Shaker Card - by LilMissCrafter Jamie

Shaker Card Instructions:

1. Start with a 4.25" x 5.5" card base.

2. Adhere a 4" x 5.25" piece of patterned paper to the card front.

3. Die cut a frame out of paper and the same shape out of fun foam.

4. Cut and adhere a piece of acetate to cover the backside of the frame.

5. Die cut a "backing" that will cover the entire back side of the frame and stamp it or embellish it with your desired image.

6. Adhere one side of the fun foam frame to the front of backing from step 5.

7. Pour glitter, confetti, etc into the assembly from step 6.

8. Adhere the frame/acetate combo from step 4 to the front of the assembly in step 7.

9. Embellish as desired.

Distress Ink Holder - by CorrieW

Supplies:

A gift box of appropriate size (mine is 6x6)

Lightweight cardboard (I used left over packaging)

Directions:

Step 1: Measure your box and determine the amount of slots that you will be able to fit horizontally and vertically (mine was 2 x 7).  

Step 2: Cut stripts of light cardboard to fit the horizontal (mine used 1) and vertical sizes (mine used 6).  

Step 3:Cut a small slit half way up one all the vertical pieces

Step 4: Take the horizontal piece(s) and measure where they will join with the vertical pieces and cut a small slit halfway up.

Step 5: Join the vertical pieces to the horizontal piece(s) by inserting the slits of the vertical pieces to the slits in the horizontal piece(s)

Step 6: Put this inside the box, you will notice that everything moves around a lot and is  pretty loose

Step 7: In order to make the ink pads stable I created little "cases" to go inside the spaces, repeat this for all the spaces your box has (mine has 14)

Step 8: Put all the small "cases", in the slots and everything should be nice and snug

Step 9: Label your inks and place in your slots, I put my a small piece of velcro on the back and attach the foam applicator pads to them (one for each color)

Guest Designer - BritK - Spring Treat Purses

We have a fun little treat (hehe!) for you today - Easter/Spring Treat Purses, that our very own Guest Designer BritK created for us.  She put together a little slide show on how to make them.

Paper Packaging Album - by MicheleM

Paper packing from CropChocolate order

Hole punch

3 pieces of wire (each about 5-6” long)

Stapler

Adhesive

1 piece of paper, cut to 5”x 8”, folded lengthwise

 Directions:

Straighten out the paper. Fold first piece to be approximately 12” x 12”. Turn over and repeat. Repeat this step until all of the paper is folded. (This project does NOT have to have “perfect” edges or all pages the same size. This is what makes the project so much fun!)

Once the paper is folded, fold the paper in half, then in half again, making a “book”.

Where the “spine” of the book will be, punch 3 holes. Put one piece of wire through each hole and wrap it around the spine and back through the hole to keep the pages together.

Once that is done, hold the paper up and cut through the tops and bottoms of the pages so they are all separate.

Next you will want to take 4-5 pages and staple them together in any random place. This will allow you to do different and fun things on each page. (As you can see, I make a lot of little slots to put tags or even a pen holder.)

Add adhesive to inside of the 5” x 8” folded paper and place evenly over the spine of the book to give it a finished look.

I didn’t go into a lot of detail as far as what I used on my book because I know each of you will want to do something different. I used 18 different items that I PURCHASED through CropChocolate on my project and used them in many different ways. Remember ….the packing that comes with your ribbon, twine, brads, etc make WONDERFUL tags for such a project. Let your imagination run wild!!!  Now all you have to do is have fun and create a fun conversation piece that will have people say “Really??? That’s made out of packing material???”  Enjoy!!

Primrose & Pearl Art and Gift Show

Ribbon Storage Bag - by Moon

For this month's recycle project, I made a ribbon holder from a Clinique make up bag.

These make up bags were given Free with purchase.  My MIL purchases their make up all the time.

You can use any make up bag to create this awesome ribbon holder.

1 make up bag

1 crop o dile (or you can use a hole punch)

Assorted ribbon and trims 

I unzipped the make up bag

punched holes all around the bag.

Then threaded ribbon and trims through the holes.

Zip bag shut.

Very simple, yet useful project.

I love that it lets me see the ribbon I have. 

Special Feature for March - Cards by Moon (Jenn)

March Feature....

In honor of my Birthday this month (Which I lost out on an hour of celebrating this year, due to the time change), I decided to go with Birthday cards as my feature this month.

I absolutely LOVE making cards.  Here are 3 totally different cards I ended up making for friends with March Birthday's as well.

#1 - Do What You Love......

This card is made with Making Memories FLEA MARKET paper and Making Memories Flea Market rub ons.

The bakery twine is from my stash.

#2 - Polka Dotted Girl easel card

Paper by MME Lush

Bling - MME Lush

Stamp by Whimsy Stamps

Ink- Momento

Colored using Copic Markers

Present Brads - Brad Buddies

#3 - Magnolia Card

Paper by Echo Park

Stamp by Magnolia

Copic markers to color

Ink by Momento

"Celebrate" - Making memories

twine - stash 

Upcycled Flowers - by D2

Hola Chocoholics! I know Amber has been so great about getting us some of our favorites goodies.. but that some of us are unsure just how to use some of them! I also know that Karen did a wonderful alcohol ink tutorial -- but I also wanted to share my favorite use for these buggers!! Everybody knows I'm kind of a flower whore.. well I also love recycling and upcycling.. so I knew just what to do when Amber threw us this challenge! Today I'm going to share with you my basics on making recycled popcan flowers! 

Materials from CropChocolate: 

Raspberry Alcohol Ink, Citrus Alcohol Ink, Espresso Alcohol Ink, Teresa Collins music paper.

Not from CC: 

Corruaged cardboard, button, bakers twine, vintage photo distress ink, glue, Big Shot and appropriate die (a steel rule die that will cut thin metals, leather, fabrics.. etc), applicator, felt

1) Drink a soda!

2) Wash and dry soda can

3) Cut your soda can so that you're left with the most "real estate" possible.. I cut the top off right where the can starts to bend.. and same with the bottom! Then I cut one line from the open top to the open bottom.. leaving me with a curved piece of metal.

4) Cut your pieces from the metal! I used Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals Die and cut the daisy like shape.. I needed 3 :)

5) Prep your area for alcohol inking.. grab a nonstick sheet, your applicator, felt, your metal and the colors you'd like to use of ink.

6) Ink to your hearts content

7) Mold your flower to desired shape (I curved the petals portion of the flower and left the leaves flat)

8) Glue your embellishment together..

9) Build card..

10) and embellish!!!

Now I do have to say that I had bigger plans for this card... but that flower just popped so much on it's own I left it like it is and sent in the mail!!! If something seems unsure, please feel free to ask! 

Kleenex Storage Box - by JeepMama Paula

Products needed:

Empty Kleenex Box

Pretty Paper (My Mind’s Eye So Sophie)

Coordinating Ribbon (Making Memories)

Embellishments (Optional)

1.     tear plastic from opening

 cut openings on each side at narrowest part 

cut off oval tabs leaving only a rectangle 

put a very strong adhesive on inside of rectangle flap and adhear to inside of box, use clips to hold in place

measure height of box, add ¼” to measurement & cut two pieces from 12x12 cardstock

measure side of box 

score papers, first score at 2” from edge, next score is side of box measurement  from the 2” score… do both 12” papers

 attach each using strong adhesive to measured sides of box, decide which extra flap will look best & adhear side you don’t want to show down first, then the nicer flap last; make sure excess paper is at opening of box

clip corners of  excess paper down to top of box

 apply strong adhesive to sides & fold in

 add ribbon & other embellishments as desired

place items inside for organizing

enjoy!

Board Book - by Scrappy Canuck

When Amber posted this month’s challenge, I knew exactly what I wanted to create.  With the Christmas season behind us, and many empty boxes to show for it, I thought it would be great to put all that fantastic chipboard to good use and create a board book for my girls.  I headed straight to Pinterest to check out the board book tutorial I had pinned back in the fall, but was shocked to see that the website that once held the tutorial was now lost in cyberspace somewhere. So, out came the trusty ruler, paper and glue, and after three attempts, here’s what I have to share with you!  (I am going to refer you to Karen's blog http://scrappycanuck.wordpress.com/, and she will have images to go with the directions!)

  

Materials:

• Approximately 7 sheets of chipboard cut from old boxes (5 ½” X 5 ½”) – This will depend on the number of pages you would like for your book.  I wanted a total of 5 pages on the inside, so I cut 7 squares for the pages and the cover (front and back)
• 1 piece of chipboard cut at ½” X 5 ½” (this will be the spine of your book)
• 10 pieces of plain coloured cardstock cut to 5 ½” X 5 ½” (to cover each page)
• 4 pieces of patterned paper cut to 3”X 5 ½” – I used my favourite MME collection Fine and Dandy for all patterned paper.
• 1 piece of patterned paper cut to 12” X 6”
• 2 pieces of patterned paper cut to 5 ½” X 7”
• Liquid adhesive (such as Modge Podge)
• Brush to apply adhesive
• Optional - Distress Inks (Broken China, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick)

Instructions:

1.      Cut paper and chipboard to the listed specifications. 

To create the pages:

1.      Start by taking your 10 sheets of plain cardstock and apply them onto 5 pieces of cut chipboard – front and back.  Be generous when applying the adhesive, and place under a heavy book to dry flat.  I also added a bit of extra adhesive to the edges of each finished page to ensure that the little finger that will soon love the pages will not be able to peel off the paper from the chipboard.  

2.      Take the four pieces of 3”X 5 ½” patterned paper and score them at the 1 ½” mark.  Fold in half.

3.      Apply adhesive to the wrong side of one of the four pieces and glue to the inside edge of one of your pages- being careful to line up the fold with the inside edge of your page.  These four pieces of paper will be what binds one page to the next. 

4.      Once you are confident with the placement of the paper, apply adhesive to the second side of the folded paper and glue this to the next page of your book.  You should now have two pages that are attached to each other on the inside edge.

5.      Repeat with the remaining 3 pieces of 3”X 5 ½” patterned cardstock and the 3 pages.

6.      Lay everything under a heavy book to dry. The inside pages of your book are now complete.

To create the cover:

1.      Lay out your piece of 12” X 6” paper with the wrong side facing up.

2.      Place your last two pieces of 5 ½” X 5 ½” chipboard on top, evenly spacing with the chipboard spine in between.  Each of your chipboard squares should be lined up with the left and right edge of your paper

3.      Before gluing down, fold over your completed pages to make sure the cover is a good fit. Depending on the thickness of your chipboard pages and the number of pages you use, you may need to modify the width of the spine.  This is the time to do it!

4.      Glue all three pieces down onto the patterned paper.

5.      Fold down and glue the top and bottom edges of the paper over the chipboard.

To attach the cover to the pages:

1.      Take a both pieces of your 5 ½” X 7” and score 1 ½” from one edge (on the long side).  Fold.

2.      Using your liquid adhesive, glue the 5 ½” x 5 ½” square that was created by the fold into the inside cover – there will be a 1 ½” flap not attached to anything. 

3.      Take the loose flap and apply adhesive.  Careful line up this flap with the first completed page.  The first page should now be attached to your cover. 

4.      Repeat with the final piece of paper and the last page of your book.

Your board book is now ready to decorate and embellish with a story, photos, letters, numbers – whatever you would like to share with the little people in your lives!

Storage Box - by BethD488

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I like to use paperclips and post-its when going through magazines to mark the ideas and LO’s Ilike.  And of course, I can never find thepost-its on my scrap desk.  So I decidedto use this project as an excuse to make a scrap-desk organizer to make themeasier to find.

CC Products used:

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist – Red Nosed Reindeer

MM 5th Avenue Elizabeth dotstripe

MM fresh anthology picot daffodil ribbon

Non-CC products used:

Tim Holtz Distress Stain – fired brick

Red organdy sheer ribbon

Wooden box (from Melissa and Doug kitchen supplies)

Instructions:

1.  Brush box off to get dirt and dust off.

2.  Protect work surface (I used brown packaging paper from CC shipments).

3.  Press your distress ink pad against the wood surface.  If this is your first time, you will probably need to press it a few times before the ink comes through.

4.  Let first coat dry.

5.  Apply second, third, etc coats as you deem necessary.

Then you can embellish as desired.  I added a layer of glimmer mist to cover the portions of the box that the ink wouldn’t cover (due to the size of the pad).

Then add the pieces inside that you want.  The glass jar is a PartyLite mini jar candleholder that I put ribbon around to brighten up.

Packaging Sign - by Cricutica (Paula I.)

It's March!  It's spring!!  Well, I at least like to think it's the start of spring.  Here in Utah, we still have snow on the ground so it'll be a while before we break out the flip flops and shorts. :)  

Spring also typically brings around another thing that personally, I dread.  The ever so lovely Spring Cleaning.  This month's theme for the Design Team is "Up Cycle/Recycle" so as your cleaning and throwing things away, think about the cute things you can do to make them new again!  

Today, Paula I. has another great post on using some packaging materials.  Enjoy!

Products Used

Basic Grey  12X12 Lemonade- Frosted Berry

Hot Chocolate Plastic Bag

Brown Packing Material

Ranger Stickles - Star Dust

Ranger Distress Stain Broken China

Hemp Twine

Sizzix Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Sizzix Bigz Island Floral Die

Sizzix Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies

Stampin Up! Classic Ink - Lavendar Lace, Summer Sun, Pink Passion, Garden Green, Close to Cocoa and Pink Passion.

Tools:

Martha Stewart Hole Punch

Sizzix Big Shot

Cosmetic Wedge

Instructions:

1. Cut out Desired Shapes and/or letters using Brown Packing Material and Die. (Hand cut shapes work just as well).

 2. Color each cut out using Classic Ink, apply with cosmetic wedge.

3.  Assemble shapes and thread through Hemp Twine tying knot at both ends to hold together.  (If there is not a hole in center of cut outs you can use hole punch.)

4. Cut 12X12 paper to fit the inside bottom of the plastic bag nice and snug, then cut the plastic bag about an inch longer than the paper.

5.  Wrap bag around back of paper and tape in place.

6.  At the very end of the plastic bag punch holes in desired locations.

7.  Thread hemp twine through holes and hang flowers from holes.