A Concerned Bird on a Card

I like having cards for all types of occasions. Sometimes, things don't go one's way. If you're me, OFTEN, things don't go your way. So I needed more cards for friends that need a pick-me-up.  

2020-2021 is turning into the 2 years of needed "pick-me-ups," and I'm not prepared. How could you be prepared for a year, that if it was a person, you'd punch in the face? So, I've started making cards for event of the "Sorry, that happened. Totally sucks. Let's go eat a whole pizza" occasion.  I've never seen that header at the card store.

Here's one for someone who's received bad (but not tragic) news-- a sympathetic, and concerned, red bird done in watercolour style.

I made this card a while back. But I always remake it to keep it in stock. Here's the video I made for how to create this one:

Materials used: Stamps: Tim Holtz Crazy Birds and Crazy Talk, Simon Says Stamp Naughty Nautical Ink: Lawn Fawn Jet Black; Distress Ink in Pumice Stone Tombow Dual Brush Markers: Colors (Reds) 847, 885, (Brown) 977, (Yellow) 991, (Light Blue) 451 Paintbrushes: Royal & Langnickel Watercolour in sizes 12 and 6; Foam Tape Adhesive and Tape

A (Hopefully Anti-Poke) Needle Book

I was watching YouTube, you know, as you do during a pandemic, and I came across a tutorial for a Needle book.  Looking at my state of needle storage, I thought that was a brilliant idea to coral my pointy things.  The tutorial I watched was by Nik the Booksmith Needlebook for Sharp Pokey Things - Tutorial

and I wanted to try and make it my own.  Not being a professional book smith, or really good at sewing, I made one anyways!  It was not as difficult as I thought.  If you want to make on too, here are the details and the video tutorial below.

Here's what you need for the project: -Design paper or cardstock - Felt -Button -Elastic cord - Glue - Scissors -Paper trimmer (optional) 

- Sewing Machine (optional) or needle and thread 

- any decorations you want to use (that's the fun part!)

Preparation: 

1. You will need to cut your felt into 3 pieces: 1 piece 6.5" x 4.25" for the booklet, and 2 pieces 1.25" x 2.25" for the needle storage parts.  
2. Then you will need 2 pieces of cardstock for your covers that measure 4" x 3".  You can use fabric, but the cardstock makes the booklet "Anti-Poke." 

Once you have your pieces cut out, you're ready to put it together!  Follow the instructions in the video for step-by-step instructions.

Made: 3D Shadowbox Cards

Time for another tutorial!  For some reason, the sound in this one is not... great.  I'm not sure why; I used the same microphone.  Ah, technology.  So awesome, and so annoying at the same time.

Just like Quarantine (nice segue?), I made some Happy Mail for people since we're still in Quarantine, and found out that schools will be closed until May 31st 2020 now.  However, today there is supposed to be an announcement About the plan to "open up society" again.  I have no plans in going out until its safe again.  So, there's that.

ANYWAYS, tutorial!  I filmed a tutorial on how to make these cards.  They are fun to make, and I made a couple of them with some of my paper stash.

Heh, "I don't need therapy, I talk to my plants."  Would be funny if it weren't very true of me and my quarantine experience.  I even named my plants.  When they droop and need water, I call them drama queens.  Ah, I have fun.

Here are the materials you will need to make your own Shadowbox cards:

• 1 piece of card stock cut to 8.5" x 11"
• Glue
• Scissors
• Paper trimmer (not necessary but nice to have)
• Scoring board (again, not necessary but nice to have)
• Bone folder
• Die cuts or stickers to decorate your card
• Foam tape

Measurements:

• Cut Card stock into 2 pieces, 1- 8.5" x 8.5" and 1- 2.5" x 8.5"
• On the 8.5" x 8.5" piece, score on each side at 0.5", 1", 1.5", 2" 
• Score on 2 opposite side at 2.5" and 6" (these are a cutting guide)
• On the 2.5" x 8.5" piece, score at 1", 2" 5" and 8"
• Liner pieces for the inside of the card measure 3" x 3" and 3.25" x 3.25"

Template- Cut away the pieces in grey.

And the video tutorial:

Made: DIY Journals

I thought that I would try binding a book, so I made a little journal from scratch.  It was quite the ordeal-- and the video I taped was not helpful.  I should post it purely for entertainment value-- but it would make all actual book diners (bookies? no... that's something else) cringe with anger.  So you will have to settle for pictures of my final (finally!) project.

For materials I used American Crafts "Wildflower" paper collection (which is really hard to find!), some chipboard and plain white paper.

Because I like pockets in my notebooks, I put on in and added some uplifting cards to remind me that this Q-Tine can't last forever.

I used the We R Memory Keepers Bookbinding tool to put it together.  It was pretty easy to use, and it comes with everything you need to bind your first book (Even thread- even though the reviews say it doesn't.).

I used some embroidery thread that I swiped across a beeswax candle for more slide as I sewed the binding.  Sometimes its nice to have a pop of colour where you aren't expecting it.

If you want to make your own journal, here are some tutorials that are way better then what I would have come up with.  I'm going to follow the experts for the next one I make.

Sea Lemon Book Binding Stitches- Jen is a book binder extraordinaire.  She has a whole playlist on book making for every style.

SundayMornings- Journal making 3 Ways- She gives you 3 different styles of journals AND step-by-step instructions on making them using what you have on hand.

DIY Art Journal for Beginners- Johanna uses an old book as the start of her journal-- way to recycle all those books you are clearing out since the big clean you did while being at home!

If you are anything like me- you have many notebooks- but being able to make your own is great.  You can make a notebook that suits your style and needs!  I will be trying this again.

Have you ever made a book?  Are you a book binder?  Any tips to share?

Made: Magazine file-style box

Let's make something!  I'm stuck at my place, self-isolating and wanted to do some organizing.  Can't go out to buy containers, so, like any good crafter I made one!  This one is much better than what I would buy; where would I find a taco box anyways?

I recorded a video for the method I used to make this box, but I zoomed past the materials and measurements, so here they are:

Materials needed:

(A kit for this project is available at www.thecraftershub.ca)

• 2 pieces of 12 x 12" medium-to-heavyweight chipboard or 4 pieces 8.5 x 11" to make the same size box I made in the video (you can use cereal boxes in a double layer, or cardboard, or if you are in the GTA you can order from here )
• 2 12 x 12" pieces of solid coloured card stock (any paper will work though-  If its thin, you will need some tape to help strengthen your corners)
• 1 sheet 12 x 12" design paper (You can use anything here too: wrapping paper, construction paper, paint, a gift bag- something you like the look of)
• Scissors, craft knife or paper trimmer (something to cut with)
• Thick glue (any white glue should work, I use Tacky glue from the Dollar Tree)
• A ruler
• A pencil

Measurements:

From the chipboard:

• 2 pieces cut 9" x 7" (22.9 cm x 17.8 cm) for the front and back (to cut the slope: measure 2 inches or 5 cm in from the top left corner and mark with pencil.  Measure 4" or 10 cm from the bottom right of the panel and mark it.  Connect the dots with a diagonal line and cut on that line.
• 1 piece cut 9" x 2"22.9 cm x 5 cm) for the spine of the box
• 1 piece cut 7" x 2" (17.8 cm x 5 cm) for the bottom of the box 
• 1 piece cut 4" x 2" (10 cm x 5 cm) for the front of the box

From the solid paper (for the gussets):

• 2 strips of card stock or paper 9" x 2" (22.9 cm x 5 cm)
• 2 strips of card stock or paper 7" x 2" (17.8 cm x 5 cm)
• 2 strips of card stock or paper 4" x 2" (10 cm x 5 cm)
• 2 strips of card stock or paper 2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm)

From the designer paper (what ever you are using to decorate the box with):

• 2 pieces cut 9" x 7" (22.9 cm x 17.8 cm) or if you want a border you can substrate 1/2" (1.3 cm from all measurements) )for the front and back (to cut the slope: measure 2 inches or 5 cm in from the top left corner and mark with pencil.  Measure 4" or 10 cm from the bottom right of the panel and mark it.  Connect the dots with a diagonal line and cut on that line.
• 1 piece cut 9" x 2"22.9 cm x 5 cm) for the spine of the box
• 1 piece cut 7" x 2" (17.8 cm x 5 cm) for the bottom of the box 
• 1 piece cut 4" x 2" (10 cm x 5 cm) for the front of the box

And to put it all together, here's the video!

I would love to know how yours turned out!  Let me know in the comments below!