Although I create festive cards throughout the year because of tv launches: it is only now that I begin my personal Christmas card-making.
This year, I am recording short videos as I go. This means that if you see a card design you like, you will have a few pointers to get your creative juices flowing. I am at about the halfway mark so allow me to share a few of my recent favourites.
Day 1 – Star card
This is such a simple stamped card but sometimes they make the most striking designs.
Day 4 – Stamped stag card
This is another stamped and masked card – based on an idea from a few years ago.
Day 7 – Teepee card
This year I decided to make mini teepee cards and tie them up with a festive ribbon.
Day 11 – Origami Christmas tree
This set of papers “Let’s Get Cozy” from Graphic 45 has a nordic feel to it so I made a matching fir tree using a great origami technique.
Each of my video tutorials is launched at 5.30pm (UK time) and is saved to a dedicated playlist. This means you can watch as you craft. I have even included a festive sound track for you to listen to in the background.
I would love to hear when you try any of these ideas. Please tag me on social media @elisabethhogarthdesigns
I have the perfect pick-me-up collection to brighten the shorter days ahead. “Little Things” from @Graphic45 is full of delightful characters, fabulous flora and joyous, uplifting colours. I have created an octagonal album and a set of eight cards which I would love to share with you.
The octagonal album is a kit set from Oakwood Direct which is based in the UK. It includes simple instructions for construction. Then I decorated the front cover with the main image from “Little Things” and coordinated it with the Floral Assortment.
Next, I moved on to decorating the inside pages.
Finally, I used the “scraps” to create a set of eight matching cards.
You can see more of this album, the cards and the second set of cards I created with the “Little Things” stamp set in my YouTube video
I would love to know your thoughts on this adorable collection.
October 1st is World Card Making Day so let us celebrate this great hobby and be proud of all the cards we create and send. I was fortunate to receive two design team parcels this morning. I opened up the larger box which held a plethora of crafting goodies from the team @Graphic45
12×12 Paper collections
I chose to work with the new Let’s Get Cozy, Cafe Parisian, Home Sweet Home and Little Things. I will create projects for each collection and share the videos on my YouTube channel
Embellishments, Dies and Card Club
In addition, I opted for the Folder and Sentiment dies, Card Club Volume 11, Journalling cards and Ephemera. Everything compliments the 12×12 paper collections.
G45 Brand Ambassador Unboxing
I know how lucky I am to receive these generous packages. I do work hard to create content and share inspiration so that I can show my love of Graphic 45. I know that some of you enjoy the unboxing process which is why I show the products above in an unboxing video.
Card Club Volume 11 – Card 2 – Let it Snow
In addition to the unboxing of the G45 goodies, I decided to celebrate World Card Making Day by trying out one of the card designs from Card Club Volume 11. This was a first for me and it was a great experience and one I shall repeat. The card on the left features Let It Snow. The card on the right features Let’s Get Cozy.
Let’s Get Cozy
I fell in love with the colours and the imagery of this collection immediately. You can see a quick flick through of the papers in the video at around the 17-minute mark. Then I use the z-fold card above to create another holiday card with Let’s Get Cozy.
My latest YouTube video is a great mix of new products, mini card tutorials, and other ways to use your Graphic 45 products. Follow the link below to watch it now. If you enjoy watching then please do like the video, subscribe to my channel and hit the bell for new notifications.
Thank you for being a part of this great card-making journey.
It is good to be back on my blog again – after a few weeks away (recovering from Covid). Today, I would like to share photos from my Charmed Shadow Box Album. I am predominantly a card maker but I really wanted to create and craft more of a keepsake. I also knew that if anything would get me crafting again it would be a G45 collection and Charmed was a fantastic starting point. My plan is to create a recipe book to hold sweets and treats recipes for Halloween. When I was growing up, we made fudge and honeycomb which was much more fun than buying all the treats that are available now. The Journaling cards will eventually become recipe cards.
I bought the Shadow Box Album from a UK company called Oakwood UK and spent a little time following the instructions to make it up. Then I moved on to decorating the frames of the front and back cover, then the pages. In hindsight, I should have created these in reverse but it was just the way my creative juices were working.
Front Cover
I was immediately drawn to these two beautiful ladies. The stylish witch is an Ephemera cut out and the party girl is a Journaling card.
Embellishments
Because the front cover is a shadow box, I was able to add extra 2D embellishments within the frame. The burnt orange pumpkins and mini witch add another layer of interest. Look carefully at the purple trim and you will see a “Charmed” tag. I show you how to make these in my video. Link below.
Boo!
I began by making a pocket that flips outwards which I decorated with the Charmed 12×12 papers and a smaller Journaling card.
More pumpkins.
Even the “scrap” title line can be stamped upon with the matching “Charmed” stamp set. This set is a must-have in my opinion because of the details that match the papers.
Embossing folders
I added another layer of interest by embossing purple cardstock and tinting it with gold gilding wax. The bubbles work really well in the witch’s brew.
Pockets.
Every single pattern works well together. Here, I made a pair of pockets to house more tags.
Mini flaps
I adhered a set of four matching pages with a small hinge to create a mini book. Again, there is plenty of space for recipes.
Stickers.
There are two sheets of stickers within the Charmed collection and these can be used to decorate the inside of the flaps. I particularly like the border strips because they can be cut to any length and add a little detail to any project.
All treats. No tricks.
The phrase above is one of the themes of this collection. This border strip is my favourite version and it makes a great pouch too!
How could I forget this witch?
This harlequin witch stamp is one of my favourite “favourites” of the whole collection. Here I have stamped her onto the Patterns and Solids papers because it will then match perfectly to the other colours within the papers.
Back Cover.
The back cover is equally as charming as the front. The larger Journaling card fits perfectly inside the shadow frame. In the corner, you will see a purple and orange border. Once again, this is from another brilliant sheet of borders and patterns. Never underestimate just how useful these pages are.
If you would like to see my Charmed Shadow Box Album then follow the link to my YouTube video. I don’t pretend to be an Album Maker however I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process. In addition, I will show you how to add embossing powders to glam up mdf pumpkins and create mini stamped embellishments using shrink backed plastic.
I loved creating with this “gifted” collection and I am sure you will too. All I need to do now is write up the recipe cards.
I had a great time crafting with the entire Christmas collection including the new Essential papers. You can see everything and all my projects and top tips in my latest YouTube video.
You may have seen this hexagonal pop-up box card before. I was reminded of it by my crafting friend Karen Watling who shared the design on World Card Making Day in my Facebook group Creative Minds Kind Hearts. https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativemindsiikindhearts
The Voyage Beneath the Sea papers from Graphic 45 lend themselves nicely to this card shape so I decided to see if I could make three different sizes. I used 12×12 card stock around 160 – 180 gsm. A few folds are required so try to pick a lighter weight for construction. My video has a full tutorial and I will explain that the depth of the box can be changed depending on the size of the hexagonal template.
MY SOUL
This hexagonal box is based on a die with an edge of 7cm/ 2 3/4″ and will fit into an 8″x8″ envelope
I’M REALLY A MERMAID
This hexagonal box is based on a die with an edge of 5.5cm/ 2 1/8″ and will fit into a 6 1/2″ x 9″ envelope
VOYAGE BENEATH THE SEA
This hexagonal box is based on a die with an edge of 5 cm/ 2″ and will fit in a 6″x6″ envelope.
To watch the full tutorial follow the link to my YouTube channel: –
If you would like to connect with other fans of Graphic 45 then join the Facebook Group
My season as a Brand Ambassador for Graphic 45 has officially begun. They are an international, iconic paper crafting brand and it has a privilege for me to be a part of their team. On a personal level I have lovingly curated their papers for many years and usually save, and then use them for my personal creations. The imagery evokes strong personal memories for me. My Mama was a crafter and passed her passion onto me. My Pa was an architect and my Grandad was an acrylic painter too. Creativity runs through my veins and I love keeping my family legacy alive.
If you have seen my other cards and craft makes over the years then you will see many similarities in the new creations I make. However, there will be far more personal projects using the Graphic 45 products and personal reflection so you may see another side to me. If you are new to my crafting journey then I really hope you like what you see and will enjoy following me and watching me develop throughout the coming months.
I will begin with a classy collection called Couture. I love it because my parents were born in the 1920s and they grew up with the style and colours depicted in these papers and embellishments.
KEEPSAKE TAG BOX
This began life as a simple mdf tag box. I die-cut the dress-makers mannequin and tried a few basque designs before I was happy. The buttons are tiny red sequins. It was then a matter of building up the layers using the Couture ephemera, stickers and papers. The box will hold one of Mama’s thimbles which you can see in the photo.
HANDBAG GIFT BOX AND CAS CARDS
Believe it or not, this handbag began life as Covid packaging. I have previously shown how you can adapt it. The peacock paper is wonderful to work with and so in keeping with the era. This is just one of four clean and simple cards. Graphic 45 works with all crafting genres.
LADIES DAY
This is a 4″x6″ card made for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. Funnily enough the Tonic stamp is called Ladies Day too. I stamped onto the G45 papers and fussy cut the dress which I then layered onto the main image. I am a big fan of the notecards page in the collection too because they make the perfect instant background.
MATCHING HANDBAG
Every outfit needs a matching handbag and this mini Kensington bag works perfectly with the outfit above.
COUTURE NOTEBOOK
This is a notebook cover which you would pay good money for in a shop. I often buy cheap notebooks and art journals, and decorate the covers so that the beautiful designs inspire me to work on something new. The notecard worked beautifully with the Dienamix Iron Frame Die from Craft Consortium.
DOUBLE CORNER EASEL CARD
This is a larger style card which I made because I wanted to use the notecards. I embellished the middle one with a complimenting sticker and a Sentiment stamp.
FREE TUTORIAL
This is a smaller version of the card above and you can see how to make it in my YouTube video, along with all the cards and projects I have shared today.
You will be able to see another of my makes plus a full video tutorial on the Graphic 45 Blog on Monday 20th June. Let the creative fun begin!
As we near the summer holidays, I begin to think of warmer days and trips to the beach. I am fortunate to live near the south coast of England and have views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. I don’t see the creatures depicted in the new collection from Craft Consortium called Ocean Tale but it hasn’t stopped me from admiring the illustrations drawn by Clare Therese Gray, and loving all the elements.
You can see the collection and my many design team projects in my YouTube video. In addition, in today’s blog post I will show you how to make your own version of the card below, using the stamps, papers and embellishments found in the collection.
OCEAN TALE – SCENIC CARD
YOU WILL NEED
2 x white cardstock (28cm x 15cm)
Ocean Tale 12×12 papers – patterned papers
Ocean Tale A4 Premium Quality papers
Ocean Tale stamp sets
Ocean Tale washi tape
Ocean Tale silver embellishments
Ocean Tale Iridescent dots
Dienamix cutting dies – Live Laugh Love
Nested circles cutting dies
Versafine Clair Inks – Blue Belle and Pine Cone
Colour Pencils
TO MAKE THIS CARD
1. Score both pieces of white cardstock at 7cm/14cm/21cm.
2. Die cut circle (with a plain circle die 9cm diameter) in centre panel of one of these scored pieces of cardstock. Cut a blue square (14.5cm) from the Premium Quality papers and die cut a (9cm diameter) circle in the same position as on the white cardstock. Adhere the blue panel onto the white panel. Take care to align up the two circular apertures.
3. Cut 4 patterned paper panels (7cmx14.5cm) and stick to the reverse of the second white folded cardstock. Cut 2 plain blue panels (7cmx14.5cm) and stick to the front side panels – either side of the centre blue panel. Trim the scene of your choice from the Ocean Tale 12×12 papers. Cut 4 pieces 7cm in length. Stick each panel in order on top of the blue panels. Cut and adhere washi tape at the bottom of each panel.
4. Place the 9cm circle die centrally inside the Dienamix Live Laugh Love die and cut into a darker shade of blue Premium Quality paper. Carefully fold and cut this die cut in half. Then place and secure around the circular aperture on the main card. Taking care not to cover the central fold line.
5. Now take the two main pieces of white folded card and match up the two outer panels then stick them together – back to back. The centre panels can then be gently squeezed to form an open diamond.
6. Cut 3 strips of white card measuring 9cmx1cm. Score at 1cm and 8cm. Fold one tab back and the other forward to create a long z shape.
7. Turn card upside down – with the bottom diamond facing towards you. Carefully stick the left tab to the base of the front panel. Stick the right tab to the back of the card. Repeat three times to make each slat. Allow to dry.
8. Stamp, colour and cut out all the required images. Position the sea creatures on to the tabs with the larger images at the back. Decorate the side panels and the circular frame. Do not overload the frame or cover up the central fold line. To complete the card, embellish with Iridescent Dots and the sentiment of your choice.
9 Create an outer band to hold the card together by cutting a piece of 12×12 patterned paper (40cmx7cm) and gently encasing the card. Add twine and a silver embellishment to complete the look.
TOP TIPS
When stamping use Versafine Clair Bluebelle/Pinecone inks rather than black to create toppers that match the colour tones of the papers.
Have a stamping, cutting and colouring session and create more than you need. This will give you greater scope to create decorative scenes. Plus, you have more toppers ready to go.
I am back today with another new collection from Kanban Crafts which has recently been taken over by Katy Sue Designs. This means that we can combine the papers and peelables that are known to Kanban Crafts fans with the boxes and stepper cards supplied by Katy Sue.
The starting point for my projects was the exquisite 12×12 papers which feature different songbirds perching amongst peach coloured foliage and grey/blue nesting boxes. I must admit to humming the wartime tune “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” which my Mama sang whilst working around the house. I am sorry if you now have that as an earworm!
Nightingale Square launches on Create and Craft TV on Thursday 28th April at 4pm and 8pm – with an additional show on Friday 29th April at 8am. After one week’s exclusivity, you can purchase the collection directly from the Katy Sue website. https://katysuedesigns.com/collections/kanban-crafts
Have a beautiful day
I adapted one of the stepper cards to fit inside a 6×6 pre-scored box. Older Kanban dies were incorporated into the design along with hints of mat gold card.
Two-drawer easel box card
Once the boxes have been made, it is relatively easy to form a paper wallet around them in order to stack them up onto each other. The peelables in the corner of the easel card perfectly finish the design.
A Handbag
The box can also be adapted to create a handbag with matching notelets. This particular one was made with the inside of the Covid packaging!
If you would like to see these projects in greater detail then I would recommend watching my latest YouTube video.
If you would like to connect with other Kanban Crafts/Katy Sue Designs fans then ask to join their Facebook groups
Elisabeth Hogarth Designs 