Mini Envelopes

Over the next several days I'll be showcasing some 3" x 3" mini cards (you can see one peeking out from behind the envelope in the picture above).  First, though, I'll show how I made the envelopes.

Supplies: plain white paper, my Martha Stewart scoreboard, a paper cutter, scissors, bone folder, and my trusty ATG gun.

I first cut the paper into 5 1/2 inch squares.  Then, using the envelope adapter on my scoreboard, I laid it as shown below with the corner at the 6" mark.  I scored along the 4 3/8" line and then rotated and did the same for all 4 corners (I drew pen lines along the score lines so they would show up in the picture!).

Next I creased well along these score lines with a bone folder and then cut out the little triangles formed in the center of each edge, rounding the corners a bit as you can see in this next picture:

I did that for each side, and then folded the edges in to form an envelope.  I decided to trim the upper edges of the side flaps so it would be easier to slide the cards in and out.  As you can see here, I trimmed from the corner of the flap to the upper corner of the envelope on each side:

I folded the side flaps in, gluing them together where they overlapped, then folded the bottom edge up and glued it in place. I used my ATG for the adhesive since I can control it easily to avoid getting glue on the inside of the envelope.

Usually, I just use my ATG gun to seal the envelopes, but since these were going for a swap, I decided to try a "Lick and Stick" glue that is supposed to dry and then let you moisten it to activate the glue - just like a store-bought envelope. I don't remember where I got it, but this is the glue that I used:

Thanksgiving Minis Part 10

Today's cards are the last of the Thanksgiving Minis (for now at least - they're SO much fun to make)!  Though these look complicated, they were very easy FOR ME because I used what started out as a 12" border I had received in a swap (thanks KarenLiz!).  It's really hard for me to use things I've gotten in a swap - especially when I cut it up like I did with this one.  It feels like I'm desecrating someone's work or something - but since she had sent 3 borders that were all basically the same, I figured I could save two of them & just use this one. :)

Anyway, I can't tell you exactly what tools she used, but can tell you in general how the border was made.  She started with a strip of brown patterned paper - 2" to 2 1/2" wide and used a border punch along one edge.  She then took a much narrower strip of light colored paper (maybe 3/4" to 1" wide) and used the same punch along one edge.  She shaded this one a bit - not sure if she used chalks or ink - then layered the two on top of each other.  Next she added some die cut leaves in different colors - some of which she had shaded once again.  Then she added a few little orange dots of something - not sure what they are but they are about the thickness of foam tape.

As you can see, I cut pieces of this border for the two cards on this page and then finished them up with outline sticker greetings that I colored to coordinate with the card.  The one on the first card is a Dazzles sticker from a sheet of black Tiny Words and Phrases.  I'm not sure where the ones I used on this next card came from.

Now I just need to make 21 envelopes for all these Mini Thanksgiving cards!

Thanksgiving Minis Part 9

Here we have a pretty simple Thanksgiving card.  I like it's nice clean look.  It's another mini, and this time for my focal I used a picture of a pumpkin that I printed and fussy cut.  I thought it looked nice with the printed ribbon border.  The focal is matted on a white piece of paper that was cut and embossed using a Spellbinders Scalloped Oval die.  The greeting is made with Dazzles stickers (Tiny Words & Phrases in black).

Thanksgiving Minis - Part 8

Today we have 3 more Mini Thanksgiving Cards.  These ones all make use of outline stickers - most of them Dazzles brand from HOTP.  The focal sticker on this first card is not from HOTP, but I'm not sure where I got it.  It was stuck on a piece of brown patterned paper and then fussy cut around it.  It is matted on a die cut piece of brown patterned paper (die from Spellbinders Persian Motifs & Accents).  There's a ribbon with leaves that forms the "ground" the turkey is walking on, and Tiny Words & Phrases Dazzles were used for the greeting at the top (colored with a Sharpie).

Next up is another one with a tag (downloaded freebie from HOTP) on which I stamped a greeting (Melissa Francis Holiday Greetings) and added a couple of Dazzles (Autumn Scrapbooking).  I added a border with brown Dazzles (63 thin line border).

For the background of this third card, I took a piece of patterned paper (DCWV Mat Stack) cut to size & inked around the edges. The focal is simply a Dazzles Sticker (Autumn Scrapbooking from HOTP).