Lunch Box Notes

Inspiration: The Paper Players #408

My niece started kindergarden this week. I saw her this weekend and she was really excited to tell me about starting school. She said she loved it and she added that she was actually upset to have a long weekend because she really wanted to be able to go back! Her mom and I looked at each other when she said that, because we cannot help but wonder how long that will last... LOL! When I saw the Paper Players challenge to make little notes for the lunch box, I thought it was absolutely perfect, since my niece had mentioned she now had to bring her own lunches, and that school was not providing the meals like daycare was. Haha! Her mom is not a crafter, but I'm pretty sure she will be happy to slip little notes in her lunches if I provide some for her. I have very fond memories of little handwritten notes I would find from my mom in my own lunches. I had the luxury of eating home most of the time, so lunchboxes were actually mostly for school outings and special events (like when we were going skiing with school). Because she was not making lunches often, my mom made it a habit to slip in a little note in with the lunches, usually saying something short and sweet like "I hope you have a great day - be kind to your friends and don't break a leg! Love, mom." I've always loved receiving mail of any kind and those notes were no exception. I remember the first time I found a note in my lunchbox - my friends took notice and seemed bummed that they didn't have one. The next time we had an activity with school, half of the lunchboxes were suddenly filled with little notes! I think my mom unknowingly started a trend. :)

To make my life simpler, I could certainly have pulled some paper and ornaments and made a series of cards using the same supplies, but where's the fun in that! I saw it as a great opportunity to use paper scraps and stamps, and once I got going, I had a hard time stopping. Those little notes are addictive! I used to make a bunch of those to slip into customers' shopping bags. I was happy to find a new reason to make some mini cards again.

On a side note, We R Memory Makers is bringing back the Perfect Layers. Stampin' Up! used to carry that tool and I was crushed when they discontinued it, as it was one of my favorite tool. Seeing it pop up made me want to dig my rulers out again. One of the thing I particularly enjoyed with this tool was matting images cut at weird angles, for a retro look. With uneven angles, matting with a paper cutter would be next to impossible, but with the Perfect Layers, it can be done in seconds and perfectly aligned. This was the inspiration for the little bee card.

I managed to finish my 6" x 6" Spring Garden paper pad from Doodlebug with the last card. Love when that happens! I was literally down to just scraps - didn't even have a big enough piece to make a matching envelope or make a 3" x 3" card front (had to piece to scraps and hide the seam with other pieces). My niece inherited all of her mom's and my old Little Ponies, so I think she will appreciate that card.

 

 

 

 

Note #1
Cardstock: So Saffron
Designer Series Paper: Storytime
Punches: Washi Tape, Heart
Framelits: Layering Squares
Accessories: Red Glimmer Paper, Envelope Punch Board, Mini Stapler

 

Note #2
Stamps: Happy Bee-day (Stampendous)
Cardstock: Rose Red, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Floral District
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Perfect Layers Tool, Envelope Punch Board (Stampin' Up!);
Silver Moondust Glitter Drops, Pencils (Prismacolor);
Glitter Gloss Aqua Shimmer Brush (Nuvo);
Uppercase and Lowecase Mini Alphabet Dies (Recollections)

 

 Note #3
Stamps: The Scoop (Avery Elle); Alphabet (Studio G)
Cardstock: Peekaboo Peach, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Designer Series Paper: Tasty Treats (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Layering Square Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Envelope Punch Board, Jelly Bean Sweet Shop Brads (Stampin' Up!);
Pencils (Prismacolor)

 

Note #4
Stamps: Fresh Fruits (Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Pineapple Punch (Stampin' Up!)
Designer Series Paper: Fruit Stand (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Layering Square Framelits, Ice Cream Parlor Buttons,
Envelope Punch Board (Stampin' Up!); Stitched Rectangles Stackables Lawn Cuts (Lawn Fawn)

 

Note #5
Stamps: Circus Train
Cardstock: Lemon Lime Twist
Designer Series Paper: Bubbles & Fizz
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Accessories: Stitched Rectangles Stackables Lawn Cuts (Lawn Fawn);
Pencils (Prismacolor); 2-1/4" Circle Punch (Stampin' Up!)

 

Note #6
Stamps: Mini Pony Party (The Greeting Farm by Simon Says Stamp); Circle Alphabet (Studio G)
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Melon Mambo, Lemon Lime Twist (Stampin' Up! Classic Ink)
Accessories: Ice Cream Parlor Buttons, Cotton Twine, Brights Candy Dots,
White Square Envelope, Layering Square Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!);
Pencils (Prismacolor)

 

Comments

[Joanne James]

Cindy I am blown away - your collection of little notes is fabulous! So many wonderful colours and little details and I love that they are all different - they will keep your niece guessing as to her lunchbox surprise for weeks to come! Thanks for playing along with my lunch box love notes challenge over at The Paper Players this week and embracing my challenge head on!

[LeAnne]

WOW! These are amazing! They are all little works of art...they'd better keep these notes after reading them and not toss them in the trash, they're precious! GREAT work on all of them! Thanks for sharing these at the Players this week!

[laurie]

These are so cute I can't stand it!So fun.Thanks for playing along with us at The Paper Players!

[jaydee]

Cindy, what a wonderful collection of cards. The use of the bright colors and the whimsical elements are just perfect. Fabulous take on the challenge. So glad you joined us at the Paper Players this week
Jaydee

[Rosa M. Vasquez]

Wonderful notes. They would cheer up anyone receiving them!