Christmas is Coming

Okay, so I haven't crafted in months. You know how it goes, you get into a craft, you buy all the gear (or so you think) realise you will never have enough and always need more and although it's enjoyable, it does become expensive. I used to enjoy my trips out to the craft shop, looking at all the latest 'must have' and seeing new things to try, the joy of filling my basket and then spending weeks trying out new ideas or techniques. But... things change, job roles change, pay changes and so ultimately lifestyles must change and for me that means no more trips to the craft shop, no more latest 'must have' and no new things full stop. Does it sound as if I am feeling a little sorry for myself? I was, but I'm over it now. I’ve got a job, a roof over my head, good health (mostly), food on the table, a good family... So here I am now, picking myself back up and starting again with what I have. Christmas is not too far away, which was a good enough reason as any to dust off the Grand Calibur. Looking through my 'stuff' I quickly realised I only had two Christmassy dies (which I bought last year) and one stamp (free with a magazine) one large embossing folder (which got damaged when mangled in my machine last year and very limited amounts of Christmas coloured paper and card (reds and greens). Fighting the temptation to just put it all away, I set out my workstation and began. It wasn’t long before all the enjoyment I used to get from crafting resurfaced and I was happily crafting away. Anyhow, here are the results of my crafting weekend.

Busy Bees

I’m sure I’m not alone in coming up with card ideas for men. I wanted to do something a little different, that wasn't really gender specific and it all started with a bee…

I have a lovely bee that I got with a Tonic Pick of the Bunch stamp set and decided that I would do a honey comb and bee card.

I used a small honeycomb embossing strip folder and hexagonal dies which I bought for patchwork, Distress Ink in Wild Honey and a Gold ProMarker.

I started by embossing the background using the honey embossing strip.

Next, I stamped a number of bees onto white card and coloured these using the Gold ProMarker.

I cut out a number of hexagonal shapes and used a “Bee Happy” embossing strip folder.

I added colour to all the white pieces by distressing the edges with Wild Honey and then it was a just a matter of putting it all together.

Mother’s Day

With Mothers day fast approaching, I decided to make my cards rather than leave it until last minute. Making a conscious effort to try and diversify a little with card making, I decided on a twisted easel card.

This is an easy card to make and uses just white card, patterned paper, dies and distress inks.

Monday Blues….

Not having done a stepper card in quite some time (actually, I think I’ve only ever made one before), I decided to Google instructions and have a go….

Pretty In Pink

For today’s crafting, I decided to have a go at making a tepee card.  Once I started I couldn’t believe how easy it was.

If you have never made a tepee card before all you need is three small squares of paper and you are away…

I made this card using three pieces of card measuring 13cm x 13 cm. I then scored each piece of card on the diagonal.

With the card face up, I joined the pieces together as follows…

  

And that is all there is to it…you don’t glue the ends together, but secure these with either a magnet or Velcro dot.

Card done, you can decorate this anyway you like…

    

  

 

 

Instructions for pop-up box card

Having recently discovered how to make pop-up box cards, I thought I had better blog the instructions just in case I forget how to do them, or lose the measurements that I have scribbled on a post it note. ..

Although it looks effective when made up, this card is relatively easy to do. You simply start with an A4 sheet of card and then cut this along the lone edge at 5½ inches.

The larger piece of card is used to make the box and the smaller piece is used to make the inside slots that will help to hold the embellishments.  

The next step is to lay the card horizontally and score at

10 ¹/₂ , 7 ⁷/₈ , 5 ¹/₄ and 2 ⁵/₈  inches

Turn the card 90% and score  at 3 down the long side from the short tab and through three of the four box sides.

On the side that measures 2 ¹/2 inches, cut from the edge to the score line to create the box flaps. Cut away the top part of the small tab and add glue to the bottom part before folding to make a box.

I used Cosmic Shimmer Glue as this is fast drying and grabs hold quickly. Whilst waiting for the glue to dry, use the other part of the card you cut away earlier and use this to make the inside flaps. Score the card at 1 and 3 ⁵/8 and then cut the card 1 inch from this score line. Turn the card horizontally and cut down the centre. Bend the tabs at each end of the card in opposite directions and glue inside the box.

     

The box is now ready to decorate, so let your imagination run wild…

For this box, I used scraps of purple printed paper. When decorating the outside of the box, I find that its best now to revert to centimetres as opposed to inches. I cut three 7x6 cm panels for the bottom of the box and three 6x6 for the tabs plus one piece 13.5x6 for the back.

Then its just a question of gluing these all into place.

   

The final step is to add your chosen embellishments and arrange these in the card. For this box, I simply stamped flowers, butterflies and leaves in different shades of purple and cut these out…

Some of the embellishments were attached directly to the card using the back of the card and the inside slots. Others I attached to strips of plastic of varying lengths to give height. (I tend to save up plastic from packaging such as pro markers and found these to be ideal).

When I had finished the card, I felt it was ‘too purple’ so added a few embellishments made from silver mirror card.

   

               Close up                                        Aerial View

The birds and the bees….

Don’t you just love it when by chance, you come across something new…

On the web looking for inspiration I stumbled across a box card. I have never seen these before but just had to have a go.

Whenever I try something new, I tend to use scraps of paper and card that otherwise I wouldn’t use. I decided to experiment with a little stamping, something that was quick and easy so that I could get an idea of the possibilities sooner rather than later.

Even if I do say so myself the scrap card turned out better than I thought so probably wont be scrap after all. I then went on and tried different designs and colours.

Heartfelt Creations….

Its been a busy busy week, with too many late nights..(working not playing sadly), so rewarded myself with a few hours off to do crafting. Not often I have the place to myself, so enjoyed the peace and quite.

Still determined not to buy any new resources until my current stash has reduced – well the paper side of things at least.

I know its easy to get in a rut with card making and fall into a habit of producing same old, same old, but I still like making cards with flowers and I love the Heartfelt Creations range…

(oops…noticed I forget to include the Tonic Verso Corner Dies in the pic)

I had originally only planned on making one card using a leaf patterned paper that I have in various colours but have never found a use for…

But, as sometimes happens with any craft, it didn't take me long to complete and I was itching for more to do. Rather than put everything away and get out new stuff, I just recreated but with less colour. I don't have the luxury of a craft room (or even craft space…) I work on a small coffee table which is not ideal as you have to limit what you can work with at any one time.

Here’s the end result….

  

Large Print Backgrounds

Who doesn’t like butterflies (posed as a statement rather than a question). I know its common knowledge that butterflies are used to hide errors, but that’s not always the case..I often add butterflies to my projects. One of the paper packs I bought when scrapbooking had some lovely background papers with butterflies, trouble is they were from a 12x12 pack and the print was rather large. Not to be put off, I decided I would have a go at using them on a card.
I chose what I thought to be a colourful and interesting section of the paper and cut this down to size. I then added Tonic Boudoir Square Base. I wasn't sure then whether to decorate with die cut butterflies or flowers. I opted for the flowers. I chose to use Heartfelt Creations Carnations .

I added few more touches by using a selection of Marianne Createables dies – Bird on a Branch, Leaves and Branch Forest.

Is it Vintage?

I'm sure we all have papers that we stick to the back of the draw or at the bottom of the box, tray or whatever storage we are using.  The ones the we got as part of the pack but never quite found a use for.  Either the colours are odd, bright or dull, or it has large or obscure print.  I decided to challenge myself to start using the papers that would otherwise be discarded.  I started off with with some rather dull floral papers.  Although vintage is not my style, I decided to have a go at a vintage card.  Looking at the papers or had I wasn't quite sure where to start.  Papers were dark beige and pink and a mixture of floral patterns.  I knew to achieve the vintage style I would have to distress the papers which I felt would darken them even further.  However, fully prepared that it could all go pear shaped, I chose the papers.  I began by layering the background.  I ripped the edges of the second layer to get a torn effect and to make this slightly smaller than the first background layer.  I then made some flowers using the Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters.

I must admit, after cutting out the flowers I sat there for a while not sure what to do next.  I eventually decided to try a patchwork plan of some description and the result turned out better than I thought it would.  To finish off, I stamped a ‘Happy Birthday’ sentiment onto Spellbinders Delightful Circles and attached flowers with co-coordinating brads.