Picture yourself strolling through the outdoor market in a place were you are vacationing. You pick up a sweet little sachet filled with fragrant lavender. You have also accumulated many little pieces of ephemera during your travels.Why not combine them into a sweet memento of your trip? Et voila – the Souvenir Sachet!

These sachets would make a great little gift. How about a “thank you” for the new graduate or a favorite teacher? Fill with rice or birdseed, tie with a simple bow and hand out to wedding guests. After the rice or seed is thrown, your guests can refill the sachet and have a memento of a beautiful day. The possibilities are many!

Step 1. Cut an 8″ x 11″ rectangle of your fabric.  Either purchased or printed yourself.

Step 2. Fold fabric in half lengthwise,right sides together. By machine or by hand stitch down the long side and across the bottom with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 3. Fold the top of the bag down about 3″ over the bag itself. {Photo 1} This piece will stay tucked into the bag when turned right side out to form a facing. Trim across the bottom corner as show in the photo.Not too close to the stitching.

Step 4. Turn the bag right side out and fill with 1 1/4 cups or until 2/3 full with dried lavender or other potpourri.

Step 5. Cut 1/2″ or 3/4″ ribbon into two pieces- 18″ and 6″ (wired ribbon or a ribbon of your choice). Tie the longer piece around the bag about 2″ from the top. If you like, make the extra tails by laying the 6″ piece of ribbon across the tie,and then finish tying the bow.  Trim ends of tails. Hot glue a button or other embellishment in the center of the bow.

Step 6. Arrange pictures, labels, etc. as desired and tie to the sachet with string, twine or hemp cord. Embellish with a stickpin if you like.

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These little mini scrap journals are the perfect way to use up your paper scraps. The album featured is 3 x 5 in size (you could make your album larger) and has a great mixture of patterns, ephemera and beautiful Paper Whimsy faces. They make perfect little “end of the year” school gifts for teachers, assistants and graduations. They can be personalized too!

Technique:

(1) Cut various pieces of pattern paper and old ledger papers 3 x 5 size.

(2) Punch borders with scallop punches, or cut with decorative scissors to add visual interest to the journal.

(3) Add images (I used all sorts of beautiful faces), ephemera, word art, butterflies and bling.

(4) Bind with spiral binding, eyelets, book clips/rings, or pretty ribbon.

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FG French Paper Kit	French General	Sheet 138	Sheet 305
Sheet 303	Sheet 278	Gate Stamp	Artist Pens
Charm Pin Ups	Country Images & Tags	Blue Scallop Tag Pad	Assorted Buttons
Old Papiers Downloads	Jute Scallop Tag Pad	Beautiful Faces	Old Papiers JPG
Old Book 03	Digi 259	Digi 258	Digi 261
Digi 263	Digi 168	Assorted Ribbons & Trims	Digi 075
Assorted Brads	Art Bits 06	Sheet 298	Digi 222
Rub-ons	Digi 292	Journaling Art Pens	Digi 267
Stickles Golden Rod	Digi 291	Digi 070	Digi 290
Manilla Tags & Shapes	5th Ave Tags	Journal Tags – Pink Gelato	Journal Tags Blae & Ivy
Journal Tags Bonjour	Sheet 232	Assorted Charms Set	Stickles

What one of us doesn’t like Small Bits of Treasure and Curiosities. For Me its My Magpie Heart  I think. There is Something so Intriguing and Curious about them that we are Compelled to Examine all of the Small Intricate Details. Why not Make them a Treasure and Assemble them into a Special Collection, a Petite Curiosité de Montage (Small Curiosity Assembly).

“We chased the bees and plucked the flowers, in the merry, merry month of May.”

This bunting was created with “old roses” in mind. A fun little project that can be created to bring May posies and summer bliss indoors or for a tea, office, or birthday party.

Technique:

(1)Print out images and cut out. Add a layer of old sheet music to bunting back with adhesive. Cut with deckle edge scissors. Add a layer of cardstock to back using adhesive and trim with deckle edge scissors. Set eyelets (two) on top of each pennant.

(2) Stamp gate on to pattern paper and cut out. Glue to center of two pennants. Add face, butterflies, and eyes alternating each pennant. Add stickles along edges of butterflies or glitter. Add sparkle bling to bottom of each pennant.

(3)Glue flowers on alternating pennants.

(4) Cut strips of seam binding and thread through each pennant to form bunting. Add “bows” of seam binding in between each pennant.

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It’s finally springtime and thoughts naturally turn to …..gardening!  But after the garden is planted, what to do with those left over seeds?  You could stash them in a drawer OR you could create an interesting and creative container for them.

This week’s Inspire project is a variation of the traditional origami container called the “Seedman’s Purse”.  It can be used to store those extra seeds, as a clever storage place for all of those stray “bits and bobs” on your art table or a delightful gift filled with pretty tags and labels for a friend or loved one.
Let’s get started by choosing our 12″x12″ paper and deciding which side we want to be on the outside.  We’ll call that the right side during construction.

Directions:
Step 1: With your paper right side up, fold in half vertically.  Crease.

Step 2: Open out and turn wrong side up.  Fold the right edge to the center crease.  Crease.  Repeat with the left edge.(photo 1).

Step 3: Open out, wrong side facing you.  Fold top corner to opposite bottom corner to create a diagonal fold.  Crease.  Open out and repeat with the remaining two corners.  Do not open.(photo 2).

Step4: Position the triangle with the fold next to you and the open points at the top.  Looking at the bottom corners, you will see a crease made in a prior step, close to one of the corners.  Fold this point to the back on this line.  Turn the triangle over and repeat on the other corner. (photo 3).

Step5: Open the paper out and refold on the first diagonal fold and repeat step 4.  (photo 4).

Step6: Open the paper all the way out.  Look at the corners.  Reverse fold the creases in each of the four corners.(photo 5).

Step 7: After all the corners are folded and on the inside, grasp the structure at the middle and bring the original center creases to meet in the center.  Holding in this position, lay the purse flat, and collapse and smooth it into the finished shape. (photo7)(photo8).

Step 8: Cut a “lid” from contrasting paper.  Mine was 6″x3″.  Fold in half to 6″ x 1 ½ “.  The lid encloses the top of the purse to prevent the contents from spilling out.  Decorate as desired.

Step 9: Attach the lid with your choice of clips or with lid in place, punch holes through all layers.  Thread ribbon through and tie in a bow.

Step 10: Embellish purse as desired and attach decorated tags if you wish.  If you do choose to store seeds in you purse, you may want to make mini versions from baking parchment paper to keep inside the purse.  Mine started with 6″x6″ squares.  No need to make a lid for these, just fill, fold over and staple. I hope you all have fun with this project and if you have any questions, please let me know.

Enjoy spring wherever you are!

Julie

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My Mother always loved pretty boxed writing papers and cards since I was a young girl. Each year we would try to think of something unique to give her at Mother’s Day, but she always seemed most pleased with “stationary”. Years later, I discovered that my Mama truly was embarrassed to receive gifts at Mother’s Day, but she always loved stationary and still does at the age of 84. So with Mother’s Day quickly approaching this altered box filled with stationary and sweet tags is sure to be a hit for any Mom, Grandmother, Auntie, or just someone extra special in your heart!

Technique:

(1) Paint the inside and outside of a wooden box. I used a soft blue craft paint and washed it with a soft rain color greenish blue. When box has several coats of paint that has dried, cover box with pattern paper (inside and out) using Matte Gel Medium. I put several coats of Matte Gel on the box to make it more durable.

(2) Select Paper Whimsy image and center on front of box (and interior if you wish) using Matte Gel Medium again. Add other details such as lace, butterflies, flowers, etc.

(3) Fill box with cards and tags that coordinate with the pattern papers and colors on the box. I made my tags using shipping tags that were covered with pattern paper, journal tags, and beautiful faces. I stitched around the edges (optional) and added bits of cluny lace and buttons to the bottom with the sewing machine. Add a bit of neutral seam binding a gold heart charm.

(4) The notecards were made using pattern papers, old book text, and journal tags that have been layered on to the card. A beautiful face takes center stage and butterflies adorn the sides.

Suggested Supplies:
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Technique:

(1) Using Pre-Cut Chipboard Tags, Punch Holes through to allow for Binder Rings. Then apply Distressing Ink to all Edges. Set aside.

(2) Using one of the Chipboard Tags as a Template, Trace the tag On the  Backgrounds you have Chosen for you Focal Pages. ( Focal Pages meaning your Book Cover, and the Top  Side of Each Tag) Cut Out you Backgrounds. Using the Tag again as a Template, Trace tag on to Background that will be Used for the Backside of the Tag. I Used the a Handwriting  Script Image Here. Now Using some Decorative Scissors Cut Outside of you Pencil Line to Create a Margin that Extends Outside of Your  Focal Pages. It will Give You a Ruffled Edge around you Focal Page. I Used Distressing Ink to Antique all of the Edges using a Sponge Applicator. It made it easier to get the Little Parts on the Scalloped Border. (Note:For a Different Look,You could Also Print Both Sides of you Background. Your Ruffled Edge would Show the Script Instead.) Adhere Backgrounds to Chipboard Tags Using Matte Gel Medium and a Brayer to smooth out Bubbles. Set Aside

(3)  Cut out your Sweet Lads & Lasses. Set Aside. Next Cut out your Butterfly Wings . Using the Same Technique as above Trace you butterfly Wings on to a Printed Script Pages. Cut as above to leave a Ruffled Margin. Adhere the Wings Layers Together in the Center Only. Fluff the Wings Upward to give a Three Dimensional Layered Look. Next Adhere your Wings to your Lads and Lasses a Glue to you tag arranging them with your Word Art and other Embellishments ( Windows & Butterflies.) Fluff up the Layers of your Wings and assemble your Book! You are Finished!

Please Do Share your Project with Us ! We would Love to see what you have Created!

~Jill~

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Who can resist a bit of Haute Couture? These little dresses are delicate and frilly. They have been mounted on an altered canvas and oh la la…you have something tres chic. You can create your dresses using fabrics or pattern papers and make them as fancy schmancy as you wish. The color combinations and embellishments are endless. I promise you will become a designer fashionista once you try making just one!

I have created a downloadable PDF tutorial with directions for this project:

Petite Dress Canvas Tutorial

I would love to see what you create for your wardrobe! Please do share!

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I’m delighted to have Christy Laudig joining us as a guest designer, this week. Christy is a collage artist as well as a budding digital artist and photographer. Recently, Christy embarked on a journey into digital art and her metamorphosis was so amazingly quick and brilliant I asked if she’d be willing to put together a tutorial from a beginner’s perspective to share with friends of PaperWhimsy. And she agreed!

If you’ve ever pondered a dip into digital art I think Christy’s tutorial will certainly give you yet another reason to take the plunge. You can see Christy’s detailed tutorial in PDF with lots of screen shots by clicking , below:

Digital Art Tutorial for Beginners by Christy Laudig

For more digital art tutorials available on the PaperWhimsy Inspire Blog (these written by the equally talented Rande Hanson), please click HERE …

Go on, dive! You will not regret it.

For your consideration: a set of Victorian-inspired sewing notions: Pinkeep, Thread Winder and Needle Book. Perhaps you could picture them being used by the lovely ladies of Downtown Abbey (as I’m sure they did as they sat by the fireside working on their embroideries.  Well, at least the Dowager Countess would have!)

These dear, ‘made with love’, notions would make a wonderful gift (birthday, Mother’s Day, any day) or if you’re ‘quick like a bunny’, they would also make a sweet treat tucked inside an Easter Basket!

And the best part? You don’t need a sewing machine or have to be a nimble-fingered seamstress to put these together. You can hand stitch and assemble these beauties while watching your favorite period drama… as I did.

Pinkeep by Julie Loeschke

Pinkeep:

1. Print your chosen image onto inkjet fabric using the ‘best’ setting. I like sheet #184 because it has just the right images in a circle format.

2. Cut two slightly less than 2″ circles from both cardboard and thin batting.

3. Draw around your fabric images leaving a 3/8″ seam allowance and cut out. Remove the backing paper from the fabric image (inkjet fabric has a backing paper to ensure that it feeds through your printer). Cut a second circle of the same size as the fabric image circle (including the 3/8″ seam allowance) from a coordinating fabric.

4. Lightly tack the batting to the cardboard circles using a glue stick.

5. Using sturdy thread, run a simple gathering stitch around the fabric circle, about 1/4″ from the edge. Do this to both the fabric backing circle and the fabric image circle. Do not tie off the thread.

6. Place each fabric circle face down and lay the batting/cardboard circles (batting side down) on top. Separately, pull the thread on each fabric gathering tightly around the cardboard/batting circles and tie off. Adjust gathers.

7. Holding the two fabric circles with gathered sides together, use a sturdy thread to blind stitch them together using tiny stitches. Don’t be tempted to glue these together otherwise you won’t be able to slide the pins in.

8. If you wish to add ribbons, fold one yard of ribbon in half and tie a knot about 1″ from the fold. Sandwich ribbon between the circles (refer to image for placement) before stitching the circles together. Tie the streamers in a bow adding a contrasting or coordinating colored ribbon if desired. Tack charm to knot and add others to the streamers to really deck it out.

Insert pins around the pinkeep and et voila! A unique and beautiful pinkeep in the truest Victorian fashion!

Thread Winders by Julie Loeschke

Thread Winders:

1. Download, print and cut out the thread winder patterns

2. Trace patterns onto cardboard and cut out.

3. Using a glue stick completely cover the cardboard thread winder going over the edges so you get complete coverage.  Lay the thread winder, glue side down, on the back of your decorative paper, brayer it, let dry, then trim away the excess of your decorative paper.

4. Repeat step 3 for back (here is where you can use the ‘Youth’s Companion’ download).

5. Cut circles from Digisheet 152, and glue to front.

6. Wind with embroidery threads as shown in photo, above.

(The Thread Winders would also make terrific embellishments for your collages!)

Needle Book by Julie Loeschke

Needle Books:

1. Print out desired images onto inkjet fabric using ‘best’ setting.

2. Cut out image and remove backing paper.

3. Using fusible web, fuse the image to the wrong side of  backing card stock and cut out.

4. Fold in half.  (My finished books, opened, were 5″ x 3.5″ and 5″ x 3.75″.  You can select any size that works for you)

5. Cut a piece of thin craft batting or wool felt about 3/8″ smaller all around than the cover.

6. Using a pamphlet stitch, stitch the batting into the center fold of the cover with heavy thread (button thread would work well).

7. Fold a 24″ piece of ribbon in half and stitch to front cover through a button (see photo, above, for placement).

8. Add charms if desired, insert needles into the batting/wool felt, and tie in a bow to fasten the Needle Book closed.

Any questions about the construction of your Nostalgic Notions?  Please post to this topic and I’ll answer!  I hope you enjoy and if you gift these to a loved one, I am sure they will treasure them for many years to come!

Free Youth's Companion download for you to use

Free Youth’s Companion PDF download (please be patient, it’s a large file)

xo Jules

Suggested Supplies:
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