It's that time of year where many of us begin to think of handmade gifts for special family and friends. I love little boxes with surprises inside and this one is sure to please! I've used Eileen Hull Designs Train Case and Passport Book dies to create a fun box and mini created from Graphic 45's Imagine collection. Then I added a color coordinated gift bag; it's a complete package and a pretty gift!
Passport Book
I used the Passport Book die to make a mini to fit inside the Train Case. I trimmed 1/2" off the length of the Passport Book so that it would fit inside the Train Case. The width and thickness of the mini fit perfectly as you can see in these photos.This is such a fun way to deliver a cute little mini!
Those Flowers!
I've used a mix of flowers from Little Birdie Crafts. I adore their bright color and realistic appearance!
It's time for a new challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. come join in! The challenges are always fun and open to your interpretation. The best thing is, you can make what you want, i.e. it could be a tag, card, layout, 3D, whatever you like!
The Challenge
Sara Emily is our host and she has just returned from her annual trek to the mountains of West Virginia. She saw so much natural beauty on her family hikes, she had to make her challenge nature themed. She calls her challenge Back To Nature and says of her challenge, "Be sure to include a natural element in your vintage or shabby chic project. Think real twigs, leaves, shells, pebbles. Or you could include a die cut or a stamped or stenciled image representing a natural object."
Some of my favorite things these days are the Tim Holtz Etcetera Tags. I love that they come in different sizes and that they stand up so readily to mixed media applications. This time I chose the #8 tags, they're a nice small size and fun to play with.
Tag #1
I created the background by painting the tag with white gesso and then inking with Distress Oxide Ink in Abandoned Coral. Next, I tore an image from Floral Collage Paper and glued it down with matte medium. Then, I rubbed Copper Metallique Wax all around the edge of the tag.
I used a Graphic 45 stamp from the Create Yourself collection to stamp the sentiment onto cream cardstock and then die-cut the sentiment with a die from Cheery Lynn Designs. I used a twisted grapevine to frame my sentiment and as my natural element for the challenge. For a finishing touch I added flowers, a butterfly, and a seam binding bow. Pretty simple, right? But, oh so pretty!
Tag #2
The 2nd tag is very similar to the first but I used paint instead of ink. I started out by applying white and coral paint with a brayer. After that dried, I tore an image from Floral Collage Paper and glued it to the tag with matte medium.
I diecut a little window frame for the lower corner. I love the little peek a boo door that opens where you could write a hidden message. I tucked in two grapevine hearts to meet the challenge criteria of using a natural element.
I rubbed Antique Brilliance - Lucky Emerald Wax around the edges, added some flowers, a butterfly from Botanical Layers and that's it!
Now it's time for you to have some fun with this challenge!! Create your Back to Nature project and link it up to the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. If you win, you'll have an opportunity to be a
Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie! We also award Top 3 Badges for three further outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team, because we can’t pick just one favorite!
AND, everyone who enters and follows the rules for the challenge is entered into a draw to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Woo-hoo!
You have until 11:59PM EDT on Tuesday, August 28th to link your project.
I love crafting but just like everything else, sometimes it gets tedious. You know those are the days when you can't get your vision on paper. BUT today was NOT one of those days! I had a blast today coming up with this layout for the August DCWV sketch challenge.
The Process
Well it was quite a process, first I had to find an image that I thought fit the picture in my head of a "balck widow". I love the smirk on this gal's face, but of course the coloring was all wrong so it was time to photo shop!
This is the original image, not exactly the colors I had in mind! Once I adjusted the photo's colors I dropped a spider web and spider over her image. Really fun stuff! The spider image is a photo I took several years ago. Eeek, I opened my compost box and there she was. OMG she was huge, I had never seen a black widow before and ran for my camera and snapped some photos, and, I confess, the bug spray too. I did not want any black widows near my garden. Ok, I have since seen other black widow spiders and I kid you not, this one was at least twice as big as the others I 've seen since.
The Sketch
Here's the August sketch for the DCWV challenge. If you like sketch challenges, take a look at DCWV's because you could win a paper stack! Click here for a link.
Well once I got my photos straightened out, it was time to put together my layout. I layered up some papers from the Dark Fairytale stack from DCWV and followed the basic layout of the sketch. I did flip it horizontally 'cause I couldn't bare to cover the image of the spooky tower!
The Flowers
I don't do many things that aren't covered in flowers. That's just who I am! Oooh and the flowers I use on this layout are devine! They are Little Birdie Crafts Rosalind Mulberry and they are the perrfect color for halloween. The colors range from a dark purple to a smokey purplish gray. They are perfection, I need more!
All the flowers and leaves on this layout are from just one pack of flowers, there are 21 pieces in total in a pack. I love that.
Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a tutorial with you for making a tri-fold card that is also a gift card holder. Everyone likes to receive a gift card right? I'll be using some dies from Eileen Hull Designs new Book Club 2 collection which includes the Wrapped Journal that is such a BIG hit, but it also includes 6 other die sets.
Step by Step Tutorial
Complete supplies list at the end. I'm using Graphic 45's Floral Shoppe collection, but you could use any papers you like. Ink the edges of all the papers if desired. I used Eileen Hull's Blends by ColorBox. These are great inks that include an inker, applicator, and reinker all in one.
Step 1:
Cut a piece of card stock 12" x 6" and score at 3 3/4" and 8 1/4" that coordinates with your chosen papers.
Step 2:
Cut 2 pieces from Scarlet Serenity 3 1/2" x 5 5/8" and adhere on the sides as shown. For the center, cut a piece of Midnight Medley 4 1/4" x 5 5/8" and adhere in the center.
Step 3:
Fold the right side in and then the left side in forming a tri-fold card.
For the front cover - Cut a piece of Burgundy Blossoms 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". Use the Scallop Border Mover & Shaper on the edges to create a scalloped edge. I tape my paper to the die to hold it in place before running through my die-cut machine.
Step 4:
Use the Journaling Cards, Flowers & Leaves to die-cut some flowers. Ink the flowers to give them more character. Curl the petals and then stack the smaller blooms onto the larger creating dimensional flowers. Add a pearl center. Die-cut some leaves too.
Step 5:
Cut a piece of Verdant Blossoms (pink) using the large scalloped die from the Journaling Cards, Hearts set. Then trim out an ephemera card so that it is 2 3/4" x 3 3/4".
Now it's time to assemble the front of the card. First adhere the scalloped edge piece onto the front of the card stock base 1/4" from the left side, centering top to bottom. The right side will extend beyond the card stock. Next, center the pink scalloped piece and then adhere the ephemera card as shown. Add flowers and leaves at the top right and bottom left.
Step 6:
Attach a magnet on the right side flap, about 3/4' from the edge. Then, cut a piece of Burgundy Blossoms (green side) 3 1/2" x 5 3/8" and adhere centering top to bottom over the magnet. Take a 2nd magnet and place over the one underneath the paper. Peel off the paper covering the sticky dot and close the left flap over top. Your magnets will be perfectly aligned.
Step 7:
Place a die-cut flower over the magnet on the left side to cover it.
Step 8:
Adhere a small ephemera card over the magnet on the right side.
Step 9:
Cut a piece of Scarlet Serenity (burgundy print) 3 1/4" x 4 1/4", round the corners if you wish.
For the inside center panel, die-cut a scalloped piece from green card-stock with the Journaling Cards, Hearts die set. Then die-cut a credit card sleeve from Verdant Blossoms (green/pink print) with the Credit Card Sleeve & Tags. Use the small scalloped die to make the slit in the credit card sleeve. Adhere the credit card sleeve just around the edges to the green card-stock piece and then adhere to the burgundy print piece. I cut a small piece of Golden Serenity (Burgundy side) with the small rectangle die in the Credit Card Sleeve & Tags to use as a place to write a hidden message.
Step 10:
Glue the above assembly inside on the center panel as shown below. You can insert a gift card where I have inserted the burgundy piece. Die-cut the word "love" with the Journaling Words die and adhere over a die-cut from the Bookplate, Hinges & Label set.
Step 11:
That's it! Isn't it great how all of the Book Club 2 and Book Club 1 dies work together? There are so many combinations and layers you can put together with these dies. Of course, they are work wonderfully with the star of the Book Club 2 dies, the Wrapped Journal, BUT, they work great for other things like this card.
Don't you love the sentiment on the cover of this mini?! Yes, flowers are a must, they make me happy! I made this mini, completely from scratch. The covers are medium weight chipboard and the inner pages are a nice weight cardstock. I used my Cinch to do the spiral binding, it's quick and easy and makes such a nice finished look.
Video Tour
Sit back and enjoy as I walk you through the many interactive pages in this journal. There are flip pages and pocket pages, tags and hidden spots that you'll want to see!
All the Details
This Carta Bella collection, Spring Market, is just so pretty. It has so many cut-aparts and great sentiments. Let's take a look inside.
I started the inside cover with a simple cut-apart, a border strip and a boot sticker. Those boots are so stinkin' cute. Truth is, that's why I bought this collection! Wait 'til you see the boot print page. Cuteness overload!
On the right side I've created a little pocket that has a mini file folder tucked in. I die cut that with one of my old favorite Sizzix dies. it dates back to 2006-07. It was made to fit the original Sizzix machine so you know how old that is!
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That cute little tag on the left actually flips out so you can hide some photos or journaling. On the right side, just some pretties from the collection. I adore the watering can!
The page on the right has a surprise flip, that sentiment cut-apart flips to the left to reveal a spot for photos.
The page on the right flips out so that there are 3 equal sized panels. There's lots of room for your photos here!
Turn the page, and you'll find a delightful little pocket with an ATC tag in it. On the right, is another flip out page where you can add photos.
The next set of pages has a flip out on the right .
On the left is a cut little mason jar belly band with a nice sized square tag tucked in. On the right is a pocket with two smaller tags.
More flip pages! AND on the right is a pocket page with a nice sized tag tucked in the pocket. the ribbon is the top of the tag.
When the left page is flipped out, a nice surface is revealed that would be great for photos. Now look at the boot print, isn't that just adorable?
I think I want to get on the bicycle on the left page and ride through the meadow! The right page has another pocket with a file folder tucked in.
The right side has a large pocket with a tag in it. There are so many uses for large pockets, would be a great place to tuck in seed packets if you are using this mini for a gift.
On the left is a waterfall photo feature. There are lots of surfaces there for photos! The right side is really nifty, first you've got a nice pocket to tuck in photos. Then, turn that page and you'll find another full size page that also flips, it's a 3 page flipper! LOL! AND it's that fabulous boot print paper!! Win win all around!
Last two pages, the page on the right sports a small pocket and tag and the page itself, is also a pocket page and there's a much larger tag tucked in the pocket.
View of the opened mini from the back. There are 12 pages in this mini and that's not counting the flip out pages, so that's 24++ surfaces to add photos, momentos and journaling!
Whew, this is a long post but I want to share all the pages with you so you could see how adorable this collection is!
Supplies
Carta Bella Spring Market Collection Kit
Carta Bella Spring Market Ephemera
Black Cardstock
Hug Snug Pink Salmon Seam Binding
Graphic 45 ATC, Square and Regular tags and dies
Petaloo flowers
Looking for a garden journal for the gardener? Check this out, it's my personal gardening journal that I use to keep up with what I plant and annual yield from year to year.
Thanks for visiting and making it all the way through this long post!
