Envelope Accordion Book

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

I wanted to give some suggestions to my friend who was traveling this summer. My envelope accordion book was fun and most appreciated!

Supplies:

Arnold Grummer Paper Making

Handmade paper - 2 pieces 4 x 5 inches

Arnold Grummer Mini Zig Zag Books

Ribbon, 18 inches 

PVA or Mod Podge glue, and Scotch tape

Bonefolder, scissors, ruler

Magazines or calendars

Begin by folding the inside of the four accordion pages in half, so now you have eight sides plus the two covers which are not folded.

Making the envelopes: I used flower pictures from Martha Stewart’s Living magazine. I made my template to fit the 3 1/2 inches accordion page. Before gluing up the bottom and sides, it is 4 1/4 inches tall by 5 inches wide.

After you have four envelopes, place glue on half of the front of each envelope. 



Then glue each envelope to the half accordion page.

Instead of writing my own travel advice, I used four of the cards from the pack of Travel Tips, available on Amazon HERE.

You can take out your favorites, I decided on cards about safety, communicating, sleep, and being wary. Copy them and place them in the envelopes, making sure they fit and could be taken out easily.

Glue your handmade paper pieces to the covers. Before you glue the covers onto the book be sure to tape the middle of your ribbon to the back.

Add your handmade paper covers and you have a pretty Bon Voyage gift!

Traveling Skewer Book

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

Taking a trip by car, boat or plane? During down time - you can think great thoughts or have interesting conversations with Questions from the Traveling Skewer Book.

Supplies:

Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit
Arnold Grummer How To Make Paper 

Two pieces of wrapping paper or handmade paper - 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches

Two pieces of color coordinated paper -  5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches

Two 6 inch bamboo skewers 

2 pieces of ribbon - 15 inches each

Bone folder, hole punch, double sided tape

Road Trip rubber stamp

Twelve questions to ask while traveling - see below.

Prepare two signatures: 

One piece of handmade paper and one piece of coordinated paper each.

Punch holes in both signatures an inch from the top and bottom.

Place a skewer inside each signature.

Thread the ribbon from the outside into the first signature, around the skewer and out.

Repeat for the second signature using the same ribbon.

Snug up the ends, creating a tight tension.

Tie a knot, make a bow.

Repeat for the other hole.

Snip sharp ends of the skewers.

Use double sided tape to adhere

your questions, such as:

What do you daydream about?

What are your favorite crayon colors?

Did you have something funny happen on a trip?

Which author living or dead would you like to meet?

What would you like to sell in a TV commercial?

What do you miss the most when away from home?

What was your all-time favorite vacation?

If you opened a restaurant what is your house specialty?

What's your favorite fast food meal?

Which would you give up - if you had to - pizza, hamburgers or hot dogs?

What would you perform in a talent show?

Would you rather live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or San Francisco?

Actually I prefer Houston, Texas!

Skewer Books are quick to make! Interesting quotes you find make a nice gift too.

Folded Paper Pouch

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

I made these pouches for each person in my writing group. With a list of words we used as prompts for writing an essay. After writing for 15 minutes, we would read to the group what we wrote - fun!

Supplies:

Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit

Blender, strainer, sponges, towels

Scissors, bone folder

24 inch ribbon

Rubber stamp for front of Pouch, see my Carving Images for Prints for carving instructions

Journal prompt words: Recognition, Honesty, Routine, Assertive, Productivity, Profound, Silence, Respect, Rebellious, Unique, Legendary, Expansive, Achievement, Harmony, Hope

• Follow instructions in the Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit
• Cut handmade paper into an 8 inch square
• Fold into triangle using the bone folder; Open and fold into opposite side triangle
• Turn the paper over
• Fold in thirds again using the bone folder to measure: 2 & 5/8 inches

• Open and fold the other way into thirds again - the bone folder makes the creases sharper
• Open and collapse it together 
• Fold in middle parts on opposite sides
• Push it together gently
• Punch hole in one end
• Tie knot on the inside 
• Wrap ribbon around and loop through ribbon to tie another knot outside.

Makes a fun wrapper for a small gift too and a lovely way to use handmade paper!  

Explosion Birthday Card

©Anne Rita Taylor 2016

The month of March is definitely a birthday month. My sister Margie, my friend EJ, and my niece Jacqueline all have birthdays this month. A fun card to make has Arnold Grummer Skeleton Leaves on the front. Inside I used a fun origami explosion fold, also called the Turkish Map Fold.

Supplies: 

Arnold Grummer Skeleton Leaves

8 1/2 inch square piece of paper

Arnold Grummer Handmade Paper

Arnold Grummer Handmade Paper instructions

Folded card - 4 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches

Celebrate It 360 “Happy Birthday” ribbon from Michaels

Happy Birthday rubber stamp from Joann's

Bone Folder, awl

Recollections Leaf brad and tiny brad

PVA glue

Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine

Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

Inside page instructions:

Fold your 8 1/2 square paper in half - use your bone folder for good creases

Turn over and fold diagonally each way

Push it together

Fold each triangular corner to the center

Turn over and repeat - should look like this

Open and fold in the triangular corners - keep using your bone folder for better creases

When opened should look like this.

Card instructions:

Use a Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing flower folder to emboss the front of the card.  

Wrap Happy Birthday ribbon around the card, attach with your tiny brad on the front.

The skeleton leaves will hide your tiny brad. 

Make a hole with your awl to attach the two skeleton leaves with your leaf brad to the card.

I attached the explosion paper by using double sided tape on the bottom and glue stick on top.

I stamped a carved stamp I made. You can see my blog from January 15, 2016 for instructions on carving your own stamps. You can use any Happy Birthday stamp, this stamp was made by Magenta.