Day 5 - it's STICKERS today.

Hi Everyone
A lovely bright and sunny day. Blue sky but cold ! Well it is almost December !
It's Day 5 today- my offer for 'Christmas Prep' is something I'm calling a STICKER. Every year I make a large batch of these things. I use the stickers in lots of ways for decorating cards, envelopes, presents, tags etc. This year I've co ordinated the stickers with my Christmas card and will use them with all my Christmas stuff.



I've made up a range of shapes with slightly different sizes. The embellishments used bring the stickers together as a collection and work well when wrapped. Embellishments use the same red,gold and music papers. Ive used very simple stars or a holly die and a simple message stamp. I've also used a number of die cuts with a range of embossing folders to form the stickers. Most of the materials are left over scraps from making cards and/or other projects, I particularly like this 'up cycling' idea.

I've also developed lots of the 'ticket-like' stickers (the strip at the top of the picture) - these little pieces of paper are stamped with 'A Day to Celebrate' message and give a lovely grunge style element to whatever they are attached to. I use these stickers all the time for lots of projects. The stickers are made 'stickers' with double sided tape - allowing a quick attachment for most surfaces.
I've made up an envelope in the music sheet paper (as in my Day 3 offer) this envelope is a bigger item and uses 2 sheets of A4 the finished envelope is approximately 22x16cm. I've taken a few photos showing how I could use the stickers on such an envelope.



























As you can see the small stickers can lift a design and give a 'luxury feel' to any envelope of could even be added to make a simple small card or tag. A bought envelope can also immediately acquire a 'hand made' feel.
Here are a few photos to illustrate the card or tag idea.









That's it for Day 5 'STICKERS'. Hope you give it a go.

Usually, I blog Mon to Fri but because of my 12 Days of Christmas Prep @ thepapersac , I'm still here tomorrow and Sunday. I will have another two ideas for 'prep'.
Christmas seems to be coming rather quickly. Other than the prep Ive done here, I'm very behind on presents etc. I must get my lists up on the Wish List board and get going.
I did do a little more work on the 'crochet card' project but nothing worth showing. I hope to finish the card today. Will share any progress when/if !!!

Bye for today.

Day 4 - make a 'wish list' board for Christmas

Hi Everyone
Not sure what today will bring weather wise ? It's very cloudy and looks cold ( not been out yet) but bright.

We are full of cold and sneezing at home and not much creativity going on. We are still preparing for christmas - the date will not be changed !!!
It's Day 4 of Christmas Preparations @ thepapersac and today is a WISH LIST BOARD. It's the board for hanging up the Christmas Wish Lists (this was the Day 1 item). Here they are together and ready for use.



I hope the board itself can be useful all year, with this in mind Ive decorated the board to be less 'Christmas-specific' but at the same time linked via the colours and elements from my card design (Day 2).
















Very simply, I have decorated plain, old wooden pieces (scrap wood left over from other projects). My pieces measure approximately 8x 4ins. The wood was painted several times with white acrylic and Ive added printed and die cut embellishments inspired by my Christmas card design (from Day 2). I've also decorated a pencil to match. This wood piece did have a natural space at one side to accommodate a pencil, so the pencil fits onto the board. I've used waxed paper string in white as my hanging material. The board is finished with 2 coats of matt sealant/varnish.
I hope you feel inspired to make a board.

On other matters, I'm slowly moving on the 'Christmas card to be' for my husband - here is my progress to date






I've found my cardboard (old shoe box) and punched holes around the edge. I've crochet around in a simple 'blanket-like' stitch. I'm not 'up' on the correct stitch names yet ! Then I've done a single 'running chain' - again one of my 'made-up' stitch names. Not sure what comes next (crochet wise) but I want to make a 'pointed bit' around the edge (as a third layer). It's taken me a while to get this far. I've done lots of different experiments but have settled on what you see here. My son has just commented on the current 'look' of the item. HE is not impressed. It will look brilliant !!! I'm convinced. Watch this space !!!

That's it for today. I will be nursing the ill (including myself) today.

Bye for now.

Day 3 = handmade envelopes (see how)

Hi Everyone
A much better day - weather wise. It's a bit damp and quite 'chilly' but the sun keeps trying to break through.

It's Day 3 today - and it's an ENVELOPE to add to the card from yesterday. I've tried to keep it simple (to allow for bulk makes) and its a very quick assembly. Most people in my circle do not go in for handmade envelopes but I think it's a huge treat to receive a handmade envelope. It makes the package so much more interesting and such a pleasure to feel. My envelopes go 'plop' when they land on my doormat and I know immediately if I have a handmade letter. Not that I get many !!
However, lets move on. Here is the envelope to match my card.



My card is quite small therefore one A4 piece of paper is all that's required.Ive chosen a music print for my envelope, the same as I used for element so f the card. I always use a creasing board and tool for making envelopes. I've put together a few photos to show the process but its very simple. The only requirement is that precision is used with both measuring and cutting. I almost, always make my own envelopes and practice has made this very easy for me but I do think the technique is quickly mastered.



I started placing the card on the page to check which folds I need to make.





The next picture shows my initial folds.



After creasing the folds, I trimmed each side as the picture shows.



The bottom half of the page was folded to form the envelope and the next picture shows me glueing down the right side. A thin layer of glue is good - making sure the glue is at the edges. As soon as the other side flap is stuck, you have your envelope.



I used a cutting die, to form a label for the front and I stamped an image for the back, again, linking the design features of the card.






I distressed the whole envelope with a grey stamping pad to embed each embellishment element into the envelope.
That's it ! The whole design construction took about 10 minutes. Future envelopes would take much less if production methods are used eg all the folds done at the same time or all the glueing etc. Have a go and make someone an extra surprise with a handmade envelope.

I've lots of stuff going on today. More crochet practice and family stuff. Must get on.

Bye for today.

It's Day 2 and other things

Hi Everyone
Very dull today and very 'breezy' and its now raining hard. I'm not going far today !
It's Day 2 of our Christmas Prep@ thepapersac project. Day 2 is a CARD.
Here is my card. The design picture used is taken from one of my original paintings.




Ive included a picture of the original painting to show how it transfers.
The cards are a very quick and are an easy way to produce a bulk batch. I tend to use this type of design as a general greeting card and have a smaller number of individualised and more elaborate cards for close friends and family.
I've put together a series of photos which show the development and highlight any specific design/technique features I've used.








I started with a range of images printed on white card. My card size allows for 2 cards to be produced from a standard A4 sheet. Where bulk orders are required this is a cost effective size. I scanned a photo of my art but any picture would do. I also printed sheet music and have stamped embellishments as well as a die cut ivy and die cut 'lace' ( for edging).




I trimmed each card- some cards were left with an extra wide section but in the sample here I simply trimmed with a craft knife/metal ruler.




I used a creasing tool/board which gives a good, clean finish to the fold line.












I've prepared a range of embellishments, including an extra mini crown with gold stars.




I've also included a back image and have added a Christmas message. I like all my cards to look attractive on the back. I've got a bit of a 'negative' re writing my name/contact details etc on the back. I tend to have a link to ME in any sales bag but not on the back of my cards. To me the cards are a gift and NOT a marketing opportunity. I know lots of people think this attitude is mad, but it feels right for me.




The last series of card photos shows a number of the finished items ready for sending. Although, I talk about a 'batch' approach. I find it very difficult to stick to repeating a design 'exactly'. It's in my makeup to change EVERYTHING (all the time) !! So, that's Day 2. Hope you enjoyed this idea.
Other news, I love the drawn face its available to read about it here




I'm going to try and make a Christmas card for my lovely husband using an idea I had a few weeks ago.




The original is not a card as such and is not in any way linked to Christmas but that's my challenge.
Bye for today.

It's DAY 1 of CP@t !

Hi Everyone
The weather looks changeable today - could rain, it's damp ! And it's very windy - the clouds are racing over the sky. Good light though - great for photos.
Today, is the day - my first day of Christmas Prep. @ thepapersac (CP@t). Day 1 is a 'Christmas Wish List'. All my offers during the 12 days will be entirely based on my own prep for Christmas. This is a little different from last year. I will be producing new stuff but also incorporating some stuff from last year too.
Here is the Wish List and the process I used. My project is not 'rocket science' it's simply an approach to producing these items quickly and in quantity(if that's what is called for).




Stage 1 was to design (I used Microsoft Publisher - a very simple and easy to use graphic software) an outline on the bits of paper which will form the lists, any paper will do.




The next photo shows the tools I used, once I had the printed templates.I cut out the name circles, these are the names of my boys to identify who owns the list - simply created on the original template. I also used a perforator to trim the actual lists. I wanted the 'edge' finish given by the perforator. See the photo showing the edge.













I stuck the names on some larger foil sheet and then stuck the 'name sticker' onto the list. Finally, I punched a hole in the top. You will see why when we do another project. I'm going to hang the lists on my mini board ( I made this last year. I like how the board looks in my kitchen, it fits the colours and feel of the space.











I will be putting up the new lists today - these pictures are from last year. Hope you like the idea of the lists. I use such an item all year for shopping. Here is a photo of my other board.




Today, I also wanted to share this lovely picture




I must purchase this magazine - I've seen it before and am always so impressed by the cover. It fits my dream of making a Miss Mitchell.
My last piece of news for today is that the clasps have arrived.




These clasps are the last piece I need to create 'the bracelet'. Here is another picture. Lets see how it goes. I have high hopes !!!!!!




Must go, busy day today.
Bye for now.