Kraft birthday ensemble...

I love working with kraft paper and decided to use it as my main ingredient for this birthday card ensemble. 

I am entering this card into Challenge #10: The Krafty Crafter on A Blog Named Hero. You should check out this great blog and fun challenge!


I cut my kraft paper at 4 1/4" by 12". I scored it from the long side at 5 1/2" and 11" to create the fold-over card with a 1" flap at the top.  I rounded the corners of the flap and inked with some white chalk ink.  To hold the card closed, I used a larger brad on the flap and tied some neutral colored floss onto it. The floss can then be wound around the smaller brad on the card front to keep the card closed.  I covered the front of the card with some pretty paper on a green mat.  I created a rose (from the Flower Shoppe cart), a triple bow made with some satin and sheer ribbon along with some paper lace and a leafy branch, both made with a Sizzix dies.

Here's a closer look at the flower, bow and tiny tag (Spellbinder's Labels and Tags).  I inked the edges of the rose and the leaves on the branch behind it.

Here's a look at the inside of the card. I used the small coral colored flowers to cover the tines of the two brads.  These flowers were made with the Martha Stewart hydrangea punch.

Since the rose would not permit this card to be given or sent in an envelope, I decided to make a box for it. I wanted the box to be pretty, but not to outshine the card.  The main decoration on the cover is a piece of the patterned paper, cut with a Spellbinder's Labels 8 die and inked along the edges.  Do you see the tiny tag on the left hand side? That is where I will write the recipient's name.

I fussy cut a flower from the patterned paper, adhered it with a pop dot and added some glossy accents to it and to the flower on the paper next to it. This added just a touch of dimension to the top.

I added a piece of decorative paper to the bottom of the box and adhered a ribbon under this paper in the center of each side. After cutting a slit on each side of the cover, I slid the ribbon through the slits so that I could tie a bow neatly on top.  The sides of the cover are decorated with some lacy seam binding and liquid pearls.

Here's one last look at the card with its decorated box and cover.

I hope you enjoyed my kraft project. Remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl