An Envelope for a Skinny

A Skinny is a bit of art similar to an ATC but instead of being 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" it is 3" by 5". ATCs have commercially made pockets for the artist to slip their work into to protect them. No such thing for a Skinny so I started making pockets for them. I gave my pockets a pleat so that 3D art work has more room. Here is how I did it. (all measurements are in inches)

For my cover I chose scrapbook paper 5 1/2 by 9 3/4.
Scored it at the 3 1/4, 6 3/4, and 8 1/4 and folded all the score lines into mountains.
I have also used light weight card stock. Anything that does not crack when bent will do.

For the pocket I used a piece of heavy drawing paper 6 by 11 1/4.
I scored it at 3 and 8 1/4 then turned it and scored the length of it at 3
 and folded all the score lines into mountains.

I cut away parts from the ends so it looked like this and added a valley fold that bisected the end angles.
I glued A to AA and B to BB.

This is what it looked like. The pleat gives anything 3D plenty of room.

I folded the short edge of my cover over and secured it with glue to make a sturdy flap.

Next I glued the pocket into the cover centering the 5 1/4 on the 5 1/2 and making sure the
back of the pocket sat against the score line of the cover

Now all you do is tuck in your Skinny. You can add a bit of string, ribbon,
thin lace or even a fancy paperclip to hole it closed.
Lishmo, who inspired this, used a tiny clothes pin. Her pocket was an altered  paper bag.

After sending off my 1st Skinny naked I determined this was much nicer and it adds a bit of flair to my work. I hope my swap partners like them as much as I do.
(If you decide to make one of these and need help, just shoot me a message.)

Nostalgia

"Time" made with unusual materials.
This was a grab-bag challenge.

I made these books  all in the last 20 years since I settled here near my sister who is often the inspiration if not the compelling force of my creativity.

"Time" the foldout reads "or woman"

"Boo Book" was a Halloween project
for my STABA group.

"Boo Book" open. I need a short poem or story for these blank pages.

"Faerie Smiles"
The oldest of all these here.

"Faerie Smiles" insides
A bottle in a book in a box.

2 small wooden books I made some time ago.
 I think it is about time to make another.
Leaves was made in Iowa with another sister and
Dreams was another STABA project

Jacob's Ladder accordion book made from ATCs.
Another STABA project.

More Post cards and a Skinny with envelope

I have had to make a lot of PCs for swaps lately. It is a challenge to keep each individual. I get to rummage through all my stash.

Book page (in this case a page from a dictionary) plus clippings, "Yellow Mail Art PC" (lots of Washi Tape), "Leprechaun Madness" (water colored book page with stickers and ink).
Three swaps with three very different themes.

Two more swaps and a new trend for my handcrafted PCs. "F Mail Art PC" (drawing colored with pencil), "Food Package PC #2" (cut from a box), and a collage I made to send via Postcrossing. 

"Skinny with a Pocket" I glued two vellum envelopes to hold secrets and a bit of Washi to the front of a stamped manila folder cut to size 5 x 3.

I have managed to keep up with the swaps but am having trouble getting letters written to some very dear people. I think it is because the one is escape and the other forces me to look at my life as it is now.

Post cards and a Skinny with envelopes

It seems all I ever put on here are the things I have been making. It is a good thing I can sit in my bed and do these things. 1. It is toooooooo cold to get outta bed and away from all my covers. 2 I have been feeling depressed and my bed is my safe harbor. I hope you enjoy anyway.

Post Cards made from manila folders, book pages and embellishments.

St Patrick's Skinny (like an ATC but 5" x 3") with three of the envelopes I made to house my skinnies.

Envelopes, envelopes and more envelopes

I have been on an envelope binge lately. Not sure why but I really have had a bit fun looking at everything as a potential envelope. Here is a dozen I have made in the last week.

1. Scrapbook paper  and Washi tape for a future "Blue" swap.   2. "E" swap's  eggs and elephant.   3. Heavy drawing paper "HELLO" and  hummingbird for "H" swap.

4. Drawing paper with rubber stamping and Washi tape "OPEN ME".   5. Rainbow inked drawing paper.   6. "D" swap's dogs and dangles.

 7. Heavy drawing paper, stamped all over with added Washi tape accents.   8. Banana/mango calendar pages from Costa Rica.   9. Geisha and dragon stamped heavy drawing paper.  

10. "F" swap's fish, ferns and flowers.   11. "M" swap's monsters ( I have yet to add anything more to this one).   12. Scrapbook paper rainbow stripes (this too is unfinished but it has a lot of potential).

Unless an envelope has been designated for a swap it is up for grabs. That is, it may become an extra in a swap or the envelope that carries another swap to a partner or part of some future project I have not dreamed up yet. I will have to wait and see.

Valentine's Day is coming

Not looking forward to Valentine's Day. Have no romance in my life. *sigh*

Alt Codes List

Go to http://fsymbols.com/keyboard/windows/alt-codes/list/ and see what your keyboard can do all on it's own. (Another reason those tiny laptops and Kindles® do not cut it.)

Gnome Sweet Gnome

Wally and Søren visiting the bank.

I joined a group on Swap-bot. http://www.swap-bot.com/ called Gnome Sweet Gnome. This is a group of Gnome loving people, some of which have Gnomish names generated for them at http://www.quizopolis.com/gnome-name.php . According to quizopolis my Gnomish name is Mischievous DancingFeet, but Wally and Søren just laughed and reminded me I am a Gnome Mom, not a Gnome. Who can argue with that?

Wally and Søren checking out a Fairie ring in my uncle's front yard.