Musical Drawers

 

Using Sizzix Eileen Hull candy box die to create a set of drawers.  I cut 6 sets of boxes from matte board and constructed them.  I then edges of visible sides with black distressed paint.  For the drawers to line up I found it best to stick with the same material for all drawers.  Also important is to place the double overlapping sides of the cases along the same edge.

 

 

I covered the fronts of the drawers with vintage sheet music.  Using the some maroon matte board I cut pieces to form the outer top, bottom, sides and back and edged them with the same black distressed. 

 

 

To construct the boxes I used double-sided tape, but for the outer pieces I used wet glue to give me a longer set time.  Drying required the use of clothes pegs, clamps and weights.  For the drawer pulls, I raided by button bucket.  I punched two small holes in each drawer front and tied the buttons to the drawers with thin string.

 

 

For the flower that sits on top, I cut the same vintage music paper using the Sizzix Tim Holtz tattered floral die.  Using the 2 larger flowers I cut 3 of each, distressed the edges and constructed á la Tim Holtz.  For the leaves, I cut 2 from the same vintage music paper using the Sizzix Stu Kilgour leaves die.  The leaves and flowers were glue-gunned to the top.

 



Blue Flower Flip-it Card

I cut a piece of white printmaking paper with the Sizzix Circle Flip-it die.  Then I ran it through my Big Shot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I dusted the raised design with some distress ink.



I was inspired by the blog post of Elena Roche where she created a transparent flower so thought I'd give it a try. To create the floral center I made a flower using material from an old transparent blue duo tang which I cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die.  I embossed the petals with the same embossing folder used on the card front. I used a brad to hold the petal layers together.  Using the left over cut-out of the largest petal as a stencil I added a blue silhouette with distress ink.

The flower center is a 1-inch button that I made using scrap fabric rather than the traditional paper and clear acetate covering.  I glue-gunned the button over the brad and glue-gunned the flower over the silhouette.

Heart and Wings, Poinsetta, and Telephone and Flagpole Pop-Up Cards

I received a big haul of Sizzix and Tim Holtz dies at Christmas.  We had lots of company, both visiting and staying over the holidays, so I have only managed to play with a few.  As I don't buy cards, I like to make non-occasioned cards to have on hand.

Went for a grungier as opposed to pretty look so used pastel pinks and blues with black.

Outside

Heavy printmaking paper cut with Sizzix pop 'n cut die without an insert.  Distress inks added randomly to front and embossed.  Black Stazon ink added to raised design.

Inside

Digital scrapbookking background printed to cardstock and cut with Sizzix pop 'n cut die with Winged Heart insert.  Side edges cut with Tim Hotz Plaque and Postage On the Edge die. Cardstock cut with Sizzix Heart and Wing Set and added to the insert section.

Tried to use the Pionsetta 3-die pop n' cut insert to make a non-Christmas card and went for an East Asian look.

Outside

Heavy printmaking paper cut with Sizzix pop 'n cut die without an insert.  Front embossed and distress ink added to raised design of both sides.  Two sizes of flowers cut with Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Garland die. Yellow tuille layed between two flower layers and completed flowers added to front with yellow brads.

Inside

Digital scrapbookking background (yellow and green) printed to cardstock and cut with Sizzix pop 'n cut die with Poinsetta Flower insert. Another digital scrapbookking background (beige and brown) printed to cardstock cut with the Sixxiz pop 'n cut die without an insert glued to the back of the first (to show through the cut flower hole).  Top and bottom edges cut with Tim Holtz Ornate On the Edge die.  Same beige and brown cardstock used to cut another two flower sections and added to front and back of the pop up flower.  Same small flowers as on front cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Garland die added to insert section with yellow brads.  Note that 3 layers of paper make for a thick card.

Outside

Half of a 12x12 scrapbookking paper cut with Sizzix pop 'n cut die without an insert.

Inside

Other half of a 12x12 scrapbookking paper cut with the Sizzix pop 'n cut die with the basic insert.

Black card cut with Tim Holtz Vintage Telephone and Typewriter Movers and Shapers die.

Flagpoles cut using the Sissiz Flagpole and Lantern die.

Birds cut twice using two different blues using the Sixxiz Birds on a Wire die. Three of the birds separated from the wire and added to the flagpole and centre insert.

The pole is inserted and attached to the back of the insert using the technique shown in the video by Karen Burniston.

Wedding Pop-Up Card

My nephew Fraser and Karen were married on New Years Eve.  I made a card to celebrate both their marriage and the festive party theme they chose.

For the front I used a heavy printmaking paper which I cut using the Sizzix pop 'n cut die without any insert.  I used a blue distress ink on the raised edges of an embossing folder before embossing the raised design on the front half.  I cut two sizes of flowers using the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Garland die.



I added a piece of blue tulle in between each flower layer and attached them to the the card with small blue brads. The brads get hidden once the inner and outer cards are glued together.



I used digital scrapbookking paper printed onto cardstock.  This I cut with the Sizzix pop 'n cut die with the basic insert.  I added a Tim Holtz Plaque and Postage on the edge die to trim the top and bottom.



I cut the bigger heart using the Tim Holtz Mini Heart Set and a flourish from the Sizzix Decorative Flourishes Set. I glued the flourish directly to the inner base and added the heart with a foam dot. 

The flag posts were made following the tutorial by Karen Burniston but without using a flagpole die (I kind of made my own). I followed her tutorial and punched slots on the back shelf and inserted the post with a fold at the bottom. I hung fishing line between the poles and drapped pennant flags with intials of the bride and groom.

The wedding was a blast and I hope I caught the party atmosphere.



Snowman Pop-Up Card

To pump up the Christmas spirit, I wanted to make more cards using Sizzix and Karen Burniston's basic pop 'n cut die with different designs.  Again I used a lot of recycled materials, all except for the glue and paint.

The cardstock used for the exterior is off-cuts from a paper distributer, cut to 5" x 11" and edged with a bit of distressed ink.  The snowflakes are cut from cardstock using the Sizzix Snowflakes #3 die and the Tim Holtz Winter Wonderland die.  The snowflakes were first painted with an irridescent silver Modern Masters acrylic paint and then with the Tim Holtz picket fence distress crackle paint.  Difficult to see, but the silver shows through the crackle.  The snowflake on the right was glue directly to the card, the one on the left was added using a foam dot.  The "Let It Snow" letters were cut from scrap cardstock using the Tim Holtz Word Play die.  A light layer of distressed ink was added to the letters.

The inside card was cut from a vinyl wallpaper sample using the Sizzix basic pop 'n cut die and the sides cut with the Tim Holtz Ornate On the Edge die. 

The snowman, branch, bird and snowflake were cut from card (recycled cereal box).  The snowman and snowflake were cut from the Tim Holtz Winter Wonderland die then painted using the same technique as the snowflakes on the front (iridescent silver and crackle paint).  The snowman was given a scarf and then glued to the front of the circle pop up section.  The snowflake was attached with a foam dot.

The branch was cut using the Tim Holtz Bird Branch die.  Only a portion of the branch was used, painted with brown acrylic paint and splashes of white added to look like snow.  The bird was cut twice using the Sizzix Birds on a Wire die, then painted with acrylic paint.  The second wing was added to give some depth.  Both branch and bird were sanded slightly and distress ink added to the edges.  The bird and branch were added to the back of the circle pop up section with foam dots.

I made a similar card with blue theme using the same techniques.

The background for the inside of this card is sample fabric glued to cardstock, then cut with the pop 'n cut die.  Again, I used a Tim Holtz On The Edge die on the sides.  I used a different section of the same Tim Holtz Bird Branch die and another bird from the Sizzix Bird on a Wire die, and attached them slightly differently.

The basic pop 'n cut die offers a lot of flexibility in designing cards.  I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Snowy Reindeer Pop-up Card

Inspired by Karen Burniston and Shelly Hickox I created the following pop n' cut Christmas card for the Die Cutting Inspiratioin post on the Sizzix blog.  As with most of my art I like to incorporate a lot of recycled materials.  So true to tradition, all materials used for this card are recycled except for the glue and paint.

The cardstock used for the front was an old file folder cut to 5-1/2" x 11".  I swiped the edges both inside and out with distressed ink.  The red "wooden boards" and the "wreath" were cut from a kleenex tissue box, then painted with acrylic paint.  The wreath was cut using the Tim Holtz Regal Crest die and is constructed using a technique Tim Holtz used in one of his 2011 Christmas tags.  Both were sanded and distressed ink added.  The bow was repurposed ribbon from a Christmas past.  The letters were cut from scrap matte board from a framer using the Tim Holtz Word Play die.  Letters were left white to contrast everything else on the front.

The interior card was cut from a page from a sample vinyl wallpaper book using the Sizzix basic pop n' cut die and edge cut with a Tim Holtz On The Edge die. The trees were cut from matte board samples using the Tim Holtz Pine Tree die.  Splashes of white acrylic paint were added for a snow effect and glued to the circle base (one on top of the other).  The deer are cut from an Oreo cookie box using the Tim Holz Reindeer Flight die.  The deer were coated in walnut ink distressed ink and a collar of light white string added to each.  The standing deer is attached to the top tree with foam dots to add dimension.  The leaping deer is attached to the back of the circle base.  The snowflake is cut from waste cardstock using the Sizzix Snowflakes #3 die and glue to the card.

I have yet to perfect Karen Buriston's spinners but want to have the leaping reindeer actually leap.  But that I shall leave to another card.

Wedding Guest Book

With the great response to my previous Wedding Guest Book post here is another guest book created for my nephew and fiancee's upcoming wedding (yes, my sister has two kids getting married within 3 months of each other). I hope you are inspired to make a guest book using whatever paper, cardstock and dies you might have on hand.  Making every page different was so much fun.  Can't wait for another family member to get married so I have an excuse to make another.

Again, I printed all the papers using digital scrapbooking files onto a slightly textured sketching paper which I trimmed down to 8 1/2 x 11 so I could run them through my laser printer.  The papers were then trimmed to 8 x 8.  The cover papers were printed onto sticky-backed label paper which I adhered to recycled card from a ceral box and also sized to 8 x 8.  All the matte board used was saved from a framer's garbage bin; the coloured cardstock were offcuts from a paper distributer's garbage bin.

For the bride and groom's names on the cover, I printed brown lettering on a beige background onto cardstock.   The font for the names is Scriptina, a free font from the internet.  The frame was cut using a rusty ochre matte board.  I used the Tim Holtz Ornamental die for the outside and the Tim Holtz Mini Ticket Set die for the inside.  I then embossed the frame with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and added some distress ink to the edges.

For the first inside page, I printed brown text on a pink background onto cardstock.  The frame was cut from maroon matte board using the Sizzix Frame die.  I embossed the frame with the same Cuttlebug embossing folder as used on the cover. The flower was made using the Tim Holze Mini Tattered Floral Set and the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland.  The bottom and top petal layers were cut from paper, while the middle layer was cut from the same maroon matte board as the frame.  I attached the flower using foam dots to add some dimension.

For some of the pages I added photos of the couple (which were happily supplied by my sister) printed onto cardstock behind small frames.  For the top photo frame I cut maroon matte board using the Tim HoltzTag and Bookplate die.  For the bottom photo frame I cut white matte board with a added top layer of maroon tissue paper using the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set. The wings were cut from off-white paper using the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set.  The wings were glued to the page while the heart was attached with foam dots to add some dimension.

For this page, I added a "card".  The outer side of the card was cut from beige cardstock using the Sizzix basic Pop 'n Cut die without the insert.  I used a Tim Holtz On The Edge die on the bottom edge.  When I folded the card I offset from the middle to allow the inner card edge to show a little.  I added distress ink to the edges to give an antique feel.  The leaf that keeps the "card" closed is cut from matte board using the Sizzix Leaves die.  I then added distressed ink to its edges.  I used a brass brad to attach it to the paper with a cardboard "washer" in between to allow the leaf to turn.

For the inside of the "card", I cut some brown cardstock using the Sizzix basic Pop 'n Cut die centering the heart from the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set die inside the magnetic opening.  I then cut the center portion again from some contrasting paper and sandwiched a photo of the couple in between.  (This is the only paper that I didn't print; it was left over from another project where I used a sheet of Sara Fera designer series scrapbookking paper from K & Company.)  I used a Tim Holtz On The Edge die on the top edge of the card.  The top heart is cut from the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set die using the same paper but for the an inner piece I used a solid pink.  This was attached with foam dots.  The bottom hearts were also cut from the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set die.  The outer heart frame was glued to the card while the smaller heart was attached with foam dots.  Note that because I offset the front piece of the card that some of the beige shows at the bottom. I guess I could add text here later.

For this page, the photo frame is cut from maroon matte board using one of the Tim Holtz Styled Labels and then cut again with the Sizzix Flower Layers #3.  Then I embossed with a Craft Concepts embossing folder.

The photo frame for this page is cut from yellow matte board using the Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplates die.  I added distress ink to match the colour of the flourishes.

There are about 10 pages that do not contain photoframes.  These I left for guests to sign and write their wishes. Because some of the pages are quite dimensional, I added smaller embellishments to these pages to even out the whole guest book.  The top page includes a gold matte board leaf cut using the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die as well as smaller leaves cut from scrap paper using the Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings die.  The flower on the lower page contains flower layers cut from paper using the Sizzix Flower Layers #3 die and the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland.  This flower was attached with foam dots. Note that the location of this flower hides the brass brad from the leaf closure for the "card" on the reverse page.

 

Two more guest signing pages.  The top has a left over inner heart cut from matte board using the Sizzix Heart and Wings Set die.  To add something different I cut two strips of pink card with scallops using a Tim Holtz On the Edge die and added them to the right bottom corner.  The lower page has an embellishment from gold matte board cut with the Tim Holtz Mini Florish die.

Once all the pages were assembled, I bound the 8 x 8 book with my Rubicoil binder with a white spiral binding.