Create & Take: Candy Box

Happy Wednesday bloggers! Today I am going to share last Friday's Create & Take which featured our Halloween Special - a Trick or Treat Candy Box. We also created a slightly different box for anyone who didn't celebrate Halloween and they had a beautiful Birthday treat box. Obviously these boxes are not limited to sweets as you could easily pop in a tiny present as a sweet surprise!

The product list will refer to the Halloween Trick or Treat Box - I will list any extra products you will need for the Birthday Treat Box at the end of the instructions.

Products Needed:

We R Memory Keepers Pillow Box Punch Board

Brenda Walton Snowflake Medallion Bigz Die

Bazzill Basics Vintage Lace Cardstock - Vintage Lace

Anna Griffin Bat-Tastic Cardstock - Orange & Black Spiderweb

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Blackberry Swirl

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Festive

Penny Black Spooky Spheres Clear Stamp Set

Memento Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black

Woodware Big Circle Punch

Ultra High Adhesion Power Double Sided Tape

Hot Glue Gun (optional)

Terra Cotta with white spots Organza Ribbon

Instructions:

1. Cut the Vintage Lace cardstock 6" x 6". Follow the instructions on the Pillow Box punch board to cut out your pillow box template.

2. To assemble the box, apply adhesive to the side tab and for easy alignment fold the box onto itself and adhere. Use your fingers to crease the CURVE score line, fold the thumb notch tab down first and then fold the other tab over the top.

3. Cut the Anna Griffin cardstock 3.5" x 6". Wrap around the box and adhere the two ends together using double sided tape. You do not need to adhere this to the box as it should stay in place.

4. Die cut the small snowflake medallion three times out of Blackberry Swirl cardstock. Fold along all the crease lines of each piece and adhere together in a line with double sided tape. Apply some double sided tape to join each end of the medallion.

5. Punch a circle from the Blackberry Swirl cardstock. Apply some hot glue or Ultra high adhesion power double sided tape to the center of the circle and fold the medallion inwards on top of the circle to adhere it together.

6. Punch another circle from the Festive cardstock and stamp a circle border and sentiment from the Spooky Spheres stamp set with Tuxedo Black ink. Adhere the circle on top of the medallion.

7. Cut a piece of Terra Cotta organza ribbon approx. 48cm in length. Wrap the ribbon around the box and tie a bow at the top.

8. Finish by adhering the medallion to the center of the box.

Extra Products for the Birthday Treat Box

Bazzill Basics Vintage Lace Cardstock - Vintage Floral (this is the reverse side of the Vintage Lace cardstock)

Bazzill Basics Vintage Lace Cardstock - Glamorous

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Baby Pink Light

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Candlelight

Taylored Expressions Daisy Bouquet Stamp Set

Olive Green with white spots Organza Ribbon

The We R Memory Keepers punch boards are so simple and easy to use and allow you to make a variety of sizes of pillow box. Check out all our We R Memory Keepers punch boards at Crafts U Love

Christmas Demo Day

Today we will be reviewing our Christmas Demo Day with pictures from the day and information about what each of our designers were using in their demo's and links to the pages you need to purchase those products!

Our three designers on the day were Jo Wojcik, Stamping Caz and Alex Kamann, each demoing something different but all with a Christmas theme in mind.

So let's start with Jo.....

Jo has had massive success with her classes and demos on the Sospeso Transparante range and last weekend saw her demo some beautiful poinsettias using the exact same concept as the flowers. For these Poinsettias Jo particularly used the Clear Shrink Film and White Shrink Film. Jo demoed how you could use a Poinsettia napkin by adhering it to either the clear or white film and then cutting around the shape before bending each petal with a candle. Jo also demoed how you could use the Tim Holtz Poinsettia Bigz die to die cut the clear film and then add some colour using the Adirondack Alcohol Inks. Both effects look amazing and are fabulous to decorate cards and gift boxes this season.

To view the Sospeso Transparante range click here

To view the Adirondack Alcohol Inks click here

From 3D shapes to 3D cards, let's move onto Stamping Caz....

These beautiful sample cards from Caz show you just how effective the Snowy Window die set from Marianne Designs can be. Caz used a range of extra products in her demos to create different effects; from the Marianne Bricks embossing folder to the wonderful cute Christmas stamps from Taylored Expressions. These cards are so fun to create as you can really lose yourself in creating the perfect Christmas scene. Caz also used a product called Snow Tex by DecoArt, which she applied with a natural sponge to give a great texture when creating snow scenes. An extra feature that Caz also demoed was using the Elizabeth Crafts Stand Up Helpers die set to create a domed effect on the front of the card so that you could place a small LED tea light behind the window to light up your card! So cute!

To view some of the products Caz used in her demo, click on the following links....

Marianne Design - CR1286 Snowy Window Die Set

Marianne Design - DF3403 Bricks Embossing Folder and Die

Elizabeth Crafts - Stand Up Helpers 2 Die Set

Taylored Expressions - Ready, Set, Snow Stamp Set

Taylored Expressions - Deck the Halls Stamp Set

Penny Black - Warm Wishes Cling Stamp

Penny Black - A Gift For You Cling Stamp

The final of our three designers is Alex Kamann.....

Alex was demoing a range of io Stamps and Cottage Cutz dies, all with a Silhouette effect on a beautiful inked background. These cards are simple but very effective and great for those of us who have an ever growing number of friends and family on our Christmas card list! Alex used Tim Holtz Distress Inks and a large sponge dauber to create the backgrounds, which set the scene perfectly for layering the dies on top of. Most of the dies were either cut from black or white cardstock to create a strong contrast with the background.

To view some of the products Alex used in her demo, click on the following links....

io Stamps - Manger Die Set

io Stamps - Carolers Die Set

io Stamps - Evergreen Trees Die Set

io Stamps - Deer Trio Die Set

io Stamps - Small Deer Die Set

Cottage Cutz - Santa Village Scene

Cottage Cutz - Nativity

Tim Holtz Distress Inks

All in all our Christmas Demo Day sure did inspire us to get in the Christmas spirit and start creating because the holiday season is just around the corner!

Create & Take: Balloon Step Up Card

Good Afternoon bloggers! I hope everyone has had a pleasant and creative weekend and managed to pop down to the shop to get inspired at our Christmas Demo Day. Make sure you tune into the blog tomorrow for a review of the day and to take another look at some of the fantastic samples our designers made!

For now we will update you with last week's Create & Take which is called Balloon Step Card - perfect for any birthdays this season may bring.

Products Needed:

Stephanie Barnard Balloons Step Ups Card Framelits Die Set

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Starmist

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Green Tea

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Chantilly

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Kraft

Lawn Fawn Hello Sunshine Cardstock - Sonny

Lawn Fawn Into the Woods Cardstock - Willow

Watercolour Pencils

VersaFine Black Ink Pad

Stickles Glitter Glue - Stardust

Penny Black Krafty Kats Good Day Clear Stamp Set

Instructions:

1.  Start by cutting the card base step up die from Starmist cardstock and fold carefully along the pre-creased lines.

2. Cut the Chantilly cardstock with the die in the set that layers on the front of the step card. 

3. Stamp the Krafty Kat and Happy Birthday sentiment onto the cardstock using Versafine ink. Colour the cat using watercolour pencils and then stick the cardstock to the front of the step card base.

4. Die cut the Balloon dies included in the die set using Green Tea, Sonny and Willow cardstock Adhere to the step card base.

5. Die cut the Balloon String dies included in the die set using Kraft cardstock. Adhere on top of the balloons.

6. Finish by adding some Stardust stickles onto the balloons.

These Framelit die sets by Stephanie Barnard include all the elements you need to make the card and therefore you can create a different look each time by using different papers and stamp designs. Not just restricted to Birthday cards, you could use this set for Anniversaries, Weddings or even Party invitations!

As always all the products used for Create & Take can be found at craftsulove.co.uk

Scrapbook Inspiration

Do you ever get in the mood to scrapbook but fail to come up with the ideas and inspiration? Well fear not as Charry's Monthly Scrapbook Club may be the perfect answer. Once a month Charry teaches a scrapbook class, featuring a new double page layout that has been focused around a theme. Previous classes have seen themes such as Nautical and Autumn to Jubilee and Birthdays. We capture so many moments on camera these days and its always best to remember to bring them out of their JPEG format and scrapbook them on a beautiful page. Here are some previous examples from recent scrapbook clubs....

Charry's next Scrapbook Club takes place on Saturday 25th October from 10.30am until 1.30pm. It's £15 for a double page layout, making use of new products that have come into store. Charry will also show you some of the latest tips and techniques and is on hand to answer any of your scrapbooking queries.

Let's get your scrapbook mojo going again!

Pretty Poinsettias

These beautiful poinsettias have been created by Jo Wojcik. In her Saturday class, everyone had the chance to experiment in making these beautiful flowers and completed a wonderful project to display them on.

These candles will make a great gift at Christmas or even a fantastic display piece on a shelf or mantelpiece.

We don't want to give too many of the tips and tricks away on the blog, but if you want to find out more then make sure you pop in to our Christmas demo event this Saturday where Jo will be demonstrating how to make these poinsettias along with the rest of the Sospeso Transparante decoupage range. Not to be missed!

Create & Take: Autumn Scene

Hi Bloggers, well the weather over the past week has definitely got us in the Autumnal mood which we are reflecting in this month's Create & Take. Friday's Create & Take made use of the new Spellbinders Picture Perfect die cut to create an Autumn scene. 

Products Needed:

Square White Card Blank

Lawn Fawn Into the Woods Cardstock - Sycamore

Bazzill Basics Parakeet Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Apricot Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Festive Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Pinecone Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Rain Cardstock

Bazzill Basics White Smoothie Cardstock

Spellbinders Picture Perfect Die Cut

Woodware Mini Birch Leaf Punch

Sponge Dauber

Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress Ink Pad

Tim Holtz Paper Distresser

Instructions:

1. Start by cutting the Sycamore cardstock 5" x 5", then roughen the edges with the Tim Holtz paper distresser. Adhere to the front of the card.

2. Cut the Rain cardstock 4.25" x 4.25" and stick to the centre of the card.

3. Die cut the background die from the Picture Perfect die set from White Smoothie cardstock.

4. Die cut the Shaped Background die and the Detailed Scene die from Pinecone cardstock. Adhere on top of the white die cut background.

5. Die cut the grass for the Autumn scene from Festive cardstock.

6. Using the sponge dauber, add a small amount of Wild Honey Distress ink to the middle of the scene to create a sun.

7. Finish by punching out some birch leaves from Parakeet and Apricot cardstock. Carefully crumple the leaves for added dimension and then adhere around the tree.

The Picture Perfect die can be used to create a scene for all the seasons and would look especially pretty decked out with winter papers and colours.

As usual all products used in our Create & Take's can be found at craftsulove.co.uk

Create & Take: Filigree Foliage

Good morning bloggers! Its the beginning of a new week and also a new theme for our Create & Take's as we move into October. This month's Create & Take's will have an autumnal feel about them, making use of new seasonal products and of course we can't forget Halloween, so make sure you stay tuned for our Halloween Special Create & Take.

So let's get started with a summary of Week 1's Create & Take with the products you will need and the instructions to make it.

Products Needed:

A6 Kraft Card Blank

Stamperia Cardstock - SBB255 (currently not available online - please call the shop to make an order of this product)

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Apricot

Bazzill Bascis Cardstock - White Smoothie

Penny Black Filigree Foliage Cling Stamp Set

Penny Black Words of Gratitude Die Set

Darice Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Wild Honey

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Shabby Shutters

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Dusty Concord

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Walnut Stain

Sponge Daubers

Ink Blending Tool

Memento Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa

Glossy Accents

Twine

Instructions:

1. Emboss the front side of the card using the Darice Woodgrain embossing folder.

2. Using the ink blending tool, add some Vintage Photo to the embossed woodgrain.

3. Cut the Stamperia paper 13cm x 4cm and make a fishtail cut at one end. Adhere to the right side of the card.

4. Stamp 3 leaves from the Filigree Foliage stamp set onto White Smoothie cardstock using the Rich Cocoa ink pad. Using sponge daubers, apply some ink to the leaves using Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey and Dusty Concord. Fussy cut round the leaves with scissors..

5. Apply a little bit of Walnut Stain ink around the edge of the leaves to give them more definition and bend the leaves up to create more dimension.

6. Adhere the leaves to the card using Glossy Accents.

7. Die cut the word 'Thankful' from the Apricot cardstock and adhere to the card using Glossy Accents.

8. Finish by cutting a piece of twine 20cm and tying a bow. Adhere to the middle of the leaves.

And there you have it - a simple yet effective Thank you card which can easily be changed up by changing the colour of the leaves or the sentiment you wish to place on the card.

If you like the look of this month's theme then make sure you pop down to the shop every Friday between 10.30am and 1pm. A free tea/coffee is included.