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

Create & Take: Christmas Cat

Hi bloggers, we have another Christmas Create & Take card to share with you this week, featuring the new Mini Envelope Die and Little Presents stamp set from CUT-IES.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Penny Black Santa's Helper Stamp Set

CUT-IES Mini Envelope Die

CUT-IES Little Presents Stamp Set

Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo

Distress Ink Pad - Fired Brick

Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad

Bazzill Basics Walnut Cream Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Kraft Cardstock

Karen Burniston Labels & Circles Die Set

Instructions:

1. Die cut a label (from the Labels & Circles die set) from Walnut Cream cardstock and stamp an image onto the shape using black ink. Colour the image with watercolour pencils and add some Vintage Photo distress ink around the edges.

2. Die cut a mini envelope from Kraft card and stamp brown snowflakes onto it.

3. Stamp wording onto a strip of cream card using black ink, stamp the heart with red ink and distress the edges with Vintage Photo distress ink.

4. Stamp border on the top of the card with Red Brick ink.

5. Stamp 2nd generation* image of snowflakes onto Walnut Cream card.

* 2nd generation stamping is a great way to get more out of your inks. To create a 2nd generation image, ink up your stamp and then stamp onto a piece of scrap paper before stamping on your project.

6. Cut a small strip of Walnut Cream card to create a little tag for the inside of the envelope and stamp with Santa wording. Add a glittered star either side to create something to grab hold of to remove the tag.

7. Start to assemble the card by following the image above. When sticking the bottom piece of striped cardstock make sure to leave an area clear of adhesive to create a pocket for the envelope to sit in.

This card is a great Christmas card and the mini envelope lets you include a little special message for the recipient to find and read.

NEW Product Spotlight - Mini Alphabet Punch Board

Following the success of the Alphabet Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers they released a Mini Version which is a card makers, Scrappers and Paper Crafters dream!  

This item came into stock briefly some weeks ago and since then we have been chomping at the bit waiting for this to come back into stock and we are thrilled to say

"It's Back".

This handy size tool makes letters that are sized perfectly to make titles on pages or the main focal point words for cards as well of course for banners and Home Decor.  The letters/numbers measure 1.5 x 2.5 inches and you get complete instructions in the booklet which is included.  There is also a free app for those tech savvy crafters.

For those of you have already have the Alphabet Punch Board it works in exactly the same

way but in a smaller scale.

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So here are a few things that Caz has made with hers recently.

Here Caz has created the letters BILLY to make a card for a new family arrival.

The letters were made from patterned paper, edged with a little distress ink

and sparkly peel off dots added to it.  This was an oversized card

made from a piece of 12 x 12 folded in half.

This type of card would be fantastic framed as a little keepsake long after the 

card has been displayed.

Here again Caz has made a creation for the new baby and used

the Mini Alphabet Punch Board to add the ABC, 123.

This was a very large clip frame with spaces for the

parents to put their own photos in and decorated with the

Karen Burniston Farm Animals.

I think you will agree how lovely it is to make these really

personalised items for family and friends and something they will treasure.

Here is a little more inspiration to whet your appetite

A couple of eye catching cards where the focus is definitely the sentiment.

I am thinking you could make some fabulous cards in all sorts of themes

by just choosing the right word, papers and embellishments you could create

something with this board for anyone.  

Manly papers, metal and wooden embellishments a fab card for men.

Pastel colours and pretty embellishments for girls of all ages the ideas and lists go on!

Limited only by your imagination.

A banner for any occasion and team this with the 

WRMK Banner Punch Board

and you are onto  winning combination.  These punch

boards work so well together.

And lastly we have this gorgeous Scrapbook page that shows how great this 

Mini Alphabet Punch Board works for Scrapping too.

Of course if you want to go large the Original Alphabet Punch Board

is there for all the large projects.

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I do hope this post has inspired you to look at this handy gadget.  We are sure it will get many uses for most crafters and be a tool you reach for many times.

Create & Take: Silver & Blue Holly Card

Hi bloggers, it's been a while since we have done a Create & Take review but now the launch of our fabulous new website has been and gone we are trying to get back to grips with updating our blog again. So we thank you for your patience recently and hope we can inspire you once again with our weekly makes!

So let's get started.....

Products Used:

Poppystamps Home for the Holidays Wreath Die Set

Poppystamps Swirled Peace Die Set

Taylored Expressions Holly Embossing Folder

Bazzill Basics Starmist Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Atlantic Cardstock

Core'dinations Silvermist Glitter Cardstock

Memento Summer Sky Ink Pad

Extra Tools: Trimmer/ Glue/ Die cutting machine and blending tool.

Instructions:

1. Start by die cutting one holly wreath from Silvermist glitter card and one Peace shape from Atlantic cardstock.

2. Cut a strip of Starmist card to fit the whole width of the card blank.

3. Cut another in Silvermist slightly smaller at each edge to leave a small border of the Starmist cardstock.

4. Cut a square of Atlantic card and a smaller square from Starmist.

5. Place the small Starmist square inside the Holly embossing folder and run through the die cutting machine.

6. Ink edges of card blank and Holly embossed square using the Summer Sky ink pad and blending tool.

7. Stick all items down onto the card blank as shown in photo above.

This is a really simple but effective card that is a quick make for those last minute Christmas cards.

Don't forget Create & Take is on every Friday at Crafts U Love between 10am and 12pm. No need to book as it is a drop in session. £3 per person which also includes a tea/coffee.