LEFTOVER FLOWER

How many of you are Paper Pumpkin subscribers? If you're not, you are truly missing out!

The September 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit contained everything you need to make 25 treat containers! And, some industrious demonstrator actually counted the number of pieces that came in this kit: 550!!! Wow! That is a LOT of creative ammunition!

If you are in the market for making these cute cracker-type treat containers, you have everything -- and more! -- to make them. I did make three of them. 

After folding the main container piece on all the score lines, all these cute little diamond shapes popped out. TEN of them for each treat holder! I realize that most normal crafters would scoop these ten diamonds right into the wastebasket. But not me! No, not old Packrat Linda!

Shown in the photo below is one of the treat holders folded on the score lines and all the little diamonds that popped out -- all ready for a brand new life! And, the best part is that the containers are made of heavyweight Designer Series Paper type material in that it is printed on both sides. Take a closer look to see the orange/white stripes on the reverse side, as well as some of the cute little orange/white diamonds lying there.

Rescuing seven of the cute diamonds, I managed to make them into an adorable quilt-like flower. The finishing touch for my flower is an ornate embellishment left over from YEARS ago. I am so glad I am a hoarder -- in the crafting sense, that is -- in that it enables me to add "antique" embellishments to my creations.

Do you think those diamonds lying there are jealous of their well-loved compadres that have found a new home? Don't worry. I have no intention of throwing away any of these handy little pieces. In fact, I already have an orange/white flower created and waiting for its mission.

It was fun to make this flower with its Garden Green stamped stem and leaves the focal point  by creating a gatefold card. 

I cut out the flower image with one of the dies from the Stitched So Sweetly set (page 179). After I stamped a sweet sentiment in Garden Green onto a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, I cut it out with another of the dies, only smaller, from the same die set.

To echo the silvery of the center of the flower, I added two of the Metallic Pearls (page 156) to either side of the sentiment.

To make a perfect gatefold card, take a piece of Whisper White cardstock that measures 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and score it at 2 1/8", flip it and score it again at 2 1/8". The gates should close perfectly. 

I then added strips of coordinating Designer Series Paper measuring 5 1/4" x 1 7/8" to each of the gates. 

Adding adhesive to the left side of the focal point, I adhered that towards the top of the left side gate. The sentiment had adhesive on the right side and was added to the right gate. 

To open and close this card, you need to be careful because the two added on pieces need to alternate to mesh together.

Inside the card, I stamped "Happy Birthday" in Garden Green ink. This is going to be my mom's birthday card. She will be turning 90 years old in November.

I am hoping to be able to make some arrangements to spend at least a little time with her on her special day. She lives in Assisted Living a little over 100 miles from us. We haven't seen her in person since January 1. I am told that we probably would only be able to spend 30 minutes with her, which isn't long after having to spend four hours driving. But, I guess I will be happy for even that.

Where she resides, they are experiencing severe Covid-19 outbreaks. And no visits are allowed. But, I've been told that a 90th birthday is a special enough occasion that they think they can work something out. I hope so. 

I hope my mom -- and ALL OF YOU! -- can remain safe and healthy. 

Loving

Smiles.