card tote

Happy Saturday, everyone. I don't know why I didn't post yesterday. I meant to, but I guess I got lost in a book and forgot. Today's inspiration challenge on SCS showed some fun tote bags called Pink Lemonade from an Etsy store. Being a quilter, I was immediately drawn to the center picture, since I have actually made some quilts similar to the bag. What I really wanted to do was make a quilted tote bag, (probably change the size a bit) and perhaps a matching card. But I wasn't able to use my sewing machine this morning, since the room it is presently residing in was otherwise occupied -- (someone was sleeping in there).

So, alas, my creativity had to go in another direction. I still used the same picture, but taking my inspiration from only the upper left square, since I had some designer paper that was similar in design and color. Along with that, I've been wanting to make one of these totes that I saw on Cami's blog, or at least an adapted version of it. I don't have any carousel notes, so I used a circle without scallops, just made a 6" circle to use as a pattern.

Using the dp for my color scheme, I made the bottom portion ruby red, with a faux stitched ribbon in chocolate chip.

The big flower is made up of several parts. The bottom is two stamped and cut out images from Doodle This on really rust card stock. The next layer is a faux prima. Using this tutorial on nestability flowers, I stamped French script in ruby red on creamy caramel and then punched out a piece using my SU scalloped circle punch. I sponged the edges, then snipped between each scallop to about 1/4" from the center. Then I flipped it over and misted it lightly. Then I placed it on a piece of fun foam and with a piece of waxed paper on top, used my stylus to give some dimension and shape to the petals. The great thing about this, besides being inexpensive, is you can make your faux primas to match your card stock and can also stamp them with whatever design you choose. The next layer is the largest flower on the boho blossoms punch punched from the same designer paper as the tote. All the layers are sewn together with a button on top.

The handles are chocolate grosgrain ribbon threaded through eyelets and taped to the inside.

Since I also didn't have the envelopes that come with the carousel notes, I also had to ad lib a bit on the inside of the tote. I used some white card stock. I can fit an A2 sized card inside, but I didn't make it wide enough to fit envelopes, so I'll have to adjust the size a bit next time.

supplies:
stamps: doodle this, French script
ink: jet black stazon, ruby red
paper: ruby red, chocolate chip, creamy caramel, really rust, white, dp (Michael's stack ??)
other: white gel pen, fun foam, stylus, boho blossoms punch, scalloped circle punch, button, black crochet cotton, chocolate grosgrain ribbon, sponge, crop-a-dile, caramel eyelets

Thanks for stopping by.