Seaside Zine

As part of my design team duties for the Tangie Baxter and Co Art Journal Emporium I write a blog post each month. This month Tangie had this wonderful idea, members of the emporium would make and share little Zines with each other. I loved this idea and so wrote my blog post about my Seaside Zine.

  These little books are so easy to make and I had such fun making mine, all cut and paste work. I made the background using my Gelli plate. All the images are from Tangie Baxter and Co

  You can find out exactly how I did it with step by step photos on the Tangie Baxter and Co blog
here - http://shoptangiebaxter.com/blogs/news/oh-i-do-like-to-be-beside-the-seaside-zine-by-katrina-rollings

 Also information about the Art Journal Emporium, which is fantastic value here - http://shoptangiebaxter.com/

  Finally here is my little Zine -

If you like to art journal or would like to get started, I can recommend the Art Journal Emporium, I was a member for many years before I joined the design team and it really is lots of fun.

Tiney fairy book

 I have another little project to show you using the beautiful Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest paper collection and the sweet little Woodware Chippies Tiney books chipboard set I have made for The fruit Pixie online shop.

  Woodware Chippies are blank chipboard shapes you can paint or cover, depending on what you are making. I have used the Tiney books set, well half of the set, to make my little book.

For the base of the book I just covered the book pages, both sides, with some of the Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest background 12x12 paper and cut the ribbon slips. Remember to do this before you cover the reverse side or you will never find them!

I then used the images from the Dazzling Damsel 8x8 background paper to collage my pages.

All of the word strips are from the Gilded grandure 8x8 paper, as well as the cute little stamps on the front cover too. I believe in fairies is a stamp from the Enchanted Forest stamp set 1.

I then used some ribbon to compliment the book to tie it all together. 

TIP- For the ribbon ties, place a pencil on the ribbon before you tie the knot so you have room to turn the pages.

As you can see its a sweet little book and great fun to make.

You can find the Woodware Chippies Tiney books here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/woodware-chipboard-414-c.asp

Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest papers and stamps here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/enchanted-forest-696-c.asp

Ribbons here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/may-arts-ribbon-410-c.asp

I think this would be a great project for the children to make and the summer holidays are just around the corner too!

Gift money envelope

 Here is my latest project for the Fruit Pixie, who I design for, using the Payper Box Kraft Paper collection.

    These papers are printed on 130g Kraft paper with a beautiful pattern on one side then plain kraft on the other ( so geat for using up all those little scraps we have left over ) They cut and fold well and so are perfect for all our card making and scrapbooking projects.

   I have teenage Nephews so I am always looking for ways to give them the money they ask for for birthdays and Christmas in a way that looks like I have put some thought into it. This little money envelope is perfect for any age as the paper you use to make it alters the look. It is cut on my Silhouette Cameo, the paper cut beautifully.

This one I actually made to give to my Mum as part of her birthday gift so to add a little bit of sparkle I used my glitter pen to draw around the design, which worked very well.

You could even use a quicky glue pen and glitter too which would look amazing.

As you can see this paper is very versitile as being kraft on the wrong side both sides can be used.

This range comes in 4 different paterns and 5 different colours. I used the purple daisy for this project.

You can find all the papers in the range in the Fruit  Pixie shop here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/12-payper-box-695-c.asp

the quicky glue pen here -

 http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/sakura-quickie-glue-pen-5213-p.asp

glitters here -

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/cosmic-shimmer-polished-silk-glitter-600-c.asp

Paper Box Retro paper gift bag

  I am taking a short break from the Graphic 45 papers to show you the new papers in the Fruit Pixie shop from Paper Box. The first set I have to show you is the Kraft Paper Retro. It's 12x12 and 130gsm so it folds and cuts beautifully. It is printed on one side but because it is printed on Kraft paper you also have the plain Kraft on the other side, so all the off cuts can be used on other projects. I have used the pink but it also comes in brown, yellow, evergreen, leaf green and orange.

I used my Silhouette Cameo electric cutting machine to cut out my gift bag and tag shape and it cut beautifully. Try it in your die cutting machines too.

It has a lovely Art Neuvo inspired pattern on it and as its a fairly simple print it gives you lots of scope to add your glitters or use your glitter pens. I have just coloured in the flower center on the front of my bag with my clear glitter pen.

My tag was cut from the left over paper and then I cut out the flower and applied it to the top. As the paper is the same coloue it just blends in.

I was really happy how these papers held the shape of the bag and as I said before cut beautifully. Do have a look at them, there are other designs in the collection and I will be focusing on the other designs shortly.

You can find the Paper Box Kraft papers in the shop here - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/12-payper-box-695-c.asp

Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest Princess matchbox

  At the moment I am working with the Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest papers as a designer for The Fruit Pixie and really enjoying them. For my last post I showed you a super cute Fairy matchbox. Well I couldn't just make one, they are such fun to make and the papers have so many lovely characters to cut out and use I had to make a second one.

   This time I went for the Princesses.

Now, I made my base matchbox using my Silhouette cameo electronic die cutting machine but there are a lot of free templates available on the internet to use. I made my base in kraft card and then covered the cover of the matchbox in one of the pretty papers in the 8x8 paper pad. 

I then cut out one of the panels from one of the papers, I chose a Princess one this time, and stuck it to the top of the base part of the matchbox.

Then I  put the drawer of the matchbox together and covered one end with another of the papers. There are lots of details among the paper designs that are perfect to cut out and use as embellishments, like this roundel.

To make this embellishment I punched out the design using circle punch and then punched a piece of the scrap kraft card to back. I did that because I wanted to use some Glossy Accents over the top and I find when you do that to small pieces they can curl if they are too thin. I used the crackle Glossy Accents but you can get the same look with the regular Glossy Accents. 

If you want the cracked look but haven't got the crackle Glossy Accents then just use the regular one thickly. leave to thoroughly dry and then just bend it and you will find it will snap and crack. I has to be applied thickly though.

For the inside of the drawer I started by covering the sides with pieces of the papers from the pad to make it look like a room in the castle. I then made the bunting with the sweet little flags that cover another one of the papers. I cut them out and glued them to some bakers twine and hung them across the back of the room.

We then needed Princesses to live in our castle, so I chose two of the princesses from the page full of characters and cut them out. The larger of the Princesses I added 3 layers of 3D foam to her back and then stuck her to the back of the drawer. The smaller one I added 2 layers of 3D foam and also stuck her to the back of the box.

All it needed then was to pick out some highlights with my trusty clear glitter pen and my mini scene was finished.

I have had such fun with these two projects.To find the other matchbox I made, just go back a post and you will find it there.

The Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest paper and many other wonderful things, can be found here in the Fruit Pixie shop - 

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/enchanted-forest-696-c.asp

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Enchanted Forest fairy matchbox

   I must admit I do love to work on 3D projects, and will save any little container I can paint or cover in any way. My new thing is matchboxes. I love all the little scenes people make in these little boxes, great fun!  So when I saw the lovely little people that cover one of the papers in the 8x8 Enchanted Forest paper pad by Graphic 45 I new what I wanted to do with them...........they were destine to live in a  matchbox!

    I made my matchboxes using my Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine but there are lots of free templates available online and as they are all straight lines, simple to cut and make up.

   The first one I want to show you is my I believe in Fairies matchbox

I made my matchbox base in craft card and then used a piece of the black diamond paper to cover all the sides of the matchbox cover leaving a thin margin of the base card to show. I then chose one of the lovely panels from another paper, the I believe in Fairies one, and attached that to the top of the matchbox.  Using a clear glitter pen I traced over some of the highlights to add a little sparkle.

For the end of the matchbox drawer I cut out one of the little roundels from one of the papers and then used one of my own brads.

The inside of the drawer I covered with the red script paper, picking out the Once Upon a time for the back. I then cut out a couple of the fairies from the page full of fairies and princesses. The main fairy I raised up on 3D foam but the small one I stuck flat on the back. The happy ever after is a small piece of the word strips also on one of the papers.

Then all you have left to do is place the drawer inside the cover and your little matchbox is finished

So that is my first matchbox I have to show you, the second one I will show you in my next post. So watch this space!!

You can find the paper in The Fruit Pixie shop here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/enchanted-forest-696-c.asp

  I am still spellbound by the Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest papers that you can find in the shop ( link will be at the bottom of the post )  I have been working with Graphic 45 papers ever since they started but one thing I have noticed that is new and such a good idea is the templates they now include on the covers of their 8x8 paper pads.

                     Here they are. Excuse the dark pictures, it was such a dull day, but you get the idea.

As you can see you get all sorts of tags and a wonderful pillow box. These are great because you have the beautifully printed card on the other side and as it is the cover of the paper pad it is perfect for them.

So I thought I would make the pillow box up for you to show you how it looks. Of course the savvy crafter would  make a template from them too!

  All I did was take the cover with the pillow box printed onto it and cut it out along the solid lines. You then need to crease the dotted lines. The easiest way to do this is to find something soft, like an old fashion mouse mat or just a few pieces of scrap paper and then using a bone folder or the end of the handle of a spoon draw along the dotted lines. You can use a ruler to guide your scoring for the straight bit but for the curves you have to do it freehand.

Apply wet glue to the straight flap and stick it to the straight side on the other side, allow to dry. You will then find your flaps at either ends will fold down beautifully to close the box and give it its shape.

Of course you then need to decorate your lovely pillow box now. I chose a panel from the paper pad and cut a couple of swirls, also from the paper pad, using the Sue Wilson splendid swirls.

I also cut out one of the tags and just decorated it with a couple of the cute little stamps that are also in the paper pad.

The Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest is a really beautiful collection and the addition of all these templates just gives you somewhere to start.

You can find the Enchanted Forest Collection papers in The Fruit Pixie online shop here -  http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/enchanted-forest-696-c.asp

The Sue Wilson Splendid Swirls dies here - 

 http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/sue-wilson-die-splendid-swirls-24678-p.asp

Payper Box bone folder -

 http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/payper-box-bone-folder-20088-p.asp

Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest Fairy Tower

     At the moment I am working with the Graphic 45 Enchanted Forest papers for the Fruit Pixie, a wonderful online shop who I design for.
 
     Now, I was playing with these papers at my last crop and a lot of my crafty friends, although they love Graphic 45, said they found then difficult to use because they were too nice and didn't want to spoil them. I have herd many people say this and even felt it myself, but if you keep them in a draw and look at them now and again, where is the real pleasure in that? But if you jump in and make something with them, cut them up and make a beautiful project, you then have had the pleasure of making something and then you can then either use it, looking at it or giving it to someone. Now I think that is far better then having a cupboard full of paper isn't it?

    So with that in mind, here is my first project using these wonderful papers.

  When I first looked through the 12x12 papers and paper pad the first thing that I wanted to make to make a fairy tower. The closest thing I could find was a chess piece made using my Silhouette Cameo.

I increased the size of the tower slightly and cut the pieces out on my machine in craft card. I then used the different elements in the 8x8 paper pack to decorate my tower.

Of course the tower had to have a flag. So I cut down a bamboo skewer and using a die and my die cutting machine cut out a flag from one of the pattern papers.

One of the papers has rows and rows of these wonderful flags. I cut some of them out and glued them to some bakers twine.

There are plenty of boarders and word strips within the patterned papers to cut out and use to decorate your projects.

For the main body of the tower I used the script paper.

Then the base was also decorated with patterned paper and boarders to finish the tower off.

The project all came together so easily as these papers are just so nice to work with. 

I think my Fairy Tower looks right at home among the primroses in our garden don't you ?

Do give these papers a go, there are endless projects you can make with them. I will be showing you a few over the next few blog posts.

you can find the papers in The Fruit Pixie shop here -

http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/enchanted-forest-696-c.asp

the bakers twine here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/fibres-ribbons--trims-54-c.asp

            

Butterfly shadow box

Here is my last project using the Craftwork cards Time Flies kit I have designed for the Fruit Pixie. This time I have made something that would make a lovely gift or just something for the home, a shadow box.

I made the shadow box using my Silhouette Cameo  electronic cutting machine but you can buy wooden ones online and on the high street fairly cheaply.

I used 2 different papers for the background, edging the second one with ink to match the butterflies.I also covered the frame with strips of the book script paper from the kit.

For the butterflies I popped them out of the die cut sheet and using a quicky glue pen drew a line just inside each butterfly and covered it in the Cosmic Shimmer polished silk glitter. I also added tiny gems from my goodies to the centre of some of them.

I folded the butterflies down the centre attached them to the background using a wet glue.

I then stamped Live your dreams by Visible Image in a purple ink onto the same paper as the background and cut them out. Then when I glued them to the background it looked as if I had stamped them straight onto the background.

So there we have it all done!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing what I have done with this kit, there is still so much you could do but so much wonderful stuff to play with............

You can find these products in the Fruit Pixie online shop

Craftwork cards Time Flies paper kit here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

Cosmic Shimmer glitter here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/cosmic-shimmer-polished-silk-glitter-600-c.asp

Live your dreams stamp here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/visible-image-live-your-dreams-23095-p.asp

Learning English Paper Piecing

I have started to teach myself English Paper Piecing patchwork ( EPP). I have made 2 quilts the modern way, using a sewing machine to sew the pieces together but decided the bit I enjoyed the most was the hand sewing. So I thought I would give this a try, it's the old fashion way to patchwork using paper pieces to shape your fabric and then hand stitch the pieces together.

  I treated myself to 2 wonderful books that I really recommend

This book takes you through every shape you will need to EPP with and how to stitch with them.

This book also explains very clearly how to EPP and also gives you projects to try too with instructions and patterns.

They both have wonderful instructions, photos and ideas. They have both been my constant companions.

For my first project I made the little pouch from the Quilting on the go book.

I love it it is so sweet and useful too and it was very easy to make. 

A few things I have found from a papercrafters point of view that has really helped.

1. I used my dies and die cutting machine to cut the paper pieces for my project. You could also cut the fabric but I only had a cheaper set of dies which was fine for paper and card but not fabric. I have now upgraded my hexes set.

2. Great way to use up all those off cuts of card we all have too.

3. I also used my Silhouette Cameo to cut my pieces for my latest project. You can import Jpeg and size and cut extremely accurately in large numbers quickly.

This is such a nice hobby to sit and do out and about or in front of the TV. So far I have stitched on the bus, in parks in Vienna ( I made a cushion cover while on holiday, more about that in another post) at my parents house, in the garden sat in the sun and in the evening in front of the TV.

I think I have found another love! Why not try it too?

Craftwork cards Time Flies flower card

 Here is another card I have made using the Craftwork cards Time flies kit for The Fruit Pixie.

   This kit, along with the beautiful papers, also has wonderful flower and butterfly die cuts. It also comes with the matching Candies which I have used on this card too.

The card blank was cut using my Silhouette Cameo but there are all sorts of lovely card base shapes on the market you can play with.

I covered the base with the lovely papers and used some of the borders that come in the kit as well, down the sides

For the main focal point in the centre I used the Candies to make a frame around the circle. Now Candies if you have not come across them before are small domed rounds of paper, they say they are a brad without legs. I find the best way to attach then is a small square of 3d foam.

I then added one of the die cut flowers and a butterfly, to which I had added wire antenna 

In the centre of the flower I added more of the Candies.

As you can see this kit is beautiful and so nice to work with.

You can find the kit in the Fruit Pixie shop 

here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

Poetry is a shadow journal page

As part of my Art Journal Emporium crew duties I write a blog post each month about a journal page I have created. This month I chose to work with the grab bag kit we get each month with our Emporium membership. You can find my full post here http://shoptangiebaxter.com/blogs/news

   Here is the finished page, a step by step walk through can be found in my blog post.

                       

            Hope you like my page, would love to know what you think. You can learn more about the Art Journal Emporium here - 

Art Journal Emporium

Craftwork cards Time flies card

Here is another of my projects using the beautiful Craftwork cards Time flies kit I have made for the Fruit Pixie.

      This kit, as all of their kits, is so versatile and can be used in all sorts of ways, Today though I am going to show you one of my cards I have made with it.

      It is a simple card as everything you need is there in the kit. All I added was a DL card blank, a piece of ribbon to make my bow and some craft wire to form the butterfly antenna.

First I covered the card blank with some of the paper in the kit.

I added the Happy Birthday sentiment using some 3d tape. I then cut some craft wire, folded it in half and wound the 2 ends around a cocktail stick to make then curl. I then used some hot glue to attach the wire to the butterflies and the butterflies to the card. 

All I needed then was to tie a bow and add it to the card using my hot glue gun to finish.

So a really quick and simple card but it still looks lovely.

You can find the Time Flies kit in The Fruit Pixie shop

 here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

DL card blanks here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/5-craft-uk-dl-card-blanks-ivory-11830-p.asp

Beautiful ribbon here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/ribbons--trims-ecfb8nproducts179curpage-2-179-c.asp

Time Flies kit wreath

      I have been playing with the Craft Work cards Time Flies kit for the Fruit Pixie, who I design for Its full of butterflies and flowers and truly beautiful. It has the usual wonderful paper pad. The die cuts this time, along with sentiments and toppers for your cards, are butterflies and flowers. Then of course they give you the candies to match.

     I loved the flowers in this kit and so decided to make a small wreath using them. To make the base I just cut 2 hoop shapes from some box card stuck them together and then covered it with strips of burlap fabric, which gives it a nice rustic feel.

         I then removed all the flowers die cuts from the card and drew around the inside of them with a quickly glue pen and sprinkled over the Cosmic Shimmer polished pearl glitter. I then shaped the flowers using my bone folder. All the die cuts are cut from a nice weight card so they hold the shape beautifully.

         The larger flowers I left single because I loved the butterfly image on them but the others I layers up to give some dimension and used some of the Creative Expression pears in their centres. I attached them to the base using a hot glue gun.

                    

     For the butterflies I did the same to apply the Cosmic Shimmer pearl glitter and then stamped a small word onto some of the waste card from the die cut sheets and cut them out and glued them to the centre of the butterflies.

     I then cut some thin craft wire and formed them into springs by wrapping the wire around a pencil, leaving a straight length at either end. Using a hot glue gun I attached one straight end to the underside of the butterflies and then the other end I pushed into the burlap fabric on the wreath. This gives the butterflies some movement as they hover over the flowers.

       

                         

       I then picked some ribbon to match the project and tied a bow. I also added another short piece to form a loop to hang the piece, attaching them both using a hot glue gun. My project was then finished.

                I hope you enjoyed looking at this project with me and will have a go yourself. I am working on other projects to show you using this kit, there are so many things you can do with it and it is all so beautiful as you can see.

                You can find the products I used, which are all available from The Fruit Pixie  -

       Craft Work Card Time Flies kit here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/craftwork-cards-8-x-8-collection-pack-time-flies-25760-p.asp

       Creative Expressions pearls here - http://www.thefruitpixie.co.uk/creative-expressions-embellishments-ecfb8nproducts464curpage-2-464-c.asp