Reindeer Tag

Hi, Christmas design elf Katrina here with a very quick Tag idea using the Creative Express Reindeer duo stamps.

I just cut a tag using the Alterations tiny tags die, stamped the reindeer as slightly darker tone than the card and added a red gem for his nose and some of the Creative Expressions bakers twine to attach the tag to the gift.

Sometimes the simple things work the best!

                                                        Love Katrina

Reindeer glass charms

Ho ho ho, its design elf Katrina here with a little crafty project that will impress all you friends and family on Christmas day or at your Christmas cocktail party!!   A cute set of glass charms made using the lovely new reindeer stamps, wire and some shrink plastic.

    If you have never used them the way they work is you choose a charm and then hook it around the bottom of your wine glass. That way you know which glass is yours!

The first thing you need to do is stamp the Creative Expressions Duo Reindeer stamps onto some of the Judikins shrink Plastic using a Black archival ink and leave them to dry.

Once dry colour in. I chose a permanent ink pen but you can use all sorts of things like coloured pencils, Alcohol inks and chalks. You need to make sure they are all different so you know which one is yours.

You then need to punch a hole in the top, remember these will get quite a bit smaller so make a larger hole then you need.

Then its time to shrink them down. You can either do it in the oven or the way I prefer, using your heat tool. Instructions will be on the packaging of your shrink plastic.

Now you can make them into glass charms, cut a piece of wire long enough to go around the stem of the glass and also to make the hook and eye. Find something around the house to use as a form ( I used the wooden pole thing I put the kitchen paper on ). So make a loop, wrap the wire around the form. Repeat as many times as you want charms.

Take a jump ring and put through the hole in the top of your shrink plastic reindeer, then add another jump ring and thread onto the wire along with some beads to make it pretty!  Form a hook at the end to go through the loop, this will secure the charm around the stem of the glass.

Repeat until they are all made up into charms and you are ready to go!

I chose to do red, green and gold. A standing and jumping reindeer for each colour.

Have fun

                      Love Katrina 

Steampunk Christmas Card

Hello, design Elf Katrina here with a slightly different Christmas card today.

 I have been playing with a couple of the new U-Mount Christmas stamp sets, Steampunk and Newspaper Holly. The Steampunk Christmas is such a different Christmas stamp set and although it is aimed at Christmas there are plenty of stamps that could be used all year around. The newspaper Holly is just so easy to use and is just that little bit different.

 Of course being a bird lover I was instantly drawn to the metal bird, a bit more red wing than robin I think but what a great image! So smart in his top hat!

So, I stamped out onto the PaperArtsy smoothy paper the bird, light bulb flowers, small gear, merry Christmas and 25 and coloured them in using distress ink and cut them all out

I then stamped out the U-Mount newspaper Holly in Distress ink, Pine needle, and then used the same colour to colour in the background using blending foam.

The background holly was then cut using the PaperArtsy small oak leaf, twice.

The card was then put together, I stamped the background pattern from the Steampunk Christmas a couple of times in the same red as I used to colour in the flowers, now Poinsettias. The Poinsettias were layered up using some glue gel to give them a bit of hight.

There we have it a slightly different card for the festive season, hope you like it.

                  Love Katrina 

Owl Christmas card

Hello, me again, design Elf Katrina. Today I have another fun card using the new owl Christmas stamp from Crafty individuals, along with the U-Mount newspaper holly background stamp.

 I stamped both images with pine needles distress ink and coloured the letters in with my jellyroll pens. The owl himself was coloured with distress inks but the crown and bow tie had to be sparkly so they were coloured with the Jellyrolls too.

I then covered a 5x5 square card with the background and inked the edges with the same pine needles ink, mounted the owl stamped image onto a piece of the Core dinations Kraft core nostalgic ( the smaller 

4.25 x 5.5 is perfect for matting and layering ) and popped it onto the front of the card.

     Have fun

                       Love Katrina

Glitter gift box

Hi there, design elf Katrina here. Often a sweet little gift box finishes off the perfect gift, so when I saw this new stamp from Crafty Individuals I thought it would be perfect for the top of a gift box.

I stamped the stamp in blue onto PaperArtsy smoothy card, used Distress ink to colour the boots and coat. I then cut it out 

I  made a box to fit the size of the stamp, I did a tutorial for box making earlier in the year, out of white card and glued the stamped image to the lid.

I then embossed some Coredinations Whitewash card using the new Couture Creations Embossing folder A Magical Time and cut up some of the pieces to fit around the sides of the box, sanded and used the Coredinations dust buddy to take the dust off.

I then cut a piece of the wonderful Stix-2 Self adhesive sparkly acetate sheet to fit over the stamped image and embossed some of the dotty borders on the embossing folder to frame the image.

Now all you need is the gift to go inside!!

                                         Love Katrina

Angel christmas card

Hi There Katrina, the fruit Pixie design elf here with a nice quick Christmas card for the festive season.

     This is such a beautiful image stamp from Creative expressions. It is a nice big stamp and comes with a lovely sentiment too and its always good to have some different words to use on your cards.

  I teamed it with some sheet music paper for the background and guilded her with the IndigoBlu maga flakes using their Flitterglu.

   If you are having problems gilding your stamped images then make sure you use the Flitterglu. Apply it sparingly to your stamp using the Phat foam, like you would ink, then stamp you image. Press the flakes onto your image and then rub off. If you have the scoochy foam then that dose finish it off.

                                                                                             Love Katrina

Starry frame Christmas card

Hi there, a very Christmasy design elf here with a nice quick but lovely little Christmas using one of the new dies from Crafty individuals.

I love this die cut frame because you can glitter lit up to your hearts content for Christmas but you can use it any time of year really.

I also used just one of the many beautiful images from the Crafty individuals Christmas miniature pad. If you need some quick cards then this pad is ideal. The colours are both traditional with traditional vintage images and something a little different like the one I chose for this card.

The background paper and the paper I cut a second frame to used the stars from are both from Black Market Paper sugar plumbs       ( 50% off at the moment )

Then just add glitter!!

Ultra Thick Embossing Snowflake tree decorations

Hi there, design Elf Katrina here with my second set of Ultra Thick Embossing decorations.

   These were made using the melt pot and the Cosmic shimmer and Imaginations Ultra thick embossing crystals,mica flakes,Judikins Rox and a snowflake cookie cutter.

For this snowflake I used clear, some gold luster and a touch of the pearl that was already in the melt pot. I then placed the cookie cutter onto a non stick craft sheet and poured the mixture in. Leave to cool until set and then remove from the cutter and make a hole in the top of the snowflake either with a hole punch or by pushing a pokie tool  through the warm UTEE.  Once it was completely cool I added a strip of music paper and a snowflake and snow die cut to finish.

This snowflake was made with clear UTEE with mica flakes, poured into the cookie cutter and left to cool.I then added a couple of die cut snowflakes and a gem to finish.

The gold snowflake is made using clear UTEE , added the Judikins rox and pour into the cookie cutter. Once cold I added a piece of the Alterations lace die, a snowflake and a gem to finish.

One little tip, use something soft to hang them on the tree like thread or bakers twine,  don't use wire as it can brake the top of the snowflake, as I learn't :(

                     Love  Katrina

Ultra thick Embossing tree decorations

Hi Design Elf Katrina here. I am sorry it has been a while but I have been doing secret work for Father Christmas! I hope your Christmas preparations are going well too.

     I have been having some Christmas fun with the melt pot and Ultra Thick Embossing crystals to make some decorations for the tree.

  This is my first set simply made using the clear Ultra Thick Embossing crystals, cookie cutters and a texture tread. I then coloured them with Alcohol ink.

  Here are my clear Ultra Thick Embossing decorations

These two trees were made by melting and then pouring clear Ultra Thick Embossing crystals into a cookie cutter that is positioned on the texture tread. I used a snowflake one, I adore snow and love everything with a snowflake on it! But any f the texture treads would look great Make the hole on the top while the ornament it still warm. I then applied Bottle green Alcohol ink to the back. 

These two were made in the same way but using a round cookie cutter and then I used Steam blue Alcohol Ink but you could use any colour that matches your colour scheme. 

For these three I used small cutters in the same way to capture individual flakes!

These look lovely on the window, if they were clean! Of course beautiful on the tree with the fairy lights behind them but why not add one to that special gift this year to make it look even more special!

Thanks for looking and I am so sorry about the state of the window!! Stay tuned for another idea for Ultra Thick decorations!!

                                      Love 

                                                          Katrina

Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells easel card

Hello, design elf Katrina here with another project using the wonderful Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells.

             This time I have used all the wonderful stamps that are in the collection. There are 3 sets that all work really well together. I think this also shows that you don't have to use all these products just for Halloween. Team them with different colours and they look completely different.

With this easel card I used a powder blue card as my base card then stamped the bats and script from the Spooky stamp set and the small cog from the Frightful set

Then to make my card front panel I cut the same colour card into the shape I wanted ( I used the Alterations cabinet card die )  and stamped it using the script from the Spooky stamp set and the cogs from the Frightful stamp set as well.

For the focal point I used one of the cards from the Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells 12x12 Nevermore which I coloured using the Ranger distress ink. I then stamped the wonderful hat from the Frightful stamp set and the love potion from the Steampunk Spells stamp set, cut them out and coloured them using the Ranger distress inks.

I then added some of the lace from the Alterations die vintage lace and 3 of the chipboard pieces from chipboard 1.

Thanks for taking time to look at my project, I would love to know what you think,

Happy Crafting

                  Love Katrina

Graphic 45 small spell book

Hi there, design elf Katrina here with a little spell book using the wonderful Graphic 45 Steampunk spells paper line.

This little book was made using the 12x12 Graphic 45 Steampunk spells vintage voyage paper

along with a few of the stickers and stamps. The bottle from the Steampunk spells set.

the love potion stamps from Steampunk spells.

 

the bats and script stamps from the Spooky set

The scroll ,bats and something wicket saying from spooky stamp set

Balloon from the frightful stamp set.

The binding is a concertina style.

Happy crafting!

                                      Love Katrina 

Graphic 45 Steampunk spells altered book

Hello, design elf Katrina here again with a bit of a project for you all.

   For those who know my work you might of noticed I do like a project. Something I can build up and play with  and this is one of them. I must apologise as this is not something you can make in an afternoon or even a weekend but I wanted to make something that would show off just how wonderful this paper line is, so don't feel you have to make the whole thing, even if you get an idea out of it its worth it but if you would like to have one of your own then I can guarantee you will have great fun making it!!

             So lets go, this is how I made my Steampunk spells altered book!

 

I used -

 

* An old hard back book, choose one on good condition and it must have a stitched spine. This is important as it needs to stand up to a lot, if it has a glued spine then it could fall apart.

 

* Graphic 45 Steampunk spells papers, stickers, banners, chipboard pieces and stamps

 

*Creative expressions glass vials

 

*Creative expressions bakers twine in black

 

* Couture creations craft knife

 

*Paperartsy pallet knife

 

* Payper Box pricking tool

 

*Metal edge ruler

 

*PVA Glue

 

* Moulding paste, you could use Paperartsy grungpaste

 

* Black acrylic paint

 

* Black powder glitter

 

* Stickles glitter glues

 

* Large needle

 

 

 

****************************************

 

OK, here is how I went about it! -

 

1. This is the book I chose, Hubby found it for me, a cool title but it doesn't really matter what your book is about by the time you have finished with it no one will know. Just as long as its not falling apart and has a stitched spine.

 

 

2. The book has a surprise at the back, a niche to hide your bottles of magic things, so the first thing we need to do is decide how thick that needs to be. Take one of your vials and use it as a guide as to how thick your niche will be, we will remove all the other pages from the book so make it slightly thicker then the vial.

 

3. Remove all the other pages from the book by cutting the stitches that hold them in place. You will also need to release the spine so we can work on it easily. Keep your pages as they will be nice to use in other projects.

 

4. We now need to make the pages we have left into a solid block. The way to do that is to hold the pages together and paint a generous amount of PVA glue around the 3 sides making sure you cover every bit of the surface. This needs to dry overnight.

 

5. Once the pages are dry bring the spine back up to the side of the pages and mark the depth of your pages.

 

 

6. Draw a line with a ruler and mark out the piece that will be stuck back to your book eventually.

 

7. We now need to make a template for the stitching holes for our new pages. Take a strip of scrap paper the same length as your book. Fold it in half and half again then mark the lines with a pencil. We need to put in 3 new pages so draw 3 lines an even distance apart in the remaining part of the spine. Use the template to mark with a dot the holes for your sewing.

 

.

 

8.Use a page from your book as a template to make the new pages for your book. You will need 3 folded pages or signatures. Mine were 8x5 inches so I needed a strip 8x10 then folded in half to make each signature.

 

 

9. Then use the template to mark the sewing holes on the fold line of your signature and then use

pricking tool to make the holes. 

 

 

10. Use your pricking tool to poke the holes through the spine too.

 

 

11. Now to make the niche. Mark out the part you want to cut out for your niche.

 

 Make sure you have a new blade in your knife, believe me it will make life so much easier, and carefully, using a metal edge ruler as a guide, cut around your niche. This is going to take some time so take it easy, always use your ruler and just cut through a few pages at one time. Pull the cut pages out then cut again. Don't try to go through the whole thing at once, you will get a better finish doing it a little at a time. Take a break if your hand gets sore.

 

You need to make it deep enough so your vial sits in it nicely. You can tidy up any scrappy bits at the end of the cutting.

 

 

12. Now is a good time to paint everything. I painted the inside of my book, niche and all, with black acrylic and left it to dry overnight.

  I then rubbed the front cover down and painted that with the same black acrylic. I chose one of the cards from the 12x12 vintage voyage paper as my focal point. I also wanted a lot of texture on the cover so I mixed up some moulding paste and the black paint with some black glitter and applied it over the back cover and around the card on the front in a sort of stippling action to give lots of texture. In some of the places I pushed it through a stencil to add even more texture.

You will need to do this in sections and leave them to dry. To stop your moulding past drying out cover it up with cling film and it will last a few days.

Paint the spine of your book but don't add the texture until we stitch the pages in.

 

 

13. Now it is time to stitch in your new pages. If you have never done this before, don't worry it is very easy and you won't see the stitches at the end anyway. I will try and describe how to do it here but there are many good You tube videos that might make it a lot clearer if you get stuck. I used the bakers twine to stitch mine in as I liked the look but any strong thread, I often use cheap embroidery thread too. You will also need a large needle.

 

 

We want to start on the outside of the book as that is where we want the knots so we can cover them after. So with a nice long piece of twine in your needle and the first new page inside the book, push it through the second hole from the top and out through the middle of your first page leaving a nice long tail to use to tie you knot at the end. The holes should line up as you used the same template to make them all!

 Then all you need to do is a back stitch using the holes you have made and end up either in the hole above or below the one you started with so you can then tie your ends together tightly. Repeat with the 2 other pages. Your spine should now look like this. I like to add a dot of PVA on each knot just for extra safety. I then covered it all up using the same moulding paste mixture.

 

Your new pages will look as if they have always been there. I then stuck the spine back to the book pages at the back so it looked like a normal book again.

 

 

Well that is how I made the bones of the book!! Now all you need to do is decorate it. I had decided to make shelves for my niche for my bottles so I covered pieces of foam board I had over from another project but you could use stiff card and stuck them in to the niche.

 

 

 

For my vials I wanted labels for them so I used a set of rubberstamp and cut them out, aged them and stuck them to the bottles.

 

*****************************************************************

 

So here is my book finished, all using the Graphic 45 Steampunk Spells papers, stickers,stamps banners and chipboard pieces. I have added the odd die cut from my own crafty bits. Any questions about any of this, just ask!

 

 

On the front cover I added a banner from the banners pack, using bakers twine to hang them from. The flower was make from the flowers pack and the spells tab from the Tabs and pockets pack.

 

 

The inside cover has a piece of the 12x12 Tick Tock paper, a couple of the stickers and some die cuts, both from the Tim Holtz alterations collections Vintage Lace and the cobweb one.

 

The first page is a piece from the 12x12 Frightful folly and die cuts

 

The next page is Mr Seymour Bones page, using some of the card pieces from the 12x12 nevermore and frightful folly. The flower from the flowers pack, the pocket from the Tabs and pockets pack. I cut a cabinet card shape from the 12x12 spells beware to back the stamp style piece from the 12x12 frightful folly. I also used some of the pieces from the chipboard packs.

 

 

 

For Miss Ima Fraid page I used the stamp piece from the 12x12 frightful folly backed with a piece of coordinating purple card, cut in the cabinet card shape and then stamped in black using  the bat and swirl stamp from the spooky stamp set. I also used some die cut bats, stamped again with the swirl stamp and dusted with purple mica powders.

 

The other page I used some more of the card pieces from the 12x12 nevermore and a couple of the chipboard pieces too

 

 

 

Here I used pieces from 12x12 frightful folly and nevermore papers along with some die cuts and a small sticker from the sticker sheet and chipboard piece

 

 

 

Next is Madame Macabre. I used her stamp piece from the 12x12 frightful folly backed with some contrasting blue card and stamped with the gears from the frightful stamp set and the script from the spooky stamp set.  I also used a flower from the flower pack and a couple of pieces from the chipboard packs. For the other page I used a

pocket from the pocket and tabs pack and a couple of the cards from the 12x12 nevermore paper.

 

 

 

The last of the pages belongs to Dr Dreadful! Again I used his stamp style piece from the 12x12 frightful folly paper backed on the blue card cut as a cabinet card and stamped using the spooky stamp from the spooky stamp set and the gear from the frightful stamp set. For the other page I used another of the pockets from the tabs and pockets pack and a couple more of the cards from the 12x12 nevermore paper. I also used stickers and chipboard pieces.

 

 

 

The niche I backed with some of the 12x12 Tick tock paper. I then added shelves and made some little books by covering small pieces of foam core with paper. The little bottles were filled with anything I could find around the house from bicarb of soda and dried herbs to ink and glitter glue. I then sealed the corks into the bottles with glue so they won't leak.

 

I then decorated around the niche with some of the borders from the sticker sheet and the small word stickers and corners. I also filled in the gaps with other stickers.

 

The ribbon I decided to keep and added a cute die cut owl I glittered and added a sticker to finish it off.

 

Thank you so much for sticking with me till the very end. I apologise for such a long post, I promise to do some quicker smaller projects next, honest!! :)

 

Happy crafting

                                                  Love Katrina