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

Bargain Buys and how I use them + Create & Craft Club membership

 Hello Crafters

Well here we are hopefully seeing the end of isolation soon and some sunny days on their way. Last weekend was a Bank Holiday and as I live in the West Country it is not great for getting out and about, so naturally I did some crafting and checked out the Craft Channels, along with EBay. This is always fatal for an avid crafter like myself as you cannot resist a bargain whether you need it or not. I ended up purchasing 3 great deals on Ebay and finally joining the Create and Craft Club. I don't know why I have put this off for so long, I think the £20 was not the issue it was the fact I thought that the deals were not always right for me. I am not a lover of buying £150 sets with multiple dies and accessories even though the deals offer better value than buying individually. I know i have suitable items in my stash and am really looking for the lovely papers and items to finish my products. 

So let me take you through the purchases, how I will use them, and the benefit they give to my crafting

Purchase 1 . First I bought a magazine with an extra DVD. This was a Crafters companion magazine and NEW and the gifts were included . It had a set of stamps (very useful words), a stencil, an embossing folder and a single flower die. So this alone covered the cost. But the best item was the DVD set, and so I happily bid on the item, and won it for less than half the original cost of the magazine.

Purchase 2:

Parchment papers and extras. This was an amazing buy as I just hit lucky with no other bidders. I had 4 packs of 12 x 12 Parchment papers, some very pretty sheets of 12 x 12 oriental papers, 3 mini book sets  and a couple of other items .

Purchase 3: My last purchase over the holiday weekend from Ebay was a DCWV 12 x 12 Cardstock stack, this I paid £13.65 but as these pads are normally £20 I was pleased with the purchase 

As the items have been delivered I have tried to take a good look at them and put away the "must Haves" and reconsider the other items, with a view to using, donating or re-selling them.

Purchase 1: I checked the pack out and have glanced through the magazine, noted a couple of projects that are new and I may wish to try, but most of the cards were nice but not what I really do so it has gone in the magazine rack to be given away soon, along with the stencil. The stamps & embossing folder are being kept and dvd is a great find. It is a double disc set. The dvd has many projects using the Crafters Companion A3 Score Board, as I have one of these and use it a lot, some new projects would enhance the use of the board. The second disc has over 500 printable pages items and I am looking forward to going through them and selecting some that may inspire new ideas and projects. 

 Purchase 2: The packs of parchment papers were in great condition in the unopened packs and 2 of the packs more than covered the cost I paid. All four have been packed away as they are lovely prints and I am sure I can use them. The oriental papers are also very pretty and I have kept them as well. The mini books were very interesting they are by Brenda Pinnock and so I undid one pack to make it up. I will have the fun of putting it together and then give it to a friend who sells items for charity. The other 2 I will add to my freebie box to give away when I sell anything. I like to add ‘happy mail’ and these will make great gifts for crafters. 

There was also a pack of 4cm square pieces of card, half plain and half printed. I could not think what to do with them to start with and then realised they were for teabag folding. So I had to check out teabag folding ideas on YouTube and make a Pinwheel design. It was a trip down memory lane, and these squares will now go into the bag to donate to crafters who make cards for the local hospital as I am sure someone will make good use of them, while I have tried a old technique again. 

Purchase 3 The DCWV Mariposa 12 x 12 pack has yet to be delivered, but I have used the 6 x 4” pad and loved the designs. If I don’t think I can use the whole pad I will break it up and sell one sheet of each design for someone else to try this lovely card-stock.

So all in all i had some bargains and have tried new techniques as well as some craft items put aside for a rainy day. I also enjoy the rush of winning an Ebay lot that I know will add to my stash. The only problem is I can get hooked on winning great lots, and am back in the habit of checking out Ebay for bargains when really I have very few gaps in my craft stash for more items and little need for more, but isn’t that part of what a hobby is all about. 

Now I would like to talk about Create and Craft Club membership a little more. Having bought the membership I wondered if I would get the benefit from it, but summer time is often a time for craft companies to clear out old stock and with members special discounts I thought I would check it out for a year and see if the value was there.

I am not great at reading small print so it was a little bit of a surprise to find the £10 credit you get on your account can only be spent on purchases of £50 or more. So far I have not received my welcoming pack and I was not aware of anything other than the 10% discount . Then looking through the pages of the website, considering a purchase to use my £10 discount I discovered a paper pad that said free to members, so I popped it in the basket, along with a couple of other items making it approx £20 worth of goods. This is when I found I had to spend £50 before I could use my voucher plus the capped p&p does not include members free items. Now when I think about that it makes perfect sense in respect of the freebie and so i took out the other 2 items and enjoyed an 8 x 8 paper pad for the postage cost of £2.99. The pad arrived and is very pretty with tags and toppers included so I am very happy with it. 

Feeling better about the membership I then realised there must be somewhere on the website with  information about all the deals and have found it and know where to keep up with deals for members. 

Then last night I was watching Create & Craft (do I find myself checking out the channel more now I am a member, I think I do), and just caught a demonstration on a deal for Tim Holtz Haberdashery bundle. I love Tim Holtz and so I went back through the programme to catch the whole of the item. Whilst I am not in the market for scissors (I have about 12 pairs as I do the occasional workshop) they were showing a class mat approx 25” x 14” , that had a section for a plastic mat for ink work. This was a bit if a revelation for me as I usually have to get a separate ink mat out and then find space on the desk for it so that I can mix my inks for distressing or painting. The bundle included a spare mat for this space 2 scissors presented in lovely tins and have a special members discount making a 35% reduction. I did think about it for a while but caved and  decided I would try it. There was also a die I had seen that was in a bundle that  I thought was more than I could possibly use, but I decided to buy the die singularly as although it was a hefty £22,  I could use my £10 voucher on the total purchase. I will review these 2 purchases after I receive and try them out. 

I think over the year I will get value for money, but I am aware I will need to be strong and not buy just because it looks like a great reduction. I will do more reviews on my membership throughout the year. If any of you are already members I would love to hear about your favourite buys and what you think of being part of the club.

Back soon with more crafting ideas.

Dee