Black & White

I am trying to be prompt with taking pictures of my crafting before gifting away, so here is one hot off the press. This boxed cards set is for the other Mrs P, my beautiful sister in law, whose birthday we're celebrating tonight. I hope she likes it.

One of the things I certainly find quite frustrating with crafting is my indecisiveness. I keep deliberating whether to put stripes on the box, just like the cards, or leave it plain black. I'll be thinking about it until I give it to her tonight. What would you have done?

So I made 4 "all occasions" cards, but could fill the box with 2 more cards. The trouble with working with black ink is that you have to be very very neat and take extreme care, especially on white paper. And I reckon it does stain the rubber stamps. Oh well...

Also, I forgot to take into account the bigger size of a standard card envelope, so they don't actually fit inside the box. I could custom make the envelopes too, I suppose. Hmm....

Now what I reckon will make these cards have a polished look is having the heat embossing tool to wet emboss the stamped image. It is already on the shopping list, might have to see if I can bump it up the list, lol.

Desk Calendar

Here is another project I have been wanting to do ever since I first came across it. Well, we're in the 2nd half of the year already, but it's never too late, since MF and I still don't have a desk calendar at work, and really, I just started the calendar in July instead of January.

The instructions I used were from http://stampingmaria.blogspot.com/2011/02/easel-box-tutorial.html

The project uses up 3 x A4 cardstocks and 1 x 12" square cardstock.

Another instructions link (which I think makes a smaller version) I have saved is http://inkspiredtreasures.com/wp-content/uploads/Desktop%20Calendar%20Box%20Tutorial(1).pdf

The calendar itself is my own simple creation in an Excel file. I just may be making these for Christmas presents this year....

More Little Books

Shocking photos, bah humbug! Our unreliable camera of 8 years didn't come to play so I used DH's iPhone, or maybe it's just cos' I am not a good photographer...anyhow, at least I got pictures of these two sets. I gave the third one to the mother of the baby boy born last week, forgetting to take a picture of it. The only difference between that one and the one below is that it was stamped using Wild About You stamp set.

This one is for my little fella who turned 2 at the end of June. I have intentions to make one of these little books for each child for each birthday...let's just say I often have intentions, but whether I ended up carrying it out...hmm...let's see!

The link to the instructions for these is in this previous post.

Clean And Simple

There is a card style known as CAS - ie Clean and Simple. I think it is open to interpretation what CAS means. One idea, which I like, is that it involves a lot of white space. I particularly like the simplicity of "LateBlossom" - there's something classy about her creations.

Well, I think this card is about as simple as it gets. And it uses up left-over patterned papers very effectively. Takes all of 5 minutes to whip up. Still inspired and made especially with the person it is intended for in mind though - can you see what the inspiration might be?

There is a theme of shoes running through the card - very subtly. This is a birthday card for a girlfriend whom I have only quite recently gotten back in touch with. Simple, yet effective.

What Kind Of Book Is It?

The answer is, whatever you want it to be!

The Meander Accordian Folded Book has many aliases, so is it any surprise it can be whatever book you want it to be? (This link has a video tutorial if you are that way inclined.)

I made this one to gift to a friend's 5 year old girl - the idea is that she can fill each of the 16 pages with her favourite things. I gave suggestions of favourites, such as favourite song, favourite animal, favourite saying/quote, favourite thing to do, etc...you get the gist. I am thinking I have to do one of these for each of my children each year. This can be my answer to scrapbooking which I know I am not discipline enough to do. The children each can fill their new book each year on their birthday - wow, imagine a collection of these little books for each child journalling how their favourites have change over time. Hmm, I like....

Next one of these I make will be a Baby one - for a newbie born at the beginning of this week.

Hoot Hoot

Well, I'd never have considered myself an owl fan, but how could you not be with these little hooters?



I got the instructions from Darlene (she even has a video tutorial on there) - isn't she a talented lady? I am considering making this birthday card for all the birthdays the rest of this year - that is how much I like them!

For the outside of the card, I thought I ought to try to keep it clean and simple, but still something that will work with the whole owl theme. So here it is:

Stamp Set: Build A Cupcake

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper: Pink Cardstock, Mulberry Cardstock, Whisper White, DSP Good Morning Sunshine

Punch: 2-step Owl Punch, Corner Rounder, Large Word Window, Build A Cupcake

Other: various embossing folders, jiggly eyes

All In One

Here's a groovy little project that is like an all-in-one gift, packaging and card - how cool is that?! I have filled this little number with a jewellery set of necklace, ear-rings and bracelet I got handmade for my dear friend's 40th. The fourth box will be filled with chocolates, of course :-)

I first came across this project while browsing the myriad of crafty blogs a month ago. Known as the Stepper Box or Fantasy Box, the instructions for this project, however, does not seem to be found easily with a simple google search. Various links seem to point to Teri Digness who gave the original instructions but her link doesn't appear to work. In the end I got the instructions from here or here.

As is my habit, I haven't followed the instructions entirely. I have seen boxes made with four panels but I chose to make it with 5 panels, as there will be a written note on the fifth panel. I am still thinking what to write, I'm thinking a poem (if I can find a suitable lovely one) or perhaps a Scripture verse. I also feel like it may need some further embellishments on the inside, or maybe I should just keep it simple? It truly is a luxury to have such simple dilemmas, lol! Well, I have a few more days to play with this before I gift it to my friend.

Now for the pictures....

Stamp Set: Priceless (would have used So Swirly stampin wheel if I own one - it's been on the shopping list for ages!)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Paper: Pink and Black Cardstocks (Trophee Brand from The Warehouse Stationery), scrapbook paper from stash

Other: Stampin Up Sticky Tape, ribbon from stash, Sizzix Stars and Swirls Embossing Folder

ETA: with a little more embellishments: