Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By General Crafts Contributor Mina, from the blog Mina’s Journal.

Here’s a set of Clever Cats Tags to print and cut out. Use them as gift tags or journal tags in your papercraft projects. Print out a set for that cat lover you know!

Download Clever Cat Tags – White

Ways to Use the Clever Cats Tags

• Gift Tags
• Journal Tags
• Card Toppers
• Book labels
• Scrap pages
• Clip art
• Write your cat’s name on them and stick them to the cat house or cat basket

Download Clever Cat Tags – Black

Just cut and write. Punch a hole to thread string or ribbon through and you’re ready to go!

Download Clever Cat Tags – Black Label

These black tags are for those who want a label for writing on the front of the tag.

Happy Crafting!

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

I have such a love for Valentine’s Day simply because I adore hearts. Making a hanging piece of heart decor is ideal whether you’re putting it up outside or on a plain, boring wall. This heart craft is comprised of connecting hearts, similar to the look of a four leaf clover, and requires only a handful of materials.

What you’ll need:

• Red felt
• Red or pink patterned paper
• Double-sided tape
• Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Wide ribbon

Step 1. Choose a piece of red or pink patterned scrapbook paper. I picked one that’s white on one side, but if you so choose, use one that’s double-sided.

Step 2. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper into four even strips. If you’re using a standard size piece of scrapbook paper, each strip will be 3″ x 12″.

Step 3. Fold each strip in half, then bend in the ends so it forms a heart shape. Use a double-sided piece of tape to hold the heart shape in place. Make four in total.

Step 4. Use double-sided tape to attach the hearts to each other so their points meet in the center.

Step 5. Cut a piece of wide ribbon that’s long enough so it can hang the decor from wherever you’d like it placed.

Step 6. Put a dot of Mod Podge on each end of the ribbon. If you’re working with the hearts in a clockwise pattern, slide one end in between the top heart and the second heart, then slide the other end in between the top heart and the fourth heart. Press the paper down over the ribbon so it sticks.

Step 7. Cut two hearts out of red felt, then use a piece of double-sided tape or the Mod Podge to stick one on each side over the center where the points meet.

By Guest Bloggers Melissa + Kellie, from the blog Icing Designs.

Oh how we love paper flowers, let us count the ways! Well at least 4 ways! We certainly do have a weakness for paper flowers, they are so versatile, beautiful and easy to make! Thanks to the lovely DIY corespondent Katie, we are going to show you how to create 4 different paper flowers…that can be used in a variety of ways!

Materials:

• Paper in any color you wish (paper should be easy to manipulate, rather than heavier cardstock)
• Flower Template: For this flower a template for a flower shape found on Martha Stewart that was originally meant for fabric flowers was used. (Go here for template)
• Scissors
• Glue gun & glue
• Ruler
• Bone Folder or Scoring Board

Directions:

1. Trace template onto paper and cut out 4 flower shapes.

2. On two of the flower shapes, score down the center of each petal and fold inward.

3. Glue one of the folded flower shapes on top of the other, staggering the petals.

3. Fold the other two flower shapes in quarters, hot gluing the at the tip to keep the fold secure.

4. Bend the tip of the fold and glue it into the center of the flower.

5. You can bend and open the petals if need be.

Visit Icings Designs for instructions on how to make these flowers!

Check out this AMAZING paper flower arch Katie made for her sister’s gorgeous wedding this summer!

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

This is the time of year for special cards of all types.  A special card with a gift card to someone’s favorite store is always a big hit this time of year.  Why not make it even more special by creating the card by hand? 

Supplies Needed:

• Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper Pad
• Green and Red Cardstock
• 3-d adhesive
• Favorite tape runner
• Glue
• Scoring Board
• Photo Corner Punch
• Paper Trimmer

Begin by cutting a 6″ x 12″ card base from the green cardstock, score in the center at 6″ and fold in half.  This will create a 6″ x 6″ card for you to use.  Next, cut a piece of green cardstock that measures 6 ½” long x 6″ wide.  Using the scoring board, score the length of the paper starting from left to right at ½”, ¾”, ½”, ½”, ¾”, 1 ½”, 1 ½”.  Now you need to fold that piece in a peaks and valleys manner.  The first flap, which is the ½” score on your left, is folded downward.  The ¾”” score is left flat, the next ½” score is folded downward to the valley and the next ½” finishes the valley fold.  The next score is the ¾” score and it is left flat.  The first 1 ½” is folded down which forms the front side of this piece that faces the opening of the card.  The last 1 ½” is folded underneath.  When you are finished your piece should look like this picture when it’s attached to the card. 

Run a small piece of tape from the tape runner on the inside of the valley fold area to close it up so the gift card will sit straight in the holder. 

Starting on the bottom of the card attach the 1 ½” piece which was the last section you scored to the card using the glue so it will hold when the card is opened and closed.  Attach the 1/2″ flap to the top of the card.  Refer to second picture for help if needed.

Once the card is completely assembled refold all the score lines to give them a crisp fold so the card closes easily.  This may have to be done more than once to get it to close. 

On the front of the card, cut a 5″ x 4 ¾” piece of Merry and Bright patterned paper from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper Pad and adhere it to the card.  Trim the “Hearty Greeting” message from the Santa Express sheet in the paper pad and adhere it using the 3-d adhesive circles on each corner.  Using the photo corner punch, punch 4 pieces from the red cardstock and attach them to each corner. 

On the inside of the card, cut a 3 ¼” x 2″ piece of red cardstock and adhere it.  Cut the “Received From” tag from the Special Delivery sheet from the paper pad and adhere it to the cardstock.  Cut a 5 ½” x 2″ piece of red cardstock for the bottom of the card and place it on there.  Over the top of the cardstock leaving approximately ¾” of the red showing adhere a 5 ½” x 3″ piece of the Merry and Bright patterned paper. 

Place the gift card in the holder and it’s ready to give as a special gift.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

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

In all of the craziness of the holiday don’t forget to help Santa out and let him know what you would like for Christmas.  He reads a lot of letters so make yours into a layout with pictures from your favorite craft store like CreateForLess so he knows just what to get you and where to get it. 

Santa Claus is going to make an extra delivery to one lucky CreateForLess customer this holiday season! Enter our Dear Santa Sweepstakes and you could win up to $100 of what you’ve been wishing for this holiday season! Simply pick out your wish list at CreateForLess and enter HERE!

Supplies Needed:

• Corner Rounder
• Christmas Tree Punch
• Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper Pad
• Red Stickles
• Yellow Stickles
• Fired Brick Distress Ink
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink
• Heritage Cricut Cartridge
• Cricut Machine
• 3-d Adhesive
• Green Cardstock
• Smooth White Cardstock
• Smooth Beige Cardstock that works in your printer
• Black Marker
• Your favorite tape runner

The first thing you will want to do is to punch the Christmas trees using the tree punch and green cardstock  and then put the red and yellow Stickles dots on them.  Set them aside to dry.  Next, go to your favorite online craft store like CreateForLess and find some things on your wish list.  Copy and paste them into a document and print them off on the Smooth Beige Cardstock.  Keep in mind to size your photos so they will fit onto the 8 x 8 patterned paper once they are cut out.  After cutting around each photo, round the corners with the corner rounder and ink the edges using the Fired Brick Distress Ink.    Also, round the corners of the “Toyland” patterned paper from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper Pad.  Attach the pictures with the tape runner to the patterned paper making sure to tilt some of the photos to add attention to the layout. 

Using your Cricut machine set the size to cut to 3 ¾” and cut the scroll from the Heritage cart.  Ink the edges using the Vintage Photo Distress Ink to give it an old world paper look and adhere it to your layout.    Write your letter to Santa with the black marker on the scroll and add the trees to the layout using the 3-d adhesive so they pop off the page. 

You now have your letter to Santa finished and can help cut his work time down by showing him where he can find the tools on your Christmas wish list!

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

Q. What is the difference between acrylic and cling stamps?

A. Acrylic stamps, also known as clear stamps, are made of a clear polymer that is flexible which allows them to be placed on plastic sheets for easy storage. Since they do not come with a handle like a wood mounted stamp does a reusable acrylic block is needed to use this type of stamp. The image has been etched on and die cut closely so they are the easiest to use as you can see through them to know exactly where you are placing your image. Cling stamps are rubber stamps without the wooden block. They have been trimmed around and a piece of cling vinyl has been placed on the foam mount to attach to the stamp where normally the wood block would be. This vinyl which is very sticky sticks to the acrylic block allowing it to be the handle of the stamp and can be removed after used. These stamps are the actual size of the image which allows for easier placement on your projects.

Q. What is a scoring board?

A. Scoring (or score) board is used to create a grooved line into the paper (score line) which helps in getting a crisp, clean fold. They are a handy tool for card makers to get a clean fold of a card and also can be used for creating the folds in handmade envelopes and boxes, as well as, other projects.

Q. What is fussy cutting in paper crafting?

A. A lot of people know this term from quilting, but it has also spread into paper crafting. There are two ways of doing a fussy cut. One is when you use scissors or a craft knife to cut closely around the edge of a particular image; a stamped image for instance. The second way, which may not be thought of as often, is when you use a die and die cut machine to make a cut around an image in a piece of patterned paper.

Q. I want to use the cards I received on my layout, but how do I do that?

A. You can add a re-sealable bag to your layout and then add embellishments to the outside that match the theme of your layout or you can create a pocket out of cardstock or scrapbook paper by cutting it to a size to fit the widths and heights of the cards with an additional 1/2” added to these measurements on the sides and bottom to score and fold towards the layout which allows it to be attached to the scrapbook page. Both ways allow your cards to stay intact and removable to read again and again.

Q. Any ideas where I can find some inspiration?

 A. A great place to start is the Think Crafts blog, but you may also be interested in the great books that CreateForLess carries.

By Guest Blogger Diane, from the blog Charmingly Creative.

This adorable paper turkey would look great on your table for Thanksgiving, or used to make a card to show someone you care.

Tools and Materials

• 8 ½” x 11″  cardstock in a variety of Fall colors
• Craft knife
• Scoring board or cutting mat
• Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
• Double-sided tape
• Fiskars Punch – 2″ circle
• EK Success Paper Shaper Punch – 1 ¼’ x 2″ oval
• EK Success Paper Shaper Punch – ¾” x 1 ½” oval
• EK Success Paper Shaper Punch – 2″ Scallop Circle
• EK Success Punch – Swirly leaf
• EK Success Punch – Real Estate
• Marvy Uchida Punch – Star
• Martha Stewart Medium Punch -  Heart
• Darice Eyes Printed Moveable 15mm

1. Cut two brown pieces of cardstock 1½” x 11″ to create 2 strips.

2. Lay strip on score board or cutting mat, with length perpendicular to score lines.  Score paper every 1/2″. Repeat for second strip. Accordion fold strips.

3. Place a piece of double-sided tape on each edge of one of the accordion-folded strips. Tape one strip to another, end to end, lining up design. Flatten out resulting tube, forming a circular medallion.

4. Add a dab of hot glue to center of medallion to secure in place; hold while glue cools.

5. For tail feathers punch eight 2″ ovals and eight 1½” ovals in a variety of colors.  Glue smaller ovals to upper center of larger ones. For Turkey body punch one brown 2″ circle for head a 2″ scallop circle for body and two 1 ½” ovals for wings.

6. For Turkey legs punch two yellow legs using Real Estate punch and two yellow stars for feet.   To create beak punch one orange heart fold pointed side in half and trim off excess.  Punch three red pieces using swirly leaf for top of head and under beak.

7. Assembly ovals behind medallion and glue in place.  Glue brown head circle to brown scallop body, add two small ovals under head for wings.  Attach eyes, beak, red pieces, legs and feet.  Attach completed Turkey to front of medallion.