COMING UP

Hi Crafers

I am away for a couple of days.
Off to Denman College with friends, so hopefully will have new ideas on my return.

But I have a couple of items I have been working on this week, which I will show on my return.

Some really lovely shabby chic recycled book "Page Decorations"
They work a little like paperclips but without the metal, and are made of book pages glued together to make thicker and decorated.
Fabulous for your albums, memory books etc

They are a great way of using up your odd charms and embellishment, and I will be making more as seen on YouTube that can be used for Journalling.

Also a fabulous use of scrap card and papers to make decorative paper-clips.

So check back soon 

Dee

Another great Mini Memory Book

Hi Everyone

If you saw my previous Memory Book, here is another made from the same papers, but decorated slightly differently

I am now able to put these together in an afternoon so 3hrs from start to finish including the box 

You can see both sides in the 2 lower pictures. This book has been finished with an additional piece of card for the front cover so there are 20 sides for pictures 
The frame you can see in the bottom picture has a piece of card slotted inside for the picture to be added
I am very pleased with the finish on this project and will no doubt be making more in hte future. This one will be going onto Ebay (probably). 

Dee

Chocolate Bar Greeting Card

Hi Crafters

After the cute little box for a small chocolate bar I decided to make a greeting card that holds a chocolate bar, a great combination.

There are many example and videos on YouTube, but one thing I did learn from making this card:
choose your choclate bar first and then make the card to fit and not the other way around. Not all chocolate bars are made eqaul.

Another tip 
Add a narrow piece of ribbon to the front of your card before decorating with the top layer of card, to close the card up.

Happy Crafting Dee

Great Little Chocolate Boxes

Hi Crafters

I saw this the other day on YouTube and had to try it

It was on "Positively Papercraft's" channel if you want to check it out for measurements etc

It's a cute little box that fits one 40gm chocolate bar. On the video the demonstrator talks about a great white chocolate bar from Aldi and Lidl, so I dashed off to Lidl to find it but they only had Hazelnut or Dark Chocolate.

However that did not put me off at all. I bought a pack of both, they come in packs of 5

These would make great little workmate or teachers gifts, or just to say hello, sorry you are not feeling great etc

Why not have a go.

Happy Crafting
Dee

Great Mini Memory Book

Hi Crafters

I have been working on several ideas for mini albums lately. Having made wallet style for the stationery cases, my thoughts returned to memory books.

Several reasons:

1. There was an article about items lost from cloud storage, which got me thinking about how often we look at our photographs when we store them digitally, as I get older I enjoy the occasional look at photographs in an actual album.
2. I have a great niece who is likely to move in the next few months and this will probably be the last term at her junior school, and I thought it would be lovely to capture her friends and school days 
3. There are a couple of family events coming up this summer that I will probably capture on camera and can make memory books to display the photographs in one little book.

So I set about designing a simple memory book to make.

First I tried the conventional style but struggled with the spine. Unless you spend a good bit of time ensuring the spine is firm and well lined up in your book there is a danger of the opening and closing of the book damaging the centre spine. As I did not want a big book to take 40-50 photographs I went for something simpler.

Here is the result 

There are 17 pages 9.5cm wide by 14.5cm high
I have added a few decorations and tags but kept it simple so photographs can be added easily

This style of book takes 6 sheets of 12 x 12 and can be secured with ribbon placed under the fron panels but not across the back or the book will not open.
This one is for my niece and I will make another for me, once you have the  design in your head it takes about 4-5 hours to complete. I do want to cut out some phrases in card, such as memories and friends, that can be added to the pages as the book is filled. 

I then set about making a little case for the book 

As you can see this has not been decorated as yet, I think I will add her name or maybe just pretty cord with dangling embellishment. 

I am looking forward to making another, and expanding the page decorations 

Happy Crafting 
Dee

Stationary Case III

Hi Crafters

Here it is the other case as promised yesterday.

This one has 
6 Notelets and envelopes with inserts
A covered Exercise book and notebook
A photo wallet that will hold 12 photographs on the pages and tags inside 
3 Decorated Paperclips 

Dee 

Completed Stationary Case

Hi Crafters

If you saw my post on 9th April I showed a pretty Stationary Case full of goodies.
Well here are 2 more completed .

In this case we have 6 matching cards, each with an insert page for writing on

A covered notebook and a mini case for gift vouchers/business cards/photographs 

A mini album that holds up to 10 photographs 

3 Decorated Paperclips 

A book mark

Each Case holds the 6 notelets, and a notebook, Paperclips after that additional items may vary, according to ideas at the time.

Each Case requires a minimum of:
12 sheets of 12 x 12 papers/card
2 sheets of 12 x 12 black card
2 pieces of card (i used cereal box) 10" x 8"
1 magnetic clasp
1 faux buckle for the front 
1 notebook to cover
6 6x6 envelopes
3 large paperclips

I will  be selling them in my Etsy shop 
Or at Craft Fayres if I do any this summer

In this picture you can see the photo wallet at the front
A notebook and small wallet for gift cards etc 

I had hoped to do a workshop making this but unfortunately I cannot get a date at Pawlett Village hall before the end of Summer, so it is unlikely, as I will be moving on to Christmas with the 2 dates I have in November.

I will show the other case tomorrow.

Happy Crafting 
Denise

Craft4Crafters at Shepton Mallet

Hi Crafters

Just a quick post today as I have been off  to the Craft Show at the Bath & West showground.
A good early start arriving at 10.15 (they open at 10am)

I did a quick walk around the hall, as usual not intending to buy anything, but managing to spend £60+.

It was noticeable that there were fewer stall again this year dealing with paper crafts, and when I did get to one it was difficult to see anything as there were a lot of people looking. It was also noticeable that there were fewer stalls with inspirational projects and samples on show. In the past I would go to a show and see new products all with people demonstrating and showing such pretty cards and paper items, you just had to buy and try.

On the bright side there were a lot of workshops available bookable in advance, or if places available, on the day.

There were several fabric stands and some bargains to be had. 

In the end I bought two great kits from House of Zandra, I love her designs, last year I bought 5 kits and gave 3 away as Christmas presents which I think went down well, so the pig and monkey bought today are for me. 

I was sorely tempted with some fabrics, but managed not to succumb as I have 2 drawer fulls of fat quarters and fabrics to use first. 

To finish I picked up some extra strong tape at the bargain price of 10 for £5 and some packs of 5 x 7 cards ready for Christmas (how sad is that), a few envelopes and some lace in the bargain bucket.

Happy with my purchases I left a little over an hour later. Not long I know, but long enough for me to ensure I am  not missing out on any new craft items out there. 

Back soon with a new card
Dee 

Great Stationary Briefcase

Hello Crafters

Well I tidied the craft items away and then looked to  Pinterest for new inspiration. I came across a great briefcase style stationary set, loved it and went onto the blog to get the details. Unfortunately the instructions were no longer available and so I have had to sit down and work out my own set of instructions to make it. 

The case opens up and both sides have a folder to hold cards and stationary items.

This was prototype 1, and I wanted to tweak the inside folder, and set down sizes for making future sets

This is prototype 2, and it was successful.
Using a Dovecraft Painted Blooms pad of 12 x 12 papers the outside case is made from recycled cereal box, covered in the papers.
The folders either side hold 6 matching cards 
A Notebook covered in matching papers and a Photobook again using the papers from the pad and 2 sheets of 12 x 12 Black card.

I will add some paperclips decorated with flowers made from off-cuts of the paper and perhaps a bookmark.

I love the concept and will be making several for my next Craft Stall. I wanted to do  a workshop to make it, but cannot get a date at Pawlett Hall until November. 

When I have a fully completed case I will add more pictures and a fuller description of the finish for the case

Happy Crafting
Denise

Tidy up in the Craft Room

Hi crafters

Just a quick chat today, as I prepare for tomorrow's craft day at North Petherton where 30 ladies will be making the Stationary Wallet with me over the course of the day.

The lovely card, and inserts are all packed and I hope I have added all the necessary tools etc.

I have then spent this afternoon going through my 3 boxes of dies tidying them up, sorting into categories and re-boxing them. 

I use the Really Useful Boxes which stack well and I have trays that fit inside

The three boxes are:
Box 1 _ Christmas 
              In the Tray: Men's dies, street scenes and music 

Box 2: Backgrounds, Build a card dies and Borders & Boxes
            In the Tray: Numbers, letters, words, tags and labels

Box 3: Deep Box with concentric shapes, Childrens dies, Butterflies Dragonflies and fairies, Wedding, Marianne Dies, Heartfelt Creation borders, stamp and die sets
            In the Tray: Flowers, build a flower dies, leaves and flourishes, gates 
            plus any current or everyday dies such as bows happy birthday 

 I have also sorted out several dies to sell on Ebay and then photographed them and posted them on the site. So a busy constructive day. 

It is good to go through your stash regularly to remind yourself of what you have, what you no longer need and if there are any gaps you think needs filling, then you feel justified in treating yourself  to the new dies and craft goodies, without making purchases that are unnecessary.


Happy Crafting

Dee