Snowflakes '17

Whew! - Just made it for Christmas in July! :) The weather's meh - so perhaps you are crafting. I have a mix of paper-y snowflake options for you - you can make cut-out snowflakes, or snowflakes with a printed design. You can also choose between solo snowflakes (hole at top) or cascade style (stringing holes at top and bottom).

Snowflakes'17.studio3
Snowflakes'17.svg
Snowflakes'17.pdf
Snowflakes'17.studio3

So, there you have it - this year's snowflakes, digi- or hand-cut. Make them your way.

Happy crafting. :)

Flip-Wing Butterfly Embellishment

Here's a fun print-and-cut embellishment that's ideal for double-sided paper. It's a digi-craft project because the cutting is fine - let a machine do the job!  Just cut out the butterfly, then flip the wings down. A nice touch for a giftwrap treatment.

Here's your free butterfly design:
Flip-wingButterfly.studio3
Flip-wingButterfly.svg

I scanned the butterflies in, so they are flattened in the pic - but when you make your own, you can 3-D them up as desired. Also - the wings can be innsies or outsies - as desired. 

The paper I used is from the Creative Duo Paper Pack from Craft Creations.

Wall Pocket

Here's a cute little print-and-cut project that will provide a cheery bit of extra storage space. The back's flat - hang it on the wall from a picture hook, or loop it around a doorknob.

Here's your free wall pocket:
WallPocket.pdf
WallPocket.studio3
WallPocket.svg

To make up, print on to photocopier card, cut out. Score and crease the folds. Glue the liner inside the pocket. Glue the side seam and base. Glue on the reinforcements. Add a hanging loop if required.

You can also glue two pockets back-to-back, for some desktop storage:

Print a paper pocket! :)

Cut & Create Paper Mosaics. Review.

Cut & Create Paper Mosaics

Craft Mosaic-by-Number Artworks with Paper Tiles, Scissors, and  Glue

By Chiharu Rosenberg

Race Point Publishing, an imprint of the Quarto Group 2017

Paperback kit, £12.99 UK/$19.99 US/$25.99 CAN

ISBN 978-1-63106-284-1

Star rating: ****

This is an appealing and thoughtfully-designed new spin on the colouring book trend. It is much more hands-on – and has more of an immediate appeal for papercrafters.  It puts me in mind of the Colorforms toys  I so loved as a child. What you get is the components required  to assemble nine lush, nature-themed paper mosaics, designed by Chiharu Rosenberg, a mosaic artist born in Japan and a graduate of the Nihon University of Art. There are 9 pre-printed project templates on thick card, 35 sheets of solid-coloured and patterned paper, plus a detailed how-to book.

The project cards have a few key design elements printed full-colour, plus numbered outlines for the mosaic tiles. The accompanying paper sheets have custom-designed solid and plain designs with numbered mosaic tile shape outlines printed on the flip side. You cut out the tiles and glue-stick them onto the project card. The assembly process is meant to be methodical and calming. Complexity level is labelled – beginner, intermediate, advanced. All you need to supply are scissors (or craft knife), a glue stick, tweezers, envelopes for sorting the pieces – and some design time (ideally accompanied by restful music).

The upfront info – how to go about the process – is accessible and well thought out. The intro chat for each project is friendly and conversational.

The projects are Frog in Summer Rain, White Lilies, Flying Home (lovely birds-eye-view landscape),  Night Jungle (with hummingbird amidst foliage), Mermaid, Fox in the Forest (Klimt-like patterning), Little Egret, and Cherry Blossoms.

Cut & Create Paper Mosaics would make a super summer hol activity for an older child (just don’t undertake the projects in a breeze or fan-cooled room! :D). This is a fun idea which I have not seen elsewhere. It would be great to see further themed titles in a series.

Note: I was supplied with a review copy of this title.

 

Summer Party Bunting

This sweet summer bunting is inspired by broderie anglaise (eyelet lace) - clock the cut-outs and centre motif. It is double-sided, so is can be strung across the patio or room for best effect. Each flag is folded in half and slots together. The pennants would look great with ribbon streamer spacers in between.

I have given you two versions - a digi-cut version and a hand-cut PDF.

Here's your free summer bunting:
SummerBunting.pdf 
SummerBunting.studio3 
SummerBunting.svg 

For the PDF version, print out the template, cut out the banner (just the outline - no fiddly fine cuts - the design is printed) and the discs, carefully cut the arc-shaped slots with a craft knife.Glue the discs inside the banner. Slot to assemble.

For the digi-versions, the discs motifs belong inside. If you want the front of the banner to be blue, print a blue page first, then print the banner design on the flip side.

Hope you have a delightful summer party! :)