Giant Acorn...

or cute little box?

The other day I just wanted to make something for the fun of it...now I have a tiny little gift box as a result! We had a dry sunny day, sadly so far a bit rare this spring, so I headed outside for a few bright pictures.
The papers are from a Christmas themed paper pack I picked up a few years ago from Michaels. The cardstock is from a Recollections multi-pack

The box is straight forward and easy to put together. Using patterned paper is optional, but I think lining the rounded shape with paper, even be it plain card stock, is a good idea to mimic the smoothness of the nut.

The finished size of my box is 3.5" (9cm) excluding the stem. The total length is 5" (almost 13cm)  At this size I used letter size card stock, but of course one could easily scale it up or down.

The box measures about 2.75"(7cm) in diameter across the opening

It is the perfect size for a small gift of jewelry or even just a little snack. A collection of acorns each containing a different coffee or chocolate, all piled into a bowl would make a great gift. It would also be a practical container for a hostess gift.

I used the Acorn & Pinecone box cut file from My Scrap Chick

 I will definitely have to give that pinecone a try...

Cross Gift Box

I made this quick and easy gift box for a friend recently.

It is definitely suitable for Easter, especially with the lily added as in the example from the store.

My Scrap Chick's Cross Gift Box

I wanted a add a note inside, so I lined my box with a decorative paper

And added the note, like a scroll, inside.

The result was just what I was hoping for.

I decorated the box with a collection of Petaloo flowers. The lace strip was made with caulking and a mold.

I will need to use that lily sometime too, it makes a beautiful flower!

Summer Time and Flowers

It is so very nice to have an excuse to make lots and lots of flowers and since it has been a while, I found twice as much enjoyment as usual from making this gift box and card combination for a friend's birthday.

The box was just an empty chocolate box that was exactly the size I needed. I simply opened it up and copied the pattern. The papers are by Graphic 45. The colours from the paper set the colour palette for the rest of my embellishments. I coloured the light sand coloured cardstock doily, flowers and leaves with Memento Dye inks.
The leaves and flowers are a combination of punches and cutting files. There is also the odd 'petaloo' flower (I am not a fan btw) Links at the bottom of this post.

The card started off with an easel card base. I used an embossing folder for the texture on the background panel. It provided the perfect understated elegant detail I was looking for.

My Scrap Chick - Easel Cards
Flower Cut Files  and Leaf Cut Files - Sheri McCulley (affiliate link)
Cut Flower Vines only (affiliate link)
Cut Flower Scallops - flowers only (affiliate link)
Embossing folder - Anna Griffin's 'Pirouette'

It's a Pencil, It's a Box...It is FUN!

OK I must have been somewhere under a rock, as I was unaware of the existence of My Scrap Chick. What a fun store, full of fun designs!

But when I saw this project - I fell in love. Just like that. Pencil Box 3D

Well now really...who would not like such a fun box or decor item? I know I do. Yes please, just give me a shelf full!

Seriously.

Now as an artist and one who works mostly in coloured pencil, well the graphite pencil is really nice, but I decided to turn it into a coloured pencil. The original pattern makes a finished pencil of 12.25" tall

Actually...a few coloured pencils... ps all the pieces in the back are done with coloured pencils. The florals not by me, but all the rest of them are prints of my work. The originals having been sold, I'm 'reduced' to having prints of them on my walls. Ha! If you'd like to see more take a look at my art blog here : Reflections Fine Art Studio. (I working on a website)

A few process pictures for you :

The body of the pencil, scored on a score board, rather than with the Cameo.

The pencil 'lead' ready for a quick bit of inking before attaching it to the 'wood' cone

 The 'wood' cone with the 'sharpener' details attached

And the detail pieces glued onto the surface of the cone - now I can add the coloured nib.

Instead of adding the pink eraser and metal strip details that the original pattern has, I added this wooden base with the coloured core so it will look like a coloured pencil.

Now I am ready to draw...or maybe not, the colour doesn't work with this piece I'm currently working on...

But they might have worked with this colouring book page. Ha!

The page is from the 'Medieval Tapestries' colouring book published by Dover. I copied and enlarged it to make a decor item for my craft area. Maybe I should arrange the pencils around it on the wall...oh the possibilities with these fun pencils are ENDLESS!

I made these all as boxes so they may be used for decor, or they may become containers. They would make the BEST gift boxes. Imagine : a colouring book and a pencil box full of pencils! Great gift, don't you think?

Summer - Lighthouse and Ocean Decor

It is a good thing we live by the ocean. I always want to use ocean themed decor in the house for summer and living by the ocean just makes it feel more appropriate to me.

So naturally when it came for making some decor items for a corner table I turned to a cut file set by SVG Cuts. "Seaside" I knew I wanted to make (all!) of the items in this kit, the moment I saw it.

For my version I decided to use rubber stamps to make a 'pattern paper' for the accents on my buildings, while staying with the traditional red, blue and white nautical colours.

The lighthouse keeper's cottage is decorated with stamps by Prima 'Seashore', 'Down By The Seaside' by Inkadinkado and the Graphic 45 'By The Sea' stamp set by Hampton Art. (I got mine at Jo-Anns, but don't see these listed there right now)

The windows are cut from vellum, and since the house is also a box, LED tealight 'candles' can be placed inside to illuminate the cottage.

Shells, made from polymer clay, decorate the front of the house. The blue cardstock  has a linen finish that adds great texture and the panels on the roof are embossed to have a 'tiled roof' look.

For the lighthouse I used the same blue cardstock, stamps and white pigment ink.

More embossed panels at the base of the light house add interest.

While the roof panels are both stamped and embossed. This portion of the lighthouse can hold an LED tealight 'candle' as well. The vellum windows allowing the light to glow through. (hmmm I see I managed to get sea sand onto the lighthouse too. That is from the real shells in the display!)

Here's a look at the new SVG Cuts release :  Spring Blossoms. That spring blossoms pop up card is so very very pretty and the details on the pieces are a feast for the eyes!

  Click HERE to learn how to get 'Spring Blossoms' free with purchase.

Have a great weekend, and happy paper crafting!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Here's a little gingerbread house that will last till next year too! I really like real gingerbread, but although I would LOVE to eat it all...that is NOT a good idea. I think I should stick to this kind of gingerbread house from now on :

A little village of these will make such  nice table decor. Just pair with greenery. Real or paper. Or make one for each table setting, complete with little (LED) tea light. Very cozy, and makes a cute gift for guests to take home!

I used one of the files from Gingerbread Chalet Village. It took me a good 5 minutes to decide which one to make. Crazy, I know...

And isn't that card great too?

BTW this came together really quickly (if you don't all the little details I added, that is) so they would be perfect to whip up last minute!

Merry Christmas!

Skating Penguin Magnet

My little snowflake bearing penguins was looking pretty lonely all by itself on the fridge door. It was time to introduce a friend. You can read about him on the 'Cards' page, just scroll down a bit

I started with a file from 'Fun On The Ice' over at Designs On Cloud 9

After sorting the pieces out for cutting, I also cut a solid backing piece for the shape. I felt the skate blades and the ear muffs needed some support. Below is a screen shot of the tracing and the offset (shadow) in the Make The Cut software I gave it the tiniest white border all around as well. That was not strictly necessary but I thought it might look nice.

Next I laid out the pieces of card stock and paper on the cutting mat. I use a Silhouette Cameo.

All the pieces are cut, including the white backing piece and 2 pieces of Silhouette chipboard. This chipboard is card stock weight, hence the double layer to get a sturdy backing.

All chalked and ready to assemble. I painted the metal bits (ie skate blades) with metallic silver craft paint. The scarf and ear muffs are cut from patterned paper.

Putting it all together. Starting with layering the backer pieces.

And adding the coloured bits, following the image in the png file that came with the cut file download. You can see the little offset border all around the final image.

I popped the scarf up a bit to add dimension.

Added a couple of magnets...

....and my penguin magnet is done!

And the first little guy is no longer all alone...

These little guys make me smile. And I like things that makes me smile. What makes you smile?