Card Portfolios Completed

I got my two card portfolios decorated tonight. This is the final product and ready to take to work tomorrow. These little portfolio templates made things very easy, only having to fold the score lines and use double-sided adhesive the make the pockets. Hopefully they'll bring in a few bucks at the auction for a great cause. :)

Here are a couple of different views to show the dimension of the portfolio. It's an inch thick when closed.

Straight on showing the bottom.

These are the inside pockets that hold all five cards and the envelopes.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Holiday Filigree (Inkadinkado), Snowflake (StampCraft)
Cardstock: Flat White & Ivory (Staples), Navy Blue (Bazzill)
Patterned Paper: Snowflakes, and two tones of blue textured cs- Jacqueline Addison (Imagine That)
Ink: Blue Bayou (SU)
Tools: Portfolio Die Cut (CRS)
Embellishments: Clear Bling (Dollarama), 3/8" Blue Grosgrain Ribbon (Michaels), 5/8" Blue with White Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (Michaels)

Criss-Cross Gift Boxes

Each year my daughter's school has what they call a 'Santa's Gift Mart' where all the parents send in things from home, whether it's toys the children no longer play with or household items, knickknacks, tools, whatever. It needs to be in good shape, but is supposed to be something that you already had and no longer use. Meaning, we're not supposed to go and buy anything specifically for this purpose. For each item that the children send in, they receive a ticket to buy another item in return for a family member. Along with that ticket, when they go to make their purchases, it costs the child anywhere between $ .25 - $1.00 per item to buy from the gift mart. This teaches the children a bit about money and also fundraises a bit of money for the school. So, each child could quite possibly buy gifts for their whole family for under $5.00. Pretty good, eh? Anyway, they have so much fun deciding what to buy and really put a lot of thought into each gift. That's the best gift to me on Xmas Day, seeing what they've chosen for me, as all the gifts come home wrapped, so the families have no idea what they are until Xmas. I coulsn't care less what it is, it's the surprise that's priceless! :)

I sent in a bunch of old toys and some things from around the house. But, I also had these hair product samples that I wasn't using, so I thought I'd donate them. They looked kinda plain as they were, so I thought I'd pretty them up a bit. After all, it wouldn't be me, if I didn't! lol :)

This is an angle view to show you the little criss-cross box that I made for the hair product samples. The two bottles fit in the box perfectly. :) I used the template from Nichole Heady.

This was criss-cross box #2 that I made to hold two other hair product samples, using some pretty blue paper this time.

Well, I need to call it a day. I've gotta work all day tomorrow, then off to Jim's Navy Xmas Party in the evening. Perhaps we'll flip a coin to see who gets to drink and who has to drive! lol :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Jet Black Linen (CRS), Wild Wasabi (SU), Blue Bayou (SU)
Ink: Wild Wasabi (SU), Blue Bayou (SU)
Patterned Paper: a la Carte - Pesto (American Crafts), Foyer Hearts (ChatterBox Inc.)
Tools: 1" & 1 1/4' Circle Punches (Creative Memories), Glue Dots (SU), double-sided adhesive

RAK's from my Sweet Friends!

I wanted to share a couple of awesome RAK's that I've received recently from two of my sweet friends! Kim surprised me on Wednesday morning with this awesome little box from SEI. Can't wait to play with the goodies inside it! They're beautiful! Thanks again so much, Kim! :)

This is the inside view of the card kit box. Lots of fun goodies in there to play with! :)
This is a card and a pizza box style box that holds little 'Bliss' chocolates that my friend, Catherine made and just brought by the house. Evil woman! I'm trying to stick to my weight loss program and she shows up with these! Yeah, Jim and I have already ate half the box!!! Yummo! lol :) Seriously, thanks so much for thinking us us on our anniversary, Catherine. It's 'Mutch' appreciated! :)

This is the top view of the little pizza box that Catherine made me. It's about the size of a normal A2 style card from the top and about an inch deep.

These are the yummy 'Bliss' chocolates that were inside...the key word is 'were', as most of them are gone already! lol :)
Well, I'm just on my way to work for the night. The house is nearly ready for the big feast tomorrow, just gotta get up at the crack of dawn to start preparing the big meal. I hope all my Canadian friends are having a wonderful Thanksgiving long weekend and that you're able to spend it with those you care about and are thankful for all that you have around you. Have a super weekend!

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Criss-Cross Gift Boxes

Well, I racked my brain as to what sort of gift box I was gonna use for this set of Gardeners Products that I got for my oldest daughter's teacher for her end of school thank you gift. Then, I remembered a cute little Criss-Cross Gift Box that I saw on Nichole Heady's blog, {capture the moment}, some time back. She had made her gift box to fit a little bag of nuts - a very cute project.

The only problem is that the original box was very small - just 3" wide x 1" deep x 4" high at the back. First, I tried one using her template as a trial run which uses 8 1/2" x 11' cs, then I did some figuring and I custom made another gift box from the measurements of my bottles. I seemed to run into a couple of snags, though...I had to use a large piece of cs - 14" x 20" (that I get at DeSerres art supplies store) however, my straight cutter won't cut a piece of cs that big so I had to use my craft knife - which I don't like using. Same problem when it was time to make my score lines...I couldn't, since again the cs was too big to fit in my 12" paper trimmer with my score blade. So, I had to mark off where to score and fold it myself. Seems like a minor problem, but it just like the clean lines that a score blade gives you, is all. Anyway, all in all it turned out well and I'm very proud of myself that I was able to figure out the dimensions to alter the size! lol :)

This is the gift box that I made using Nichole's original template that makes a gift box 3" wide x 4" high x 1"deep.

Just a picture to show you to difference in size of the two Criss-Cross Gift Boxes. The larger box measures 5.75" wide x 7" high x 2" deep.

These bottles are the contents of the gift box, a bottle of Gardeners Hand Lotion (240 ml), a bottle of Antibacterial Hand Soap (240 ml) and a tube of Intensive Therapy Hand Cream (150 ml). I really hope she does Gardening!! I'm pretty sure she does, but if not, I guess she can use these anyway! lol :)

Well, that's all for me for today. I have to make the card tomorrow to go with this gift, so I'll be back to post it soon. :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)



Supplies:
Stamps: Thanks a Bunch and Flower Can (Hero Arts), Just for You (Studio G)
Cardstock: Butter (Deserres), Chocolate Chip (Bazzill), Blue Bayou (SU)
Patterned Paper: Wild Saffron (K & Company)
Ink: Ruby Red (SU), Chocolate Chip (SU), Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Tim Holtz - Ranger)
Tools: Terrifically Tacky Tape, Scalloped Oval Punch (Marvy Uchida), 1', 1 1/4" & 1 1/2" Circle Punches (Creative Memories), Sea Sponge, Craft Knife, Cutting Mat, Hi-Jell Sparklers Gel Roller Pens - Gold, Red, Blue, Green & Orange (Merangue)

More Teacher Gifts and Cards

Wow, it's hard to believe that my little girl is done Preschool, ready to go into Grade Primary in the Fall. I took two of the teacher gifts to Natalia's teachers today as it was her last day of school today. I made both the gifts exactly the same, even the cards the same. I did get something different to do for Alexandria's teacher and I'll be working on that gift tonight, so I'll post pics of it when I get it done in the next couple of days. I still have a little bit of time as she finishes her last day of Grade Primary on Friday.

I made each of their cards to match the gift boxes that I made, but I decided to go with a black grosgrain ribbon for the cards and I kinda like it with the black ink. I think it gives a smart look to it. I also added some Inkadinkado flourishes to the bottom of the Thank You on the card. I also added the little wrappers to the jars of body butter. I originally thought that all three items would fit in the box, but the sides bulged just a bit so it didn't look right. I was chatting with my friend, Catherine and she suggested that I add a little wrapper to it and just give it to them with the box. I think that was a great idea, thanks Catherine! lol :)

Well, I've gotta go get crafty...

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Teacher 'Thank You' Gift Box

Well, it's hard to believe that it's nearly the end of the school year and that means Teacher Appreciation Gifts. I always like to make a little something to give to the teacher's for all their hard work. I saw this cute little gift box the other day on Corie's blog and I knew it was just what I was looking for to use as a gift box for some little soaps and lotions that I picked up. I changed up my pattern a bit, but Corie has a great tutorial on her blog if you're interested in making one, as well.

I'm not sure if it's the fact that I'm rather down and out with the flu right now, but it took me forever to make this little box. I kept screwing up the measurements and having to start over...a bit frustrating for something that should have taken hardly any time at all! lol :) Anyway, one gift down and I hope to finish the other one tomorrow. Not sure what I'll make for their other teachers - Music and Gym...gotta get my thinkin' cap on for those!

Well, I've had four naps today in amongst my crafting, I'm totally burnt so I think I'll call it a day now...hopefully this darn flu will be gone tomorrow! ...Can we say only 6 more days of school and we'll be done with the passing of germs for a bit! lol :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)



Supplies:
Stamps: Bird on Branch (Inkadinkado), Thank You (StampCraft - WalMart)
Cardstock: Soft Sky (SU), Jet Black Linen (CRS)
Patterned Paper: Blue Raspberry Collage and Blue Raspberry Paisley - Fresh Print (Déjà Views)
Ink: Onyx Black Archival (VersaFine)
Tools: Terrifically Tacky Tape, White Tissue Paper
Embellishments: Light Blue Satin Wired Ribbon (Michaels)