Brittney's Stationery.....Papertrey and K & Company

Today's project will have you wishing you were 13 years old again. As a child, I loved stationery. It wasn't very often that I got new notepad or notecards or new pens. But when I did, I would savor them like a fine piece of chocolate. I was hoarder though, I didn't want to use my goodies because I might run out. Oh, and stickers.....they were like morslets of sweet stickiness to me. If you actually received a sticker from me, you were a lucky girl! Now, fast forward to 2008 and I still love stationery and all things created in the name of patterned paper. But do I hoard stuff? Not very often. That comes as a shock to many of you right? Well aside from getting a great project today, you will get some hoarding tips. Let's begin.


Today project starts with K and Company patterned paper (found at my local scrapbook store). Hoarding Tip #1: Stop purchasing onesies of everything. Instead, shop with a theme in mind or find a certain collection of supplies that you just adore. Purchase a lot of stuff from the same line like papers with matching ribbons, buttons, bling, bling, stickers, etc. This way, you can actually cut into that cardstock and use more than a 1" snippet of ribbon at a time. And you might just actually give something away that you've made. I know you make fun stuff and then you don't give it to anyone. Stop doing that, loosen up, shop with a theme in mind. Keep it all together in an Inspiration Station or a special 12 x 12 plastic folder. Now on to the project. Josey got invited to an older girls birthday party, which is huge. Brittney will be 13 and loves her I-Pod and all things paper. We took her shopping with us one day at the mall and she whipped out this notepad with the things she needed. As we purchased shorts, shirts, etc there was Brittney crossing off her list. Great girl!! So instead of the typical junk that you buy for birthday gifts, I decided to make Brittney some personalized stationery. Brittney loves butterflies and the color pink, great ideas to start with. I selected a butterfly patterned paper and Papertrey Ink cardstock, stamps and ink. For the stamps, I used: Polka Dot Basics, Borders and Corners Circles, Butterfly Kisses, Simple Alphabet, Trajan Monogram, Paper Tray. SIX sets? Yes, but you'd never know it right?

Hoarding Tip #2: Stop purchasing the cheapo dollar stamps and stuff that you won't use....but you just had to have because it was a good deal. Instead, invest in quality products that mix and match together well. All of the different stamps I used work together because they are timeless, simple in design and compliment each other well. Below are all the bits and pieces of my project, all stamped and ready to be assembled.
Hoarding Tip #3: Mass produce once a in a while. If you make more than one of something, you'll be more likely to give it away since you can keep one for yourself. But for this set of stationery, they're all for Brittney.....since my name is not Brittney. For the card fronts, I adhered my patterned paper, added the white strip with the sentiment *from the desk of Brittney*, the polka dot strip and the circle with the monogrammed letter B.

Hoarding Tip #4: Purchase less expensive items when it makes sense. Here I used some less expensive envelopes but I fancied them up with piece of patterned paper to make envelope liners. And I customized each envelope with additional butterflies, flowers and the *for you* sentiment. They look fancy schmancy, huh?
Here's card with the envy, showing the front and inside of the envelopes.
Hoarding Tip #5: Packaging is everything. Don't skimp on the packaging. If you make a great creation and put it in a paper sack, it will look like crap. However, if you make the packaging look great, no one will know that your set of 8 cards cost you just a couple bucks to make! Here I used a clear stationery box from Papertrey Ink along with some ribbon that matches the cardstock color. Berry Sorbet is the delicious flavor of the day for the cardstock, ribbon and ink.

Hoarding Tip #6: I know what you are thinking. My roll of Papertrey ribbon only has 5 yards on it. If I use a yard like you did, I will only have 4 yards left! Yes that is true but here is a concept for you: Nichole makes more ribbon!!! Use it up girls, it feels good to actually be able to say *I ran out of Berry Sorbet ribbon, I NEED more.*
And Hoarding Tip #7: Don't try to buy teenage or pre-teenage girls dorky, cheap gifts. They will not like them. They will probably tell you they don't like them. Go for the cute stationery set and a gift card to Target!! Looky what I found, a gift card with butterflies!

Okay, that is crossed off my list. I'm going to have Josey fill out the gift card and help make a birthday card after school. Then we'll package it all up in the pink gift sack with some cute tissue and we're good to go. I wish I could be there when Brittney opens her gift....I know it will be one of a kind! And skating at the skating rink too? Oh man, what fun!! And the satisfaction to hear my girls say *Mom, you're the best mom ever!*?? PRICELESS!!!!!!!