Old Projects finished at last

Hi Crafters

As promised, here are the projects found when sorting through the craft boxes.

The bottom photograph is a selection of cards, they includes the ones made in my previous blog, some lovely 3D cards from a Create and Craft kit that have vellum inserts. These just needed some greetings added and the 3D Decoupage put together . Then there were some White and silver Christmas cards.

Next were some notelet sets in folders. Each set has 6 DL notelets and envelopes and the file with matching papers, these were all made from the First Edition Eastern Promise paper pad. 

Then I found 2 box cards. These consist of a card that has a box attached which holds 3 scented tea- lights,  both have been made with Christmas papers from the Sara Signature Vintage Christmas Pad, which was my favourite last year, and quite honestly I have not found a pad I like as much this year.

The 3 bigger boxes hold 3 larger scented tea-lights and are perfect as a thank you gift, or thank you for having me gift etc

Then there were several packs of self-sealing boxes. I have kept some as they will be useful for my own gift giving. These pouches are made using 2 pieces of 12 x 12 card stock. Scored in such a way that when put together the top of the box stays together naturally (unless you overfill the box section. You can find several YouTube videos for these, and I have added additional squares of card to line the inside and cover the outside of the base of the box to reinforce

These boxes can be made and stored flat so are very handy to have in your stash. I have three in the giveaway bag.

Lastly there are 4 gift boxes that i had scored and cut out ready to put together, (I think I must have been trying a new template) and as I had some Lidl small chocolate bars I made up the boxes and added 4 of the mini-bars into each , I then filled the top of the box with a Christmas napkin. These require a tag and content description attached to the Christmas ribbon wrapped around the box.

All of these have gone into the bag to be given to a friend who sells them to support a cancer charity. 

Over the next week or so I will continue to look through my boxes and complete anything else I feel may sell well at this time of year, and therefore benefit the charity, at the same time tidy my craft room ready for new projects in the new year. 

I hope this has inspired you to check out the cupboards and see what you have, not quite finished, that you can complete and use. If you look at anything and are not sure if you want to finish it, consider stripping it for using on other projects or be ruthless and throw it out. It will be be good to start the new year free to crack on with new projects and ideas.

Dee

Anna Griffin Christmas

 Hi Crafters 

I have recently purchased some Anna Griffin Dies and am looking forward to making my Christmas cards with them 

The first die for me to try is a lovely Santa Sleigh, the die set has an outline die that makes the base card and then the sleigh die and a set of parcel and tree dies.

This is a sample card from Anna Griffin show 

I do love the Anna Griffin range and have bought several of her dies although I do not usually buy a complete set as I am not ready to spend £80 to £150 on a set of dies, mainly because I know i won’t use them all enough to warrant the spend. One or two from the set to try the designs and some of the accessories, are all I need to ‘have a go’ and not get bored repeating the style. I realise that Christmas is a little different as we all make a lot of cards this time of year, but I like variety so never buy all one range. I am often tempted with  Anna Griffin as it was one of the first designers I purchased when she sold on QVC, but I have so many dies now I really could not make use of 5 or 6 dies in a similar style, so usually just buy my favourite  to try them out,

I am not a quick crafter and working with a die set such as the one shown above will take me some hours. First I have to think  about the design then get out the necessary card and tools and then make up the card.

For this die I needed the large A4  plate so had to get my SIZZIX Plus out the cupboard to cut the base card

Then find the mirror card to make the top layers of the card and sleigh accessories. This took me a couple of hours and then it was time to make dinner. So I still have the base decorations to make and the greeting. Once the card is completed and I am happy with it, I can then get a production line going. I will definitely be adding several of them to my Christmas card pile. 

Here is my version. 

 I am super pleased with it and now I have the basics I can put them together easily. Like most special cards this takes more card than the average amount if card to construct.One standard piece of A4 card 2 pieces of mirror card as well as the patterned card for the holly leaves. And some scraps for the greeting. If you add the cost of the base die spread over 20cards each card would cost about £2 to make. I am not making these to sell, but I throw this in for anyone who does make to sell. 

Obviously if you make lots, and have a good market for them the price per unit goes down, but in my experience and in my area if I am selling cards at £3 or more, my sales would be limited and it would take a few  fairs to sell 40 of the same card. 

All this does not put me off buying more Anns Griffin dies and I am looking foreword to working with the Carousel die I have purchased, and the greeting Impression dies. 

I will post more as I make more. 

Happy Crafting

Dee

More Laminating Projects

 More Laminating Projects
Gift Card holder and Tags 

Hi Crafters

Following on from the other laminating projects mentioned in my previous post, I was asked if `tags could be made using the laminator.

So here are 2 styles of tags

The first has been made laminating a large tag and then adding a laminated pocket on the back to take your greeting 

Put a couple of large tags into a laminating pouch, and put through the machine

Cut around leaving a band around the tag sealing it.

Then with badge size laminating pouches, cut one down by removing 1.5cm from the long and short side, turn inside out and slip into another of the badge laminating pouches,pop through the machine

Cut the top off the badge and this gives you a clear pocket to add your card. add it to one of the tags 

Punch a hole in the top and add an eyelet to take your ribbon.

Here are 3 large Journal tags with one of my  cards on the back showing the pocket for journaling or gifting info.

Next are fun large tags made with 3D decoupage. It is a pad bought from the Range, the pad has papers, and coordinating 3D decoupage for toppers and cards. I laminated the individual pieces of 3D decoupage, fussy cut around the pieces and then layered them onto tags cut from the card with foam pads.

I love making these jazzy tags and they will brighten up any parcel. 

I have added an eyelet and ribbon, so these tags will be sturdy, and hopefully used more than once.

Happy Crafting

Dee