A Diva's Receipt/Coupon Organizer

I'll admit it...I'm one of those people who shoves receipts and coupons into the black hole, otherwise known as my purse, never to be seen or used again. I'm organized for some things, but definitely not for receipts and coupons. As soon as I saw the Downtown Diva set I KNEW I needed to make myself an organizer to keep in my purse. So here's what I came up with! 

The image from Downtown Diva is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured with copics. I cut it out using my Labels Two Nestabilities by Spellbinders. All the paper and ribbon are from the March Key Ingredients and the rhinestones are from the Mother's Day Key Ingredients. Have you signed up for your Key Ingredients subscription yet? I absolutely LOVE the Key Ingredients...coordinating products in one package...it's super easy to whip up projects using the Key Ingredients, and the subscription service is packed with extra value! 

But wait a second...did you notice that there are two green and one blue rhinestone, in addition to the clear ones? Well, I discovered that you can colour your rhinestones with copic markers...so the green and blue ones started out as clear ones from the Mother's Day Key Ingredients. 

Here's a tutorial I put together so you can build your own Receipt/Coupon Organizer...just in case there are other "black hole" purse carriers like me!  :)

Start with a 6x9.75 inch piece of red cardstock. Score it at 3, 3.5, 6.5, and 7 inches. This will make the body of your organizer.

Next cut two pieces of brown cardstock to 3x4 inches. You'll score both of these every half inch, at .5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 and 3.5 inches. Then accordian fold both pieces...these will create your sides. I wanted the sides to be accordian folds like a file folder, so that the top would open up wider than the bott0m...easier to put receipts in and get coupons out.

Next I chose one of the striped cardstock pieces for the divider. It's cut to 3x6 inches and scored at half an inch from each end. 

Then I used an oval punch on the red base piece, to create a little opening. Be sure you're punching the end panel that measures three inches, because the slightly smaller end is the one that creates the front flap. 

Next add a strong adhesive to the ends of the accordian folded pieces and to the ends of the divider piece. Taylor's Sticky Tape would be perfect for this. 

You'll adhere one end of the accordian fold piece to the inside of the front panel and the other end to the inside of the back panel. Repeat for the other side, then adhere the ends of the divider piece to each accordian piece. 

To keep the front flap closed I added some self adhesive Basic Grey magnets. The easiest way to line them up is to adhere a magnet to the inside of the flap, take your second magnet and let it attach itself (magnetically) to the first magnet, then close your flap. Presto...magnets are aligned. 

Then I added another of the patterned papers from the March Key Ingredients to hide the magnet on the front of the Organizer. I left the other magnet exposed for two reasons: 1) it doesn't really show except when I open the organizer. 2) I didn't want another layer of cardstock to take away the strength of the magnetic connection. 

Once your Organizer is built you can decorate it to suit your Diva style! 

For all the latest news, information and inspiration, don't forget to sign up for the Taylored Expressions Newsletter. You'll find the link on then left sidebar of the TE Store homepage. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen 

Knock, Knock...

When I first saw the "Knock, knock..." sentiment in the new Branching Out Coordinates set, I just KNEW I had to make a card with it! You see, my five year old son has just "gotten" the concept of jokes...and "Knock, knock" jokes are his absolute favorite (and what I've been hearing constantly for the last month LOL!)



When I sat down to make this card, I kept looking at the cuuuuuute owl (I just love his sweet face!), and the idea for this card (beyond the knock, knock part) hit me! I embossed the tree trunk and paper pieced the swirly top (from the Branching Out set) with the My Mind's Eye paper that is included in the Easter Key Ingredients Kit. I then cut around part of the tree top so that it would open....yes, you guessed it...to reveal that sweet owl (from the Branching Out Coordinates)!



I used the little flower from the Branching Out Coordinates set to decorate the outside as well as the inside, complete with rhinestone centers (I used the mini rhinestones from Taylor's Tiny Twinkles).
I hope I was able to bring a smile to your face today!
Thanks for stopping by,
Laurie

Supplies -
Stamps: Branching Out , Branching Out Coordinates Paper: Suede Brown Medium c.s., My Mind's Eye Tiny Dancer (from Easter Key Ingredients Kit) Ink: Close to Cocoa craft ink Accessories: Clear detail e.p., Nestabilities, Sewing Machine, Ribbon, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles

Oh, Nuts!!

Happy Monday everyone! Today I have a cute little cookie box to share with you. I am in love with the new Whimsical Wishes set "Branching Out" and "Branching Out Coordinates". I knew I wanted to use them for this project. I recently went to La Madeline and bought these yummy almond/pecan nut cookies. They were so pretty and perfectly sprinkled with powder sugar that I wanted to make a cute container for them and give them away to a new neighbor that just moved next door. I started with the super adorable square favor boxes from Taylored Expressions. I embellished the box with some scalloped paper and ribbon. The buckle and the card stock from the tag are all from the Taylored Expressions new March Key Ingredients. To complete the project I added some Zva Creative crystals around the circle and scalloped paper. I really like how it turned out. I can't wait until tomorrow to give my new neighbor this little treat. Well, that's all for me today.
Until next time,
Ana Wohlfahrt