Fabric ~ with 4 Crafty Chicks

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?! Already week 3 of my Guest Designer spot at 4 Crafty Chicks.  The challenge this week (#325) is Fabric.   

As soon as I saw that I knew I had to make a dress.  I had some lovely fabric in my stash which I knew would be perfect for this theme. It has been a while since I made a card with no digital image, so it was really nice to give myself a break from colouring. 

Products I have used to create my card:

• Kraft card blank and laser-cut paper pad from Michaels
• DoCrafts red glitter card, gem and outline sticker
• Ribbon, pearls and 3D foam pads from my stash
• Yellow Stickles

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. World Wide Open Design Team - #16 AG
2. Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #214 AG
3. Deep Ocean - #142 Inspired by Song or Movie (Lady In Red)
4. 613 Avenue Create - #191 AG
5. Come and Get It - Ribbon or Twine
6. Craft Your Passion - #338 AG
7. Creative Fingers - #120 AG

Lip Balm Gift Card

KennyK Stamps just sent out their newsletter with a lovely freebie 'City Star'. You can grab her from the shop if you haven't yet signed up. I wanted to do something a little different with this image so decided to colour it in monochrome blue. Turned out quite appropriate as it started snowing again today.  

I'm just starting to get on with my Christmas cards and wanted to make some as little gifts, so I have designed a gift holder for lip balm (you can find the template at the end of this post.)

Products I have used to create my card:

• Papermania cardstock
• Patterned paper, twine and metal snowflake from my stash
• Ranger Stickles
• Wink of Stella Clear
• Sakura Gelly Roll White
• ProMarkers - Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Tea Green, Midnight Blue, Denim Blue, Arctic Blue, Aegean, Sky Blue, Cobalt, Turquoise, Indigo & True Blue

Step-By-Step

1. First you need to measure, cut and score the card base using the template (feel free to save and use this template on your own blog, I just ask that you please credit and link back to me)
   
2. Your card should look like this: 
   
3. I prefer to use Collall Tacky Glue (similar is fine) when assembling these type of cards as it is more forgiving than sticky strips. First glue the long tab at the right side and create the box shape. Then glue the bottom tabs starting with the side tabs, then the bottom tab. 
   
4. The cut-out window is handy here - I like to use something to push against to get the glue to hold 
   
5. I had already designed and made a card previous to this one, which had a larger box.  I decided this was actually too big for my lip balm, so I redesigned.  I measured to the height of the lid which you will see was a bit silly, as it's actually taller just down from the lid and sticks out of the window a bit. I'd forgotten to add my acetate window on the blue one too, which was just as well in the end! (the template has measurements in between these two)
   
   
   
   
6. Once you have put your lip balm in the box, stick down the top flaps.  I prefer to use a removable adhesive for this so the box doesn't get ruinined upon opening. (I bought some Removable Scotch Tape for this, but any kind is fine. Unfortunately it started lifting, so I also wrapped some twine around to hold it. You could always use this method instead of adhesive) 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Club Kenny K (FB) - #18 AG/twist New Release/Freebies
2. Unicorn Challenge - #15 Snow/Snowflakes
3. World Wide Open Design Team - #16 AG
4. Fab 'n' Funky - #327 Digi Girls or Hats
5. Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #214 AG
6. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #45 AG
7. Love to Scrap - #89 Fancy My Fold
8. Passion for ProMarkers - #372 Christmas is coming
9. Open-Minded Crafting Fun - #11 Christmas/Hanukkah
10. The Crafter's Cafe - #161 Christmas Comes Early
11. The Crafty Addicts - #28 AG/Winter Blues
12. Come and Get It - Ribbon or Twine
13. Craft Your Passion - #338 AG
14. Crafty Awesomeness - November AG
15. Crafty Catz - #346 AG
16. Crafty Gals Corner - #98 Any Holiday

Thorns & Roses

Happy Sunday to you all. The sun has been shining here for a week or so and it has even been as warm as summer on a couple of days!  I'm sure it won't last though as there is snow forecast for Friday. 

Over on Facebook there was a Trick Or Treat Around The Blogs challenge hosted by Markers! Papers! Digis! so I grabbed this fabulous dollar digi from The East Wind called 'Thorns & Roses'.  I coloured her up for the colouring competition in the group, but I've only just got around to making a card with her.  

Since joining the Facebook group and investing in a class over at Kit & Clowder I've been more into colouring backgrounds for my images. I often just fussy-cut them, but when I leave them in a square or rectangle I now don't always like all that white space! (I also didn't used to have the confidence to colour a background).

So, I bring you one of my favourite card styles - the twisted easel.  Since making my first one I now hardly ever make a straight easel.  I love the extra dimension that the twist gives and you get so much more space to work with than just making a square card. 

I have used the following products to create my card:

• Kraft card blank from Michaels
• Core'dinations Tim Holtz Kraft Core Nostalgic Collection & Glittersilk card
• Tonic Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
• Gems & butterfly brad from my stash
• ProMarkers - Umber, Khaki, Pastel Beige, Satin, French Navy, Aegean, Sky Blue, Warm Grey 1-5, Black, Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Olive, Moss, Pear, Indigo, Midnight & Cobalt

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Fab 'n' Funky - #326 Get Krafty!
2. Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #214 AG
3. I ♥ ProMarkers - #321 Distress Those Edges
4. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #45 AG
5. The Crafty Addicts - #28 AG/Winter Blues
6. Brown Sugar - #224 AG
7. Crafty Catz - #346 AG
8. Crafty Gals Corner - #97 Use A Sentiment
9. Creative Fingers - #120 AG
10. Dark 'n' Daring - #7 AG
11. The East Wind (FB Group) - #33 Come Over to the Dark Side