Hey there! I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. If you are anything like me, you are probably wondering how you are going to get everything done before December 25th. Well, don’t panic because today I have some quick card ideas, plus directions on putting together a stationary tote to house them.
Stationary Tote
This stationary tote was made using a digital cut file available at Lori Whitlock’s shop. Once the pieces are cut, it’s pretty easy and doesn’t require a whole lot of work to assemble. In fact, the only real work is “building” the pockets and attaching them to the tote. The rest is just adhering the pattern papers to the tote and embellishing as wanted.
For this project, I used Kraft Board paper from Cricut to cut the base and pockets of the tote. The rest of the paper used was patterned cardstock. I used a combination of products from Echo Park Paper and PhotoPlay Paper. This project is very versatile and can be made using any paper collection at any time of year.
When you are ready to build, be sure to ink or sand the edges of your paper and/or Kraft Board before you start. Next adhere your patterned paper to the outside of the tote and pocket pages. I used my regular adhesive for everything expect the pockets. When attaching the pockets to the tote, I used Sticky Thumb (Red Tape) from American Crafts. This is my go-to whenever I need a permanent adhesive, especially for heavier objects.
Once the tote is assembled, you are ready to start decorating. I added a two-inch strip of paper to the tote’s cover along with a few stickers. Pop dots are a great way to add dimension to any project. I used them here to create depth and left the embellishments up off the page.
Quick Cards
As I said earlier, I have a lot to do this holiday season, so I didn’t want to spend a lot of time on the cards inside the tote. Thankfully, I had a sheet of 3X4 journal cards that went along with the set I was using for this project. Journaling cards are a great way to create quick and easy cards.
To make these cards, I trimmed the journaling cards an 1/8th of an inch all the way around. This helps to make sure the design stays centered, and I don’t take too much of on one side or another. I sanded and inked the cards as needed. To create visual interest, I layered patterned papers with cardstock before adhering the journaling cards. You’ll notice on some of the cards I added stickers to dress them up a little bit as well. I used pop dots again to lift various elements off the page.
Handmade doesn’t have to mean time consuming. With lots of awesome digital cut files available, you can easily create cute projects like this one in no time. Plus, you can use the pieces available in whatever paper collection you’re using to create cut and go cards. People will appreciate the thought, and you’ll save time and money. (Store bought cards are expensive!)
Until next time,
Michelle
