Christmas cracker from A4 card tutorial

Need a quick Christmas Cracker template to make crackers with your own 'larger' gifts?

Well this is what I came up with, it fitted all my oversized cracker gifts, but there was a risk of things falling out :(.

Anyway, these are quick to make and as long as you wrap your gifts in tissue paper they should stay inside...

Score an A4 sheet of card (landscape) 7.5 cm, 8.5cm and 9.5 cm from each of the left and right edges.

Fold in the card at the second (8.5cm) score mark, then mark (with a pencil) and cut at 1cm intervals up to the next fold.

Then cut at 0.5cm, diagonally across to the same point. Pull out and remove the off-cuts.

Fold down the card along the 7.5cm and 9.5cm score lines so that they create a valley fold.

Repeat on the other/side and lay flat.

Cut and stick red tape between the 3rd and 4th cm point along the edge of the card.

Peel off the backing of the tape, along the centre section and roll the card lining up the fold at the 4cm section along the fold at the top of the centre section. Stick down once you are happy it is in place and repeat at the bottom before doing the ends.

You can now decorate your completed cracker.

I created some simple stamped tags:

And here are some of my completed crackers...

... I'd love to hear your feedback if you make any crackers using this tutorial :).

Christmas wine bottle tag

I love to create tags to attach to wine bottles when giving these as gifts.  I think it just makes it more personal when you go to a dinner party, and they are also great as just gift tags too.

Here is a wine bottle tag that I made to co-ordinate with this card...

Why not knock up a few of these as you are bound to need them over the Christmas season :).

Christmas bag

Finally I have managed to sort out issues with blogger and can now add photos via another route, so scheduled posts are back... that is of course subject to actually creating something to post :).

Today I have a quick Christmas bag that co-ordinates with this card.

I have adhered a strip of Cherry Cobbler card stock, embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing  folder, to strips of Old Olive before attaching it to the sides of a pre cut gift bag.

The little tag was created with one of the Labels Collection Framelits dies cut from Old Olive card stock and then a selection of punches were used to create the Santa from scraps of Pink Pirouette, Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler card stock.

Finally I have used some of the Real Red taffeta ribbon to attach the gift tag to the bag.

Christmas tags

At my Christmas accessories class last week we made a selection of tags, a bag and a box, all to co-ordinate with the Christmas cards made in the previous weeks.  Here are the tags:

 



In case you want to check out the cards I've added links here:

1. Polar Party - here.
2. Scentsational Season - here and here.
3. Happy Hour - here.
4. Every Little Bit/Snowmen - here.

Scalloped envelope box idea

Well, I got back safely from Sweden yesterday and then had a frantic rush to get myself to Cambridge... and this is the first chance I have had to have a moment to myself.

What a lovely weekend... I can highly recommend Gothenburg for something laid back and full of things to do and see, but be warned it is very expensive to eat/drink there.  We managed to keep within a reasonable budget so I can still afford to go away again sometime :).

Anyway, with so much to do and so little time I didn't even manage to bring much craft stash with me here, so please forgive my fleeting post.

I've created a box using the scalloped envelope die, with some little gift tags, which would make a quick gift.

The box was created with Pool Party card stock, very easy to make with just 2 shapes cut with the die using my Big Shot machine.  I've then added a designer button with some of the bakers twine (current summer mini catalogue) tied through it.

Inside the box I've made some little gift tags/cards with the Packed for Birthday stamp set (also from the current summer mini catalogue), coloured with Stampin' Write markers.

Apologies in advance for any period of radio silence that follows... I haven't had a chance to make anything for a few weeks and this weekend looks like another working one, but I will do my best and get some new ideas posted as soon as I can :).

Cupcake tags

I had a great afternoon yesterday out and about... and today I have more walking planned, probably the last walk for a couple of weeks however as next Saturday I have my Crafty Get Together followed by other craft related plans all weekend and the following weekend I have a charity event and a demo to squeeze in.

So a quick idea for you today using the Cupcake builder punch and Curly Label punch combined with DSP from the Brights Collection, dimensionals and eyelets... these tags are great for attaching to birthday gifts.



Butterfly bottle tag

I just love to find a reason to make something other than a card.  Today I wanted to share with you one of the tags we made at my accessories class earlier this month.  I tend to use these as wine bottle tags but they will also work on large presents :).

The base is actually a large white parcel tag, which you can pick up at most stationery shops.  I have then cut a piece of DSP from the 'Brights' collection slightly smaller than the tag to create the background.

For the embellishment background I have punched a scalloped circle from mirror card (not Stampin' up!) and then embossed a 1 3/8 inch circle, punched from some Shimmery White cardstock, with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder using my Big Shot machine.

The butterfly is the 'All a Flutter' stamp on page 15 of the main catalogue inked with Chocolate Chip onto a scrap of DSP (pink).  I love this stamp... and it's a complete bargain at only £5.95.

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and has been inked with Regal Rose onto Whisper White and punched out with the Word Window punch... you can use whatever wordingi s appropriate for the occassion here really.



From card to tag

I didn't find time to do any crafting at the weekend as I was making the most of the reasonably good weather and getting out in the fresh air, walking mainly.

In fact I had a fabulous weekend catching up with my parents, old friends, some new friends and even managed to get some time just for me... and all without any crafting (sadly!).

So today I have a really quick project to share with you as I am back battling with life in Cambridge and didn't have time to find any photo's of other projects I was going to share with you...

I got the idea for these flower tags from a card that the lovely Amy made last month.

They are really quick to make:

- Punch 4 scalloped circles DSP, I've used the Brights Collection, and then fold each of these into quarters and then arrange into a flower shape onto another scalloped circle of cardstock (I used Crumbcake, although you can't see this in the photo).

- Glue a designee brad in the centre.  Note that the easiest way to do this is bend the prongs of the brad up and under the top and then add glue and stick to the centre of the flower. 

- Punch a hole with your Crop-A-Dile through the cardstock and one of the 'petals' and feed some linen thread through the hole.

Emboss resist

I'm back in Kent this weekend catching up with some very old friends, hopefully doing some walking and getting  fed and watered :).  So no crafting for a change - well, maybe!

Fiona, a fellow demonstrator inspired me a few weeks ago to give the emboss resist technique a go.  I thought I would start with something small so made a gift tag rather than a card:

The tag itself is a plain white parcel tag which you can pick up in packs in the post office or stationers.  I have inked up the bird image from the Clearly for You stamp set with Versamark and then embossed this with Whisper White embossing powder (clear powder will also work as it will retain the colour of the base you are using).  The sentiment was also created in the same way.

I then used a sponge dauber with Rich Razzleberry ink and covered the rest of the tag (remembering to remove the string and replace after it dried).  Finished off with a flower punched from DSP scraps using the Boho Blossoms punch and the leaves from the Bird Builder punch and a basic rhinestone in the centre.

I liked this so much I created a whole batch ready to adorn some gifts...

Do check out Fiona's blog as she has some great ideas using the emboss resist technique too.

Christmas gift tags

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  With just over a month until Christmas (I can't believe it!), hopefully all your cards are now made.  If not there is still time to order some bits from the catalogue - contact me to place your order.

Next on your list after your cards should be the accessories such as Christmas gift tags.  So, today I have a great quick idea to share with you - a swap given to me by Julie, a fellow demonstrator. 

Julie punched a tag out of some Holly Berry Bouquet DSP with the Large Tag Punch and then layered this onto a Real Red cardstock punched with the Extra Large Tag. She has then glued this onto a larger piece of Pear Pizzazz and snipped it into an even larger tag. The sentiment is from the Penant Parade Stampset and has been inked in Pear Pizzazz at the bottom. 

The hole was punched with a Crop-a-dile  and then she threaded through some Real Red Taffeta Ribbon ready to attach to a gift.