Envelope Boxes

Today I have for you, envelope boxes. These are another paper kit from Alexandra M. Here is her Etsy listing for this kit. You will see there are 14 pages in the kit. You will be able to make 10 of these cute little boxes, and along with those pages, are 3 pages of different size cards and tabs to keep in the boxes and a background page to print on the reverse if you don't want the stark white.

You will see an 11th box in the picture, for Valentines Day, and the freebie to make that is on Alexandra's Ko-Fi site.   One last link is to the tutorial on YouTube to see how to construct these. 

They are so easy to make. Then they are all ready to be used in other projects, or maybe give as a gesture to someone.

These are my version of Alexandra's envelope boxes. I used a few different backgrounds from other kits for the backs. I was very happy to find a page of lavender to use for that one box. I proped open a few to show the extra's that can be added.  The backs are just as pretty, so I won't be gluing them to a page. Tuck into a pocket though, that works.

So enjoy...

 Mushroom Collector

So Alexandra M. has created another amazing paper art book. I'm building a collection now, so she's never allowed to ever stop creating them. 

I know she'll do more, she's so passionate about paper art. Here are the links to her Etsy site for the Mushroom Collector kit.   Here you will find a series of seven video tutorials to guide you from start to finish to complete this book. For added mushroom delights, Alexandra also has a kit for mushroom ephemera that you can use to bulk up your book even more, or of course for other projects. In the listing for the mini book , you will see pictures of each page of the book that you will create. I am no expert, but with Alexandra's instructions, you can make it too.

Here is my finished version. My changes are noted.  Enjoy. On the cover I added a butterfly and a different type of brad at the top.

The back. There is a place to add your name and I didn't do that at the time of taking the pictures.

These are the pages, inside there are four little notebooks to embellish. The fabric around the book, the green and black check, is a change from the original. I have yet to do exactly what Alexandra does from her covers. Maybe her next one???

On the spine, I used Kraft Tex. A great product to use for this type of application or others. I added two little dangles, a pine cone and an acorn, along with some ephemera.

I added a closure to the book, because it puffs out with all the parts added to each page. I used rivets on the front and back covers and bakers twine to wrap around the rivets to close it. On the end of the cord, I added little mushroom circles.

My shelf of books still has room for more. But wait, I still have Alexancra's Interactive Tag Book to make. It's all cut out and is calling me to put it together. Soon, very soon.... but first.... 

Beaded Stars and Snowflakes

It seems that I do things in cycles. The beginning is showing me that I like to do some beading in January/February. These are a few beaded stars. I did some of them last year at this time and the rest recently. I also have a few other beaded things that I'll post next time. 

These designs are from Argus Collection. Quinn has a new website and I'll send you over there. She is great to work with and quick to respond if you have any questions.

Besides all her inventory, patterns free and paid ones, as well as specific companies she sources from. I see a link that she will have a blog at some point. Sign up for her newsletter if inclined to do so, and one more thing. She has a rewards card to collect points for more savings. Take the time to look around, you will find some really inspiring beading projects and the supplies that go with the patterns. 

Click here for the Argus Collection

The size of these stars is approximately 2" square. I think they would really shine if they are made into a mobile, with pretty beaded branches to hang from. Of course that means I have to make more colour variations. Darn that might also mean I'd have to buy more supplies... Hmmm, what to do. The patterns are on Quinn's site. Enjoy.....

 

 

    

     

 Busy Elves Ornaments and Bonus Mitten

My last project for 2024, and posted with three hours to spare. I wasn't sure I would get there, but I did.

These are the cute little elves from the Busy Elves SAL I posted about a few posts back. They are very quick and easy to stitch and the end result is just so much fun. They all have their jobs to do and of course it keeps them from misbehaving if they have to work. Here are my finished busy elf ornaments. 

The pattern offers three options for finishing your ornaments. Once you see the three options Olena gives you, any one of them would show off your elves in the best way. Here is the link to Living on the Rainbow, Busy Elves pattern. In the left column you will see the options for finishing your ornaments.

I actually finished mine the same way as some scissor fobs I designed a few years ago other than I made the hangers shorter. and not all are the same length. This way of finishing them, gives you another option, by making them into scissor fobs. If you're someone who gets together with others to do stitching projects or other crafts, you can use the fobs to keep track of your scissors. ( It happens, I know )   ;o) Just loop them on the scissor handle.

Here is the link to my way of finishing into fobs, if you choose to do that. The only difference is that I used smaller button covers for the fobs, but that doesn't mean you can't use the 2" size I used for these elves, the elves are so darn cute, so why not show them off. The covered button size is based on your finished stitching. Don't buy the button covers until you are sure of the size you need.

The button covers are easy to find, lots of listings on Etsy. Also right from the company itself.  They come in multiple sizes, and there is a back to them to make an actual button with them. I didn't use those, I just added the felt backing.

There was a bonus pattern in the SAL, but it was only available as a bonus to those who signed up for the SAL. You can still get the pattern though, Olena has made it a double pattern. You get the cutest mailbox to stitch to go with the mitten.  And, right now, that pattern is on sale until January 8th 2025.  

As luck would have it, I had one more larger button in my stash, it measures 2 1/2", and fit just perfectly. If you see any mistakes, blame it on the elves, they are busy doing naughty things.

Olena finished the mitten, just like a mitten.  Check out the picture on the listing to see how the actual mitten is finished,it's so darn cute.

So there you are. The last project of 2024 on the last day of the year. Wishing you all a great New Year ahead. I think it's going to be like an awakening this year, a change is coming..... Enjoy.....

 

 Santa's Little Helpers Set - Part 2

These are the last two paper projects for the set and for the rest of the year. One of the artists that creates beautiful albums and other items for Tinne at Vectoria Designs, created this perpetual album. 

His name is Paul Ford and he did an amazing Alice in Wonderland project from the paper kit called "Wonderland Adventures". He decided that he would include a tutorial for making a perpetual album.Keep in mind he made his with the Alice papers, I have used the Santa's Little Helpers kit. You can make these in a day and with any papers. You just have to decide on the size of the album and the papers, but the process is the same for any size.

Tutorial here. It is a long video, but worth watching for the techniques alone. I might even make this myself. The section for the perpetual album starts at 2 hours 36 mins. Here is mine. I used chip board (I think it's 3mm thick), and makes for very sturdy front and back covers. I made nine pages. 

And finally, my Santa's Little Helpers Advent calendar. I made it just like the tutorial as an advent calendar, but mine will be used as a decor item. I made it "chunky" as Tinne likes to say. I added the pockets to the pages (you will see in the tutorial) and inside each pocket, i added file folders from the embellishment pages. 

There were no numbers for the calendar included, but there are lots of Etsy sellers that have advent calendar printables. I found some vintage style ones. In the center of the album is a pocket and I made an envelope to go in there as well as another pocket on the inside front cover. Inside the envelopes I added the extra embellishment words, IE... joy,merry and so on. So enjoy and I will be back in a few days with the Busy Elves SAL I am just finishing.... 

  

  

 Santa's Little Helpers Set - Part 1

Tinne of Vectoria Designs created this beautiful printables kit, and I have to say it's one of my favourites. I decided I couldn't just make the advent calendar that Tinne made the tutorial for, so I got busy and decided to make a complete set of projects.

       Printables Kit here.....             Advent Calendar Tutorial here.....

Today I'll post two of 4 parts, of my set. A few posts back I showed you mini cat and dog specimen albums. I picked out some of the papers from the Santa kit and created this very cute Santa's Helper specimen album. I chose the faces of some of the adorable little creatures to use in the slides. There is a page in the kit of large size postage stamps, which turned out to be the perfect size for this album. If you follow the link above the kit, you will see in the left column of the listing, a sample of the postage stamps. 

The second project for today, is a moving card. I showed you a couple posts back how to make them. This is the tutorial Tinne created and at this link, you can also download the free Jane Austen printables to make your own cards. Tinne also has a template for these cards, on her Etsy site and with the blank template you can then do what I did, and choose any papers you want for the cards, to suit whichever event you would like to make them for. 

Mine of course is made with papers from the Santa's Little Helpers kit. The first picture is the envelope to hold the card. The next picture is the front of the card and the last two are the front and back once you pull them open. So much fun to make. Enjoy.....