Hello and a look ahead to July

 Hi Crafters

Just a quick post today to introduce you to the theme for July. Over the past year I have widened my paper-crafts to include gift bags, boxes, journals and ephemera, and I love construction and adjusting ideas  and templates to my own version, but I have made few cards recently and so I went back over my files to see what card projects I have made and became quite nostalgic about my creations. 

I also realised that like everyone who crafts, the more you do the better the finished project, and that led me to thinking, would these cards look different now, and would some of the techniques I have learnt in the last couple of years seep into the cards I make. So July will be all about card making. 

As we are going back to basics I will start with cards that require little if any special tool, so they would be perfect to make with little ones during the summer holiday.

As I started to prepare for my first couple of blogs I realised that although I am an avid crafter, and have taken classes as well as attended them I do not always get everything right first time. And I certainly do not remember every fold and design I have done. I do keep a file on my computer with categories of makes and a project number and I try to add a photograph of the finished item (although I am not always that organised) and even then I cannot always follow my own instructions. If that is you don’t beat yourself up about any of that, that what YouTube is for to remind us how to make those lovely projects we enjoyed making, and will no doubt want to try again in another couple of years.

One trick I have learnt is to keep some cheaper paper pads in the craft stash to use for trial runs. This is so useful for the first make of any design and stops that sinking feeling when you make an error.

If it does not turn out right first time, use that as a learning tool, try a second time with the tweaks you need to make and using those special papers, so you can enjoy the process. It is hard to throw anything away but if the papers your used for the trial cost 15p instead of your special papers at 50p, you may feel more inclined to bin your errors. 

During July if I make a trial sample for any of the cards, I will show them on the post as well as the final piece. 

As this is the last day of June I will finish this post with some pictures of the Album I made for a new Great Nephew.

I used the envelope style sleeve card centre, and the papers covering are from an 8 x 8 pad by K & Co.

Album Finished

Inside Cover with mini book and tags 

                                                   Next double page with folder                                                                      slipped into side pocket

2nd Double page with concertina mini book for small photographs 

3rd Double page layout

                                                            4th Double Page layout 
                                                            Booklet on the left and Tags                                                                     on  inside cover 

This picture shows the four photo mats inserted into the sleeves where other memorabilia can be tucked and photographs stored  

The pull out concertina booklet for small photographs 

This concertina booklet is held together with a beaded paperclip. Of course all the flaps can be used for photographs front and back as well as the inserted photo-mats. More can be made to store in the sleeves. So the album should hold 30 photographs. 

Dee

Making Pretty Dangles for your pages and spines

 Hi Crafters

My last post for July and I had to share my recent makes for the journals and books I have been making.

I must give all the credit to Natasha at Treasure Books for these. I watched a brilliant video on 6-7 types decorated pins and so this is just the beginning of my journey with these embellishments. 

Some of these are beads added to paperclips, some added key-rings, then I have used the handles on the binder clips and the jump-rings added to claw clips. The pearl drop is added with a jump ring to the decorative piece of a Gucci perfume bottle, which I kept when he perfume was finished thinking one day I will find a use for this, and sure enough it makes a great dangle for  a handbag or album. 

Natasha has a lot more offerings and I will add the link below. 

https://youtu.be/s6XadBfFIWo

Once I had watched the whole video I could not wait to get out and source some beads. I found the blue beads and lovely purple crystal style beads at my local Hospice shop and scooped them up brought them home and took them apart to make my journal embellishments. 

So you will need a pair of pliers 

Some jump rings 

If you have then some key ring or claw clips

Paperclips and these can be any sort I am using 4 different styles in my makes above.

Some bead jewellery that have the links in them. This can be earrings, bracelets and necklaces, although necklaces often offer the best value because you have the length to use as you wish. Just think about how you are going to use them and if they are suitable. I did not find any flat charm or token style necklaces so will keep a look out for them to try another day.

I will keep revisiting the video and trying new ideas. I like the chairs closure for a book and albums. I have also been given some lovely pieces from a friend , who kindly tidied her jewellery box and let me take anything she no longer used, I only took pieces that I could use, but it may me think more laterally as she had several glass pendants that were very pretty and which I thought I could use to embellish box tops and gift bags. 

I made a recycled jar to hold my makes and I will post this when I do a recycle month. 

Happy Crafting and I am back next with back to basics - Card making, different folds and styles to add to your repertoire.

Dee 

 

Journal Embellishments/Closures

 Hi Crafters 

Just a very quick show and tell today. 

With all the journals I have been making recently I have naturally checked out a couple of different embellishment videos and am going to share some with you over the next few days.

The first one is a simple clip that can be used to brighten up the page as well as hinge a pocket or tuck area. The beauty of this clip is it can be made from the scraps of your project.

As you can see these are basically a piece of card with the corners cut and then a 1” circle punch has been used to punch a circle to sit on the top. If the card is light weight either layer it up twice or place on a piece of cardboard (recycled cereal box etc) and then layer with the circle 

 

Here you can see how I have used it on a envelope folder page. This clip has been added to the page by by making a hole on the page, positioned so that the split pin allows the end to turn around over the tuck-in panel so that any tags or papers slotted into the panel are held in place with the clip. The clip is then turned around the other way to allow the papers to be removed.  

This is not my idea, I saw this on a video by Gi Kerr, on one of her Freebie Fridays, as I belong to her facebook group. If you like her videos on YouTUbe think about joining this group as you get great tutorials and free downloads to make the item in the tutorial. 

Back soon with some lovely dangles for your album/journal pages and spine. 

In the meantime I am keeping busy with a mini album for a new baby. 

Dee 

Envelope Folder 3 - last one for now.

 Hi Crafters

Here we are with the last of the envelope folders for the time being. I have really enjoyed making them and they are reasonably quick and easy so are perfect for happy mail or thank you’s and you could add a gift card to one of the pockets for a present. 

This is using 3 envelopes instead of the previous 4, and I have made a decorated clip as a closure

 For this folder I used Gi Kerrs “Cherry Blossom Garden” papers which I print on 120gsm card. On the inside pages I did faux stitches, but have not yet decorated it at all because I am not sure what I am going to use it for. 

As you can see I have staggered the semi-circle for access to the envelope  storage area. 

On the outside I have used the stronger Prints and around all the pages and papers I have distressed the edges with a coordinating rose tint.

 The clip has been decorated with 2 pearl beads and a crystal butterfly on a jewellery finding. 

My next posts will talk about the different journal clips you can make to decorate pages and spines of your mini books and albums.

Dee 

Envelope Folder 2

Envelope Folder 2 

Hi Crafters and thank you for dropping by

I appreciate you taking the time to check out my blog and hope you get some ideas and inspiration and try some of the makes yourself.

Today I am showing your the second Envelope folder made from the square craft envelopes given to me.

After putting one together with 4 envelopes I was on a roll, they are so addictive and I immediately made another, this time  i decided to use the last flap as a closure and add a  popper. 

The papers I used for this one are really pretty and called Vintage Roses they come from The JournalBoat on Etsy, and form part of a journal kit.

The kit includes matching tags, pockets etc so embellishing the pages is really easy. For any of these envelope folders/books you need to measure the envelope and cut 1/2cm off the measurement to cut the papers. So these envelopes are 13cm square and the papers were cut 12.5cm square.

Using the kit I am able to add matching tags & mats as well as heart embellishment, postcards and mini envelopes 

I love it and am totally addicted now.

Happy Crafting

Dee

Envelope Folder No 1

 Hi Crafters

Back with an envelope mini. I have a couple of different layouts for you.

I have made envelope folders before and can always find a use for them or gift them in mail, they are relatively quick to make, so when a friend offered me a stash of 5 x 5 craft paper envelopes that she had picked up from the scrap store I was happy to have them. I immediately though of the envelope folder and started a lay out  and some papers to make one.

The first one I put the 3 envelopes together and covered with vintage paper printed from my computer. The look was lovely but the papers were a little thin. 

The next one I used paper from the Boho Bouquet paper pad and this worked well.

This one I used 4 envelopes. Using 2 of the envelopes place the flaps of one envelope into the inside of the other envelope twice. each set will have a spare flap. use one to attach the second set of envelopes and the flap on the second set as a cover flap to put the folder together. You will end up with 3 sets of double page.

So the first picture is the first 2 envelopes placed together, cover with papers and a half circle cut in the middle of the opening on both sides. This allows space for photo’s and memorabilia , 

While the front pages can hold photographs tags and journaling. 

The left hand side I have placed a pocket and added a tag to decorate, while the right hand page holds a vellum envelope.

The second picture shows the middle section with 2 solid pages and i have left one plain while the right side has a pocket with a couple of tags in.

This last photo shows the last double page again with openings to store mats, photographs and memorabilia.

On the left page I have added a tuck flap with a lever closure and I will do a post about these.

On the right side a pocket with a couple of sections.

The whole folder is held together with cotton lace, and gives you 6 12 x 12cm pages and 4 sections of storage in the envelopes, so a good size for a single event reminder.

These folders can be made with any envelopes including junk mail envelopes, so a great way to re-purpose or re-cycle. 

Back soon with the others  I made. 

Dee 

Mini Art Book 2

 Hi Crafters

Well here I am as promised with the second of my mini art books.

This one was made using the same spine method and with the Boho Bouquet papers from The Paper Tree.

I have this paper in the 12 x 12 and the 8 x8 paper kit. So I have used the 12 x 12 paper for the centre spine and then half of the insert papers are from  the Boho Bouquet and half from Black card. This allows the Boho papers to be used on the white back of the paper for art work and the black card for photographs 

Either of them can be exchanged for papers of your choice. 

The size of the insert papers and card are 5" x 4" so great for photographs and a larger canvas for art work than the one made previously which had insert papers 2 3/4" x 4 1/4" .

Here we see the 2 inserts

Album bound with green

binding tape for the shabby-

chic look

                           

The other main difference is the cover has been made with additional thickness by covering card with the decorative papers and then adding the block to the front and back of the album 

I will be making these to take to craft shows if we ever get to do them again as I think they would make lovely gifts for anyone doing art projects or wishing to have a pretty little album to display work or photographs. 

June seems to be a month for Journal making and I am continuing with this theme until the end of the month. 

July will be going back to basics and card making. For the month of July I will be going through my templates of previous makes and sharing my favourite styles with you. Will your favourite be amongst them, you will have to wait and see. Or you could contact me with your own personal favourite fold or style of card and share your makes with me. 

Back soon with an envelope mini, and some ephemera for your journals.

Dee

Mini Art Book - Artists Ideas Book

 Hi Crafters 

Today a new mini book for you all.

This one is my own design. I saw a picture of something similar on Pinterest and loved the look of it, so decided to have a go myself, I was unable to find instructions and the post was in German so I had no idea if the design  had a name that I could check out. I think the one I saw was based on a Blizzard book but I think I found an easier and quicker way of making it. 

 These mini books allow the pages to be slotted in but remain lose, so they can be taken out to work on and then added back into the book. This can be a living art book

It could also be used as a mini album and again pictures mounted on the card and added and removed as required. A lovely way to take family photo’s with you and keep the book updated. 

In this book there are 16 pages but more can be added, particularly for storage before use. I just think they are so cute and useful at the same time. I remember when artist trading cards were all the rage, well this book would allow you to add your cards and then take the book to craft clubs and meets and swap them and perhaps have another one with artists trading cards given to you.

I have finished the front with a piece of card from a collection from Gi Kerr which I purchased from her Etsy Store, but you can cover it in your own art work or papers of your choice. I have made another one slightly larger and this was made using The Paper Tree’s Boho Bouquet papers., slight different finish to the cover but the inside made in the same way. I will post that next. 

This one will be for sale on Ebay. If you would like to see how it is made please subscribe to my blog, leave me a message and if I get several requests I will do a post with  instructions on how to make it. 

Happy Crafting

Dee

My video of an album made

 This blog is an experiment to see if I could load a video from my camera to my blog, as this will enable me to show how I make things. I am not very technically minded but hopefully as this has loaded and visible on the blog, I will be able to add videos in future. I have yet to see if this works on longer videos 

So please bear with me while i experiment occasionally.

This album was made and sold last year.

Thank you for dropping by

Dee

New Baby Card

 Hi Crafters

Today I am taking a break from the mini books and journals to make a card for my new Great Nephew

I do not do children’s cards generally so only have a few dies with this theme. I have a small bear &duck a little train and rocking horse and then some bigger dies many for older children, such as fun-fairs, fairies and moons

So I started by getting out my magnetic sheet with the children’s dies and considered the possibilities. I really wanted something 3 dimension so settled for an oblong pop-up card. With my new craft desk lay-out it all came together quite simply. I took out the blue card and started cutting and layering the base card. Then cut a selection of embellishments and finally put them together 

For the front of the card I printed the details of the new baby and cut out to layer onto the front panel, this is the simplest way to personalise a card. Amongst my die-cuts I found a little heart that went perfectly in the corner.

The whole card has been made from white card, DCWV metalic paper pad blue and silver hue sheet 

Lastly I finished with a line of gems and 3 single gems on the moon.

I am very happy with this cute card, it has a clean look. It will be wrapped in tissue and placed  in an envelope before posting in a hard backed envelope.

To Make this card you will need

1 sheet of A4 White card

2 sheets of 8 x 8 blue card

2 sheets of 8 x 8 silver card

Cut the white card down to 5.5” wide x full 11.5” length and from the remaining piece you will cut the bands for inside the card  

Score at 3” on the short side

Turn and score at 2”,5.5”,7.5”,11”

The 3” width is at the base and from the top cut down each of the score lines to the 3” score line

On the 1/2” panel cut off the top piece and cut a notch in the base section as this is the panel that hinges the card together 

Fold the first 2” panel over, leave the next panel standing up and then fold over the other 2 panels 

Cut layers for all the panels. Cut a layer that fits the whole of the  back panel to cover the scored line and stiffen the panel.

You will also need 2 pieces of card that are 4.5” long scored at 1/5” and 4” to sit inside the made up card and hold the embellishments  

If you prefer video instructions (they are so much easier to follow than written) check out the following on YouTube. 

https://youtu.be/UxI8hL6e3Tc

My measurements are different but the make up is the same. 

Happy Crafting

Dee

Another journal - so quick and easy to make

 Hi Crafters

As you have seen I am loving my journals and books at the moment. I have always enjoyed making mini albums and made many over the years and now I am adding journals and memory books to the list.

I enjoy putting together journals as they can encompass different elements I may want to try out: embossing, stamping or decorated pages. I can stamp on old book pages or laminate tags and die cuts or make the tiles and pins to decorate the pages. Also a journal does not need a hard cover as you want it to be more flexible for carrying around in a pocket or bag. 

Closures are simple and can be made from elastic, binding or magnetic and well as magnets, bolts and flaps associated with albums. 

Additional signatures with various styles can also be added by stitching them in to the middle of the journal. So I have made a couple of them to add to my stash.

Rose Journal

Both journals have a laminated shabby chic page for the outside. Inside is a combination of vintage print pages, coloured papers and plain sheets for writing as well as embossed envelopes to use as store pockets. 

This journal I have added a folder on the inside cover some hidden paperclips holding a couple of tickets for notes.

Tags, hidden clip, and mini envelope

Embossed envelope pocket and pocket on back cover 

Tags and hidden clip stashed in the envelope pocket

Pocket and tag 

You can see the centre stitching and elastic that makes the button closure in this last picture.

Bird Journal

Laminated Cover with Using a Napkin 

Inside Cover 

This book has not been completed yet, there are several signatures like the Rose Journal. Embossed envelopes coloured and plain pages and some vintage flower & bird printed pages Instead of the folder in the Rose Journal I have made a pretty concertina folder with storage pockets, and this will be another signature 

There will be more Tags, clips and a mini book that will be added to a pocket on the inside cover. 

I hope you will have a go at these as they are quite simple to make and you can use your papers up and embellishments that you have enjoyed making 

The concertina folder is very sweet and is another inspirational idea from Gi Kerr, I have added the link below. This is worth checking out and making as a stand alone item for your stash. I have used the download that is used in the video. I made 2 of these pockets, one I printed on cream paper and the other I printed onto a music sheet paper I had in my box. I like the combination of the vintage papers on music print. 

https://youtu.be/NoBSwbg-OgU

Hope you have a go at making your own journal and I would love to see them if you do.

Dee