Birthday Cards

Hi Crafters

Today we are back to basics. 

I recently purchased a 6 x 6 pad by Trimcraft called Painted Blooms, as the papers were vibrant and I thought they would be pretty for Birthday Cards. I also bought a couple of sets of matching cards which were 6 x 6 so it all coordinated. This makes the job much easier when working out your designs.

I made up the first pack of 8 cards just with layers of the paper and Butterflies or Dragonflies cut out in one of the more vibrant prints.

Here are the Results

As you can see in the last picture I also used a couple of flowers from my stash that I had made with a Heartfelt Creations stamp and die. I will cut more flowers in some of the matching papers and make the second batch using flowers as the embellishment.

All the Birthday Greetings were cut from dies most of which were already cut and in my box ready to use.

As Birthday Cards are the most sent Greeting card I will definately be using these soon.

Dee
  

ORIGAMI CRANES & BUTTERFLIES

Hi Crafters

Something new today

I thought I would share my origami cranes and butterflies with you.
The cranes are lovely, and the butterflies are simple to make (they are not technically origami as they are made from 2 pieces of paper) but are very useful additions to the e,belllishment box, as they decorate a parcel or project beautifully and can be laid flat for posting.

I have made both of these from Origami paper which has a different composition to standard craft papers   generally the 6 x 6 pads of craft paper will do, but if you want a very clean finish for something special it is worth investing in origami papers.

Before making these I made 20 cranes from 4 x 4 papers and 20 from 6 x 6 papers, these were made
 to donate to the peace museum at Hiroshima. 

If you would like to learn how to make them, and perhaps donate some yourself, watch this spaace.
We are hoping to hold a workshop to for anyone who likes the idea of making the cranes and would like to add to those being sent to Japan.

More info as soon as I have it

Denise

New Dies and Scrapbook

Hi Crafters

I received a set of dies recently that I purchased specifically to make a scrapbook/journal

It can be used for layering as well, but makes a quick and easy scrapbbok that looks great..

The dies are basically a large tag shape and the set has 10 varying sizes.

Anyway here is the finished book 

Thats all I have time for now
Dee

Box For Album/Memory Book

Hi Crafters

Just a quick post today to show the box made to house the Scrapbook/Memory Book  shown on yesterdays post.

This was made from 2 sheets of coordingating card stock 12 x 12 
I used my Crafters Companion Box maker and scored at 1 line before the 2" line, 1 7/8th", all sides of both pieces
Using the Base and Top areas for scoring as marked on the Box Maker. This left the required space for the book which is approxiately 7.5" x 7" 

Then added a vintage print and a ribbon with double bow, the bow can be slipped on and off, if the user does not want to re-tie each time.

Completed Scrapbook/Memory Book 

I have been making more decorated paperclips from my bits and pieces stash, so check back for more ideas on this project.

Dee

NEW SCRAPBOOK

Hi Crafters 

I have been busy for the past week making a new style Memory Book/Album
I love to put these together as they make such a great  way to display your pictures and keepsakes.
In this modern day of putting all your photographs in the cloud, this is a traditional Memory Book and keepsake

This book is my own unique design. I was watching a demonstration on Create and Craft where dies were used to cut the book pages and then put together using another die in the collection.

I was tempted to purchase the set, but then remembered I had purchased a lovely set of large dies from Sizzix when I bought my large Bigshot that has an A4 plate.

I dug them out and cut the outside and inner pages and then formed a binder system for the centre.

I then printed some very pretty vintage prints to cover a lot of the pages and added some plain papers to the other pages ready for photographs 

There are 5 main pages each one opening out to reveal more sections
Plus storage pockets in the front and back 
I have added a vintage paperclip and page embellishment and a floral giant paperclip, both hand crafted to go with the vintage theme of the album 
This book will hold at least 36 photographs 
It took many hours to put together but I feel it has been worth the effort.

I will be making a matching box to store it. 

Happy Crafting
Dee 

NEW FLOWERS

Hi Crafters

I have always enjoyed making flowers of all shapes, sizes and material. I recently came across a new ribbon flower and thought I would try it.

It is relatively easy to make, with good results. So I made a few for different uses

You need 
50cm ribbon 
stamen 
felt
clip

Mark the ribbon at every 10cm
Sew along one short end and then along the length of the ribbon
When you come to the 10cm mark, stitch the width of the ribbon and back to the long side
Keep doing this at each 10cm mark 
When you get to the end, pull up the cotton and ruffle the ribbon, stitch the two ends together.
Draw the ribbon into a circle and stitch across sides to hold it together 
Push the stamen through the centre
On the back side use a hot glue gun to secure the stamen and cover with a small piece of felt
Sew or hot-glue your bar-brooch pin, stick pin or clasp

I made one into a pin brooch

A couple into a handbag adornment with a claw-clasp

1 into a brooch or hair adornment with a crocodile clip 
I also made one into a pretty paperclip which I used in a new album I have made
More about that in another post

Enjoy

Denise

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Altered Paperclips from your Scraps

Hi Crafters

Today I have a great way of using your scrap card, toppers and odd emebllishments in your stash.

I, like all crafters, have a big bag of card and paper pieces that I stack under the craft desk. Every now and then I go through the bag and cut out flowers etc from the oddments, as well as sort out the sizes in the bag

Then I came across these great Altered Paperclips. 

Take a piece of scrap card about 4cm x 10cm 
Fold in half and place the paperclip over the back piece
You can either have the small end or long end showing on the outside.
I hot glue the folded card together, as this is the quickest drying method of gluing and allows you to proceed with decorating straight away.
As you can see I have used lots of different embellishments, all from my stash again, I have not opened any new packs to make any of the decorated paperclips here. 

Here is the back of the decorated clip to give you the idea of placing the paperclip.

And here is the finished paperclip.

So simple and effective
Can be used to decorate scrapbook or photo pages
As a paperclip to hold your vouchers or paperwork together
Or as a bookmark

Dee

Page embellishments

Hi Crafters

As promised on my post 28th April, here are the page embellishments, made before my trip to Denman

To give you an idea of how it works here are the 2 shapes on a folded piece of paper 

These are lovely additions to junk journal or scrapbook pages
Or can be used on their own as paperclips or bookmarks.

These are made using mainly recycled materials. 
Take 3 pages of a paper book and glue together with pva glue or Pritt Stick (I did several large sheets in one go)
Put aside to dry
Once dry; using any layering dies that you have cut 2 sizes of the die from the pages
Using any scraps of papers you have in your scrap bin cut them in 2 sizes as well
Layer them onto cut out book pages and again leave to dry
I have rubbed distress inks on the edges to distress then a little 
Add very strong double sided tape to one side of the smaller shape and stick to the top shape.
Embellish with any odd bits you have in your stash.

It is a great way of using your scraps and recycling.

I fell in love with them and made them for swaps to take to Denman, it was lovely sharing them with other crafting ladies in the group.

I hope you will have a go at making them yourselves
Next time I will show you how to use up your scraps to make altered paperclips.
Dee   

Economic ATC Holder

Hi Crafters

Not from Denman, from YouTube

I saw a great ATC folder made from a small cereal box and wanted to try it

I had great difficulty sourcing some clear pockets to add to the file, as I was looking for pockets about 10 x 7cm. Even buying from China they were coming in at 70p each. As the folder would hold 20 plus, I was too mean to buy them, particularly as I have started making Artists Trading Cards before and never kept it up.

But then I came across Plastic CD holders, and thought why not make the ATC's this size instead of the credit card size. The card inside the CD folders is more 12 x 10cm so not too different. And there are 50 in a pack from Wilko's. 

Here is the project and I am delighted with it. The inserts are big enough for me to make miniture versions of many of my cards and projects, or for me to experiment with new techniques.

It did mean making my folder from a larger cereal pack but as I keep them for crafting anyway, this was not difficult. 

 So as you can see lots of lovely packs that will take 2 cards each.

The original idea came from Teresa Morgan and the post, on YouTube, is called ATC Book Tutorial.

If you want to make one check it out and then find the cereal box (or any food carton that fits the plastic inserts you are using).

Want more ideas, subscribe to the blog and then you can also comment on projects, or ask questions.

Happy Crafting 
Dee