PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Paper Divas and the Very Best ofPinterest Pins

I'm so lucky to be in a group of talented paper crafters and we call ourselves the Paper Divas. I hosted our last meeting and here are some of the items we created and shared:

The inside of my card was the result of

this Pinterest pin:

Original Pin HERE

I made a Pilgrim version like this for each person 

and put it at their place setting for a good laugh!

I got the idea from this pin:

Original Pin HERE 

Katie taught us how to make these lovely

card boxes that held 4 cards with envelopes:

This is the SU embossing set for the outside flap:

The flap closes thanks to a little

circle of Velcro that Katie brought

on Amazon.com.

She even made a template for each of us!!

...and here were her 4 cards inside the box:

Using SU products, Katie made these two

cute Christmas cards, too:

Alice Brown let us make this stunning card:

This was a Starbucks gift card favor I had

at each person's work area:

These holders were so much fun to make thanks to

a pin that includes a fantastic how to video:

Original Pin HERE

...and here was the Taste of Home dish that we feasted upon.

I made the whole thing in my cast iron skillet, but a

a casserole dish works well, too:

Cornbread Taco Bake

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.

MAKES: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix*
• 1 can (2.8 ounces) french-fried onions, divided
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• (I added 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic once the ground beef was browned.)

• Directions

  1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the corn, tomato sauce, water, green pepper, garlic and taco seasoning. Spoon into a greased 2-qt. baking dish.
  2. Prepare corn bread mix according to package directions for corn bread. Stir in half of the onions. Spread over beef mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining onions. Bake 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and a toothpick inserted into corn bread layer comes out clean. 
• *Try experimenting by adding various items to the cornbread mix such as olives, green chilies, etc.

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Gift Card Box and the Very Best of Pinterest Pins

Original Pin HERE

Make a card box and set of small gift cards using the wonderful video tutorial and measurements provided from this pin! The tutorial also shows how to make the raised medallion for the front. I decided to make up a larger version that would hold standard A2 cards (4.25" x 5.5") with envelopes. Here's my version:

...with matching cards:

Here are my measurements:

I had to LOL when I saw another video this week and the paper crafter said that she doesn't like "naked" envelopes! We are kindred spirits there as I do love to decorate my envelopes, too!

Last week, I also found this terrific Envelope Punch Board paper tea cup idea with video tutorial that led me to making a bunch of tea cups:

I'll fill these cups with gold Hershey Kisses.

Here's the original pin from the VERY talented Linda Parker:

Original Pin HERE

It's quite a long video, but once you do one, it really goes fast!

The measurements are as follows:

8" x 5 1/2" piece of card stock

Along the long side, score at:

1 1/4", 2 1/2", 3 3/4", 5", 6 1/4" and 7 1/2"

Along the short side, score at:

1 1/8" and 3 5/8"

When using a directional printed paper, make sure the direction of the print is placed so that it goes right to left along the 8" side with the 1 1/8" score placed at the bottom of the print. Then I saw that Linda had created a tea pot to go with the tea cup, and of course, I had to make that, too!

Here is her oh! so lovely version:

Click HERE for the Original Pin

The video tutorials are a must see....and here
are the measurements for the tea pot
which starts out as a larger version of the tea cup:

BASE

10 3/4" x 7"

Along the long side, score at:

1 3/4", 3 1/2", 5 1/4", 7", 8 3/4" and 10 1/2"

Along the short side, score at:
1 1/4" and 4 1/2"

TOP

11 3/4" x 2 7/8'

Along the long side, score at:

1 7/8", 3 3/4", 5 5/8", 7 1/2", 9 3/8" and 11 1/4"

Along the short side, score at:

1/2" and 1"

Notch from the side with the short tab at:

1 3/8", 3 1/4", 5 1/8, 7", 8 7/8" and 10 3/4"

NOTE: Instead of punching holes and threading ribbon to hold the top together, I simply used red sticky tape along each fold and that created a simple pin wheel effect inside the lid.

SPOUT

5 3/4" x 3"

Score along the short side at 5/8"

Notch along the long side
with the 5/8" side folded over:

 1/2", 1", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2", 3 1/4",
3 3/4", 4 1/4", 4 3/4" and 5 1/4"

Notch on the opposite side at 2 7/8"

These projects are the original creations of
Linda Parker. Please give her credit if you post
any of her tea time projects ^_^

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Tiny Boxes and theVery Best of Pinterest Pins

I saw a wonderful tiny box idea on Pinterest that includes a tutorial:

Original Pin HERE

These boxes are 1 1/4" high and wide - just the right size to hold a small chocolate treat. First, I made the box following the terrific instructions and photos with measurements on the Stamp with Peg website HERE. Then I modified the measurements and made another box that was 2 3/8" high and wide. Here are my two versions:

The larger box holds two Hershey's Miniatures side-by-side.  Follow these measurements:

Card Stock: 5 5/8" x 3 1/8"

Along the 5 5/8" side, score at:

2 1/8", 2 5/8", 4 3/4" and 5 1/4"

Along the 3 1/8" side, score at:

1/2", 2 3/8, and 2 7/8"

Fold and cut as shown per Stamp with Peg's blog:

Cover miniatures with coordinating paper:
3" x 1 1/2"

For more box and favor ideas, check out these Pinterest pins that can be modified for any gift-giving occasions:

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Here's my version:



...and card inside:

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Little Boxes and the Very Best of Pinterest Pins

These little boxes below had me smiling from ear-to-ear after I found this FANTASTIC project and video tutorial. You can stack them or make individual boxes:

Original Pin HERE

Click HERE to go to the actual blog page or visit tinyurl.com/boxtower --- This is such a creative idea and they really are pretty darn easy to make once you see the video! The technique to make the little ribbon pull is terrific as well.

Here is my version and my
quick reference for measurements,

scoring, cutting and folding:

There is also another lovely card project on

Linda's site and it includes a video, too!:

...and to Juliette...

thanks for making me smile with your

kind words about my cards and blog!

PIN IT FRIDAY PINS: Bloomin' Hearts and the Very Best of Pinterest Pins

I just placed an order for SU goodies and the one item I can't wait to use is their Bloomin' Hearts thinlet die....so I've been finding examples of Pinterest projects using it and here are some of my favs:

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Two of My Projects this Week:

A Baby Card

A Birthday Box Card

I like how these cards fold flat to fit into an envelope! If you do a Google search for box card tutorial (click HERE), you will see more examples and loads of tutorials. I made this larger version (that will require a custom-made envelope) with an 8.5" x 11" sheet of DSP:

Along the 8.5" side, score every 2"

Along the 11" side, score at 5.5" then

cut along the 2" score lines up to the 5.5" score line

Trim 3 of the 4 panels to 9"

I added a support square to the outside surface of the back panel at the score line to keep the back panel in the up position.