Upcoming Class at Wendaful Scrapbooks, Aug 1st

I've got another great tea bag folding class scheduled at Wendaful Scrapbooks in Temple on August 1st. That is a day filled with eight different Christmas card classes. You may choose four of the eight classes.

In the tea bag folding class we will make two cards that begin with the basic triangle fold. One will be a Christmas tree and the other will be a wreath. We will be using Cosmo Cricket paper and Bazzil's Dotted Swiss. I will also show you how to make a perfect bow.

The cards below will not be made in the class, but show samples of what you can make using the same folds just different sizes and placement. I hope to see you there.

Tea Bag Folding with Stripes

Note to self:

I can never remember which way to make the valley fold so that my medallion is symmetrical. When folding tea bag tiles with a stripe, make all eight valley folds with the strips going horizontally. This will allow the variation two to come together and match making a great visual impact. If you are cutting scrapbook paper you would want to try to get all of the stripes in the same cut. One way to do this is cut a strip 1 1/2" wide running with the stripe. Then cut your eight 1 1/2" squares from that strip. All will be identical. If you want bigger tiles, try to get the strip lined up on the same cutting edge, then cut eight tiles. Many times if they do not match up, I will alternate the folded tiles to keep some sort of symmetry in my medallion.

Kaleidoscope Creations

This idea came to me when I was thinking about the photo kaleidoscope scrapbook pages I made with photos years ago. I had to have the negatives printed in reverse for half of the pictures. Now that I've learned photoshop I thought "wow, what if..."

This is your basic kite fold medallion. The tiles were created with photoshop. I found images that I liked and resized them to tea bag tiles. I then flipped the image to get a reverse view. I chose a color with the color picker and created another tile with a gradient in the matching color. I found a link online at http://www.masikatiwebdesign.com/teabags/oteabags2.asp that allowed me to easily print the tea bag tiles in two different sizes. Then I printed them on a color laser printer. I had to make a trip to Kinkos to print the tiles, but I think it was worth it.

After folding the kite shapes I outlined the points with the Gelly Roll Stardust pens to give it just a little glimmer. Next I added bling and matted the medallion on the square cards. I'm not sure who will get these are for what occasion, but I will be ready!

Brights on Black

Here is another set that I started at the hospital. This is absolutely one of my favorites. I love the colors. I love everything about these. This one needs the inside mat with the white blank for the sentiment. I would be great for a recycling card. Now, just if I knew what paper I used. I got it at a LLS, but they don't have it any more. I'd make more if I could!

Set of Four

Over the past few months I spent lots of hours bedside at the hospital. I folded tea bag squares day and night. The pieces were easy to carry and the folded tiles I stashed in a box or drawer until I could assemble medallions and create cards. This is one set that I made four different variations from the basic triangle fold (some call it a waterbomb fold). I had purchased a paper pad with coordinating pattern paper that was light weight and easy to fold. I cut the tiles into two different sizes and developed four different medallions for four different cards. I just love the way they all turned out.

Five Sizes, Three Fold Variations

So many times I forget what size tile makes each medallion. Finally I decided to make a note to self and I thought I would share it with you here.

1” square tile = 1 ½” medallion
1 ¼” square tile = 2” medallion
1 ½” square tile = 2 ¼” medallion
1 ¾” square tile = 2 ½” medallion
2” square tile = 3” medallion

I have found so many great sites in the internet for tea bag folding and free tiles. For this example, I printed the same black & white tile on five different colored papers and in all five sizes available. This tile is available on Rosemarie's Tea-Bag Folding Website.

Below are my photo notes as to size tile and medallion. I used three different variations of the same fold. I love the different looks with how the medallions are assembled. Thanks for looking.

Share the Joy

Have you ever been so proud of a card that you've made or one that your've received that you want to share the joy? Why not make your next card to be recycled?

On the inside of this card, I added a mat that was cut just smaller than the actual card. I used my Corner Adorner punch from EK Success and then added a white mat. (Here you see my insert as the message, but in the actual card I sent this would be loose inside the card.) I would stamp and sign the white mat and slide it int the corners. I would include the "recycle instructions" in the card and give it to the first receipent. I envision the first reciever to enjoy the card a while, then take out the greeting, cut a new insert the same size, add a new greeting and then forward the card to the second receipent. This could go on as long as the card could withstand the joy of giving.

I think it makes for a great idea, but I have not tried it in reality yet. I will do so soon and we'll see how well it works. I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts. Please post a comment AND if you will e-mail your mailing address to me by July 12th, I will put your name in for a drawing on July 13th and you will receive one of my recycle cards.