Round Box tutorial...

Happy Saturday,

As promised here is the tutorial for the round box from last Saturday!  Its pictorial as I feel this is the best method outside a youtube video!

To make the box cut a strip 4" wide by the diameter of your chosen circle die ( if you are unsure of the diameter get a rough idea using a piece of twine or ribbon.  Score this at 3.5" and cut small slits into the shorter edge up to the score line.

You will also need 2 large circles and three smaller circles ( as shown pin the picture.

Next adhere each of the tabs you created to one of the smaller circles until it is covered.  This is easier if you bend the card round to give some shape.















Seal the 2 edged that meet to make a round box as shown in the next picture.


Next add the larger circle to the base making a neat and finished edge ( this will take some playing with until you are happy with the fit.

Make the decorative element for the lid of your box I used felt roses, ribbon and the Tonic trellis circle die.

on the rear of the lid  add a strip of ribbon to act as the closure and add a smaller circle over the top.  This isn't just for decorative reasons the different in the size creates the edge that sits on the top of the box. ( sorry its really hard to explain)



Finally use the ribbon as a hinge and the box is finished and is (hopefully) pretty inside and out.

Enjoy...

Something different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

I thought it was time I revisited the something different as I have been showing  slew of paper crafting projects recently so how about some MDF?

This is a really simple item to make honest its just 2 shades of the Cosmic Shimmer metallic gilding polish.

I stared by covering an MDF shaker heart form CE with Heather and powder blue gilding polish.  I then simply stamped my Christmas rose clear stamp set around the top using the powder blue polish.  Next I stamped one of the christmas rose sentiments in the centre of the heart.


For the 'frosting' i added cosmic shimmer dies clear glue all around the piece and added iced snow which, when dry, is clear so adds the frosted look where you can still see the colour and stamping.

For the roses I covered a sheet of foundation card half in heather polish and half in fern green.  I stamped the roses and cut them out with the matching dies.  I cut the free card using the foliage die in the christmas rose set, embossed them and added enchanted gold gilding polish over the top to make the embossing shine.

I added gold microbeads in the centres of the flowers and arranged it all along the bottom.

something different that would hopefully  are a really different christmas present, all I've got to do now is work out who this should go to!


Enjoy...

3D Flower Show...

Happy Saturday,

As I'm sure you will all have worked out by now I do have a soft spot for flowers, on my cards, on my stamp designs and also in my new Apartment I have vases of them lol  So today at 8pm I will be launching the One Day Special with Creative Expressions making 3D paper fl;owners using papers and dies.  I hope you can tune in if not tonight then Ill be back tomorrow ( sunday) at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm on Freeview 39, Sky 663 or online at www.hcohanda.com.

I thought therefore today I would show you a few of the demo pieces I have made for the shows.  Some of these will be full demos however a great deal of the prep I have been doing is on making the flowers so expect lots of techniques and tips which you can use to make paper and fabric flowers!

Above are a couple of the roses made using the fabulous Paper Stack ( thats precept how easy is that?!?) from DCWV.  I will also demo how to make the presentation box which just adds, IMHO, a touch of class to any paper flower gift.  A great point with paper flowers is how useful they are to send to people in hospital as Real flowers are no longer allowed.


The second flower her which I feel looks like a peony, is made using the same basic pieces form the pack.  Tomorrow I will be showing how you can make at least 4 different flowers form the paper rose section!

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

Today I am demoing at Grafton Crafts in Huntingdon.  If you are around please feel free to pop in and say hello!  Back to today's card and I thought Ir was time for a Different Saturday how about a trifold card that stands ion its own?

I made this card in 2 different versions and kept intending too demo it on Hochanda but I really haven't had the chance!

This uses just one die ( and the flowers of course) and is made using the same die that I had so many Emails about that I used for my Birthday Seasons cards a couple of weeks ago.

I stared by making 2 card blanks using the outside oval from the Geneva die, I then stuck these 2 together to make a trip panel card.

Next I cut the outline oval the pierced section and the next oval from Black foundation card.  I then cut the next 2 sections in the die using bright white foundation card cutting the last oval in the middle.  Finally I added rich red in the centre ( again with the oval cut out, and stuck this to the centre panel of the card blank.

For the second card I used pixie Powdered card for the backing piece and stamped the sentiment using my Larkspur everyday sentiment clear stamp set.

The flowers were made up using the Exquisite poppies die and the olive branch for the foliage.

Hopefully a different way to construct a small card but one that's effective.

Enjoy...

Saturday Box...

Happy Saturday,

Today's finds me in Farnborough at the Art of Craft with the wonderful Penny and Jayne doing demos and workshops!  I will be demoing between 12pm and 3pm with workshops before and after.  I don't seem to go southwards often so this is a great chance to pop down and say hi!

Back to today and I thought I would show you the latter / box I made on Hochanda this week with the new paper cuts dies from Creative Expressions.  I made this box on the 12pm show on hochanda click HERE to watch this made on catch up.

the scoring sizes for the box are:

With an A4 sheet of bright white foundation card on your score board landscape score at 7cm, 14cm, 21cm and 28cm

move card to portrait and score at 3.5cm, 7cm

rotate card to other side portrait and score at 3.5cm

The explanation of making this is too difficult to write however once scored it should be a little clearer.  The best way to make this is to watch on catch up at www.hochanad.com

however cut the bottom flaps then cut the top flaps so that you have 5 sections just linked along the larger rectangle.  Remove 2 opposing flaps where there are the doubles ( where you scored at 3.5 and 7.  Then the box folds up.

Next simply die cut each of the paper cuts dies in the centre of the side sections.  Adhere acetate ( i use CE heat resistant acetate) soapy the front of the die cuts and sprinkle the rock candy Glitter ( or Diamond snow if you have it) then spray glue the back and adhere these back into the apertures.

Simply then decorate the box in your chosen style!

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

There are probably far too many pictures on todays post but I got a bit camera happy with this box.  I made this box for my let lockers loose show to highlight a different technique with gilding fakes and I have to admit I love how it has come out.

I stared by covering all the parts of the MDF treasure box using fake and glitter glue and cut n dry foam.  I left the glue for about 5 minutes to make the glue key to the surface.  It takes a little bit longer on MDF to go off but the best way to tell is that the glue goes clear form a blueish colour.

Next I added Verdigris gilding flakes form Cosmic Shimmer and smoothed off the excess with Rubit Scrubit.

Next I covered the other side of each of the pieces then glued the box together using Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue ( its great that the same glue I use for papercxrafts works just as well for MDF)  Once together I used the flake and glitter highlighter to add gilding flakes to the edges that join the box.

I then added the metal corners from Creative Expressions again using cosmic shimmer glue.

I used some of the metal leaf embellishments in the centre.  I then added gold silk roses and threaded some of the small metallic linx in gold around the centrepiece.

I hope you don't mind all these pictures!

Enjoy...

Sunday Relax...

Happy Sunday,



Well after 2 One Day Specials this week I hope you all dont mind if I take it easy today lol.  I thought I'd share some pictures of the Gift Voucher / Ticket wallet I made on my  4pm show yesterday.  Rather than talk you thorough not I thought I would take the easy way out and show you!

Therefore if you click HERE you will go straight to the show on catch up on which I made it!

Back to Normal tomorrow.

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

Well it is a card however the difference this week is the colour choice not one I would normally use but I have to admit that I like it!

I stared by cutting the filigree section from Rococo striplet in honeydew foundation card I just cut the detail into the card and didn't use the outline.  Next I cut 2 of the dies form the double pierced backgrounds one in bright white and one in primrose I cut these together into 3 sections making a band in the middle the seam width as one of the panels on the striplet die.  I stuck these back together and cut the outline die form one piece being careful to make sure that the centre panel fitted the striplet.

Next i added the other piece, the primrose and white panel, behind the cut striplet and added a resin rose in a matching yellow on the centre of each piece of the striplet design as shown.

I matted this on primrose foundation card and added a few layers of the honeydew, primrose and white for definition.  Finally I added seam binding bows in matching yellow and green at the edge with an 8mm pearl in the centre to hide the knot and join.

a very different colour combination for me but hopefully it may make us all think about using colours that are outside our comfort zone!

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,


There are 2  something different's today as I thought I'd show 2 of the projects I made for Julia Watts wedding show with spellbinders earlier this week.  I loved making the gift box from Becca Feeken  in the gloss card and decorating it, it looks complex but once I got the knack it was quite simple, great for making wedding or party favours!

All you do is cut the two main dies twice and simply stick it together.  There is a box that closes inside to keep the favours safe!

Next I made an R.S.V.P. card using the Classic Elegance Tall Pocket die from Spellbinders.  The great thing on this one is that the front die folds round to make a pocket that holds the invitation or card.

I decorated the front using a black organza bow and finished with one of the heart charms from the Craft Consortium Always and Forever embellishment range.  The one I have used is a heart shaped pearl surrounded by Diamante.  I used stick on Diamante on the front pocket to echo this.

As you can see for this picture the card at the front is removable sop that you can add the event details or make the RSVP card for guests to return to you.


Bothe different form standard cards or projects and hopefully some ideas for those summer weddings, parties and events!

Enjoy...

Something different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

Don't forget I am demoing all day today at Crafty Company in Fletwood.  It would be great if some of you pop in and say hi ( if you're in the area that is lol!)  I have to admit I'm quite nervous about today's project as it really is something different form my usual pretty / classic style.  let me know what you think of my first piece of mixed media / altered art!

I will be demoing this tomorrow on Hochanda with a 2 hour show launching the brand new Lustre paints from Cosmic `Shimmer.  I have to admit I have loved playing with these paints the shine and lustre of these along with the high pigmentation is simply stunning!

All the techniques I have used for this will be shown over the 2 hour special.

There is a good  mix of masks, paint techniques as well of use of mixed media and even some microbeads thrown in.

I have added some more pictures of another, lighter coloured, piece I have made for the show!

Enjoy...

Something Different Saturday...

Happy Saturday,

Today I am demoing at Colemans Wharehouse in Rushed, if you are in the area why not pop in and say hi!  Todays Something different is the flower Ball I quickly showed on my last set of Hochanda Shows in March.  I wanted to show the finished bouquet and I thought it was something different, yet pretty, to do with your patterned paper.

This is a simple Origami fold that looks really effective when made into a flower and as I have done here used in different colours form my new Spring Shades paper pack.  The link HERE will show you how to make this flower as it is a classic origami fold 

To make this flower I cut the 8 x 8 paper into four piece making 4 sheets that ware 4 x 4.  I then made the foods and cut each piece into two diagonally which meant i got 2 petals from each square.

Enjoy...

Polished...

Happy Saturday,

Well this is really something different Saturday as Its MDF and the nee Metallic Gilding Polishes, masks and some stamping!  This piece shows the wonderful polishes perfectly which I will be introducing to everyone on Hochanda tomorrow night, along with the second half of my spring stamp launch, tomorrow night at 8pm.

I will be demoing at the NEC hobby crafts show today for the Art of Craft so pop along and say Hi if you are at the show.  Today's piece started with the beach houses set form Creative Expressions and is decorated really easily with the polishes.  With the polish you don't need to gesso the MDF at all you simply add the polish, using the tool that comes in the pot with the product.  I used Mediterranean blue, ocean teal and pearl white in bands across the beach house, as you can see the colours blend perfectly.

Next I used more of the polish through the new Mini 3 x 3 masks from creative Expressions to add the diamond patterns .  Next I added waves using the gilding polish to stamp the new clear stamp designed to go with the by the sea MDF accessory pack that I used here.  The seahorses are separate piece that I coloured in the white and shaded using the teal and blue around the edges.  I then stamped the detail of the seahorses using jet black archival ink ( the polish is water based and so takes any ink over the top)






To finish the piece I added cosmic pearl dots and glued on large clear microbes to give the feel of water.

A very different piece but one that I really love as you can see form the pictures It has already found a home in my House!

Enjoy...