Project 11 - Heartfelt thoughts

Little wooden hearts with quotes and sayings, hand decorated for individual gifts.
I used MDF hearts, but you could buy a Maya Road heart album and make some chipboard ones instead.

You will need:
MDF heart shape
Acrylic paint
Patterned paper offcuts
Embellishments buttons, bows, chipboard shapes, beads etc
Sakura black glaze pen
String/twine
Hand drill
Glue gun or silicone glue
Glue stick
Sandpaper

1. Using the MDF shape, drill a hole for the string. If the MDF is thin you may be able to use your Cropadile big bite.

2. Paint one side of the heart with acrylic paint. Leave to dry. You may also paint the edges, although I covered mine with ribbon.

3. Glue the blank side to some patterned paper, using glue stick. Trim around the heart carefully with a craft knife and sand the edge smooth.

4. Find some quotes on the Internet or look in shops for ideas. I found several good ones when out shopping and made a note in my diary for future use!! You could write straight on the patterned paper with the Glaze pen, but I was scared in case I made a smudge or a mistake, so I wrote on a contrasting patterned paper and glued it in position when dry. You could ink the edges of the quote if you want.

5. Using the hot glue gun, glue some narrow ribbon around the edge, joining at the top in the centre. Glue any additional embellishments to the front of the heart.

6. Thread a length of garden twine through the hole in the heart to hang it up.

Here are a few I have made this year. Some are decorated with little chipboard hens I cut out and covered with little ribbon frills on the top. The metal hearts are made from the inside of a tomato puree tube, stamped with Stazon ink as shown before and cut out.

These are great little gift ideas. Look for heart shapes in the altered items section of online craft shops.

December Daily - Day 11 and 12

You wont believe it, but this page is made from a Laura Ashley paper carrier bag, you know the paper ones that they give you with smaller items in (any paper carrier would do!). I bought two mugs for a friends birthday and could not bring myself to throw the bag away! I cut off the handles flush with the top and then cut the bag in half across the middle. These pages are the bottom half of the bag with the base, later on you will see the top half!

Once you cut off the top half of the bag you need to turn the bag on its side so the base of the bag is on the right. This creates a hidden secret bit, where the base of the bag is. Punch holes in the left hand side which was the opening for the bag. Now cover the front and back of the bag in patterned paper and then the secret folded panel (which was the base) in a plain paper to match. I folded some K&Co sticky back lace over the edges to make sure all the white paper was not seen. I think this hidden part will be for journaling and the front will be for photo's.

The back of the bag is a page for the 12th of December.

Pop by tomorrow for another crafting project! TFLx

Project 10 - Snowman Soup

An oldie, but a goodie, here is my version as I have never made it before and it will go a bomb at the Christmas Fayre!

Yet another project that does some recycling. I used brown paper bags that were 12x12 from my kit club and cut them down to make these!

You Will Need :

Brown Paper bags or parcel wrapping on a roll.

Off cuts of white snowflake paper

Off cut of black Bazzill card stock

Tiny piece of orange card stock

Ribbon

A Button

Two black brads

Dark Brown chalk eye ink pad

One sachet of Hot chocolate

A few tiny marshmallows in a cellophane bag

One candy cane

Printed Snowman Soup poem (Mine was from Nichole Heady Type pad here )

Circle punches in three sizes (Mine were Woodware punches in purple, pink and blue)

Sewing Machine and red thread.

Cropadile Big Bite

Tim Holtz tiny attacher

1. Using the circle punches, punch out three sizes of patterned paper (I used Magenta soft snowflakes paper offcuts from last year). Ink around the edges lightly using the chalk eye ink pad to add dimension.

2. Decide on your size of your paper bag. I made mine just big enough for the snowman. I cut an oblong of brown paper, folded in a small amount along the side and then folded it in half length ways. Stick your snowman to the front, overlapping each circle slightly. Add the brads and a small piece of card for the nose, glue in position. Open out the folded bag and punch a hole with a Cropadile Big Bite, centrally where the Snowman's body is. This is to take the ribbon to hold the candy cane.

3. Thread a button on to a length of ribbon and slide it to the centre of the ribbon. From the inside of the bag thread both ends of ribbon through the hole, out to the front of the snowman. (The button stops the ribbon from coming right out.) This is where you will tie your candy cane later.

4. Now you can sew the bag up the side and across the bottom.

5. Collect the items for the Snowman soup; the chocolate drink, the marshmallows in a bag and the candy cane. Place the chocolate powder and marshmallows inside the brown paper bag.

6. Cut a top hat from off cuts of Bazzill card stock. I folded the edges under to apply double sided tape to stick it in place.

7. print off your Snowman soup poem (if required) and punch them out using a scallop circle punch (Blue Woodware.) Punch a hole in the top and thread them on to a piece of string or narrow ribbon. Tie with a knot. Staple this label to the top edge of the paper bag with a tiny attacher.

8. Cut a length of ribbon to make a handle for the bag. Staple to both sides of the paper bag to seal it, making a cross with the staples to hold the ribbon securely. Finally tie the candy cane to the front using the ribbon secured earlier. Tie a knot.

Voila! One Snowman soup! Or should I say six!!

December Daily - Day 10

This page is another black album page I had spare. This time I threaded ribbon through the holes in the top edge and made a lacing pattern. I decorated both sides with a piece of patterned paper. The 10th of December is my sister's birthday, so should have some pics for this date! Inserted an antique lotto card too for extra space.

Project 9 - Picture Frame Album

This keepsake album was made using two wooden picture frames, joined together with some small hinges and a clasp. I made mine as a Christmas album, but it would make a great gift fro a Christening as a baby album or as a wedding gift with pictures from the big day. It holds some tags and an accordion album, but could hold mementos too.

You Will Need:

Approx 6 sheets of patterned paper (I used Cosmo Cricket OH Joy papers and a sheet of quotes/strip tease)

Two wooden picture frames 7x5 (Mine were from Dunelm Mills) Try to get wooden frames that are a bit chunky so the screws for the hinges have something to grip into. Also try and get ones that come with a frame mount inside ready cut to save you time!Offcuts of ribbon, blooms and various embellishments to decorate inside the frame.

Glue stick

Silicone glue

Double sided tape
Two small hinges and tiny screws

Bradawl to pierce holes in the wood
Small clasp to close the frame album

1. Undo the frames and remove the glass from one of them and carefully dispose of it, we only need glass in the front. Remove the mounting frame from the back frame too and keep this to one side.

2. Place the two frames on top of each other as if the album was closed and measure where to place the hinges down the left hand side of the front frame that still has the glass in.

Make small pilot holes with the bradawl for the screws and then screw the hinges in position carefully. Make sure they do not show on the inside. You may have to swap the screws for smaller ones. 3. Again, using the bradawl, make small pilot holes and add the clasp to the front edge in the centre. (I found I had this clasp in stock, no idea where from!!!)

4. Start working on the front of the album. Remove the hardboard and take out the frame mount. Put it together with the one from the back frame and glue with glue stick to make one frame that is deeper. This allows you to use buttons and things in the decoration inside the front frame and allows a deeper recess.

Now to cover this frame, glue it to some patterned paper, cut around it indie and out leaving a 2cm border. Clip into each corner on the inside. Glue the frame and fold the papers neatly over to the back.

Turn the frame over and glue a phrase or saying or title for your album to the frame itself.

5. Take the hardboard backing from the front frame and cover it with patterned paper. Place the covered frame over the top. Start to arrange your decorative elements in position, inside the frame border. Work out how you want it to look and glue items using silicone glue for strength. Make sure nothing is higher then the height of the frame mount apart from an odd blossom that can overlap the frame mount like mine did. Carefully place the whole picture inside the front frame under the glass, secure using the metal retainers that were in the frame originally.

6. As you can see from this picture the left hand frame is now closed and the metal sprigs are holding it in place. Now we need to work on the right hand frame.

Using the piece of paper that came in the frame as your pattern piece, (but trim a small amount off each side so it is not too snug) we are going to make an accordion album. I wanted mine to be in one piece, so I used brown Kraft parcel paper, but if you want it to be acid free, use something else. Keep this paper thin as it is going to be covered on both sides with patterned paper to make it thicker and if the album is too thick it wont fit inside the recess of the frame. Fold the accordion and trim the corners with a corner rounding punch. Cover this brown paper with patterned papers on each side, using glue stick and double sided tape. Round the corners.

Decorate the front page, with another phrase from the "Strip Tease" paper. Add a few embellishments and tie a ribbon around it to hold it closed.

7. Remove the hardboard from the back frame and cover it on both sides with patterned paper, using double sided tape and glue stick.

Apply a thin amount of silicone inside the back frame recess and push the hardboard into position. This is the back of your album and needs to be firmly secured. Wipe off any excess glue. Remove the metal sprigs in this back frame using pliers as the hardboard is now securely fixed without them.

8. Decorate the hardboard that is showing inside the front frame. I pieced together two patterned papers and place velvet ribbon across the join.

To finish the inside of the front frame, I made a series of tags in pockets, that would take photographs. Fold strips of patterned paper into three and stick along the seam and base using double sided tape. Make your four tag pockets different lengths for interest.

Cut some tags out of patterned paper and punch a hole in each one. Add ribbon to each tag. Slide into each tag pocket. Position each tag pocket inside the front frame, overlapping slightly. Start with the tallest tag at the bag and work down to the smallest at the front. Stick in position with double sided tape.

The album is now completed. Just add photo's!

What a mammoth post! I am now off to make another!!! Well, not today, but soon!

December Daily - Day 8 and 9

These pages were made using a jar shaped card that I got from the hair dressers, she was throwing them out! (They are chunky chipboard and I got several including the book ring that was holding them together!!) They are glossy black card, so I just added a piece of patterned paper to the front and cut around it using a craft knife. For day 8, I decorated with some twill tape and buttons in a contrasting colour. (The beer mat is from yetsrday's post!)

For day 9 I decorated in a red Christmas paper, leaving some of the shiny black card showing, with the twill tape forming a bow on this side.

Pop by tomorrow for another crafting project! TFLx

Project 8 - Christmas Chalet chocolate box

This adorable little house was an idea from a box of sweets I saw whilst on holiday in Germany. It could be used for chocolates, as a gift box or even as a little decoration with battery fairy lights inside. It is up to you.

You will need:

House Front and sides template here

House back and roof template here

Two offcuts of chipboard or corrugated card for the roof

Off cuts of patterned paper and Kraft card stock

One sheet of red Bazzill card stock

Off cut of ribbon and velvet Ric Rac

Anita's 3D white paint

White Cat's Eye Pigment ink pad

Craft knife

Silicone glue

Stamps Away birdie stamp and bird house

Black Stazon ink pad

1. Print off the templates and use them to cut out one house front and back in red card and two roof sections in chipboard or corrugated card. Glue the two roof sections to patterned paper and cut around the edges leaving a border. Cut across the corners to remove excess paper and then fold the edges over and glue in place.

2. Cut out the windows in the house pieces using a Kraft knife and the template as a guide. Score the house templates along all the fold lines shown on the template. Overlap the bases of the house front and back template and glue securely using a thin layer of glue stick or silicone and leave to dry.

3. Place double sided tape along all the flaps for assemble, just leaving the one where you will open and close the box. I left the house side on the front right as my opening, for adding the chocolates. Starting at the top, assemble the house by removing one piece of double sided tape at a time and pressing the joins together firmly.

4. Now the chalet is a 3D box, ink the roof edges using the white pigment ink pad to add dimension and appear like ice. Glue the two roof pieces in position. Make sure you join carefully along the top edge. Use silicone glue for strength. Allow to dry.

5. Stamp the bird and birdhouse on to Kraft card stock off cuts using the Stazon ink pad. Cut out. Glue in position on the front of the chalet, using silicone glue. Glue some velvet Ric Rac as the post for the bird house. leave to dry.

6. using the 3D white paint, dribble it along the centre join of the two roof pieces, acting as icicles. Where the roof joins the house under the eaves, dribble more paint around the apex, again to look like icicles. Add some to the windows too as a window frame. The more 3D the better. leave overnight to dry. When the house is completely dry, add some hollow Christmas tree decoration chocolates or fill with treats. If you want to fill with small sweets, add acetate to the back of the windows when the house template is still flat. This could also be a little lantern by adding a set of battery powered fairy lights. I have a set from Ikea and have seen some in Paperchase and in some Pound shops.

Safety: Be careful if the lights get hot. Don't leave it lit for too long.

December Daily - Day 7

This is another page of plain black paper from an album I had spare, covered in patterned paper and then I added a beer mat I covered on both sides with Anna Griffin patterned paper. I may not write anything on the beer mat, it may just stay in there as it is now I have covered it.

Drop by tomorrow for another crafting project! TFLx

Project 7 - Dog's Dinner

You know me and my regular make "Dog and cat treats" for Christmas, well this is my offering this year for the dogs, a right dog's dinner!

You Will Need;

A paper plate

Green chewy sticks (to look like green beans)

Dog biscuits (to resemble potatoes)

Something for the meat (either a vinyl squeaky toy or a raw hide chicken drumstick)

Cellophane

Ribbon

Double sided tape.

1. Make up piles of your "vegetables" and wrap them in cling film so they don't mix up on the plate. Stick to the paper plate with a piece of double sided tape, so they don't move during the wrapping. I used a piece under the meat too!!

2. Arrange the items so you are happy with them on the plate and then cut a piece of cellophane to wrap around it and overlap on the back Wrap the plate like a Christmas parcel and seal the ends underneath with tape.

3. To make the collar and disc for the label, print the words "Dog's Dinner" in a circle on "Word" print out on card. (Jo Kill has a fab tutorial on her blog for how to do this here.) Cut out or use a punch. Make a hole in the top and thread in a small paper clip or jump ring. Thread this 'disc' onto a piece of ribbon and tie in a knot underneath the plate. Hold in position on the back with a couple of pieces of tape.

Don't forget to remove all the cling film and tape before giving the dog treats!! And ration them!!

Just need to get my thinking cap on for the kittys now!!!

December Daily Album - Day 6

This page was just a brown paper bag that came with my Studio Calico kit and had a stamp in it. I left the blue label on it and just added some scraps of Christmas papers to both sides. I made hole in the side and reinforced them by adding large eyelets, this made sure the bag was much stronger to take some extra journaling cards inside. The large eyelets through both layers also stop the cards in the bag from sliding in the way of the holes for the book rings.
Pop by tomorrow for another crafting project! TFLx

Project 6 - Photo holder

I typed all this up last night before I went to bed and it disappeared!!! Don't you just love blogger!!

Today's project is a little recycling number, using those individual glass jam jars you get in cafes. I have used one to make this funky little photo/message holder for your desk top that also stores a few paperclips too! You can see I have made quite a few, so how many scones with jam and cream must I have eaten??

You Will Need:

Tiny glass jam pot

Scraps of patterned paper

3 Buttons, one large, medium and small

Some thickish aluminium wire (from the garden centre) Needs to curl

Fine nosed pliers

Decorative border punch

Small circle punch

Cropadile Big Bite

Chalk eye ink pad to match patterned paper

Felt Flower

Off cut of ribbon to match flower

Hot melt glue gun

1. Carefully insert the lid of the jar under the Cropadile Big Bite (It will just fit) and punch the small eyelet hole in the centre of the lid. PLEASE DO NOT BREAK YOUR CROPADILE!!! The lid is soft but it is fiddly to get the rim into the machine.

2. Cut a thin strip of paper and apply your decorative edge using the border punch. Ink the edges using the ink pad. This strip should measure the circumference of the lid plus a small overlap. Using the small circle punch, punch out a circle of patterned paper for the lid and ink the edges. (I used my Yellow Woodware punch) Punch a hole in the centre with the Cropadile.

3. Cut a strip of wire approximately 10" long and wind a spiral around the end of the fine nose pliers. Press it flat and this will be your photo holder.

4. To assemble, glue the paper circle to the lid of the jar, lining up the holes. Glue the large button to the lid, lining up one of the holes in the button with the hole in the lid, now glue the medium button on top, again lining up a hole in the button with the one underneath.Now thread the straight end of the wire down through the buttons and the lid until it appears inside the jar. Bend over the bottom half inch of wire at a right angle. Using a large blob of hot melt glue, secure the wire in position to the underside of the lid. (I used lots!) Support the wire vertically until it sets.5. Now you can decorate the edge of the lid with the border punch strip of paper. Glue in place using the glue gun and where the paper overlaps add the small button to cover the join.

6. Finally add the felt flower; pass the ribbon around the back of the wire, then thread the flower on to both ends of the ribbon at the front. Tie a knot or bow to hold the flower in position. Add a blob of glue if you want. You can add a strip of paper to the glass jar as an option, I did on some but not on others that were more decorative jars.

I added a piece of paper stamped with "Hello!" to each photo holder and clipped a speech bubble paper clip to each one, so they could be used for fun messages. A super little gift to brighten any office desk or craft table!!

December Daily Day 5

This page was simple, a spare page from an acrylic album that I had left over from a project. I mounted some patterned paper on both sides to receive photos as December the 5th is my hubby's birthday!! I love the see through element to the album now.

Drop by tomorrow for another crafting project! TFLx

Project 5 - 3D Scene

This 3D scene is 12x12 and can be folded flat for storage or to post as an extra special card! This project came to me when I got out set of "White Christmas" papers by Rusty Pickle, that I bought last year from "Art From The Heart" but had not got around to using.I have checked and they have a few left if you want to have a go, give them a ring to find out. It is a more advanced paper crafting project, but certainly worth while. I have tried to include plenty of step by step photos to help you. If you can fold a paper fan you are off to a flying start!!

You Will Need :
Rusty Pickle "White Christmas" papers in
"Joy To The World" Die cut
"Jingle Bells"
"Let It Snow"
"Night before Christmas"
"Oh Christmas Tree"
"Oh Holy Night"
"Winter Wonderland"
(You will have enough left over off cuts to make a mini album later in the countdown)
Bazzill card stock - 6 Sheets altogether
Maya Mist in iridescent pearl
Adhesive gems
A chipboard Snowflake (mine was Cosmo Cricket)
Maya Road Stick Pins
Bakers Twine or thread
Charcoal chalk eye ink pad to distress the edges
Large foam pads
Double sided tape
Glue stick
Offcuts of corrugated card
Scoring board

1. Begin by mounting the die cut paper on to a sheet of Bazzill card stock for extra strength. Glue it with glue stick. Cut around the scallop edges carefully and distress using the chalk eye ink pad.
Decide on a "window" shape fro the front of your scene and cut this out in scrap newspaper. Lay it on the die cut and draw around it. Cut it out carefully using a craft knife.
2. To strengthen the other elements from the background papers, cut out the strips you intend to use and glue them to Bazzill card stock using glue stick. (Save the off cuts of the background papers for another project later on.) Now the elements are all on card, you can cut them out but make sure each strip stays the full 12 inches wide. I cut roughly around the children on the sledge, but left the card stock 12 inches wide.
The strip of trees I cut roughly around the top of each tree and then straight across the bottom. I snipped in towards the trunks of the trees to create more texture. The parcels I cut around individually as they will be mounted separately later. The deer I cut in a flowing arc to follow the design on the paper of deer prancing. You should have three strips of "scenery" now, the trees, the deer and the children on the sledge. Do the same for the children ice skating.
3. For each side of the scene you need to mark a sheet of Bazzill card in folds using a scoring board, turning over each time you score to create peak and valley folds. I scored about every 2cm. Pleat these as if you were making a paper fan!
4. Stick the background sheet of "Let it snow" paper to Bazzill card stock for extra strength. Apply double sided tape to the first valley fold of each side piece and stick the background paper in position, so you have a corrugated card stock along each of the two side edges. Press firmly in position.
5. Now we need to start applying the layers of the 3D scene, starting with the Christmas trees. If you want to ink the edges with the chalk eye ink pad. Make an extra little pleat of cardboard to support the middle of the tree section, slide it into position and stick with double sided tape. Stick the tree panel at each side, roughly half way down your background paper, into the second valley fold of your concertina side panels. You need to have room for the deer to prance above and the layers of children playing below. We use the trees first as they are small and so will be in the distance and we will use the larger items as we move forwards in perspective.
6. Ink the top edge of the prancing deer layer. Fold the concertina side panels in another layer, so you can glue these deer to the third valley fold on each side. At this point I decided to give the deer gems for eyes and a large red gem on one deer for Rudolph's nose! Again you need to prop the centre section up with a small piece of concertina folded card.
7. Repeat this process with the children skating and then finally the children sledging using the next two valley folds on each side of the concertina edges. The front layer should be the children sledging as they are the largest. Again support with longer concertina strips in the centre.
8. For the parcels, I decided to give them a shimmer using my Maya Mist. When spraying Maya Mist it does go everywhere, so I made myself a cardboard bin to control the mess! It does dry very quickly, just a couple of sprays of fine mist and one on the snowflake too.
9. To use the parcels, you will need to plan where you want them before you add the foam pads to make sure they will have somewhere to fix to! I applied some of mine to the lower right hand side of the sledging page where I had a gap! I saved some to decorate the outer frame too.
10. Finally the outer frame layer needs to be added. Trim off any spare concertina folds at each side that you don't need, leaving a nice flat surface to stick your frame to. Ink the edges of this concertina layer, as this will show behind the scallops of the front frame. Apply tape to the back of the frames side edges and the top layer of the concertina you are going to stick it to. Two layers of double sided tape will form a stronger bond. Strengthen the top and bottom edges by sticking some corrugated card strips to the upper and lower edges (this picture shows the frame on it's side! Whoops!)
Remove the backing strips of the double sided tape and carefully lower the front frame into place. Be sure to line your side edges.
11. To decorate the outer front frame, cut the holly flourish from the corner of the "Oh holy night" paper, trim close to the swirls and ink the edges. Stick this in the top right hand corner, slightly overlapping the open frame (see first photo.)
12. Add three Maya stick pins to the top right hand edge by pushing them into the corrugated card on the back. From one pin tie a length of thread or twine and suspend the 3D chipboard snowflake.
13. Finally add a few parcels to the front lower right hand side, using foam pads, slightly overlapping them so that they obscure some of the picture and add another layer. I gave my completed scene another spritz with the iridescent Maya mist, just lightly from a distance to give it a final dust of snow!! I added one of the "White Christmas" labels from the paper's edge to the front as my title.

To make it even more crafty, you could make up your own scene and include some real people in the activities, by cutting up photo's! Please leave me a link to your creations!

As this folds flat for storage, you could bring it out year after year. TFLx

Pop by tomorrow for another crafting project!