Monday, May 2, 2011

Save the Dates, pull string style!




We wanted to create a cute way to send the dates to our friends, and spent several hours doing so!  Good news for us was that we were iced in the apt for nearly 4 days, so we had plenty of time!  Our inspiration came from Miss Martha Stewart herself... Martha Stewart Save the Date.  We put our own spin on it though, and used the school's TRAC (Teacher Resource Activity Center) for the die cuts instead of buying a $200-$300 circa machine. Gotta find a break somewhere!

You do not need to follow exactly.  Get creative with this one! 

Supplies:
Card Stock (pre-made letter size is easier)
Ribbon cut into 8"-12" strips
Wallet size photos (can print on Walmart.com 4 to a page and have them ready for you)
Miniature envelopes  (paper-source.com or Joanns)
Numbers  (The TRAC center had a computer that did all the cutting for us.  Without that, the project wouldn't be worth it!)
Print-out with your names and webpage.  I printed this on regular paper and cut-out. 
Slinder hole punch for the numbers (regular round ones are too big.  You can find various shapes of hole punches in craft stores)
Save the Date stamp for decoration
Tape squares for the back of the print out
Corner squares for the picture
Gluestick that dries clear
Xacto Knife for the slit in the paper for the envelope
Friends to help!!  Very important!

1.  First step, cut out the numbers using a circa machine or school craft resource office (like we did...).  The TRAC center only charged us $0.80 for the paper.  WAY cheaper than $200!  Make sure to cut enough numbers and some extra for mess-ups.  For instance, our date is 06-25-11, so we had 60 of each number and 120 1's.  We also cut out small circles using the machine to secure the ribbon with glue inside the envelope and small tags for the "pull" part.

On that note, you might want to write PULL on the tag... we had phone calls from ppl saying "Where's the date?"  Geez ppl! 

2.  Punch holes in the numbers and string the ribbon through.  We glued the numbers to the ribbon at the top to keep from sliding around. This was the most time-consuming part!  If we did it again, we def would find a better way.  Make sure to add the circle at the end of the ribbon so you will have something to glue inside the mini envelope


3. Glue the circle at the end of the ribbon and paste inside the envelope.  Make sure to leave enough room for the numbers to fit inside.  Also, make sure you keep the envelope open enough to not glue it shut.

Recruited Kristyn to help with this project :)  Much needed! 
4.  Create a slit with the Xacto knife for the mini envelope to peak through the card stock.  Will need trial and error paper for this.  Make sure you have steady hands!
Back.  After envelope is through slit and glued to the back


5.  Once the slits are finished and the envelopes are dry, slide the envelope (with numbers folded inside) through the slit, and paste to the back of the card stock using the glue stick (See above).


6. Meanwhile, use the square tape stickers  and corner squares to tape the picture and the name print out to the card stock.  The squares give the picture and label a 3-D effect. 

7. Decorate with outside with stamps, ribbons, etc...  Get creative....

In hindsight, we should've written "PULL ME" on the bell....
8. Address the outside envelopes and send em' out!!!

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