Assemble Rubber Stamp Project #2: DIY Wrapping Paper

It's been a bit since our Assemble Rubber Stamp Project #1, and with the holidays coming, we thought we'd do a quick tutorial on DIY wrapping paper with our dashing polar bear stamp. We wrapped this package with DIY wrapping paper made from regular old printer office paper, junk mail (yes!) and our stamp.

To create this package, you will need:
• blank sheets of paper (we used office paper and a Tiffany & Co. envelope)
• a stamp
• ink pad
• your box!
• double-sided tape
• scissors
• baker's twine or ribbon

Stamp your image onto the paper in whatever design you prefer. I stamped this paper a few days before hand because the coating on the printer paper was a bit slick, and the ink needed to dry.

If you need to seam pieces of paper together to be big enough to fit your box, flip the page over and place double-sided tape as close to the edge as possible.

Connect with the other sheet, and remember to use this "seam" as one of the box's corners (see photo below).

Fold your page over, find the edge of the box and either cut or fold your paper to size. Place double sided tape to the very edge of that fold or cut and tape to the other side of the paper (which should be folded in underneath).

Push the end flap down and create a seam. Fold the side flaps into perfect triangles and place double-sided tape to the edges of these folds (see pic below, you can just make out the tape).

Tape the two side folds in and secure. Place double-sided tape along the triangular edges of the last flap, and fold in toward the center. Secure in place. Repeat these steps on the other side.

To create your gift tag, stamp on a different colored cardstock and cut close in a rectangular shape. Tie baker's twine around the package and slip the card under the top bow. Done and done! A perfect package for pennies.

The Big Reveal: Our New Crafting Kit Redesign

Oh boy, we are so excited about this one. We have been wanting to redesign our crafting kits for a while now, in order to make them more "shoppable" for our customers--and we finally did it! Our new kits have comprehensive labels and photos that tell you exactly what's in each box and how many projects you can make, plus they match our new stamp labels! Click over to our shop or etsy store to browse our newly redesigned kits!

Let's Get This Tea Party Going, Guys!

We've had some RSVPs to our awesome Stamp + Tea Party--but we need more signups to make this party awesome. Click the image below for more info:

You're Invited...

...to our Stamp + Tea Party! We will be holding a party in honor of our amazing high-backing Kickstarter helpers on Sunday, November 3rd at Drygoods Design. However, we wanted the party to be even more fun--so we're opening it up to ticket sales!

One ticket buys you a place at our Stamp + Tea Party, your own brand, new Assemble Rubber Stamp Set, tea + treats, plus a Stamping Technique lesson! We are so excited and are super thankful to Drygoods Design for offering up their amazing Make.Do.Mend space for us.

Grab your ticket soon (we're only offering a small amount) at Brown Paper Tickets! We hope to see you there! -Andie & Emily

Recipe: Adventures in Allergen-Free Baked Falafel!

At a wedding this weekend, I had the most delicious falafel. I have to admit that I have never had it before! However, later that night, I felt the effects of my food allergies. I was surprised that chickpeas would cause me allergy issues, but upon further investigation, I discovered raw garlic, wheat flour and canola oil in the ingredients! Dagnabbit. So, I prepared my own version of baked, allergen-free falafel. It turned out pretty well! See below for my recipe:

Ingredients:
• One 15 oz can chickpeas, drained
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• One clove of garlic, minced (or a few shakes of garlic powder if you're sensitive to it, like me!)
• 1 tablespoons of fresh or dried parsley
• 2 tablespoons coconut or almond flour
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin or chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (for those sensitive to corn, I make my own blend of baking powder using a 2:1 ratio of Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Combine all of your ingredients into a food processor or high-powered blender. Purée ingredients until you have a smooth, paste. On a cookie sheet, spread parchment paper or drizzle olive oil to create a non-stick surface. Spoon small, cookie-dough sized balls (about the size of a ping pong ball) onto the sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Flip the falafels, then bake for 10-15 more minutes on the other side. Serve with Paleo Tzaziki sauce (see below for recipe)! Yummm.

Ingredients for Paleo Tzaziki sauce:
• 1 cup cucumber, seeded and shredded
• 1/2 cup minced red onion
• 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk or cream (canned)
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed (or a few shakes of garlic powder if you are sensitive to it)
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Assemble Shop & Studio: Now On Etsy!!

Yes, we still have our amazing online shop with all of our favorite independent designers, but we also wanted a space just for us. So--we opened an Etsy shop! We have dabbled in Etsy before, but this time we're doing it right. Plus, we have a brand new bookbinding kit in stock! Take a look below at our beautiful new Honeycomb Lokta Hardcover Bookbinding Kit. You still have enough time to make someone a gorgeous hardcover journal for the holidays (or give them the kit and tell 'em to make themselves!) This kit will ship in approximately two weeks, in brand new packaging, which we are excited to share with you too! Click below to view our happy new shop:

Crafty Project: White Bean Lokta Tea Tin

Yes, we have been really crummy about updating this blog--but not for lack of ideas and love! Assemble is working on some great new projects that we will hopefully be able to announce soon. In the meantime, we are only posting to this blog when we have something lovely that comes from the heart. Here's one today! We are part of the Republic of Tea's mailing list, which means we get a loose tea bag in our catalog every month. They are amazing! However--there's nowhere to put them. So, I decided to use an old Trader Joes tea tin and make a new, special spot just for the loose bags. Enjoy!

For this project, you will need:
• An old tea tin that you would like to cover
• Decorative paper. I used White Bean Lokta from Paper Source. See the Orange Bean version in our hardcover bookbinding kit! Now available on Etsy.
• A straight-edged ruler.
• A pen knife.
• Binder's glue or mod podge--I used PVA.
• A glue or sponge brush.
• A cutting mat.

First, measure the sides of your tin and transfer the measurements onto the paper. You can either use a pencil to draw a line to cut or just use the pen knife and straight edge. Make sure that you like the design on the reverse side of the paper. If you have a large pattern like mine, make sure that it is aligned as you wish.

Cut your paper and line it up with the edges of the tea tin. Make sure that it fits inside of the tin's ridges.

Spread a small amount of your glue on the sides of the tin and press the paper evenly to remove any air bubbles. If your paper gets too wet, it can bubble, so only use a conservative amount.

Continue all the way around the tin. My lokta has a rough edge that is difficult to see after gluing, so I did not trim to the corners. If you want a perfect look, make sure to trim the paper as it reaches the last corner of the tin.

Measure your lid, and cut a square according to your measurements. You may have to trim the excess, but cut a large enough piece to cover the entire lid. Position the lid on top of the backside of the paper and cut small slits where the corners come to a point. These will help you wrap the lid nicely.

Spread a thin layer of glue on your lid and position it. Then, fold the corners in on the sides and glue the remaining pieces. Voila! All done! A tea tin for those rogue tea bags. Have a cuppa for us!

Heather's Sweet & Sunny Home in Victoria, B.C.

You'll have to forgive us for blogging so infrequently lately, but we have some awesome projects we have been working on that we'll hopefully be able to tell you about soon. In the midst of all of the chaos, I (Andie) was able to go to Victoria BC last weekend (remember our post about the Regional Assembly of Text?) and stayed in the most charming little house in town. Owned by a sweet couple with two kids, I originally found this home on Airbnb!

Full disclosure: I took these photos for Apartment Therapy, but before I post the house tour there, I wanted to share a sneak peek with you! Plus, amazingly: Heather runs an awesome Etsy shop where she sells a lot of her pretty, vintage finds. More photos to come in the full tour this winter. Enjoy! (PS. Here's a fun video of us making coffee with those vintage tools on our first morning in British Columbia).