Let's Craft & Create: Challenge #103 - Butterflies or Birds

First of all, I want to wish a belated happy Independence Day to all my U.S. readers!

Now, on to the new challenge over on Let's Craft & Create. The Design Team has been asked to create some inspirational projects with a "Butterflies or Birds" theme. I decided to make one of those cute little totes filled with cards that are so popular right now. I thought it would be the perfect little gift for a friend who is currently living in a nursing home due to some health issues.

This is my little tote. I had so much fun making it!

I created my own dimensions as I wanted the A2 cards to fit well inside the base of my tote and not stick up too far at the top. I started with a piece of cardstock that was 2 1/2" X 7" and scored it at 1/2" on all sides. I created a little box-like base with this piece.

Then I cut two pieces of patterned cardstock that were 4" X 8". Using a strong double-sided tape, I adhered these pieces to my base, making sure they were flush at the bottom and that the overlap would be at the center of each narrow end. The trim piece at the bottom was punched with a Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch.

The handles were made with 1" X 12" pieces of cardstock, folded in half and adhered together except for 1" at both ends. I rounded the corners on the ends and attached them to my tote with brads.

The pale pink trim piece around the top edge of my tote is just a couple of 1" X 8" pieces of cardstock folded in half and adhered to the tote around the edge to finish it.

In this picture you can see how my top trim piece fits over the top edge and finishes both the inside and the outside.

After I attached the handle with brads, I covered the prongs of the brads with little circles of cardstock. If you click on the photo and look closely, you'll see them.

I actually made my envelopes, too, with my envelope punch board and stamped each one with a couple of butterflies.

My flowers were made using the Spellbinders Die D-lites Blooms 3 dies and a tiny star punch for the centers. The foliage beneath is a combination of dies and punches and the butterflies were made with a Martha Stewart punch.

All of my cards (and my tote) were made with papers from the Essentials paper pad by Martha Stewart. I decided to use "thinking of you" as my sentiment on all the cards. Then they could be used for any occasion and personalized with a note inside.









I used the same flower on all my cards and adhered it to a couple of circle die-cuts (Sizzix).

The strips of cardstock that hold my sentiment were embossed with the Swiss Dots folder after they had been stamped.

I hope you enjoyed my project today.

Why not join our challenge with your own Butterflies or Birds project?  You can link your project here to join in on the fun.

Need a little more FANTASTIC inspiration? Check out the Design Team's projects by clicking on the links below. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

Eileen

Karen
Catherine
Cheryl – that’s me!
Gail
Ursula
Deborah
Maryvonne
Hazel
Mary
Sabina
Monika

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl