Create & Take: Butterfly Wishes

Hi bloggers, it's time to bring you some inspiration this week with a review of last week's Create & Take using the stunning Meadow Butterfly #2 die by Sizzix.

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Debi Potter Meadow Butterfly #2 Sizzix Thinlits Die

LR0420 Marianne Design Creatables Gift Card Die Set

Taylored Expressions Flowers for a Year Stamp Set

Mini Flower Punch

Circle Punch

Core'dinations King's Crown Glitter Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Coconut Swirl Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Chiffon Cardstock

Tim Holtz Distress Inkpads in Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Abandoned Coral and Fossilized Amber

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Chiffon cardstock to fit the base of the card. Use the Marianne die with an embossing mat through your die cutting machine to emboss the die onto the cardstock. Edge the card with the Fossilized Amber ink pad.

2. Cut the Meadow Butterfly die twice from white cardstock. On one of the cut out pieces colour the leaves with Shabby Shutters. On the other piece colour the flowers with Abandoned Coral. Cut the flowers out and stick in place over the die cut with the green leaves.

3. Using the Meadow Butterfly die again, die cut from Gold Glitter cardstock and cut round the butterfly and stick in place.

4. Punch out some flowers from gold glitter cardstock and stick on the card as pictured above.

5. Stamp the wording onto some white card using Peeled Paint ink and punch out with a circle punch and stick onto the card.

This card is simple but very effective and we love how Caz used the Marianne die to emboss the design into the cardstock which gives us even more ways to use our die cutting stash!

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.

Create & Take: Owl Fold-a-long

Hi bloggers, we have an owl-tastic card for you today using the Jen Long Owl Fold-a-long card die by Sizzix. Be the envy of all your crafting friends by making a unique shaped card. Also check out the Jen Long Fox Fold-along card die by Sizzix.

So let's get started.....

Products:

Sizzix Jen Long Owl Fold-a-long Card Die

Woodware Older, Wiser Stamp

Marianne Fancy Flower Die Set

Bazzill Basics Cardstock in Green, Brown, Pink, Black, Orange and White

Prima Heaven Sent Paper Collection - Joyful Arrival

Pink Iridescent Bubble

Victorian Velvet Distress Ink Pad

Viva Feather Stamp Set

Instructions:

1. Die cut the owl from patterned paper and fold along the score lines. 

2. Die cut the centre owl from white card, stamp the wording with black ink and stamp the feathers with Victorian Velvet ink. Sponge the edges with Victorian Velvet.

3. Die cut the different pieces of the owl from various coloured cardstock. Since the owl die set only includes one die for the eyes, wings and face you will need to die cut these pieces twice and flip them over to use on the other side of the card. We recommend using a non textured cardstock when cutting these pieces so you don't notice the difference in cardstock when you flip the piece over.

4. Die cut the flowers and shape the petals and build them up to make a 3D flower. Add a pink iridescent bubble to the centre of the flower.

5. If desired add some ink to the edges of the card pieces before sticking and assembling.

These cards are such a fabulous alternative to the usual card blanks and would also make wonderful party invitations.

Create & Take: Butterfly Lantern

Hi bloggers, today we are sharing with you last week's Create & Take using the new Sizzix Butterfly Lantern die. This adorable 3D miniature lantern would look perfect as a table decoration with a little LED candle placed inside.

So let's get started...

Products Used:

Sizzix Butterfly Lantern Die Set

Bazzill Basics Cardstock in Parakeet/ Beeswax/ Stonehenge/ Orange

Maja The Sunnyside Side, NYHAVN 12x12 Cardstock

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad in Candied Apple and Ripe Persimmon

Queen & Co. Light Blue Twinkle Goosebump

Tonic Studios Nuvo Drops Turquoise

Tonic Studios Nuvo Mousse Pure Platinum

Sponge Dauber

Instructions:

1. Die cut four of the side panels from Stonehenge cardstock and GENTLY swipe a small amount of mousse with a dauber over the card. *This is meant to give just a light hint of shimmer and not a total cover up so use sparingly with a sponge.*

2. Die cut solid butterfly from the Maja cardstock, detail butterfly from orange bazzill. Swipe edges with Ripe Persimmon ink pad.

3. Die cut sprig first from Parakeet cardstock and then just the flower part from orange. Swipe edges of flower with Candied Apple ink pad.

4. Assemble the lantern by sticking the tabs together, make sure you fold along all score lines before assembling. Add the handle to the top of the lantern and then stick the butterfly, flowers, sprig to one side of the lantern.

5. Finish by adding a gem, glitter glue and some Nuvo drops.

This die set is not just limited to making the 3D lantern you can also use the dies to design a card also. Check out Caz's sample card below.....

Create & Take: Out on the Open Sea

Last week's Create & Take was a nautical themed card using the new Shipmates die set from Emily Atherton's collection for Sizzix.  A great card for the men in our lives and worked brilliantly with the Swirling Stitches die from memory Box, showing how you could use this die to illustrate waves in the sea.

Let's get started:-

Products Used:

Sizzix Emily Atherton Shipmates Die Set

Poppystamps Scribble Clouds Die Set

Memory Box Swirling Stitches Die

Bazzill Basics White Smoothie, Ocean, Nautical Blue, Kraft

Bazzill Basics Mylar Holographic Cardstock

Carta Bella Circus Icon Cardstock

Crystal Stickles Glitter Glue

White String

Red Ink Pad

Sponge Dauber

Instructions:

1. Cut Circus paper to fit the square card base and stick in place.

2. Cut a piece of Ocean blue cardstock and die cut the Swirling Stitches onto it.

3. Die cut the boat from Kraft, White and Nautical Blue cardstock and then cut and assemble as shown.

4. Die cut the anchor from a piece of Mylar cardstock and thread onto the string. Wrap the string around the Ocean blue cardstock and stick to the back with a piece of tape.

5. Die cut clouds from white cardstock.

6. Assemble the card as shown above.

Join us this Friday for Create & Take between 10am - 12pm. This week's card will be a Spring theme.

Create & Craft: Heartfelt Thanks

Happy Monday bloggers! Today we want to share with you our Create & Take from last Friday using some of the Sizzix Craft Asylum dies.

So let's get started......

Products Needed:

Sizzix Craft Asylum Love Bird Die Set

Sizzix Craft Asylum Decorative Trim 2 Die Set

Sizzix Craft Asylum Friendship Tags Die Set

Echo Park Chicks 12 x 12 Cardstock

Carta Bella Voyage 12 x 12 Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Atlantic Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Sour Lemon Cardstock

Bazzill Basics Candy Heart Cardstock

Black Versafine Ink pad

Thin Twine

Penny Black Heartfelt Clear Stamp Set

Instructions:

1. Die cut the bird twice out of the Atlantic cardstock. Die cut the head from Sour Lemon and die cut the wing from Voyage cardstock. Colour the legs and beak of the bird with a dark brown pen. Adhere the head and wing in place and set the bird to one side.

2. Cut a piece of Chicks paper 5" x 5" and layer on one side of an unfolded square card blank. Use a low tack tape to hold the paper in place and using the square shape that comes in the Love Bird die set cut through both the cardstock and one side of the card. 

To do you will need to use nice clean cutting plates i.e. minimum scratches!

Only roll the card through the machine as far as it needs to go to cut the square.

3. Stamp sentiment on bottom right corner of Chicks cardstock.

4. Take some thin twine and sandwich the bird either side of the twine and then stick each end of the twine into the card where shown to make sure the front of the bird is on show inside the window. Stick the Chicks paper in place over the card.

5. Cut the heart border from the Voyage paper and the small inside of the heart from Candy Heart cardstock and adhere in place.

6. Cut tag shape and hearts from papers and adhere to the card.

The design of this card allows you to take a simple card layout and make it more impressive by having a window element inside. You could even add cardstock inside the card to add background patterns or colours to the window image.

Craft Asylum dies from Sizzix have some lovely designs and are at a great price that doesn't break the bank!

Create & Take: Easter Gift Box

Hi bloggers, welcome to a new week! We have a lovely project for you today from last week's Create & Take using the dies that come with the New Big Shot Plus Starter Kit. After using this machine for a day to prep the kits for the Create & Take I can tell you that it is definitely a dream machine and worth upgrading your standard Big Shot machine, especially if you want to cut A4 dies. It makes cutting multiple dies a breeze as you can lay them all out with different cardstock and cut all those different elements with one pass - time saver!

The Big Shot Plus Starter Kit is definitely worth the extra money as the kit comes with a range of Bigz and Thinlit dies plus some great papers as well, take a little look below.....

Big Shot Plus Starter Kit - £159.99

Big Shot Plus Machine - £119.99

Get your Big Shot Plus here

Now on with today's project, the Easter Gift Box - using the dies that come with the starter kit.

Products Used:

A4 Kraft Card

Bazzill Basics White Textured Cardstock

Echo Park Orange Spring Dots & Stripes Cardstock

Echo Park Happy Easter Cardstock - Carrots

Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit

Taylored Expressions Many Mini's Holidays Stamp Set

3D Foam Tape

Twine

Papermania Gold Shimmer Dome Stickers

Instructions:

1. Using the Big Shot Plus machine, kraft card and box die, cut out the box shape and then use scissors to cut away the lid.

2. Fold along the crease lines and then assemble using double sided tape.

3. Cut out the lid section again using white card and then cut away all but 2cm of the box, fold along the crease lines and assemble the lid using double sided tape. Adhere the back flap to the top of the back of the box base.

3. Using the Scallop Trim Thinlits die, cut out a white border and attach to the lid using double sided tape.

4. Cut out a strip of Carrots patterned paper measuring 2cm x 13cm and trim end into a 'V' shape. Use double sided tape to stick this into position on the lid of the box.

5. Using the Tag Framelits die cut out a tag shape from white card, stamp 'Easter Blessings' and attach to the box using some twine.

6. Die cut a flower using the Bigz die from Orange Dots cardstock and layer this with an intricate white die cut flower and two die cut flower centers.

7. Finish by adhering a gold shimmer dome sticker to the center of the flower and place the flower on the top of the box with double sided tape.

And whoalah, a beautiful Easter Gift Box, now just pop some eggs inside and your ready to give it to that special someone.

For more inspiring ideas for Easter, don't forget to check out our Easter Pinterest board here.

New Pop n Cuts

New Pop N Cuts in stock now and Caz has been having fun with these already.

Materials Used:

Sizzix Pop n cuts Chair

Sizzix Foyer Embossing Folder Set

Penny Black Sunny Days clear stamp set (for the dog)

Imaginisce Papers for wallpaper and picture in frame

Joy! stamps Foliage Die

Puppy Power

Have you seen the new  Happi dies from Sizzix??  ADORABLE!  Here Caz has knocked up two puppies with her Sizzix machine and these dies and cut them so they are opening like a card.  If anyone wants a picture Tutorial how she did this just leave a message and we'll get Caz on the case.  She's also made a very girlie looking puppy too but that's still a work in progress.

I have a sneaking idea that this weeks kids create and take may include a puppy... Hmmm watch this space.

Tim Holtz Alterations

We are now stocking Sizzix at Crafts U Love and have started off with some Tim Holtz dies. I would like to share one of our customers cards (BJ Gregory) and my anniversary card to my husband Geoff, we have both used the Tim Holtz Heart Wing die set (BJ gave me the idea with her Rock card)

BJ Gregory

Paula Baughan