Travel Themed Masculine Card

Masculine Themed Card

           Hi friends so happy to share my first DT post for the Cuttlebug Mania Challenge. Most of you who visit my blog will know that I just loooove die cutting ! So when Jannie the owner of Cuttlebugmania Challenge blog invited me to be part of her DT team...I  just couldn't refuse her .The Cuttlebugmania Challenges focus on projects using a die cutting machine and the theme this month is masculine and titled "We Mustache you a Question"!

      Masculine cards are not an easy option for most of us I know!! My husband likes flowers and butterflies so I am not used to making the typical masculine project either!

In this post I am sharing how I made a travel themed card and how you can use the ideas to make any 3 D shape for your cards and home decor projects

I die cut hot air balloon shapes using a Spellbinders Contour Hot Air balloon die. This die is like the sizzix BigZ dies and can cut thin chipboard and fabric as well!

If you have a BigZ die or Contour dies[ from Spellbinders ] you can  cut multiple sheets of paper in one go and these are perfect if  you want to make 3 D shapes or make a lot of cards or party decorations quickly.

3 D Card Tutorial 

Use 5- 6 die cuts and ink their edges with matching ink. Here I used Distress Inks . Fold the die cuts...be as precise as you can in the folding! If you want to add the 3 D shape to a card...use a thick card stock for the base and stick the folded die cut shapes on top of it.

3 D Card Tutorial 

Take your time while sticking the adjacent halves to each other.I found that using an odd number of die cuts over the base gave a more fuller symmetrical look!!

3 D Card Tutorial 

Optionally trace an outline of your die cut shape on glitter foam and hand cut it leaving a border so that you get a nice glittering border around your 3 D shape.

3 D Card Tutorial 

I used a gorgeous Spellbinders rope embossing folder to form a background for the  hot air balloon

Travel themed Metal embellishments

I wanted to  highlight the gorgeous travel themed brass charms so made a background for each one using squares of pattern paper mounted on scallop squares of glitter foam.

Travel themed Metal embellishments

I used glossy accents[ clear and quick drying] to stick all the beautiful metal charms.

Acrylic discs

I used clear acrylic discs over circles of pattern paper to create the embellishments above.They look like candy if you see them in real!!

Masculine Themed Card

Creating a typical masculine themed creation was difficult for me but I hope you liked my card 

Supplies : Dies :  Spellbinders Contour Hot Air Balloon ,Sizzix Framelits Squares,Couture Creations Scallop Squares. Embossing Folder :Spellbinders Need a Rope 3 D Embossing Folder
Papers : Bob n Betty Voyager

Hanging Shaker Ornament Tutorial

Shaker Ornament

        Hi friends sharing a simple handmade gift set I made recently for a friend. When you have to make something for someone who is the owner of one of the most amazing craft stores in India it is something of a mammoth challenge ! My crafter friends from India would have guessed I am talking about Shalini Mittal, the owner of Crafters Corner!

Bookmarks

I had many nervous self doubting sessions.... after all what do you make for someone who deals with the most talented crafters from all over the world day in and day out !!
Well finally I decided to make a set using the gorgeous "Hydrangea Lawns papers " Shalini  had recently launched under her own brand " Dress my craft"!

I made a set of bookmarks, a shaker ornament and a simple card all featuring the beautiful hydrangeas and I fervently hope she liked it!

Handmade Card

Now for my readers...I had earlier shared a simple Shaker Ornament Tutorial

This tutorial  is a more refined version to show how to make a more  sophisticated and neater shaker ornament!

Materials

Acetate- I used OHP[Overhead projector transparency sheets]. You can recycle bits of transparent packaging too
Glue - Good quality glue which is not too runny and doesn't take ages to dry. I am currently in love with Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue.
Shaker elements- beads, sequins, glitter balls, paper bits anything small and lightweight!
Foam- Use the thickest craft foam you can get your hands on.
Shapes - Base and Frame- I used dies...You can hand-cut also
Pearl Strings/ Thread/Rope- anything to attach to your ornament so that you can hang it.

Cut your base [ my base is circular] from pattern paper and thick card stock and adhere the pattern paper to the base.
Also cut the same shape from clear acetate [ hard to see in this picture as it is very transparent!]

Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

Cut 3 or more circular frames from thick foam. I used an MFT circle frame die so it was super easy.
Adhere the circle frames atop the base and layer  the frames on top of each other using a good glue. Avoid  the hot glue gun as it can be lumpy , more messy and difficult to control.

Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

Allow enough time for the frames to dry as otherwise your shaker elements can stick to them.

Shaker Ornament Tutorial

I used a mixture of blue and green and white shaker elements[ sequins, glitter balls , little hearts and pearls]

Shaker Ornament Tutorial

In the picture below you can see the advantage of using foam to easily make a deep shaker !

  Shaker Ornament Tutorial

Stick on the acetate to another circular frame .

Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

If you are really particular of not wanting your shaker elements to stick to your acetate give the acetate a light dusting with an embossing buddy / talcum powder like the one shown below.

Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

Be sure to give just a light dusting as otherwise your acetate can become foggy from too much powder!

Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

Now stick the acetate onto your shaker and you are ready to now add a few finishing touches!

I cut a few flowers from the same pattern paper and added it to the glitter foam frame.

  Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

To form a decorative frame for the shaker you can use a doily or a beautiful die cut like the Tonic Trellis die I have used in this project.

Shaker Tutorial 

To form a matching base I used  another sheet of pattern paper from the same set and  sponged "peeled paint" distress inks   for a touch of green so that it matches the rest of my shaker. Layered the white die cut trellis circle atop it. 

When making such ornaments be sure to make your base thick and sturdy so pattern paper alone wont be sufficient.Layer the pattern paper atop thick card stock 

  Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

And here is how you can make a hanging dangler...take a wire or string...a wire is easier in some ways and thread beads or tassels on it...twist the wire. 

To attach this to your base...either you can punch a hole on the frame and twist the wire / tie the thread or add a glue dot and stick it to the back of your frame.

  Shaker Ornament Tutorial

Use glue dots /washi /any sticky tape to position a string of pearl onto the back of your frame. You may have to adjust the position of the string till you are happy!

  Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

For the final finishing touch hot glue a big disc of glitter foam [which is the same size or slightly smaller than your frame] on the back ...this will hide the attachment of the pearl string and the dangler and give a neat finish to your project.

  Shaker Ornament Tutorial 

And here is how it looks.

Shaker Ornament

I hope Shalini liked this little  handmade birthday gift set! And I hope the ideas will be useful to you my dear friends!

Hydrangea Set

Supplies : Dies :  Shaker Ornament : Tonic Trellis Circle Base Die, Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circles,Dienamics [MFT] Radial Stitched Circle Stax,Dienamics [MFT] Stitched Circle Scallop Frame,Elizabeth Craft Designs Happy Birthday
Bookmark:Spellbinders Filigree Bookmark Tag Die
Card : Tonic Mixed Scalloped and Straight Cut Oval Layering Die Set,Spellbinders Card Creator A2 Filigree Delight
Papers : Dress My Craft Hydrangea Lawns
Linking to  Word Art Wednesday 308 and 309