OBC – Gifts from far and wide

ONE BOOB CHRONICLE – Gifts From Far and Wide

During this past year, while I have been going through the treatment for breast cancer, my YouTube community has blessed me with gifts of all kinds.  From Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, and various places here in the United States.

I have been thinking of a way to thank each person who took the time to make things for me and send all kinds of crafting supplies.  I had watched videos on the making of “Pocket Letters” which are made from baseball card sheaths.  I just have not been able to think what I can put in each of the small pockets.

Recently, I received an astoundingly beautiful “Loaded Envelope” from a friend in New York.  Roberta Commeau.

Gifts from New York. A “Loaded Envelope”

This is something that I can do, and I am excited to begin the process.  I need to make 26 of these.  Starting with the “wands”.

I spent the weekend making rosettes from glittered paper I have in my stash.

If you have not tried to make a rosette, and don’t know how to make one, I have some step by step instructions for you.  These rosettes can be any size you would like to make.  Mine are 2 inches by 12 inches.

This is a 12 x 12 sheet of card stock from an old DCWV paper pack.

A 12 x 12 card stock sheet from DCWV

Since I am making so many of these rosettes, I can get six from one sheet of paper.  I turned the paper over to expose the blank back side.  Using my Martha Stewart Score Board, score the paper every 1/4 inch.

Score the paper every 1/4 inch

Before you cut the paper into strips, MAKE SURE THE SCORE MARKS ARE HORIZONTAL.

Turn the paper so the score marks are horizontal

I cut the paper into 2 inch strips.  Using a Martha Stewart Border Punch I then punched one edge of the strip.

Cut the paper into 2 inch strips

Use a border punch for a decorative edge

The punched strip

Next step is to make the accordion folds along the strip of paper.

Make the mountain and valley folds on the strip of paper

Accordion folded strip

Attaching the ends of the strip is the next task.  As you look at the ends together you will notice the ends are matching.  You need to cut away one of the 1/4 inch pieces to make the overlap needed to join the two edges.

Matching edges, you need to cut one away

Remove one 1/4 inch strip

Now you can join the strip

Add the adhesive of your choice to one strip, then place the other edge over the adhesive and press tightly.  Then set this aside to dry.

Add adhesive to one edge

Join the edges and press firmly

Set aside to dry

I have used a 1 inch circle punch to make pieces to hold the rosette together.  That will be some tricky business.

One inch hole punch

Make the fasteners

Now comes the tricky part.  These little guys are not always cooperative.  Turn the rosette piece over so the decorative edge is against the table.  Begin pushing inward on the rosette until it starts to lie down.

Keep working the rosette as you go along.  There will be places you will have to do some adjusting until it finally lies flat.

Turn the rosette over on the decorative punched edge

Start pressing inward on the folds

Pressing inward and down will cause the rosette to collapse

Sometimes a little adjustment is necessary

There is your rosette.

Next challenge will be to turn your rosette over.  It will pop up but don’t worry.  You have already trained it the way it needs to be.  Add glue of your  choice to one of the 1 inch circles and attach to the center of your rosette.  Then put it under something heavy until it dries.

Turn the rosette over

Add adhesive of your choice to a 1 inch circle

Press the punched circle into the center of the rosette

This is how it will look

Put the rosette under something to allow it to dry

This is my finished stash of rosettes ready to be made into “Wands”.  I need to make a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michaels for some paper straws.

As I make these I will show you the process.  For the remainder of creating these “wands” I will be using my dreaded hot glue gun.

Thank you, Roberta, for your inspiration.

Leslie