Thursday 19 April 2012

Paper crafting for the inept

A little while ago, here, I blogged about some pretty envelopes I was making.  I made a few more this evening.


Then I remembered that I hadn't told you what I use them for.  Want a clue?



Yep, they are pocket money pouches.  For me.  I am 35 years old and weekly pocket money has revolutionised my life.  No kidding. 

I was chatting to the husband a little while ago about how great it was to be paid a weekly wage, back in the day.  Monthly pay days really don't work for me.  I can't make money last; it burns a hole in my pocket and I spend the last half of every month bumming cash off him indoors.  Understandably, he finds this frustrating.  It isn't great for me either because I have to justify why I need £20 for a face wash. ('What's wrong with soap?' says he. Meh.)

So now Andrew has full control of my money.  (I asked him to; he isn't a control freak.)  Each payday, all of my money is transferred to him.  Then, every Friday, I have a set amount of money transferred to one of those pre-paid Mastercards and £30 of cash.  I love it!  I made the pretty envelopes just to be silly (it makes me feel young having pocket money!) but now I keep the actual envelope of cash tucked into my purse and the very sight of it reminds me that I've got to make my money last.  And I do!  Last week, I had £280 in my pocket money account.  That might not sound very much at all, but I was so chuffed with myself.  The fact that it has dwindled significantly now is irrelevant but I have two very nice Chanel nail polishes, a neon pink top and some Mac goodies to show for that little splurge! 

The envelopes are really easy to make. I bought these two templates on eBay - you just draw round them, snip, fold and stick.  


They are wooden and have a lovely vintage utilitarian feel to them.  The smaller one makes my pocket money pouches.  I don't know if there are any more left on eBay but there are definitely some available on Etsy if you fancy one.  There are lots of occasions when I need decorative little envelopes.  I quite often give cash or gift cards to family for birthdays and Christmas and the little ones are the perfect size.  You can use any kind of paper; my stepson loves Manga artwork and Marvel magazines which I think would make pretty cool cash envelopes for boys. 

When I bought the envelope templates, a few packets of stickers and rolls of washi tape seemed to slip into the basket.  I used some of the washi tape recently to make cupcake flags.


I was just messing around really, as you do, but I think these will be lovely for our Jubilee celebration tea in June.  (The cocktail sticks were from the local deli - they are called Posh Pricks.  Ha!) 

So it's pocket money day tomorrow and I'm planning a trip to Birmingham on Saturday for some light exercise...  I'd like to stock up on Muji make-up bags and I've sold a few things on eBay so I'm going to buy myself a pair of Raybans.  I am even going to treat the husband to lunch at Wagamama (he usually pays).  I am seriously craving Edamame and Chicken Kare Lomen.  

Thanks for continuing to visit me here where the chat has become a little random :-)  I've found loads of new lovely blogs recently (hello Claire!) and I thought I'd post the links next time so that I can share some of my new reading material.

Have a great weekend, lovelies. 

Kisses and stuff.

Nicki 

x


26 comments:

  1. A pair of envelope templates have now found their way into my shopping cart! Whoops, I accidentally paid for them too! Ooh crumbs!!

    Thanks for the tip, can't wait to fiddle about with envelopes!

    And the pocket money idea is genius!!

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  2. The envelopes look lovely. I'm tempted to look at the templates but I'm on a bit of an economy drive myself at the moment. Ooh, you're coming to my neck of the woods! Do you come to Brum often? Have a lovely weekend. Xx

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  3. The envelopes are gorgeous! I have a huge paper craft stash and it had never occurred to me to make some envelopes!

    Love the 'posh prick' flags too, tee hee.

    Crafty evenings are the best!

    Love the idea of pocket money too - might have to steal your idea!

    ele x

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  4. Brill idea for controlling your money...I usually store a bit surplus away in a book...but then I forget what book..... good excuse though to dust them all looking for it! LOL

    Think I'll have a look in Etsy for the envelope templates and have a go...hping my envelopes turn out as nice as yours.

    Keep well.

    Amanda

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  5. Love those envelopes, what a great idea. I'm at Brum on Saturday for a friends birthday, have a great time. Try the cocktails at Browns, right by Wagamama's, they are yummy. Deb xxxx

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  6. Yes love them I am to going try and get some.Have a great time shopping. Lesley x

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  7. I loved my envelope! It is very professional.

    Love the idea of pocket money - that is an awesome idea.

    Thanks for the shout out - how young. cool and hip am I saying "shout out"?

    xxxx

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  8. Loving this post! I too am enjoying messing about with paper, it's so quick to make something pretty isn't it?
    Victoria xx

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  9. Hi,
    I'm one of your newest followers! I had a look on ebay for the adorable envelope templates, but I can't find them! Would you share with me the name of the seller so I can ask them?

    Love the blog =)

    Leah

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  10. They are so sweet! It's a great idea...off to have a look on ebay.

    Happy Shopping : )

    Gemma xXx

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  11. I made envelopes using a CDrom which prints the template onto the back of the fancy paper but they were really fiddly and didn't fit together without extra trimming - so whats the point of a template! I think the wooden ones look much better. The pocket money idea is excellent. As I earn nothing as a stay at home mumu, it would be a good idea for me as I wouldn't feel guilty when I but myself treats. I love wagamamas mmmm

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  12. What a great idea! I'm exactly the same, I hate being paid monthly! frustratingly Hubby is paid a week before me, so he had his yesterday whereas I have to wait another week...needless to say I am totally broke! (If I wasn't, I would certainly be buying one of those envelope templates, I love the idea of making those!!).xx

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  13. What a great idea! I might have to have a look too, and love the cocktail sticks too xx

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  14. Ooooooh now I need an envelope maker!!! Hope you had a lovely shopping trip and lunch with your man x

    Jo x x x

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  15. what a great idea and cute envelopes i am always on a budget ,sort of get use to it , what prepay card is it as my friend had a paypal one which you can no longer get i want one for to save on for the nice things which can splurge without worry and some cost ? thanks sarah x

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  16. 2 great ideas.you have made me want to buy tape and envelope templates...naughty!x

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  17. haha i do the same!! i pay my money to my bf each week when I'm paid and I have an 'allowance' of spending money each week, and NOT to go over it! He's an accountant too, so there's no getting away with anything! :D
    Jessie, xo

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  18. haha i do the same!! i pay my money to my bf each week when I'm paid and I have an 'allowance' of spending money each week, and NOT to go over it! He's an accountant too, so there's no getting away with anything! :D
    Jessie, xo

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  19. Thanks for sharing, I will follow on my way out so I know the path back to your special place. I hope you will find the time to come visit me soon and do the same. I look forward to supporting and engaging together. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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  20. ah this is so cute
    I wish I could do this, I'm so bad at weekly budgets!
    ordaining serendipity

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  21. Love your blog! x

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  22. This is awesome :) I found your blog through a friend's blog and I love it! You can probably tell that I'm looking for new blogs haha, if you want to follow each other, let me know in a comment :3 Mine's www.elly-vickere.com

    Hope to speak soon lovely girl! x

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  23. Birmingham! Do you go there much? Is it far? I could meet you there and we could go shopping with our pocket money. I get spends each month too but I think we've had this convo before.

    Got to have a look for those envelope templates. Brill!

    xxx

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  24. I *need* those templates!! Such pretty envelops you made, and I love what you have done with your posh pricks! (cue childish snigger!)

    I'm rubbish at money too - my kid sis has kindly agreed to be my Financial Buddy - she came round today and went through my finances and I now have a weekly budget, which I am really going to try to stick to a she will be over once a month to check on me!

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  25. What a brilliant idea about the pocket money - it really does work doesn't it? I did this a while ago when we were trying to save and it was so much fun getting my money and working out how I was going to spend it.... I must do it again for the thrill (and the enormous savings I made!)
    I've enjoyed peeking around your blog - it's lovely!
    I've popped over from Gingham and Daisies - congratulations!

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  26. hehe, that's so funny! But I love it :)

    Those envelope templates are fantastic....clicking straight over to Ebay/Etsy right now.....

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