Sunday 27 November 2022

'Santa suit' Christmas money holders

About a week ago, I set to and made three money/cheque holders. The size is perfect for euros as I carefully measured up -  but Len had me 'switch horses mid-gallop' so they will now be going to different recipients. Back to the drawing board for the girls and their Mum in Germany - he wanted 'pretty'! Anyhow - this is what I initially made and they will head off to Ipswich:

The money holder, closed

The money holder, opened up with pouch for money on the right hand side

The snippets I started out with. The silver looks gold, but it truly isn't, it's an adjustable 'warmer light' setting on my 'over the desk' lamp. And - I didn't use the very big red snippets in the end - opting for full A4 sheets of card - slap my wrists!

I used - for each holder - which just looks like a normal card until you open it:

- a sheet of Tonic UK A4 sized 'Red Velvet' pearlescent card - scored at 4.25 " and 8.5" from the long edge downwards - with 3.25" remaining

- then folded the holder along the scorelines into three, creasing well with a Teflon bone folder. The narrower width of 3.25" was to make the 'holder' part

- sliced the whole triple folded holder across the width, using a guillotine and cutting it down to 6.25" high

- to create the 'flap' for the money pouch I cut across the 3.25" narrow portion at 2" from the bottom, then down from the top crease line to meet the point where the first cut met the crease (easier to see what I mean by looking at the 2nd photo above), I used a guillotine (for one card) and long sharp scissors for the other two. Neither are easy to be honest but my slight preference is for using the scissors

- rounded the corner of the newly created 'flap' using a large X-cut corner punch

- before going any further I trimmed a snippet of white paper and glued it on the inside of the money holder, ready to write a message to the recipient - bit of forward thinking, for once, there!

- then used very narrow red line tape (one eighth of an inch wide) to securely adhere the bottom edge of the flap to the main body of the money holder - forming a little pouch

- topped the 'pouch' section with a sentiment, die cut using Tonic Studios 'Mini Moments - Merry Christmas' and a snippet of silver mirri card - if I lose it tomorrow - that sweet little die owes me absolutely nothing

- decorating the front of the card was truly the fun part, I used white, black and silver snippets for all of it - as well as a die set made by Joy! called 'Vintage Jeans - Buckle and Belt'

- it's really self-explanatory, but for my own records, the white 'fur' was 1" wide, cut from a snippet of plain white card, the plain black belt portion die for the 'no punch holes' side was far too short so I just cut a .75" wide longer strip of black, again from a snippet

- assembling the belt and buckle was slightly fiddly but still pretty easy - and I stuck the bottom edge of the assembled belt in place at about 1.25" from the bottom of the holder - using red line tape - then carefully pulled off the top layer of tape from behind the belt piece using very lethal and pointed tweezers

- the die set even included a little 'retaining excess belt length', or whatever you call it, die in the set so I cut one and stuck it in place

- the buttons come in four different designs but only used two of the designs as I liked the double button holes and also alternated them - again using red line tape to adhere them - finished!

I have to say that the attention to detail in the design of the Joy! die cutting sets is quite hard to beat.

But, let's talk about about the set of dies I used for this folder/card. There's more detail to the dies - which am sure means running the buttons as well as the belt through the die cutting machine, to emboss them but I wasn't too fussed about going to those lengths. In fact, I only bought the set of dies as they were in a 'super reduced sale' a while ago. You can easily achieve very similar results using a plain black strip of card for the belt, small square, oval round quite tightly nested dies for the buckle (look at your punches - they might do the trick!) - then possibly real buttons or small punched circles for the buttons. Pokey tool for the button holes or a white marker - and away you go!

This is my snippets card to kick off challenge #442 over in the Snippets Playground. Go HERE  to join in the fun!

I'd like to enter this money holder into the following challenges:

Rudolph Days November 2022 Challenge

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #44 as I used the Joy! NBUS set of dies

Dudley Pupdate: We've had work being done here for over a week now and sweet Dudley, during the day time, has been at his absolute wit's end with all the different sounds, deliveries, comings and goings etc. Being on duty has meant no time for his daytime naps, so he's out for the count at bed time! Mind you, so are we.



21 comments:

  1. A stunning card Di - and very effective. Poor Dudley - no time for mischief!
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  2. Your Santa money holder looks fabulous. The Joy die was really worth buying as you could also make the Santa design into a card front too, or a tad maybe??

    Good dog Dudley - guard duty sounds very tiring!! Xxx

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  3. Super Santa money holder Di, I agree the belt and buttons are fab! Xxx

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  4. Sometimes it takes a long while for the penny to drop then this morning it did, somehow I managed to lose you when things moved to a new blog for the Playgruond, all sorted now I hope.

    B x

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  5. Love your money holder, it's a great design, fun but elegant too!!
    Surely Dudley will not have too much energy for his mischief :)
    Hugs to you and cuddles for him!

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  6. Brilliant money wallet Di ... simple design but incredibly effective with the fab details for the belt and buttons - love it!
    Pauline xx

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  7. Love the money folder. Hope you don’t mind if I pinch the idea! Poor Dudley, Cleo( cat) sympathises with him as we have had workmen in and out and now the gas main is being replaced outside. She’s not happy with the noise at all. xx

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  8. Love this design for a money holder, Di. My great niece has asked for money for Christmas for something she is saving up for. I think I might just have to CASE this design if you don't mind. xx

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  9. What a fantastic card Di and what a great idea l just love it xx

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  10. A fabulous money wallet Di.
    Kath x

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  11. Hi Di,
    Happy Rudolf Days.
    What a fabulous card and a brilliant money wallet.
    Love the Santa's suit design such very fab dies used and beautiful colour card stock.
    Poor Dudley it's so hard keeping his house safe with such a lot going on I'm sure he is worn out.
    Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L. DT

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  12. This is a fabulous idea as a card which is also a money holder Di. Poor Dudley being on the alert all day must be exhausting. x

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  13. Your Santa suit money holder is gorgeous, inside and out! And you made 3 of them! I especially love the stitched buttons and also that beautiful shimmery red cardstock! Beautiful work! Poor Dudley is making the best of the construction work, and I know from experience it's quite disrupting. Hang in there!

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  14. What a great way to send money at Chritmas, I normally leave it to late and pop it in a card. Thank you for joining the fun at Rudolph Days this month.

    Sue xx

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  15. Beautiful Di and love the pearlised paper you used too.

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  16. These are so cute and make giving money so much more fun as a gift! Those little buttons and big belt with a buckle are just perfect! Great creation and such a fun idea too! Hugs to you all!

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    Replies
    1. Oh Carol, how absolutely lovely to hear from you. Sending you our love and thoughts - and hoping that time might bring you back to our welcoming arms as well. I owe you an email and you're top of my list! Try telling that to a rogue electrician bent on causing havoc though! What a day - sheesh.
      Sending my love and a cuddle from Dudley Dog! Always remember - we're here in the Playground, playing in the rain as well as the sunshine, so our love and super-special umbrellas will always be here for you to share with us ... whatever the weather. You are loved Carol! Di xxx

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  17. Can only imagine how all the work going on is keeping Dudley busy & tired out! Sleeping good at night is never bad--haha! This is a darling money holder card! Will be fun to see what you come up with for the "pretty" ones!

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  18. this is so clever, I love it.
    good luck with all your work!

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