Pocket Letters

Pocket Letters and Me

When Jackie Banyai asked me to create some pocket letters I had to figure out what they were first.  What they are is FUN!

These charming little whimsies are very popular with scrappers, cardmakers and whimsy enthusiasts world wide.  They are traded, swapped, and sent as Random Acts of Kindness...and for Norma Yager they are sweet interactive letters to her granddaughters.

I made one and frankly I am hooked! Enough to create a new monthly kit for Girlfriends Boutique.  Every month you will receive everything to create one or two Pocket Letters...we will see which it is one or two!

I know for sure the one you will be looking at right now is the kit for January...so stinkin' cute but I must warn you...they are addictive!

In your kit you will receive a few things that are new to me.

1.

You will receive a full kit with papers, page protector, embellishments, pictures and everything to make your pocket letter.

2

A Pocket Letter Map

This is new.  It is a sketch to show you what goes where on your pocket card.

3.

Full Color picture of the Pocket letter and each individual element

4.

A piece of decorative paper to create an envelope to mail your letter if you can actually let it go!

(of course the envelope will be cut and scored for easy assembly)

I know there are a few of you who want to keep these letters as part of your scrapbooks.  I will be putting together an additional kit with an alterable album and all the goodies to make it pretty to keep your pocket letters.

I will let you know when these kits are ready.

Each pocket letter comes with the materials to create 9 small cards.  I have left the back side of these card fairly blank to allow you to add pictures, journaling, messages, anything you want to add. I have done some reading on the pocket letter swaps that are popping up here and there. If you chose to participate in one of the swaps they suggest an "about me" card, quotes, a message to the recipient and more.  There are loads of places to look into these swaps.  I am not hosting a swap through the shop at this time...maybe never.

I like the idea of adding a few little treats to our pocket letter.  On the two outside cards above I have included washi tape and paper flowers and brads to be used as you add pictures or to bling out your cards! (Jackie I am talking to you)  In later cards you may find sequins, rhinestones, buttons and more in your kits. And if you are really sending this to someone remember you can also add a stick of gum, lifesavers, smarties or other little goodies to your pockets..

If you have questions or you would like to get a kit at any time just take a moment and leave a comment.  I am leaving you tonight with a few more pictures of the January pocket letter.  I hope you will consider joining us for this new adventure

always,

michele

It's a Banner Day!

 

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to share this project with you!

 

I love burlap....I love wire....I love FALL!

And I love a great banner!

We will be creating a great fall banner for you to display in you home or outside somewhere!

We will get started at 11 am and we will be done by 4

 

Bring your fabri-tac, scissors, zip-dry, chalk pad, a large eye needle and your best joke!

We are going to have such a great time!

Cost for this workshop is just

$27.50

all materials will be precut and ready for you.

If you would prefer a kit we will have those available as well.  Kits will come with full color pictures and instructions.

 

Fall Burlap Banner

Kit and workshop $27.50 USD Kit only $27.50 USD Kit and shipping $37.50 USD

 

Hocus Pocus



Nothing like a little Halloween magic to bring a smile to my face.

 

Front cover

Inside cover

Sample page

 

Join us on Saturday August 29th for this magically interactive Halloween Book!

If you cannot attend the workshop and would like a kit we have extras.  If you are out of town and would like a kit there will be full color instructions in the kits.

 

 

 

Hocus Pocus

Workshop and Kit $43.95 USD Kit only $43.95 USD Kit and shipping $53.95 USD

Halloween 2015 Centerpiece

Join us August 15th at 11 am for our 1st Halloween Workshop for 2015.

Lisa has designed and will be teaching us how to create this adorable Halloween Centerpiece.

Created with the deliciously spooky Graphic 45 Halloween Papers and filled with creepy embellishments you will want to make one for your home and maybe an extra for a friend!

 

We have options for kits for those of you who cannot make the workshop.

If you wish to order your kit or sign up for the workshop please use the paypal button below to do so.



centerpiece

workshop $26.50 USD Kit Only $26.50 USD Kit with shipping $36.50 USD

BO BUNNY SPRING FLING THIS WEEKEND!

Jackie Banyai, Haley Dodaro, Audrey Praytor Kissik, Vicki Anderson, Jeri Bosley, Michelle Grady, Cherie Coesens Durkin, Sherri Timmons, Norma Yager, Kari Brose, Kay Piper, Stacey Parker, Teresa Oneida, Sherry Webster Owings, Joan Webster, Carol Beager, Martha, Cleala, George Gregson, DeLana Chartier, Stephanie Parker, Sally Bell, and any one else signed up for the BO BUNNY SPRING FLING this Saturday March 21st, the workshop is sold out. Class begins at 11 am

Please bring the following things in a SMALL bag: 

Paper trimmer

Scoring tool (bone folder, stylus, scoring blade)

Scissors

Chalk pad

Foam tape (optional)

Adhesive (zip dry, 3in1, tape runner, double sided heavy duty tape)

Please do not bring your large Scrappin' bags as there will not be room for them. A small tote or basket to put on your table will be plenty. Joan Webster had the perfect sized basket last weekend. Anything extra will have to fit under your chair including your purse

Please come prepared and on time! We have tools and supplies for sale at the shop and the shop paper trimmers are here for your use if you need one. 

Lunch is on us! We have something really special planned!

We are excited to see you all and to share this special weekend with you.

 

life{365} 2015

As always the new year is a time for new beginnings

As in past years we are beginning the year with new kits and  new workshops.  It is also a new year of life{365}. 

 

Life{365} has become a tradition at Girlfriends and at the end of every year we get to see how it has all come together.  We want to share some of the pictures of last years collection completed with pictures...this is only a part of the full collection...there are still more to go!

 

This year is much the same as last year in the details

Cost: $32.50

if you miss a month of choose to skip a month or just want to pick and choose

$37.50

 

Kits will be ready each month between the first and the tenth of the month.  If you are out of town you need to have a cc on file with us so we can charge and ship each month or if you prefer every couple of months.

 

Now for the fun stuff!

The pages for this month are designed!

The kits are ready!

We are shipping on Friday!

 

Here are your pages!

 

Now some details.

Inside your kit you will find a bunch of little parts and pieces.  In this little packet you will find your photo mats and parts and pieces for each page. 

Among those little parts and pieces you will find a little owl...I made them all so each of you would have a completed little owl.  I thought all the little pieces might be lost in the packet so it seemed right to make it for you.

 

 

In this picture you will see that I have punched edges and borders.  If you are to complete this kit as shown you will need to have a border punch to use in constructing your pages.  You will also need a corner rounder and a chip-off-the-old-block punch.  These are basics for the whole year.

 

In the case of the brackets I have traced one on a piece and it should be your pattern for any others.

 

 

This is a closeup of your little snowman's face.  I used a black ZiG writer to create  his face and the stitchmarks on his nose.

 

For instructions on how to create the dimensional lolly on this page go to the blog and under pages on the right hand side of the blog is a little tutorial...read it and then be prepared because they are habit forming!

 

The tags on the right hand side of this page create space for NINE! pictures on this page.  I have precut the tag piece for you.  It is a great way to increase the space for pictures on any page.  Also you will nest the little owl over the title block on the left hand side.  I used foam tape to lift the owlie!

 

If you want to see the pages up close and personal just stop by the shop.  We have redecorated the front display for a couple of them and the Through the Year book will reside here when the time comes.  The other pages will be on the wall in the classroom. 

 

This little corner of heaven is filled with inspiration.  Come by and see what we have to share with you anytime!

always,

Lisa and michele



 

 



December Daily 2015

Is it too early to start getting ready for Christmas?

 

I can hear you all screaming at us!  Calm Down....I didn't mean to get you all spinning wildly out of control.  I really do mean well.

 

Here is how this started.  For the past several years Lisa and I have been watching and frankly envying some women who seem to have it all pulled together in the area of Christmas.  They bake.  They decorate.  They wrap their gifts beautifully.  They get their cards out in a timely manner. 

AND these superwomen do a December Daily.  That is a little page of pics and memories for each day in December. 

 

BLECH!

 

Lisa is far better at this than I am (she does it all!) but let's be honest if I get the tree up there is no guarantee there will be ornaments on it and I gave up baking some time back.  Christmas cards stopped when the kids left home and there was no one left to address them but me.  I am many things in this world but pulled together is not one of them.

That having all been said and verified as true I am envious of the December Daily.  I think it would be wonderful to reflect upon the year as it passes, to give thanks to put one picture on a page!  So this year we are taking the entire year to make our December Daily!

 

Built from the same Bo Bunny Misc. Me Naked Journal we are using for the Through the Year Journal this project will include one page for each day in December.  We will have places for pictures, pockets for cards, recipes or anything you choose.  You will have all year to make this beautiful book and we will include ideas for quotes, lyrics and more.  You can take all of December and add your pictures, reflections and holiday traditions to your pages.  I will even add a little Christmas Card List to the book if Lisa lets me!

 

 

Your Start up for this book is only

$14.50

The monthly pages will be $6-$8

 

Join us for this year long journey to December and a year of remembering Christmas as the special time it is!

always,

Lisa and Michele

 

 

December Daily StartUp Kit

Kit Only $14.50 USD Kit with shipping $20.00 USD



 

 



Through the Year 2015

Through the Year

This year Lisa and Michele have decided to do two new year long book projects.  The first is our
Through the Year Book.
This book will be a planner, calendar and photo album to record your year.
The base of the book is the wonderful Bo Bunny Misc. Me Naked Journal.  This journal has loads of room to add dividers, calendars and much much more all included in the start up kit!

You will personalize your journal by choosing papers that fit your style perfectly from our large selection of papers at Girlfriends.

Next we will begin to fill your journal.  At the Start Up Workshop Saturday January 10th you will decorate and fill your journal with all the things you will need to start.

 Next you will purchase the quarterly kits to take your journal to the next level! These kits will contain all the precut and packaged materials you will need to create monthly pages for your pictures and ephemera.  These kits will be available every quarter all year long.

Let's get a good start on the year and make it the best one ever!
always,
Lisa and michele
 

 

 

 

Through the Year Start Up Kit

Kit Only $28.00 USD Kit with shipping $35.00 USD

 

 

 



Setting the dates!

We are busily creating and setting dates for our Holiday (I say Holiday instead of Christmas because we are not leaving Thanksgiving out!) Workshops!

I am just about as happy as I can be about this because we are going to hold some Friday Workshops! If you are looking for something to do on a Friday Night why not come and spend some time with us!
We will be open until 7:00 on Fridays!
 

Here it is!

Friday November 14th - Cozy Christmas Folded and Bound Part 1

Saturday November 15th - Cozy Christmas Folded and Bound Part 2

 

 

 November 21st - Thanksgiving Pumpkin Centerpieces - 4pm-7pm

small pumpkin (diy)$17.95 (completed)$22.50

medium pumpkin (diy) $22.50 (completed) $27.50

large pumpkin (diy)$27.50 (completed) $32.50

If you are interested in either doing it yourself please call us at 734-8592 to choose your color and size!

 

You can either make your own or purchase one of the pumpkins we have in the shop!  Lisa and I have both come to love this project so she paints the pumpkins and I decorate them...it is just another excuse to make a mess for me.

 

November 22nd

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTI!  I LOVE YOU!

 

Let's make a little 12 days of Christmas Advent Calendar

This is such a cute project

I am going to help you create a wonderful family tradition!

Please call the shop to sign up for this workshop...it is filling quickly!

208-734-8592

$24.95

Accordion Album

$22.50

 

November 28th and 29th

All day both days!

Christmas WoodArt Workshop!

Your family is home for my favorite holiday and we have a perfect workshop for you to do together!

You pick your project...you pick your papers (we will help if you want us to)

We show you how!

Noel - $45

Faux Chalk Art Nativity

$19.95

25th

$24.95

Christmas Houses

Small - $22.50

Medium - $25.50

Large - $ 27.50

Make one or make the whole set! These will be a perfect addition to your Christmas Decorations!

 

Well my friends...it looks like the weather is changing and we are getting ready for a most beautiful Holiday Season!

There will be much more coming including a second folded and bound book using the beautiful Tim Holtz papers and embellishments, my favorite Family Christmas Record Album, Junque it Up Home Décor Workshop and more!  We are having a very Merry Christmas already...won't you be a part of it?

always,

michele