Crafting Up the Coast

Jon celebrated his birthday recently, and this is what my artist created for his packaging. Handy with all kinds of tools, he just finished a bathroom in their home, but what he’s really good at building is cool industrial furniture! Jon’s also excellent at building relationships—one of the reasons we love him and are so glad he’s part of our family!

Hello there! Do you have a favorite item that you like to give? For me, it’s a set of all-occasion handmade greeting cards. For many, cards are a way to celebrate specific occasions or a way to express emotions. But no matter the reason for sending a card, one thing is for sure—they’re always sure to brighten someone’s day!

This beautiful set consists of four different cards/envelopes and an adorable little window box to hold them. To create this set I used the Love Sparkles Stamp Set (item #143183), Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes (item # 131527), and silver Designer Series Paper from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack (item # 138435). Various other elements such as Silver Metallic Thread (item # 138402), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (item #119246), 5/8″ Silver Satin Ribbon (item # 134548), and Silver Sequin Trim (item # 138399) were used to embellish the cards.

The first is a thank you card. The flower was created using the Big Shot (item # 143263) and Succulent Framelits Dies (item # 142757). Not only are these dies used to create succulents but they also make pretty flowers! This Daffodil Delight Cardstock (item #119683) flower is the perfect addition to this card. It adds a subtle yet pretty touch to this soft color scheme.

Next up is a gorgeous love note. This sweet card features the Falling Petals Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item # 142761) and a Real Red Cardstock (item # 102482) heart cut from the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies (item #141489). The Love banner was created by stamping the Love sentiment in Real Red ink (item # 126949) on a Pink Pirouette Cardstock (item # 111351) banner. A tiny little white bow from the Sending Love Ribbon Combo Pack (item # 142737) adorns the right side of the heart.

The last two cards are pretty much dual purpose. Since they don’t specifically refer to any occasion they can either be for a birthday, congratulations, or just because. The first one features an adorable balloon bouquet created with the Balloon Bouquet Punch (item #140609) and the silver Designer Series Paper from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack (item #138435). A simple Pool Party Cardstock (item # 122924) banner stamped with Island Indigo ink (item #126986) adds the perfect finishing touch!

Last but not least, this card says “It’s your day to sparkle” (another dual purpose card). My favorite element on this card is the little banner created using the Confetti Stars Punch (item # 135861). So fun!

This picture shows how the completed set looks all boxed up and ready to go.

Thanks for joining me! I hope you have enjoyed my project and are inspired to create a set of all-occasion cards for yourself or to gift!

Dani Dziama
2017 Artisan Design Team

Easter is the perfect opportunity for giving small, hand-crafted presents.

These small baskets are a great Easter gift, and can be easily made with the Basket Builder Framelits Dies (item 143228).

Instructions

You need 2 strips of cardstock for the baskets, sized 13.5 x 5.5 cm.

Score them at 4 cm and 9.5 cm.

The grass is die cut with the Framelits, but the cuts don’t go all the way through to the end of the cardstock. For this, let the bottom edge of the Framelits hang just over the edge of the cutting plate of the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (item 143263).

Once you’ve die cut both strips, the baskets can be assembled.

The blades of grass can be carefully intertwined . . .

. . . so that you don’t necessarily have to glue the basket together at the sides.

Unless you want to put in lots of chocolate. 😉

Now you can decorate the baskets, for example with small eggs (Basket Builder Framelits Dies; item 143228), butterflies (Timeless Tags Thinlits Dies; item 142755), ribbons (3/8″ [1 cm] Ruched Ribbon in Flirty Flamingo, item 141426; Peekaboo Peach, item 141427; Sweet Sugarplum, item 141428),

and a sentiment (Time of Year Stamp Set, item 141790, and Bunch of Banners Framelits Dies, item 141488).

And you can fill them, too. A few chocolate eggs and a little lamb found their way into my baskets.

Wishing you lots of fun with this project!

Sylwia Schreck
2017 Artisan Design Team