Sending You Tea~

My thoughtful friend, Cindy, sent me an email letting me know about a cute creation posted on Cosmo Cricket's Facebook page. It was a teabag card! The minute I saw it I stopped what I was doing and started rummaging through paper scraps. Cosmo Cricket offers a template but I made my own version using measurements from two teabags. I had so much fun making the first one that I decided to make a second card and shoot a tutorial to share!

You will need~

• cardstock for the card, additional decorative paper optional
• glue
• string or ribbon to close
• circle punch
• something to decorate the front
• 2 teabags

I also used Verve Stamps, Distress ink, flowers, chipboard, Crop A Dile, adhesive paper tape, paint, printed Eiffel Tower image from Graphics Fairy, scallop edge scissors.



One piece of cardstock 6 & 1/2" wide x 5 & 3/4" high. I used Pink Paislee 



Fold bottom up 1 & 3/4" to form pocket. Then, 3/4" from outside edge, punch a shallow half-circle. Ink edges. Now is the time to adhere horizontal ribbon, if desired, across the back & above the pocket

 

Cut two pieces of cardstock 4"x 1"(save one for outside spine). Cut two pieces of decorative paper 2 & 3/4" x 3 & 3/4", ink edges and glue to inside back. Fold card in half, open, then glue narrow strip to interior center, overlapping it's edges on the decorative paper you just adhered.

                                  
I used adhesive paper tape along the folded bottom for reinforcement.(the tape was 1/2" wide, so 1/4" will be seen on the outside and inside bottom edges) The Tim Holtz  tissue paper tape would also work nicely. I tried just folding the bottom, and scoring then folding the bottom, but even using cardstock the crease was weak.

Remember~If you want to use ribbon and not have it show on the inside, place the ribbon horizontally above the notched edge and adhere the decorative paper and center spine over it, letting it extend beyond the card edges long enough to tie. You can also attach the ribbon/string on the outside, use another closure or go without! I used 2 different methods~



I used scallop edge scissors on the top, inked all edges, used glue dots to secure notched flap in place along sides and center..leave pocket open for teabags! See the paper tape along the bottom?



Here are the teabags nestled in their pockets...now to finish the front~ I did some stamping.



just for you




I used my Crop A Dile to set heart-shaped eyelets

 

I glued the second 4"x 1" piece to the outer spine

 Here is the first teabag card I made with graphic 45. This one ties with green ribbon. I also used a small printed image of the Eiffel Tower on the front, and edged the print with a tiny bit of pink Adirondack paint dabber called 'Rose'. 



This little card has a chipboard teapot covered in decorative paper, stamping, inking, punched corner pieces, a paper rose and a Studio K epoxy sticker.

 
                         
Sharing this post with How Sweet the Sound Pink Saturday

May Bella Muse Challenge~

I had such fun making a shrine from a match box for the May Muse Challenge. First step, empty a matchbox and make a cut lengthwise up the center of the sleeve. (box I used is 4.5" x  2.5 ")

                                Paint any surfaces that won't be covered with paper or cardstock.

Once painted, replace the box into the sleeve but bend the slit cover (top you cut) outwards, like wings. You will have a box with wings, and this is what you will attatch to the shrine front after you cut a central opening.  

 Using a separate piece of thin cardboard, cut a house shaped piece 5" by 7 and 3/4", which will give you about a 1.25" side  to which your box will attatch from behind. NOTE~ the top will be where the peak is, so if you want your shrine to sit horizontally instead of vertically the peak would be on the west or east side, not north. Cut a central opening for the box to be seen inside.

I wanted my shrine to be horizontal, thus I cut a piece that looked like this~ above! Just trace around your matchbox and leave a border. A quilters/sewer ruler comes in handy.  I used the Muse image from Bella Creations and placed it inside the box. Next, I covered all surfaces with G45 Curtain Call.

I decorated the front of the shrine with Tim Holtz filmstrip, punched paper, feathers, ribbon, a metal charm, and a The Journey stamped car. I stamped the car on cereal box cardboard; next I stamped the same image on the striped g45 paper and mounted the cardboard car with foam dots to the striped paper which gives a nice 3D shadowing from underneath.

This Week~

This is my DT submission for the Bella Creations Tres Chic Challenge, which is a 'style' challenge. We were asked to use a ticket, metal, vintage theme and navy & khaki color scheme. I added sheer ribbon, cardboard and a heart stick pin, as well as a Graphic 45 teapot image. The Challenge runs to the end of March and has a wonderful RAK~ see post below!
I also played around with two punches and fabric this week. I decided to punch shapes in a tag, then cover the punched opening with fabric. Next, I backed the fabric with a larger second tag so the fabric was sandwhiched in the middle. On my first try, I used plain muslin behind the punched shape. I used pencil and chalk to color the leaf.

 My Distress Inks were calling my name...yooohoo! LOL~ So for the next tag I used my Mini Misters and ink.

I punched a teapot (what else?), inked the tag, then quick dried it with my Ranger Heat It Craft Tool. This time around I used a small floral fabric which reminded me of a chintz pot.

I completed the tag with bakery string, a Verve Stamps sentiment and red ribbon. What punch shapes do you have that this technique would work with? It only takes a small amount of fabric and it gives the tag a cool tactile effect.