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Saturday 30 July 2011

Beach Baby

Just a reminder that you've only got a few days left to enter the current challenge over at the Hotspot this month and the theme is US vacation spots.  You can choose from the bright coloured lights and colours of Las Vegas or from the beautiful beaches in Florida - here's a picture and my card for inspiration.



Materials used:
Image - Beach Baby from  McMahon Five Designs
Coloured with promarkers
Sentiment - Dreamy Days circular stamp set - LOTV
Lacey Circles Nestability
Buttons and lace from my stash

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Ann's - summer
Frosted Designs - circles - TOP 3
Fairy Tale - summer
Phindy's Place - die cuts - WINNER
Sew Many Cards - anything goes
Stamp Something - summer fun
The Outlawz - copics/promarkers
Aud's Sentiments - sentiment to make you smile
Crafty Purple Frog - water inspired - WINNER
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - anything goes
Divas By Design - summer
I Love Promarkers - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Craft Room Challenge - summer holidays
Karen's Doodles - anything goes
Daisy Doodles - anything goes
Pink Elephant - fun in the sun






Wednesday 27 July 2011

Brooke at the Beach

This card has been made for the current challenge over at Fussy and Fancy and the theme is "summer".  Just to remind us what we are meant to do be doing during the summer here's my card with a beach scene and Brooke in her swimming costume - oh well we can all imagine can't we?  What happened to our summer?



Materials used:
Images - Beach Umbrealla and Brooke at the Beach from Meljen's Designs
Coloured with Promarkers
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Dried Marigold
Flowers, button, brad, ribbon and paper from my stash

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crazy Challenge - ribbons
Daisy Doodles - anything goes
Hooked on Crafts - cute and cuddly
Kaboodle Doodle - stitching
Karens Doodles - bingo (button, ribbon, flower)
Lawnscaping Challenge - stamp a scene
Oh La La Creations - circles
Paper Playtime - summer
Pink Elephant - fun in the sun
Crafty Pad - embossing
Lollipop Crafts - anything goes
2 Sisters - anything goes
Craft Your Days Away - summertime
Crafty Emma - funny/humour
ECP Challenges - summer
Sweet Stop - sketch
Crafty Ann's - embossing
Digi's With Attitude - anything goes
Fairy Fun Fridays - on holiday
Fairy Fun - summer sun
Floweret - on vacation
Off The Wall Craftiness - beach
Paper Cutz - anything goes
Wags 'n' Whiskers - buttons & bows


Saturday 16 July 2011

Exploding Box Tutorial

At least there's one plus side to a rainy day as it's given me a chance to sit down and get this tutorial pulled together as I know there are a couple of you who have shown interst in seeing it and giving it a go yourself :-)

Materials needed:

3 x sheets of A3 or 4 x 12" square card
Corner punch
Double sided tape
Wet glue (for the box lid)
Craft knife / guillotine
Pencil
Ruler or Hougie board

Instructions on how to make the box:

1)  From your first sheet of card cut a 27cm x 27cm square and mark at 9cm and 18cm along all edges (see diagram 1 below)

DIAGRAM 1

2)  Cut away the four corner squares leaving a cross shape (see diagram 1 above)

3)  Score along the lines of the internal square (see diagram 2 below)

DIAGRAM 2

4)  From your second sheet of card cut a 25cm x 25cm square and mark at 8cm and 17cm along all edges (see diagram 3 below)

DIAGRAM 3

5)  Cut away the four corner squares leaving a cross shape (see diagram 3 above)

6)  Score along the lines of the internal square (see diagram 2 above) 

7)  From your third sheet of card cut a 23cm x 23cm square and mark at 7cm and 16cm along all edges (see diagram 4 below)

DIAGRAM 4

8)  Cut away the four corner squares leaving a cross shape (see diagram 4 above)

9)  Score along the lines of the internal square (see diagram 2 above)  

10)  Using your corner punch round all the corners (see diagram 5 below)

DIAGRAM 5
  
11)  Take the largest "cross" shape and put double sided tape (or wet glue) in the centre square ONLY.  Lay the middle sized "cross" shape onto top of this ensuring that the sides are level.  Repeat with the last, and smallest, "cross" shape.  Your base should now look like the picture below but obviously without the decoration.



12)  Decorate the internal sides of the box (ensuring that it still allows the sides to fold up to form the box shape).  Decorate the outside of the largest shape so that this is visible when the box is folded up - see picture below.


Instructions on how to make the box lid:

13)  If  you are using A3 sized card you should have a large enough piece of card left, alternatively if you are using 12" square card you will have to use another piece of card.  Cut a 17.5cm x 17.5cm square and follow diagram 6 below for the measurements for the folds.

DIAGRAM 6

14)  To make it easier when folding your box lid you will need to reduce the amount of card that goes into the corner folds.  Following diagram 7 below cut off the excess pieces.

DIAGRAM 7

15)  Fold along all the scored lines forming the shape of the box lid.  If you use wet glue at this stage it will allow you more time to get this stage correct whereas double sided tape only gives you one chance.  You now have your finished lid which, once the sides are gathered up, will fit on top of your exploding box.

16)  You can adapt the depth of overhang the lid has over the box sides by adjusting the measurements.  For this box I've used 2cm, but you can reduce or increase this amount to suit.

Instructions on how to make the cake:

17)  You should be able to use the offcuts of card from the box and lid for the cake tiers.  For the largest tier cut a 15cm x 15cm square and follow diagram 8 below for the measurements for the folds.


DIAGRAM 8

18)  For the middle tier cut a 12cm x 12cm square and follow diagram 9 below for the measurements for the folds.
DIAGRAM 9

19)  For the smallest tier cut a 9cm x 9cm square and follow diagram 10 below for the measurements for the folds.

DIAGRAM 10

20)  Fold along all the scored lines forming the shape of each cake tier.  The outside fold will not be tucked inside as it was for the box lid as these will form the tabs to secure the tiers to the box base and the other tiers (only after they have been decorated though).  If you use wet glue at this stage it will allow you more time to get it correct whereas double sided tape only gives you one chance.  You now have your finished cake tiers which can be decorated BEFORE fixing them to the box base.  Unlike the box lid overhang there is not as much allowance for the size of the cake side as this needs to fit inside the box to enable the lid to fit.  You could reduce the cake to only 2 tiers which means that you could increase the size of the sides (sorry if that sounds confusing).  Your cake tiers should look something like this once they have been decorated.

 Here are some more pictures of my finished project.  




I hope that these instructions, diagrams and pictures have been easy enough to follow and that you enjoy making your own exploding boxes.  I would love to hear your comments.

Please feel free to reference this tutorial, along with your project, on your blog and any craft sites but PLEASE spare a thought for the time and effort that has gone into producing this and a link to this tutorial would be very much appreciated :-)


Tuesday 12 July 2011

Papertake Weekly - Hot, Hot, Hot Challenge

This is the second card made for my guest design slot over at the Papertake Weekly challenge for the month of July.  The theme for this weeks challenge is hot, hot, hot (supposedly what summer is meant to be!!!!!) not in the UK it isn't :-(  This weks theme gives you a chance to use all those hot colours such as reds, pinks, yellows and oranges, so some on have a go and show us what you can make - here's my card for inspiration.



The sponsor for this weeks challenge is the Ribbon Girl and you could be in with a chance to win one of their mini kits which contains: 1 metre each of: satin, gingham, saddlestitch, sheer ruffle, soft sheer, microdot, flat lace; 5 metres of seam binding, one pack of 10 small polka dot buttons and a pack of 5 pink hat pins - wow what a great prize eh!!!!

Materials used:
Image - Aspect of Design - Design 57 Funky Frames
Coloured with promarkers
Cuttlebug embossing folder - stylized flowers

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - just for you
Crazy Challenge - summertime
Creative Stamp Friends - summer
DDH Challenges - summer
Daisy Doodles - summer
Hooked On Crafts - with love
Karens Doodles - summer fun
Paper Playtime - summer
Pollycraft - the great outdoors
Stamps R Us - through the garden gate
The Outlawz - things in the garden
Dream Valley - summer
I Did It Creations - flowers
Kenny K's Krafty Girlz - anything goes
Lollipop Crafts - anything goes
One Stitch At A Time - anything goes
Scrappy Frogs - summer flowers
2 Sisters - summer fun
Catch The Bug - clean and simple
Crazy 4 challenges - summer
Drunken Stampers - fruity summer cocktails
One Stop Craft - summer time
Paper Creators Crafts - special occasion
Totally Gorjuss - summer time
Card Makin' Mamas - summer time
Phindy's Place - use buttons
Wags n Whiskers - birthdays
Auds Sentiments - sentiments
Charisma Cardz - flowers
Crafty Purple Frog - summer fun
Dutch Dare - summer fun


Wednesday 6 July 2011

Red, White & Blue Exploding Box

I've been wanting to try and make an exploding box for ages so decided to sit down and try one.  I've also added a 3 tier cake for the inside which could easily be adapted for any occassion i.e wedding, anniversary etc.

The tutorial for this project can be found here.






Material used:

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
Promarkers - to colour the flowers
Nestabilities - Labels 11
Magnolia Doo Hickey Die - Heart Swirl Branch
Lily of the Valley - For You circular sentiment
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - weathered wood

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - anything goes
Die Cut Dreams - recipe
Kaboodle Doodles - celebrations
KB Cute Mondays - anything goes
Paper Creations Ink - red,white & blue
Pink Elephant - red, white & blue - WINNER
Pollycraft - celebration
Shabby Tea Room - photo inspiration - TOP 3
Come And Get It Challenges - patriotic theme
Corrosive Challenge - red & white
Creative Inspirations - red, white & blue - TOP 3
Dream Valley - ribbon
I Did It Creations - patriotic
Sentimental Sundays - anthing goes
Cupcake Inspirations - photo inspiration
Catch The Bug - anything goes
Ellephantastic - celebrations
Our Creative Corner - seassonal celebration
Paper Creators Crafts - special occassion
Card Makin' Mamas - red, white & blue
Fairy Knoll - red, white & blue
Fairy Tale - America
Off The Wall Craftiness - red, white & blue
Patties Creations - flag colours - TOP 3
Craft Us Crazy - red, white & blue - TOP 3
Delightful Challenges - red, white & blue
Do You Stack Up? - sqaures
Pixie Dust Studio - red, white & blue
The Rubber Cafe - red, white & blue
Anything Goes - letter "D" (Doohickey die)
Use It Tuesday - red, white & blue


Tuesday 5 July 2011

Milly - Me And My Dog

Imagine my delight when I was asked to be guest designer over at Papertake Weekly for the month of July - I was so excited and couldn't wait to get started so here's my first card.



This card is for their current challenge and the theme is "Anything Goes - with the option of an additional button" which is sponsored by LOTV.  I have used one of their new images which is called "Milly - me and my dog" which has been coloured with my promarkers.

Materials used:

Papers - Wild Rose Studio "in love with Japan" papers
Pearlised card - Papermill Shop
Time Holtz Distress Ink - spun sugar
Sentiment - Woodware Janes script
Nestability Die - scalloped oval

I've entered this card into the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes - stitching
Catch The Bug - anything goes
Secret Crafter - here comes summer
Bling It On - anything goes
Lily Of The Valley - celebrate
Clearly Inspired - dies/punches
Crafty Ann's - just because
Digis With Attitude - anything goes
Wags 'n' Whiskers - summertime
4 Crafty Chicks - stitching




Sunday 3 July 2011

The Hotspot Challenge - Vacation Spots in the US

It's time for another challenge over at:

 
This month we're focusing on vacation spots in the US (Florida, California and Las Vegas) so it's a good chance to use all of those bright and colourful papers we've got girls (ooops and not forgetting those male crafters out there of course).  Here's a collage of pictures to give you some ideas.


Here's the card that I've created with the inspiration from all the colourful lights of Las Vegas using the Swan Princess image from McMahon Five Designs digital stamps which has been coloured with Promarkers.


I've entered this card into the following challenges:

Creative Belli - letter "G" (girl & grass)
Divas By Design - dies/punches
I Love Promarkers - flowers
Little Darlings - favourite colour combo
My Mums Craft Shop - something old (DP), something new (image)
Paper Shelter - anything goes
The Pixie Cottage - strawberries and cream
Ruby's Rainbow - flowers
Scrapbook Sisters - summer fun
Anything Goes - letter "D" (dreaming)
Bearly Mine - summer time
Deep Ocean Challenge - flowers
Digital Tuesday - flower power
Craft Your Passion - seeing red
Hooked On Crafts - flowers
House Of Gilli - ribbons and bows
KB Cute Monday - flowers
Ooh La La Creations - summer flowers
Shabby Tea Room - may favourite things
Stamps R Us - there was a little girl who
4 Crafty Chicks - stitching
Charisma Cardz - ice cream colours (strawberry, banana & mint)
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - red, orange & yellow
Moving Along With The Times - here comes the summer sun
Paper Crafting Journey - anything goes
Some Odd Girl - bright colours
Catch The Bug - anything goes
Secret Crafter - here comes summer