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! 

last minute Halloween garlands in three parts: part III

 

 These happy garlands were made with a pack of stickers, construction paper, and XL scallop punch, and my sewing machine (one vertical and one horizontal). Here is another batch your kiddos can do. If you do not want to jump on the machine or do not have one, you can use this method for creating the garland.

last minute Halloween garlands in three parts: part II

How about some squishy garlands? I used a needle and thread to create both the rat garland and the skeleton garland.

 

I imagined the rat (mice?) garland would be horizontal with the wee rodents scampering across the wall. Alas, the weight of the little buggers makes them spin and get all topsy turvy so they look more like dead rodents than squishy rodents. But if you hang them vertically the mostly behave themselves!

 

As for the skellies, I jabbed the needle through their squishy skulls with maybe a bit too much glee and wished I had picked up two packs instead. They make me think of this cartoon.

I've got one more batch of garlands coming up so get yourself a pack or two of festive stickers, an extra-large scallop punch, construction paper, and your sewing machine (or glue and twine).

last minute Halloween garlands in three parts: part I

Okay, it should be no surprise that I had meant for this bit of garland fun to be a week-long dealio to be posted before Halloween, so let's pretend that it was and that you love it all and will bookmark it or pin it for next year. Okay? 

I picked up an assortment of fun Halloween items from my local Target. Think squishy skeletons, happy erasers, stickers, etc. All of these items are easily garlandified by using tape, staples, yarn, a glue-gun, and/or your sewing machine.

 

 

Many of these are so easy, your kiddo can whip 'em up. That polka dot goodness up there? Those are treat bags. Simply fold the bottom  into itself, add yarn into the crease and tape shut at the corners. Gotta stapler? Use that instead...or stitch it up on your sewing machine.

Got a hot glue gun? Use it to garland-up a set of happy erasers. Be warned, I used a length of doubled thread and my garland became a tangled mess! Use baker's twine, yarn, or embroidery floss to limit the tangling. Trust me! Also, if your temps are on the chilly side, your erasers might pop off the glue.