Trouble Organizing Your Mail?

This week's Anything But A Card Challenge hosted by Karen Knegten over at Stamp TV is to decorate a napkin holder. I loved Karen's idea to re-purpose the holder as a mail sorter - what a fab idea, right? We all have the pile of unorganized mail that needs a home and this is the perfect solution! I am also entering my project over at BasicGrey Challenges. The current challenge is to use punches on your project.

I was in PA this weekend visiting mom and we had time to do this project together. If you haven't already, you can check her project out here. As we sat and stared at our blank, plastic holders, discussing out plans of attack, we had a brainstorm. Instead of creating pockets to slip over each side, an A2 envelope with the flap cut off would do the trick! What a quick and easy gift idea this is :) I think I am going to head back to the $ store and pick up a few more holders!

So, for my project, I cut the flaps off of two A2 envelopes and began to decorate them. I decided on using Basic Grey papers from the Boxer collection and I used Gina K. Pure Luxury Card Stock in In The Navy for layering. I distressed the edges a bit to add some texture. I stamped the mailbox image from Gina K. Designs set Autumn Beauty designed by Theresa Momber on ivory card stock, colored with Copics, cut out using Nestabilites, and sponged with SU! ink in Night of Navy. I added some corner treatments using Sizzix dies, a MS flower punch and some green pearls.
For the back of my mail holder, I used the same papers and embellishments, and added a strip that I created using an MS border punch. I wanted to keep the back simple but cute!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I should have extra time this week for stamping so let me know if you see any new fun challenges out there in blog world!

Key To My Heart

Tonight I am sharing with you a card that I made this weekend for this weeks Color Challenge over at Stamp TV to use black, white and kraft. I was in Pennsylvania visiting my parents this weekend, and whenever I am visiting, I always take advantage of mom's stamps and supplies :) For this card, I used two Gina K. stamp sets that I have not yet added to my personal collection - Timeless Treasures by Theresa Momber and Vintage Borders by Nina Brackett. I started by running a piece of white Pure Luxury card stock through the Cuttlebug using one of mom's embossing folders, and then hit the raised areas with SU! Sahara Sand ink using a piece of yellow sponge. On a piece of Pure Luxury card stock in Soft Sand, I first stamped one of the borders from Nina's set in black, and then added some pearls to embellish. On a square piece of the Pure Luxury white, I stamped the heart-shaped lock from Theresa's set in the Sahara Sand, and then added the sentiment on top in black. The key was stamped in black onto the Soft Sand, and was then cut out using a craft knife. All layers were bordered in Pure Luxury Black Onyx. For my finishing touches, I started digging through mom's ribbons and trims and found the the perfect pieces to add to the card! Thanks for the fun day in your craft room, mom! I am missing you already!

Before I go, I just wanted to give you an update on the house :) We had the home inspection on Saturday (almost 4 hours) and everything went very well! There are a few minor things that we will need to work on, but nothing major! I am so relieved! Next step - the mortgage...

I hope you have a great week!