" sentiment until you have it securely in place.  You'll need to add foam tape to the end of the sentiment tag to keep it even with the rose wild card.  Once your sentiment is secure, glue your last leaf just over the beginning of the sentiment.  Finely, add a couple of bumper mini roses to each side of large flower and finish off the cluster by adhering your butterfly and pearl.   Finely, add your second butterfly and both lines of your graduating baby blue pearls as shown in the picture above.  

Now you can move along to the inside of your card.  Your welcome to leave the inside blank so you can use the card for whatever you'd like when the time comes to use it but I like decorating the insides also. They just feel more 'finished' to me. So let's continue with this close-up:

Inside Detail

Here I've done a bit of fussy cutting to get the background papers, these pretty roses, leaves and a blue bird.  I've grounded the flowers with half doilies and added a little punched blue cardstock trim to compliment the bluebird.  Before I adhere anything down, I cut two adjoining bird stamp images and folded them in half.  I adhered one side between the card base and pink polka dot background paper so I could use it as a closure tab to hide the magnet.  If you do it this way, there won't be anything on the backside of your card leaving it nice and clean.  Finely I distressed and chalked the edges,  popped up the roses for a little dimension and finished it off by stamping a sweet "Happy Birthday" sentiment. 

Simple Hidden Magnet Closure

Adding all these layers adds some weight making your card nice and sturdy, much more like a gift all by itself rather than just a card.  As a finishing touch I like to add a nice closure when I can.  These little magnets hide perfectly under the little "birdy stamp" and are the perfect finishing touch to keeping heavy cards neatly closed. 

Well friends, that's it for me today.  Thank you so much for dropping by.  If you enjoyed this little bit of inspiration I'd love to hear from you!  Wishing you all a happy and healthy creative day!   Hugs  ~ Dawna

Announcing New Prima Ambassadors

Morning Friends,

I'm so excited to announce that I've been recently selected to join Prima's Ambassador Program!   As an Ambassador I'll be responsible helping local store owners introduce their customers to Prima products by hosting regular free make-and-take demonstrations.   I love creating fun projects, meeting new people, and helping others tap into their own creativity.   I'm looking forward to getting started and having plenty of fun along the way! 

Please join me welcoming all the new Ambassadors in wishing them well.  Thank you for dropping by and make it a happy day!  Hugs ~ Dawna

Wedding Anniversary Trip

 Hi Friends,

  

This morning I'm sharing an  easy mini album you can make using your 4x6 post cards and 3x4 Artist Trading Cards (ATC's).   This little treasure will have you thinking up all kinds of occasions you can stash in this beautiful, yet simple, easy and fun way to keep memories! 

Let me start by saying that this is a companion to a vertical paper bag tutorial I did of our Wedding Day.  Both albums are made from Prima's Stationer paper and embellishments. The Wedding Album has a step by step tutorial and is for more advanced crafters.  This mini album is for all skill levels, so a little something for everyone! 

While I still need to add journaling to this mini, lets get take a look at some close ups then I'll finish up with a few simple "how to" instructions.

       

29th Wedding Anniversary Dinner View

Beachfront Restaurant and Hotel

Dini's by the Sea Restaurant, South Carlsbad, CA

Richard and I all fat and happy from dinner!  lol

Sunset at Camp

Morning Lookout Over the Cliffs

Enjoying the Surf

Four Hours of Surf = One Happy Guy!

Cloudy Evening Sunset

Home Sweet Home

Cliff Side View

Sunshine & Rummy Cube

Beautiful Evening Sunset

Sunset Over the Campground

Evening Fireside

South and Southwest Ocean View

South & Northwest View

Northern Fence Line View

Back Cover and Trinket Chain

Well Friends, that's it for my goodies today.  The remainder of this post is for a supplies list and a few simple steps on how to create one of these mini's.

Thank you  for dropping by to have a look.  If you haven't been by before, please feel free to "follow" this blog or sign-up for emails to see whats next.  If you have a minuted to leave a comment, I'd love to know you were by for a visit!  Enjoy your day and I hope your inspired to create something from the heart!  Hugs ~ Dawna
 

Supplies List

1 pk 4 x 6 Post Cards
1 pk 3 x 4 ATC Cards
Adhesive Runner
White Glue
Eyelets
Crop a Dillie
Paper Trimmer
2 ea 2" Clasp Rings
Prima Resin Frame
Two Wooden Doves Stained Walnut
Wink of Luna Pen in Metal
Walnut Stain to Antique Metal Colored Frame
Foam Tape to Lift and Adhere Frame on Three Sides
3 ea. Black Roses
2 ea. Red Roses
2 ea. Cream Roses
Stickles
3 ea. Green Leaves
4 ea. Stick Pins
2 ea. Brass Corners for Front Cover Edges
Tim Holtz Clasp Chain & Selection of Personalized Trinkets - Attach to Chain with Jump Rings 
Jute Sting
4 Types of Ribbon to Finish Off Rings & Use on Tags
Corner Rounder (optional)

Directions

Chose your favorite images for the front and back covers and set aside.  Using a 4 x 6 scratch card stock to create a template for your front cover.  Use your Crop a Dille to make 3/16" hole at 1 and 1/2" from the right side and left side of the card at 1/2" away from the top edge.  Mark both spots for holes and set your orange Crop a Dillie slide stop at 1/2" to stop the top of each card at the same depth with each punch.  You will use this set up to punch all your cards after they are prepared.  Note that pictures are mounted directly onto these cards, there is no special framing or matting, making this super easy!

Now lets assemble all your pages for punching.  Beginning with your front cover card, adhere two 4 x 6 cards together with adhesive tape, use a corner rounder, if you wish.   Keep your adhesive close to the edges throughout this process.  Set your front cover aside to decorate when your done adhering all your 4 x 6 cards together and punching them. 

Now decide which cards you'd like to use for photos and which cards you'd like to use for pockets.  To create pockets, take your 2 x 3 ATC's and turning them sideways, using your paper to paper glue (not your adhesive tape as it will not hold anything in the pockets without falling apart) glue 3 sides down leaving the top open to tuck in tags.  Repeat until you have created all the journaling tag pockets you'd like to have in this album. 

To make your journaling tags, punch a 3/16" hole with your Corp a Dilie and set an eyelet in the center 1/2" from the top.  Take a 5" jute string, folding it in half, push the fold through the back toward the front of the tag then pull the ends through the loop created.  Pull the jute string until it is snug against the tag.  You can create a 1-3 tags per pocket until you are happy with what you have.  You can alternate the jute for ribbon as you like.  These ATC cards are the perfect size for making these simple journaling tags. 

One you have all your pages punched and pockets made, distress all the pages and their pockets and tags.  You can even use some walnut stain to 'antique' any cream ribbon you choose to use.  Slip a piece of scratch paper into the tag pocket to distress the edge without getting ink on the whole pocket. 

Now its time to do the fun part, the front page!  First take your Wink of Luna "Metal" colored pen and paint the whole front of the frame.  Then use walnut stain to antique the metal color being sure to hit all the nooks and cranny's.  Once dry and allowing enough room for a picture to be inserted into the frame, trim your foam tape along three sides (leave top open) and center it onto your front cover.  Working with your flowers, leaves, and stickpins arrange them into the desired cluster and affix them to the front at the corner of the frame.  Finish off with some Diamond stickles to give it a bit of sparkle.  Add your Claps chain and desired trinkets and voila!  

 

Well there you have it, sweet and simple!   I hope you were able to follow along and create your own mini album to enjoy. If you have questions please feel free to ask and I'll get back with you.  Again thank you for dropping by and may I wish you a perfectly wonderful day! ~ Dawna

Daddy's Girl

Morning Friends,

Catching up on a few posts this morning and here's a very simple layout I did for my Dad's Family Heritage Album.  I was working on this one when I went to visit him in July, and he asked if I could make him one for his book.  

So I decided to do this one and two others, my Great Grandpa William Henry Spencer and my Grandpa Ira Spencer too.  I have two new pictures of them both which would be great additions to his book.  

 

I used Graphic 45's older collection ABC Primer for this layout, which dad really liked, so I kept it quick and easy for him.   Here's just a few more close-ups of these lovely open fret work leaves and flowers, new Prima dies, that I'm totally crazy about right now:

 

I need to add a little journaling tag to one of the flower clusters to make note of the title and my age.  I look like I'm wearing a school dress, but I'm only three so just wishful thinking I'm sure. 

Well friends that's it for this post.  Thank you for dropping by and may I wish you all a perfectly wonderful day!  Big Hugs ~ Dawna

Friendship Swap Gifts from ILovePapalons

Morning Friends,

Today I'm sharing goodies I revived from my dear friend Glenda (aka ILovePapalons at sb.com) for our recent friendship swap.   She is so talented, always inspires me and is such a sweetheart.   I am very lucky to have her in my life and enjoy her friendship.   When this package arrived, well she sure out did herself  on this swap!   So much goodness, I oohed and awed for weeks while I had these on display for everyone to enjoy.  

Let's take a close look at the hanging banner she made.  Its oh so shabby with so many fine details, it deserves a few close ups to take it all in.  By the way, my favorite color palette is soft aquas.  She certainly nailed this on the head!   

Here's the first "Follow Your Heart"  panel which shows off so many pretty elements, including this stunning  peacock dress form:

"Follow Your Heart Panel" 1

There are so many beautiful elements to this panel, the lovely lace, zig-zag trim, organza ribbon, gold tassel, pretty roses, and the lovely organza bows tying them all together.  I have no idea where she found this fantastic peacock dress form, but she knows I love everything vintage too so I can see why she featured this beautiful element.  Then there is the vintage key and sweet sentiment, I love them both! 

Here's the next panel:

"Its the Journey not the Destination" Panel 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh so true!  Now it doesn't get more angelic than this!  beautiful papers, fairies, pillars, even a vintage "D" for my name, lovely roses, pearls, music (which is my favorite past time) and more organza bows tying everything together.  Love the stickpins, petite rose buds, and the framing of pretty pearls, everything is so elegant!  

Next Up:

"Laugh Often, Love Much" Panel 3

Knowing Glenda she handmade the beautiful stickpins and that amazing organiza flower on the dressform, oh so pretty!

Love the header with the beautiful gold overlayed swirls, the beautiful cameo, vintage tape measure and stunning frame and dress work!  Again, so elegant!  And see that tiny, itty bitty gold shoe peaking out from behind that skirt?  Perfect finishing touch! <3 p="">
Last banner: 

"Enjoy Life!"  Panel 4

There is no end to Glenda's inspiration!  Love that peacock dress form, vintage lace, organza flowers and ribbons, handmade stickpins, beautiful sentiments, tulle butterfly and all the finishing pearl touches.  Just lovely my friend, just lovely!  <3 nbsp="" p="">

Then if that wasn't enough, she also sent me these three lovely gifts also, yes, she totally went overboard an spoiled me!  

"Keys to Our Hearts" Pillow

Mini Pearl Bottle

Watering Can Pin Cushion

You can't see the pin at the top of the watering can but its a blue butterfly, perfect way to top off such a love set of gifts!  I can assure you Glenda that these beautiful gifts will inspire me for many, many years to come my dear friend!  Thank you so much for your amazing generosity! 

Well that's it for me today.  If you liked this post, please feel free to follow this blog or sign-up for emails to see whats next.  If you have a minute to leave a message, thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you dropped by!  Until next time, create something from your heart and be inspired my friends!   Big Hugs  ~  Dawna