Papercrafting with Special Guest Debbie Mitchell #giveaway

I am ecstatic to welcome Debbie Mitchell as a guest on our blog today! We all know Debbie since she hangs out with us here almost every day, but now we get to hear from her about her AMAZING papercraft boxes! She mentioned them a few weeks back when we were chatting about our favorite crafts. 

Oh my, Ya'll. When I hopped over to Pinterest and her blog and saw what she does I BEGGED her to come on and share with all of us. She graciously agreed, and I'm thrilled.

Before I spoil it by ranting about how cool these boxes are, let's get to it. Here's Chappy. 

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Hello, my name is Debbie Mitchell, but most people call me Chappy. I've been asked to share my Exploding Picture Boxes with you and I will do my best to show you how to create them. Most of the boxes you find on the internet are mass produced. I create each of my boxes by hand and each one is unique. Even if I use the same theme, such as my Pirate boxes, they each turn out differently in some way. I am going to walk you through my process of creating a box. For your convenience, I am putting the instructions right on the pictures. (click on images to enlarge)

The first thing you need to do is to decide on the theme....if someone commissions a box, they tell me the theme and then I come up with some ideas for them to choose from. In this case, I am choosing the theme myself. Since Christmas is just around the corner (Yikes!), I've decided to make a Christmas themed box to give away to one of the commenters here on this post.

 

Thanks for joining me today. Make sure and comment below to be put into the drawing to win my Christmas box. (Due to the cost of postage, the giveaway is for US residents only) May God bless you.

 How cool is that?! If you have any questions for Debbie, feel free to leave those in the comments. 

Chappy, thanks so much for joining us with such a great post and giveaway! What an awesome box! 

Good luck, ya'll.

About Debbie:

Debbie Mitchell taught Sunday School for over 20 years. She is a firm believer in reading through the Bible each year and is working on her 16^th time through. Keeping in the Word and teaching Sunday School has helped her to recognize and face the enemy. She lives in California with her husband Jack and their two dogs. She has one son, two daughters, two sons-in-law and has been blessed with grandchildren that truly make her days.

You can see all of my boxes on Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/debsbunch5/exploding-picture-boxes-ive-made/

I have a weekly blog with book giveaways as well:

http://redemptiondrawsnear.blogspot.com/

Debbie has also co-authored a devotional with MaryLu Tyndall! Check it out here.

https://www.amazon.com/Pearls-Sea-Days-Sailing-Jesus-ebook/dp/B00CLR2VPC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1392538723&sr=1-1&keywords=pearls+from+the+sea+marylu+tyndall

 

HANDMADE MAGNETIC BOOKMARKS

I consider myself a crafty person. I like to make things, when I have time. I own a greeting card program and a scrapbook program. I collect used Christmas cards to cut up and make things with. You’re as likely to get a handmade or computer-crafted greeting card from me as you are a store-bought card.  I’ve also been known to use my scrapbook program to create wrapping paper and gift bags (which my husband hates because of the amount of ink it uses), and I frequently  presented friends and family with handmade gifts. So, when I began thinking about marketing swag for my books, naturally I turned to my crafty side. Not everything I’ve dreamed up has been a success, but the process has been fun regardless.

Recently while cleaning out a drawer, I came across a cardboard magnetic bookmark I picked up as a travel souvenir. The bookmark was made out of heavy, glossy cardstock. I began to wonder if I could remake a similar item as swag. After a bit of research told me purchased bookmarks were way out of my financial range, I pulled out the trusty card program on my computer and  found a template for over-sized address labels (ten to a sheet).

Using the program, I created this magnetic bookmark from photo paper.

Not everyone has greeting card programs, so I began to wonder what other handy dandy office supply I could use to make magnetic bookmarks. The humble business card came to mind. I’ve seen, and used business cards to make bookmarks. Tie a pretty ribbon or a few beads on the end of the card and you’ve got a quick book mark with all your book info to hand out at book signings. I’ve seen this done so often, in fact, that I started to want something different. Hence, my fiddling around with the magnetic bookmark.

Anyway, after a few tries I came up with a fairly easy method to make magnetic bookmarks using business card stock. Below is what the sheet of business cards looks like, shown as it would come out of your printer in portrait position.

If you already have a business card set up on your computer changing it into a bookmark will be fairly simple. If not, you will have to start from scratch, and that might require some time to get all the parameters right. The hardest part of this project is getting the picture and words centered properly, so when you fold the card the crease is at the top of the book cover frame, which should be at the center of the business card.

I used a jpg of my book cover, and inserted it onto an Avery business card template. Using the Microsoft picture tool option, I rotated the cover on the business card so when the cards were punched out the bottom of the book is on the edge of the card. Using the Picture Tool options, I added a frame and selected various border/frame colors.

Opposite the book cover I typed in my written info (I used book, title, my award info, name and website.) Then using the Text Box Tool Options that appeared when I clicked on the text, I was able to rotate the text inside the box. After rotating the text, I changed the print font sizes to fit my design and the card. It’s important to be sure your text fits within the edges of the picture frame because once you’ve punched the card from the page, you will want to trim them down for a more pleasing look.

When you’ve completed printing and  trimming the bookmark, cut 2  small pieces of adhesive-backed magnets for each bookmark and adhere them to the inside of the bookmark, making sure they line up so they will connect to one another. There will be enough space on the inside of the bookmark for an utograph for your reader fans. I keep a few of these in my purse to hand out. They’re cuter than a business card, and more useful, in my opinion.

If you don't have any need for book swag, these magnetic bookmarks also make great gifts. Just add your own picture of the kids, grandkids, family pets, or other scenes. A few of these would be fun stocking stuffers, or little gifts to put inside birthday cards, or Christmas cards.

Don't forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for the While I'm Waiting Devotional by Laura Hodges Poole! Winner announced in the Weekly Windup on the 29th. Check out all of our great prizes on the Prizes Galore Page.

Sticky Notepad Covers from Greeting Cards

 

 

I imagine most of us have this year’s, or maybe last year’s, Christmas cards laying around gathering dust. If so, why not start making some cute stocking stuffer items for next Christmas. With a few Christmas cards, card stock, a bit of ribbon, and a 2x2 sticky notepad you can create this cutie.

 

Here’s the instructions:

 

Supplies-a Christmas card that is at least 8 inches wide or long, 13 inches of ribbon, 1 3x3 inch sticky notepad, adhesive glue, scissors.

 

·         Out of a Christmas card, or a piece of colored cardboard stock,

 

 

cut a 3inch wide by 8 inch long section.

 

 

·         Placing your 3x3sticky notepad 3 inches from the bottom of the card strip, fold the strip around the edges of the notepad.

·         Cut 2 small slits, the width of your ribbon, in the back of the holder, about ½ inch from the edges of the card stock. You could also use sticky Velcro buttons to close the holder.

·         Thread the ribbon through the slits.

·         Adhere the back of the sticky notes to the center of the folded card stock … or not. It’s your choice on this.

·         Close the cover and tie the ribbon.

 

If you don’t have a Christmas card with a design that spans the 8 inch length, you can make the basic note holder from card stock, cut out the desired design from the Christmas card and glue it to the front of the holder. The top flap can be adjusted in length to show your cutout design to its best.

 

This craft can also be uses as swag for your books by adhering a photocopy of your book cover to the front flap of the holder. If you do this, I’d suggest making the top flap the entire length of the notepad instead of the bottom flap. Add your website address or any other marketing info you want to the inside of the flap.

 

This craft is quick and easy, and once you start making this little beauties, you’ll have trouble stopping. I know I have.

Easy Handmade Christmas Tree Greeting Cards

 

 

It’s getting close to the time of the year when I start thinking about Christmas cards. Sometimes I buy them from the store. Sometimes I create them on the computer. I have also created a few by hand. This year I’m making a few special cards for friends to give with their Christmas gifts. So, here’s a preview of what I’m doing this year for Christmas cards.

 

Start with a ready-made blank greeting card and choose a printed specialty scrapbook paper and back the greeting card with the paper. .

 

Next, choose a pretty green print piece of scrapbook paper and cut out 2 circles.

Cut each circle in half and fold them like this.

 

Adhere the trees to the front of the greeting card and stamp or write a holiday greeting on the card .

 

Add a strip of coordinating ribbon to the left edge of the card.

In less than 10 minutes you can create a quick and easy handmade Christmas card. If you wanted to make a more complex card you could add some brown below the base of the trees to mimic the ground and a star in the upper portion of the card. It takes longer to decide on what paper you will use than it does to assemble the card. This holiday season, why not put some extra thought into your holiday cards and create something handmade.