Tool Box Card

I have some craft dies by Robert Addams designed to look like a set of miniature tools. Robert specialises in designing dies around themes and these ones are just perfect for men's cards.



Over the last few days my mind has been occupied with making men's cards.  I have a few to share I have made with the Craftwork Cards Man Made paper collection which I promise to share in my next post.  However, today I want to show you my tool box card I have made.  It was inspired by the box shaped cards we are becoming familiar with. I could have made a card using this partiucular design but really wanted to have a go at making my own tool box.  

I scoured the internet for a template and had almost given up and then came across an idea for a carton that in my mind looked just like a toolbox.  I copied the image and blew it up just large enough to fit on an a piece of A4 paper in landscape.  If I were to cut off the bottom tabs of the carton it would be just like a box card that folds flat.  I cut out the template onto red cardstock and put creases in where the folds are required.  Then all it needed was some strips of card inserted inside the box, carefully positioned so that the box could still lie flat for posting.  This is easy to do if you glue the ends of each tab in opposite directions.  Just check it lies flat before the glue has had time to dry.  Finally, I proceeded to cut some tools out from the above die set and then stuck them onto the tab strips.

Here is the end result. Now mum please don't show this to my father as I plan to send it to him for Father's Day!  

Anyone wishing to have a copy of the template need only ask as I am more than happy to share.

Flower Garden

I have made a card with parchment paper using a design from a book called Simple Treasurers by Linda Williams.  This book is full of easy projects that are both modern and appealing to both newcomers and seasoned parchment crafters.

The first project I have made is the Flower Garden.  It appealed to me as there is very little pricking involved and lots of embossing. I spent a few hours in front of the TV over a few evenings making this card and I am very pleased with the way it has turned out.  I may even add a parched butterfly.

Fabric Cards

Last January I purchased some fabric that is quite sheer with Christmas images on.  I knew when I saw it that I was going to use it for my card making instead of making table runners with it.

Well, I was having a tidy up this afternoon as I don't seem to be able to move in my craft room and found a little of it leftover.  Without any hesitation I decided to do something with it there and then.  It is nice when you are inspired by something to bet creative and here is the result.  I had great fun making this card and love the sparkly fabric.  

And now for a few more....

Parchment Lace

I noticed that I haven't blogged for a while but this has simply been because I have been busy preparing for a craft fair.  I am pleased to say that it went well and I sold almost £80 worth of cards and Christmas makes.  I was well chuffed with the result, especially since this is the only event I have had a stall at this year.  It is always nice to meet people and receive compliments for my lovely cards so I do enjoy it. 

Now Christmas is upon us and there is no need to make any further Christmas cards I can relax a little and do what I want.  

I have taken time out from practising my "Folk It" painting strokes and need to get back into it but unfortunately I have let myself get distracted by the desire to pick up my parching paper and have another go at this technique. 

It all begin when I received my first edition of the Parchment Lace magazine.  I had seen it advertised and knew that it had a mix of projects to suit all abilities.  This is why it appealed to me as I am quite new to this and wanted some easy projects.  The magazine also comes with a free fan parchment grid and parchment paper to get you started.  The first project I tried is the fan which I did find relatively easy.  

Here are a couple of pictures of my work so far.  The fan turned out really well, I just need a large sentiment in the top right hand corner to finish it off. 

This next one is a good one for a newbie to get started with as it involves tracing the image using your parchment ball tool and then colouring the reverse side of the parchment before fixing it to your cardstock. Again, I have an idea of the wording I want to use on this card.

The contents of the magazine included some printed parchment paper, some with sentiments, others with flowers.  I had a go at putting an edge around this parchment firstly using a ball tool and then a pricking tool. Unfortunately I am not very proficient with the cutting technique so it could be neater!

I have tried two other projects, one not finished and the other I have aborted.  I was pricking through parchment paper following the pattern underneath which was printed on printing paper.  I found it was quite thick for the pricking tool and the grid wasn't large enough for me to mark out the complete patter in one go so I had to move my work around.  Well it all went out of alignment and I am not happy with it so I have discarded it.  It is a shame really because it had a lovely printed rose on the Parchment paper and would have looked beautiful.  Still, I have been parching this week which is a change!

Watch out for my next blog, I am going to be making some men's cards using the Craftwork Cards "Man Made" collection.