Tatty Teddy Spinner Card

What is it about spinning cards, moving cards etc that I love so much, honestly I don't know I just LOVE THEM. If I could make a card that could sing and dance I think I would be in heaven!! This is a card from last months demos showing off the Do Crafts Tatty Teddy decoupage and papers. Not much of a bear person myself but this little guy has proved to be the exception to my rule. Cute.......

Cardmaking Summer Challenge................. if you dare!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I would love to see what you can come up with from this tutorial. I have given no finished sample for you to bounce off. I just want you to work from your own crafting inspiration. This is a general tutorial with no step by step pictures just a couple of tables showing scoring and cutting to keep you on the right track.

Take a good photo of your sample and email it to me at cliona_larkin@yahoo.co.uk and I will put all samples up on my blog for everyone to see. All entrants names will go in a hat and a winner will be picked out (by an independent non card making person) to win a little goodie pack that I will put together. This is not a competition, it is a challenge so the winner will be a random pick and most of all it is for FUN…………. You have until the 31^st of August so take your time and enjoy making it. This Challenge is open to everyone from beginners all the way up to designers, its not about how amazing your projects might be but its all about giving it a go and taking up the challenge.

CUBE GIFT BOX

Trim a sheet of A4 card to 21cm x 28.4cm.

Score down the long part of your card from top to bottom at 7cm and 14cm.

Score down the short part of your card at 3.7cm, 10.7cm, 17.7cm, 24.7cm.
The next scores will be in the top and bottom sections of the card only. Score at 5.7cm and 22.7cm.

Cut the last scores that you made in the top and bottom rows and then cut either side of them (see below image),

Cut marks are indicated in thick dark lines.

On the short tabs, cut at a slight angle, this step helps the box to close with all the layers of the card.

Use the middle folds to create a box, with the end pieces as half a box each.

Place sticky tape/glue on small flaps for the half box lids and the flaps beside them to help the internal box stayed closed (this little gem I want you to work out yourself…….come on you can do it…..you know you can….)

Here are a couple of photos to give you an idea of what your project should look like (before it is decorated). The first picture shows how your box will look just before you tape it together to make the internal box.

 This is how your box will look completed before you decorate it.

Enjoy and remember it’s just for fun…………

Card Gift Set Tutorial

This was one of my favorite projects at my last demos. It has taken me forever to do the tutorial so apologies for that!. It looks very involved and difficult but I promise it is a lot simpler then it looks and you could do it with your eyes closed once you have made it once. I photographed all the steps so hopefully it should be easy to follow. Enjoy.Please note: some measurements are in inches and some in centimeters so just keep an eye out for that through the tutorial. I have indicated this on each section you are making.

Base Card measured in inches - 12" x 5¾"

Score along the length at (inches) 5¼"  and6 ¾"

Fold score lines.

Now is the time to decorate internally.

Now to make your pen holder. You do this by wrapping a piece of 1cm x 5 ½ cm piece of card around the pen to create a loop. You will have the two ends sticking out the back of the pen (see photos). Decorate your internal central panel and when this is done, cut a slit in a central position large enough for your two ends to tightly slide through, keep the pen in the loop at this stage as you want to make sure it fits nice and snug to the book.. Turn to the central outside panel, cut off the excess on the loop ends and stick down the remaining ends. (see photos). Now when you cover the external outside panel the fixing of your pen holder will be covered.

 Also decorate externally at this point as it will be more difficult to decorate after the pockets for the envelopes and cards go on inside. When you start to decorate externally the first thing you must do is attach the ribbon. I wrap it around the length of the book and leave extra for my bow hanging out the edge. Stick this ribbon down with a small piece of double sided tape placed centrally on the front panel, the back panel and the middle panel, this will help stop it moving when you are decorating the rest of the book.. Once this ribbon is in place it is time to cover it by decorating the covers with your papers and toppers.

Internal Pockets (make 2 of these).    **Working in centimeters this time**

Cut a piece of card stock to 10cm x 15cm

Score down the length at 1cm, 2cm, 13cm and 14cm

Score across the width at 6cm and 7cm        

 

Cut out sections as shown in photo. Cut on the inside of the score lines (closest to the inside of the piece of card). No score line should be left visible in these sections.

                                                                                                                                           

Place double sided tape in area shown below. Tape should be strong and no wider than 1cm. If you don’t have tape

at this width just cut some larger tape to the right size.

Fold all lines in valley folds (all one direction – see photo below)

Remove backing from double sided tape and stick.

 When stuck together place double sided tape (strong) all over the back as shown below.

Pockets are now ready to stick on and decorate. It is important to get these as central and in line as possible.

I tend to make the envelopes and cards before I stick these down as you can then pop an envelope into the pocket before you stick the pocket down this will ensure you are placing it at the right height (so envelope doesn’t show over the top of the book). I then take off the tape and place the second pocket on top of the first (see photo). Please excuse the battered look of the second pocket it is my demo sample!. I then close the cover over so it meets at the edge and press down gently so it catches onto the double sided tape on the pocket. Open up and ensure the pocket is stuck tightly

 Cards- (4 of these needed). (Inches)

Cards are measured and cut at 8" x 4" and scored at 4" across width. Fold over and you will have a 4 x 4 card.

Envelopes to fit 4 x 4 cards – (make 4) (Centimeters)

Cut a piece of card to measure 24cm x 12½cm

Score at 1cm and 11 ½ cm along the long side of the card

Score at 4 1/2cm and 16cm down the width of the card                                            

Cut out shaded areas. On the inside of the score line cut the side flaps in at a slight angle so they can fold in nicely without catching.

 

 Put strong double sided tape in area shown (larger end panel)  

 Corner the edges to soften the look of it all.

 See – pretty!!!!

 Take off double sided tape, fold in all scores and stick together as shown

 Put double sided tape on the flap so envelope can be sealed for posting

 Decorate as desired.  I have stamped the Tatty Teddy little wooden stamp Peekabear and then used the clear Forever Friends "The Good Life" (Journal) set and stamped it over him.

On the back I have again stamped from the Forever Friends "The Good Life" (Journal) set.

 Well that is it, I hope it made sense to you all. Hope you have fun making it. I have made one with the new Christmas papers and if you don't get to see at my demo don't worry as I will upload it as soon as the demos are over in a few weeks.

Hug in a Box Tutorial

Using a 12" x 12  single or double sided paper  cut to 8 ½ x 11 inches. (see hints below first)


I am using single sided in this tutorial (the same paper as above but in green) so I can show you how to cover up the workings of the box. If you are using very patterned paper like the Birdsong Tree paper I am using here you need to be careful which way you cut your 12 x 12 sheet of paper. You will want to keep a long section for your Belly Band Wrap that will have the pattern running the right way and you want the card to fold with the pattern showing straight instead of sideways. To do this I do the following:

With the pattern facing up towards me I made a mark at 11” along the end of the 12 x 12  paper (the trees are facing me in the correct direction) and up the side (of the paper and the trees) I made a mark at 8½” . Cut at the 8½” mark first as this will leave you a band long enough to wrap around your card and the pattern will run in the right direction. Then cut at the 11” mark you made and this will leave you some strips for decorating the sides.

Right now to get making:

Working from the left side score 2¹/₈" from the edge down the long part of the paper– now do the same on the right hand side.

Working from the left score down the short part of the paper at 1¼" and 3 ³/₈". Now do the same down the right hand side. You will have four score lines running down the short part of the paper and two lines running across the long part of the paper.

 

If you are working on single sided paper face the pattern up towards you. Or if working on double sided paper face towards you whatever side of the paper you want to show in the center box .

 With the short side of the paper fold in the inside 3³/₈" score and strengthen fold with a bone folder, Then take the 1¼" fold and fold it back so the pattern of that fold is now facing you (see photo).   Do the same on the opposite side. Strengthen each fold as you work.

 You will end up with paper looking like the photo below.

 Now fold in the remaining folds towards the center.

Grab the top corner of one piece of a flap and  make a crease in the bottom corner at the fold (I do it with my nail). Fold the top corner back to the folded  line. You will be left with a corner section of paper showing. See photo. Do this to all four corners.

 Your paper should now look like this..

 Now open your paper out and hold it as shown below

 Keeping the flaps held straight up in your hand start to push back the corners on one side then on the other. They should fold back quite easily as you will have reinforced the folds with your bone folder whilst making the box.

 When both corners are at the back and you are left with just one panel. Just fold this flap back. Do the same on the opposite side.

 Your box should now look like this.

 Push sides together to complete the making of the box.

 If you have any pieces hanging over the sides of the box just snip them off. This will not effect the movement of the box it will just tidy up anything looking a bit messy. 

Now to make the belly band. You will have a long strip of paper left over. Cut this to a long 1" width strip. 

Hold it centered over the front of your box and gently fold back to wrap around the back of box. Do not strengthen this fold you want it a tiny bit loose. Its hard to describe but you want it loose enough to slide up and down the box but not so loose that the band slips off the box. Confusing...............yep. Just  have a bit of a play with some spare paper and you will soon get the hang of it. 

Using double sided tape stick both sides of this band together at the back. (do not stick to the box).

If you have used double sided paper it is now time to decorate your belly band and your inside of your box. If you are using single sided paper there is just one more step to completion.

You may want to cover the folds that are visible on the sides of your box. Just cut paper to the size of these white pieces and double side them down. This will not impede the movement of your box at all. The strips you have left over will probably be too small to cover the whole piece so if you look at the picture below where I used blue Birdsong Tree paper you will see that I covered the whole side in white paper and used the small strip of patterned paper I had left by sticking it down to the edge. Using a thin outline sticker I covered the join of the two papers. Don't get confused now, yep its a different color. This was the original Hug in a Box that traveled around demos with me , its a bit battered and creased from loads of handling but I am getting very lazy and have to run off and do loads of stuff so I am going to just finish this tutorial off with my blue box pictures! he he he!!!

Last of all add your internal center piece. I have used the Tatty Teddy from Do Crafts, doesn't he just scream Hug Me. Love this bear. I stamped him on to grey card so all I had to do was cut around him and add blue to his nose and patch. The stickers are also from the Tatty Teddy range.

 I am a bit of a talker so I hope I haven't waffled on too long and you have been able to get the step by step instructions worked out OK. When I originally saw this fold on the internet on various web sites, I honestly can't remember what they called it, everyone had photographs inside their box so do keep this in mind for Birthdays etc. Personally I would just love to receive a Hug in a Box through the post, what a boost that would be. I have made one up for Christmas with Rudolph inside................ oh the possibilities!!