Friday, 21 December 2012

Last minute ideas for Christmas bags and tags!


Hi again Sizzix fans!
It is almost Christmas and we all are very busy preparing everything for this special day. In between the cooking, shopping , decorating, cleaning and other important pre-Christmas activities it is good to find some time to create some handmade Christmas gift wrappings and tags, right? I was very busy today making tags, altering a box and bags for the smallest gifts for my family - and I have a short photostory for you! Here it goes!

Starring:
- Sizzix dies: Sizzix Framelits Die Set 3PK - Frame, Snowflake (657906), Sizzix Movers & Shapers L Die - Pillow Box w/Labels (658268), Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Scallop Eyelet Lace (658003), Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Card, Scallop Circle Insert (657996), Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Mini Snowflake Rosettes (2 Sizes) (658255)
- Papers - 7 Dots Studio - "Domestic Goddess" collection
- Inks and Pearls: Ranger Distress Inks and Liquid Pearls
- others: hot glue, craft glue, doilies, white paper, Tim Holtz stickers, pebbles.

The story begins on one winter's day. I realized I need to get some packaging for the gifts - and I need it fast! So, I grabbed some papers and my favorite winter-themed dies...





The work was fast and furious, but the final effect was quite pleasing - and it was so easy to do!
Finally I had may bags, box and tag ready!




And here is the final photo - all of them together, waiting to be put under the Christmas tree!


I hope I gave you some last minute inspiration - see you soon!
Merry Christmas form cold, frosty Poland!
Finn

Tis the Season to Recycle


It's that time of year when we fill ourselves up to the gills with turkey, wine, mince pies etc.and our driveways fill up with recycling bags. Why not turn some of that junk into something useful with a last minute Christmas crafting frenzy.

For the gift wrapping I used some old gingham fabric, tissue paper, newspaper, parcel paper, raffia and corrugated cardboard for the tags.
The cracker is made by cutting up the tube from the centre of a roll of tin foil covered with parcel paper and tied off with some strips of fabric and the candles are decorated with the snowflake rosette Decorative Strip die.

A couple of buttons and a smattering of die cuts from the latest Tim Holtz range and your all set. I hope you all have a wonderfully crafty Christmas and fingers crossed there will be a few Sizzix goodies under the tree.

I can't finish without wishing a very happy birthday to my good friend and fellow blogger Paula with whom I share a special birthday..... December 25th.
 

Thursday, 20 December 2012

Hexagons for Christmas



 
Wow it's only 4 days now before Christmas Day - so looking forward to it. I have decorations up - but still have to finish shopping for presents and food! But at last I am within a couple of hours of finishing a project that I started in the spring!!!
 
I would never have attempted this project without the Big Shot and dies 658317 and 658318. Hexagons are a bit like housework to me - I love the finished result but not all the effort - so the dies for cutting the papers and fabric were the reason I started this - even then it has taken me a time to finish piecing them!  So what is it going to be? -  you'll have to wait until next week  to find out because it's a Christmas present ( or will be if I finish it! The below shows the trimmed version ready to be layered with wadding and backing fabric.

 
That's all for this week - have a lovely Christmas - and look me up again next Thursday to see what this is - and check that I managed to finish it in time.
Angela
 

Winter Mini Book


Hello!

Today let me show you a part of a mini album I teach in whole France this winter!

Here are the dies used in this project, the very ones that my students will get to work with:

-658283Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folder w/Stamp - Snowflake Background Set
-658270 Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders 2PK - Textured Poinsettia Pattern Set
-658255 Mini Snowflake Rosette

I chose to work with the dry embossing technique to give volume to my lay-outs.
The latest Sizzix dies are the perfect match! I used “winter” embossing folders such as the Poinsettia flowers and the snowflakes.
An advice though: it is better to use smooth white paper, like Bristol sheets. It will be easier to work with inks.




With a cut’n dry sponge and Adirondack inks, add colour to your sheets by making slow circular moves. Mix the colours. Add small silver beads to the core of the flowers for the festive aspect.

For the second embossed page, I used a matching stamp to obtain printed 3D snowflakes!
Start by stamping you white sheet with grey ink, then insert your stamped paper in your embossing folder. The patterns should match. Use your Big Shot for embossing and you’re done!

Work on the corners with red Adirondack ink, though you’ll need to leave some white in your sheet for brightness.




Then use dies to embellish your cover.



The cover has the same colours as in the rest of the album. It is a mix of beige and grey paint.
I added patterns with a stencil, stamps and brown and black inks.
The 3D snowflakes are Sizzix dies. Within a few minutes and a few folds, they bring the essential finishing touch to your cover! I added small silver beads at their centre.

I hope you liked my mini album!

See you next Thursday!

Karine

Supply list:

Mini album: 7Gypsies
Papers: 7Gypsies, 4h37, Hambly
Alphabets, Stickers: 7Gypsies
Pearls: Rayher
Versamark
Black, red and grey Versafine inks
Adirondack inks: Sunshine Yellow, Red Pepper, Slate
Distress inks: Vintage Photo
Acrylic paint: beige, red, grey, mustard yellow
Gesso
Washi Tape
Stamps: Craft Origine, Paper Artsy, Florilèges Design, Hero Arts, American Crafts
Others: Divine Twine, school eyelet

Bonjour !

Pour aujourd'hui un extrait d'un mini album que je donne en atelier un peu partout en France cet hiver !

Voici les dies utilisés pour ce projet et avec lesquels mes étudiants vont travailler :

-658283Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folder w/Stamp - Snowflake Background Set
-658270 Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders 2PK - Textured Poinsettia Pattern Set
-658255 Mini Snowflake Rosette

J'ai choisi de travailler l'embossage à froid en fond de page afin de donner du relief à mes pages. Les derniers dies Sizzix sont juste parfaits pour l'occasion ! J'ai utilisé des plaques à embosser spécial "hiver" comme les fleurs de Poinsettia et les flocons de neige.
Un conseil : utilisez de préférence du papier blanc et lisse, comme ici des fiches bristol. Les encres seront plus faciles à retravailler.

Avec un morceau de cut n'dry et des encres Adirondack colorez vos fiches en effectuant tout en douceur de petits mouvements circulaires. Mixez les couleurs. Compltétez le centre des fleurs avec des petites perles argentées qui ajoutent un côté festif.

Pour travailler la seconde page embossée, j'ai utilisé un tampon assorti pour avoir des flocons imprimés et en relief !
Commencez par tamponnez en gris votre fiche blanche, puis glissez votre papier tamponné dans votre die en prenant soin de bien faire correspondre les motifs.
Utilisez votre Big Shot pour embosser et le tour est joué !

Retravaillez les angles avec de l'encre Adirondack rouge, mais pensez à laisser un peu de blanc à votre fiche pour apporter de la lumière.

Des dies pour décorer la page de couverture de votre album.

Cette dernière reprend les tons de l'album. La couverture est un mélange de peinture beige, grise. Des motifs sont apportés à l'aide d'un pochoir, de tampons et d'encres marron et noire.
Les flocons tout en volume sont des dies Sizzix. En quelques minutes et quelques plis, ils apportent la touche finale et essentielle à votre page de couverture ! Le centre est complété avec de jolies petites perles argentées.

J'espère que mon mini vous aura plu !

A jeudi prochain !

Karine

Matériel :

Mini album :7Gypsies
Papiers : 7Gypsies, 4h37, Hambly
Alphabets, Autocollants : 7Gypsies
Perles : Rayher
Versamark
Encres Versafine noire, rouge, grise
Encres Adirondack : Sunshine Yellow (jaune), Red Pepper (rouge), Slate (Gris)
Encres Distress : Vintage Photo
Peinture acrylique : beige, rouge, gris, jaune moutarde
Gesso
Washi Tape
Tampons : Craft Origine, Paper Artsy, Florilèges Design, Hero Arts, American Crafts
Divers : Divine Twine, oeillets pour classeur

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Christmas Wall Art





Happy Wednesday everyone,

This week I wanted to show you a home décor item, a 20cm x 20 cm canvas, I created for the festive season. It is a short reminder for myself in the middle of hectic Christmas preparations, stating what Christmas is all about.



Items used:

How to make:
  1. Tear strips of Christmas wrapping paper.
  2. Cover canvas front with a layer of white gesso/white acrylic paint. Press the wrapping paper strips on the wet paint. Add more gesso/acrylic paint if necessary. Let dry.
  3. ‘White wash’ the canvas front by brushing a thin layer of white gesso/acrylic paint over the paper strips. Wipe the excess paint with a wet baby towel. Let dry.
  4. Mix white acrylic paint with a drop of water. Dab white paint on the top edge of the canvas and tilt the canvas vertically. This will create a paint dripping effect on the background. Let dry.
  5. Print a Christmas sentiment on ribbon:
    First print the text on standard printing paper. Then use two-sided tape to attach pieces of ribbon on top of the printed text lines. Re-run the same paper through the printer and the text will be printed on the ribbon.
  6. Ink the edges of three manila tags and adhere to canvas. Tape the printed ribbons on top of the tags.
  7. Die cut swirls and branches using the ‘Festive Greenery’ Decorative Strip Die. Glue to canvas.
  8. Die cut two hearts of old book paper. Ink with purple stamping ink and glue to canvas.
  9. Die cut a poinsettia flower from Christmas wrapping paper. Clue to right upper corner.
  10. Die cut a Mini Snowflake Rosette strip from white cardstock. Fold and glue it on the bottom of the canvas.
  11. Finish by decorating with lace and buttons.











I wish you all a very merry Christmas. I hope your’s will be as beautiful and white as ours in Finland!



Love,
 

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Decorative Strips layered on layout




Hello everyone!

How are you today? :)
Today I'd like to show you how to create a textured layout using the Sizzix Decorative Strips dies - you have no idea how fun they are to use! :)

This is what you'll need to create this layout :




First of all, all you need to do is CUT your different paper strips, using your Big Shot and your favorite Decorative Strips dies.

Simply cut a piece of patterned paper the size of your decorative strip.

Then place the paper on top of the die.

Place the die + paper on top of the Extended Plateform.

Then add one Cutting pad on top, and one cutting pad at the bottom.

Run it through your Big Shot.


I used Spray Adhesive to adhere both my paper strips to my background - you can also staple them for a fun and modern look!


Be sure to mix different patterned of cuts all together and layer them to create a fun border on your layout!


And make sure you glue them on a solid colored background so that the paper strips really pops off the page!



Hope you like this layout! :)
Take Care!
Céline

Monday, 17 December 2012

Lovely handmade tags



Hellooooo, how are you? Christmas is very close!!! OMG! Have you finished to make everything for your family and friends?  I'm having a lot of fun creating something handmade to donate to who I love so much!

Today I want to show you some tags I made using the fantastic sizzix products mixed to lovely other materials.

Materials you need:

This is a very good way to use your paper leftovers, we have always a lot of them wherever! ;)




First of all create your tags, I used the Sizzix Bigz Pro Die - POcket page and tag (657162) die even if it should not appear the main use ;) 
Simply create the background for your tags, I have used my color sprays.
Add some pieces of old book paper. Apply at the end of each tag some paper leftovers :) this is a good way to make you feel good to have not waste materials :) LOL
Cut a scallop heart with kraft paper and add some stickers and letter stickers for the greetings.
I have stamped the figure I would like to insert on the tag and with needle and threads I have remarked the drawing:) Like I have done with the star :) Don't you find it fabulous?

What do you think?
Create your own tags and let me see them:)
Have a wonderful and creative week

Love, Lory


Saturday, 15 December 2012

Christmas cards








By now everyone who has had the intention of making their own Christmas cards will have done so. Usually, I make about sixty Christmas cards and send them all, but  this year i haven't had the time and energy to do so. Always leaving it for the last minute, I have had to make do with cards from my stash, duplicate cards from older projects.
I have a Christmas box in which I put stuff that is strictly seasonal stuff, half done cards from a step by step article, left overs from a blog post...
But that sill is ok, I think, because some of my closest and precious friends will get one of these. I hope they will appreciate them!

Left card: Hero Art Sizzix set; top is an old Sizzix XL dies (one that I love) and some framelits circle dies; right card is done using Tim Holtz poinsettia die and embossing folders.

Friday, 14 December 2012

Journaling with sizzix is simply fun!


Hi there!
Wintertime is perfect for creating I think  - we are forced to spend more time at home, closer to our desks and art supplies... so why not exploring some possibilities of using your favorite Sizzix dies?

Here are examples of mixed-media journal projects which were based on Sizzilts Decorative Strips - what can be more fun than using your die cuts and die-cut leftovers in a creative, funky way?
Freestyle journal sample - with Sizzix

Freestyle journal sample - with Sizzix


Both creations above are based on gesso, acrylic paint and sprays (Luminarte - Primary Elements and Silks) and lots, lots of die-cuts  from Sizzlits Decorative Strips line: 657706 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Curly #2, 657745 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Filigree Border and 2 dies from Tim Holtz line:  657825 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Harlequin Border and 657826 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Washer Border.




Here you can see more details - I love the texturized, rich backgrounds I can create with Sizzix cut outs!




Christmas time is coming! I'm not ready with all the things I want to do yet, but I wish you all a great week - we'll see each other soon, next Friday!
xoxo
Finn