Papercraft Haven and More

Baby card with balloon die cuts       I like to use die cuts - this is the Sizzix balloon die cut that comes with two balloons on it - the longer one and the more round one.  Die cuts like this are great to use as they can be customized to different projects and things - the baby card could be changed to blue for a boy, or yellows and greens for a baby that has not yet arrived!        You can then take that same die cut and change it to a traditional birthday creation, such as the card that is below!  I also used the same type of papers and things on a gift bag - to keep everything matching and looking good together.  For me, there is nothing worse than presenting something and the items like the gift bag and card don't match...or at least coordinate well together!      Card with balloons and present die cuts        Die cuts like this - whether you get a machine like a Sizzix, or you get an ...

     I love using die cuts in my pages and cards, along with punches that are in the same type of theme, such as Grandma's Dresser layout pictured above.  I love using scraps of paper in order to make the creation truly one of a kind.  I don't like to spend a ton of money on my creations, so for me, using punches and die cuts help to make things a lot better for your money!        By using buttons, punches and die cuts together, you see how truly unique this type of look can bring you - just by using different colors of die cuts that match the layout you are creating.  I also used alphabet stamps to create the title, embossed in Silver in order to match the eyelets in the corner.  The colors of the flowers are all different, only using scraps for what I did.        For the card here,  you can see I used the same die cut as in the above layout, only for a basic note card instead!  I used bright colo...

**Please note, there are two hops today - if you are here for the  Christmas Card & Cookies Blog Hop, see the post below.**      Merry Christmas and Welcome to the Homemade Christmas Gift Blog Hop. Today we have 9 fabulous crafters who are going to share some of their ideas for Homemade Christmas gifts. What is better than making something personalized for someone you love.  So sit back and enjoy.  And make sure you come back to see what they’ve created on both days. 1. Carla-   http://racincrafts.blogspot.com 3. Jackie -  http://papermoments.blogspot.com/ 4. Erin -  http://deeplyrootedlife.blogspot.com/ 5. JulieK-  http://jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com/ 6.  Barbara B-  http://barbarab3.blogspot.com/ 7.  Lynda -  http://memoriesintyme.blogspot.com/ 8. Ashley -  http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com 9. Gina -  http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/ ...

July 4th album      Independence Day can mean different things to different people - depending if you are a native of the country, or if you came here from another country and never really left!  I know being born and raised in Utah - their huge day is July 24th, instead of Independence Day... more for religious reasons than anything, but they do celebrate the 4th, just not on that "big" of a level.  Living in Canada - you have their huge day on July 1st...and I am sure other countries celebrate their own type of "day" as well, depending on where you are from.   Album standing up with ribbon binding       So - the challenge for you (before the idea) is for you to put down in either a layout, or a mini album - anything relating to Independence that you would like.  Since I don't do much with family on this day, then I am planning on doing a project about what being "independent" means to me...something that can go with my A to Z ab...

Thanks       Using every bit of your scraps is key to creating on a budget - especially if you are already needing to save money due to the economy.  For the examples shown here - you will see the heart I used in brown for the Thanks card...  For the note card, I used the background shape used when I cut out the heart for this card.  You will notice the side piece on both of the cards, those were left over from the framed layout page example on the bottom.  I didn't want to throw that piece away, so it was saved and used on the card examples here.  Saving all of the scraps you can help if you want to save money...this way, you can use on paper piecing patterns, cards, punch pieces, tags, backgrounds, or die cut shapes.   Note card       For the cards you work on - this is where you end up saving money using up all the little things you have...like a small strip of paper when you trim something... or the inside of the hea...

 Kite Flying left side   As you start to scrapbook , one of the first things I would purchase is a simple color wheel.  Mine was bought at least 11 years ago...but it is one of the most important things I use when I create my scrapbooks and cards!  The color wheel is helpful when planning what colors might go with another one, or what you might need to add to one color to make it a bit more balanced!  This layout example is a Triad color scheme, using blue, red and yellow; if would have used blue and orange, that would be a complimentary color scheme, or using all shades of blue would be a monochromatic color scheme.  This little tool is especially helpful as you are planning a layout or project, looking at what you have available to you in order to pick the right colors for the project.  A lot of my best projects have been made from using the color wheel first!   K...

Die cuts are a versatile little item to use...especially if you already have a machine of some sort at home.  My machine of choice up until now has been the Sizzix machine for multiple reasons, ease of use, and just to have what I need when I need it...without having to use a ton of stickers.  Die cuts come in a lot of different themes and styles, including alphabets too!  The ability to use the same die cut in different ways, like in this card, using pink and browns for the hearts...  The inside of the card can be used for just about any type of saying you want, or a handwritten note if that is what is better.  Notice how I used the same hearts in the card, in this layout...things I love that I do not regret doing.  Some layouts are hard to get stickers or die cuts for...create your own!  Learn to use what you have at home, or spend your money wisely on things you can use over and over, such as die cuts!  Templates do the same thing, the only dif...

 Die cuts are fun and versatile to use, depending on the die you actually purchase.  One thing about a die cut machine such as Sizzix, the pieces you get to work with will be the exact same size as what the die cut will show you.  With something like a Cricut machine, you can make the piece any size you want, depending on what it is you are working on.  With the example above, I used the tag and the cat from my Sizzix die cuts, the pink tag also had another tag that came with it which is more rounded at the top (check out the next layout).  I use my tags more than just about anything except the flowers and hearts I also have!     As you can see with this next layout, there is the same tag again, this time, using buttons to create a cute look to each of them.  My cat is just a hoot, she sleeps in the darndest things...this time, was an Easy Mac box, so of course I had to do a layout!  However.. go to the store and try to find something that matche...

Die cuts... you can use die cuts in a lot of different ways including your cards, scrapbook pages, or crafts of all kinds.  The machine I have is the basic Sizzix machine, where I have to purchase die cuts for the machine in themes I use a lot.  This machine has been a wonderful machine for me to use and have around, plus it has saved a great deal of money on stickers!  I used a 40% off coupon at Michaels - bought quite a long time ago before the electronic die cut machines were all the rage.  I still use this machine, even though I have the Cricut Machine now!    With Grandma's dresser layout above, I used a Sizzix flower die cut, and added a few punches and buttons to the mix as well.  A simple layout showcasing the dresser that was passed to my Grandparents from my Great-grandparents and then to me when my Grandma passed away!  With Imagination layout, the same flower die cut was used, only glitter was used in the mid...

As you can tell, I love to make cards... my ideas are varied, from very detailed - using paints, embossing powders, chalks - down to very easy, using die cuts and a simple stamp (or not...) to create a look that you won't find going to the stores!  I am all about unique and cheap!  I use my Sizzix die cuts a lot - especially since I don't have any other type of machine of my own at the moment.  Since I am all about saving money - this particular die cut allows me to be creative while saving money.  I added a simple saying to the top - I used Thanks, but you could use just about anything!  Add the flowers and green stems and leaves to it, with buttons on top...this way you can customize the inside of the card to whatever you need to!   This card is done using the same die cut - again!  I also used a paper trimmer to make the stems, and cut a heart punch in half for the leaves.  All the papers matched together, again a simple notecard to be able ...

Everyone has them, monthly events to keep track of, things like birthdays and anniversaries...  Once you are older and start to have a family of your own, how do you keep track of the events YOU have?  Here is one idea, made out of recycled file folders, one for each month!  Each of the pages are in different colors, with 2 holes punches to allow ribbon through it, or whatever you can find that would work good.   On the back of each page, is a blank page, in order to allow for names and dates for that month.  For the file folders, I cut those straight in half in order to create 2 months out of each folder.  This way, I can create my cards early, and place them in the month I need to for use later on.  So, lets get started with the supplies and directions of this fun little project!   Supplies needed:   6 file folders cut in half and the top part cut off as well 12 sheets of paper, coordinating colors 6 sheets of 8.5 x 11 cards...