Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

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 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 Crafts for Learning Contributor, Danielle from the blog Crayonbox Learning.

This project is designed so that anyone can embellish it with their own style. In the example I used pink cardstock and embellished the card using colored pencils. I added a flower embellishment and affixed it with a coordinating brad.

The Mothers Day Teapot Card Template included is ready to print, then you can start decorating your teacup and teapot! Click here to open the Mothers Day Teapot Card Template.

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

Pop up cards are fun to make, and to using a sketch to put the embellishments on, adds a whole new level of fun.  They are 2 of my favorite things and I know after creating this one they will be on your lists of favorites, too. 

Supplies Used:

• Blue Cardstock
• Yellow Cardstock
• White Cardstock
• Hippity Dance in the Rain by Imaginisce
• Hippity Honey Bunny by Imaginisce
• Ink Pad
• Acrylic Block
• Martha Stewart Craft Knife
• Martha Stewart Scoring Board
•  3-d Adhesive Squares
• Garden Life Stamp By Inkadinkado
• ½” Circle Punch
• Paper Trimmer
• Favorite Tape Runner
• Favorite Markers
• April Showers bring May Flowers Sketch (Click to Download)

First, print out the sketch and then move onto cutting the blue cardstock to be 6″ x 6″.  Also, cut the Hippity Dance in the Rain sheet in half to give you two 6″ x 6″ sheets.  Adhere a piece of the patterned paper to one side of the cardstock for the outside of the card.  Turn cardstock to the other side and tape the other piece of patterned paper to it making sure that the patterns on each side are different and that they are not upside down.  Fold the card in half after scoring the center with the scoring board.

Measure 2 3/8″ from each side of the card and make a mark.  From the center fold, measure ¾” above the fold and ¾” below the fold and make a mark at both points.  Place the card on the scoring board and score  the horizontal lines as shown in the picture.  Cut  vertically through all of the layers from the top score line to the bottom score line on each end as shown in the picture. Fold the center of the piece so that it “pops” out towards you.  Lay it aside. 

Stamp your image onto white cardstock and color with your favorite markers.  Cut around the image to make a 4 ¼” x 4 ¼” square.  Cut a piece of yellow cardstock that measure 4 ½” x 4 ½” and adhere the stamped image to it using your favorite tape runner.  Adhere it to the bottom of the pop up stand that you cut in the step above. 

Now using the sketch, add the embellishments to the inside and outside of the card.  Remember in using a sketch the embellishments do not have to be the same as what is shown, but should in some way resemble it.  Here I used the sketch and changed the clouds to umbrellas that I hand cut from the Hippity Honey Bunny Sheet.  I, also, use it to cut the sentiments out and adhered them to the card using the 3-d adhesive.  I used a ½” circle punch to punch the 3 birds out  which take the place of the flowers on the sketch.  

 Now it’s your turn!  Go have some fun and create this card so you can add it to your favorite things to create list, too!   

By Guest Blogger Diane, from the blog Charmingly Creative.

 Here is a quick and easy Punch Art Bunny to make for Easter. I made this hippity hoppity bunny for an Easter card using various sizes of heart and oval paper punches. I have included an example of a card where I used the Bunny as the focal point.

What you’ll need:

• Martha Stewart Confetti Heart punch
• EK Success Paper Shapers 1″ Scallop Circle punch
• EK Success Paper Shapers ¾” X 1½” Oval punch
• EK Success Paper Shapers 1.25″ x 2″ Oval punch
• Fiskars XL Heart punch
• EK Paper Shapers Punch Medium Circle 3/4″
• Fiskars ¼” Circle punch
• Pink, Dark Brown and Tan cardstock
• Darice 10mm Wiggly eyes
• Scissors
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Art Institute clear Glitter glue and/or Glue Dots

Instructions:

Punch the following from:

Dark Brown Cardstock

• Four ¾” X 1½” Oval
• Two Hearts
• One 1″ Scallop Circle

Pink Cardstock

• Two ¾” X 1½” Oval
• Two 1.25″ x 2″ Oval
• Six ¼” Circles
• One Confetti Heart (use larger heart)

 Tan Cardstock

• Two ¾” Circles

To assembly glue Pink ¾” X 1½” Ovals slightly below brown ones for ears. Glue small Pink ovals to bottom of each foot and then glue three ¼” Circles to top of each foot. To create the Bunny head flip Heart upside down so the pointy end is facing the top and then glue Tan circles slightly overlapping each other on lower part of Heart and glue small Pink Heart in center for nose then attach eyes. Glue ears behind head.

To create body take second Heart right side up and glue head on top. Then trim 1″ Scallop Circle in half placing halves together and rounding the cut edge with scissors trimming off a little of the scallop to create two small hands, glue to body near bottom of head. To complete Bunny attach feet on either side.

I have included an example of a card where I used the Bunny as the focal point.

By Guest Blogger Diane, from the blog Charmingly Creative.

Make this Easter card for someone special. Gather your cardstock, paper punches, and your Spellbinders Grand Calibur and let’s make an Easter basket card! Time to complete this project: 10 minutes.

What You’ll need:

• Fiskars Grass Edge Punch
• Martha Stewart Tulip Punch
• Martha Stewart Chick Punch
• Martha Stewart Easter Egg Basket Punch
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circle Large dies (using 3¼” & 2¾”)
• Spellbinder Grand Calibur
• Purple, Yellow, Green and Polka Dot cardstock
• Orange & Yellow Glitter cardstock
• Scissors
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Art Institute clear Glitter glue

Instructions:

Using Purple cardstock and 3¼” Spellbinder Circle run through machine. Then take the cut 3¼” Circle and center the 2¾” circle die on top and run through machine again. This will give you the handle for the Easter Basket. Cut the Polka Dot cardstock about 3½” x 1″ and trim off sides at an angle. Glue Basket at bottom of handle.

From Yellow cardstock punch 9 Yellow chicks and glue three on top of each other so you have three complete layered Chicks.

Punch out Green cardstock with Grass Edge punch and trim two strips long enough to fit behind the Basket for a layered look and glue in place. Punch out Tulips from yellow cardstock and cut a strip long enough to go behind Basket and glue behind the grass.

Using the Easter Egg Punch and glittered cardstock punch Yellow and Orange eggs, saving the baskets for another project. Glue eggs in grass and two chicks to front of basket. You can create a bow and flowers to go around the handle and add the remaining chick once you glue piece to card.

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

Want something to pretty up your paper projects? Butterflies can add a whimsical or reflective quality to your creative work. The butterflies come in two colors and two sizes, so should fit most needs.

Use the Butterfly Clipart For:

• Cardmaking
• Scrapbooking layouts
• Gift Tags
• Place Tags
• Name Tags

3D Butterflies

Cut the images out loosely, leaving some white space around them. Make folds along the body and bend the wings up to add dimension. Glue the underside of the body and stick to your project so the wings are ‘free’.

 

Download Orange Butterfly Clipart

Butterfly Bookmarks

Glue an image to the top of a long rectangular piece of card or craftstick for a pretty bookmark.

Butterfly Cupcake Decorations

Glue an image to a wooden skewer or toothpick to use as cupcake toppers.

Download  Green Butterfly Clipart

Occasions to Use the Butterfly Clipart With:

• Garden Party
• Wedding
• Hen’s Party
• Engagement
• Birthday
• Sympathy
• Friendship
• Fairy Themed Party