It's Beginning to Feel a lot Like Monday

... and that must mean it's time for another

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN BONUS PROJECT!

Bonus #2... Kickin' Card Holder

For some reason that I cannot fathom, I don't have a photo of the completed project on my camera. And seeing as I am at Starbucks, I cannot just run upstairs and take one for you. So you will have to use your own little imaginations to extrapolate what the final effect is... and then when I get home I will take that photo and add it to the post!

ETA: Here it is! I got one photo in before my battery died. Ah, such is life.

But in the meantime...

Here is what you will need:

*A dozen (or so, depending on how many categories you use) 6x9" manila envelopes
*Six (or so) sheets of double-sided cardstock (or 12 [or so] half-sheets of single-sided) (I used American Crafts)
*Rub-on letters (I used Heidi Swapp)
*Ribbon (I used American Crafts)
*Felt flowers (I used American Crafts)
*Brads
*Binder ring (you can get plain metal ones from Office Depot)
*Adhesive (I used my Cheetah to adhere to the envelopes, and a regular tape runner to adhere the embellishments)
*Stapler
*Hole punch (I used my Crop-a-Dile)
*Circle punch
*Paper trimmer

Let's get going...

Step One. Gather your materials. Cut each sheet of patterned paper to two, 6x9" pieces. Save the odds and ends because you will want them for embellishing.

Step Two. Adhere the patterned paper to one side of the manila envelopes. You COULD cover both sides, but then you would be a blatant overachiever and we would have to mock you.

Step Three. Using the rub-ons, label each envelope with what kind of card it will contain. I ended up with ten categories: Love You, Happy Birthday, Congratulations, New Baby, Wedding, Sorrow, Thank You, Thinking of You, Miscellaneous, and Blank.

Step Four. Go ahead and take a little break right here to see how cute everything is shaping up. Appreciate your work -- Heaven knows my family doesn't! AHHAHAA.

Step Five. Punch out ten (or so) circles from the patterned paper scraps. Punch a hole in each, and add the felt flowers using the brads. I like to use a mixture of colors and not get to matchy-matchy, mostly because I am watching CSI and don't want to think about the order of things too much. Adhere the circles to your envelopes. Cute!

Step Six. If desired, cut 10 (or so) 6x1" strips of patterned paper and adhere to the top of the envelopes.

Step Seven. Cut a bunch of lengths of contrasting ribbon (I used three or four different kinds) and staple a tad to each envelope, varying placement. NOTE: You want to keep from stapling too far into the center of the envelope, or the cards will not fit after you are done. Just trust me on this one, it is the voice of experience speaking.

Step Eight. (NO PHOTO -- BAD DOBBY!) Hook all your envelopes on the binder ring, snap it closed, and call it a day. Whew, wasn't that fun??

Variations: Fill each envelope with a card or two of the category indicated and give it as a teacher gift... how cute would that be?

Comments

[Amy]

another great project!! Thanks!!

[JenMc]

Such a cute project and I really like your idea of using them as teacher gifts. I think anyone would love to have one of these. I will be making several. I'll be a factory and watch TV and make them! And since my husband is visiting a factory in China, it will give me something fun to work on after the kids are in bed.

I need to send you pictures of some of the Monday projects I've done. You have really inspired me! Thanks again.

Glad to hear you had a happy turkey day!

[Maria]

Hi Lainie! Another fabulous project of yours! :)

[Leea]

See I knew you could do this ! Cool, Cool, Cool .....Thanks for another Great Project!Hmmm...I work at a school, so this could be a great "coworker" gift !!

[Samantha]

Love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing it. I've really enjoyed your Monday projects. I'll be sad when they're over.

[Mary c]

Very, very cute project. There aren't enough hours in a day for me right now. I am making this while planning to make that and then you post this and I am still on that. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it.

[Ginaj]

Love this Lain. I am making cards for my mom and sister as part of their present, so I might just add this to my list of projects to make. Then again, I just might make one for me!

[sockiepuppetsmom]

How cute is that!? I am finally home and can't wait to get started on all my Christmas projects. Thank you for sharing another wonderful idea!

[Rhonda :)]

Another AWeSome project!!!....I defintely know what i'm going to be doing this weekend :)!!!...Thanks a Bunch ;-)

[katie scott]

Thank you Lain for all your help today! Got my entry in & my fingers crossed :)

[linda woods]

You're so clever! I love this one, I have cards scattered all over my house. Your instructions are very entertaining!
If I make only one decorated envelope then shove the rest of my cards into ziplock bags while I watch tv, will I be mocked and called an UNDER achiever?

[Nicole Caldwell]

Lain,
Those are way cute!! I made an altered lunchbox last year and filled it with my own greeting cards and gave it to my mother in law for Christmas. She said it was the best gift she has ever received! She's still using the cards. I think I will make a couple of yours for teachers this year!
eggheadcrafts.blogspot.com

[cheryl]

I LOVE this project!!!

I just popped over here via Maria's blog. I just read about Dustin wearing George's pants and I was seriously jealous of you being that close to something that was close to "Nick." That was TOO funny!!!

[cheryl]

I LOVE this project!!!

I just popped over here via Maria's blog. I just read about Dustin wearing George's pants and I was seriously jealous of you being that close to something that was close to "Nick." That was TOO funny!!!

[cheryl]

I LOVE this project!!!

I just popped over here via Maria's blog. I just read about Dustin wearing George's pants and I was seriously jealous of you being that close to something that was close to "Nick." That was TOO funny!!!

[cheryl]

Omg...please forgive the three postings!!! I am NOT a stalker!! :-)

[melita]

cute, cute! love it Lain!

[MamaSheg]

Yeah, another fabulous project. Thanks Lain!

[zakirah]

What a gorgeous photo album!

You've just inspired me to start scrapping and doing fun paper projects =D