Granny Purse Gift Tags

Gift tags, mini-notepads - or needlecases. It's up to you!

Granny-style change purses are just so cute - and here they are in paper. They are generously-sized for gift tags (about 6 x 7 cm/ 2-1/2 x 2-3/4in) - so you can fit on a proper inscription instead of just a "to and from". Or, you can cut two or three sheets of liner paper to make sweet mini-notepads. Here's an idea for sewing enthusiasts: cut the liner out of non-woven interfacing to make a compact needlecase - a needle keeper for while you are at work on your current project.

I choose retro prints for the purse bodies. Prep: the frames are cut from double-sided pearlescent paper. Just cut out the purse bodies, liners, and bag frames. It is a good idea to trim a little off the top of the liner, especially if you are making a notepad - so it doesn't show above the frame. (You could photocopy the liner pattern at 99%.) Punch or piece the three bottom holes on the purse body and the liner. (The liner is cut from plain cream paper.) If you want to go the whole hog with the shabby chic look, dab the edges of the purse body paper with Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tea Dye - my all-time favourite - used.)

Assembly: glue the bag frames onto the purse body with tacky glue. The trickiest bit: take care to face the bag frames so that the clasps on the front and back go in opposite directions.(You want an operational clasp.) Fold bags and liners in half. Place the liner inside the bag. Sew through the holes from inside, across bag base fold, and out through middle holes (craft thread used). The thread ends should straddle the centre cord. Knot cord and tie a bow. Thread beads onto bow tails.

Here's the pattern - three purse styles to choose from:

 You can, of course, big-up the pattern to make full-size cards.

Stuff I used: October Afternoon paper; double-sided gold pearlescent paper, 125gsm. Beads, craft thread.

Seashell Notecards

Fold-over seashells - fun as cards or gift tags.

These seashell notecards are fun and easy to make. You can use them as bon voyage cards, gift tags, or just to write summery messages on. String them on

some raffia to make a bunting for a patio party.  Make them on a rainy day - and think sun and surf.

Here's the pattern:

To make: trace the pattern, cut them out. The larger shells have a "V" to cut
at the top fold - use a craft knife over a cutting mat. Of course, it makes sense
to pencil the radiating lines on the wrong side of the seashell. Now: make an impression. Place the card on a mouse mat or sponge flower-shaping mat. Emboss the lines using an embossing tool and a small metal ruler. 


The cards look fine unadorned, especially if made in pretty pearlescent paper.
But for a crafty finishing touch, you can draw the ridges (I used Tim Holtz Distress markers in light colours) and sponge the edges (Distress Inks applied with Tsukineko Sponge Daubers). For the full monty, embellish with the starfish 
(use a sticky square for lift) and seaweed cut-outs applied with tacky glue.

Petal Pairs Friendship Bracelets

Daisy chain friendship bracelets - perfect party favours!

These pretty flower garland friendship bracelets are ideal party favours for a little girl's party. Or, enclose them with gifts or cards as a special surprise.

The garlands are fun to make. All are crafted using Tonic Studios Petal Pairs Shape 2 from Box Set 1. The Petal Pairs flowers all have 5 petals - but a 4-petal flower makes for easier garland-making. So, here's an easy method to transform Petal Pairs into 4-petal shapes:

Snip, slide, glue to make 4-petal flowers.

Just snip to the centre of the Petal Pair shape. Apply tacky PVA glue to

the "under" petal. Slide the adjacent petal on top, with edges matching. That's

all it takes to make a 4-petal flower. Interlock two Petal Pairs to make a flower.

The flower centres are inked with Tim Holtz Distress Markers - then given a

swoosh with a water brush to create a pretty watercolour look. The linking leaves are punched out from green paper using the same 4-petal technique, but only one is needed.

To assemble the garland, apply glue to the underside of 4 alternate flower leaf-tips. Glue these onto the green leaves. Alternate flowers with leaves, with leaves at both ends of the garland chain. You can adjust the size of the garland to fit the wearer's wrist - our garlands are made with 8 leaves and 7 flowers.

With a 1/16in circle paper hand punch, punch a hole in the centres of the two end leaves. Trim off the two end petals of each end leaf. Loop craft thread through the holes, making a half-hitch knot. It is a good idea to reinforce the backs of the last leaf links with PVA glue - you can apply the glue to the craft
thread, too.

The pink gerbera daisy has a yellow flower centre glued on.

(Note: I had to cheat a little for the pink gerbera daisy chain - too deep a colour of paper to ink with yellow marker. So... I glued a yellow flower centre onto the top Petal Pair before turning it into a 4-petal flower and inking it...) 

Of course, you can use the same technique to make flower garlands with all the other Tonic Studios Petal Pairs punches. The garlands are lovely and 3-D with  raised flower centres!

Supplies: Petal Pairs punch, Shape 2, from Tonic Studios Petal Pairs Box Set 1
(880e), Inspire Me Premium Paper, Tim Holtz Distress Markers -Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy;  tacky glue, craft thread.