Create & Take: Christmas Jumper Day

Hi bloggers, we have a special Create & Take for you today as this was the card that was designed for Christmas Jumper Day using the wonderful die set from Elizabeth Crafts called Winter Sweater. We have the full list of products and instructions below plus a few extra photos from the day including everyone in their best Christmas Jumpers!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Design - Winter Sweater Die Set (1240)

Taylored Expressions Plaid Embossing Folder

Xcut Seasons' Greetings Die

My Mind's Eye Sugar Plum 12 x 12 Paper - Cheer

Bazzill Basics Paper - Kisses, Skylar, Fawn and Bark

Red Adhesive Gems

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Kisses cardstock and Cheer cardstock to fit the card blank as shown.

2. From Skylar cardstock, die cut one jumper and two snowflakes.

3. Using the Plaid embossing folder, emboss the jumper through a die cutting machine.

4. Die cut one Season's Greetings from Kisses cardstock.

5. Using some Fawn and Bark cardstock, die cut the reindeer head and antlers.

6. Stick elements down using sticky 3D foam pads and glue.

7. Add red adhesive gems to reindeer, above the 'i' in Greetings and on snowflakes.

This was a fantastic design to celebrate Christmas Jumper Day and was perfect card for the day's festivities. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and wore their best knit for the occasion. Check some of them out below:

When 12pm rolled around it was time to announce the winner of the Christmas Jumper competition and we had some wonderful entries, including;

But there could only be one winner who was Pauline Gold and her Christmas house jumper.

Congratulations Pauline!

Once again a big thank you to everyone who came and donated to a wonderful cause, so far we have raised £71 for Save the Children.

Thank you!

Create & Take: Elf Chaos

Hi bloggers, it's time for another Create & Take review and this week Caz has used the mischievous elves from Taylored Expressions Elf Grumplings Stamp and die set to create this wonderful card. So let's get started....

Products Used:

Taylored Expressions Elf Grumplings Stamp and Die Set

Marianne Craftables Card with a View Die Set CR1389

Marianne Craftables Wreath Die Set CR1387 

Marianne Christmas Ornaments Die Set CR1384

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Pumice Stone

Bazzill Basics Ivy Cardstock

Core'dinations Silvermist Cardstock

Core'dinations Red Flash Cardstock

Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad

Watercolour Pencils

Large Sponge Dauber

Instructions:

1. Die cut elves from white cardstock and then use the co-ordinating elf stamps to stamp onto the die cut pieces. If you have a MISTI, you can use this to help line them up.

2. Colour the elves with watercolour pencils.

3. Die cut the window from white cardstock and then run through the machine again with a rubber mat to emboss the bricks. Die cut another window from white cardstock and then cut the window shape out around the edge.

4. Using the Pumice Stone ink pad and a large dauber, ink around the brick wall of the window.

5. Stick the cut out window on top.

6. Stick a piece of patterned paper behind the window to look like a curtain.

7. Place an elf behind the window peeking out.

8. Die cut the wreath and then cut into three pieces and position on the card.

9. Die cut some Christmas Ornaments from the glittered cardstock and decorate the wreath with these.

10. Add the second elf to the side of the window to finish.

Product Spotlight - Tonic Studios Essentials Stamp sets & Hampton Art Ink Cubes

Hello bloggers and today Caz is here with a few cards that she has made using the Tonic Studios Essentials Flower sets.  We have three different floral sets in stock. 

So let us introduce you to those before we look what Caz has made.

First up is Modern Buttonhole 

Love the fun style on this one.  This is the one

that Caz had chosen to use for today's post.

Traditional Spray is next and you can make some

beautiful blooms with this one.  It feels quite tropical in its style.

And thirdly, Traditional Spray Stamp set 2

which features some gorgeous Roses.  Perfect

for cards for so many occasions.

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First up a little description about the stamps and what

Caz loved about using them.

These stamps are Hardened Clear Stamps and make

stamping a pleasure.  Teamed up with a MISTI for perfect placement

or used with a mounting block for manual placement.  Caz loved the

feel of these stamps, the hardness meant they did not "squish" like 

so many other clear stamps do. So the stamped image was clear instead of blurred.

The packaging had nice examples of using the stamps, so often you

buy a stamp set and then are left to inspire yourself and these give

you a starting point.

The three styles of flowers mean there is something for everyone.

Caz loved the quirky feel of the Buttonhole Blooms, but it was hard decision as she saw the potential in all sets. 

This was the first card that Caz made first and you can see

the inkpads that she used too.  This was stamped onto the Elizabeth

Craft Designs Soft Finish cardstock so has some "texture" on the one side

therefore the stamping has texture too.

You can see that Caz has used the packaging example on the front

of the packet for her inspiration.  

A vision in yellow is up next.  These pretty flowers made using the 

Yellow and Orange ink pads from the Hampton Art Cubes

This was added to a small gift bag and tied shut with Tulle.

Lastly Caz got really inky with a bright mustard cardbase that needed toning down a little with some white pigment ink and a stencil.

Caz stamped the sprig in green and then overstamped "off target" in white

to create a shadow effect.

The inkpads were lovely to use.  For the bold/solid stamps you would be best to stamp a couple of times to give a smoother coverage, The MISTI of course would be perfect for this as the placement will be exact.  The colour sets are gorgeous.  Worst part will be choosing which colours to choose!

Pop on over to the website to see the sets and examples that there.

And let us know which set inspires you the most?

Until next time!

Happy Crafting.

Create & Take: Season's Greetings Robin

Hi bloggers, it's time for another Create & Take card and we have a beautiful Christmas card today featuring the Overjoyed Penny Black stamp which has been so popular we have now sold out in the shop but other similar robin stamps you may have will certainly do the trick!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Overjoyed Cling Stamp

Amy Design Christmas Greetings Die

Simple Stories Classic Christmas Tis the Season 12x12 Paper

Woodware watercolour cardstock

Bazzill Basics Bark 12x12 Paper

Core'dinations King's Crown Glitter Cardstock

Stickles Icicle Glitter Glue

Versafine Vintage Sepia Inkpad

Distress Ink Pads - Broken China and Festive Berries

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Bark cardstock slightly smaller than the card blank and stick down.

2. Cut a piece of Tis the Season paper slightly smaller than the Bark cardstock and stick down.

3. Die cut one smaller frame from Bark cardstock and one smaller from watercolour card.

4. Die cut one Holly and Berry from red and green cardstock.

5. Stamp up the sentiment and robin image onto watercolour cardstock using Vintage Sepia ink pad.

6. Cut a strip of King's Crown glitter card and stick across the centre of the card.

7. Layer the watercolour cardstock on top of the other frame and stick onto the card.

8. Add the holly and berries to the side of the card.

9. Add Stickles to the snow on the image and leave to dry.

Product Spotlight - Taylored Expressions Calendar Critters

Hi Bloggers

Back again, a little later than usual but we have been busy getting the orders out today and just ran out of time for the blog post.  But not to fear, we did not want to miss our regular Wednesday slot so its better late than never.

Today Caz has been making some projects with the Taylored Expressions Calendar Critters Rubber Stamps.   As the name implies these are perfect for making your own Calendars but work equally well as decorate for other project and you will see what Caz has done with them.

First off here are the Calendar Pages that she has made, unfortunately time restraints were in place and she only managed the first three months (apparently she had to sleep)  but I hope you can get the idea behind the pages.  The calendar was a free printable, which was printed onto white copy paper and cut down.  Mounted onto pieces of 6 x 6 card and decorated with various dies.  These could be used individually, bound with the Zutter Bind it all or bound with Book Rings. 

A frosty blue page for January, with this funny little Penguin.

This cute little dog holding the cutest little heart is perfect for February. 

Spring is on our mind with this adorable little lamb!

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Now onto a few more projects that Caz made.

These two little boxes were made with the WRMK Candy Box Punch Board

This one was made with a piece of paper measuring 7" x 7"

This one is a lovely size for a table gift for the Christmas Table

And this one was made with paper measuring 4" x 7"

Perfect size for a ferrero rocher chocolate (*to give you an idea of the size)

Add a ribbon hanger and these would be perfect hanging off the tree.

Of course both have been decorated with the Calendar Cuties

Last up a fun little card.  Caz wanted to play with the new

papers from the WRMK High Five Collection.  The florals on it

inspired her to create this fun and flowery Birthday Card with

some summery images and punched out flowers.

There is a die set that matches these Calendar Cuties, and as an extra treat you'll find the die set in the clearance section so grab a bargain and save yourself fussy cutting these stamps.

The dies can be found HERE

Until next week, keep on Crafting!

Create & Take: Snowy Wreath

Hi bloggers, it's that time of the week again to share last week's Create & Take. Today's card was designed by Caz using the adorable Penny Black Little Snowy stamp alongside the Marianne wreath die set.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Little Snowy Woodblock Stamp

Marianne Design Craftables Wreath Die Set

Marianne Design Creatables Mix & Match Bows Die Set

Bazzill Basics cardstock in Green, White, Red and Brown

Watercolour Pencils

Glitter Glue

My Mind's Eye Sugarplum Glittered Merry Cardstock

Core'dinations King's Crown Glitter Cardstock

Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink Pad

Instructions:

1. Stamp Little Snowy onto a die cut circle and colour with watercolour pencils. Edge the circle with Vintage Photo distress ink.

2. Die cut the wreath from white card and gold glitter card. Snip one of the wreaths and intertwine it with the other.

3. Die cut greenery and cones from green and brown card.

4. Cut a strip of Glittered Merry cardstock to fit the width of the card blank.

5. Stick down Snowy and the wreath and then add the greenery and cones around it.

6. Die cut the bow from red cardstock, snip the tails to put into position and add this to the bottom of the wreath.

7. Edge the rest of the card with Vintage Photo distress ink.

8. Add a bit of glitter glue to finish.

The Penny Black Snowy character has been so popular at Crafts U Love with Little Snowy being the only one left so make sure you buy yours today so you don't miss out!

Product Spotlight - Sizziz Sophie Guilar - My Little House

Its Wednesday, again!  Where does the time fly? 

We have another Product in Spotlight and this week it is a die set that is a little older to us at Crafts U Love but sometimes these dies can get overlooked for some reason or another so Caz thought she would give her die set a work out and created 4 little houses that would look cute hanging from the Christmas Tree, filled with festive treats or look warm and cozy on the mantel piece with battery tea lights inside.

Sophie Guilar - My Little House

Here is the House as Sizzix has demonstrated it on their packaging.

As well as the house you get a round and square window, door, flower and Heart so there are lots of decorating possibilities.

The house from bottom to top measures 11cm

and the main body of the house measures 5.5cm x 5cm

And here are some that Caz has made.

With the stripy paper and Kraft Coloured card

it reminded Caz of a Gingerbread house so she used

the candy cane to decorate either side of the door. 

Add that cute little heart from the set and it finishes it off perfectly.

This one, and you can not see in the photo has the Opal Glitter

card on the roof giving it a shimmery finish.  Lovely and Festive!

The tree was cut twice and the top one folded in half to create a 3d tree.

This one is a bit more Rustic and Caz used the

Elizabeth Craft Designs Stone Paper Pad and this one

has a golden roof.  Caz's Moto, you can never have too much

glitter card at Christmas!

Last design is this simple but pretty house, a pastel plaid roof and

used a left over piece of the Marianne Wreath cut in gold. 

These houses were such fun to make, untold paper choices, placement of the windows and doors is totally up to you how you design it.  Caz used Acetate in the windows.   And when you place a battery operated tea light inside you have the soft glow shining through the windows.

I hope you like this weeks projects and are maybe inspired to make your own Little Houses.

Create & Take: Snowflake Diamond Box

Hi bloggers, today we are going to share with you last week's Create & Take which was a beautiful little favor box from the Sizzix range. Heidi used the Snowflake Diamond Box die set to create a wonderful gift box that can be hung on the tree or placed on the Christmas dinner table as a placeholder gift.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Sizzix Lindsey Serata Snowflake Diamond Box Die Set

Marianne Petra's Poinsettia Die Set

Bazzill Basics Cardstock - Petunia

Bazzill Basics Bling Cardstock - Diamond

Core'dinations Opulent Opal Glitter Cardstock

Pink Organza Ribbon

White Satin Ribbon

Pink Stickles Glitter Glue

Extra Tools Required: double sided tape, sharp scissors and wet glue.

Instructions:

1. Die cut four body pieces and selected elements from the card/glitter card.

2. Apply double sided tape to the long tabs of each body piece and stick two body pieces together.

One pair will become the bottom of the ornament and the other, the top.

3. Using scissors, remove all of the small tabs from what will become the bottom piece.

4. Apply double sided tape to all of the smaller tabs, to what will become the top piece of the ornament. 

5. Create the top and bottom pieces by sticking together the remaining long tabs to the corresponding opposite sides.

6. Stick the small hanger piece to the 'back'.

7. Thread white ribbon through and tie a knot.

8. Tie a small bow using pink organza ribbon and stick onto the box.

9. Stick down poinsettia pieces to the top of the box as shown above.

10. Stick the top part to the bottom, one tab at a time.

If you wish to use the box as a favor box, do not stick down the long tab and the two nearest smaller ones together. This allows the panel to open and close.

If you prefer to follow a picture tutorial please click here.

NEW Product Spotlight - Marianne Pillow Box

Hi Crafters

Its Caz back again with this Wednesdays NEW Product Spotlight and I hope you enjoyed last weeks look at the Mini Alphabet Punch Boards.

This week I am taking a look at the Marianne Pillow Box set.  I must say I am rather partial to making 3d items, and boxes are my favourite and this time of year I can see  many uses for them.  From decorating the tree, place settings and gift gifting ideas.  These boxes are perfect for small gifts like jewelry, and also a novel way of gift giving someone money or a gift card.

Here is a look at the die set itself, so as well as the wonderful Pillow Box you also get 9 other dies that you can use to decorate your Pillow Boxes or other projects.  The assembled Pillow Box measures from the longest point to longest point 11cm.  If you measure midway (where to box curves inwards) it is 8.5cm.  It is 7.2cm wide and approx 3cm deep on the deepest part.

Decoration ideas are limitless and here are a few that I have made in the last

couple of days.  I will list underneath the items I used to decorate.

First up is this cutie with a Penny Black stamp set called Santas Helpers

Also decorated with a snipped off piece from the Marianne set called Wreath

which I cut from a piece of the Bazzill Gold Glitter Card Kings Crown

This glitter card is gorgeous to use, does not shed and die cuts like a dream.

(comes in 17 colours HERE)

Coloured with watercolour pencils and added Gold Glitter Glue.

How cute would this look on your Christmas Table with a tag with your

guests name on and filled with some delicious Christmas Treat?

Second up for my samples is a Pillow box that I decorated with an

Autumnal theme using some dies from Tonic.

Autumnal Oak Collection

I swiped the Embossed leaves with  Tonic Nuvo  Embellishment Mousse in Indian Gold

and once again I used the Bazzill Gold Glitter Card Kings Crown  for the acorn.

Owls are very popular and I love them!  Here was my simple decorated

Pillow Box made to look like an Owl.  

The wings were created by die cutting just the end parts of the pillow

box and cutting so it just left long pointed ovals.  The whole box was edged with

Distress ink and I used a old striped stamp for the owls tummy.

A scalloped Circle and Plain circle were used to create the eyes and

 some bling added to the centres.

This one was sort of my first "Failed" attempt at an owl. 

 But it turned out very funny, more chicken like and a bit wacky, 

too cute to not share!

  Someone will love him right?

For my "Chicken" I used some other dies from the Pillow Box set to decorate.

The Face and Wings are both cut from the heart that comes with the die set.

The eyelashes are from the flower, his feet are the snipped off ends of the Bow and the bow was what was left over once I cut down the ends for the feet.  How very resourceful of me :)

 My last Pillow Box and on this one I used the heart from the 

Pillow Box Die set to create a Acetate Window.

I then die cut the Marianne Wreath from the  Bazzill Gold Glitter Card Kings Crown

Cut it apart added glue to it and then stuck it down around the edge of the heart.

The Brown, Green and Bird is from the same Wreath set.  

Once again I used the Embellishment Mousse in Indian Gold 

to add some interest to the die cut pieces.

I really enjoyed using this die set, there are so many other things I could have done

if I didn't have to sleep!.  I am looking forward to creating with this for Christmas Time and I 

am planning to make one for the table for each of my family.

There are a few more examples of this Pillow Box that Marianne have used so click HERE to see those.

Until my next post next week!

Happy Crafting

Caz x