A 4" Double Dog Dare Challenge

Morning everyone!!  There is another snow storm on it's way so I'll be spending most of my day in the Crafting Cave trying to get ahead of the game on my DT creations.  But before I head that direction, I wanted to share with you a personal challenge I have going on with my friend Lana Edwards (Blest with Stamps).

Last week Lana emailed me and asked if I had seen this adorable Note Card Holder over on Laurie Schmidlin's blog (Just Give Me Stamps) and attached the link.  Well, after seeing it, I just had to give it a try ... and just for fun, I put the CHALLENGE out to Lana that we would make them ourselves but not post them until we both had them completed!  Well, she immediately emailed me back with "YOU'RE ON!!" 

My problem came when I realized I didn't have any 4" envelopes then I thought "why not make my own"?  I have the new Martha Stewart score board (purchased from Joan's Gardens) and it has the envelope template included so after some measurement recalculations ... I was successful. 

I decided to use the DCWV Le Creme mat stack that I've had for several months to create my set.  I love the fact that some of these papers are beautifully flocked and just perfect for a little set like this.  Now mind you, I hadn't yet shown this set to Lana ... but when I went East on Tuesday to get my hair done at my sister's shoppe, I took some cards & this set along to show her and one of her customers bought this set on the spot!!  Yea, how cool is that ... and few of my cards too!!    I used the SU Toile Blossoms (retired) to adorn the sides of the envelopes which were made using SU Very Vanilla cardstock.

NOW I HAD A DILEMMA ...  My sample set was gone and I hadn't shown it to anyone yet!   Guess I needed to create another set so I would have it to show Lana and the others I thought might be interested in purchasing them as gifts.  So quickly yesterday morning (I was going to meet Lana in the afternoon - yikes, better hurry), using the same paper pack, I created this set.

We were actually headed to Hollo's (a fantastic paper company in Brunswick, OH) to purchase 4" envelopes along  with other cardstock and envelopes we might need.  And, since my mother has ordered five 6" Easter Easel cards, I was able to get the envelopes for those as well!  We are so fortunate to have a store like Hollo's so close (within 30 minutes) to home!

This time, instead of decorating the side of the envelope front, I used the left over strip of designer paper to decorate the back flap.  I really like how it turned out and I don't think that's going to be any problem for the post office!  DO BE AWARE!!!  If you make & sell this set to anyone ... alert them that there will be additional postage because they are square cards.  Yes ... an additional 20 cents!!  I know, that's really steep but they are also perfect to include in a little gift you are handing to someone ... then you don't have to worry about the postage!

Sorry for the long post today ... but, I just had to share this adorable set with you and tell you about the "Double Dog Dare" to my friend Lana.  Be sure to pop on over to LANA's BLOG to see her set and also the original idea found on LAURIE's BLOG.  

Have a great day today and for those of you expecting this next round of snow accumulation (like myself) ... please be careful out there clearing your sidewalks & driveways!  Try to stay warm ... heck, just stay indoors and craft ... that's what I'm going to do!!!   Happy Day Everyone!!