April 2000
Marvelous Monograms: Cards, Gift Tags and Carrot-shaped Box
Designed By Judi Kauffman

Imagine my glee when Red Castle decided to make a Flower Alphabet! I trimmed them immediately and stamped a dozen sheets of paper and envelopes in a soft sepia-tone ink. I've always liked monograms. I keep my mother's monogrammed hanky in a drawer and tuck it in my purse for special occasions. Monograms have certain grace and elegance -- they say "this belongs to someone special" in a way that nothing else can.

For this month's projects, I've designed gift tags and cards suitable for any occasion, but especially nice for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation, weddings, and other spring/summer events. For those of you who have the Red Castle Fit It template CD, or have been thinking about getting it, I've also designed a carrot-shaped box featuring a trio of monograms. Don't adjust your monitor, it's blue, not orange! I decided to create a box that would be just right for a string of beads (or as a party favor, filled with candy coated almonds).

After you make some gift tags, cards, or the carrot shaped box, you'll think of many more ways to enjoy your monograms. Stamp the recipient's initial in the front of a book and put the date above and your greeting below. Try the monograms on fabric (using a fabric ink of course) for a special set of napkins or pillowcases. Stamp with Versamark (from Tsukineko) for a subtle pattern or watermark effect. The possibilities are endless.

MATERIALS

For April Projects

Red Castle FIT IT CD - Carrot Box template

Monograms stamp from Flower Alphabet Plate #42510 (see below)

Bone scoring tool and KAI(r) Scissors

Red Castle #42510 Flower Alphabet
Red Castle FIT IT template CD (for carrot-shaped box)
Card stock in colors shown or your choice
Black pigment ink pad
Ranger Embossing Antiquities -- Cobalt
Heat tool
Gel Xtreme pens from Yasutomo (black, copper, gold and white)
Watercolor markers
Small beads, buttons, ribbons, or other embellishments
Cord for tags (Kreinik #16 Medium Braid in assorted colors)
Yarn to match carrot box (6-10 20" pieces, folded in half, assorted colors)
Xyron with adhesive cartridge or double-faced adhesive sheet (if you make carrot shaped box of lightweight paper that requires stabilizing)

Optional:

Lighthouse Memories cutter for gift tag shapes
Krylon Leafing Pen -- Gold (for antique look at edges of tags and carrot-shaped box)
Deckle edge scissors
1/8" and 1/4" hole punches
Blank greeting cards
Gold paper antiqued by crumpling

STEPS

For monogram

Stamp monogram on card stock using black pigment ink. Emboss with Embossing Antiquities/Cobalt. Color with markers.
For gift tags, embellish monogram and 1/8" beyond with markers and Gel Xtreme pens. Cut out using deckle edge or regular scissors, leaving narrow border. Cut round, teardrop and other shape gift tags (approximately 3"). Glue a monogram to each tag.
Punch 1/8" hole at top of tag. Embellish as shown or as desired with Gel Xtreme pens, buttons, beads, ribbon or flowers. Thread cord through hole.

OPTIONS

Make pastel monograms and center them on ribbon to use as napkin ties at a bridal shower, use bright holiday colors and turn the tags into Christmas ornaments. Leave the back blank for a message, or stamp a favorite saying. Add a photo to the back for a memento.

For Carrot Shaped Box

Print template on lightweight card stock or use Xyron or double faced adhesive sheet to affix lightweight computer paper to the back of paper to stabilize it.
Score, fold and assemble the box.
Punch hole in center of top.
Knot folded yarn pieces together in a bundle, 1/2" from fold.
Pull 1/2" piece through hole and glue to secure the yarn "fern" on the carrot.
With Krylon Leafing Pen/Gold lightly edge the box to give it an antique effect.
Cut monograms very close to edge and glue them to three sides of the box.

OPTIONS:

Use a single monogram.
Use more realistic colors (orange stock, green yarn, and bright garden colors for the monograms and flowers).
Change the size and shape of the carrot as desired -- FIT IT makes it very easy (you'll see the new shape and measurements on your computer screen).

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