I'm obsessed with zippered bags

Okay, I have a true addiction, a serious problem and luckily it's one that doesn't hurt other people. I am obsessed with making zipper bags. I love making different kinds and thank heavens for YouTube because so many people will walk you through it, step by heavenly step.

Here's the link to my latest version by Lauren Mormino

Let me know what you think. The inside is waterproof canvas, so it's a great bag for taking on trips to store bottles of shampoo, hairspray, etc. I've only just begun with these.

I've done two different styles of boxed corners and I think I've changed my approach with this style of bag. I have to go slow, and with the vinyl you cannot flip the bag as easily (just once at the end is enough for me). You have to take your time and really line things up. 

The bag below with the math fabric, I mean isn't it the best??

Thanks for visiting my little creative corner of the world!

Some Christmas joy from the archives

I'm sharing some fun cards from the archives. The stash of supplies and goodies that I had forgotten existed, stored in the corner of the basement in a white Elfa rolling storage unit, full of book and project kits. 

These are three Christmas cards that may have been intended as samples for a class. These cards are highly embellished and not realistic for my handmade cards as I make approximately 80 cards for friends, family and colleagues. The cost of mailing cards that are thick would require more postage, special mailers and would be prohibitive.

Anyway, hope you enjoy them.  

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This first card was inspired by Impress.  I printed this page from their web site in 2004 with this sample card.  I came up with my own version that uses wire and aluminum tape for the ornament hangers. I also embossed the oval embellishment, which is a die cut, on the joy ornament.  The embossing would  probably not survive the USPS.

However, this card did ultimately inspire my real life Christmas card. I can't put my hands on the actual card, but I did make a simpler version for my recipients based on this card idea.

 

This card uses a similar approach with embossing the die cuts and I just love the little embossed tag as well. The colors are non-traditional but they conjure cold winter weather.

Finally, this card has loads of clear buttons with decorative paper backing each one. The three messages are made from cardstock strips that were put through an old school manual label maker.  To highlight the words I rubbed ink on the strips, to help the letters pop. As with the other two cards, not very practical but I do love how it turned out. Maybe I can adapt it in the future for one of my own holiday cards.

Thanks for stopping by friends!

A trip through my archives

 I'm not sure what is spurring a recent need to cull through my "hoard" but it has been a pleasant journey. I plan to post some of the fun finds. I'm realizing that it's been way to long since I've posted.

My goal was to clean out old paperwork stashed in a full size file cabinet. I had forgotten that I had a full drawer full of class instructions and samples for classes I used to teach, as well as samples and information related to classes I've taken in the past. Since I no longer teach, it made sense that I could disassemble these packets and recycle/reuse the instructions and in doing this I discovered what I like to call "oldies but goodies."

I'm posting photos from a class I took on the 2005 Carol Duvall Crafting cruise. Karen Elaine Thomas was the teacher, and she demonstrated for Yasutomo. I'm such a fan of her projects as I love origami. This is an adorable passport case, but it can be anything. I'm going to stash this in my purse and use it for receipts. It's made from paper and she had us apply a coat of varnish to the finished project to help protect it.

I found a video on YouTube where she makes a smaller version, but it's the same concept. Such a fun and easy project.

Karen Thomas case project

To illustrate the pockets, I have business cards inserted below! There are four pockets, in addition to the fun envelope attached to the spine. Lots of space for tucking receipts.