Fuchsias

Fuchsias are one of my favourite flowers, and I have a few in the garden. So, as this week I am working on "F", I decided I wanted to include them in my project. That way I cover flowers and the colour! I also decided to make a Fold Over Box, following the sizing guide from Beccy's Place.

I have never made fuchsias before, so found a great tutorial from Archana Joshi. I was surprised at how straightforward they are to make, and how effective they look.

So, you need a rounded petal flower and a pointed petal flower. Archana uses punches, but I don't have them and after rummaging through my dies, I found these old Crafter's Companion Classiques dies called Forget Me Not. The most Fuchsia colour I could find in my inks was Picked Raspberry, and I decided to use Distress Oxide. This is for the outer part of the flower and needs inking on both sides. For the inner part of the flower, I used Spun Sugar, but only inked the central part.

    

One of the interesting things from the video, is the detail for the stamen. One of the stamens needs to be longer than the rest - and this one should be white. I used a bit of wire to secure them together, and wrapped it in a bit of green floral wire. This might be better done afterwards, but I though it might give a bit of stability. The inner part of the flower needs to be like a cup - and although she used foam, she didn't heat it. I did heat it as it kept the cup shape better. The outer part is shaped using a very small ball tool. I didn't have one that small so used the end of my Crafter's Companion quilling tool. You move the ball from the tip of the petal to the centre of the flower.

  

I love that she showed how to make a bud too. I started with some green floral wire as this is much stronger than the wire I used for the stamens. I didn't have any white floral tape, so used (as she suggested) white tissue paper. You then thread on the flower top, and use glue (I used a hot glue gun) to stick down each petal in turn. 

 

  

The next step is to wrap the piece just below the flower in white floral tape or, in my case, white tissue paper. This is then coloured with the same ink as the flower. The same is done with the white part on the bud. I would highly recommend watching the video as it was so helpful and I am so pleased with how these turned out. I shall definitely be making them again. And also checking out more of Archana's tutorials.

  

For the fold over box, you need a piece of card 10"x10" and two pieces 6" x 9". I used A3 Centura Pearl Hint of Gold.  The two smaller pieces are scored at 3" on one side. The small panel provides an overlap for the spine, and these are stuck together.  The box is scored at 3" on all sides, and cut and folded up.

      

For additional F's (and E's) I used a Fairy topper from Crafter's Companion Faerie Poppets CD, and Fussy Cut a couple of the layers. The Embossed card is (although it doesn't show very well) the paler pink card that I mat and layered with.

 

In her tutorial, Beccy shows a way of fastening the box, but I chose to go with fuchsia ribbon. This was taped onto the inside of both sides, and the covered with the decorative mats and layers. including the fuchsia coloured card, the pink embossed card, and a patterned paper from the Faerie Poppets CD.

    

The outside of the card , and the outside and inside of the box were decorated in the same way.

 

The Faerie Poppet and the Fuschias were added to the front, with a bow and some pearls.

So, there you have my Fuchsia Fold over box with Fuchsias, Flower Forming Foam, a Fairy, Fussy Cutting and elements from the Faerie Poppets CD. 

Happy crafting!

Cxxxx 

Hats - Go Large!

There's always fads and fashions and trends in any area - and one of the most recent in the craft world was the hat easel. I resisted for a while, but then decided to have a go myself. I found some instructions on Positively Papercraft - with two different posts sharing instructions and videos for construction and for two different hat boxes.

I decided that I wanted to go much bigger than this, so I have adapted the sizes  - but pretty much followed the assembly. I didn't bother with the fancy boxes - but did make a box to deliver it in - more details later. I really relied heavily on my Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies - both the ordinary set and the Grand set - which I have had in my stash for a very long time. The measurements that I mention are in relation to these dies. 

To make this (at this size - which is just over 7"), you will need 2 sheets of A3 card for the easel base. I used Centura Pearl card from the Pastels pack. I used one sheet and cut a long strip off - 15 1/2" x 2 1/2" - you will need this later. The rest of this piece of card was scored and folded at 8 1/4" and then the base was cut with the largest Spellbinder circle die that I have - 7 1/4".  Once cut,  one side of the easel was cored a 3 5/8".

Please note: some of the photos are of another hat easel I made as I didn't take many photos while making this.

The strip that was cut needs to be scored at 1/2" and 2", and then notches cut into it as shown below.

This will form the sides of the hat, and is attached to a circle of 4 3/4" diameter as shown below.

It's then all about assembly. I started by decorating the hat top as I found this easier to do before sticking in onto the large circle. I used strips of patterned paper 1 1/4" wide to go around the hat top, and then went round with ribbon. I added a 4 1/4" circle in a patterned paper to the very top

You need another 7 1/4" circle for the top of the easel card - which serves as the brim of the hat. On this one I added a 7 3/8" scalloped circle in green, a 6 1/4" circle in orange, a 5 3/4" circle in the patterned paper, and a 5 1/8" scalloped circle in the original Centura Pearl. Onto this, you glue the hat top.

For the easel base, I used the same size circles and scallops as above, but added another green 4 5/8" scalloped circle. In other ones I have made, I have added another 3 3/4" circle on the top of that - but didn't do that here.

For the sentiment/stopper, I used a green 2 3/4" circle, an orange 2 5/8" scalloped circle and the sentiment was stamped onto a 2 3/8" circle of the Centura Pearl. For other ones I have made, I started with a 3 1/8" scalloped circle of the original card I made the base from.  The sentiment was stamped in Stazon - Cactus Green and sentiment is from an old Crafter's Companion Sentimentals stamp set.

I then decorated the hat brim with bow in the same ribbon as I used before, and then some flowers I made using Flower Forming foam (see my post here).

I did make a very simple box for this. I used two 12x12 sheets of Core'dinations card and used my Big Score to score at 2 1/4" all the way round. I have made 5 of these in total, and I will share the other designs as and when I give them to the recipients throughout the year - one is not until December - but the next one is only a few weeks away. 

Happy crafting!
Cxxxx

B is for .....

So, we're into the second week of our A or B theme challenge at Use Your Craft Stash. While you can use any technique, colour, card fold, product starting with A and/or B, I chose mostly A for my first inspiration last week, so have gone with the B's this week.

I have a Brown and Beige Baby themed, Bendy front card with a Bear and Buttons, and a Box with a Bow for it to go in. 

For the base of the card, I used Crafter's Companion A3 Double Sided Printed card - Elegance. And for the box, I used Decadance.  Beccy's Place has instructions for this in her Card Fold Tutorials section. I didn't use her measurements, as I wanted it larger. So I started with a piece 15" x 8", and scored at 5" and 10". The higher bendy part is about 4" in height, and the smaller one is about 2".

I cut the edges with Crafter's Companion Die'sire Edge'able Rococo die. I have it in two sizes - from being on the DT back then - and one of the sizes was exclusive to whichever channel they were on at that time - but I can' remember which.  Whatever, this is the smaller of the two dies.

To create the Bendy front, the two sides then fold over and fix using tabs and slots. I backed this with Brown card, and added a piece of card to create a stand at the back. 

The Baby themed topper with the Bear, is an old Kanban one. I added Brown Buttons, and a Bow.

For the Box, I used the Big Score and a sheet of the A3 printed card, this time from the Decadance pack, with more Brown card and some Beige Centura Pearl from the Pastels pack. I embossed this with Spellbinders double sided A4 embossing folder called Dainty Dots. I finished it with a bow.

Remember, you have until Sunday afternoon to share your creations with us at Use Your Craft Stash.

Take care, and stay safe,

Cxxx

Pretty Gift Box

This gift box was made using A3 Centura Pearl Snow White Hint of Silver Card and the Jardin Edge'able die.

The teal card is Core'dinations, embossed with the Textures Distress folder. And the embellishment is made from Die'sire Essentials Blossom, and Sara Signature English Country Garden Roll Up Flower.

Back soon.

Cxxx

Internal Box Card

Morning. Back today with another make using the new Create a Card dies. This one is the Flutterby die set - which of course has gorgeous butterflies with it.

So, this one is made from Centura Pearl Snow White Hint of Silver, on the back of which I printed a couple of the green Fabric Papers from Crafter's Inspiration 13. 

I added a few flowers using Die'sire Essentials Flowers for All Occasions 3, and the leaves from the Sara Signature English Country Garden Lazy Daisy die set. The sentiment is Classiques Only Words.

Watch out for the shows on Hochanda coming soon.

Cxxx

A little bit of gold!!

Afternoon!! Wow - it's been a while since I've posted!! Lots happening and time just gets away!! But, tonight on Hochanda, Crafter's Companion will be on with a gorgeous Centura Pearl Metallics One Day Special.

I used three of the colours from the Precious Golds collection along with the gorgeous Beatrice Die'sire Create a Card to create the layers on this Ivory box. A few pearls, some ribbon and paper roses completed the look.

I also made a twisted easel card using another of the golds with some Snow White Hint of Gold, and again used the Beatrice Create a Card die. The sentiment is Classiques Only Words, and I used the Essentials Flowers for all Occasions 3.  

Be sure to tune in at 8pm tonight to see the full collection and all the amazing samples from the team.

Cxxxx

Exciting!!!

Just a couple pf hours to go before the launch of Sara's Shabby Chic Collection. This one is a little clutch bag, that could be used for a gift card or money! It's from the Ult Cards CD - I just didn't add the handle.

The base is embossed with the Rose Garden folder from the collection and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The papers are from the 6x6 pack, and I used the Antique Edge, Filigree Flourish and Aged Rose dies - with lots of distressed edges and Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I also used the papers on the inside - and added a Velcro fastener to keep the bag closed. 

Cxxx

Upright Stepper Card

I'm a bit later posting today, but better late than never!! So, this one is an upright stepper card - instructions on the Ulti Cards CD - using the Die'sire Bride and Groom Edge'able with some double sided printed A3 card from my stash. 

I also used the matt mirror card from the gold Luxury Cardstock pack. The letters are Diamond Press Block Alpha, and the champagne flutes are from Sara Signature Together Forever Collection.

Multi Faceted Box!

Morning! Today's offering combines one of the fab projects from the Advanced Big Score DVD, with the gorgeous Ice Blue Luxury Card Pack and one of the amazing Die'sire Everyday Edge'ables - this one is Butterfly Love.

As I said, the base box was made following the instructions on the DVD, using a sheet of A3 double sided card from the Downton Abbey collection.

I used the mirror card from the Ic Blue Luxury Card pack to cut the Edge'ables, leaving a strip at the bottom to go along each side of the box. I backed this with the glitter card from the back, then more mirror card underneath. I created the topper in the same way. 

I finished off with a bow and lots of sparklers!

Cxx

Big Box Card

Morning!! I have another Catitudes project today! This one is a large pop up box card - made from an A3 sheet of double sided Centura Pearl Fresh White card. 

The papers are from the 8x8 paper pack, with the images, sentiment and embellishments from both of the CDs. I embossed some matching card with the Ornate Fans folder, and die cut the Cat Silhouette, the Boutique sign and the fans from the Oriental Additions.

Cxx

Bow Front Card

The gorgeous little fancy Edge'ables are back on Hochanda today! They are 5.3" in length, and are perfect for all sorts of projects.

This is a bow fronted card that I made using the Rococo die. The base is Centura Pearl Hint of Silver, and I used some Crafter's Companion Matt Black card to make the pink - from the Downton Abbey 12x12 pad - pop. 

Be sure to tune in to the shows today!

Cxx

A Little Thank You

Morning! Am back with another creation using the 5x5 and 5x2 Create a Card dies from Crafter's Companion. This one is a little Thank You box using both the Thank You Sentiment and the Floral Lace Heart die.

I have to admit that the ends of the box needed a little more length on the flaps to stay in properly, but I used the wrap instead to hold them firmly in place.

The box is made from Ivory Double Sided Centura Pearl, and the blue paper is from the Downton Abbey 12x12 Paper Pad.

Cxxxx