Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Recycle

Hi everyone, thanks ever so much for dropping by. I know it's been a while but I have lots to show for my absence, I haven't just been sat in the garden sunning myself although I do have an outdoor studio now :)


It's my turn today to host the post(!) over on the Get Funky & Craft blog so I decided that I would make a gift bag. Now read on to see how I did it.

"I have mentioned previously my mission to reduce my wallets of paper off cuts so I should really have concentrated on that in this post. However, our lovely leader, Anice, keeps feasting us with lots of lovely paper collections and digi downloads and it's such a shame not to use them.....so on my project today I have used one of each :)

If you have ever needed a gift bag at the 12th hour and can't find one, well this is the post for you. It takes about 15 minutes to make and anyone (even non crafters) eill be able to find materials to use around the house. Oh, and when I mention a 'bone folder', a spoon handle does just as well.

This is my make for the month
                                               
and here is how I made it
                                         
You will need an old (or a new) envelope of any size.....and this tutorial works for top opening envelopes too.
Tape down the flap making sure that you don't tape the back of the envelope to the front!
Trim approximately 1/2 cm from one of the short sides.
Next you need to score each of the other three sides at 2.5cm from each edge and fold making sure each fold is crisp using your bone folder or spoon.
Now is the time to decorate your envelope with whatever you have to hand. I used the paper #7 from the new Spring Wedding Collection on the Funky Hand web site.
Pop one hand inside the envelope and use the other hand to pinch along all of the creases and watch your envelope turn into a gift bag :)
Fold the pointed end and glue to the bottom of the bag. I weight mine down with a punch while it sticks. Fold and tuck in about 2.5 cm from the top. Not only does this make the bag look professional, it makes the top sturdier to take the ribbon handles, see the next picture.
Now finish decorating your bag.
I used a selection of die cut flowers and printed off a smaller version of the mug from the I'm a mug for you' download to use as a gift tag.....Job Done!

These are great fun to make, I must have shown loads of people how to make them. They are great to make with the kiddies too now that the summer holidays are upon us, especially if they have a birthday party to go to. So start saving your envelopes in different shapes and sizes and it doesn't matter what colour they are (mine was from a bought birthday card, I didn't buy it ;)) You can even use the ones with the see through window on the front, just stick some pretty paper over it.

We would love you to have a go at my tutorial and add it to the linky thingy so we can come back and take a look.

Thursday, July 04, 2013

In a swirl

We have two more fabulous sketches again this month on the Kathy's Waffle Sketch File blog and we would really love it if you could join in with us.

 
 
I bought this Kanban stamp in a sale last week and it cost me 90p! I decided to have a play with it and see what it looked like without colour, actually I did add a little colour - I gave her lipstick :) When I saw Kathy's new sketch for this month I couldn't believe how well this image fitted the sketch so all I did was to add a couple of pieces of left over card and heart paper by Pink Petticoat, ribbon from Craft All Day and a brad and some diamantes from my stash and it was finished.

Thanks for dropping by and don't forget to take a peep at the inspiration over on the Waffle
blog :)

Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Crafting Muskateers

Firstly I would like to say a big well done to Lisa Sparkle & Stamps for winning the June challenge on the Crafting Muskateers blog and a big 'well done and thank you' to the top 3 and everyone else who took part.

We had out third challenge go live yesterday lunch time and it's another good one! The  theme this time is to use RIBBON & PEARLS on your project and it is sponsored by our very own  DT member, Sarah and here is what she has offered as her prize

We have three guest designers joining us this month and if you enter then next month it could be you :)
Here is my card
KB 190
White 8 x8 pre folded card blank (a cheat I know but it does save time)
A4MRGO Gold Mirri card
PCT1904 Bella Fiori - Aster Memories
CRD1466 Bella Fiori - Lauretta Pink b/g card
Sentimental Labels - Verses 

Thanks for stopping by and good luck with the challenge, I can't wait to see what fantastic projects we have entered this month....we are all (the DT) bowled over with your support, thank you.
Have a lovely evening. x