Such a simple suitcase! by Chris W

This pretty little suitcase gift box is soooooo simple it'd be an insult to offer you instructions!

If you're lucky enough to have a Sizzix Bigshot Pro machine then this Suitcase die by Jen Long-Philipsen is a must! I'm a big fan of this lady's designs - they're very effective and simple to make.

You can choose from a whole host of flower dies from Sizzix and Spellbinders or, if you prefer, Marianne Design. I've made these from a mixture of Sizzix dies and just added a craft gem for centres.

Whether you like the pre-printed tickets or like to make your own using the Creative Expressions ticket stamps and the Tim Holtz Ticket Strip die (like this one) it really doesn't take much to decorate it. I used a strip of quilling paper for the straps and then just added a small key charm on fine string. How much simpler does it get?

This makes a great gift box for anyone, especially the men or a fabulous favour box for weddings.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for visiting.

Chris xxx

Filigree hanging photo' frame by Chris W

This pretty little hanging ‘photo frame has actually been made using the Sizzix Decorative Border Die by Jen Long-Philipsen! I think we all want to get the best out of the craft tools we buy, particularly our dies, so thinking a little more laterally to see what else they lend themselves to is a constant challenge. The idea for this piece leapt out at me as soon as I took it out of its wallet. If you have limited funds for buying gifts for birthdays and Christmas then you too can turn this border die into something special for a loved one.



Simply cut out the border once in packing cardboard, twice in standard card and once in craft metal (or mirriboard). Glue them one on top of each other sandwiching the packing cardboard between the normal card and then the metal one on the top. (TIP: The die isn’t completely symmetrical so make sure you have the layers the right way round before you attempt to glue them together.) This forms the hanging frame.



Draw a circle onto plain card using the outer circle of the die as a measure and use this circle as a guide to trim your ‘photo. Glue your ‘photo circle to the card circle and glue the very outer edge of this and stick to the back of the hanging frame and allow to dry. Use craft gems and a miniature artificial flower to decorate the frame and simply loop a piece of tied ribbon around the scrolled top.

A matching set of these frames with pictures of the grandchildren makes a terrific Christmas or birthday present for grandparents and costs just pennies to make.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by, we hope to see you again soon.

Chris xxx

Phones are playing up 16/05/13

Looks like our phones are playing up today, all calls going straight to messaging and can't make outgoing calls, hopefully BT on the case.

Something fishy?!

I saw this fabulous stamp set designed by Lynne Perrella for PaperArtsy and just knew it needed to be inked! I took a #12 Tag and, using Chocolate Pudding Fresco Finish paint on some Cut and Dry foam I lightly covered the tag. I dried it and repeated the process again with Beach Hut and then Snowflake paints. Then I lightly sanded the tag so that the layers of paint became more evident. I distressed the edges of the tag as I wanted the whole feel to be ‘aged'. Frescos leave a soft slightly chalky finish that’s just perfect to stamp on. 

Using Jet Black Archival Ink I stamped the main image and dries it again. Archival Ink dries quickly by itself but I wanted to use Distress Markers next and didn’t want to pick up any remnants of the ink onto my precious pens! Using Spun Sugar, Broken China, Barn Door, Wild Honey, and Spiced Marmalade I picked parts of the stamp to highlight. The little rosette flowers are layered ‘buttons’ from the stamp set stamped onto white card, coloured with Distress Markers, the edges distressed and then secured with a fastener. The leaves are the tails of the fishes from the main stamp coloured with Peeled Paint!

Voyage tableau by Chris W

Those of you that are kind enough to follow me know that I just love doing tableaus so it won't come as any surprise to see another. This one is inspired by the fabulous Compass Texture Fades embossing folder, Clipboard and Cameo Frame dies all by Tim Holtz.

The clipboard dies can be used in several ways but the most obvious is using it to hold a photo'. I've used the cameo frame and cut one end off to make this clipboard which is decorated with decorative photo' corners and a small length of miniature bead chain.

Using Core'dinations card and sanding it gives this lovely worn effect and a sense of age.

The addition of lace (this is from a roll of adhesive lace with the shine sanded off of it), a word sticker and charms on a chain balances the composition and adds interest. Of course, it all has to be distressed with ink, lol.

If you'd like to read, print or download the instructions to make it please click HERE.

Enjoy your weekend everyone and thank you for taking the time to stop by.

Chris xxx

Fun with Framelits Pt 2 by Amanda

Hi everyone, I’m back with my second project using the Sizzix Framelits dies with stamps, and this time I’ve made something more dimensional - a floral wall hanger.  The English Garden paper I’ve used has a lovely set of vibrant patterns, with coordinating paint effect style plain papers on the reverse.  It’s perfect for this project, as the backs of the flowers will be visible from some angles.

This project is great as an alternative to a new house card, or just as something pretty for your home.  I hope you like it!

Floral Wall Hanger

You'll need:

Sizzix Framelits with stamps: Flowers, Doodles, Balloons & Cupcakes

Spellbinders Shapeabilities: Foliage

Sizzix Framelits die set: Tags, Fancy

Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze: Pink Lady, Wicked

Dovecraft Designer Paper Pack: English Garden 8x8

Pink Ink

Dusky pink card

Dimensional glue

• Die cut the largest fancy tag in a dark green paper from the English Garden pad.  Stick to a rectangle of dusky pink card and cut around the top part of the tag, leaving a border.
•  Die cut a cupcake base from the stripy paper to use as a flower pot.  Paint with two coats of Wicked Glimmer Glaze and curve it around your finger when dry.  Stick to the tag using double sided tape on the left and right edges and a generous dollop of silicone glue in the middle to give a nice 3D effect. 
• Using the spotty, stripy and chequered English Garden papers, die cut 6 large and 5 small Doodles flowers.
• Stick 3 large flowers to the tag above the pot adding glue only in the middle.  Stamp 3 large and 3 small flowers with their corresponding petal stamps using pink ink.  Make a cut to the centre of each of the stamped flowers, form into a wide cone by overlapping one petal and sticking together.
•  Paint the 3 large cones with two coats of Pink Lady Glimmer Glaze.  Cut the remaining 2 small flowers in half, discard one half and stick the others into small cones, curling the tops of the petals back.  Cut the tips of the cones off (this will help you stick down neatly) and assemble into 3 layered flowers using silicone glue.

 

• Cut three leaves from light green paper using the Foliage die set and stick behind the flowers.
•  Finish with pink gems and a loop of coordinating cord or ribbon.

Fun with Framelits Pt 1 by Amanda

Die cutting and stamping are two of my favourite techniques, so I was really pleased to find a product range that includes coordinating dies and stamps together in the same pack - the Sizzix Framelits Dies with Stamps range.  They're a great addition to your stash if you love stamping but not the cutting out, if you want to get more creative with your die cuts, or if, like me, you just like things to match really well.

I've also recently fallen in love with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze and I have a few projects to share using both products over the next week.  Here's the first, I hope you like it!

Friends card

For this project, I wanted to show how the Framelits and Glimmer Glazes can be used to transform plain white card.

You'll need:

Sizzix Framelits with stamps: Flowers, Daisies (657916)

Spellbinders Shapeabilities: Foliage

Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders: Lace Set (657381)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Dusty Concord and Worn Lipstick

Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze: Pink Lady and Purple Passion

Green patterned paper, eg DCWV Whimsy

White card

White DL (approx 10x20cm) card blank

• Emboss white card with the large flower embossing folder from the Lace set, trim to around 12cm tall and stick to your card blank.  Cover the rest of the card with green patterned paper.
• Cut out the largest flower and the large circle Framelits from white card and stamp with the corresponding spotty stamps using Distress Inks, then paint with Pink Lady glimmer glaze.  The instructions recommend stamping first and then die cutting, but if you're comfortable with stamping accurately and your cutting pads are as worn and wavy as mine, you might find it easier to do the cutting first.  Alternatively, just use a little masking tape or temporary glue to stop your die moving as you feed your cutting sandwich through your machine.
• Cut a Shapeabilities leaf and a thin strip from your green paper and stick to the card as shown, supporting the tip of the leaf with 3D foam pads or silicone glue.
• Emboss white card with the Lace borders and cut out one border.  Paint with Pink Lady Glimmer Glaze.  When dry, put a couple of dabs of Purple Passion Glimmer Glaze onto a sponge or kitchen towel and dab over the border, then stick to your card over the join of your white card and green paper.

• Cut the smallest flower from white card and assemble your flower as shown below.  The petals should have curled upwards as they dried, if not, curl them around your finger and support on your card with foam pads or silicone glue.

• Stamp the greeting from the Framelits set onto white card using Dusty Concord Distress Ink, trim and edge with ink. Hand emboss petals from the lace border embossing folder in the corners as shown.  If you don't have an embossing tool, a worn out ballpoint pen will work just as well.  Finish with two purple gems and fix to your card.