Teresa Collins "Journal it Girl" purse box & calendar set

You've probably already seen this Teresa Collins project that I linked to (on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog), but I thought I'd post it here as well, to answer a couple of questions & add a few more photos (with big honkin' ones.) ;o)

You can click the pics here to make 'em even bigger for a detailed look.
The new purse box templates are in this post now too (at the bottom.)

I got to play with the gorgeous Journal It Girl collection from Teresa Collins Designs. There are unlimited possibilities with this trend-setting kit. (I love all the stationery elements madly!) I used it to make this gift set: a purse box, with a little pocket tag (as a wallet on a chain), and a pocket calendar book.

The collection has so many details making it such a thrill to work with and so fun with everything matching. Even Teresa's instructions are pretty! (They made the text paper for the flowers) :-D

-1-

...make the Journal It Girl purse:

Journal It Girl double sided paper (Pink Ledger paper TC-6140)
brackets from the Journal It Girl Crown Notes sheet
Box & purse panel templates
Provocraft Embossing Folder (used here: Textile Texture & Argyle)
Cuttlebug machine
Versamark, Clear Embossing Powder, & heat gun
Paper piercer, needle, & thread. Embroidery floss
Strong double-sided tape
For the handle:Core'dinations Whitewash cardstock (black piece), pink fabric & fabric glue, white craft ink.
Misc: 3 for You Stampin' Up! punch, Pink Copic marker, Swarovski crystals
Large beads (box feet) & misc. hardware from an old Prada purse

Step 1} Make the box as a base for the purse (a tall rectangular shaped box)

1A) Print & cut out the template for the purse box base.

1B) Trace the box template onto the Journal It Girl double sided paper (I used the Pink Ledger paper TC-6140 .) Cut the box out & score it. The template is designed to fit exactly 2 boxes per 12x12 sheet of paper.

1C) Assemble the box & embellish it: adhere large beads for feet...and add a little purse tag, if you like:

Measurements for the finished box:

• Height (without handle): 3 and 3/4 inches
• Width (side to side): 2 and 7/8 inches
• Depth (front to back): 2 and 1/4

Step 2} Make the panels for the front & back: Print & cut out the purse panel templates & trace them onto the largest of the Journal It Girl die cut file folders. Cut them out.

Step 3} Emboss & embellish the panels:

3A) Cuttlebug heat emboss the purse panels:

-->Ink a cuttlebug folder with Versamark (or other clear embossing ink)-on the negative or positive side, whichever you prefer.
-->Run the 2 purse pieces (for front & back) through the Cuttlebug in the inked folder.

-->After you Cuttlebug emboss the panels, sprinkle clear embossing powder on the wet Versamark.
-->heat set the embossing powder with a heat gun.

3B) Embellish the panels: Pierce & stitch around the edges.

3C) Enforce the panels by adhering them to cardstock & cutting them out.

3C) Add fringe made out of pink embroidery floss to the bottoms:

the fringe:

(I had a question about how to make this so I wanted to add the answer here:

To make the fringe I just snipped lots of pieces of embroidery thread (about an inch long each); then, added them side by each to a strip of really sticky double-sided tape on the purse panel back. You don't have to worry about getting them straight at all: really sharp scissors are great for cutting them in a nice straight line.

Step 4} Make the front purse flap:

4A) Make an acetate piece for the flap by tracing the purse front with a permanent marker onto acetate & cut it out.

4B) Create a black frame by tracing the acetate piece onto Core'dinations cardstock, cutting the brackets from the Journal It Girl Crown Notes sheet, & trimming it to that bracket shape:

4C) Cuttlebug emboss the acetate piece, adhere the frame & stitch around the outside.

4D) Add some flowers (punched from the Journal It Girl file folder instructions section-which makes great text paper for small flowers.) Adhere the purse flap to the front of the box. Colour the flower centers pink & add Swarovski crystals:

Step 5} Make the handle:

5A) Adhere a strip of fabric 12" x 1-1/2" to a piece of Core'dintations Cardstock (I used the black piece from their Whitewash collection.) Trim & fray the edges of the fabric Cuttlebug

5B) Emboss it, ink the black side with white ink & stitch it with black thread.

Step 6} To assemble the whole thing: Adhere the panels to the purse box base & attach the handle.

-2-

...make a pocket calendar
out of the Journal It Girl Collection

• 12 months from the Journal It Girl Calendar sheet TC-6447
  
• Medium Die Cut File Folder
• Journal It Girl Pink Tags sheet
• Black cardstock

To make the pocket calendar book:

A) Cut all 12 months of the year from the Teresa Collins Journal It Girl Calendar sheet TC-6447

B) Fold the matching Medium Die Cut File Folder in half

C) Cut 4 pieces of black cardstock (each piece measuring 3-3/4" x 5-1/2") Score them each down the middle & fold them in half. Lay them over each other, pierce them down the middle & stitch or adhere them into the File folder to make a book.

D) Adhere the calendar months & embellish the pocket book with pieces from the Journal It Girl Collection.

E) If it's tied shut with a ribbon, it fits perfectly in the purse box.

Click these links to Download
the Purse Box PDFs:

Template PDF for purse box (no score lines)
Template PDF for box purse base(Score Guide)
Template PDF for purse panels

(or click the photos below & select "save as"
if you'd like the JPG versions)

Thank You so much for taking time to check this out, :o)

P.S. I just have to mention again that it was such a delight to post along side Terrie who made the most stunning album! You can see it in all it's glory on her blog here & she was featured on Teresa Collins blog too!

&

Nathalia has posted some projects today on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog that will also take your breath away!