Quick Recycling Project

 Hi Crafters

Crafting projects have been on hold recently while I have a revamp of my craft cupboard. Having tidied up the boxes and made it so much easier to find items, I decided I needed to roll this out to my dies. 

They were stored in 4 boxes laid flat and although I tried to put them into categories it was never that easy to find ‘that die I knew I had” in one of the boxes. So I treated myself to 2 19lt boxes that hold A4 suspension files. The 2 boxes cost £22.90, the suspension files cost £6.99 and then I needed more magnetic sheets to lay out A4 pages in the file, these are on the way. 

I make my die storage packs with magnetic sheets and double thickness laminated sleeves . All the magnetic sheets need trimming to fit the laminated sleeves and I have a habit of keeping the strips at the side of my desk. This major tidy up left me with a little pile of strips and loath to throw them out knowing how much they cost I pondered and decided to use them for placing the dies I sell on Ebay and then when I send them out they are stable in the envelope. 

I gathered up some scrap card and the magnetic strips, a good pair of scissors and some double sided tape.

Check the dies you have going on Ebay take a piece of card to fit, then lay out your magnetic strips.

Once you have them laid out turn over to the less magnetic side and place your double sided tape on, then layer onto the card

 I used up a lot of the strips and love the idea so much I will definitely be keeping my pieces in the future.

The tidy up produced a number of dies I thought i would part with so they can now be posted securely on the newly made packaging.

So for anyone selling your over buys on Ebay, or perhaps car boot later on, this is a great recycling project that utilises parts you would normally only throw away. A Win Win.

Now I can get to my dies easily and really see what I have I can get back to projects. 

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Lovely Envelope/Folder 2nd Make from AliExpress items

 Hi Crafters

I have been having a great time crafting for the last week, what with making items from the dies and checking out new projects on YouTube there has been lots of inspiration flowing.

This lovely envelope die is large and comes with a layering die if you want to make the basic envelope and then decorate it afterwards., It also has a layering die for the fancy flap as well as  3 closure styles

It came from Alina Craft Store and is listed as Slimline card envelope set at a total price of £8.39 

Simple double circle to make security file closures 

Bow finish which can be used with the circle and fastened with a brad or eyelet.

Tassel which has a small and large for singles use or layering.

Here I have made the envelope from my Vintage Diary papers 

The die cuts easily and the finished envelope is 9” by 4” so large enough to store quite a selection of paperwork, or even your dies. To make the envelope up you need to cut 2 full panels for the main body, a fancy top flap and a base flap plus your chosen fastening.

Once the piece are cut start by adding the top flap to the top of the back panel, and the bottom flap to the inside of the front panel.so that the rounded end will be the closure. It is a good idea to lay all the pieces down and put them together dry, before starting to glue so you can see how they all should be placed, it is not difficult to construct but easy to add a top or bottom flap the wrong way around.

If you are going to use a fastening that requires an eyelet on the flap and another on the body to wrap your closing string around.

Next glue the 2 sides together. And lastly fold up the base flap and glue it to the back, it looks quite neat outside. 

I have used the tassle to decorate and a small magnet to hold the envelope flap down and I did this by placing the magnet on the inside of the middle of the flap. I used a strong wet glue and a tiny spot of it on the marked area, placed the magnet on the glue then popped a clip on it to hold it in place while it dried. I left it for a couple of hours before placing the second magnet on the the first, glueing the top and then laying it down to glue onto the envelope base again pegging it until it was dry. Be careful not to have the glue over the edge of the magnet, or when you place the flap down to dry the second magnet it may stick the flap to the base where the glue has spread.

The tassel is placed on the outside of the flap just for

I think this envelope and card  set is a great size and the pieces work well together to make a lovely professional finish. I will be making lots if I do a craft show this year, as I think they have many uses. 

Happy Crafting 

Dee

New Die from AliExpress 1st Make

 Hi Crafters

Here is the first make from the AliExpress delivery.

It is a really cute die and whilst I am not a cat person myself I could see its uses. The die cost around £3 including tax and delivery so a bargain. It had the flourish which can so easily be used for other projects and the 2 cat die that sits on the flourish making it look like a branch and then 4 kitten dies.

For decorating cards, tags, and other paper projects this die is so easy to use. It took just a couple of minutes to make this little folder and decorate it. I have kept it simple and even used some scrap card for the little folder, which I think would make a lovely cover for a mini journal which I have slipped in, but it could also be used to give a note and gift card for a birthday or Thank you. 

You can see the mini journal in the second picture, it is tucked into a flap made by folding an inch up from the bottom before folding the card in half.

What you cannot see is that I have used 2 die cuts of the kittens to place on the 2 flaps inside and tie in with the front decoration.

The cats could be cut as a silhouette or place the flourish on the front and the cats sitting through an aperture card. 

Happy Crafting

Dee

ALiExpress purchases with VAT

 Hi Crafters

Back in January I posted about the introduction of VAT on all purchases from AliExpress China for delivery to the UK. I wondered if this would stop me buying as much from there. You pop things into your basket and they start to add up and then you select what you want to buy and it totals for you, once you have pressed the BUY button it then shows an invoice for the items and VAT, which effectively adds 20%. 

At the same time I had decided to try and slim down my stash of goodies. How did this work out. Well I am definitely more discerning about my purchases. But the biggest difference to my buying has been made from the tidying and streamlining my craft room. I have years of purchases stored in a full double wardrobe, in very usable boxes, as well as crafts in drawers under the bed and on shelves in the clothes cupboard and another 10 useful boxes in the garage. 

So I literally went through every box in every store area. Tidying and being as ruthless as possible along the way. Items made and not sold were sorted intro those useful for a sale, with oddments given away. I decided I was unlikely to do much more leather work I had sold my heat tools, so I packed up 2 large carrier bags full and put them. On Ebay. They did not sell despite careful photographs and descriptions of sizes etc, so they are going to the Scrapstore when it opens. Next I sorted my wool and fabrics and was equally as ruthless with them. With the paper crafts I sorted some.paints and pens, tapes and paper pads and have sold a lot on Ebay, giving me some cash to spend on new if I want to. But the best part is the new    Organised craft room means I can see what I have already and easily get to the things i need to complete a project. I have found some amazing items I had forgotten I had and some of them have inspired me to make items and some to jazz up design made previously. 

Hopefully there will be no duplication of purchases in future. I have also spent more time planning my makes, oh I still get carried away and have to try things I have seen on YouTube or Pinterest, but generally I am now making items with a purpose, and not making half a dozen of something because I like it, but with no end use in mind. I have purchased some amazing dies from AliExpress since my post, and they still represent great value, but I am careful to use good established stores when buying more expensive dies and so far I have not been disappointed. 

So here are the main purchases.

The first picture shows a great cat set of dies and a flourish, and a great die to make a DL card and Envelope, which I think will make a great packet envelope for storage, I can see it as a lovely shabby chic envelope, although I have not used it yet.

The second die is a lovely Octopus cut our, not sure how I am going to use this yet, but loved the flow of the design and just had to have it.

The last 2 pictures show 2 dies that cut out a wedding scene. It would be perfect for invites, Anniversary cards, or save the date. A good size, and you need the 2 dies for the mirror images, and I am happy to say it cuts beautifully despite being very intricate cuts. The die cut was from a piece of card just put through my Big Shot once back and forth, with no shim or magnetic sheet.

As I try these dies out properly I will post my makes with more details of the purchase and how easy they are to use.

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Update on Vintage Diary Deliveries!!

 Hi Everyone

Just a quick post today to let you know that my delivery of the 12 x 12 paper pad and the 2 6 x 6 pads that I ordered from Craftstash came this morning. Just 3 days after ordering. Amazing service and I am very pleased with the items, as you know from yesterdays post I was very keen to get my hands on this paper.

Here it is on my breakfast table.

I will use the 6 x6 to fussy cut and make embellishments for the projects I make with the 12x 12 , that will give me something to do in the evenings.

Back tomorrow with  a new mini album, made with a very simple binding system. So why not check in and subscribe to the blog if you don’t want to miss anything.

Dee

PS I have checked out their site and Craftstash have all the pads and many of the other elements to this collection in stock. The 12 x 12 pads are just over £11, making them a great buy.

Latest 6 x 6 Album Simple compilation

 Hi Crafters 

This lovely 6 x 6 album has been made using a very simple binding system. Based on a mixture of the envelope and hinge system. It is a great way to use up a 6 x 6 pad, and we all have some of those in the cupboard.

To make you will need:

17 sheets of 6 x 6 papers

2 sheet card stock 350gsm ( I used black)

Coordinating embellishments

Construction Tape

Cut 2 of the pages into 3 strips of 5cm x 15cm. Score at 2cm, 3cm. Fold to make hinges

Pick 12 sheets and match them into sets of 2 papers 

Glue one sheet to the first section of the hinge and then glueing just the back and 2 sides with narrow tape or thin line of glue match the other sheet from the set to the back of the same side of the hinge. Repeat to all six sides

Take another 6 x 6 and score at 6cm and 9cm you may need to widen these score lines by very slightly moving the papers so the actual score lines are 59mm and 91mm this makes the hinge binder.

Line up the 3 hinges (pages stood up) and add plenty of glue to the back of the hinges, lay them onto the hinge binder so they sit inside the scored lines make sure you run your fingers or bone folder down through the pages to secure the glue well. You will have 2 side flaps approx 6cm wide.

Cut 2 pieces from the heavy card stock that measure 16cm square and one piece for the spine that measures  3.4cm x 16cm. If you want to you can cover these with 2 pieces of 8 x 8 papers joined or 2 pieces of A4 papers joined along the 8” sides, But I decided to leave them uncovered . If you do cover the outside you may wish to use another 2 pieces of 6 x 6 cut to 14cm squares to coordinate the front and back covers on the outside. 

Using the side flaps glue one of your 16cm pieces to the front and one to the back 

Then using the last 2 pieces of 6 x6 cut down to 14cms squares line the front and back covers, to tidy over the flaps. Glue the spine to the hinges and finish the edges, joining all three sections together with the construction tape.

Decorate the pages with your embellishments and add pockets if you wish. I did not add any pockets as the double pages form a pocket for storing pictures or memorabilia, so you already have 6 pockets, I have therefore just added some embellishments to the pages leaving most of the space for photographs.

I did however, add additional flaps with spare papers and card by cutting them into sections and scoring 2cm along one edge which I glued into the pocket This gave me many more areas for photographs or journaling. So this album will take about 30 photographs and space to store memorabilia.

Here are the pages 

I will be making more of this style But in future I may make firmer covers and decorate a little more. 

Happy Crafting

Dee

 Hi Crafters

Thanks for stopping by. I am happy that so many of you have found me, and would love some feedback on my blog. 

Today a post about supplies, please let me know if you agree or not with my musings, and any stories you have about your craft loves and hates.

I fell in love with Sara’s signature 12 x 12 pads last Christmas where she did a Vintage Christmas double sided paper pad. I have posted some of my makes using this paper. So when I saw her new Vintage Diary collection I wanted the paper pads, as it had similar style  but in pastel flowers and French prints. It took some tracking down as often it is unavailable from her usual distributors until after the launch on Create and Craft and there it sells out very quickly. This time I managed it get it directly from Crafters Companion and as a new customer had 20% off my first purchase, so decided to buy 2 of the 12 x 12 pads to save paying postage.  The order was made on 31st March

I was really looking forward to receiving the pads and each day checked my delivery status. This showed a problem with Crafters Companion ordering info, as the order review just showed that the item would be sent by Yodel and tracked. No tracking number. So the item appeared to be sitting in the warehouse waiting to be shipped. On the 7th April I began to worry if there was going to be a delivery as several other craft suppliers were showing the item unavailable. Finding the 12 x 12 and the 6 x 6 available and in stock at Craftstash, I decided to order another 12 x 12 and 2 6 x 6 pads (free postage covered). I was notified on the 8th that this order was on its way, and decided to email Crafters Companion to chase my order with them. I had acknowledgment of my email and should get an answer within a couple of days.  That evening I  had an email to say Yodel had my item and it would be on its way out to me. 

Today being the 9th April up pops the man from Yodel with my order from Crafters Companion. Now I am delighted my order has arrived safely, but am surprised that a company as big as Crafters Companion do not have a better system for showing the state of your order. At no time did my account show the tracking number, this only became available when Yodel told me they had the goods coming out to me. Tracking the delivery with Yodel shows the goods left C.C on the 1st April and went to 2 different depots before getting to my local one when I was at last advised it was coming out to me on the 8th April. Had I had the tracking details from the 1st I would have been able to see it was on the way and not worried about it enough to

1.  order more

2. Email Crafters Companion chasing the order.

As a regular seller and buyer of Craft items (yes even now when I am suppose to be thinning out my stash)  , I find 9 days a long delivery time, as the item is made and shipped in the UK. But no doubt I will be order from this collection in the future as I do love the prints. 

Take a look at the pages below, I will be posting my makes with these papers as soon as I have something to show you.

 These are just some of the 16 designs in the pad.

They are lovely. Does anyone else buy from this collection, I would love to see your makes.

Back soon 

Denise

Pretty Notebook set - Using Bargain Buys

 Hi Crafters

A quick post for Easter.

Today i have a very pretty Notebook set to show you. Anyone who has been checking in recently will know that I have been part of a team making and delivery a goodie pack each month to our WI members as we are unable to meet up.

My friend had a lovely idea for the April delivery and it is now complete:-

One of our talented members painted a Sweetpea, (Pawlett has a history of growing and picking the flowers for many years). We used the original to personalise it with Pawlett WI, laminated it and made it into a book mark.

I then made a holder for the book mark, that also took a pen, and sourced some great notebooks from Home Bargains.

Here is the finished pack

It is worth taking a look in Home Bargains for Notebooks and craft items, as we were able to put this pack together for just under £1.50. It would make a lovely item for a Craft Sale. 

 Back soon with more Crafty ideas

Dee

File Folders - another great Craft show item

 Hi Crafters

I saw this great idea for a Craft show item on The Posh Paperlady’s YouTube channel. I originally made it from her tutorial but with my own sizing as I wanted larger files for my own use. However if you want to sell them at a Craft sale you will need to make them in the smaller size to be able to present them in an A4 clear pack. 

To Make the pack of 3 file folders you will need:-

6 sheets of 12. X 12 papers 

Some coordinating stickers to embellish the files 

Score board

Each file takes 2 sheets of 12 x 12 so pair up your papers.

Cut all of them to 9.5” on one side  (place the pieces aside to use later)

Then using what will be the 3 front sheets cut them to 7.5”  

The 3 other sheets will be the backs and cut these to 8”

On the front sheet score 1/2” along the bottom edge

On the back piece score 1” from the top edge and then score each of them at 3”,6” down to the 1” score line 

On the front sheet fold and burnish the score line. 

On the back sheet sheet of set 1, cut down the first score line take a small v either side, cut the same. V shape of the left side of the paper and fold the other 2/3rds over and glue down, making the left hand tab 

On the back sheet of set 2, cut the middle section out with the v notches either side and fold & glue  down the left  and right flap leaving a centre tab.

On the back sheet of set 3, cut the right flap off and fold down & glue the 2 sections to the left leaving a right tab

Glue the back section to the front using the scored 1/2” score section to make up your basic file folder

Add your stickers or label decorations 

Use the edges cut away to make a pocket on the back of the file. I like to fold in the 2 sides, and bottom of the scrap piece 1/2” before glueing it onto the file to give more storage space. 

Here are my three completed files.

It should be noted that I have given you the sizes used by the Posh Paper Lady but that my files were made by cutting the papers the 12 x 12 to 11” then the front ages to 7.5 and back to 8 as these will fit an A4 Cello bag. I also made some larger ones to store my paper scraps and these have tidied up my craft room making the easy access to my scrap papers and therefore much more likely that they will get used.

For these i utilised as much of the 12 x 12 paper as possible. I made 3 files, each with a pocket. I have stored the scrap paper as large pieces. Metallic and fancy card, and Christmas. My scraps use to be in a bag thrown under the desk that rarely got used until I had a real recycle session and then would end up making small pouches or die cuts, from them to tidy them up. Now I can easily see what I have available and use the pieces up for efficiently. 

This was a project that not only worked for me but also was something to use up my 12 x 12 papers to make for a Craft sale.

I have put the oriental set on Ebay for 6.50 the set of 3.

Happy Crafting 

Dee