Still all About the Stash

It’s  June 

Let’s Keep Using Your Stash 

Here we are in June, school holidays for the Jubilee, exams, graduation and end of school year are looming. Finances are being stretched and crafting is a little down the list of priorities for some. But it need not be, lets see what we can make from our stash, no spending and some saving with small Thank You gifts, Teachers gifts, and Birthday party crafts that can be made from items you already have in the cupboard. 

June is going to be all about small gifts and practical cards. 

I have been using up any papers for May posts and as always when making something, other ideas pop into my head. I had a few makes during May that were extensions of what I was doing, so I have put them aside to show you in June and to demonstrate how to make them.

Project One 

Seed/Coin Wallets 

This is one of my current favourites, you saw a sneak preview in my blog 1st May when I showed some flowers I had used to decorate the front.

This idea came from Pinkstrawberryz and you can see her project from the link below:

https://youtu.be/XB0kGSF0r3k

I made several after the initial one as I loved making them, they used up my stash of 6 x 6 papers and made great Thank You Gifts for friends and family, who have shown you some love recently. Particularly friends who love their gardens. The summer is a great time to visit gardens and buy seeds for next year so you could get some extra packs to pop in your wallet, or if you want to be really good gather your own seeds from your flowers when they have finished flowering this year take a picture of them in bloom and label well. This would make a truly personal and caring gift.

You will need 7 6 x 6 sheets of paper

A score board 

Double sided tape/glue

Flower decorations

Start by making the packets 

Take 4 sheets of your 6 x 6

Score each one at 1/2”, and 31/4”   To make the body of the wallet

Turn and score at 1/2” and 4 1/2” this will be the bottom and top folds

Lay the  main body flat on your craft table with the 1/2 corner to the right 

Cut away the corner with a slight wedge shape and the cut the bottom flap from the left side to the middle score line and again cut a small wedge at the middle score line

At the top of your paper cut away the top panel from the left side to the middle and from the right side cut away the 1/2” side piece slightly wedge the remaining centre section which is your lid flap and round the corners if you like them finished this way. Glue sides and bottom panels together. Corner the top flaps. 

Set aside your 4 pockets 

Next cut 2 matching panels for front and back at 2 7/8” wide by 4 1/4” high and use the spare piece to cut another bit 2 7/8  x 3.5” for the lid

Cut the last piece 2.75 x 4” and score along the 4” at every 1/2”

Concertina the folds 

With the first fold laid flat add a pocket to the the next mountain fold facing you by gluing the base 1/2” of the pocket to the fold. Do this with the next pocket and fold until you have glued all 4 onto the concertina folds 

Next glue the front and back panels to the outside edges

This just leaves the top flap to glue on and you just need to eyeball this piece. 

Hold all your pockets together and place the top flap onto the back panel folding over to the front. I rounded the edges and then fastened with Velcro dots .

I also added some circular embellishment to each of the pockets to hold down the flap, no fastenings just a little extra weight to help them lay flat.

 I added some flowers to the front to finish.

You could add the letters SEEDS or anything appropriate.

These have many uses and I thought they would make great alternative party bags with a small bar of chocolate, a mini notebook, some pencils and hair bands or puzzle 

Dee

Jubilee Rosette made from Ribbon

 Hi Crafters

Everyone is joining in the Jubilee celebrations where I live and the village is having 4 days of entertainment and teas from Thursday to Sunday. As my friend is are helping with teas and we have been asked to wear Red White and Blue she asked me to make her a rosette to wear over the celebrations. I can make Rosettes from paper easily but making with ribbon is another matter. 

I had several attempts before coming up with the following:- 

The final one was the winner 

This was made using flower techniques.

Hope you all have a great Jubilee holiday .

Dee

May - Make the most of yours stash

 Making the most of your stash 

Project 5 - 12 x 12 papers

On YouTube recently I have read several blogs on using up your stash, and in particular I was taken with one from The Posh Paper Lady, who is advocating shopping from your stash. So instead of seeing a project you want to try and going out to buy the papers for it, look at your stash and “Buy” the papers from your own pile. The blog goes on to discuss the need (or not) of having the latest papers to work with and how really papers from your stash are never outdated as they are your style.   

So for the next couple of blogs this month making the most of your stash is going to be all about making projects with what you already have. 

Todays Project

Using your 12 x 12 Papers

As you know I have had a tidy up recently and now have a pile of part used 12 x 12 paper pads as well as over-stock of papers. I had put a few bundles on Ebay but since preparing for this blog I have decided to use the bulk to make up items and when I am able I will have a Table at a Craft fair and sell them all for Charity. 

The first one will Blitz the stash nicely. 

Folio Envelopes 

These are simple and quick to make and very useful to file your papers, vouchers etc. 

You can put 3-5 together to make a little gift 

Take a sheet of 12 x 12 

Score at 1” and 6.5”

Turn and score at 3/4” and 10.25” 

Fold the first score lines into the middle and burnish 

Fold the top and bottom score line down and burnish 

Unfold to cut away as shown below

You can then fold the left side in and either glue the right flap over the fold or under the fold if you do not want the seam to show. I like to show the seams and so I glue it on the inside of the flap to fold it over the outside of the envelope and the same with the bottom flap 

Then using a 1” punch cut 2 circles from the cut-offs and place a hole in the middle of the 2 circles. Add a brad to hold the 2 together and before gluing down on the flap put your bone-folder or nail between the 2 circles and run around so that your butchers string or ribbon will tire around easily.

Glue the double circle to the middle of the flap 

Get your butchers string or fine ribbon  and wrap around the envelope 2.5 times and wind around the brad between the 2 circles and tie once; wind back the other way and tie off again cutting the end off neatly to the edge of the circle. 

You can either wind the thread around the bottom of the envelope or across the front and back of the flap, to fasten the envelope down 

I love these folios so much I made a whole bunch, and as I had some pretty thin 12 x 12 papers from K & Co I glued 2 sheets together to make stronger storage folios. 

They make great storage for certificates or paperwork that is to be kept long term such as deeds etc. 

As well as these I have made a basic Stationery folder with Notelets and envelopes.

Take a 12 x12 sheet and fold up 5” from the bottom, and then fold in half. Burnish the folds so that the centre lies flat. You can decorate the inside by marking 2” down on flap at and drawing a line to the top of the fold on the outer edges, then cut this piece off. Add some ribbon, lace or decorative paper 1cm wide along the angled edge as a contrast.

For the notelets cut 2 pieces of 12 x 12 into 4” strips which will give you 6 4” by 6” notelets. You can make envelopes for them if you have an envelope maker, or you can readily buy 6 x4 envelopes. 

Glue a narrow strip on the inside of the folded up flaps and add a small amount of glue to the centre fold of the flaps to make your pockets.

Decorate the front of the folder. I have added a matching piece of card to the front under which I have placed some ribbon to tie the folder together.

 This is a basic folder

 With notelets and purchased envelopes

 While this one has been decorated

 I have made my own envelopes and a little notepad to match.

The last project is one of the first mini-books i made. I think it was called Nanna’s Brag book and can be made from one sheet of 12 x 12.

Score the card at 3,6,9” turn and do the same again, Gives you a 4 x 4 grid

Cut the first and 3rd score lines from the top to the bottom of the third square 

Cut the 2nd score line from the bottom to the bottom of the 1st square 

From the left side fold pieces together until you get to the end and then fold back to run along the next line., keep going until you reach the other end, you now have the paper concertina’d into a 3 x 3 book. Start from one side unfold a page and glue down the 2 pages together then fold over and do the next 2 pages. By gluing page by page you can see easily which flaps to glue, take it steady through the book or you may not have the pages lined up properly.

for the outside of the book cut 2 decorative pieces of card 3 1/4” square and glue to the front and back lining up with the left side not going over that edge or the book will not open correctly. Before gluing down you can add a piece of matching ribbon to the front and around the back. These books hold 16 small photos, enough for any nan to show off the grandchildren. Or it could be used for class mates on leavers day etc.

Mine will go out as Happy Mail. 

Well thats just a few ideas to smash your 12 x 12 papers 

You could also make gift bags see Sam Calcott’s YouTube videos, perfect for Christmas papers

https://youtu.be/WGoU3cBJX_M

Back next month with small gifts to make, and use up your stash.

Happy Crafting

Dee

Smashing Your Stash

 Making the most of your stash May

Project 4

Ideas for Using up your 6 x 6 papers

We all buy papers and card when we see something we like, enthusiastically use a batch of papers when we first get them and then the remainder of the pad gets put into the stash. Over the years we enjoy new collections and old apex’s get left in the box. I will share 3 projects to really smash through those unused papers. Make for Happy Mail, for Charity or just to give to friends or family, but enjoy your stash with the added bonus you are not adding to it, and you are recycling your unused items.

So for this next collection of ideas to use up your own stash I have selected a mixture of projects. Cards with a difference, there are many ideas on Pinterest and YouTube to make cards using your 6 x 6 papers but the one I am going to show you is a little different as the envelope acts as an envelope but is also a wallet so you can add small gifts or a gift card. 

A gift bag. 

Small teabag holder for those tea lovers in your life.

Project 1

Gift card and envelope

Quick and simple project - this is an extended idea from Julie at Camelia Crafts. On YouTube. 

You will need:

4 6 x 6 papers (5 if you want to add some notelets)

1” Punch (if you do not have one draw around a cotton reel or 2p piece. 

GLue

Piece of thin ribbon

Score 2 pieces at 2.5” if you have a pattern check the score line runs across the pattern 

Fold the score lines. 

On one sheet cut a semicircle with a 1” punch 

TIP put the 2 pieces together so you can see the wallet forming and this will assist you to know where to glue and attach one piece to the other. You can also check the pattern way.

Add a thin line of glue down each side of the narrow back piece.

 Slip the right piece of paper (as shown in picture) into the left piece to line up with the score line.

Glue both sides of the front section with a narrow line of glue

Once the glue is dry you will have a wallet with a flap at the front and a pocket at the back 

See the top picture

Next take a third piece of paper - fold in half , cut 1” from the length and decorate the front either with an image from the same papers or with a complimentary embellishment. Do not make the embellishment too thick or the card Weill not slide easily into the wallet.

You now have a card and envelope/wallet

I have used an image from the same papers to decorate my cards and have used the other half of the paper to make 3 tags and then cut the last piece of paper in half and fold each half to make 2 notelets to add to the back of the envelope 

Lastly I have cornered the flap edges and added ribbon as a closure. 

This is a great way of using up your papers and giving an unusual birthday card. You could add a small bar of chocolate or a gift card in the back pocket or wrap up 3 o5 together and give to a busy friend for them to have at hand.

Project 2 

Gift Bag 

You will need:

4 pieces of heavy paper over 150gsm is best

Double sided tape

Score board

Ribbon

Piece 1 Front Score with paper pattern sideways on scoreboard at 5 1/4”

Piece 2 Back Score at 1”,1 3/4”, 5 1/4”

Piece 3 the two side panels, Cut sheet in half lengthways. With 6” side at top of scoreboard score at 1”, 1 3/4” Turn and score at 1//2” 1.5” to first score line and 2.5” 

Piece 4 Cut in half and score one sheet with 3”side at top of scoreboard at, 1/2” and 2.5” 

The other half can be put aside for another bag or use to make a tag.

Burnish all the score lines and cut off the bottom corner piece of the side panels

Mark the top fold of the front and back with a pencil mark 2” in from both sides and punch a hole to take the ribbon for the handles 

Lay the front and back pieces onto the base panel to sit just inside the score line and glue down

Glue the bottom of the side panels and glue to the sides of the base panel (as shown below)

Next add tape to both sides of both side panels 

Slip a piece of ribbon  My handles are 18” long) through the holes in the top of the bag, going from inside to out and using double sided tape fold the ribbon to the middle on the outside of the top panels and tape down to secure the ribbon. Take the top of tape off and add a full length piece of tape along the top edge of the bag over the ribbon and tape. 

Now, one side panel at a time lift the tape and add wet glue to the scored areas of the side panel, stand the bag up and glue the side panel to the inside of the front and back panel  

Repeat for the other side.

Next take the tape off the top of the bag and glue the area, fold over and glue down 

You now have a lovely bag that will fold flat for storage 

These are so useful and can also be made larger using your 12 x 12 stash. I will be showing these later in this series. 

The idea came from Sam Calcott and I have adjusted the sizes to use the 6 x6 papers. 

You can check out her gift bag tutorials on YouTube.

Project 3 

Simple Teabag holder

I make teabag wallets and Journals to hold 12 or so teabags for tea-lovers but these lovely little gift packs can be given as thank yous or happy mail.

These are so simple to make and require no special equipment

You will need:

1 sheet of 6 x 6 

Decoration and piece of ribbon

Mark your paper at 3” top and bottom

Fold in half top to bottom 

Open up and fold again 1/4” down from the top

Open up turn around and do the same at the other end

Fold in all four corners to the first score line 

Where you marked the centre of the paper punch a small hole on the mark either end to hold the ribbon
Fold up With the fold corners on the outside.

Three ribbon through the 2 holes and tie a bow 

Add a decoration to the front.

Your packet is ready to take the teabags

You can put one in front and back or you could add a single wrapped biscuit to the back 

These are great for using odd pages up as they do not need to match.

These. Projects will help you clear out the 6 x 6 papers in your stash. Have fun making them and giving them away.

Dee 

 

Making the most of your Craft Stash

 May Makes from your Scrap Stash

Project 3 Mini Books and Envelopes

So in project one and two we used small pieces of scraps.

For these projects we need the bigger pieces and I have gone through the folder and selected all the pieces that are 4-5” wide and at least 6” long 

I have then selected pieces I can cut to 4” wide and 6” long, with 2 pieces matching for the outside that are 4.5” wide and 6.5” long

For all the inner pieces score the left side at 1/2”. 

Glue the folded piece and layer one on top the other 

Next I added the outside pieces to the front and back.

These mini books make great journals or mini Photo albums

I had enough scraps to make 3 mini books as shown in the top photograph

For the centre book I have used a magnetic closure. Another book just has a ribbon tied around the outside and the third uses a Velcro dot and has been decorated with one of the bows made with scrap pieces.

I have tried to match up similar papers for each book and coordinate the colours.

The odd larger pieces remaining I have made into envelopes that can be used to give small gifts, store receipts etc.

I had enough to make 3 envelopes that I have closed with Velcro dots and decorated with some of the flowers made earlier. 

To make these I have used 2 pieces of card, one needs to be 2” longer than the other.

Take the widest piece and score at 1/2” on the 2 width sides and the bottom edge.

Cut the corners off the bottom edge with a slight V notch and fold the scored areas in. 

Measure the width with the sides folded in and using a piece of coordinating card that measures 1 to 2mm smaller in width and 2” longer 

Now place the other piece with the folded side up and gluing the scored areas attach the other piece of card on top, lining up the bottom edge.

Trim the top corners and fold over to make your gift envelope.

If you have some pieces 9.5 or 10 inches long and 3” wide you can make pop-up gift card wallets. 

Score your card along the 9” length at 3.5”,4”,4.5” 8.25”

Fold the first score lines into a mountain fold

Place a narrow strip of strong tap to the base of the mountain fold leaving 3/8” unglued and put the 2 sides together

You will have a mountain fold on the inside of the wallet, cut a tiny strip off the top. This will leave you enough space to add a gift card into the slit you have just cut. 

As you can see I have added a business card as these are the same size as most. Gift cards.

I have used a set of dies by Tattered lace to cut the butterfly clasp but if you do not have a die to do this you can use a Velcro dot or belly and to close the gift card.

The last wallet I made was a piece of card that had a laminated outside, and being a masculine piece I thoughtI would make a little card wallet.

As the piece was not very big I made the wallet by using this piece for the outside and another coordination piece that was an inch bigger all round for the inside. The larger piece is scored 1/2” all the way around and then cut in half. Cut the corners and glue the flaps down on the inside of the wallet.

 I finished the inside by cutting a semi-circle in the centre to make it easier to get into the flaps and Velcro dots on each side for closure.

So here are 4 uses for your medium to larger size scraps 

Back next week with ideas to smash through those 6 x 6 pads that you are not sure how to use.

Dee

Moving Your Stash May

 Project 2

Using Your Scraps for your Own Promotion

So we have sorted all our spare card into sizes. Next I look for card pieces narrow or too small for other projects and card that has a white back or light plain colour.

As I sell on Ebay & Etsy and occasionally do Craft shows I always need business cards to hand out and point of sell pieces and this is a great use of card. 

You can print your own business cards and I have made them before, but a long time ago I had a stamp made with my details that I can re-use. It works very well and is a great saving as I am able to use my scraps. 

The best and quickest way to produce the cards is to stamp out the images and then use a punch to cut out the image. Quicker than putting each stamped image through the die cutting machine. 

Stamped out business cards 

All punched out and waste for the recycling bin

Next I do a check through to make sure there are no bad prints as I only want quality cards to go out. Todays efforts gave me 55 useable cards which will keep me going for a while. 

   

Recycling and repurposing at its best

I always add one with my Happy Mail, it has my name and Blog details.

The other item I can use my scraps for, are bag tops.When I bag items for craft shows I can add a top and then if I need to, I can hang multiples on a stand. 

The dies came from AliExpress and were a good investment. Here are some I did in an earlier tidy up. With Covid and no Craft Shows I have them stored in my craft room

Back soon with 2 more makes from your scrap stash.

Dee

May is Using Up your Stash Month

 Using Up Your Stash

Project One - Embellishments 

Hi Crafters

So this month I decided to look at my stash and share my ideas to work with what I have rather than buy new. I have set myself a target of not buying anything this month, ( although please do not hold me to it if I see a bargain I cannot miss). Hopefully I can make several projects that will be interesting and useful without adding new items. 

The first step was to sort all my papers and embellishments as well as stamps and scraps. This has been done in preparation, and had the added bonus of reminding me of all the items I had and where, if any, there was room for additional crafty bits. 

So the first project uses up small pieces of light card and papers from the scrap bags. My bags are actually laminated pockets that I make to store my dies, and work very well to store the scrap papers and card. They are sorted into colour blocks.

For the first project I wanted to use any small bits not narrow strips as I will make some cards with them, but any pieces under 3-4” that are too small for toppers or matting. 

I then took out my punches and punched out lots of flowers, I use punches for this as it is quicker than putting them through a die cutting machine, but if you do not have punches then use multiple small dies and cut them out in batches.

As you can see this has made a pile of flowers all different colours, so the next job is to pair them up so we can layer them to make them 3D. 

As you can see they are flat and a little uninteresting at this stage so take out your foam pad and ball tool and shape the petals 

Add a dimension stickers to the middle and place together to form a flower.

Add a pretty gem to the centre to finish. 

This may not seem so exciting on their own but I will be adding them to a project I am making and below on the left is one finished with a purchased embellishment and the one on the right is finished with one of these hand crafted flowers 

I hope you will agree they are both pretty adornments and work equally well.

I also make bows using long thin strips that are too narrow for anything else. This is ideal for matching bows to the background papers. 

Simple cut the strips thinly and at least 8” long 

Run a pair of scissor solve the strip to curl the paper and then fold into the centre and glue down, add another piece on the cross . 

Add another couple of pieces made the same way so there are 4 layers, then add a flower centre. 

These are perfect if you have scraps to match your projects, or to decorate your gift boxes and bags.

I have also used the same idea to make butterfly embellishments 

 So don’t throw away those scraps get busy re-purposing them.

TIP

Cut out the shapes at your craft desk and then you can shape and put together while watching the tv or relaxing in the evening.

Dee