DIY Kids Project: Accordion Envelope Card

My good friend Sally Shim has done it again. With her latest book Be Mine (published by Chronicle Books), Sally shares 25 simple and very doable paper projects for Valentine's Day or any occasion. I love simple, practical and kid-friendly DIY projects and Sally is just so good at that. Remember the Hand Carved Stamps Lucas and I made? We still make gift wrap with that stamp all the time. See, I love practical!

Today I'm sharing one of the projects Lucas and I worked on together as a little Valentine's Day gift for Nick. We chose to make the Accordion Envelope Card so that Lucas could choose little keepsakes to share with Daddy.

Look at Lucas' kindergarten picture!!!

Also, how cute is Lucas' new t-shirt from Ink + Wit? More to come about these amazing shirts!

Materials
5 paper envelopes (I used size 4-bar)
1 colored metal brad
1 piece of cotton ribbon, 16 inches long (I used bakers twine)

Tools
X-ACTO knife
Ruler
Pencil
Self-healing cutting mat
4 piece of tape adhesive
Paper hole punch

How To

1. Set aside one of the five paper envelopes. With the remaining four envelopes, cut straight across the flap, leaving a 1/4" flap. Make the cuts using the X-ACTO knife, ruler, pencil, and self-healing cutting mat.
    
2. Build the Accordion Envelope Card from the bottom up: Arrange the four envelopes on the work surface, one atop the other in a row, opening-side up, with the openings at the top. Join the envelopes together by taping the shortened flap of one envelope to the bottom back side of another envelope, in this way: First cut a piece of tape that is roughly the length of the envelope flap. Then apply the piece of tape to the flap and the back sides of the envelopes. Repeat until all four envelopes are taped together. Add the fifth envelope to the top of the accordion using the same technique.
    
3. Using the hole punch, punch a hole in the point of the triangular flap of the envelope, 1/4" from the tip of the flap. Insert the brad through the hole so the round piece is on the outside of the flap, then separate the legs of the brad and flatten them against the underside of the flap to the secure the brad to the envelope.
    
4. Fill the envelopes with special messages, mementos, and trinkets.

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Happy Weekend, a Visit From Friends Old and New, and a Birthday

Happy weekend friends! This week seemed to have flown by. I was so happy to have some old friends and new visit us. I have been a long time follower/admirer of Sally Shim (how cool and cute are her boys?), and while she was out here visiting California from Korea, she and her boys came to visit us in Berkeley (go Bears! Sally is an alum like me!). I thoroughly loved chatting with her and seeing J and j interact so sweetly with my Lucas and Theo. We spent 11 hours together, starting with dinner from Noodle Theory, homemade waffles for breakfast (j ate 8 of them! yes, 8!), lunch at Summer Kitchen, a fun visit to the Lawrence Hall of Science, dinner at the Ramen Shop, and finally ice cream at Smitten. We had so much fun, food, and big time laughs! You can follow Sally and her boys on their trip via Instagram. Another special treat was seeing my friend Bonnie and her hilariously cute daughter Venise who drove up from L.A. for the longest-drive-shortest-play date ever. Next time they need to stay longer but I'll take what I can get. Maybe I can catch her again at her visual social media workshop at Poketo on September 20th.

Here are some of my favorite Instagram pics from this week.

And finally, it's my birthday weekend (July 20th to be exact). My boys are getting bigger and I'm getting older. Ha! Lately I've noticed I've been talking to myself. Busier? Older? I'm still in my late 20's, right? Let's be honest, after having kids, I feel like I'm five years older than I really am, but I wouldn't have it any other way and that's the truth. Oh, and last night Nick surprised me with a brand new Vitamix for my birthday! I've always jokingly hinted at it but never thought I would own one - what a splurge! I made him promise not to get me anything for our anniversary or Christmas or Valentine's day, maybe even my birthday next year, seriously. I can't wait to redefine what a blender can do!

I'm starting off my birthday weekend with a much needed in-home massage and having another yummy Munchery dinner delivered to our door.

What are you up to this weekend?

+ Images by me via Instagram (@good_on_paper)