Tuesday, October 03, 2023

diy: mini halloween file folders

I've been setting up a few swaps on the bot and wanted to do one for mini file folders. A mini folder is my favorite way to package up a flat mail swap as it doesn't take too much paper and they look lovely when finished. Here are a few I have made using a variety of papers, come see!
I suppose there are a lot of videos on the tube but they tend to focus on specific measurements, and I'm not too good at that. That written, I'm going to post some pics of one way you can make a file folder using paper scraps. Some of the folders in the picture were made with 6X8 paper, one was made with a cut from a 12X12, and one was made with two pieces of paper to make it a bit larger,
Here are two pieces cut from a 6X8 piece of paper. I wanted to make the folder a bit wider so here I'm going to attach them together with washi tape both on the front, and the back. 
Trim the excess paper and fold the left side over until you are satisfied with the size of your folder-to-be. Trim any excess off, but leave a little so that you can both see the contrasting paper, and cut a file flap. Ta-da! now you get to decorate. 
A little washi tape down the side with a sticker completes the outside, and the inside utilizes one of the scraps as a belly band on the left where I have tucked in a few Halloween goodies, and on the right is a glassine bag with large Halloween glitter. Down below you will see a few other ideas depending on what you may have on hand. 
This wee folder measures 3X5 and is decorated with a handmade watercolor potion bottle and some trim from the dollar store. Inside is a small assortment of Halloween cut aparts and stickers. 
Limited on your Halloween supplies? This one was made from a sheet of orange paper, decorated on the outside with a handmade watercolor ghost, a few strips of black & white washi tape, and an old school  dymo "BOO!" Inside there a vertical belly band on the right with a Halloween cut apart, a printed cat image from a freebie site, and a watercolor leaf. On the right is another cut apart, print out, a scrap piece of paper with corners punched, and a paperclip with a wee bit of lace knotted on it.

The key is to have fun and use what you have. Keep your items inside the folder as flat as you can muster, and under an ounce and your mailing cost should only be $1.04! Happy Halloween! 





Friday, June 16, 2023

swapbot swap: handmade flip book


My swap partner for this envie of goodies swap is working on a space themed junk journal so I pulled out all my moon themed bits and pieces to create a nifty folio full of ephemera for her. I used this tutorial to create the folio. Septeria18 has some super nifty how-to videos on her youtube channel, I highly recommend! 
I also added vintage book pages, extra paper scraps, trim, stickers, and an atc-sized paper pad I made just for her. 

There are punched paper pieces, space-themed cut a-parts, a handmade envelope with stickers, adorable little star paper clips, and so much more! 

Handmade space-themed ephemera. Not too shabby, I'm still learning. Plus more paper tags, and journal cards, etc.
With a small tag full of washi tape samples at the end. I left the booklet undecorated so she can choose what she wants to do with it. I hope she enjoys the treasures, eegads, I hope I put enough in there! 

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

road trip: Drunken Dumpling


We walked over to Drunken Dumpling from our motel for dinner and it was so stinking good! SO GOOD! We split an order of bao, some noodles, and the most delicious green beans! We were too stuffed for dessert, but we will definitely hit them up again to try some next time we're in Chico. 

Monday, April 17, 2023

road trip: a bike ride in Bidwell Park

Lower Bidwell to be exact, but first, a quick run into Caper Acres before the kiddos arrive as it is an adult free zone if you are not accompanied by kiddos. I ran in to take a pic of the lion water fountain (can you say vintage L.A. Zoo?) but then found the most amazing Humpty Dumpty protected sandbox. Also, what a great name for a kiddo park, Caper Acres! I highly recommend this for those who have littles. The entire park is closed in with only one entrance and has a parking lot next ot it, plus the bike/walking/ roller skating trail runs right by it. 
See? Roller skating is totally allowed, but we did not see any skaters, just a lot of dog walkers and so many people on bikes! The bike trail travels a good distance and connects various neighborhoods throughout the town. It helps that the park is also just really cool, lots of trees, and a pool that is fed with very cold running creek water. The pool has a lifeguard on duty during the summer months when the town is SWELTERING HOT. 
We rode for about five miles but also stopped a couple times for water, snacks, and bird watching. There were whole communities of juncos, woodpeckers, and cedar waxwings. I think we spent more time bird watching than bike riding. Next up we have a lunch stop, or maybe a nap even, and maybe we will hit up a thrift shop or two.
 

Sunday, April 16, 2023

road trip: good coffee in chico

Our first day in Chico had us up fairly early, luckily we found (ahem, I found) a nifty coffee stop in downtown. Stoble Coffee had that hipster coffee vibe that many California college towns have. Not a bad thing at all, but sometimes they do tend to look more alike than not. (Methinks it's the Scout Coffee Co influence, but I'm probably biased.) 
We ordered our eats, breakfast sandwich for me (yum!) and house made yogurt  for the fella. The yogurt was good, but he thought it was gamey, so maybe it was made with goat's milk? Either way, it was all right dandy and delicious, and we were ready to start our day! 
Downtown Chico is close to the college campus so it full of eateries and nifty shops. For now though, it's time to head out to Lower Bidwell park, to check out the creek fed pool and do a morning bike ride.