Project: The ABC's of Friendship

Each month, I make a variety of take-home projects for customers of the store where I teach. I just finished up this project using Basic Grey's Phresh & Phunky line. It is a friendship tin with a 4x6 card and phrase for each letter of the alphabet. My intent is for a 4x6 photo or journaling block to cover the back of each letter card. The poem, found on 2Peas, reads as follows:

The ABC's of Friendship

Accepts you as you are.
Believes in you.
Calls you just to say hi!
Doesn't give up on you.
Envisions the whole of you, even the unfinished parts.
Forgives your mistakes.
Gives unconditionally.
Helps you.
Invites you over
Just to be with you.
Keeps you close at heart.
Loves you for who you are.
Makes a difference in your life.
Never judges.
Offers support.
Picks you up.
Quiets your fears.
Raises your spirits.
Says nice things about you.
Tells you the truth when you need to hear it.
Understands you.
Values you.
Walks beside you.
X-plains things you don't understand.
Yells when you don't listen.
And Zaps you back to reality.

I've always loved this Basic Grey line and challenged myself to find a way to use the entire set of monogram letters in this project. I also wanted to figure out how to use a front-opening tin in a different way. I designed the project so that the tin will always be situated on its side like a suitcase. I created a "tent" from BG paper, so that the cards and dividers can stand up when the tin is opened. I didn't want to cover the entire tin in paper, so I wrapped a wide ribbon around the base and tied it to each side of the handle. I'm not really a frilly person, so I like how the ribbon adds just a bit of a feminine touch.

This project was very fun to design and it helped me find my missing mojo! I'm hoping that customers will enjoy putting this together over the winter.