Just Add Ink - 283

Just Add Ink have just released their weekly challenge.. I love their challenges and pretty much every week I have a mental image of what I would create, however I rarely get the chance to actually do any lately.. 

Thankfully today I got about an hour spare and quickly threw these together.. 

I have treated this sketch as a very clean and simple base for both the layout and card that I have created for it..  I've added texture though by using some paste and stencil.. 

The photo features my big boy Lane and Mark before they started a 5km run.. It was Mark's second time, but Lane's first distance run.. He had been having so much fun doing running club, that he took the leap and now loves doing these 5km fun runs.. Lane's time that day was 26:12min.. He came 2nd in the Junior Boys catergory, which was very exciting!!!!! 

Both projects have been made using the Kaiser stencil above and a Cocoa Vanilla boys collection range.. I love this paper collection, I have used it for so many different creations and still have some left over.. The diecut on the front of the page is actually from a Kaiser paper collection, I can't quite remember what it's called, maybe Take Note? Or Happy Snaps? Something like that.. lol.. 

Thanks for visiting me today.. If you like the sketch, maybe you would enjoy linking up your own creation? Head on over to the Just Add Ink challenge blog for more info.. -- http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com.au

And if you've got a spare moment, why not head on over to my facebook page and LIKE that too.. :) 

https://www.facebook.com/scrapcrazy.customcreations

Bookmark / Small cards for pre/teen boys..

My last post I shared with you some magnetic bookmarks that I made for my Dad and myself.. This time, I made a few for oldest son Lane.. He too loves to read and is always losing his own bookmarks.. lol.. So I made a few for him, but came to realise they would make awesome small cards too if the magnetics weren't attached.. The Kaiser "Scrap Yard" collection was used.. 

I would love for you to drop by my facebook page when you get the chance.. Hopefully you'll be inspired to get some crafting done yourself today too.. :) 

https://www.facebook.com/scrapcrazy.customcreations 

Magnetic Bookmarks

Magnetic Bookmarks

As both my Dad and I are huge readers, I really wanted to make something special for him for his upcoming birthday this month. He also very much enjoys Fishing, so I thought I would put that theme onto the bookmark. I used some very neutral colours for the base, but really brighten up the project by using colours on the chipboard fishing rod, hook and the fish. 

The Fishing Rod has been coloured with a Red Cheery Gelato, the Hook was painted Silver with the Ranger Alcohol Ink and the Fish has been coloured with a Smooch Spritz mist three ways to look marbled. The finishing touch to the Fish is some Crackle Paint for a scaly look and the Rod has Dimensional Magic on it, so the colouring can't rub off onto the book when in use..

The Butterflies on the bookmark that I made for myself have all been coloured with Gelatos - Red Cherry, Margarita, Metallic Mint -  then finished off with Dimensional Magic and some Distress Glitter. 
The base actually has some very pretty impasto flowers on it, via a Memory Maze stencil..
The black cotton has been wrapped around the base so that the colours of the Gelatos would really pop..

Back of the bookmarks.. 

Memory Maze products used; 

Stencil

Fishing Gear

Butterflies (Delight page pack) 

Christmas themed birdcage

Christmas Cage

Using the recent released Kaiser, Silver Bells collection I have made this fun and cute Bird Cage creation.
 

Start off by cutting the circles for the base of the cage from the plain chipboard sheets. 

I have used a 3 inch diameter base.. 

I used the off cuts from the sheet of chipboard to make the squares, which act as fillers for some height.. 

 

Glue it all together then placed two cardstock circles on top and on the bottom.. Wrap a half inch strip of cardstock around the circles to keep it all together and it gives the cage something to stick to later on.. Because this is a really nice and soft Christmas themed creation, I used some glue around the inside edge and spread out some White Fluff to give a light Snow sort of look.. 

 

Then cut even strips of paper to make the cage. Cut 6 strips.. The measurements are really up to you.. I used a point between 1/4 & 1/2 inch.. In total, the 6 strips were a total of 2".. 

Fan the strips out in a star shape and stick the center together, I used glue dots and then a split pin. 

Once the center is decorated, you can add the cage over the top by sticking each leg of the star down to the base. Place another strip of paper over that so you conceal them. 

Remember that it is always a good idea to make sure that the back of your creations are decorated also, especially when it's a piece that can be picked up and inspected closely. 

For this piece of chipboard, I have coated it in glue and covered with the Distress Glitter.. Once dry I sprayed both sides with the pink mist, then spot sprayed it with a teal mist that I custom made and lightly re-dusted with some glitter again. 

The corner flourishes were simply painted Grey.

Memory Maze products used; 

BLING 

Vintage Sign Post

Flourish Corner Small pkt 2

12x12 sheet Chipboard

Bag in a Box

Hunter was sooooo super excited to be surprised with his very own Marvel Superheros 12x12 paper pad, that he wanted to make something immediately!! :) 

I have been seeing these Bag in a Box projects for a couple of weeks, but they seemed so tricky and time consuming so I have put off trying one... But the other day with an awesome inspiration post by fellow Memory Maze DT member Jodie, I finally decided to search around for a tutorial.. I found THIS VIDEO via Pinterest..  

The bag is unbelievably EASY!!! Amazingly simple that absolutely ANYONE would be able to give this ago!! Yep, even a 5yr old Hunter! :) 

I wasn't able to find a written tutorial, so have included some with photos below for anyone that wishes to have a go themselves too.. 

1. Start off with the base - 2 & 1/2 inches x 5 & 1/4 inches

Score 1/2 inch on all four sides.. Now place a small bit of tape on the corners, and cut one slice on the outside for each corner.. The corners will be folded on the OUTSIDE, not the inside of the box.. 

2- the side of the bag will be any size x 12 inches.. Depending on what size cards you intent to out inside it, will depend how high the bag will be.. This one is 5 & 1/2 inches x 12 inches.. (To fit 6 inch x 4 inch cards) 

The Marvel bag is 3 & 1/2 inches x 12 inches.. (to fit 4 x 4 cards) 

Place double sided tape down on the INSIDE of the bag, on the bottom and far right side.. 

3- take off tale and with the newly made box, start from about half way along one side and ROLL the box along the paper.. DO NOT CREASE at the corners as you go along, you're making a bag so it needs to be nice and smooth.. 

4- using 1/2 inch strips of matching cardstock, run them along the bottom and top of the bag.. 

5- cut another 12 inch strip.. This bag was 1/2 inch x 12 inch.. The Marvel bag was just under 1/2 inch wide.. Using a poker tool, punch a hole from the front of the bag into the inside so you can attach the handles and push a brad through.. Make sure the brad is split on the inside of the bag, as you use another 1/2 inch x 12 inch strip along the top inside of the bag also.. 

BAG IN A BOX IS NOW FINISHED!! You can either leave as is or decorate as your heart desires.. 

You can see that we have made some cards to match for the Marvel bag, however the cards for the other bag I can not show you just yet, as they are special one's made by my boys for their Grandma for her upcoming birthday..

I would love for you to drop by my Facebook crafting page at sometime..  

Finally, a big thank you to ladies that I mentioned at the start of this post for their inspiring projects.. 

I hope you've enjoyed these creations.. Until next time, have fun scrapping.. Toni.. xoxo

Christmas Exploding Box for swap

I am so excited to share this little box of Christmas Joy.. Ok, so I'm lead to believe that we are now on the count down to the holiday season with the kids on their Term 3/4 holidays, there is less than 100 days left until the big man Santa comes to town.. 

So to get people in a the right mood (I think it's more like- "well when we still actually have time to do this before everyone gets too busy and can't join in") an Aussie facebook sharing group are hosting a special Christmas themed swap.. One is to make an Ornament or the second option is to make an Exploding Box and include an Ornament.. I'm not great at making Ornaments, so of course I chose the second option of making the box so I can just buy an Ornament.. lol.. 

Anyway, this is what I came up with.. The partners have not been assigned yet, so I'm unsure of who the reciptant will be, but I truly hope they will like it! I have such fun putting it together.. 

I have purposely not included too many embellishments and extras with this box as I really just don't know how my swap partner will use it.. I have left some pages blank with only pattern paper, so if they wish to turn it into a memory box with photos they can.. There is also some journaling opportunities in there too.. 

The papers are the new Kaiser "Silver Bells" collection.. I used most of the papers and some of their diecuts.. 

Add some flowers, bling, kindy glityz, ribbon and washi and it's all set..

I'm not always able to keep my blog as up to date as I would like to, but if you can head over to my facebook crafting page and LIKE it to keep up to date in real time of my crafting.. Feel free to leave me some feedback too if you wish.. Thanks, Toni.. 

Enclosed Photo box for Lane

Life is pretty amazing

Starting with the Memory Maze 12x12 plain sheets of Chipboad, I cut them into the panels for this project.. They are 1&half inches on the sides x 6 inches for the front and back.. The chipboard gives it alot more strength than just using cardstock.. I actually marked out some white cardstock with scoring lines and stuck the chippie panels to it.. Then forming the box, I glued it all together.. Added an extra panel on the bottom for the base.. BOX MADE! 

Now it's Lane's turn. After seeing Hunter's photo box, Lane was pretty keen on having one for himself. However since he is now 12yrs old, I thought a more teenage grungy style would suit a little better.

So I have used the Kaiser "Scrap Yard" collection..

I love using bits and pieces from the tool shed for teenage boy themed projects. As you can see, I raided the washer container mostly for this box..

The Skulls on the Washi tape really fit well too.. What do you think?

Instead of photos being attached to the box, I have used a mini accordion style pullout thing for him. It too features photos from the first half of this year, plenty of journaling and definitely room for another accordion set to fit, which can feature the special events from the last half of the year.

The special moments in this album so far for 2016 include: Lane starting high school, becoming the youngest ever swim school champ (his House Captains were very proud!). Lane made the Rocky district team for the 3rd yr in a row for Swimming (even with a broken thumb), then went on to capture the Club Swim Age Champ too.. Made the AFL Rocky District & Capricornia Rep Teams.. He has taken up and really enjoys distance running, competing in some 5km events. He came 2nd Boy in his first race.. And he has started up CrossFit sessions also..

Memory Maze products used; 

Brick Wall

Small Barbed Wire

Ornate Double Square Frame

Pavers stencil 

12x12 plain chipboard