Envelope flip book

One of the swaps I signed up for in my facebook groups was an envelope flip book. This was something new I had never done before and it took me forever to figure it out. I realized I was trying to fit the envelope the wrong way on a piece of paper.
Anywho, here's what I created. The front:

I used a paper pad from Hobby Lobby with bright colors for the outside, this is a 4x6 cut apart.
Here's the back:

I lined the edges with black washi and layered some green striped washi on top of it. I think it gave it a more finished look.

Once you open it:

I used paper from the Newsworthy paper pad from Hobby Lobby for the inside. I also lined the edges of it with some pink washi.
 Close up of top corner:

 The 'hello' die is from a swap. I made the banner by cutting paper from a paper pad from JoAnns. It's amazing how I found colors from so many different things in my stash that went so well together. The jeweled flowers are a 'tape' from recollections from a swap.
Close-up of right flap:

 The flowers are stickers from Dollar Tree. The quote is from a Snap pack from Hobby Lobby, I just cut it up so it would fit.
Close-up of bottom flap:

 The washi is from Michaels, the butterfly is from Dollar Tree
Close-up of left flap:

 The sticker is from Dollar Tree.
Close-up of inside:

The background paper and the flowers on the bottom left are from a snap pack from Hobby Lobby. The 'messes is what we do best' is from a project life card, I just cut it down to fit. The jewel sticker is from a swap. We had to include an envelope for goodies, this envelope is from a swap. I believe I added some more of the colored paper I used for the banner, some scraps and a butterfly sticker.
Here's what I got from my partner, the front:

 What I saw when I first opened it:

 The whole thing, unfolded:

 The whole thing, minus the goodies:

 The goodies:

I love how she used that beauty paper pad from Micheal's. I'm not a girly girl, but I really liked this.

Oceans of Fun pocket letter

I signed up to make an 'Oceans of Fun' pocket letter in a facebook group. The guidelines were anything to do with the ocean and double sided.

Here's what I created:

 I used some paper that looked like waves as the background. The stamped images except the fish on the top are from a Stampin Up set (I'm trying to use my stamps more), I stamped them on some paper I picked up at JoAnns and fussy cut them out, I then colored some of them in with gel pens. I love how the fish in the second row turned out. I was originally gonna make a shaker pocket, but I accidentally burned right through the plastic with my heat gun. So I put a blue paper in the middle and added stickers throughout the rest of it. The washi at the bottom is from a swap. The silver things by the crab are sand dollar buttons. The fish on top are stickers from Michael's, the stickers in the top row are from Dollar Tree, the fish on the top is from a swap. The mermaid is from Dollar Tree, the sequins with her are from Hobby Lobby.
Here's my back:

 I'm not good at doing double sided, so I chose this paper.
Here's what my partner sent me:

 I love how she had it packaged up in the envelope.
Here's what was inside:

 I also love the charm thing she put on the edge. I'm loving this pocket letter. The ship on the bottom actually moves.
Here's the back:

 And the goodies:

The pencil has little mermaids on it. Also loving that castle paper clip.

Rainbow pocket letter

I signed up to do a rainbow pocket letter in one of my facebook groups. I originally wanted to do each pocket a color of the rainbow with the other two being pink and purple, but I ran out of time. I came up with this instead:

 The background is some rainbow paper I picked up at a garage sale. I just added a bunch of stickers to the plastic so my partner could reuse the rainbow paper if she wanted. I did cut out another rainbow and layer it with foam tape on the first card. The second card has jewel butterflies, the third card has hot air balloon stickers. For the second row, the first card has some layered butterflies, the second a pegasus, and the third some more butterflies. For the third row it's all butterflies.
Here's the back:

I try to add bits of what I've used on the front when I add goodies, so I sent some of the jeweled butterflies, the rainbow colored butterflies, some stickers from the pack the pegasus came from and a hot air balloon sticker. I also included some rainbow washi and a package of instant coffee.
Here's what I got in return:

 It's basically colored paper with goodies on top. To me that is not a pocket letter anyone can cut up paper and put it in a sleeve. The weren't even cut straight.
So, I fixed it:

I used the original paper sent to me and just embellished it. Basically, I did every pocket the same with a little variation in the pieces used. I layered a butterfly with some kind of bling as the body on a round piece. The bottom has a couple layers of banners with a stamped quote on them and then either butterflies or round pieces on the bottom. I had a few butterflies, I ended up just tracing one onto different paper.
I used a sticker for the circle, a traced butterfly on pink paper, some pink bling (kinda recreating those butterfly stickers from the Dollar Tree), with pink butterflies. For the orange, I used an egg toothpick topper for the round piece, a butterfly punch from a swap, some clear bling for the body and some orange round stickers. For the lilac one, again with an egg toothpick topper, this was a traced butterfly with clear bling and light purple jewels.
For the blue, a punch from a swap, a traced butterfly with blue bling and blue butterflies. This middle piece I kept, I just glued the die cut down. For the green, a punch from a swap, the butterfly is also from a swap with pearls for the body and green butterflies.
For the purple, another egg toothpick topper (actually the other side from the one I used on the lilac piece), the butterfly is from an envelope with pearls as the body and some purple rub on flowers from Target. For the red, a die cut from a swap, a butterfly from a swap with red bling for the body and red butterflies. For the yellow, a cupcake liner with a butterfly from a swap and pearls for the body and yellow butterflies.
I love how this turned out.

RAK Challenge

One of my groups on facebook regularly sends out RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) as one of the requirements in the group. I signed up to do the RAK challenge for this month. I was sent a package in the mail that included a base for a journal, pages for the journal, some jute, a bunch of flat back pearls and a couple pieces of patterned paper. The challenge was to make a journal with the pieces provided and only 3 more things from our stash.
Here's the journal that I created.
The front:

 The background paper was given to me, as well as the circles of patterned paper, the jute, and the flat back pearls. I added the lace at the bottom, the medallion and used ink on the patterned paper.
I added the medallion to the front, used the larger patterned paper circle as it's middle. I inked the edges of the smaller circle and glued the jute around the outside of it. I wish I could have added more to the center of the circle as it just looks unfinished to me.
The back:

 The background paper was given to me as well as the green piece. I added the lace at the bottom and the medallion.
The inside:

The pages and the bird were given to me.
I started creating and then stopped to ask if I could add more than three of my own items, the answer was no and I was glad I stopped to ask because I had already added the lace and the medallion. I thought the medallions went great with the paper I was given. I really wanted to use the bird, but couldn't find a way to add it to the front, so I stuck it in the inside.
We were supposed to have the item done by the 19th, we send a picture (I sent three: the front, back, and inside) to the group owner, she puts them in a post and people vote on them. Later we send them out as RAKs to other people in the group.
I think this will be a fun group.

Fabulous Flip book

Another facebook group was having a flip book swap, there was no set theme. I went with bright colors and summer. I'm still having fun with the 4x6 size flip books.
Here's the front:

 I used a project life card that looked like water and added a jewel 'hello' sticker.
When you flip it up:

 Close-up of top card:

 These two cards are from a RAK someone sent me, I used these two martini glass paperclips to hold them closed.
When you flip them open:

 Close-up:

 I just added some jewels with tape. That middle card is from the same RAK, and the background is a project life card.
Close-up of bottom card:

 The background is a floral project life card. I added some sticky notes I got at Target, I thought the colors went well with the flip book, I gave her 10 of each.
When you flip this one down:

 Close-up of middle card:

I didn't do much to this one, I just added a couple flowers.

Close-up of bottom card:

 The background is a project life card with hearts. I added the washi tape, which says 'hello sunshine' and some stamped bicycles at the bottom that I colored with gel pens. I also added a tag of washi with a binder clip.
When you flip that one down:

 Close-up of third card:

This project life card had a place to write on the end, so I covered that up with a pocket. I put some stickers and project life cards in it.

Close-up of last card:

I just added the arrow stickers at the bottom.

The back:

I added this envelope with my note in it.
I don't know about other people, but I have the hardest time getting my flip books to stay shut, I try to leave enough room when taping them, I also try to trim down the individual pages, but they always end up pretty bulky.
Here's what I received from my partner:

She made me an envelope flip book, here's the cover:

 The first flip:

 The second flip:

 The third flip:

 The back cover:

It's a nice fall theme

Birthday Challenge

One of the channels I watch on youtube, Cat's Crafty Corner, had a birthday challenge for her May birthday. I planned to send her a card, but you know how time gets away from you? I did end up sending her a card and a gift, it just got there a little late.
Here's what I made for her:

 I thought this card turned out so cute.
I just put two pieces of paper on a blank card with a little washi in the middle to cover the seam. The girl image is from a swap as are the flowers. It's so cute and simple and I wish I could make another one.
I also sent her an altered mini composition book:

Remember this post? I had asked for three partners, but only got two. Since I bought a three-pack of the books, I went ahead and altered the third one as well.
I LOVE how this turned out. The background is from a garage sale, the flower paper on the edge is from my stash, the washi on the bottom is from Dollar Tree. The teacups are actually from a card that I bought for the teacups from Dollar Tree.
Again, I wish I had the materials to make another one of these.

It's my birthday...soon

How cute is this tiny birthday card I made for my boss?

Basically it's layered paper and stickers, but she likes elephants, so I'm guessing she liked it.
I admit, I remember her birthday because it's exactly one month before mine. Hers is June 2nd, mine's July 2nd.

I've been wishing for week's on CraftyLori's Let the Wishing Begin videos for people to send me birthday cards, I think I've gotten less than 10 replies. That's still more than none. I got one today and put it away to look at later.
I would love if people sent me birthday cards, feel free to email me for my address if you want to send me something, weinkermeyer@hotmail.com

I was just thinking the other day, that I always get soo worked up for my birthday and then it comes and goes and nothing really exciting happens. Last year I wished for Happy Mail for my birthday and I got some cool stuff, go here, to see what I got. I also went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner with a friend. My favorite birthday was the year my friends and I went to Adventureland, it's a somewhat small amusement park about an hour away. I'm not a huge ride fan, but hanging out with my friends at a place I rarely go to, made it great.
I've also gone to the Good Guys car show a few years, it's over the weekend closest to the 4th of July. I know most of you don't know, but I LOVE muscle cars. I remember one year, I had set up a ride along with the local police the night before and had gone to the car show the next day. That was a great year, I remember it being the first year I went, I found some random guy online (I know, not very safe, but I'm fine), I remember going in his older Jeep Wagoneer that didn't have any seatbelts. I remember taking my mom's camera cause I didn't have one. I remember walking around in flip flops for hours and it raining.
After that first year, it was still fun, but it wasn't my first time anymore. My ex took me a few times, I think the last time is just because it was easy and convenient.
I was my mother's birthday present the year I was born, so I always feel like I'm sharing her birthday (hers is July 3rd) and as you all know the 4th is just right around the corner, so I feel that kinda overshadows my birthday too.
I thought I'd *try* to save all my happy mail from now until my birthday and then open it all on my birthday. We'll see if I can do it, it's a ways away.