Dresden plate triumph

Today, I'm feeling quite pleased with myself because I've found a way to do Dresden Plate applique that works and doesn't take me forever! OK I know some of you will think  - what is she on about?- but for years I've avoided this design because of the time it takes and I've not been happy with the results I've achieved. So what has made the difference?

To start with using Sizzix die 657165 has made cutting the fabric so much quicker and precise - you can easily cut 12 petals for a plate in one go. Also there is a snip both sides of the petal to show where to stitch to when joining the petals.

Then I cut a petal template in card and trimmed it. I usedthe trimmed template to mark the seam allowance and then I snipped into the allowance to remove excess fabric. I then used the template to press the seam to the wrong side - creating a smooth curve.

I

For each flower you need 12 petals.
Once all the curves have been pressed join the petals together.









 Press the seams open and then pin the flower in place on the background fabric. I have used ordinary pins here but it is easier if you use applique pins as they are smaller.

When the flower is pinned hand stitch in place.
To fill the centre of each flower I covered a 29mm button with fabric and stitched in place.
When all flowers were complete I made it into a cushion ( the back overlaps in the middle and fastens with buttons) and finished the edges with  matching binding.
I really like this project and hope you do too.

 
                                   

Trop cool les vacances

"Trop cool les vacances" layout by Karine

A perfect day out for idle boys ! Look at these 2 lads posing in their deckchair ! A very seasonal layout, isn’t it ?

I wanted some dynamism in my realisation, and summer colours with a boyish atmosphere: red, blue, a touch of green and orange !

I used two new dies on my layout:

657788 Set Hello 

657523 card set

Remember, I’ve already used the HELLO set in a creation two weeks ago ! At the time, I only used the negative of the die but today I used the word "Hello".

I totally fancy this neat font which is both mordern and elegant. I’ll use it in future realisations, that’s for sure !

I outlined the word "Hello" with a black thin-tipped pen for more fineness.

You’ll find in the same die set some cute little flowers and a branch. Here I chose to use the flowers. The heart is glued with 3D adhesives to add volume.

One of my other favourite die set is the "Just a note" one ! I simply cut it out out of a white cardstock. I stuck it directly on my background with a classic glue stick.

So do you find it inspiring enough to create your own boyish layouts ?

Karine

Supply list:

Papers : 4heures37

White Cardstock: American Crafts

Alphabets : Jenni Bowlin, Sassafras Lass

Butterfly: American Crafts

Stickers : 4heures37, Jenni Bowlin

3D adhesives

Others: Washi tape, eyelets, buttons, flower, Indian ink

Page "Trop cool les vacances" par Karine

Une page pour les garçons adeptes de farniente ! Regardez commes ces deux p'tits gars prennent la pause sur leur transat ! Une page bien de saison n'est ce pas ?

J'ai souhaité ici une page dynamique aux couleurs des garçons, du rouge, du bleu, une touche de vert et d'orange pour cette page estivale !

J'ai utilisé sur cette création deux nouveaux dies :

-657788 Set Hello

-657523 Ensemble cartes

Il y a deux semaines j'avais déjà utilisé le set Hello sur ma page "hello, welcome to my world", vous vous souvenez ? J'avais simplement conservé la forme évidée, aujourd'hui j'ai utilisé le mot "Hello".

Je craque pour cette typo liée et fine, une touche à la fois très moderne et raffinée. Vous allez la retrouver dans d'autres de mes créations c'est certain !

Pour accentuer la finesse du mot, j'ai repassé l'intérieur avec un stylo fin noir.

Dans le même set, vous avez des petites fleurs toutes mignonnes ainsi qu'une branche ! J'ai utilisé ici les fleurs, le coeur est monté avec des adhésifs en 3D pour plus de relief.

Le set "Just a note" est également un de mes dies chouchou ! Je l'ai découpé ici tout simplement dans du cardstock blanc, il est collé avec de la colle bâton directement à mon fond de page.

J'espère que cela vous inspire et vous donne envie de créer des pages pour vos garçons !

Karine

Matériel :

Papiers : 4heures37

Cardstock blanc : American Crafts

Alphabets : Jenni Bowlin, Sassafras Lass

Papillon: American Crafts

Etiquettes : 4heures37, Jenni Bowlin

Adhésifs 3D

Divers : Washi tape, oeillets, boutons, fleur, encre de chine

Scrapbooking layout: Jedi

Hi Everyone,
This week I wanted to show you a 12 x 12 layout I created a few days ago. I love this picture of my son in his bath robe – he looks just like a miniature Jedi from Star Wars :). I edited the photo a bit in Photoshop Elements so that the colours would match nicely to my cream, brown and light blue papers.

Here’s a list of materials I used:

- Big Shot Machine (655268)
- Sizzix On the Edge Die – Townscape (656919)
- Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Mini Hearts Set (657212)
- Sizzix Bigz Die - Tattered Florals (656640)
- Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders 2PK - Dot-Matrix & Gridlock Set (656649)
- My Mind’s Eye paper Lime twist Fly a kite Genuine collection ‘Sky’
- Studio Calico papers from Classic Calico Collection Vol.2 Paper Pack
- Basic Grey Out of print collection ‘Mish mash’
- Craft Core cardstock by Core’dinations/Tim Holtz
- Kraft glassine paper by Tim Holtz idea-ology
- Cream cardstock
- Basic Grey stitched brad
- Red and blue felt
- Stitching needle, blue mouline thread (blanket stitches around the mini heart)
- 7gypsies Mini Ephemera Vintage tag
- Manilla tag
- American Crafts alpha stickers
- Film strip ribbon by Tim Holtz idea-ology
- Date stamp
- Washi tape
- Double-sided tape (adhering photo and patterned papers)
- Sanding block
- Grey acrylic paint (splashes), brown marker pen
- Sewing machine, white thread


I started with creating the background for my title. I took a piece of blue craft core cardstock, put it in the Dot-Matrix embossing folder and run through Big Shot. Then I grabbed my sanding block and sanded the embossed surface to reveal the craft base colour. Easy!

I wanted to embellish this layout with a die-cut paper flower but did not want the look to get too ‘girly’. Kraft glassine paper from Tim Holtz was a perfect choice of material: It is thin like wax paper, cuts easily with Sizzix dies and scissors and when you crumple it you create a nice effect on the surface. This flower was made in just a few minutes: I cut the flower with Tattered Florals die, crumpled it into a small ball, attached a brad in the middle and the flower embellishment was ready.

With Sizzix Bigz, Originals, and Movers & Shapers dies you can cut every material you can cut with scissors. I cut two small hearts from felt with Movers & Shapers Mini Hearts and attached them to my layout by simply sewing over them. I also cut one mini heart from patterned paper and embellished it with sewing blanket stitches around the edge. If you need help with sewing a blanket stitch make a search in Internet; there are dozens of instruction videos and drawings available.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a nice week,

A beautiful New Home canvas

Today I just want to share this beautiful canvas that the super talented Lin Brown (from LB Crafts).  Lin is one of those super talented crafters that does a lot of beautiful technical work.

You can see how she has done it following the step by step tutorial here.

Lin has used the Ironwork dies, Circles 4, Hello Luscious embossing folder and the branches and butterflies from the Charming range.
I just love the colours and the the clever use of the Ironwork die as a door.

'Feeling good at home' layout

After teaching since September, it's good to actually sit down at home and take it easy this summer at home, not travelling anywhere.


I have to admit that I am lucky to live in the South of France, on the Mediterranean Sea, and that going to the beach only takes me 5mns :)


I decided to make a layout dedicated to my beautiful home country and to celebrate its beauty (yes I live in a very beautiful place).


To create this layout, you'll need : 

• a 8,5x11" kraft cardstock
• Studio Calico ABROAD papers
• Studio Calico embellishments
• a Big Shot (655258)
• Circle Frame & Sparkling Embossing Folders set (657715)
• Studio Calico mists
• washi tape

Step 1. Glue the triangle background paper onto your kraft paper, then the map paper and add some washi tape at the bottom of your page.


Step 2. Sew all around the edges if wanted.

Step 3. Emboss a piece of patterned paper and mat it with a blue paper. Sew all around the edges.

Step 4. Glue the whole embossed piece of paper onto your background and embellish it with a badge and a journaling card.

Step 5. Mount your picture onto a piece of patterned paper and glue it on your layout.

Step 6. Add some fabric chipboard embellishments that you previously misted and add them to your background.

Step 7. Add your title and your journaling and voilà! :)


Enjoy!
Céline

Wedding bag

Hi everyone!

Have a wonderful monday morning!!! How are you?

How did you spend your last weekend? I was at the sea with my family!

Today I want to share with you another lovely thing made for my friend's wedding!

This is a cute idea that we have used as an embellishment to put at the center of each table at the wedding party but it can be used as a wedding bag for the confetti :)

Materials you need:

• Sizzix Big shot machine (code 655268)
• Sizzix Scoreboards XL Die - Bag, Suitcase (code 657124)
• Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative strip Die - Mini Paper Rosettes (2 Sizes) - ( code 657177)
• bazzill card stock white, kraft, turquoise
• one clear button
• brown chalk
• brown ink
• travel stamp and alphabet stamps
• caribbean twine
• hot gun glue
• glue and double side tape

Instructions:

1. create your suitcase using your die and build it using double side tape.
2. create a turquoise flower and close it with the hot glue
3. cut two little stripes of kraft paper and glue them on the suitcase
4. now add the rosette with a button and the tag with the name of the place ( in our situation of the travel made that will be the name of the table) and add the circle stamp to give a cool touch to the bag.
5. add a tag with the date of the wedding 

Very simple and easy.. we made 15 suitcases:)

The guest were so surprised.

I hope you like it :)

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Lory.

Flower Power

What a great weekend at the Summercrafting event, the make & takes went really well and it was so nice to meet so many of you and have a giggle.

Many of you asked about our table centre piece which was created using an array of different Bigz dies, a handful of embossing folders and a couple of framelits, the listing of which would keep me here till Christmas.

I kept a very simple colour palette of Pale and dark blue card, ivory card and silver card from our good friends at Inspire Me papers who produce card of the highest quality. I also used a blue patterned paper from the My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Collection. Hope you like them.

Wedding Invitations

One of the first things I did as professional in the card maker industry was wedding stationery. As much as i love weddings, making over eighty identical cards is not something I have ever really enjoyed, so as soon as I could I stopped doing this. I love the creative process not the repetitive one.

However, last year one of my cousins (I only have three) got married and they asked me to make the invites. Of course, I could not refuse them. It is different when it is for someone you really care for.

I made one of a kind invites, I design both the front and the inside thinking of their elegant and contemporary style.

Because of my previous experience doing batches of cards, I know that the best way for me is making the cards by steps. That way every time you finish a step there is a sense of accomplishment.

I started by printing the inside. I used Fabriano medioevalis card, a beautiful italian handmade card that had to be fed through the printer one by one. So, it took a while to print 100 invites

I could not have done it without my die cutting machine of choice, the Big Shot Pro. Seriously, it made it so much easier. 

I die cut all the elements first which were the Elegant Flourishes by Tim Holtz, 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" circles  and their initials cut with the eclips using eCal.

Next step was to attach both circles together and then on top the initials.

That took many, many hours!

Next step, assembling the flourishes with the monograms together. i used one as a template to make sure that they were as similar as possible to each other, never identical, never too disimilar. My mantra when making invites is that they have to look handmade never homemade! Little details like that, is what is all about.

And finally, I attached each element to the blank card.

When I had them all sitting there quite proudly, I was certainly relieved that I made them all in time ready to be sent by priority airmail to Spain.
Unfortunately, the Royal Mail misplaced the parcel and for over a week it looked like I would have to do them all over again. Thankfully, the customer services were very good and not only found the parcel  and delivered (albeit a week later) but also refunded me the cost of the postage.

Cloth mini album "San Francisco" by Karine Cazenave-Tapie

Here is a mini album with autumn colors, but in the holidays and travels theme…the time has come to use your most beautiful holidays pictures! They can be pictures of guided tours, excursions or open air trips for instance!

I used the latest Sizzix dies and had some much fun!

Here is the list of the dies I used all along my album. I used them as accents for the most part.

-657708 Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Flower Garden w/Scallops

-657788 Set Hello 

-657524 Card phrases Set

-657705 Flower and leaves

-657703 Circle with flowers

I realized this 100% handmade album so as to teach it during my autumn classes in France (in Nancy and Bordeaux to be precise). I wanted to use pre-cut accents for its decoration. So I used no less than 5 Sizzix dies! What an easy way for me to create my kits!

The neatest dies, like the doily border or the word “hello” are sewn with a sewing machine. It’s very practical, safe, and the yellow thread adds a touch of fantasy to my pages!

These dies are so beautiful and neat. They bring softness and refinement to one’s creations.

I created shades with yellow or brown inks on the embossed flower and leaves and circle dies, to make them stand out more.

The “happy” word will be added in the title. It is cut out of a yellow patterned paper and glued with your classic tube of glue. You can outline its edges with a thin-tipped black pen.

I hope you liked what I did on this mini album. You’ll see another one very soon!

Have a nice day!

Karine

Supply list:

Papers :4heures37, Basic Grey

Alphabets : 7Gypsies

Die-cuts : 4heures37

Stickers: October Afternoon

Buttons : American Crafts

Washi Tape

Masks : The Crafter's Workshop

Inks : Adirondack Sunshine Yellow, Clover, Watermelon

Distress ink: Vintage photo

Stamps : Technique Tuesday, Florilèges Design, Des mots en scrap, Craft Origine, La Petite Française

Others: tag, tracing paper, kraft bag

Mini album tissu "San Francisco" par Karine Cazenave-Tapie

Un mini album aux couleurs de la rentrée mais qui sent bon les vacances, les voyages...C'est le moment de scrapper ses plus belles photos de vacances ! Visites, excursions ou simplement balade en plein air sont des thèmes également tout à fait adaptés pour ce joli écrin.

Un mini où je me suis amusée avec les tous derniers dies Sizzix !

Voici la liste des découpes utilisées tout au long de mon album principalement en embellissements.

-657708 Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Flower Garden w/Scallops

-657788 Set Hello 

-657524 Card phrases Set

-657705 Fleur avec feuilles

-657703 Circle with Flowers

Voici un mini confectionné de toutes pièces pour mes ateliers de la rentrée en France (Nancy et Bordeaux plus exactement), pour la décoration j'avais envie d'embellissements tout prêts, déjà découpés :) J'ai donc utilisé pas moins de 5 dies Sizzix ! Et je dois dire que ces découpes toutes prêtes m'ont largement facilité la tâche !

Les dies les plus fin, comme la bordure dentelle ou le mot "hello" sont cousus à la machine. Cela est plus pratique, plus sûr et en plus les quelques points de couture jaune ajoutent un brin de fantaisie à mes pages !

Ces dies sont de toute beauté, tellement fins ils apportent douceur et raffinement à vos créations.

Le petit die fleur et feuilles ainsi que le cercle embossés sont quant à eux ombrés en jaune ou marron afin de les faire ressortir davantage.

Le petit mot "Happy" vient compléter un titre, il est découpé dans un imprimé jaune et collé avec de la colle bâton. Vous pouvez le réhausser en repassant les contours avec un stylo noir fin.

J'espère que cet extrait de mon mini vous aura plu, je vous en prépare un autre très bientôt :)

Bonne journée

Karine

Matériel :

Papiers :4heures37, Basic Grey

Alphabets : 7Gypsies

Die-cuts : 4heures37

Autocollants : October Afternoon

Boutons : American Crafts

Washi Tape

Pochoirs : The Crafter's Workshop

Encres : Adirondack Sunshine Yellow, Clover, Watermelon

Distress :Vintage photo

Tampons : Technique Tuesday, Florilèges Design, Des mots en scrap, Craft Origine, La Petite Française

Divers : tag, papier calque, sachet kraft