Create & Take: Jolly Robin

Morning bloggers! We hope everyone has had a creative Bank Holiday Weekend, despite the drizzly weather we've had the past few days. Hopefully we can cheer you up with this Jolly Robin card made by Caz from Friday's Create & Take.

Products Needed:

Bo Bunny Elf Magic Cardstock -  Fa La La La La

Bo Bunny Elf Magic Cardstock - Tinsel

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Kraft

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Pomegranate

White Folded Card

Karen Burniston/Elizabeth Crafts Design Lorna Label Die

Woodware Holly Punch

Versafine Ink Pad - Black

3mm Nailheads - Red

Watercolour Pencils

Watercolour Brush

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Bazzill Basics Kraft Card to 10" x 5" and score in half.

2. Lay the centre nubs of the Lorna Label die onto the score line and cut - fold on the centre line - now you need to work the card to fold the steps out. Take your time to get it to work nicely.

3. Stick the above piece into the centre of the white folded card. Now you can decorate.

4. Stamp the Robin onto a piece of Bazzill Basics Kraft Card with black ink and use watercolour pencils to colour around the edges of the Robin. Use the watercolour brush to draw the colour inwards.

5. Stamp the Robin's tummy onto the Pomegranate cardstock and cut out and stick. Fussy cut around the whole of the Robin cutting carefully around his little legs.

6. Using the small banner die that is part of the Lorna Label set, cut from a small piece of white cardstock and stamp the 'Tis the Season' wording from the Woodware stamp set with black ink.

7. Cut pieces of the Fa La La La La cardstock to measure 5" x 2" and 5" x 1" and stick onto the inside of the card where shown.

8. Cut a piece of the Tinsel paper to 5-1/4" x 1-1/2" and stick on the front of the card.

9. Punch two holly leaves from green cardstock and use two nailheads as berries. Stick on the front of the card.

The design of the card is very versatile and once you have the Lorna Label die cut from Elizabeth Craft Designs you can add different stamp or die cut images to the inside to create different cards fro different occasions.

As always, all the products used can be found at craftsulove.co.uk

New Tonic Studios Indulgence Keepsake Dies

Happy Friday bloggers! It's the end of the working week and I thought I would share some new Tonic Studios dies to get those creative juices flowing for the Bank Holiday Weekend!

These new Indulgence Keepsakes are a range of boxes and frames with interchangeable decorative inserts - perfect for cardmaking, Christmas decorations and Wedding favour boxes. In the range so far we have just had in stock the Tent Gift Bag and the Balloon Weight Box. We also have a set of the Christmas Inserts which you can use as added decoration to these boxes.

I did some hunting around the Tonic Studios Blog Team to see what ideas they have come up with and remember you can adjust the design of these bags and boxes to come up with your own design.

Doda Smith used the Tent Gift Bag die to create these adorable tiny gift bags and decided to cut off the flap and make her own tie handles instead.

For more information, check out Doda Smith's Blog here.

Dips (otherwise known as Andrea) created some great examples using the Balloon Weight Box, which just shows the versatility of these dies.

This die would be great for the holiday season that will soon be upon us to gift wrap some sweet treats.

For more information about these examples, check out Dips blog here.

Please note the Balloon Weight die is an A4 die and will only work through A4 die cutting machines, such as the Grand Calibur and E-Bosser.

If you fancy having a go at using these dies then head over to craftsulove.co.uk to buy yours today.

Lindy's Stamp Gang Class & Competition Time!

Yesterday was the first class off the new class list, kick starting with Sue M's Vintage Cardmaking class. Sue was using the new Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical Sets and Kick Sprays. These products make some gorgeous and dynamic backgrounds which you then use to build on top of with embellishments and stamps. Sue also used Joy! Crafts silhouette stamps which really do add dimension to the cards. Not only did the lucky ladies on the class get to make two cards but also a beautiful gift bag as well. Check out the close up pictures below for Sue M's class examples.

If you fancy giving these new powders and sprays a try, then click here for more product information.

Competition Time!

Nothing in life is free except for this! We are asking you and all your friends to 'Like' our page on Facebook for a chance to win a £25 Gift Voucher! We will pick a random 'like' at the end of the month as the winner of the voucher. It's that simple! So spread the word and get everyone involved!

Check out our Facebook page here and hit that 'Like' button!

Good Luck!

Create & Take: Festive Bow Gift Card Holder

Happy Monday Bloggers! Today's post features last Friday's Create & Take which is this adorable little gift card holder using the Large Bow die from Marianne Designs. The design of this gift card holder is so simple and just by changing the colours and the sentiment, you could use this for all types of occasions.

Products Needed:

Tim Holtz Core'dinations Kraft Cardstock - Sea Blue

Bo Bunny Elf Magic Cardstock - Stripe

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Maraschino

Marianne Design Large Bow Die (LR0325)

Spellbinders Nestabilities Die Set - Labels Nine

Spellbinders Nestabilities Die Set - Labels Seventeen

Taylored Expressions Many Mini's Holidays Stamp Set

Memento Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black

Scor-Pal

Double Sided Tape

Basic Grey Magnetic Snaps

Instructions:

1. Cut the Core'dinations cardstock 22.6cm x 10.2cm. Using the Scor-Pal, make score lines at 2.5cm and 12.7cm along the longest side. Fold along the score lines.

2. Cut the Stripe cardstock 9.8cm x 2cm and another piece 2.5cm x 2cm. Adhere the longest strip in the middle of the fold up flap and adhere the smaller strip on the top flap and make sure it lines up with the middle strip.

3. Cut another piece of the Stripe cardstock 10.2cm x 4cm. Only apply adhesive to three sides of the cardstock and stick inside the gift card holder. This will be the pocket for your gift card to go in.

4. Using the Marianne Large Bow die set, die cut the largest die out of Sea Blue cardstock , die cut the other pieces from the Maraschino cardstock.

5. Assemble the bow together and secure with double sided tape. Once assembled adhere to the middle of the top flap.

6. Die cut the smallest die from Labels Nine from the reverse side of the Sea Blue cardstock. Stamp 'Happy Holidays' from the Taylored Expressions stamp set using the Tuxedo Black ink.

7. Die cut the smallest die from Labels Seventeen from the Maraschino cardstock.

8. Layer the labels on top of one another and adhere to the middle of the fold up flap.

9. Finish by adhering the magnetic snap discs to the top flap and fold up flap, ensuring they both line up together.

These gift card holders take minutes to put together and are a great way to dress up a gift card.

Remember all products to make this create & take can be found at craftsulove.co.uk

New Class Lists are Up!

Exciting news bloggers as the new Crafts U Love class list is ready and waiting for you to sign up to all the new and exciting classes we have for you this fall.

There are still some spaces left on some of our Summer classes throughout August but I recommend you sign up quick as places are going fast.

Four members of our talented team will be inspiring you throughout the next few months with a whole mixture of skills and techniques to be learnt. from Copic pens and flowers to Christmas cards and Vintage projects, I'm sure there will be something to suit your taste and skill set.

And don't forget our regular Create & Take's every Friday for only £3!

Find the list of new classes here and book your space today!

Create & Take: Bauble Gift Bag

Good morning bloggers! I hope your weekend has been filled with craft and inspiration! Today I will be revealing our Create & Take from Friday with full instructions on how to make it and all the products you will need.

Last week we decided to make a gift bag for Create & Take, perfect for popping in a small gift. This design can also be easily transferred to a card or even a scrapbook layout for those winter snaps!

Products Needed:

Bare Basics Small Gift Bag

Maja Design Frosted Basics Cardstock - 10th of December

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Stonehenge

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - White Smoothie

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Sea Salt

Poppystamps Viviro Ornament Die

Elizabeth Craft Designs Merry Christmas Die

Ulitmate Crafts Winter Chill Embossing Folder

Stickles Glitter Glue - Crystal

Tulle - Williamsburg Blue

Instructions:

1. Cut the Maja Design cardstock 11.5cm x 14cm. This will be the background piece. Adhere to the front of the paper bag, approx. 1cm from the top and 2.5cm from the bottom of the bag.

2. Die cut the Viviro Ornament from White Smoothie, Stonehenge and Sea Salt cardstock. Separate the three different elements that are cut out; the outline, solid bauble and the bauble topper and keep safe to one side.

3. Using the Ultimate Crafts embossing folder, emboss the White solid bauble through an embossing machine, place to one side.

4. Starting with the Sea Salt Ornament outline, cut off approx. 4.5cm from the top and adhere to the top middle of the background cardstock. Fill in the design with the White solid bauble and the Stonehenge bauble topper.

5. Cut off approx. 2cm from the top of the Stonehenge ornament outline and adhere to the left of the middle ornament.

6. Adhere the White Ornament outline to the right of the middle ornament and fill in the design with the Sea Salt solid bauble and White bauble topper.

7.  Die cut 'Merry Christmas' from Sea Salt cardstock and adhere underneath the backing piece on the paper bag.

8. Add some Crystal stickles to the middle of the snowflakes and leave to dry.

9. Finish by cutting a piece of tulle 20cm long and tie a knot around one handle of the bag.

These Bare Basics gift bags can be used for all kinds of occasions and you can dress them up as little or as much as you like, and at only £1.99 per pack of 5 bags, that's a bargain!

As usual all materials used in making this gift bag, can be found at craftsulove.co.uk 

New Prima Doll Line and Bloom Collection

New Prima products are in stock this week at Crafts U Love and it may at first seem a bit of a question mark as to what you can make with these faces and dolls but wait until I provide you with a little inspiration to get you going.

The girls above are part of the Bloom Collection from Prima and provide a lot of scope to add colour and embellishments to these rubber stamp images.

These examples were found on Prima's Pinterest page, handmade by their designers. You can stamp these images onto all sorts of materials from cardstock to fabric (loving the canvas tote bag at the top!). Add flower embellishments, butterflies and more to intertwine throughout their hair and surrounding background. Or use inside an altered art journal using mixed media elements and more. Simply beautiful!

New stamps from Julie Nutting's Doll Line for Prima. The first thing that pops into my mind when I see these dolls are teenage cards. That always seems to be a difficult age range to make cards for however these Prima dolls are the perfect answer and now including a male doll. Prima have also released clear stamp faces and accessory stamps to match up with the dolls.

Once again these examples were found on Prima's Pinterest page with some fab scrapbook layouts and 3D ideas.

If you're interested in any of these new stamp collections from Prima, you can find them all at craftsulove.co.uk  and if you're looking for more inspiration, be sure to check out Prima's Pinterest page which also has some great video tutorials as well!

Snowy Window Create & Take

Good Morning Bloggers! For anyone who missed Create & Take on Friday this post is for you and will guide you on how to make this Snowy Window card and what products you will need. 

Products Needed:

Simple Stories -The Story of Us Cardstock - Wood

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Stonehenge

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - White Smoothie

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Diamond

Kraft Card Blank - 13.5cm x 13.5cm

Icicles Spellbinders Die D- Lites Die

Stravia Snowflake Poppystamps Die

Snowy Window Marianne Craftables Die

Winter Chill Ultimate Crafts Embossing Folder

Season's Greetings Woodware Clear Stamp Set

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Gathered Twigs Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad

Stormy Sky Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad

Blue Gem Stone

Frosted Lace Stickles Glitter Glue

Instructions:

1. Cut the Simple Stories Wood cardstock 13cm x 13cm. Ink round the edges using Gathered Twigs Tim Holtz distress ink. Adhere to the kraft card.

2. Cut a piece of white smoothie cardstock 10cm x 10cm. Use the Winter Chill embossing folder and emboss the cardstock through an embossing machine. Ink over the embossed image using Stormy Sky Tim Holtz distress ink and adhere to the middle of the card.

3. Using the Stonehenge Bazzill Basics cardstock, die cut the Marianne Snowy Window. Add a little bit of Gathered Twigs ink to the edges of the window. Adhere on top of the snowflake embossed cardstock.

4. Die cut the Spellbinders Icicles die using the Bazzill Basics Diamond cardstock and adhere to the top of the window.

5. Die cut the snow ledges (from the Marianne Snowy Window die set) from Bazzill Basics Diamond cardstock and adhere to three windows of your choice.

6. Die cut the Poppystamps Stravia Snowflake from Bazzill Basics Diamond cardstock and adhere to the bottom left of the window and add a blue gem in the centre.

7. Cut a piece of Stonehenge Bazzill Basics cardstock 9.5cm x 1.2cm. Add a fishtail edge to one end and then using Tuxedo Black ink, stamp 'Season's Greetings' in the middle.

8. Adhere to the card underneath the window.

9. Finish by adding some Frosted Lace stickles to the icicles and snow ledges and leave to dry.

And that is all you do!

The Marianne Snowy window die set is very versatile and you could use this window die throughout different seasons by using different embossing folders and embellishments. As usual, all products used on the card can be found at craftsulove.co.uk.