Project ~ Love is in the air....

This year I wanted to share some of my favourite crafty techniques and projects.  As I was thinking what to share first, an opportunity came up to feature products that I use from one of my favourite craft suppliers, Handy Hippo.  I have used Handy Hippo for a couple of years now so it was an easy decision to write this post. Although it is a sponsored post all my views, images and techniques are my own.

As it is nearly Valentine's Day I thought I would share the Valentine's card and gift box in one I have made....

How did I do it....

I used my trusty guillotine (a must have in my Craft Den) to trim A4 Pearlescent card to 14x28cm.  The colour is a pretty pink and the light reflects different shades off the pearlescent finish.

The card was folding in half and folding one half in half again to make it an easel card.

The stopper to make the card stand up as an easel was made by stamping the sentiment from the Wild Rose Vintage Heart stamp set " you have stolen my heart". This set has such a romantic feel and co-ordinates with other stamps I have from their range.

Wild Rose Studio, Vintage Heart Clear Stamp Set

I stamped on to the pearlescent card in peony coloured ink and used clear embossing powder to give it a slightly raised and shiny effect.   This was mounted onto silver mirror card for a border and attached to the card with a 3D foam pad to create a stopper.

I used the Spellbinders Nestabilities Die, Wavy Rectangles on white card to write a personal message.  I used Distress Ink in Tattered Rose to give it a blush look

I love creating my own background designs on plain card.  For this project I stamped the heart from the Wild Rose Vintage Rose stamp set in 2 colours randomly, peony and lilac, then highlighted areas with iridescent glitter. 

I stamped twice before re-inking to give a shadow/paler impression giving the design more depth.

I stamped the same design on to the sides of the box

I am a big fan of embossing folders, I have a drawer full and when I think I possibly can't need anymore I see ones like this Darice Valentine's Heart.  I used the pearlescent card again to emboss this design and cut it out the heart, cutting off the scalloped edge. I embossed the heart again using American Crafts textured card in Blossom, I cut this out so when I glued the pearlescent heart on top of the textured card the scalloped edge of the blossom can be seen. 

Darice Valentine's Heart Embossing Folder

I use a Cuttlebug (aka Colin!) for my embossing and die cutting

I love the metallic sheen effect gilding wax gives to an embossed or textured design, I used Cosmic Shimmer Golden Lilac Gilding Wax over the embossed heart.

I used the same heart stamp on white card and I cut this out and glued to the small heart of the embossed design. I used the same technique to embellish the drawer to the box.

I had a scalloped heart in silver mirror card in my crafty stash which made the topper pop.

The gift box was made to have a drawer to fit a small gift , measuring 14x14x3cm, perfect size for yummy chocolates or jewellery (I can but only hope!).

 

It is best to use wet glue to make a box, I use pegs to hold the shape whilst the glue dries.

To be able to pull the drawer out I punched a hole and threaded silver ribbon.

I hope you liked my first crafty technique post, what do you think?

What I used

From Handy Hippo....
Darice Embossing Folder, Valentine's Heart
American Crafts 12x12 Textured Cardstock - Blossom
A4 Pearlescent Card by Centura Pearl - Fresh Pink
Wild Rose Studio Clear Stamp Set, Vintage Heart
Finger Lift Tape
Silver Narrow Ribbon
Inspire Me Card Snow White
Creative Expressions Gilding Wax, Golden Lilac
Spellbinders Nestabilities Die, Wavy Rectangles

From my crafty stash....
Silver Mirror Card
Various colour ink pads
Wet Glue
Pearl effect embellishments
3D Foam Pads
Clear embossing powder
Distress Ink
Glitter

This tutorial is for non-commercial use only. You can use it to make as many cards for yourself, gifts or to raise funds for a charity but please don't make any to sell for profit.

If you want to blog about this project, remember to credit me and link back to this page on my blog. Please ask permission before using my photography and please do not reproduce my entire tutorial on your site.  Thank you

Savvy crafting, a new me for 2014.....

In my post about my plan for 2014, one of my challenges for this year is to use up the craft supplies I have before buying any new ones.  This was inspired from reading Mary Emmens' blog about how she is not going to buy fabric for 6 months. 

As a general rule I will not be buying any new....

• Card (I have loads of various colours and scraps to use up)
• Stamps (I have 4 drawers full! So I should have enough for any occasion)
• Ribbon (Love ribbon!)
• Buttons (I have a button addiction!)

Love my ribbon box, although it doesn't hold all of my ribbon!

I have tended to buy any of the above because “I have to have it!”.  But things need to change as money is tighter this year plus I am running fizzi~jayne as a proper business now.

Firstly I need to have a stock take so I know what I actually have and then use what I have before I buy anything else. I will probably find things I have forgotten about.

However I still have a business to run, so there are exceptions:

• If I need something for a specific order
• If I run out of the basics, i.e. white card, glue etc. The essentials I can’t craft without.
• I am also working on a project for one of my favourite craft suppliers, Handy Hippo, (watch this space!) so I will need supplies for this. 

Not only will there be financial benefits but it should challenge my creativity.

After 6 months I will see how I have got on and see how much therapy I will need!!  Wish me luck!

Did you make any New Year resolutions?  How are they going?