Crafty Crease #23: Tag ideas 2

This was my second class at SENZ and probably my favorite.  Wendy is well known and a great tutor. She has her own section on the Scottie Craft website called "Wendy's World".

Not only was she vivacious and fun but well organized.  There is a lot of preparation work that goes into classes like these and it makes all the difference to how smoothly the class runs.  Some people did find the fast action pace we worked at a bit challenging, but it was definitely up my alley.  Six tags, all different techniques, in 2 hours - totally amazing!!

I learned a lot of new techniques and got to use a variety of tools / accessories that I hadn't used before. Some ideas appealed more to me than others and I have a few new ideas, as well as a few more supplies, to help me hone those skills better.

Below you will find a photo of each tag, and the technique used to create them:

Falling Leaves
Embossed transparency covered with alcohol inks
Shrink plastic button with alcohol inks.
Word tags made with Core-dination paper and sanded to reveal word

Goddess
Spellbinders Goddess Die
Embossed background sprayed with Perfect Pearl Mists
Crackle paint and stains

On the Edge
Spellbinders Edgabilities (waxed paper)
Distress Stain background blend
White embossing
Stamp on transparency

Letter Press Resist
Sizzix Letter Press on fabric with Adirondack paint dabbers
Distress ink colour wash seam binding (ribbon)

Impressible Impressabilities
made own stamp pad with distress re inkers and cut n dry felt
Word tags made with Core-dination paper and sanded to reveal word

Bird Santuary
Spellbinders bird sanctuary die
Background using embossing ink and chalks
Birdcage with distressing embossing powder

Crafty Crease #22: SENZ class: Altered Canvas

Two of my three classes that I took at SENZ were run by Scotties Crafts.  This class was an altered canvas utilizing Tim Holtz products.  My favorite part was learning to make my own coloured tie dye ribbon just using the Distress Stains.  Such a simple idea but with great results!

The canvas came from the $2 shop and Sue, our tutor, had her lovely husband spend hours cutting up the chicken wire mesh for us all in advance.  Sue has her own blog, so take a look when you get time or need inspiration.

 http://patriciasue.blogspot.co.nz/

Sue sent us the instructions which you will find here:

Senz Class Everything Tim

Crafty Crease #21: Going to SENZ 2012

SENZ is the biggest paper crafting event of the year!

While visiting Scotties Crafts in Auckland for the first time, I was inspired by their wonderful staff to take some of their classes they were doing at SENZ in Hamilton this year.

This is not something I would normally be brave enough to do but after meeting the Scotties Crafts girls and chatting to them, I felt at ease.

My BFF who was with me at the time, had a birthday of which I was yet to provide a present for and I immediately booked her into 2 classes with me.  

Later on, I decided to do a 3rd class all by myself ..... and I would've booked more except I was too late to get into the ones that interested me.  I have discovered that you have to be really quick to get in and not to hesitate because there will not be a second chance!!.

I really enjoyed SENZ.  I saved up some money cause I knew I was going to spend heaps at the stalls and I certainly did that!!  This was my first Scrapbooking Expo.  My only advice to anyone going is.....

Book classes as early as possible

I was frustrated not being able to go to all the classes I wanted to but thats because I booked so late.  I now know that I will have to be in quick next year.

Extra Costs

The classes themselves were excellent value for money and the kits you get are filled with embellishments, accessories and tools.  However, I did get a bit of a fright when I got emails from the tutors suggesting what I would need to further acquire 'extras'(other than the basic kit that most people have). What made it worse was that they often had these extra items at the class anyway!!  Do not buy the extra items before you go,  only take the 'extras' if you already have them.  

So not only did I pay $45 per class, then paid for the 'extras', I realized that I would also have to pay for entry too!!  I did 3 classes over 3 days and it all adds up.  I think there should at least be a better discount for those doing classes.

Go either on the first or last day

Public days like Saturday are a crowded nightmare!  Great for the stalls but everything from parking, amenities and getting to checkouts were testing on ones patience.  Not a place to take young children.  The Sunday was dead quiet but that was also influenced by the inclement weather.  Great for me to shop though.   

Take sustenance with you.  

The cafe had queues for miles!!  You get so absorbed in whats going on around you that you sort of don't stop till you're hungry or thirsty.  By that time, waiting in line is unbearable.  Either take a drink and snack with you or be prepared to go and come back (but lose your carpark!).

Don't be afraid to ask. 

I saw lots of ideas that appealed to me but was too shy to ask the first day.  I summoned up the courage when my curiosity got the better of me.  I found that almost all of the retailers are craft mad and are willing to share with you how they went about their creations.  One stall not only told me the exact color inks and paper she used but also allowed me to video her demonstrate a technique for me (which I will post later!).  Lots of retailers also permitted me to take photos of displays too.

Make a list before you get there

I made a quick shopping list of the things that I needed (Lets be real ok!  Things that I really wanted!) to get first and everything else was a bonus.  I guess it gave me something to compare prices between stalls with too.  It also helps you to focus because a place like SENZ can be very distracting mentally and financially!  I ignored one item on my list and sorely regretted it when I came to my senses only to find they were all sold out!!

Scout first, shop later

It was worth doing a quick look over all the stalls.  You would be surprised at the differences in prices!!  I quickly worked out where I wanted to spend more time.  Scotties Crafts were my favorite stall - they had some great bargins  followed by Montarga Stamps.

Love this store - comprehensive site

Check out her card gallery - its fabulous!

SENZ next year: Auckland July 5-7th at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre

THE NEXT BIG THING .....

The Craft and Quilt Fair is an Australian fair.  Hamilton is the only NZ venue they come to.

  

EVENT DETAILS:

September 6 – 9, 2012 

Open 10am – 4:30pm daily

Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton

HAMILTON'S CRAFT & QUILT FAIR ADMISSION:

• Adults $14
• Children (from 5 to 16 years) $8
• Family (2A + 2C) $34

Crafty Crease #20: One Page Exploding Box

For my big 40th Birthday last year, my talented sister in law made me this amazing multi page exploding box.  She revealed to me later that she discovered it on YouTube.  So I thought that I would give it a try.  Well...there are so many to choose from and so many varieties.  But the one that stood out for me was the one page box (plus a bit more for the lid).  It was ridiculously easy to make that my young nieces could make it.  It basically consists of nine 4" squares.  Each square can be be decorated with a photo or embellishments and then the whole thing can be folded up into a box that will stay as such with a lid.  You can put something extra special in the box if you wanted to.

The Tutorial

In this tutorial, I will use my scor pal with imperial measurements.  However, if you don't have one you could easily measure this out.

This is what you will need to make the basic box and lid:

1 x12' square piece of patterned card
1 x large piece of co ordinating scrap card for the lid
Scor pal OR 
Ruler & pencil
Scissors
Bone folder
Double sided tape

Metric Preparation:

Most card for scrapbooking is made in 12' squares.  This equates in metric terms to 30.5 cm.  Before ruling up, you will need to cut off 1/2 a centimeter from the side and bottom to give you a 30 cm square card.

The Box 

Place the 12 inch sheet on the score pal and score at 4' &8'.
Or rule at 10 cm & 20 cm
Rotate 90 degrees.
Score again at 4' and 8'. (10 cm &20cm)

Your sheet will how have 9 squares.

Make a cut up to each intersetion as indicated by the red arrows above.

The Lid 

Using the scrap card, find or create a flat corner to align to the top left of the score pal.
Score at 1', 5' & 6' or rule at 3cm, 13cm & 16cm
Flip over or rotate the card 90 degrees

Score again at 1', 5' & 6'
Cut out using the outside score line as a guide.
Cut the left hand score line up to the fold line intersection on each side to create flaps.

With the right side facing up, place double sided tape onto each tab.

Peel off tape and fold the tab inwards to sit on the fold line.
Align the long side to the tab corner.
Repeat for the other 3 tags...

The lid completed!!

Putting it all together

Use a bone folder to fold up the small flaps.
Press firmly to create a good crease.
Repeat this on all sides.

Use a bone folder to fold up the large flaps.
Press firmly to create a good crease.
Repeat this on all sides.

With the wrong side facing up, pick up one of the large flaps.

Half of the flap should be able to fold around creating an 'L' shape
that will sit on the fold lines of the middle square.

Pick up the next large flap and repeat the previous step.

Keep repeating this action until you have a loose box.

Secure the box with the lid!

Now that the basic box has been completed, you are able to decorate and embellish it as you please.  The box is a perfect alternative to a card.....you have 9 squares that you can add photos, mementos, stamps, stickers, messages, anything really.  However, if you make the box bulky you will need to add a mm or two to the lids dimensions so that it can all be secured.

Depending on how generous you feel, you can put your gift in the middle, chocolates, a cupcake, etc...

When the recipient opens the box, the whole thing should easily fall into a flat one page with just a little encouragement.

Crafty Crease #19: Mini Pocket Book

Inside Cocktail Book - The Recipe Tag

This little book with pockets has probably been the key reason that I got myself so caught up with scrapbooking in the first place.

In December last year, my BFF and I looked for Christmas gift ideas that were cheap to make but looked good and could be personalised for each recipient.  After a bit of research on YouTube, we decided on this mini pocket book.  We decided to do 3 different types of booklets:

1. Cocktail book
2. Recipe book
3. Garden seed book (either floral or vege)

Seed Book

Inside Cocktail Book - The Recipe

Each book has 8 tags and therefore either 8 recipes or 8 packets of seeds.  To keep the cost down we bought bulk lots of seeds where we could.  Instead of tags we used little ziploc bags placed in brown wage envelopes that we could personalise on the outside.

My BFF is pretty flash in the kitchen so she chose tried and true recipes that were quick and easy to make.  I took it upon myself to try and test cocktail recipes that utilised similar alcohol bases - its a tough job but someone has to do it I guess!!

Inside Seed Book

Some other ideas I have thought of are:

• Family photos
• Bread recipe book
• Non alcoholic cocktail book
• Voucher book (the monetary or free kind)
• Single event memory book
• My favorite things about you brag book

The Basic Pocket Book Tutorial

I was staying with my sister recently and asked my niece Sophie to help me with the photos.  We just used what we had to get the job done, so the ruler ended up with two jobs - measure and bone folder!

What you need:

• A manilla file (of course I prefer the Kraft kind)
• A pair of scissors
• A ruler
• A bone folder

Step 1: Cut off the extra bit at the side

Step 2:
Open out your folder

Step 4:
Repeat wit the right side of the
folder.

Step 3:
Fold the left edge to the centre
fold.  Crease firmly with
the bone folder

Step 5:
Open out your folder again

Step 7:
Open out your folder.
You should clearly see 8 sections.

Step 6:
Fold the whole folder in half along
the length of the open folder.

Step 8: Creating the pockets
Measure 5 cm up along the short sides.

Step 9: Using the 5cm marks as an indication, fold up along
the long sides of the folder to create the pockets.

Step 10: Repeat on other side

Step 11: You will need to make one cut only.
Take note only to cut through 6 sections (3 rows).

Step 12: Make the cut!

Step 13: Add Red sticky tape to the corners as shown above. 

Step 14: To make the booklet
Pick up the folder from the middle to bring both sides together.

Step 15: Starting from one side make a valley fold.

Step 16: Continue on to make a mountain fold.

Step 17: Finish this side with a valley fold.
Repeat steps 15-17 on the other side.

Step 18: Voila...the basic pocket book.


Finishing it off.....

Add extra sticky tape shown

The book can now stand on its own and is ready to decorate to your hearts desire!!



A special thank you to my lovely niece Sophie who willingly repeated steps, followed scant commands and all with a lovely smile and enthusiasm.