A Good Day

Hello, if you saw my previous post, you'll know that I made a little handbag to hold the Narrow Note Cards. So it goes without saying that this time, I'm showcasing the cards that I put inside. I chose to use True Gentleman Designer Series Paper as there are some lovely small designs amongst the collection.

Crumb Cake and Night of Navy are such good neutral colours and as you can see, go well with Crushed Curry and Tranquil Tide.

Crumb Cake

Tranquil Tide

Night of Navy

Crushed Curry

For each Narrow Note Card I cut coloured card and DSP in the following sizes to fit.

I've tried to keep any sentiments used fairly generic to suit several occasions.

I used a 2" strip from two pieces of DSP, luckily both sides were suitable to use on these cards, giving me a choice of four designs.

I was so happy to discover that the stamps and corresponding punches fit onto the Pretty Label punch.

Although it isn't a part of the stamp set, A Good Day, I wanted to include one floral card. Delightful Daisy fitted in with my idea perfectly and is quite possibly my favourite of the four cards. I've not put a sentiment on so that it can be used for any event.

A Handbag...

I keep seeing little handbags crafted from Designer Series Paper and so thought I'd make one to hold some small cards as a gift for someone. I like to keep one or two projects ready just in case I need a present at short notice.

Designed and produced by Amanda Charlesworth

I'm basing mine on a You Tube tutorial by Amanda Charlesworth who has a blog under the name of Scrimpingmommy. Click HERE to go straight to Amanda's blog post for instructions if you'd like to make her gift bag.

I've chosen to use the True Gentleman DSP, I really like the small design of this particular paper and although it is obviously more masculine, Crumb Cake and Night of Navy are neutral colours.

Crumb Cake

Night of Navy

Tranquil Tide

The size of my bag is a little larger to accomodate some Stampin' Up Narrow Note Cards and Envelopes but can still be made using a sheet of 12"x12" patterned paper.

My measurements.

Card base box 8" x 3¾”      Score at 1½" on each side. Cut flaps and trim excess paper on each of the corners to create the box.

DSP - Body of bag 12" x 4½”

Handles x 2 1" x 10" - I made mine 8" but on reflection think as the bag is bigger I should have made them longer.

I also added a 1"x12" strip inside the top of the bag to hide the back of the split pins. You'll need extra DSP if you want to add a pocket and/or strap to close the bag.

A tassle hangs from one handle, held in place by a double bow made from Linen Thread.

I used the Lots of Labels dies to create the tab so that the bag can be closed with the addition of velcro circles.

I wasn't going to add a front pocket at first but because it is a little larger, I felt it needed something.

In the end I decided on a decorative pocket that is big enough to put stamps in. I can never remember the safe place I've put them so thought this an ideal solution.

Which do you prefer? With pocket or without?

See my next post for the cards I made to go inside. You can see a sneaky peak of one of them in one of the photos above.

  

While I've been making this, Ive had a couple of quotes from one of my favourite films running through my head. Whilst I like both of the film versions, It's Dame Edith Evan's voice as Lady Bracknell I can hear in my head. "To be born, or at any rate bred, in a hand-bag, whether it had handles or not, seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution." Lady Bracknell -

The Importance of being Ernest by Oscar Wilde

The Book Box - finally

Well, my upline was right, she said that if I tried I could create 7 blog posts out of this one project. Thanks for encouraging, no, make that pushing me to get blogging again Susan. We're now finally at the last post and are ending with the Book Box that holds the cards shown previously.

I don't know about you but I love making little sets to give as gifts for people. While I love making cards, there is something so much more satisfying when creating a 3D project. I confess that I had seen the book box mine is based on while looking on You Tube. Click on the coloured links and it will take you directly to Caroline Helwigh Wrights blog and video. I'm sure you'll love her ideas and projects as much as I do.

I used all of Carolines measurements but instead of making my own stamped paper, I used some Delightful Daisy DSP. I had also wanted to make the box using Night of Navy but hadn't realised I was getting low on stock and didn't have enough. With a little planning I was able to combine two colours without it looking as if I'd not had enough of the original colour in the first place.

I'm not going to add the instructions as Caroline has done a great job! Another small concession was to add a little piece of DSP on the inside left to hold stamps. I can never find them when I need to so thought if they could have their own home it might save the recipient a search.

Did you know you could use the ink pads or write markers to colour white ribbon? I used Calypso Coral; it looks good doesn't it? Another quick tip if you're starting out. Get a selection of white ribbons and colour them to match your project until you're able to buy a selection of co-ordinating colours.