Memorial Day Card and Envelope with a Review

Hello my crafty friends, I am back again to share with you my project for this month of  "May" or should I say the end of May,, WOW!! can you believe we are officially on or way into "Summer"... I know many of us will be enjoying a wonderful 3 day weekend (I say us... as in You, as I will be at work for those 3 days and 2 more after that)..  But it's ok, I will make the best of the time I do get to enjoy!!. 

Ok! So back to my post, I decided to make a card for the "Memorial Day" Holiday  which is in a few days. and it also signify the  official start of "Summer"...

For my card I used another gorgeous image from "La Land Crafts". This is Saluting Marci.. She is a digital image that I purchased (she is available in rubber too!!) I thought she would be perfect for "Memorial Day. She is wearing her red, white and blue, while holding her flag. Too cute don't you think?

 I love making the standard A2 cards, but I also love making larger cards too, because with stamped images, you need more canvas to work with, so with my stamped and colored images, I usually go with 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 cards. I love that it's larger and that I have more space to add embellishments  and other fun mediums on my cards.   Now, what is NOT fun is finding envelops to fit the cards that I make, which is not always easy. It can get pretty pricey trying to buy envelops for all the different sizes and shapes that we do make.

This brings me to the second part of my post.  I thought I would do a little Review of the "We R Memory Keepers Envelope punch board." I have been seeing a lot of post and talk about this. It was a 'big' hit at CHA, this past January. So being the impulsive shopper I am ( and trust me I don't say that as a good thing) just ask my 'husband and kids" they can tell when the days when the 'brown truck' will be stopping by. About a week ago as I was stalking my favorite 'shopping network' ;0) they had this as a deal of the day.   It was too good of a deal to pass up, so of course I had to get it.  Which it was a good deal, as you can see I got, not only the 'envelope maker but I also got a nice pack of 12 x 12 paper to make envelopes with, as well as a roll of  'two sided tape' ( well that's at least how I sold it to my DH) for less than the price I see it advertised for, with out any of the extra too. lol

I decided I would just open it and read the direction and go for it, because according to the sales pitch, that's all I would have to do! So here is my "Review" of this product as I use it for the first time.
As you can see, there are only 9 simple steps that you have to follow and you should be able to make an envelope for any card and size that you choose to.

• I love that you have a huge listing of charts and sizes for your different size envelope right on the front of your cutter.
• You also get a chart with additional sizes all the way up to a 12.2 x 21.6 card  (don't know if I will every get that big, but hey you never know! lol
• You get a nice bone folder and a  compartment to store it so sit all fits away neatly, 
• The cutter is very easy to use and it cuts very nicely, at least on the paper that I am using,which came along with it.. I will try different weight of paper, but I have to say that this set is a very nice weight and will hold my cards, even with the extra embellishments with out any fear of 'coming apart'.

So for my "51/2 x 51/2 card I just , found it on the front of my cutter, and followed the size for my envelope and the settings that I need to be on to cut and score.

So here are my 9 x 9 paper, ( I just cut 2 piece to size)

The next thing I did was to measure my card right at the 4 1/2 mark as instructed!!..

Here is what your first cut will look like! Once you make your first cut. 

OK!!.. so what I learned from the "first time I made my cut!

YOU have to make sure that your 'measurement for your first,and second cut is correct!!! Because if NOT, your envelope size will be off.. (in my case as you can see by the blue envelope, which was my first try with out reading any thing, was way off. Now don't get me wrong, it made a perfect envelope, just not the size that I needed. 

So for the second one I made sure I paid attention that my size and placement where 'correct' and this is the finish result as I cut and scored 'all sides' of my my 9 x 9 paper.

this is what it looks like closed.. I really Like how it turned out.

  Once I did it 3 times, and I realize what I was doing wrong. I will be keeping the blue one because I can make a card that will fit it perfect.

So, once I was happy with my envelope, I just got a piece of my scrap paper from my card, and just taped it   to the front of the 'envelope' and not only did I save on having to buy envelopes in a bulk or package, I was ale to costume make it to go perfect with my card I made.

So for my "Review of this product I have to say that I really "Like" it and once I make a few more envelopes in different size and get better with learning about it. ., I know I will "Love it"

 Here is another look at my card.. I did not want to leave with out showing her again..  She was colored with with Prisma colored pencils and OMS.. I added some glitter to her name tag and the star on her flag.
DP.. is " MME " Summersplash" Sentiment is apart of the digi set again from La La Land Crafts, and embellishments and punch are from EK Success.. I added some pop dots. ohh and card stock is from PTI.

Here is the inside of the card, did not really know what to put in side, but that can always be added later!

Here is one more 'shot' of my card and matching envelope. Now I know that a lot of you may have already purchase, this envelope maker, and if see I would love to hear from you what your review of it its, or you may have some great tips, and ideas that you want to share, We would LOVE to hear from you. And if it's your first time seeing it in action, I would love to hear what you think of it too.. I know I may have missed a few steps, with me taken pictures, but I do hope that you enjoyed it, or at least like my card and get some inspiration for the up coming weekend, I hope it's a "Crafty One" for you.. Have a great time with our friends and family.. And for those whom this Memorial day means a time of Remembering, memories and giving Thanks.. Lets make it a time to celebrate all the good times that we have with our Family and Friends.

Happy Crafting.

Sharette