In the last couple of days I have seen this birthday card book around pinterest quite a few times. I thought it was a fun little idea and pinned it straight away.
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| Original Inspiration |
It was one of those things that I would normally pin and then forget about for 12 months or more. Well, in completely un-Tamsyn-like fashion I actually made me own version in the same week that I pinned it. Miracle!
I started out with basic supplies. I had everything at home already except for the folder (which was $2.49 from the supermarket). I used two types of fabric (both left over from last year's Christmas Tree Skirt), some card stock, ribbon, buttons, and my trusty glue-gun.
I decided to make a woven fabric cover for the front of the book - inspired by this pinboard from JDC. I started out by measuring out and then cutting my fabric into long strips.
Next up I glued the edge of half the fabric strips to the top inside cover of the the folder and the other half of the fabric strips along the spine of the folder. I realise that probably makes no sense! Hopefully the photo below explains it better... Then it was just a matter of weaving each strip along and then hot gluing it to the underside of the folder.
Once I had finished weaving and gluing all of the fabric I went back and trimmed up all the loose threads.
I added a piece of plain white fabric to the back of the folder, and covered the inside with white card to hide all of the raw edges.
After all of that the folder wasn't closing very well. If I laid it down on the table it would just sit there half open. It wasn't the look I was going for so I decided to add some little buttons and a ribbon to keep it nicely closed when not in use.
I simply hot glued some ribbon to the back of a large button and then glued that to the front of the book. Then I glued another smaller button to the back and made a hole in the ribbon so that I could slip it over the back button and secure it.
Last up I added the letter M (for Max) to the front of the book. I just hand cut it from some card stock and glued it straight on. Then it was just a matter of punching holes into Max's birthday cards, adding in some dividers (A4 card) and clipping them into the folder. Simple!
Now I have the perfect place to keep all of those birthday cards that I just can't bring myself to throw out!
Tell me, what do you do with all of your children's birthday cards? Do you keep them somewhere special or throw them out the minute the party is over?
Such a sweet idea! What a great way to keep special items.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brandi, it was so easy to make too :)
DeleteHi Tamsyn; This looks great! I'm thinking of doing something similar for my kids, who at the moment have all their birthday cards etc stored away in a box! What a great way for them to be able to see them. I can feel a school holiday craft project coming on! Leese xx
ReplyDeleteSounds fun Leese, I love that your kids will actually be able to help you out with it. Don't forget to share the photos with me xx
DeleteGosh, now I feel all guilty after throwing away cards if they get in my way... :/
ReplyDeleteI used to keep them but after moving around so many times and trying not to be such a hoarder I now kind of shove them in a drawer and 6 months later bin them.
What a great idea you have there though. Fab.
I have to say Melody that if we'd moved at any point after Max was born I would have probably thrown them all out too :) We've been in this house since about 18 months before we had Max so I have piles of 'hoarded' stuff :)
DeleteWow that is so cleaver. and thanks for the congrats
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Thanks & my pleasure :)
DeleteLove this. I have a scrapbook that my Mum started when I was young. It has cards in it from my birth to about 5 years. It's such a treasure!
ReplyDeleteThat's so sweet that you still have it Brooke!
DeleteThis is a brilliant idea! My cards are just in boxes at the moment, but I really like this. Do you have a system for all of the pictures or crafts that Max makes? He is looking like such a big boy! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Milina, he's looking less and less like a baby every single day! I don't have a system for Max's art so much as I have a plan... At the moment I am just storing it all in a cupboard, in the next couple of weeks I plan on taking photos of all of the art and creating a big collage to frame on his wall. Then I'll probably only keep the most special pieces and throw out the rest :)
DeleteThe album looks smashing! I've been obsessed with woven fabric lately, but mostly on pillows and I would have never thought of a book cover! Thank you for leaving a sweet comment on my beachy living room :)
ReplyDeleteThank you :) I've never thought to do something like that on a pillow. Great idea!!
Deletewhat a cute idea! i love the weaving and the button is a perfect detail.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kara :)
DeleteWhat a fabulous idea! And yours looks so cute too! I' a binder freak so I'm going to have to make one or two or three of these :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the great idea! Pinning it too. Have a happy holiday!
Make sure you send me a link when you make them, I would love to see how yours turn out!
DeleteThis is such a great idea, I've never seen these before-thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melissa, I'm glad you liked it :)
DeleteFun idea! I love that weaved look.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenn, me too!
DeleteYou are so creative! I love this! Must pin and actually create one ASAP too! =)
ReplyDeleteGood idea, you probably have heaps of 'welcome baby' and baby shower cards that you can put in there. Can't wait to see yours :)
DeleteOk, I made a little notebook for Zoe's cards, but yours is way more amazing! You can check it out here. http://greekwife.blogspot.com/2012/02/greeting-card-notebook.html
ReplyDeleteYours is really sweet too Ashley. I love that you already had everything you needed at home, definitely my kind of project!
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