more

Back to the car – before gluing the car into its final position I added a bouquet of flowers to the front and two horseshoes to the rear.


















With the arch complete the car is glued into place.

I had already cut six silver horseshoes which I tied together with white organza ribbon. I sewed two on three of the sides and topped them off with a bow (thanks to DH for his help with this!!)

On the fourth side I added my "handmade by" label.
The previously made panels for the inside were carefully glued in place.









Tomorrow I will show the finished box - see you then!

and still more

I then began work on the centre piece. I took my inspiration from a lady whose work I have seen on the internet. She makes the most amazing exploding boxes, beautifully decorated, and she uses acetate to add the most amazing 3d effects (my apologies to her if she is reading this as I cannot remember her name to give her credit).

Anyway, I adapted her idea so that I could make a flower arch. I cut a strip of acetate that was long enough to go from corner to corner and long enough so that there was enough height. This was secured to the base of the box and the covered base piece glued on top for both security & stability of the arch and for added weight to the base.

I then began the lengthy task of making the required number of flowers. For this I used my favourite flower punches (2 sizes) and my six petal punch to create the roses. Each rose is made from 3 punched shapes and each daisy (large and small) were made from 2 shapes.
Tiny seed beads were added to the larger daisies as centres.

After making lots and lots (and I do mean lots and lots) of flowers I then began to stick them to the acetate arch.

Then it was time to work on the lid.

In keeping with the pearl theme I sewed tiny pearl beads onto white ribbon, which I then glued to the sides of the lid.

I glued the large “30” onto the heart, added some ribbon and glued this to the lid of the box.

I then added some cream & peach roses to finish.

In tomorrow´s post, you will see things really taking shape.

and there´s more. . . . .

For the sides, I cut 4 pieces of pearly paper and 4 slightly smaller pieces of white card.

From the pearly paper I cut 1979, the date and 2009 (Sizziz night & day alphabet). I cut and embossed 2 hearts, in white card.

For the next side, I printed the poem and added some flowery clip art. This was mounted on the pearly paper. Daisies were used to complete the panel.

The third panel is simply a blank square, with a few daisies added. This was for our written message.

As I also design and make wedding ring pillows (shameless plug), I thought it would be nice to add a miniature version. Using the Sizzix heart die (and some careful measuring!) I cut the heart shape from the white card which was then embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The wedding ring pillow was made from white satin, edged with pearls and finished with white organza ribbon, and of course, 2 wedding rings.

I cut another heart and a large “30” (Ellison alphabet Tiffy Taffy). These were put to one side for later use.

Check back again tomorrow for the centre piece.

A big project continued

Now for the box – this was going to be a bit tricky – if I got my calculations wrong then the car wouldn’t fit in the box!!

After a lot of careful measuring and cutting, I had the pieces for the box. As the box was quite big (11cm x 11cm) I had to make the box from more than 1 sheet of cardstock.

The box beginning to take shape.

Next was the lid, again carefully measured and cut, remembering to add 0.5 cm extra all the way around.


Here it is, just waiting for the glue to set.

Then for the really fun bit – the decoration.

I cut a piece of card for the base, adding a diagonal piece of embossed paper and edged it with pearls.

Using my Sizzix wedding confetti die and various coloured tissue paper I cut some confetti. This was glued this all over the base.

Check back tomorrow for more of this project.

A big project

Special occasions deserve a special card – very special occasions require a very, very special card.

Dear friends of ours celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary yesterday and so I decided to make them a very, very special card.

I have been thinking about the design of this card for several months now. I have discarded a number of designs along the way for variety of reasons. The only criteria that I had for this card was that it had to be so very different from anything that I had ever made before and very personal to the recipients.

Where to begin:
Marriage year: 1979
Anniversary: Pearl
Other details: Wedding car was a red Citroen 2CV

Not much to go on but at least it was a start.

Six months ago whilst surfing on the net I found a paper model for a Citroen 2 CV. I saved the template for later use.

The next decision to be made was the type of card to design – rectangular or square, flat or 3d – the possibilities were endless.

I eventually decided on an exploding box, with the 2CV as the main feature.


















Using my previously found template and the print and cut feature on the Robo, I ended up with a flat looking 2CV which I then coloured with water colour pencils.


The assembled model.




Now as this was such a big project ( 3 work days in total), I will show the rest over the next few days.


Don´t forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment.

A week (almost) of Little Boxes

On Monday I was asked if it was possible to make 40 boxes. Tuesday saw me making some samples from which the customer chose her final design. Wednesday was "making day" and Thursday was collection day. Oh, and Friday was write about it on my blog day!!

The box is based on a takeaway box, the flower is made using my favourite Sizzix die, finished with co-ordinating brad & ribbon. The liner is a coloured cupcake case.




The chocolates are added.

The finished boxes!

All packed and ready to go.




Have a great weekend!



Anonymous said...

Wonderfull all those flowers! I sure know where I should go if I need anything like that!

Esther

25 May 2009 10:29

Another style

This is a card that I made a while ago but forgot to add to the blog.
Using the computer, I made a grid which I then printed. Using my lovely Dutch house stamps, I stamped a house in each box. The stamped paper was then cut to size, along with a blue border. The letters were cut with my Big Shot and glued to the border.

Three new additions

It has been a busy time here of late but still we have three new designs available in store.

Another photo to share

Having seen Paul's pic's on his blog , I decided to share another one of mine.

I love tulips and I especially love the colour of these.

Check out Paul's blog for some more lovely pic's.

Have a great weekend!

A first

Every year our magnolia tree is just about to bloom and then it is hit by frost. We have never seen it in full bloom until this year. The blooms don't last long but whilst in flower it looks so lovely. I couldn't resist taking a photo (just in case we never see it like this again.

Anonymous said...

I just love the magnolia trees it is such a shame that they don't stay in flower longer. Is this another string to OUR bow taking pictures of a flowering tree. Give it a couple of minutes and I'll upload mine.Paul

15 April 2009 22:05

Spring is in the air

Despite the weather being so awful, spring is just about here. The garden is beginning to burst in to life after its winter sleep. I just couldn't resist sharing this cheery photo of some pansies in the garden - so bright & colourful - a reminder that spring is on its way and hopefully some nicer weather!




Sarah said...

Hi, reading your blog from Tehran! hope you guys are all Ok and enjoying the nice weather, damn! I am missing summer in holland ;-)take care

13 April 2009 21:04

and more flowers

Today's flower offering is for a get well card.

Using my lovely blue metallic paper (again), mounted on a white card blank, again the result is simple but effective.

Until the next time . . . . . . Happy crafting!Y

More flowers, but this time for Mum

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I had to get down to work and design a card for the occassion. As I am still so much in love with the robo I wanted to design something that I could cut with the robo. The lattice is cut in one piece and stuck to the back face of an oval aperture card. The scalloped frame is cut separately and stuck to the front of the aperture, making a nice neat finish. The "Mum" was cut from pink card and stuck to the lattice. To finish off, I dug out my favourite flower punches and made two large daisies and 3 small. The centres are tiny gemstones.

Now available from our shop

Would also make a great birthday card.

Anonymous said...

lovely card Lesley hope you get lots of orders as it is different from anything in the shops

11 March 2009 12:03

Spring is in the air . . . . . .

Despite the awful weather, spring is on the way. The crocus are beginning to appear in the garden, so I decided that this week's theme for cards would be . . . .flowers.

Male birthdays are always difficult (as we all know!) - I used metallic blue paper to cut the tulip design and words, mounted on white card, the result is simple but effective.

Another commission

I was asked to make a get well card. I was given a free reign with the design, the only criteria being that it was different to the usual type of get well card.



I came up with a "thinking of you" card.

The letters, lattice and frame were all cut using the robo and the flowers made using one of my favourite punches. The flowers were finished with purple & pink brads to co-ordinate with the pearly purple card & pink letters.

Until the next time . . . . . . Happy crafting!Y

Anonymous said...

I was the one who commissioned the card, and I was so pleased with it, it was just what I wanted and so beautiful.

Grace

11 March 2009 12:10

Can you guess what it is yet?

Is it a liquorice allsort? No, its Winnie in her new bed!!

Having been so very upset by the furniture being moved around, the little madam decided she wasn't going to sleep in her cat bed anymore, preferring to sleep anywhere but where she is supposed to. In order to placate her (well, she is an old cat) and to get back in her good books we bought her a new bed. We chose a nice girly pink and it was an immediate hit with her ladyship. What we didn't realize when we chose it is that she looks like a liquorice allsort when in it, much to the amusement of everybody who has seen it. Oh well, at least Winnie likes it.

Sarah said...

Hi,what a luxury life! if i turn into a cat in my next life I wan one of those!!!!!!!byeSarah.

27 February 2009 11:05

Project Spice continues . . . . . . . .

Having successfully revamped all my herbs and spices last week - new jars and labels, I decided to have a go at some bigger jars.
I am very pleased with the results and they look great in the cupboard with the smaller ones.

Happy crafting!Y

Anonymous said...

Hi Lesley been a while since I paid a visit to your blog. Must say I think these lables are fantastic very professional.Paul

05 April 2009 22:13

Ruled by the cat!

For a while now I have wanted to move the furniture around in the living room. As half term started early, I decided to seize the moment and get on with it with the help of DS. We spent a few hours moving everything around, cleaning as we went. We hadn't bargained on a temper tantrum from the cat. She decided that she didn't like what was going on and decided to make her thoughts known.

Here she is sitting in the upturned foot stool, with her back to us in protest. Her theory was, if I'm sitting in it you can't move it!!














Anonymous said...

I know Winnie well,he definitely acts like a aristocrat when he is put out, but he is lovely and has spent many an hour on my lap, he is thoroughly spoilt and I am coming back as a cat if I can be Lesley's.

Grace

11 March 2009 13:18

A project for the home . . . . with vinyl!

Having dabbled last week cutting vinyl on the robo for DS, I thought I would try and do something for the house. My herb & spice collection has seen better days - not the contents but the jars. They were showing signs of age and were certainly well worn, some even had the labels missing! That made for some interesting meals!!
I bought some small herbs pots, some self adhesive vinyl and then designed & cut the labels using the robo.

This is how they turned out.

Now what can I robo next??

Happy crafting!Y

Friends, finally

Having spent a long time last week playing with the robo, I think that I can say that we have now become friends, at the very least, we have reached an understanding.

When the robo first arrived, I must admit that I was a bit overwhelmed by it - the software seemed to be a demon and the machine itself scary. Add to that the vast number of possible settings and you end up with a situation that seems impossible to conquer! I've spent hours (literally) with the software and machine, determined not to be beaten and on Thursday something seemed to click. What I had on the screen was actually cutting on the robo - wow what a breakthrough. I am now so in love with the robo and I am looking forward to what I can create next.

Happy crafting!Y

Why?

Why is it that whatever I do I always end up doing something for DS? This time is to do with the Craft Robo. Once DS saw what it could do, he came up with a list of things that I could cut for him. If I was to work my way through his list I wouldn't get any commissions made until June!!

Well, I am like most Mum's during the half term break - anything for a quiet life. Having been regularly nagged for the past month to do "something" with the robo for DS, I finally caved in and did something. The brief, well that was simple - make something to go on the outside of a case, using his nickname (Spanner) . . . . this is what I did.

Result: One happy son and one quiet life!

Now to start on those orders . . . .

For all the romantics

Happy Valentine's Day!

As you would expect, DH has received a card from me created on the robo. Again I've kept it simple, whilst I am still learning what the robo can and can't do. The heart has been mounted on pearlescent card (looks better than the photo).

I have been playing

Having spent the last few days learning about my new machine, I thought I'd show what I came up with.

I chose to design something simple and then go from there. The temple, frame and card aperture were cut using the robo. I then stuck the temple onto red tissue paper, assembled the frame and then stuck this to the card, carefully matching the apertures.

I was pleased with the result - DH & DS also gave their approval!

New Year. . . . . . . . new machine

I have been saving my Euro cents for a new machine for Krafted Keepsakes. Late December I finally had enough saved (coupled with a poor £ to € rate which worked in my favour) and I placed my order for . . . . . (there should be a fanfare at this point) a Craft Robo. Robbie the Robo, as he is affectionately known, arrived early January and despite my best efforts, I haven't had a chance to put this machine through its paces until last week.

I am absolutley hooked - this is my first effort, designed from scratch.

I am busy trying to master the software and machine - watch this space to see my progress.

Here's to an exciting year of new designs.

End of an era and another card

This week sees the leaving of one of DH's colleagues. During the time that they have worked together she has also become a family friend. Of course we couldn't let her leaving pass without a special handmade card.

This time I chose to do an exploding box. I have made these before and always enjoy the look on the recipient's face when they open it and find all that is concealed within.

The centre contains a tiny tissue box, with a real size tissue and two hearts with the words "bye, bye". On the sides I have incorporated sentiments and a picture of a night to remember when we were all partying together (the 70's party back in September). I used a pocket to hold a tag with the words "Good friends never say goodbye, they simply say "see you soon" and the third side simply says "we'll miss you!". The lid has the recipient's name and a handmade paper rose.

I was lucky enough to be able to hand deliver this one and to watch her face when she opened it. Fingers crossed she will read this post and make a comment herself.

Good luck and best wishes to Sarah - may she be happy and successful in whatever she does next.

Sarah said...

I am the lucky one receiving this fantastic card,, the exploding box is more an exploding emotions box, opening it reminds me that I have been thought of, cared, had good memories with Mark & Lesley and how much I will miss them.Thanks again Lesley, your creations are one of a kind, creative and always have a persona touch!hugs,Sarah

07 February 2009 13:00