Envelope #197

July 16, 2014

Envelope #196

July 15, 2014

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #14-Natural Wrapping (Project 28)

For this challenge, we were asked to complete a project based on Nature--using natural elements as products or inspiration. This is a project that I had percolating for quite a while. I have been tossing around the idea of making "packing tape" wrapping accessories.

There have been plenty of ideas using washi tape and gift wrapping. I wanted to do a variation on that theme.

Step One--wrap the box. I decided to use materials that were readily available so I decided to use simple brown craft paper. I could have painted it as I did in previous examples (here) but I decided to leave it plain. 

Plain brown paper wrapping

Step Two-- Use a belly band for decoration. I forgot to take a picture of the plain belly band. But in the picture below, it is the brown decorative paper with the ferns.

Step Three--Make the Packing Tape accessory. I took cheap packing tape and placed dried flowers on the underside (sticky side) of the tape. In this case, I alternated dried ferns with dried orange and yellow flowers. I then turned to tape right side up (sticky side down) and placed it on top of the decorative paper (belly band).

Belly band with
flower tape

Belly band detail

Step Four--wrap the belly band around the package and tape in place.

Package with belly band

Step Five--add final decorative touches. In this case, I added raffia in a contrasting color.

Final product.

Not content with what I had, I decided to make another belly band. With the brown decorative paper and the dried ferns, I was afraid that there wasn't enough contrast to highlight the floral packing tape. In this case, I simply used a piece of white butcher paper as the decorative paper.

White belly band
with floral packing tape

Final product in white.

Project #27--Goodbye Card--Part 2

Another tradition on the Broadway stage is the singing of "Happy Trails" to cast members that leave the show. In support of that tradition, I made this card. Similar to yesterday's card, it is backed with card stock so that there are several surfaces for people to write.

Envelope #195

July 14, 2014

Project #25--Goodbye Card

Card with paper liner

I realized that I have been deficient in posting about my weekly projects. Therefore, I will have some catch up posts to remedy that problem.

The first project is a card for someone that was leaving the theater for another show. I have share some of these projects before but this one is a little different. This is a 5" square card. Originally it would have been lined with a paper liner in which a salutation or a note could be written. The problem that I was having was that people were wanting to write on the left had side of the card when it was opened. Many times, people would poke their pen through the paper and it would appear on the front side of the card.

With this particular card, I knew that I was going to need a lot of space for people to sign so I had to remedy that situation. The solution was to take a coordinating piece of card stock to back up the card cutout (orange card stock below). Then I would attach a paper liner that would cover the added card stock.

Card with additional card stock

 This solution allowed there to be three sides of white liner for which people could write.

Opened card (two writing surfaces)

If more writing space was needed, the right side of the liner could be turned to show a third side and a blank side of the card stock.

Third and fourth writing surfaces

In a pinch, the back side of the card could also be used.

Envelope #194

July 13, 2014

Envelope #193

July 12, 2014

Envelope #192

July 11, 2014

Envelope #191

July 10, 2014

Envelope #190

July 9, 2014

Envelope #189

July 8, 2014

Envelope #188

July 7, 2014

Envelope #187

July 6, 2014

Envelope #186

July 5, 2014

Envelope #185

July 4, 2014

I post this envelope as New York City celebrates U.S. Independence Day with fireworks in all boroughs of New York City. Happy Fourth of July everyone and thanks for following.

Envelope #184

July 3, 2014

Envelope #183

July 2, 2014

Envelope #182

July 1, 2014

Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #13-Star Card (Project 26)

For this challenge, we were tasked with making something using stars or stripes or both in celebration of Independence Day in the United States. This wasn't the project that I had originally designed but life and work got in the way so I went for simple.

The only problem is that simple wasn't simple. I had a difficult time getting the proportions correct in relationship of the center star to the outer star. And I still don't think that I have it centered correctly.

The background paper is a hand marbled paper with gold metallic inks so it really pops against the black card. I don't know what occasion that I will use this for but I am sure that I can come up with an appropriate celebration.