Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

One of the “in” and fun thing is to use a sketch to create your layouts.   They’re  helpful when you aren’t sure just where to begin or need a little inspiration for a page. This is a simple sketch and layout I created.  The one fun thing about using sketches is that your embellishments don’t have to match the ones on the sketch the butterflies here are 2 flowers and 1 butterfly on my layout.  You can turn the elements in any direction you’d like. Card makers use sketches, too! 

The following products can be found at CreateForLess:

• K & Co. Spring Blossom Paper Pad
• K & Co Abrianna Chipboard Chipbox
• Paper Accents Variety Pack Cardstock
• Fiskars Punch Everywhere Starter  Set
• Marvy Uchida Clever Lever Spring Flower Punch
• Paper Trimmer
• Green Brad
• Favorite Marker
• Favorite Taper Runner
• Click to Download Fun with Sketches PDF
  

  Fun with Sketches

Once  you have the paper and embellishments to create the layout,  you will want to print out the sketch and the pictures.  First trim the pictures according to the sizes listed on the Fun with Sketches PDF.   Next, trim the background  paper (yellow Paper Accents Cardstock) to be a little larger than the pictures.  Here I left those measurements up to you because you may have a piece of patterned paper that doesn’t have a large pattern  such as the tulips in the right corner.   My background papers measured 6 ½” x 4 ¼”  for the large photo and 1 ½” x 1 ½” for the smaller ones.  Adhere to photos and the background paper to the layout using your favorite tape runner.  Be sure to keep the sketch design in mind. 

Punch 2 flowers using the Spring Flower Punch and the yellow cardstock and 1 flower from the green cardstock.  Layer the green and one yellow flower on top of the last yellow one and put the green brad through the center.  Attach the flower on the layout where you’d like it.  Remember the fun thing about using a sketch is it’s ok to put things in different places. 

Trim a piece of yellow cardstock for your “title” square that measures 2 ½” x 3″ and lay it aside.  Trim a piece of green cardstock that measures the same size.  Center it in the Fiskars Punch Everywhere as shown in the picture.

The punch is made to punch once to set the pins and then you will have to push down a second time a little harder to make the cut.

You will now have a piece that looks like this.

Place some adhesive on the back of the frame and attach it to the yellow cardstock you trimmed. 

Adhere it onto the layout and write in your message.  Notice on my layout, I turned my frame sideways.  That’s ok because I’ve still used the element of the sketch and made it my own.  Add the flower and butterfly to the layout where you’d like them and your layout is now finished. 

Be sure to use the sketch and create your own layouts!  For even more fun join the CreateForLessFacebook page and share with everyone what you have created. 

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

I have such a love of butterflies, so if there’s any way I can incorporate them into my decor, I’m happy. The fridge is a blank canvas so it’s a perfect spot to attach some 3D butterfly magnets. They take very little time to create and by the end of the project, your fridge can be covered in beautiful butterflies.

What you’ll need:

• Small magnets
• Felt
• Mod Podge
• Glitter Glue
• Two colors of cardstock

Step 1. Cut a butterfly shape from a piece of brightly-colored cardstock, then bend the wings up slightly to give a 3D effect.

Step 2. Cut a singular piece of felt for the thorax/head/abdomen, then roll it so it fits evenly between the wings. Use the scissors to round out the top and bottom of it, then carefully glue it on.

Step 3. Cut antennae from a piece of cardstock, then push the ends into the center piece so they stick out.

Step 4. Use glitter glue to outline and decorate the wings.

Step 5. Let it completely dry before moving onto the next step.

Step 6. Attach a round self-adhesive magnet onto the back of the butterfly and hang it up on your fridge.

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

In spring and summer time I love the pastel colors you start to see.  There’s just something special about the pinks, light greens, blues, etc.  This time of year, there are also a lot of celebrations that take place…birthdays, baby showers and even bachelorette parties and more which makes this card and its color versatile for many occasions.  

• White Cardstock
• Pink Cardstock
• Echo Park 6 x 6 Victoria Gardens Paper Pad
• Petaloo Hydrangea Roses
• Colorbox Tutti Frutti Queue Ink Pad
• Inkadinkado Wine and Tags Stamps
• Acrylic Block
• Bo Bunny Trinkets
• Favorite Tape Runner
• Tombow Mono Aqua Glue
• Mini Pop Dots
• Martha Stewart Precision Scissors
• Martha Stewart Deep Edge Scroll Punch
• We R Memory Keepers Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper
• Imaginisce i-rock Hot Rocks Jewels
• i-rock Tool

Start by cutting a piece of white cardstock to measure 11″ x 4″ and fold in half.  This will be the card base.  Round each corner of the card base using the ¼” side of the Corner Chomper.   Next, cut a piece of the pink patterned paper from the Victoria Gardens Paper Pad to measure 3 ½” x 5″ and round the corners.  Adhere it onto the base. 

One nice thing about acrylic stamps is that you are able to place them on the stamp block with the ends higher than the middle because they do have a little give to them as seen in the picture.  Place the “Let’s Celebrate” stamp from the Wine and Tags Stamp Set onto the acrylic block with the ends curved a little upward.  Ink the stamp using the Pinkolicious ink pad from the Tutti Frutti Queue Ink by Colorbox and stamp in the center of the patterned paper. 

Take the Martha Stewart Scroll Punch and pink cardstock and punch a row of the hearts.  Trim 3 of the hearts with scissors to fit on the bottom of the card, making sure the largest heart is centered with the center of the card and that the edges of the hearts on the sides are a little rounded to match the curve of the rounded corners.  Glue on using the Tombow Mono Aqua Glue. 

Place the Petaloo flowers onto each of the top corners using 2 mini pop dots that have been stacked onto one another for each flower.  Also, add the Bo Bunny trinket using 2 more stacked pop dots to the center top of the card.  After heating the i-rock tool, affix a green Hot Rock Jewel onto the center of each flower. 

Now, let the celebration begin and use these as invitations to your special party!  Write the important information on the inside or use this really cool Party Invite stamp set by Inkadinkado!

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Having flowers in the home isn’t always possible, especially when there’s kids or animals who can easily get at them. In that case, a better option is to make paper flowers, which is an especially cute craft idea to do with kids. It requires only a handful of items, but you can end up with a small window box of adorable paper flowers that everyone will love.

What you’ll need:

• Rocks
• Colored paper
• Tissue box
• Mod Podge
• Green pipe cleaners
• Scissors
• Pencil

Step 1. Draw petals on various colors of paper, then cut them out. You can mix and match, do single colors or a combination of both.

Step 2. Cut out circles for the middle of the flowers.

Step 3. Glue the edges of the petals onto the back of the circles to form flowers, then give them ample opportunity to dry.

Step 4. Trim the top off a tissue box, then fill the box with rocks.

Step 5. Use Mod Podge to adhere a single green pipe cleaner onto the back of each flower. You can use the pipe cleaners to also make leaves or you can leave them without.

Step 6. Stick the flowers into the rocks. If they start to fall over, use the rocks to hold the stems in place. Make sure all of the flowers fully stick out from the box.

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

I have to admit that National Backyard Games Week was new to me when I first heard about it.  I searched the internet to find out that it is used to observe the unofficial start of summer and comes the week before Memorial Day every year.  This year it’s May 18^th – 25^th.  

The week is used to promote physical and social activity amongst family, neighbors and friends all while playing the games that we grew up on such as pillow case races, H-O-R-S-E and many others.  One idea to celebrate the week is by having a party or a carnival.  A good place to start for that is by creating invitations to send to friends and family telling them to come join the fun.  This is a quick and easy invitation that even your children can help you make. 

Begin by using items that will represent some of the games that you used to play and will be playing at the carnival.  It will add an element of excitement to the receiver of the invitation when they remember what games they used to play and for kids trying to guess what games will be there. 

Using a piece of green cardstock that measures 9 3/8″ long x 6 1/2″ wide and fold in half.  Next, punch the rope, using the EK Success Braid Punch, to represent the game of tug of war at the bottom of the front flap. 

I have been using the new American Crafts Dear Lizzy Neapolitan line and loving it.  The line had the perfect elements I was looking for to include on this invitation.  I began with using the Accents and Phrase Sticker Book and chose the bicycle to represent a bike parade, the arrow for a bow and arrow contest and of course you have to include some fun so I used the “fun” ticket sticker.  One of my favorite pieces is the 3 tickets stickers because on them they say, “Here’s the scoop” and I used a black marker to write on the lines, “You Are Invited.”   I, also, included a the measuring tape piece from the Sunny Skip patterned paper to represent a jumping contest and the ice cream cone from the First Date patterned paper to include an ice cream eating contest. 

Since the celebration is all about being outdoors I just had to use the Silver Lining Vellum for some clouds.  I didn’t just want to stick the entire sheet on because it just didn’t fit correctly into the design so I used my Xyron Create A Sticker Machine to make them into stickers after cutting them out.  This helped to adhere them onto the invitation without have the adhesive show. 

In order to make the clouds into stickers, simply run them through the Xyron Create A Sticker Machine, peel them off the adhesive and stick them to your project. 
Now that you have an idea for the party invitations, start inviting your family and friends to join you for the unofficial kick off to summer and have fun playing the games you played as kids with your children and their friends!

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Many girls love the color pink, so what better way to decorate the packaging of a special gift than to use a handmade girly gift tag. It takes only a few items, but before long, you can have a perfect gift tag the recipient will adore.

What you’ll need:

• Pink cardstock
• Gift Tag
• Pink scrapbook paper
• Pink ribbon
• Hole punch
• Mod Podge
• Silver glitter glue
• Puffy sticker

Step 1. Use the Mod Podge to adhere a section of the pink scrapbook paper to the pink cardstock.

Step 2. Cut the piece into the shape of a gift tag.

Step 3. Cut a piece of ribbon that fits horizontally across the top part of the gift tag, then cut another piece large enough to make a bow. Attach the horizontal piece first, then follow it up by attaching the bow on top of it.

Step 4. Punch a small hole just above the bow.

Step 5. Use glitter glue to go over any designs that are on the scrapbook paper to make it pop.

Step 6. Attach a puffy sticker in the center of the gift tag.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

When you’re giving a gift to someone who loves birds and/or the outdoors, a bird gift tag can be a beautiful addition to the wrapping. The best part is that you can personalize it for the recipient, right down to the color ribbon you use.

What you’ll need:

• Plain gift tag
• Book page
• Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Tissue
• Ink pads in two colors
• Bird stamp

Step 1. Choose a book page to adhere to the front of the tag. I chose a page from an antique french dictionary, but you can choose any you think the recipient would love.

Step 2. Trim the excess paper from the tag.

Step 3. Rub the tag along an ink pad until there’s color along the edges.

Step 4. Stamp the image of a bird into the center of the tag.

Step 5. Dab a tissue into the same color ink you used along the edges of the tag, then blot it all over the front of the tag.

Step 6. Take a second tissue, blot it in a second complementary color of ink, then blot it all over the front of the tag.

Step 7. Punch a hole into the top of the tag

Step 8. Put a ribbon through the hole.