eWillow.com's "Paper Clips"

If you're sending an invitation (or any other type of correspondence where you have inserts,) here is a great idea.  We received this invitation in the mail yesterday, and my imagination immediately went wild.  (I even thought of how to transform this invitation into a refrigerator organizer.  Stay tuned.)

Whenever I include an insert inside a card, I have a paranoid fear that when the recipient opens the card, the insert(s) will fall to the floor and never be seen.  (Hey, we all have our weird thoughts, right?!)  This creation solves that problem in a cute and very simple way. 

When you open the card, the beautiful invitation in presented on the right-hand side.  I love, love, love how the invitation is attached with ribbon.  The ribbon makes the invitation stand out and gives it the importance it deserves.

On the left-hand side, there is a simple pocket to hold the inserts.  The pocket helps to organize all of the other "stuff," without detracting from the beautiful message of the invite. 

I wish you could see this in person.  It is simplistic, elegant, and clever.  I can't wait to get started making some!  I have so many ideas for you!  My blood pressure is racing...see you back here soon.  I'll work out the measurements and post them this weekend.

I'm so happy that so many of you have found the Paper Cake Treat Boxes template and tutorial so helpful.  It's a great thing when a new creation is born, and I'm so excited that eWillow.com can help you in your creative endeavours by making your party planning a little easier.  I'm also happy that so many of you see the importance of mailing handmade cards.  Start thinking ahead about the greeting cards and gifts that you will need in the next few months, and then visit our fabulous studios and purchase some stunning one-of-a-kind handmade cards.

eWillow.com is all about creating, selling, buying, and sharing handmade paper art.  I'm happy to share with you another version of the paper cake.  It is a great item to make if you are hosting or attending a small luncheon.  It would make a great centerpiece or hostess gift.  You can fill each piece with delicious chocolate truffles.

For this cake, you will only need to use the template for the top layer of the cake (the smallest template.)

• Click HERE for the template and tutorial.
  
• Click HERE for photos of the three-layer cake.
  
• If you have a Cricut machine with the ability to connect your machine to your computer, click HERE for the template. 
  
• You will need to print 11 pieces of the top layer.

For the cake plate, I used the lid to a round paper mache box.  All I did was wrap strips of cardstock around the edge, cut a circle to cover the top, and added a scalloped trim.

For this cake, I didn't attach the pieces to each other like I did with the three-layer cake.  If you are transporting the cake, you could use a little piece of double-sided tape to make sure the cake pieces stay together, but if you aren't moving the cake, there really isn't any need to adhere the pieces to each other.

I die-cut a large scallop circle and then cut out a smaller circle to make a solid layer on the top of the cake.  I purchased a box of miniature plastic fruit over a year ago on clearance for under $2.  I knew that they would come in handy one day! 

Now you make one!  Be sure to show us photos of what you make so we can all see!  You can upload the photos to your eWillow.com studio, or become a fan of eWillow.com on Facebook and upload your photos there, too.  (But why not open a studio?  It's free, and you can sell your stuff, too, if you want!)

I love the blogging world!  Awhile ago I was contacted by Ashley Whipple from Cute As a Fox Creations.  Remember the paper cake treat boxes?  Well, I have some great news for all of you Cricut-machine owners!

Ashley has made an SVG version of the templates so anyone with a Cricut cutting machine and Sure Cuts a Lot Software can cut out her own cake templates. For those of you that haven't heard of it before, Sure Cuts a Lot(SCAL) allows you to connect your Cricut to your computer and cut fonts and images straight from your computer.

My tutorial includes instructions on assembing and decorating the cake; Ashley's tutorial focuses on how to use the SVG files and cut the slices.  So, without further ado...here is the Cricut tutorial from Ashley.  Thanks again, Ashley, for sharing this with eWillow.com's readers!

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Supplies: 

Cricut Cutting Machine

Sure Cuts a Lot Software * or other software that connects your Cricut to your computer

Directions: 

1. First thing you want to do is download the SVG files. DOWNLOAD the Cake Slice Template. The file is a zip folder containing three SVG files. One file for each layer of cake.

2. Save and unzip the files.

3. Open up your Sure Cuts a Lot and select the option to Import SVG. It should look something like this: 

Here are the sizes you want each size slice to be:

• PaperCakeSliceSmall.SVG - 8.028" wide x 6.06" tall
  
• PaperCakeSliceMedium.SVG - 8.565" wide x 7.067" tall
  
• PaperCakeSliceLarge.SVG - 10.131" wide x 8.005" tall

These sizes will exactly duplicate the cake Charlene made. If you decide to experiment with the size make sure you lock the aspect ratio so the size stays proportional.

4. Cut 11 of each slice of cake. In the tutorial, Charlene has cut marks and score marks. I decided to perforate the score lines so they would be easy to fold.

Here is a picture of what the middle layer looks like after it has been cut. I have tested several of these, and the perforations make folding this so easy!

Charlene also includes a step in her tutorial to punch holes in the close tabs for ribbon. I added those punch holes so you can skip that step too. Now that your slices are cut, you can use Charlene's tutorial HERE to construct the cake and decorate. Charlene and I would love to see what you create with this! You can set up a Studio at eWillow.com to show off your beautiful cakes. I will be making one for a baby shower in two weeks and I will definitely be posting some pictures here.

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Here is some fine print from Ashley... *Disclaimer: I (Ashley Whipple) am an affiliate of Sure Cuts a Lot which means that I (Ashley Whipple) get a small percentage of sales from people who follow my link and purchase the software. I (Ashley Whipple) look at it as a little thanks for taking time to develop these SVG files and making them available to everyone for free. If you are planning to purchase the software, please go through me (Ashley Whipple.)"  Neither eWillow.com nor Charlene Harreveld have been compensated in any way.

Look at this ultra-fabulous card!  My friend Heather sent me the link to Lynn Pratt's blog.  I wish I were at the Stampin' Up! convention this weekend!  If I were, I would hunt down Lynn so I could swap cards with her.  She made a TON of these to swap with other stampers.  You can view photos and download the template HERE.

Lynn, thank you so much for sharing the template!  I'm off to make one right now.  Have a fabulous weekend! 

Here is the tutorial to make this multi-functional composition book with attached file-folder.

Supplies:

Regular-size composition book

Empty cereal box

Eight envelopes, approximately 5" x 7" (but not larger)

Stamp set and permanent ink

12 x 12 card stock, 12 x 12 decorative cardstock, and several pieces of scraps

Tab punch

Corner-rounder punch

Crop-a-Dial

Paper cutter

Glue

Ribbon

Tutorial:

1)  grab the composition book

2 & 3)  stamp a fun stamp in permanent ink on 12 x 12 paper

4)  cut 12 x 12 paper at 9 3/4", then cut the remaining piece at 6", so you will end up with two pieces that are 6" x 9 3/4", and one piece that is 2 1/4" x 12 " 

5)  corner-punch the top and bottom corners on one side only of both 6" x 9 3/4" pieces of cardstock, so they will fit nicely on the corners of the composition book

6)  glue each piece to the front and the back of the composition book, leaving the binding uncovered

7)  cut a piece of decorative cardstock 4" x 9 3/4"

8)  glue the 4" x 9 3/4" piece to the binding of the composition book by wrapping it around from front to back, as shown

THAT'S ALL FOR THE BOOK!  NOW ON TO THE FILE FOLDER...

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Cut one piece of decorative cardstock 6" x 7 3/4"

Cut a piece out of the cereal box 6" x 7 3/4"

Glue the decorative cardstock to the decorated side of the cereal box

 Cut a piece of ribbon 22" long and attach to the backside of the cereal box

 Tie a nice bow

 NOW YOU'RE DONE WITH THE FILE FOLDER COVER...LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FILE FOLDER...

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9)  cut a piece of cardstock 7 3/8" x 8"

10)  on the 8" side, make a score line at every 1/2"

11)  fan-fold the cardstock, folding the first fold "UP"

12)  glue the fan-folded cardstock to the inside edge of the file folder cover, making sure to glue the "UP" piece to the cover

13)  another view

14)  cut the remaining 2 1/4" x 12" stamped piece of cardstock to 2 1/4" x 7 3/4" and glue it to the top inside edge of the cereal box, as shown

NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO THE ENVELOPES AND TABS...

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15)  cut the tops off of the envelopes

16)  glue each envelope into the "valley" of the fan-folded cardstock

17)  punch and attach the tabs, then glue the final envelope directly to the cover of the composition book

18)  attach tabs to the pages of the composition book and add an elastic tie