Boxes & Bags

Gobble, gobble, gobble

I’d wanted to use this file to create the Halloween version, but couldn’t get to it soon enough for this year’s display…

image credit Simply Crafty SVGs

so I decided to see if a Thanksgiving version would work. I think it does! I’m looking forward to putting it out next week!

I left the file at it’s original size, changed out the words for the spines of the books – using vinyl. It’s a fun box to make and pretty easy to assemble. The finished size is about 5″ x 4″ x 6″. A little big for the tiered tray, but will be a good companion piece all in all.

I created the feathers using a triangle from the SCAL library and then colored them using markers. I doubled them up for a clean finish front and back. I added some stitching details and inked the edges before gluing them to the turkey body. These are tucked into the body piece before gluing the sides together, but could be glued to the back panel instead if desired.

For the top of the box I added a maple leaf (also found in the SCAL library), colored it with ink and then roughed up the edges a bit before gluing it in place. The lid to the box is held in place with a hook and loop dot.

If I were to do another one, I think I would change up the book cover colors a bit and add a couple of leaves draping them over the edges of the books as well as add a few more details on the spines about the books with some different wording. Lots of options and I do think I see a snowman in a future iteration of the this file.

On a side note: Sandy is closing her web store sometime next year. She has set up an etsy store and is moving a few things over to Creative Fabrica as well. So we won’t be losing access to her creative files and work. You’ll also want to follow her on YouTube for assembly videos.

Wishing you a creative day! Have fun and keep nurturing your soul….

Happy Owl-oween!

This was a fun project — with just a few tweaks to the original files, this box was a lot of fun to put together.

I used two files from Simply Crafty SVGs. The Easter Egg Gift Box for the body of the owl and the Hovering Witch Hat for the hat. Both files were reduced and can be cut using 8.5 x 11 cardstock.
I found a pattern image on Pixabay (the swirls) that I used as a pattern fill on the panel pieces for the body. The dotted pattern on the hat was created in Procreate and used as a pattern fill for the hat panels as well. These pieces were printed, then cut using the Skycut and SCAL software. All pieces were inked for a little more depth and to blend the edges to the base papers that were used.
The eyes, nose and wings were created using basic shapes found in the library.
I did choose to glue the hat in place and since this is just going to be a decor piece, I also glued the top to the bottom and added a few glass half marbles for a little weight, though it wasn’t essential for balance.
This ideas was inspired by some clipart I found on Pinterest. I have a few more ideas kicking around for some additional “birds.” We’ll see how that goes.

Hoping you’ve built in some time in your creative space for the month of October! Have fun and explore a few new ideas and make them come to life…

How about this version? Different colorway. Solar paste and stencils and using an embossing folder. He kind of grew on me…

that ornament file has a new life

With Christmas not too far away, let's just say, getting a head start is a good idea for this gal.  I should have started two months ago…. at least on my cards!  

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Pinterest inspired, this make was lots of fun and I even got to use some things from my stash and the scrap bin too!  
The file for the ornament is from Simply Crafty SVGs and the file I used for the H is from the 3D Letter SVG Kit at SVGCuts.com. (You get the whole alpha in the kit!) 

The 3d Round ornament gift box file was also used for some Halloween decor in my last post.  But I thought that changing it up to a bell would work too.  I did do a search for something similar in 3D, but struck out, so it was time to put things together to bring it to life.  

Bell

This is also where the paper yarn came into the crafting picture.  I needed something small to fit in the space between the halves of the ornament… but nothing seemed to work.  I tried wrapping paper around some cording, a pipe cleaner, and even designed a boxy trim – but nothing looked right.  While browsing the net one evening, I found a tutorial for making paper yarn.  The form I liked the best was using crepe paper and you can get about 9 yards of "yarn" from 1 yard of crepe paper when it's all spun.  I did need to get a drop spindle — but that was okay as I plan to use it for some other projects as well.  

Here's what my "yarn" looks like after it is spun.


Yarn

BELLS:  Once the ornament has been assembled following the video (here), glue the two halves together.  Get those edges close together.  When dry, you can apply the paper yarn.  I used Bearly Art craft glue to adhere the yarn in the area between the two halves.  

Decorate as desired. I used some die cuts (dies from Sizzix) and some wired ribbon I found at Hobby Lobby — yep, they're already setting their Christmas section!  

LetterH

Letter H:  Assemble the H according to the directions.  It really is an easy letter to put together.  Ink the edges of the H panel.  Decorate with a strip of black across the center of the H and add a second piece of black that has been threaded through the belt buckle.  I purchased a tin of buckles and frames from Oriental Trading quite a while ago and still had some that worked well for this project.  Adhere this panel to the front of the H and you're ready to display!  

As you can see, I made 3 of each – 3 bells and 3 H's.  You can display them in a several ways – and they'll be perfect for your holiday display this year and in years to come.  

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Happy Crafting!  Enjoy some creative time today and every day!