Turning envelopes to gift bags

Turning envelopes to gift bags

Craftie Jellie

Although I’ve finished my stash ban I’m trying to stay on a stash diet!! I seem to have tons of envelopes left over from our wedding and they can be made into cheap gift bags that are perfect for small light items such as jewellry. I also tend to add so much to my cards I end up having to make a box with them so I end up with spare envelopes such as this pretty pearlescent one which became the bag on the right.

I used a paisley stamp to make a random pattern. I used a MS flower punch to make the top and then added some ribbon from stash for handles.  Just to prove it is the envelope I’ve shown the back as well!

My second envelope started life as a white envelope. I used lavender and pink distress inks to give a light background colour. Iused a butterfly border stamp in pink all the way across the paper and then added a lilac circular butterfly stamp. I used a MS butterfly punch to edge the top and tied a pretty pink ribbbon (from the inside of a jumper….you know the annoying ribbons they use to hang things up in shops!). I used a MS punch to make the butterfly on a bit of spare pearlescent paper, curled the wings and added adhesive pearls.

I would like to enter the following challenges
Stamp scrap and doodle challenge- die cut or punches
Delightful sketches- punches and dies
Pixie dust studio pixie challenge- Girlie girl
The hybrid chick- all tied up (use ribbon, twine etc)
CES challenges- Give me wings!

Learning to dance in the rain

Learning to dance in the rain

Craftie Jellie

There were so  many inspirations for this picture including the person it is for and these wonderful challenge photos (challenge detail at end of post). The pictures inspired my colours, flowers and swirls!

This is my creation with some words of wisdom.

I made the backing paper using Craft Artist and printed it out. I added some stickles to the clouds, butterflys and swirls.

I added glossy accents to my rain drops I’d designed and also to the beads hanging from my banner.

I used pearl and pink pearlescent ink to paint the edges of the petals on my flowers (which are from Wild Orchid Crafts). I added some pearl accents to my swirls.

I used a MS butterfly punch and curled the wings. I placed a couple of pearls in the middle.

I would like to enter the following challenges
Gingersnap creations-words of wisdom
Inky impressions challenges- pearls and/or bling
Aud sentiments challenge- anything but a card with a sentiment
The crafty pad- fresh Spring colours
Divas by design challenge- anything goes
Cutie pie challenge- anything but a card
Little claires designs- anything but a card
Cupcake inspirations- see photo at top of post
so artful challenges- Georgia O’Keeffe see photo at top of post

Seahorse kiss

Seahorse kiss

Craftie Jellie

It’s so good to have a chance to get more crafting done again. I’ve really missed the nice crafting routine I had!
Today I wanted to do a Valentine card that was masculine and using non-traditional colours. I came up with this.

I made the papers using Craft Artist. I distressed inked the card edges and then added mother of pearl style beads.

I also decorated the inside of the card. I will add sentiments later!

I would like to enter the following challenges
ooh-la-la- creations challenges- seeing double
crafty ribbons challenge- one for the boys/ men
Craft door magazine- Valentine for a male
scrap it girl- show some love
sugar creek hollow- vacation at the beach

Light up the darkness!

Light up the darkness!

Craftie Jellie

I had a go at making my first picture. Everything still from stash!

I made the background paper using Craft Artist on the computer. I used a blue rope ribbon to edge it. I used stickles to highlight the butterfly and flowers on the paper.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I used pearlescent inks to paint the edges of the petals. I also used pearlescent ink to paint the candle and flame.

In the bottom left I also used a couple of feathers and some skeleton leaves.
 I used a MS punck for the butterfly. I used gems on the butterfly and glitter swirl.

I would like to enter the following challenges
Tando creative challenges- leap off the page
Wild orchid challenge- creature comforts
incy wincy designs flower frenzy
crazy challenge- flowers
flutterby wednesdays -open
prairie fairy fridays- anything but a card
hotshotcraft- flowers
wags n whiskers rubber stamps home decor

Mosaic- tutorial

Mosaic- tutorial

Craftie Jellie

I had a decent amount of crafting time for the first time in ages today. I wanted to make a thank you card for a friend.Time to try a new technique to use up scraps! I’m really pleased how this worked out as it is perfect for using small scraps.
I started by deciding I’d use pink and brown and sorted out some scraps in those colours and some cardboard packaging.

I took a piece of cereal packet. I tore up pieces of brown scrap papers and stuck them down with Mod Podge I used similar colours in a circular pattern. I then coloured the torn edges with brown distress ink.

I then used various scraps with two pink patterns on them to make my union jack patterned mosaic.  I coloured the torn edges with pink distress ink.

I covered the mosaic patterned paper with two layers of Mod Podge.

I used a die cut from Lili of the Valley. I cut it out and highlighted the flower, mirror and pearls using glossy accents. I added some pearl embellies to the bag. I mounted them using foam pads to get some lift.

I would like to enter the following challenges
kaboodle doodles- thank you
papertake weekly- happy highlights
card makin mamas- something old
crafts 4 eternity- clean and simple
crafters cafe blog challenge- CAS

It’s classic!

It’s classic!

Craftie Jellie

I made this card for a classics teacher. I wanted a masculine vintage look to match my classics theme. I used distress ink on the card edges and paper edges. The latin text, map and Roman coins paper were coloured using a photo editing package to give a sepia tone.

The map was a line drawing of Scotland in Roman times. Having recoloured it digitally I mounted it on Tim Holtz paper and added crackle glaze.

I used Martha Stewart punches on Tim Holtz paper to make the medallion and the backing for the coins paper. I used the Wishing You Happiness sentiment from LOTV stamped in brown ink on cream card that I had distressed with ink. I used a coin charm covered in versamark emboss and silver embossing powder to make it look like an ancient coin! I used garden twine instead of ribbon to make it more masculine.

I used distress inks on the inside of the card with the Tim Holtz paper with the corners punched. I added my message on the computer. I took a photo of the colliseum and used a photo editor to make a mosaic effect.

A close up of the mosaic effect photo.

I also made a box to put it in.
I would like to enter the following challenges
The Crafty Pad- something for the boys
Craft spot- lets hear it for the boys
Cards for men- boys and their toys (in this case the Roman artifacts are toys to the man in question!)
Digistamps 4 joy- One for the boys
Crazy challenge- vintage
Creative stamp friends- old fashioned or antique
Crafty bloggers network- distressing
Shellys images blog- text challenge

Love is

Love is

Craftie Jellie

I’m still on my stash ban and doing my best to be innovative! I used the great photo from The Shabby Tearoom challenge for inspiration.


I used the colours, the sewing theme and also the vintage feel by using papers which remind me of vintage wallpaper.

The digi is from the Paper Shelter and is called the cute dressmaker. I recycled brown card packaging for my mats. I used distress ink around the edges of the card and image.

I used up some left over embroidery thread and buttons cut off clothes to add to my sentiment.

The back lacy ribbon was from Sew Sweet and was from a win on the wonderful Top Tip Tuesday. The green ribbon is from stash.

The inside of the card uses a heart from Nit Wits Threads and Thimbles.

Thanks for reading! The other challenges I want to enter are
My Grafico Crafts- love and valentines
Incy Wincy Designs- vintage
Crafty Cardmakers- no floral embellishments
Cards for men- recycling
The pink elephant challenge- hearts (anywhere in the card so I hope inside counts!!)
Theres magic in the air- from the heart

A good reason to open a bottle of wine!!

A good reason to open a bottle of wine!!

Craftie Jellie

Sorry I haven’t had time for crafting this week! However, storecupboard January is back on track today- everything from stash or recycled. I started by using a wine cork and various ink pads to stamp this background.

By making everything using the same ink pads I was able to coordinate easily. I also wanted the card not to be too girly so I went for greens, browns and a little red on Kraft card.

I had a little scrap of aida that has been hanging around for years so I thought it was time to use it. I randomly stamped the ink pads onto it and then sprayed it with some green pearlescent spray (made by putting small amount of pearlescent ink in water in a small mister).

I then frayed the edges. I wanted to keep the stamped images simple. I used small ink pads to ink them out using the same colours  as for the background.

I used darker colours for the areas that would be more shaded, 2 greens for the boots and red for the ladybirds. The stamps are Country Companions and were free with a mag.

I used the same inks with a sponge dauber to lightly ink the backgrounds and to give my hedgehog little rosy cheeks and chest and some brown shading.

I decorated the inside of the card using the cork with ink pads again and the papers were made with a sponge dauber.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges.
Stampin’ sisters in Christ- thinking of you
Paper sundaes- Saturated colours
Creative inspirations paint- something old
Smudgy antics- recycle something

I believe

I believe

Craftie Jellie

If you follow my blog you will know I’m having a storecupboard January- using up stash and trying out moneysaving ideas as I go. I’m also playing with my new Cougar!

My money saving tip of the day is using cheap baby wipes to clean your craft mat if you’ve been using glimmer sprays/ distress inks etc. When they dry out you can use them as a textured background. I sprayed this baby wipe with home-made glimmer sprays (I made these with a few drops of pearlescent ink in water in a mini mister) to give an impression of  sky and grass.

The beautiful cutting file was one that had been made by Linda using a pattern found at this web site.  Linda has a great web site with free stuff as well as some great files to buy. Her site is here. I used my Cougar to cut a copy in black card and one on lilac pearlescent paper (both scraps!) I then layered them as if there was a shadow.

My stamp was fairy on tiptoes from Lili of the valley. I coloured with Promarkers, mounted on a scray of lilac pearlescent card and lightly embossed the edge by hand. I also added 3 pearl gems.

My sentiment is also LOTV mounted on a circle punched from scrap card and decorated with pearls.

 I also used pearls on a couple of the swirls.

I would like to enter the following challenges
2 sisters challenge- things with wings
Crafting for all seasons- fairies
Flutter by wednesdays- open
Card Caravan challenge- sparkle
I brake for challenges- simple
Crafty sentiments- love and romance (plan to do this for hubby as he starts a new project)
Truly scrumptious challenge- shabby pastels and paint
Aud sentiments challenge- any sentiment but must use scraps
Just inspirational challenges- Inspiration picture

My storecupboard January- tutorial 2!

My storecupboard January- tutorial 2!

Craftie Jellie

When doing the last tutorial it struck me that another way to use up thin scraps of paper would be paper weaving.
My first tutorial explains how these scraps were left over from my Christmas card makes and why this meant they were similar sizes and colours.

1. Run a line of double sided tape along one edge of some scrap card (you can also spray card with repositionable spray). Stick ends of scrap onto the tape (Leave space at either end wide enough to put more double sided tape down). I alternated red and green patterns and worked out how I wanted to arrange them before sticking them.

2. Sort out scraps with different pattern(s) to weave through.  Run double sided tape alone each end of the card and weaving your paper through, move it along and stick to the tape at either end. In my case my holls paper always runs under the green scraps and over the red scraps.

3. Take your next piece of paper, weave it through alternate strands (in my case the start paper always runs under the red paper and over the green paper). Move it into position and stick down.

4. Continue until you have used up all the scraps/ covered the card.

5. Use a sponge to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over the top.

6. Allow to dry for 20 minutes and then add another layer of Mod Podge.

7. When it dries your paper weaving will be fully stuck together and there will be a lovely gloss to it.

I wanted to make all my card from scraps so I punched two circles from a cereal packet. Stuck them together and then painted the edges and front with greem Brilliance pigment ink.

I added my LOTV die cut (where I had accidentally cut it too small but by mounting it on the green card she looks kinda cute!!). I mounted this on the card using foam pads.

I added some of my spare paper and a scrap of card to the inside and job done!!

I would like to enter the following challenges
Top Tip Tuesday- anything goes…..sorry another very long tip 😉
The Karft Journal- using Kraft card and anything goes
Paper sundaes- out with the old (using old scraps) in with the new (created a new backing paper!)
Gingerloft challenge- Winter and Christmas
Dream Valley Challenges- Christmas
Cupcake inspirations- this picture inspierd my colour scheme for many of my Christmas cards