Polo Shirt Card

I really wanted to make a polo shirt style card which I thought might be suitable for a teenager, I was not happy with my first effort, the brown shirt, as it does look too much like an every day shirt, so I tried again and was slightly happier with the green polo shirt attempt. However I will try to make it slightly different if I make it again.

For this card I used coredinations card and my happy birthday embossing folder.

 I think the green shirt is better as I have added detail that looks more polo shirtish, yes this is a new word, I did keep asking son number two, Adam, to stand in front of me with his best polo shirt on so I could try to get it right. He did offer really constructive advice too, such as adding the detail to the cuffs etc.

So next time I am going to make the 'V' not as deep and make the collar squarer.

All things considered I now think it is a pretty good first attempt, apparently though It would be greatly improved  if I bought Adam a new polo shirt that he could model for me.

Advent Calendar

While making the previous advent calendars I wondered what one would look like as a chest of drawers,so I finally found time to make one.

I have used my favourite papers again, Basic Grey, along with cream card and chipboard.

I started by making the matchboxes which I then attached together using pva glue, this meant I was able to line the boxes up a little bit easier as I had a small amount of time in which I could slide the boxes about. I made four columns of six boxes which I then attached together to form the chest of drawers affect.

Next I used chipboard to make a box to house the matchboxes in, this gives the whole advent calendar a sturdier finish, I also used  chipboard to make a top and base for the housing to sit on.

I covered all the chipboard pieces with patterned paper before attaching together. 

Finally I finished the advent calendar by adding the numbers, I chose to do a random pattern for this, I decorated every other box front with faux stitching and then added the brads and rick- rack as drawer openers.

I decided to add glitter to the patterened paper but this does not show in the picture. 

 Again as with the other advents I have made all it needs now is little gifts in each drawer.

Matchbox Box

Here is the cordinating matchbox mini tower that goes with the matchbox box I made back in September.

It stands just over 2.5" high and is just under1.5" wide.

Again I used my score board to make the boxes.

I have added glitter to the paper and glossy accents.

Here they both are on my work top, they would make a lovely gift for anyone who has tiny things to store; brads,buttons or jewellery.

This picture shows where I am using the matchboxes to store my bits and bobs in,maybe I could fill the whole unit with these little storage towers.

Birthday Book

This Birthday Book is based on the Special Dates book I have made previously, however this one does not hold cards, it is to act as a date reminder.

The papers I have used are from Cosmo Cricket, the Snorkel range. I finished the book by adding glossy accents to both the front and back cover.

 I printed the months onto card then matted the months onto matching coloured card. the book is put together using a bind it all.

The actual book is just bigger than A6, it would fit in a handbag or like mine my tray at work so I can keep track of when it is my colleagues birthdays.

Daddy's Girl

At last I have completed a layout!!

I have used pictures of my hubby, Chris and daughter,Lucy, she really is a Daddy's girl and can wrap him around her finger so easily.

Karen designed this layout for our last months workshop at Taverham, isn't it fab.

The 'lace' around the circle is paper folded into box fold pleats, very fiddly, but extremely effective.

I finished the layout by adding pearls and gems around the circle, this helped to tie in the hedge colour. Well, I thought I had finished the layout but have just realised I have not added the date to it, I knew it was too good to be true!!!!!

Note Books

These note books are another order I was asked to make, the lady wanted them as mini gifts for Christmas, but they are also a good way to use up scraps of paper and card.

 Each note book is about 12cm tall, so they are ideal to fit in pockets or handbags. Plus if the recievers are anything like me lists are the order of the day as I get older.



Advent Calendar

These delicious Advent Boxes are the reason I have not blogged for a while. I was asked to make these two advent boxes for a friends' children, they look fantastic, even if I do say so myself, but take ages to make. I used Basic Grey papers, my absolute favourite, along with co-ordinating brads, bazzill card, rick rack, glossy accents and stickles.

Each tower has 24 match boxes, obviously, so as I was making two Advents I had to make 48 match boxes. I could score the boxes on my Martha Stewart score board but the wrapper had to be measured in cm, so it was not as straight forward as it might have been.

Once all the boxes were made I attached them together three high using wet glue, then glued them together the same as I made the Matchbox Box. 

I made a top and base  from covered chipboard and used copious amounts of glue to make sure they stayed in place.

To finish the Advents, I stamped numbers on co-ordinating paper and punched out with a mini circle punch. To make it easier for myself I pushed the brads through the rick rack pieces before adding it as handles, it was like having a production line in my craft area.

To complete each drawer I found the middle, put the brad through, then added faux stitching to every other drawer before attaching the numbered circle.

Finally to finish the Advent I used my glossy accents and stickles to highlight areas of the paper.

All they need now is a gift in each drawer.

Christmas Tree Card

This effective black, silver and white card is the class at the CraftBuddies Crop, Tithe Barn, Horsford this Saturday 9th October.

If you would like a place contact Karen at http://www.craftbuddiespapercrafts.co.uk/