GROCERY BAG - Make 3 Projects

 

With a flat bottom grocery bag, make these 3 projects:

+ roll of paper for note taking or a prayer circle list

+ FOUR pages for a journal

+ File Box or Bag 

The File Bag is what I made first, out of necessity.  I know that I can go to any craft supply store and buy a 12x12 plastic hinged box for such a need, but this file bag is readily available, folds flat for storage, is reusable and recyclable, not to mention it cost me nothing!

I usually have several projects going at once and wanted to corral all the file folders, patterns and die cuts in one place. Thus I cut the bag to use in this way.   Standard size file folders fit perfectly in this size bag, 12" x 5-7".  I put a firm piece of cardboard in the bottom for strength and shape, plus it folds flat when not in use.  I love that I can grab one off the shelf or even out of the bookcase to use for a temporary file bag when needed.

Click on the link below for video instructions on my YouTube Channel. Watch other Paper Bag projects and paper crafting techniques.

card connoisseur susan boback    

Thanks for stopping by!   Be Blessed! sb

Is it a VASE or a VAZZ Part 1

 I've always been a collector of little things that I could use for a new purpose - I'm sure I get that talent from my dad, who could design or make or build just about anything out of something else.   

Although you may know me as the "Card Connoisseur" - since I have been sharing my ideas on cardmaking for at least 5 years - I'd rather be known as the crafter who is inspired to use one pattern to create in many different mediums or forms. That's what you're going to see in Part I.   You may think you know what a VASE (or VAZZ) should or could look like, but you'll be challenged to think otherwise.  

My traditional VASES are one that you could put a grocery-store bouquet in, but I also have a tall, slender vase for one flower, like a rose; a fluted, heavy-weight vase and a tear-drop vase, both from my daughter; and a tall, frosted and etched pitcher with handle that was my parent's wedding gift, that I use for my dried flowers. On occasion these vases also hold a bouquet from the local florist.  But these three glass vessels do not inspire me to create another project with them.

Here are some variations of VASES or uses for vases.

I hot glued 2 tall plastic tubes (Amazon) in between 2 - 1" thick x 5" tall Birch Tree slices.  Then stuff moss in between to hide the tubes.  Add a ribbon and twine.  NOTE:   stand the wood slices on end before you glue them - they are not perfectly round and will lean to whatever shape it is.  You don't want your tubes to end up open to the side instead of the top.

Use one S & P Shaker (Salt & Pepper) as a vessel for dry flowers or fine stemmed real flowers.  I added a small! bit of water through the holes on the top, making sure the plug is in the bottom.   Just in case, I sat this VASE on a paper towel.  I found a dozen of these for FREE at a yard sale - Instant VASES for Baby's Breath flowers.

Do you see the tall necked VASE on the teapot bottom?  Attach it with E6000 glue.  Its waterproof but not winter weatherproof.

I have saved (from the landfill) many little glass bottles to use for real - dried, fresh, or artificial flowers.   In Spring and Summer, there is a sprig of a wildflower - like the one shown above in the birch wood, or a stem of carnations, or a bouquet from my garden or the grocery store.  

Today's project was inspired by Jukiclub.com where the creator has a pattern of a pitcher which she cuts out of oil cloth and sews together on her sewing machine.   The minute I watched her video on Instagram or on her website, my creative mind started to wonder, "how could I make that out of paper?  And what kind(s) of paper would look the best?" That is how my creativity works!

I forwarded her pattern to my phone and printed it off on my laser printer.  There is no need for a color print, but the print helps size my pattern for a paper design.   Please give Jukiclub.com the credit for the original if you share this idea on the internet.  

Now! I have to tell you that I do not have a mathematical thought process!  But I sort of figured out the width of the paper pitcher - AFTER I had made a few of them.  

                                                    

If the jar is 1 1/2" square, then two sides (2 being 1/2 of 4 sides) equal 3".  That ends up being the measurement of the narrowest (is that a word?) part of the pitcher, the top.  The purpose of knowing that top measurement is to make sure that your vessel will fit inside, because you are adding a square vessel (VASE) into a flat or oval shape Someone that's a math whizz can help.   I've already confused myself by trying to think of the shapes as a math problem - yikes!

First I made a pattern out of parchment paper.  

Cut two pieces of the pattern - this can be the same direction because there's no pattern to the paper (and its just your pattern).  Use clips to hold it together after you place it around the jar.   This step also helps you to decide where to put the adhesive to hold the two sides together.

Here's a view of the jar inside the paper pattern, from the top.

I chose heavy weight printed vellum for my paper VASE.  Make sure you don't make the mistake I made.  When you have an inside and outside of the paper (the inside print was much lighter in color) make sure to place one of the pattern pieces in the opposite direction.  

++Remembering that this paper pitcher will have two sides, be attached to each other just on the edges, which will create a "sleeve" type shape that will slide over your jar or vessel.   

This is the photo that shows the error - make sure to cut one piece out of the opposite direction 

I used a coordinating piece of vellum for the second side, making sure that I placed the pattern in the opposite direction.

                                        

Use a strong tape, like Tear & Tape, to secure the sides.

On the spout side, add the adhesive from the bottom, up to the spout.  I added a very small piece of Tear & Tape on the upper corner of the spout.  Its a hard place to add adhesive, but any further in makes the opening tighter.  

                                            

Add some real or dried flowers to your VASE and enjoy a colorful piece you've made.   Change it with the seasons or use a different type of paper.

Being a JJ - Junk Journalist, I have coffee-stained bookpage on my mind, and wanted a more subtle paper for my VASE pitcher.

I really do like the way this bookpage pitcher turned out.  I think the black drips and subtle color bring character and make it look more realistic.   Now my creative mind is already thinking about music page or even old black and white photos - there'll be no end to what I try.

VASE or VAZZ Part 2 will show how to enclose flowers in a rounded vase inside a card that actually folds flat.    

Thanks for stopping by.   Be inspired.  Be Blessed.  Now go get creative! sb

HEXAGON SUNSET - MEMORIAL DAY

This "Scenic Coast" paper is the most beautifully designed paper I've ever worked with (available through Stampin' Up! in the May - Aug 2026 catalog)  

This hexagon punch is the focus for today's card. 

When I saw the sunrises and the sunset views of these papers, I thought of a photo from a cruise I took with my daughter's - this is leaving Miami, Florida, USA. 

This paper also made me think about today, Memorial Day in the United States. And though not all branches of the US Armed Forces include service on the water, I'm partial to the US Navy where my son serves.  Memorial Day is specifically about remembering the sacrifices made by those service men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms.  

                                           

Here's the link for today's card inspiration  - Facebook .  

And here's my first card of the inspiration design.

This card design uses both the positive and negative pieces of the hexagon shape.  The positive piece is the die cut shape.  The negative shape is the punched-out hole in the card stock.  

You could use a square or a diamond shape as long as the pieces interlock like the hexagon pieces do here.   

The very basic design of this card is made by doing one punch in the front of the card base and then attaching a scenic view on the inside that will show through this punch out. 

You could either glue a Scenic Coast print to the back of front behind the punched space or glue it to the inside so that when you open the card you see the full view of the print - then just sign your card above it. 

You'll find that by using the many coordinated prints in your paper packet, that it is like putting a puzzle together - you are choosing which prints look the best in each space.  

Have fun with this.

Add one of the anchor charms, available (May - September 2026) or leave it off.  

                                        

Thanks for stopping by!  Visit my YouTube Channel here.   Be Blessed! sb

Card #4 KNOW YOUR 4 - Z FOLD

Hello there Crafty Friends - Its Week #4 of KNOW YOUR 4 - Any Reason Any Season.  This week's design is a Z Fold. 

My KNOW YOUR 4 is my Original Idea. Its four (4) of my favorite designs that I can make when I need a quick card.   You know, when we are running late for a birthday party; or when we have a funeral and no sympathy cards made up in advance.  This happens to all of us, so don't think you are alone in this.  Life happens.........it surprises us. 

Each KNOW YOUR 4 card is a basic design that beginner card makers can assemble with little supplies or preparation.  PLUS each of the 4 will also have a variation that will include more folding or layers.  

The Z Fold is my #1 all-time favorite of these four, because it’s easy AND there are many variations.

Do you have a favorite card design that you make often?   

Let's get to it, OK?

Let's start with the basic design instructions.

The card base folded is 5 1/2 inches high by 4 1/4 inches wide with the fold at the left.   To make the "Z", score and fold the front of the cardstock base at 2 1/8" which is half of the front.  Fold it back on itself.  You'll see the Z when you look down on the card as it is standing up.  

The front layer can be done 2 ways:

#1 Front of the Z Layer is 1 7/8" wide by 5 1/4" high.  As always make sure your patterned paper design is going the direction you want for the theme of your card.  The inside layer can be a coordinating print that is visible from the outside, 5 1/4" x 4".  The area for your signature is the inside of the 2 1/8" x 5 1/4", where you can add white if the color of the cardstock is too dark. 

#2 Layer could be a 5 1/4" x 4" piece that is glued to the outside half of the Z, and covers the whole front, with a white layer on the inside.  (This paper is "Scenic Coast", Stampin' Up! May - Aug 2026 catalog)

Both of these designs can use just the paper; OR could include a circle, oval, square or rectangle tag on the front with die cuts, ribbon, that is stamped with a sentiment.

VARIATIONS:

Z Fold with Bridge.  Make the card base for a Z Fold.   But before you add the printed paper layers, cut a piece of same color cardstock, 1 inch by 8 1/2".   Score this piece in half and 4 1/4" and then score at 2 1/8".   

The purpose of this bridge piece is to add a die cut or a sentiment tag that stands out and creates a focal point for a themed card.  There is a trick to attaching this that seemed backwards to me the first time I attached it.  Look at this example.   Note that the 2 1/8" section does NOT attach to the 2 1/8" wide front, but it attaches to the card base on the far right.  Then the 4 1/4" section is attached to the front Z section.  

                                                                              

If you're going to include a gift card, gift certificate or currency with this gift you might wonder where you would put it.   Here's what I did:  I placed my folded currency under a piece of ribbon on the inside Z section.   Can you see it here?

           

 You want to make sure that when your card with this bridge piece closes, that it folds flat to go into the envelope.  It may also need extra postage due to the bulk. 

For this card I cut the paper along the pattern.

Here's the first card that I made like this, was for a 16 y.o. boy for his birthday.  I used mountain view papers, and on the bridge, I put a die cut of a red truck, which was his new truck for his birthday.  

Look at your papers and see if you have scenery papers that you don't want to cover up with any layers or die cuts.  

I think you can see that this design is another one of the "KNOW YOUR 4" that truly could be used for any reason any season.

Decide if you want the bridge to hold a die cut, or sentiment tag.  Then decide how far up or down you want it to go to make an impact on the design.   

                                

I'd say glue it at 1 3/4" up from the bottom. This example shows a bridge made of the window sheet (Stampin' Up!) or clear acetate sheets.  I have found that overhead projector sheets are thick enough to use for a clear piece. 

                                

Add your die cuts or whatever you choose to make your focus piece.  Fold it a couple of times to make sure it folds flat.  If so, add your top layer on the front of the Z.  

VARIATIONS

Double Z fold, the card base is 5 1/2" high by 8 1/2" long. Score from the left at 1", 2", 3", 4".   These create the mountain and valley peaks as shown, as well as the remaining 4 1/2" main section.  With some of these Z Folds, like the Double Z, its appropriate to sign your card on the back.  If you wish to add a layer of white, cut it at 5 1/4 x 4 or smaller yet.  Who doesn't turn a card over to see the back? Kind of out of habit.  

Layers are 3/4" wide by 5 1/4" high.  

This is a good design to use the many coordinated pieces of a themed paper package, and to make a more deluxe version, one that the receiver may wish to stand on a shelf.   As with the basic Z Fold design, cut the layers 1/4" less on the width and 1/4" less on height of each of the Z sections.  

The pop out piece is a deer in the woods die, which I attached to the two mountain peaks.  If you add a pop-out section like this, make sure to close the card before gluing so you make sure that the pop out will not stick out farther than the card's edge.   For this design, I attached a white layer to the back and glued it on 3 sides so I could slide a gift certificate inside.

                            

This Double Z design is one I made for a neighbor's 100th birthday - Augie Baggiore - in 2023.   He passed away shortly after that, though he hadn't been ill till the last two months of his long life. 

Find me on YouTube to watch the instructions for a Z Fold  Card #4  Z Fold Know Your 4 

Thanks for stopping by! Be Blessed! sb