Asian Folding Screen Card 2

Basically, this card was made in a similar fashion to the one in the previous post, but it is more subdued.  I think it would make a good birthday card for a male recipient.  The printed card stock was from the KaiserCraft 6-1/2" square pad as were the die cut sentiments.

 For decoration instead of the wooden floral pieces, I used strips cut from scrap card stock.  This is another quick-to-assemble card which is sure to impress and please the recipient. I am a happy crafter!

Asian Folding Screen Card 1

The base for this folded card was made with a Sizzix die that I discovered in a clearance bin at HM Ben Franklin Crafts in Hilo....so many amazing finds there.  Sizzix makes a lot of folding card dies so I just had to find one that would accommodate the cranes in the circle.  Using KaiserCraft printed card stock from a 6-1/2" square pack, I die cut the red inner panels.  After applying them to the black card base with double stick tape (Heiko), I decided that the card looked like an oriental folding screen.

 By adding the KaiserCraft wooden pieces (painted with cream colored acrylic) to the corners of the cards, I thought that it looked even more like a folding screen...yay!  The double crane circle was stamped on white marking pen paper and heat embossed with NUVO glitter noir powder before die cutting with a KaiserCraft die. Embossing the design with powder made it easy to color in the design with gold and silver Wink of Stella markers and a red color pencil.  After the colored, stamped crane image and sentiment die cuts (from the KaiserCraft paper pad) were added to the folded card...Voila! It was done! Be sure to visit HM Ben Franklin Crafts to see the new line of KaiserCraft paper products. I know you'll want some when you think of all the wonderful things you will be able to create. Happy Shopping!

Tropical Photo Folders.

Recently, while perusing the graduation supplies available at HM Ben Franklin Crafts, I discovered some attractive photo folders in 10 packs. I picked the lauhala look because I thought local crafters would find it fun to decorate for graduations, weddings or other celebrations.  The stores also received a shipment of KaiserCraft products including a tropical line with dies, stamps, embossing folders, die cuts, printed card stock, and wooden pieces.  To simplify the decorating, I die cut the hibiscus and monstera leaves out of watercolor paper and painted them with Daniel Smith watercolors.

 I think this line of watercolors (sold at BFC) yields some amazing results and makes each die cut unique. It's fun to practice watercolor techniques on a small die cut.

To add to the folders, I adhered some KaiserCraft printed card stock to the left side of the folders and added the die cut (Avery Elle) 'aloha'. This allows a space for the person in the photo to write a message.

 Onto the lower right sides of the folders, I used Heiko tape to attach the die cut KaiserCraft words.

 If you are limited on time, you can just use glue dots to attach KaiserCraft die cuts to decorate the photo folders.  However you decide to embellish the photo folders, I think you will appreciate the simplicity of this useful, decorative project. Happy Graduation Season!

I just realized that a grandchild's photo in the tropical photo folder would make a great Mother's Day gift. Happy Mother's Day too!

Bunny Tea Time Thank You Card

 I am a big fan of the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit stories (much to the annoyance of my boys who reluctantly listened to me read the books and only half-watched the videos) so of courseI love the Hero Arts images in the 'Welcome Home' clear stamp set with matching dies. Because the images are so petite, I needed a way to make them stand out.  The solution was to use the Spellbinders 'Contemporary Squares' die.  I cut two panels, one from pearlized pink cardstock (Paper Accents 5x7 pad sold at BFC) and the other from white watercolor paper.  The animal and teapot/tea cup images were stamped onto watercolor paper and die cut after coloring. Originally, I had planned to color everything on the watercolor paper with watercolors, but silly me, I forgot and used markers instead...they look okay anyway. The 'Thanks'(Impression Obsession) was also cut from the pearlized cardstock.  

For extra cuteness, I added some self-stick pearls which come on a sheet that can be cut apart in rows for easy application.  The mini half pearl stickers can be purchased in the HM Ben Franklin Crafts wedding department. I 'found' the pink pearl hearts in my bottomless stash drawer *wink*wink*.  The background floral paper came from a 6-1/2" square KaiserCraft paper pack. HM Ben Franklin Crafts will be carrying KaiserCraft papers in the future and I think you'll be thrilled by the selection. Lots of new items will be flowing into our stores so go shopping and give your crafting a boost!

Peek-a-Boo Shaker Egg Tag

 I first imagined this project as a card but then I realized that the largest egg die was pretty small, so it became a tag. LOL!  I came up with this design while reminiscing  about my favorite Easter memory, which was when my parents gave me a hollow sugar egg with a scene inside.  I started cutting out the egg card base by positioning the largest Spellbinder egg die slightly off the card fold so that the card would cut out in one piece.  Next I die cut another egg shape and die cut the  Sizzix circle window into it.  With the Darice daisy embossing folder, I impressed the egg shape with the window. A piece of acetate was glued behind the window and two foam sheet eggs were die cut.  Slightly larger circles (than the one used on the front) were die cut out of the foam eggs...this is so they won't show through the window.  The foam eggs with the windows were glued down onto the card front before adding the egg-shaped confetti and die cut 'chocolate' bunnies. A little lacy ribbon was added for decoration and to form the tag loop.

 I am obsessed with the Impression Obsession word dies like the 'Easter Greetings' because they are so beautiful and easily die cut the fancy delicate letters. I like that unlike stamping, die cutting isn't risky....you can't undo a botched stamping.  I plan to do this peek-a-boo egg again (perhaps next year) after I find a larger egg die. Instead of confetti I think I will fill the window with a scene (to recreate the one in the original sugar egg) and maybe I'll apply some superfine glitter to replicate the sugary surface of the real sugar Easter egg. I hope that you'll take the time to make some Easter memories for yourself and your loved ones.  Happy Easter!

Bunny with Eggs Slider Card

Wow!  Easter just sort of 'hopped' up on me. Hopefully, I will be able to get a few Easter crafts done before I have to go on to Mother's Day, graduation season and summer days!  I just got the Swing and Slide die set so I just had to incorporate it into a card with my Hero Arts fancy bunny die.  I started by using one of the dies to cut a channel. To disguise the channel, I glued in the cut out blue piece so the yellow channel wouldn't show.  

It was simple work to die cut and glue in the grass ( Impression Obsessions) and eggs (Spellbinders). The 'Easter Greetings' sentiment was also super easy to do using the IO die on Pearlized Cardstock (Paper Accents 5x7 pack) from HM Ben Franklin Crafts.

 The Little B butterfly sticker was a final touch to fill in the blank spot. I think it was just what the card needed. 

When I die cut the bunny for the card I used one white card stock and one brown.  I didn't realize that I was supposed to use the dies simultaneously . On one piece of white card stock, the die cut out a sweet bunny who could be colored in (color pencils and chalk) and its paws, tail and ears could be popped out to make the bunny more 3D.

In this close up you can see how adorable the dimensional bunny is. Just by itself it dresses up an embossed, edge-punched tag. Well, I gotta hop along so I can post a few more Easter crafts....jump back for a visit again and leave a comment if you can spare the time. Thanks!

Wrapping Up Shower Gifts

 Just a quick post to show you how I wrapped up some shower gifts.  I purchased the sakura (cherry blossom) bags from HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  The large sakura stickers that I used to fasten the thanks labels to the bags were also from BFC. The textured wrapping paper used for the gifts were from Celebrations (our store next to the Mapuanapuna Ben Franklin Crafts).  The printed ribbons were purchased at HM BFC.  I made the dres shaped boxes using a Big Pro Sizzix die. Some of the HM BFC stores may have it for you to use in the store if you purchase the paper. I decorated the dress boxes with sparkle netting and tiny flowers from HM BFC. I hope this post has given you ideas for making your shower or party a really special event.  You can trust HM Ben Franklin Crafts and Celebrations to have all the pretty goodies to help you wrap up your event in style!

Druzy Quartz, Crystal, and Pearl Necklace

 I wanted to make a very special gift for a very special bride-to-be....my son is marrying her!  Many of the gemstones for this necklace were purchased from HM Ben Franklin Crafts. By wire wrapping the beads with 24 gauge sterling silver wire and adding sterling silver curb chain plus a heart toggle clasp, I was able to complete this 24" necklace in a few hours.  I got the idea for this piece from two necklaces by two different jewelry artists whose work I admire.  By keeping the color palette neutral, I feel that it can be worn with many outfits without making TOO much of a statement. I hope that this post has given you some inspiration to make jewelry that can be simple and yet compliment worthy. Give it a try!