I’ve been at it again.

Last week I mentioned the Cameo by Silhouette, the clever addition to my crafting tools.  It’s so sophisticated, that I can hardly imagine topping it.  I won’t say that too loudly, as my limited imagination didn’t foresee carrying an entire computer in my purse a mere decade ago either.  For now, I’m thrilled with the state-of-the-art possibilities.

That said, I’ll always enjoy combining the old with the new.

My good friend Donna has a booth at Antiques Colony in San Jose called Green House Supply.  Donna is an avid gardener, crafter and purveyor of all things vintage.  She sells a variety of gently aged paper goods, including these alphabet flash cards (below), bingo cards, maps and pages from beautiful old books.  Her shop is great fun.  I never leave empty-handed.  This time I was on a mission.  I wanted to make her a thank you note to show my appreciation for the generous bag of gardening books she left on my doorstep.  I’ve been plowing my way through them and will also be offering them in our Little Free Library when we finally get that off the ground.

Here’s what I made.

Using a page from a child’s picture dictionary, I created the box card (with the Silhouette). I bought a vintage flash card with a D on it, turned it on its side, and added three-dimensional flowers. I wrote the note on the back.

Box Card and Insert

Completed Box Card

I used scraps of paper for the face of the card and the band, inking the edges for an aged look. I added a small strand of leaf-shaped ribbon and another flower for a finishing touch

Note tucked inside

Closed card, sealed with band

Threaded ‘leaf’ ribbon, the finishing touch

The card is resting on a polka-dot plant and a dusty hydrangea, patio favorites each summer.

Box card design by Samantha Walker.