I love to alter Rolodex cards and belong to a few groups over on Swap-bot that are solely dedicated to altering these little works of art. I have a collection of this cards but no holder to put them in. I didn't want the typical holder that you buy out at an office supply place. I wanted to create one but didn't know how or what I would use. After much thought and one failed attempt this is what I came up with.
This is what my Rolodex holder started out as before I altered it. I actually used the "drawer" of the matchbox to create the holder...hold onto the "sleeve" because I might just have a project for next month using that in some fun way...wink wink ;-)
The front of the box measure 1/2 inch down and mark with a pencil. Cut down to the mark on either side of box.
Fold down and adhere to box.
Next cut 4 chipboard pieces to 3/4x4 1/2 inches and another 4 chipboard pieces to 1 3/8x4 1/2 inches. I used a Rolodex card and centered the holes by drawing in each piece of chipboard. Then punch a hole in each one. Line up holes in the the 3/4x4 1/2" chipboard and adhere all together. Then do the same with the 1 3/8x4 1/2" chipboard pieces. These will be glued in later on the front and back inside of the box.
Use a ruler and draw a line at an angle on each side of the box and then cut.
Paint the sides of the box in Spa Blue paint both inside and out. Cut a 2 1/2x4 1/2 " piece of Dino Feet Glitter Cardstock, emboss with the Snowball embossing folder and adhere to the inside bottom of the box. Cut a 4 1/2x 4 7/8" piece of Teal Giraffe Cardstock and punch two holes in the 4 1/2" side of both ends. I used the two pieces of chipboard that I glued all four pieces together as templates for the teal cardstock. Now you are ready to adhere both of the 3/4x4 1/2" and the 1 3/8x4 1/2" to the inside of the box. Use either binder clips or cloths pins to hold the chipboard in place while it dries. Next adhere the teal cardstock (as below) starting by lining up the holes and wrapping the cardstock around the box until the other end is folded over and the holes are lined up. Again use either binder clips or cloths pins to hold everything in place until it dries.
Next cut with a small hand saw two 2 1/2" pieces from a 3/16" dowel and paint both with Spa Blue paint and let dry.
Once the dowels are dry insert into the holes in the box. Below is what it should look like.
Cut a piece of Teal cardstock 3x5" and then score a 1/2" all the way around the holder. This is considered the "skirt" which you can glue trim to. Fold down and cut the "corners" out to were it should look something like this below. Next adhere to the bottom of the holder. Let dry and then glue the spools to each corner of the holder.
Next adhere lace and ric rac to the "skirt" around the holder.
I inked and painted some of the chipboard pieces from Gina's Design. I let them dry. Then I used The Paper Studio A2 Script Embossing Folder to emboss the butterfly and then inked it in Sahara Sand Chalk Ink.
Cut a small piece of Dino Feet Glitter Cardstock to fit the frame. Emboss and then adhere to the back side of the frame. Since I don't have any pop dots available I used some of the "extras" that are around a set of rubber stamps I had just bought. I cut and adhered to the back of the frame and then glued it to the holder along with the butterfly and dew drops.
Waalaaa...cute!!!
Now comes the fun part!!! Decorating Rolodex cards!!! You can either buy the blank Rolodex cards at an office supply place or if you are like me you can either use a diecut and use cardstock like I used the Chocolate Glitter Leopard Cardstock. Or cut them and use a Rolodex tab punch which can be bought at a office supply place too. You can make your cards larger than the standard card...the choice is yours. :-)
I fussy cut the lion out of the Red Lion Cardstock and used a Crocus Yellow wash on the lion and then let dry. Add bits of scrap cardstock, stamped sentiment and a dew drop.
There is no right or wrong way to decorate these cards just have fun and get creative!!!
You can cut images off of envelopes like I did the sunflower below.
The elephant I fussy cut from the Blue Glitter Elephant Cardstock and I also used some printables from Garden Carnival Composition Book Digital Kit and
Vintage Circus Party Printables to spruces up the front and back of this Rolodex.
I used Brown on Brown Animal Print Cardstock and added some stamped tags which I hand cut out. I received these in a swap so I'm not sure of the names of the stamps???
I used the Dino Feet Glitter Cardstock for this Rolodex card. Another stamp image, scraps of cardstock, a Gina's Design Doily, some alphabet stickers and a birdie image.
Last but not least is a stamp I actually own. This adorable China doll name is Lottie and it is by Pink Persimmon. I added a flower, dew drop, button, Gina's Design Doily, lace, scraps of cardstock and the stamped word beautiful.
Robin's Nest Supplies Used:
Gina's Designs:
Other Supplies Used:
250/300 Count Empty Matchbox
Lace
Ric Rac
Buttons
Twine
3/16 inch Wooden Dowel
Hole Punch
Sizzix Snowballs Embossing Folder and Clear Card, Telephone and Address Diecut
The Paper Studio A2 Script Embossing Folder
Various Stamped Images and found images
Scraps of scrapbook paper
Prima Flowers
Spare Parts Wooden 1" Spools
Americana Spa Blue Acrylic Paint
Ceramcoat Crocus Yellow Acrylic Paint
Versa Magic Sahara Sand Chalk Ink
Martha Stewart Leaf Bud Chalk Ink
Ephemera's Vintage Garden Printables:
If you have any questions about the Rolodex holder or cards please feel free to email me and I will do my best to answer them. Don't forget to check the cardstock that is 20% off over at the Robin's Nest and also check out Gina's Designs for a great selection of cardboard shapes and paper doilies.
Thanks for stopping by, hope your day is wonderful and enjoy creating!!!
