Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday. It's hard to believe that eight years have already gone by! Naturally, being the true procrastinator that I am, I waited until the last minute to make a card, so I whipped together this gift set for her using a card that I demonstrated during a workshop last month as a guide. I used the Big Bold Birthday stamp set and Bella Designer Series Patterned Paper, along with some felt flowers, brads, and iridescent ice embossing powder for that extra girly touch.
I created a topper for a paper bag that I had leftover from Halloween. Then I used my Big Shot to cut an acetate pillow box, which I filled with Starburst, one of my daughter's favorite candies.
The Square Spring Card is not my original idea. I found an online tutorial by Sandy Hulsart and modified the dimensions to create a smaller card. To create your own Square Spring Card, you will need a piece of cardstock that measures 8.5"x4 1/4" (you can change the size - just make sure that the length is double the width).
1. Begin by scoring the long side at 4 1/4".
2. Next, fold the right end in to meet the score line in the middle. I used a bone folder to create a sharp crease.
3. Fold in along the score lines and flip over your cardstock.
4. Fold the top left corner down to meet the score line that you created in step 2.
5. Open your card and fold the bottom left down to meet the same score line.
Your cardstock should look like this when opened:
6. Find the centre point on the side opposite the one on which you created the score line and use a ruler to draw two lines from this point to the tips of the triangular score lines.
Your cardstock should now look like this:
7. Cut along your pencil line. Your card should now fold into a spring. I glued the bottom triangle piece to the base to make it more sturdy.
Flip the box over and glue the transparency to the inside lid of the box to create a window.
Glue the flaps of the bottom of your box together as shown.
Cut each scallop in half. You will need five halves for a five petal flower like mine.
Roll each half scallop into a cone shape and glue in place. 
Add adhesive to one side of your punched circle. This will be the base to add your petals to. Flatten the pointed end of each flower slightly.
Attach each petal one at a time to the adhesive on your circle.
Once all five petals are added, attach your centre embellishment and add it to your card. For a puffier version (like the one in the Stampin' UP catalogue), use six petals and do not flatten them.
This Summer I decided to tackle the mess that is my scrap space. Over the years as a demonstrator, my stuff has spilled out of the office and now takes up more than half the basement. I finally decided that having rolls and rolls of ribbon scattered in every corner of my space was no longer working for me and I set about creating one space dedicated to ribbon. Did I mention that I have a weakness for ribbon? My system isn't complete yet. I need to clean out the drawer unit that my altered ribbon holder rests on, but when I am done, it will contain spools of less frequently used ribbon (which are now stacked in the dvd cases and arranged in the two black boxes you see on the stand. My current Stampin' UP ribbon will remain in the IKEA baskets under my punches, since I use them most often. My other favorites (at least the ones that will fit) will go on the altered Paper Towel Holder I found on sale at Michaels last year. This system will need changing again soon, since I know of at least two new punches that will be coming out in the new Fall Idea Book & Catalogue, and I need to squeeze in another IKEA rail to hold them!
