Using Your scraps - Make Together Tuesday

Hi Crafters 

Here we are in February and  I have been crafting madly this year, already , this has made lots of pieces to add to the scrap box.

Last year I did a series on using up your scraps, as ideas for using up your scraps are so useful, I thought  I would run another series during February, and expand on the ideas from last year.

Brag book, binder strips and bows 

First I start by sorting my scraps into piles.

How they come out the scrap bag

Sorted into the piles for use

These consist of:
Long Strips
Large Pieces
Smaller pieces up to 10cm 
Kraft Card and heavier card 
White, Black, Gold and Silver card 
Christmas card

These are all put into their own polypage and then into a scrap bag 

The first section I am going to be working with is the long strips
These have come from 12 x 12 pages when I have been making my scrapbook or other projects 

The main makes with these will  be 
Mini Brag book and Beautiful Bows 
For the Brag Book 

• I took 2 of the wider strips that measured 8cm wide and 30cm long
• FOlded them in half and then into the centre of each piece so they were concertina style.
• I then placed one on top the other and glued together 
• Taking 2 pieces of scrap heavy card I cut to 8.5cm square and covered them in pretty coordinating papers (again from my scrap pile) You only need to cover one side, gluing down on the reverse
• Glue a piece of ribbon to the middle of the front section and to the middle of the back section to use for ties   
• Then Glue one of your card square to the front and one to the back

This makes a pretty little brag book that will hold 12 small photographs and fit into pocket or handbag.

Selecting strips

booklet made and Kraft card selected for covers

Completed Book

Next I took the smaller strips and made paper bows, these are so useful for all your boxes and bags or to decorate your paper projects I am happy to make a big batch.

There are several tutorials on YouTube particularly for making them using your WeRMemory Keepers Envelope maker. I have one but I prefer to make them freehand as they are so simple.

• Take a strip approx 2cm wide by 30cm long but you can use any length from 20cm just narrow the strip accordingly
• Fold in half and then fold each end up to just below the centre fold
• Cut fan tails in the 2 open ends of the strip while they are together 
• Run a bone folder or sissors along the centre pieces to bow it a little.
• Add a small piece of red (strong) double sided tape to the centre fold on the back of the strip and fold the bowed area so the fold half way down sits to the centre line on both side  
• Add some double sided tape to the middle of the back and decorate the centre of the bow 
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So lots of lovely bows from your scrap pieces.

Other ideas include 
1. Binder strips - 3 strips of 3 different sizes with a 1cm scored centre. Glue together and use for scrapbook and mini album spines to add pages to your projects 

Here are some I made from my strips and I will store them ready for use.
2.  Rosettes to decorate your cards and projects and to add your greetings
3. Photo Corners 

Next week I will use another section of the Scrap pile to recycle into projects so be sure to drop by and check them out 

Happy Crafting 
Dee

Great Little Card to Say hello, Get Well, Thank you etc

Hi Crafters

I have recently cleared out some drawers and boxes in the craft room and came across some sample cards I made that hold small bars of Chocolate

These are not a new idea and for the bigger bars there are Youtube videos.

My cards hold a small bar of chocolate that I love from Lidl, they come in white, dark and hazlenut, my favourite is the white and I usually have them in the house, although they are a temptation for sure.

I will be honest my cards are too flimsy and I should have stopped at one card, but I loved the idea so much I made about 10. So I am adjusting the instructions for you

You will need a sheet of A4 card white or cream 200gsm or more
Cut a strip 16cm deep and using the full width of the card.
Along the long side score at 10.5, 11.5, 21.5, 22.5, 28.5, 29.5
Turn and score up to the 21.5cm scoreline at 1,2cm each side of the card (this section form the box.

At the 21.5cm score line cut down with scissors to the 2cm line either side
Now dols and burnish all your score line
Round the corners at all four corners of the main card and on the outer edge of the box.
Cut the 2 1cm corners off the far right side of the card and then cut down to the 2cm line to make the box flaps
Fold the box over and glue down the sides leaving the end 2cm flap that will hold the chococlate in place
Decorate the front of your card and add the greeting of choice

 I am taking one to a friend as a get well card, and they would make perfect Thank You cards or Hello.

Useful to have a small stash (but don't eat the bars) for visiting etc.
Dee

Pocket Notebook and photo holder from Recycled Christmas Cards

Hi Crafters

Here is the last of the Recycled CHristmas Card projects

A cute little pocket notebook folder with a photo slot

For this project you need:
1 card
some Christmas paper
small piece of ribbon
small piece of black card
a pocket notebook

Score the 1/2cm either side of the centre fold  and 1cm on all four outside edges
Fold and burnish all the score lines 
Fold in the outer cm and glue down. Use a strong glue and hold in place while it is drying 
You may find it easier to cut little notches at the centre folds to stop it bunching 

Measure your folded card and cut a piece of christmas paper 1 cm smaller on both sides 
My opened card measured 27cm x 14cm, so my lining was 26cm x 13cm 

Cut 2 pieces of coordinating ribbon 8" long, attach to the inside in hte centre 
Lay the paper over the top and glue down securely
while this is drying cover the front of the notepad with matching paper
Cut a piece of Black card to fit inside the left side of the card and make photo corners 
When the lining is dry add the notepad to the right side and the picture frame to the left 

These make great little gifts for friends family and teachers 

Here is a list of items made using my Christmas cards
Gift bags and boxes
Bottle tags
Sweetie Tube to hang on the tree
Notebook several types
Tag book
Sturdy Gift Box 
Mini concertina folder for recipes etc

I am sure there are many other you can think of so roll on next Christmas 
Dee

Wine Bottle Tag - Make Together Tuesday 3

Another Idea for  Recycling your Christmas Cards

This is a really simple idea to use up your cards, and so handy if you visit at Christmas with bottle of wine or you want to make your gift to Workmates a little more personal.

They make any bottle that little more special.

Cut one of your cards to 15cm x 9cm wide
Score at 7cm from the top of the card and in this section cut a circle using a punch or die, the circle needs to be 3.5cm .
Make sure you centre the circle or the tag will fall to one side 
You can write your message on the back 
Add a Bow to the neck 
Or if you are feeling generous add a small packet  of nuts to the  back of the tag.

Great for someone you want to say  THANK YOU too.

Dee

Make Together Tuesday Recycled Christmas Cards

Gift Box from Recycled Cards and items from your stash 

Here we are with the second recycled Christmas card project
If you have a box maker you can use 2 cards of the same size and using the box maker score and glue the base and lid to make a gift box
If like me you have a card you really want to use to make a box and there is not a suitable coordinating card to make the base you can make it using a coordinating piece of card stock from my stash
My Box uses:
1 piece of blue card stock from my stash measuring 21cm square
Scores at 3 and 6cm all four sides
from the bottom cut up to the second score line on both of the corner sections
Cut the outer section off and on the inner section cut the bottom square off
Turn the card 180degrees and do the same the other end
Cut small notches in the corner flap sections
Glue the two panels all the way around and tucking in the flaps turn over and glue down so you have a double sided box base

Next take a Greeting card that you want to use. (Mine measured 13cm square), and score all four sides just under 2cm. I used my papercutter for this as I could score 1mm under the 2cm mark.
or if the card allows cut the card 13.1cm square and score at 2cm all the way around
Because the card was thick I did not need to make it double thickness on the sides, so with the card facing you cut up to the score line in each corner and nip a little out from the corner square and glue down.

This is a great way of using up the cards that have a cute picture in the centre of the card as the outer card will be the side panels of your lid.
Because I have used a piece of card from my stash to make the base the depth of this box makes it suitable for a bracelet or slightly bigger gift

Don't forget to look back next week for more ideas on how to use your Christmas Cards and if you like what you see why not subscribe to my blog by clicking on the FOLLOW button at the top of the page

Dee

First "Make Together Tuesday"

Hi Crafters

Here is the first "Make Together Tuesday" craft.
It is a cute little Sticky Note holder 
I am recycling my Christmas cards, they are always so lovely and I get great joy from reusing them, but this year I want to be more adventurous than just making cards or tags.
When recycling Christmas cards I always start by sorted them into size order as this can help you get the ideas for best use of each size.

To make this Sticky note Holder you will need:

2 small Christmas cards same size (choose cards that are 1-2cm larger than the sticky pad, mine were 9.5cm square)
A piece of coordinating card 
sml amount of ribbon 
Pritt stick or strong glue of choice 
Scoring tool

• Cut the front off one card and on the 2nd card cut the back about half way across leaving 4cm attached. score the back at 2cm 

 Next turn the cards over and score the larger piece 1.5cm to the left side and 1.5cm along the base of the card and the smaller piece 1.5cm on the right side of the card and base 

• Fold and burnish the scored lines
• Attach the two pieces of card by gluing the smaller section to the larger at the first score line 
• Mitre the 2 bottom corners, snip into the top corners to the score line and glue down.
• You may find it easier to snip up to the score line at the base in the middle where the spine is formed snip out a little from each side so it does not bunch up.
• Cut a piece of coordinating card to sit inside the frame my piece was cut at 18cm x 8cm 
• place 2 pieces of ribbon onto the card approx 12cm long and glue down 3cm into each side
• glue all over the coordinating card piece and lay carefully on hte inside of the card covering the ribbon and leaving an even edge all around.
• once in place use your bone folder to press done firmly from the midddle out, and fold up the spine either side so the top piece sits into the fold, keep pressing done the card until it is firm and folded nicely then put to one side to dry
• Once it is dry add a sticky note pad to the right side of the card by gluing the back board of the pad and placing it centrally to the back section of the newly formed card

 Just a handy size for the handbag, why not give them out to family and friends 
I will have this made up plus one kit with instructions, for sale together for anyone would like to make it, in my Etsy Store. 
Happy Crafting
Dee

New Year New Blogs

Hi Crafters

Well its a new year and new crafting ideas

This year I would like to share more makes with you, with more instructions and ideas to make and recycle. So I will try to post an item a week called "Make Together Tuesdays".

This will give you a week until the next post and a new item to make.

The next couple of weeks will be all about recycling your Christmas cards. I am doing a workshop on the 18th January (fully booked) and so will show some of the items I am making .

So why not check in weekly to see what's new and perhaps make a few of the items and send me a picture or comment on the posting. You can subscribe to my blog by clicking on the Follow button at the top of the page, and this will allow you to comment.

Dee