Graphic 45 Tea Time Note Cards Tutorial with A Place in Time

Hello, G 45’ers!  You all know how much I love paper.  But did you know that I also love tea?  I start every morning with a soul-satisfying cup of English Breakfast tea.  It makes me a kinder, gentler Kathy.  LOL  When I can combine my love for tea with my love for paper, I’m a really happy gal.  This Graphic 45 Tea Time Note Cards Tutorial is the perfect gift idea for any tea lover.  I can see this being used as bridesmaids gifts, a bridal shower gift, a Mother’s Day present or for your own enjoyment.   I’ve housed these shabby chic beauties in a lovely gift box with a shaker top.  Would you like to join me for a cup of tea?

Choosing a Color Palette

Color can make or break a project.  While there are all kinds of creative styles, I like it best when colors work together in harmony.  When I found this darling image of genteel ladies sipping tea in the April pages of A Place in Time, I was drawn the coral accents in the border and on the table.  This image set the color palette for my project.

Another happy discovery was made when I realized that Cafe Parisian 12″ x 12″ Patterns and Solids is a great color match for these April pages.  Hooray!

Tea Time Shaker Top Gift Box Tips and Tricks

To give my shabby chic Tea Time note cards a place to rest, I altered a G45 Ivory Staples 5″ square Mixed Media Box.  I love the window opening on the cover, and discovered a quick and easy way to “frame” it with designer paper.

1. Cut a 5″ x 5″ square of designer paper.
2. Center it on the top of the box, making sure everything is straight and even.
3. Secure it with repositionable tape.
4. Open the box, and use a pencil to trace around the window opening.
5. Remove the paper from the top of the box and die cut with the #6 Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Classic Square.
6. Glue  a 4.5″ square piece of clear acetate cardstock to the back side of this paper. Let the glue set before proceeding.

The rest of the box is very easy to cover, as it is all straight cuts!

Adding the Shaker Top

Here are the steps to follow to make the shaker top

1.  First, glue the focal image to the inside of the box.  This particular image is slightly larger than the window opening, so you will have to size it before you glue it down.
2.  Next, cut waste chipboard or shipping boxes into strips that are almost the same width as the “frame”  you created for the box.  Glue these strips to the back of the  “frame” making sure they don’t show.  It takes a little longer for glue to set on acetate, so be patient.
3. Now, fill the window cavity with small seed beads, small sequins, or glass glitter.  Do not overfill, or the shaker elements will get stuck between the two layers.
4. Then, glue the “frame” to the top of the box.
5. Heat Emboss Southern Ridge Trading Company Frame #133 with Stampendous Golden Sands Embossing Powder and glue in place.
6. Finally, add Petaloo Coral Botanical Blooms, Rose Silky Crush Ribbon and metal pieces.

A Peek Inside

Decorating the inside of the box is as much fun as decorating the outside.  Again, it is all straight cuts, so it’s very easy to do.

The postcard image from the April pages makes a wonderful pocket.

What’s in the pocket?  A sweet little tag booklet with a chipboard cover!

The box will hold 4 sweet little tea time note cards.

Tea Time Note Cards Tutorial Video

Use an assembly line approach to make these cards, and you’ll only spend between 5-10 minutes on each one.  Don’t believe me?  Watch this YouTube Video to see the proof.

I hope I’ve shared some ideas and/or techniques in this Tea Time Note Cards tutorial that you can use in your own crafty adventures!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List

Please note that I have provided links to products whenever possible.  However, some items may have been in my stash for some time, and are no longer readily available online.  Feel free to substitute.

• Graphic 45
  • A Place in Time (you can use the DCE, or the original.  I used both.)
  • Cafe Parisian 12×12 Patterns and Solids
  • Ivory Mixed Media Box
  • Antique Metal Door Pull
  • Ornate Metal Label Holder
  • Shabby Chic Ornate Metal Key Holes
  • Antique Metal Keys
• Petaloo Coral Botanica Blooms
• 1.5″ Rose Silky Crush Ribbon
• 5/8″ Light Coral Satin Ribbon
• Stampendous Golden Sands Embossing Enamel
• hemp twine
• Clear card stock
• ivory card stock