Day 41: Zipper Bag Embellishments

 Day 41: A picture is worth 1000 words, right, so I thought I would label my zippered bag to store my little digital camera accordingly.  I added a liner to my bag from yesterday and sewed that in by hand, and included a little sewn divider so that my camera accessories and charger and whatnot are not just rattling around in there with my beloved camera.  I also added a little pleated ribbon to define the line between frilly and wooly textures....and to bring in the black to tie in the zipper, liner, and ribbon colors.  I used a plain lobster clasp on the zipper pull to attach the ribbon and labeling beads.  I decided to label my little bags with something that would remind me, but would not be overtly obvious such as "camera here" or "digital device worth some money" or whatever.  If I later decide that I want to use a different zipper bag for my camera, I can just un-clip it and add it to another zipper.  This project will fit in with a bigger project that I will reveal later......you will just have to wait in suspense!  Toodles!

Directions for Folding Boxes

 This will be the lid.  To make the base, follow the same directions, but trim 1/8 to 1/4 inch off of two perpendicular sides so that the entire piece is smaller but still square.  The amount trimmed depends a little depending on how thick the paper and how tight the desired fit of the lid.

Step 1: Mark the center of the paper.  This could be folded, but the top of the box would have a crease in it, so I prefer to mark it.  Ultimately, the mark will not show as it will be covered by folds.

 Step 2: Fold each corner into the center making strong creases with a bone folder.

 Step 3:  Unfold opposite corners, and fold up the sides (with corners still folded) to meet the line marking the center.  The paper will look like this when one fold is complete.

 The paper will look like this when the second fold is complete.  Unfold these to sides completely and repeat this step with the remaining unfolded opposing corners.

 Optional:  To make the lid shorter than the so that the papers of both lid and base show, you may need to make an additional fold all the way around here.  Until you are ready for variations, ignore this picture.

 Step 4: Unfold entirely, and cut from the edge of the paper to the center most fold on two corner tabs only.  These will be your fold-over thinner tabs.  Upon completion of cutting, you should have two thin tabs and two thick tabs.

FYI:  The bottom tab in this photo (with the scissors on it) has extra folds from the optional step above.  Don't let the additional folded lines confuse you.

 Step 5:  Fold the corners of the thick tabs back to center and the flat fold will become the sides of the box.  The sides of the thick tab will wrap around to the thin tab lines.  Do this with both thick tabs.

 Step 6:  Fold over the foundation tabs with the thin tabs and tape it in the center.  Smoothing all of the lines again with the bone folder lends to a crisp box.

 This picture is before tape on the inside.

This is the top of the box from the outside.  Again, the extra crease in the side facing the front is from that optional variation.  If the folding on the variation is followed, the box lid will be shorter as seen on that crease.  After Mom showed me this, I made tons of them!  They are fun!  Here you go, Meredith!

Day 40: Crochet....using up the stash

 I found a nice stash of some hand dyed/spun wool from forever ago and I bought a skein of frilly stuff to some added texture.  I used both until the very end getting a lapel thingy that I am considering as a permanent addition to an old leather coat and a little zipper bag for my clear plastic purse idea.  I felted the little zipper bag so that nothing would slip out between the crochet stitches.  I gave the inside a hair cut so that the frill stuff wouldn't hinder sorting whatever I end up stuffing into the little bag.  I have spent most of today underneath a migraine, so crochet and nap are about all I accomplished today.  Bleh.  Spine appointment tomorrow as well as therapy.  I foresee a crappy craft day tomorrow......more bleh.

Day 39: Lynoleum Stamp, Ribbon Flower on Plastic

 I carved a new stamp today for my coffee soaps, and in the end, I found that the bolder lines made the stamp work.  As I was working to pound the image into the soaps, I found that the actual cup image wasn't strong enough.  I continued to cut into the cup outline until I got the stamp bold enough.  I love lyno stamps!  I might use this to stamp on some fabric coasters or something as well.....or maybe even clay trays for little coffee cups?

These are the last four soaps using the bolder cup outline...better, no?

I also am working more on my plastic purse idea, and decided to try some ribbon embellishment on a scrap of plastic I had left from previous projects.  I think it turned out quite cute....very free and springy and vibrant.  I tied the ends together, glued them so they wouldn't fray, and then tucked them under the knot never to be seen again.  I think it works.

I returned home today, and I was sooooo cold as it was a below zero day here in sunny Minnesota (the sun means that it is too cold for stupid clouds and there is absolutely NO moisture in the air at all).  I promptly got under the electric blanket in my bed, and remained there shivering until my husband got home.  At which point I was harassed (mildly) for not noticing that it was 50ish degrees inside the house.  Our heating element in our furnace broke, and it will be a few hours before a replacement one comes via my uncle who is in the heating/AC business (seriously, thank GOD for family....thanks, Bill, you are a life saver).  Hubby built a fire, space heater from the garage went into our bedroom, the heated blanket went on Sylvia's bed where both kids will be sleeping soonish.  AND, I am now done blogging in the STILL 50somethingdegree basement.  Peace out!  And pray for all those who are homeless this evening!

Day 38: Plastic Purse Trial

I have been tossing this idea around in my brain for a week or so, and I have decided to work on some mini-versions in order to only use the scraps I have before having to buy fresh supplies.  This is my first finished one.  I think I will put little candies in it for my Sylvia on Valentine's Day.  I just used a small hole punch and ribbon to attach the pieces together and I cut out a letter "S" for the decoration in the pocket with my beloved Cricut.  I think these clear plastic purses could be super cute for grown-ups too, on a bigger scale of course.  I would have a bunch of little zippered pouches of different fabrics and such inside, clear to view, but without showing their contents.  The plastic would just wipe clean....a big bonus in my world.

Day 37: Paper Bead Production.....Go

I am behind on my picture taking for the day. I have been stock piling paper beads over the last few evenings. I have become increasingly irritated with the slow process of producing bead, but if I make lots using just wax paper and glue stick, and then using the diamond glaze on the whole pile at once. It saves on diamond glaze that typically dries very quickly. I have also glued a half styrofoamball ball to a lid that I use for pouring out glaze. As the beads dry, the whole concoction looks like a funny little porcupine. If I continue to make these beads, I need to add more styrofoam.

Meredith, I will post the box directions tomorrow...tonight, I am done, and currently laying down while everyone else watches the superbowl. Bah, Humbug!

Photo added 4:20 p.m. 2/7/11  Bead Porcupine

Day...What day is it? I added a poofy thing and a flower to my box. whoopie.

Day 36: I bought special punches/tools a few weeks back to make paper flowers.  I discovered today that I could make roses that I am just as happy with using cut out hearts of different sizes.  I used "Walk in my Garden" Cricut Cartridge, and made the leaves there too.  I will now re-gift my punches to cousin Julie who loves these paper flowers!  I sent the tool kit and mat with a package to Pittsburgh earlier this week, but now I will send you the official punches too!  I think I am keeping the punches I use for making lilies for now though.  I also changed out the white bottom of my box to the much classier black card stock and then added a bow and the flower with the help of GLUE!  Very high tech!  I think it is cute.  I could make some little candies and put in it for Valentine's Day....I know how to fold dividers too.  I will try to remember to add that tomorrow to the inside.

After a  trip to IKEA today, my hubby assembled a loft bed with his little helpers this afternoon.  Fun, fun for everyone!  Felix has had that bear pillow thing since his first Christmas when he was 1 month old (a gift from his godmother Juju), and some of my favorite pictures of him as a baby are snuggled up with this thing.  Now he sleeps with it on top of him.  Where does the time go?  Every day that passes I sound more and more like the older generation that I used to giggle at every time they said "I have know you since you were knee high to a grasshopper."  I catch myself constantly looking at my own kids like I just blinked and now they are HUGE!