Hi everyone! July 3rd and you haven’t heard from me in months! I’ve been busy stamping — It’s just hard to put that “on paper”! I am in the process of changing to Blogger for my blog posts. I’ve had a few issues with Typepad so today we’re trying something new!
I wanted to share the Stationary Holders I made as gifts for all the teachers, secretaries and aides that work in the school with Lyndsey and Christopher. Normally I don’t do something for everyone, but this year, I felt that they were especially terrific to my and my kids. Maybe it’s somewhat sentimental — Lyndsey leaves the Middle School to go to the High School this fall and I’m really sad!
I made 14 of these portfolios altogether. Once I started, it was just a matter of somewhat setting up an assembly line of sorts. I had a few different packages of solid color designer series paper, and for the other colors, I used the small 6×6 paper packs that have been Stampin’ Up’s Level 1 Hostess Choice for the past few years.
Above, you can see one of my Chocolate Chip Stationary Portfolio. I love the satin ribbon that ties it together! *I’m going to start right off by saying that these holders are not my “invention” — I totally got the measurements etc. for these holders from Angie Juda of Chic ‘n Scratch. You can see her video tutorial here if you are a more visual person.
So, above, I’ve included pictures of some other portfolios. The portfolio on the left is actually Certainly Celery — the color doesn’t show true in the picture. The ribbon is Old Olive Satin — Certainly Celery would have matched better but I didn’t have any to spare. Isn’t the Bashful Blue color gorgeous?! I think it’s my favorite! I packaged the portfolios in SU’s Large Cello Bags — a perfect fit! I sealed the back with some double-stick tape and one of the tags from the Two Tags Bigz Dies. On the right, notice the paper — each of my stationary sheets used a different pattern of DSP(designer series paper).
Okay, on to the tutorial and measurements so you can make your own! (Punches shown are now SU’s “old style” punches — links will show you the new style punch.)
Here are some of the punches you will need to complete this project: the 1 3/4″ Round punch, the 1 3/8″ Round Punch, the 1 1/4″ Round Punch , the Scallop Trim Border Punch (this was available as a Sale-a-bration item in Feb/March — if you don’t have it, you’ll have to substitute another border punch), and a hole punch — I used the 1/8″ punch so I could thread my ribbon through, but you could also use the small hole punch on your Crop-a-Dile to punch through several layers at the same time.
Other tools that you will need is your paper cutter and a scoring tool (I love my Scor-Pal for this project!).
The paper for the holder is a solid sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″. It is scored at 5 1/2″ with the 11″ side at the top, and at 2 1/2″ on the 11″ side. To clarify, you score the paper in half on the long side. The 2 1/2″ score line creates the inside pocket for the stationary.
This photo shows the paper already folded on the score lines. I make sure to keep the “mountain” fold on the inside — opposite of what you might expect, the “hump” is folded in.
The next step is to add a piece of DSP in your color choice. I chose to make mine solid, but there’s no reason why you can’t decide on any other of SU’s beautifully patterned paper! The DSP is 5 1/4″ by 5 3/4″. You’ll be able to figure out how to attach it — once folded properly, your portfolio now measures 5 1/2″ x 6″, so you will have a 1/4″ solid edge.
I’ve already shown the next step with these photos too — you need to cut 2 pieces of solid cardstock: 1″ x 5 1/4″. Take your Scallop Border Trim Punch and punch out one side of each of these pieces — attach them to the top and bottom of the DSP.
It’s now time to make our stationary that we’re including. The solid color cardstock is 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, exactly a quarter-sheet of solid color cardstock. This means you can make 1 holder and the included stationary from 2 whole sheets of paper and a few scraps in the same color. The white (or vanilla in the case of the Chocolate Chip holder) cardstock is 4 x 5 1/4″, again leaving a 1/4″ border.
In this photo, you see the DSP in some differing patterns: the measurements are 1 3/8″ x 4″ wide. You can be exact in the placement of the DSP strips at the top, or you can sort of “guesstimate” where they should go. I’m generally a pretty good judge of straight or “how far down” things should be placed so I didn’t use a ruler for this.
Again, you can use the same pattern, or you can vary the patterns for interest too!
Finally, some stamping! I used the Lovely Letters stamp set to make my monograms. The outside circle that encircles the monogram is from the Circle Circus stamp set. Generally, it was a perfect fit. The “M” gave me a little grief!
Stamp your monogram on some white or vanilla cardstock. I tried to “eyeball” where the outside circle would go around my monogram, but it just wouldn’t work! I had to use my Stamp-a-ma-jig! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that the SAMJ is my favorite tool! There’s no better way to guarantee the perfect placement of your stamps!
Once I stamped the monograms, I used my 1 1/4″ round punch to punch out the circles. The 1 3/8″ round punch was used to punch out my colored cardstock circle, and then I again used my Scallop Round Punch to make my largest circle. When stamping, make 5 of these monograms at a time in your color choices: 4 for the stationary, and one for the outside portfolio. One step that I didn’t show is the paper-piercing that I randomly (meaning sometimes I remembered to do it before attaching to my stationary, and many times I didn’t!) pierced each scallop. For this, you need your Paper Piercer and your Mat Pack.
This is a completed piece of stationary. I made 4 pieces for each portfolio, each in a different pattern as I specified above. (If you click on this photo for a close-up view, you’ll see the paper-pierced scallops.)
For each piece of stationary, you’ll need to include 4 Medium Envelopes, so put that on your supply list too!
This photo shows a completed package of stationary. The last step you need to do is punch a small hole on the top inside edge of your “pocket”.
Take care that the holes are approximately equally spaced from the top inside edge as you’ll be tying these together. It will look odd if one piece of ribbon is higher than the other!
Cut (2) 11″ lengths of ribbon. I used SU’s Satin Ribbon to tie my portfolio closed. I know from trial-and-error that Grosgrain does work, but not as well. I even ended up using some contraband organdy ribbon which truly did work best for the neatest bows.
Knot one end of the ribbon and thread through the punched holes: your knots will go on the inside of the portfolio.
Now you’re ready for the last step: attaching the monogram to the front of the portfolio as well. I used my Big Shot and the Pennant Die to punch out the largest scallop circle. You’ll see 3 circles on the Pennant Die — 2 of the 3 have a score line through them so they’re not the best choice for your front. After you’ve cut out your scallop round, pop it up with Dimensionals, and attach the 5th monogram that you saved from the previously stamped letters (remember, you used 4 for the stationary and saved a 5th for the cover). Below, you see these two steps.
I want to make one point about this last scallop circle that I cut out with the pennant die. With the new catalog, there is a new, larger Scallop Round Punch. I don’t have this punch in my hands yet, but it’s quite possible that this new scallop is large enough to skip the Pennant Die. You’ll have to let me know if anyone tries it or has the new punch. The measurements are 2 3/8″ for the punch, but I don’t have any remaining portfolios to measure the Pennant Die scallop.
This last photo shows that you can still make beautiful projects, even if it is contraband (non-SU!) product. This black and white DSP was purchased from my LSS, as was the red organdy ribbon. I love how this type of ribbon ties, and wish that SU! would carry this kind of ribbon again!
Stamps: Lovely Letters, Circle Circus
Punches: Scallop Round, 1 3/8″ Round, 1 1/4″ Round, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration item this past year), Hole Punch or Crop-a-Dile
Accessories: Paper Cutter, Scoring Tool, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Ribbon (2×11″), Pennant Die and Big Shot, Stamp-a-ma-jig, adhesive, Dimensionals, SU!Large Cello Bags for packaging, Medium Envelopes.
Measurements condensed:
Solid Color CS: 8 1/2″ x 11″(1 uncut and scored); 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ (4); scraps for 1 3/8″ round (5 circles) and larger for (1) Pennant Die Scallop for front.
White CS: 5 1/4″ x 4″ (4); scraps for 1 1/4″ round (5 circles) and larger Scallop Circles (5).
Designer Series Paper: 1 3/8″ x 4 ” (4); 5 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ (1).
I hope that I didn’t forget any steps. If you need clarification then just email me or leave a comment. Thanks for visiting today!
Jeannie