Foldable Celtic Knot Embellishments

I have some fancy folding for you today - 3-D Celtic Knot Embellishments. They look great in gold glimmer paper. The knots look impressively intricate - but you can learn to fold them with just a little practice. The basic knot shape is of one-piece construction, which is convenient --- and a nice party trick! All the knots work on the same principle: fold the "arms" to the centre, then swing the free side to the back. You can catch a hoop in the loops for an extra-fancy touch - loop-de-loop deluxe.

Print the Celtic Knots template onto the wrong side of the paper, then cut and fold. There are tutorials for each shape of knot.

There's also a download for a bag topper. The idea is that a cello pack of Celtic Knot embellishments would make a welcome gift for a calligrapher or card-maker: 3-D illuminated manuscripts!

Fix the knots onto your project with sticky dots.


Here are your downloads:
CelticKnots.pdf 
CelticKnotBagTopper.pdf 

I've done tutorial sheets for the three knot shapes - the squares, the trefoils, and the hearts:

If you'd like to learn how to design your own 2-dimensional Celtic Knots, these books by Sheila Sturrock are great:
Celtic Knotwork Handbook 
Celtic Spirals Handbook
Both books are from GMC Publications Ltd. Neither title is new - but they are worth tracking down. The first title is available used and new, the second is still in print. Each title de-mystifies the process of drawing Celtic Knots in a clear and user-friendly manner - and throws in a bit of history to boot. The books are intended for pencil-drawing, but if you've gone digital than the geometric principles still apply, of course.

Have fun illuminating your manuscripts, gifts, or cards.

Valentine Ice Cream Cup Gift Boxes

Ice cream cups (or tubs - whatever you call them) are irresistibly cute - which makes them the ideal box shape for small gifts or treats. I call these Valentine Ice Cream Cups, but you can use them year round for many occasions. The colourway is retro. The cups have a slot-top closure. And they come with optional gift tags. Best of all: they are super quick and easy to make.

Here are your free downloads:
Love&KissesIceCreamCup.pdf
Hearts&FlowersIceCreamCup.pdf

Love&KissesIceCreamCup.svg
Hearts&FlowersIceCreamCup.svg

 
To make each cup:
1  Shape the cup body over your fingers to make it curve gently, then join the flap with d/s tape or tacky PVA glue.
2 Score the folds on the base piece tabs and fold them upwards. Apply a dab of glue to each tab. Place the cup body on a flat surface and insert the base piece, face down. Adhere all the tabs. I like to stick down the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock tabs first, then do the ones in between. Make sure the cup base is flush with the table. 
3 If using a gift tag, tie in onto the cup through one of the top slots. 
4 Score and fold the lid tab upwards. Insert the tabs in the slots. Tah dah - ice cream gift box. 

Of course, you can mix and match the lids and bases - go wild. And re-use the cups if they haven't been used for food items.

Beautiful Bells Tutorial

Two styles: Fancy (top); Simple (bottom).

Fun in patterned paper.

Today's project is a bit last-minute for Christmas - but you never know. Rainy weather is great for crafting. Plus, these papercraft bells (dead ringers for the real thing - see what I did there) would make classy decs for a New Year's Eve party. Ring in the new. In addition to the star charms (shown), I have also included heart charms, so you can make the bells up as wedding/anniversary or Valentine ornaments.

There are two styles: Simple (they look a bit like Daleks), and Fancy (more curvaceous!).

Each bell has a real jingle bell as a clapper:

Here are your free downloads:
FancyBell.pdf
SimpleBell.pdf 

FancyBell.svg 
SimpleBell.svg 

Tut follows. It's much easier than it looks! You can easily make these up in quanity as party favours or decorations.

Beautiful Bells Tutorial

1. Above, the bell pieces cut out and prepped. Clock the direction of the folds. Note that the handle centre fold is shaped, not creased. I am demonstrating the Fancy Bell. The Simple Bell is assembled in a similar manner. I have used Canford cardstock in Frosted Silver - the weight is just right. Patterned paper for the decorative bands. You also need a bit of craft thread and a jingle bell. 

2. Assemble two half-bells. Simply glue together the ajacent tabs. Tacky PVA glue does the job well. Note that holes have been pierced in the centre of each top hexagon.

3. Next, join the two halves of the bell together.

4. Next, glue one top hexagon on top of the other, sealing the bell top.

5. Join the decorative band into a ring. Apply glue (or d/s tape) onto the underside and lower onto the centre section of the bell. This is what you now have (the bell is taking shape!):

6. Next, it is time for the jingle bell:

Pass a thread loop through the top loop of the jingle bell. Make a half-hitch knot and tighten it:

Thread the craft thread tails through a needle.

Pass the needle through the hole in the top of the bell. The jingle bell cord should extend to the bottom of the bell.

Knot the craft thread at the top. Trim it off close to the knot.

7. Time to make the handle. Bend the handle into a loop and glue the
straight section near the base together. The decorative band is wrapped around the straight section, like so:

Glue the band in place. Wrap it around the bell handle, creasing the folds:

Glue the band in place. Trim off any excess paper:

The bell handle is now complete. 
8. Time to attach the bell handle to the bell body. Open out the bell handle - spread its "wings". Apply glue to centre section only (two halves of a hexagon). Glue this onto the bell top, aligning the hexagons, like so:

Next, fold the "wings" downwards and glue them ont the top section of the bell. The sections will align perfectly:

Your bell is now complete, apart from the addition of the decorative charm!:

9. The charm. Half-hitch the craft thread though the top loop of the charm.

Tie the charm around the throat of the bell handle:

All done now!:

You can tweak the appearance of the bells by making the handle out of contrasting cardstock. Add a bow if you wish.

Have a Happy and creative New Year!

Milk Carton Matchboxes!

Milk Carton Matchbox: portrait.

Milk Carton Matchbox: landscape. Pull the tassel to open the drawer!

Lightbulb moment! I know that it's sad, but I am really excited about this one. Have you noticed all those hybrid bakery delicacies in the news lately - you know, The Cronut, part croissant/part donut. Well, I have brought that mindset to papercrafting - box making, in particular.

Yes - meet the Milk Carton Matchbox (Milkbox???). A very successful combo, I think. Best of both worlds. Easy open - pull the tassel to open the drawer. Stand it up for display, lay it flat to open. Fun and easy to make. A cute little gift container.

Here are your free downloads (tut to follow):
MilkCartonMatchboxA.pdf 
MilkCartonMatchboxB.pdf 


There are two different styles to choose from: different print mixes. To make it easy for you, the printed areas coincide with the fold lines. The shapes are really easy to cut out, so I am just doing this project as a printable.

Milk Carton Matchbox Tutorial

 1. Above, Milk Carton Matchbox components: the drawer, the wrap, and the tassel pull. The pieces have been cut out and scored. There are no fold lines for the long sides of the drawer. You simply fold them in half to meet the base, like so:

2. Continue making the drawer. Place d/s tape on the short tabs on the right side of the cardstock:

On the wrong side of the cardstock, place tape along the outer edges of all four sides:

Next, stick the tabs:

To complete the drawer, fold down the flaps and stick them down on the inside. Finished drawer:

Now for the milk carton-style wrap:

3. Join the flap on the long side. Apply d/s tape to one side of the open "top"edge. Stick the top edges together, with edges (and centre holes) aligned:

The wrap is now finished. Time to make the tassel.

4. The tassel is made from craft thread, red and green required. Cut a piece of card 5cm (2in) wide. Cut two slits in one side to catch the thread:

Above, the tassel components: card, hanging loop, and the green tassel-wrap. Wrap the craft thread around the card 8-10 times. Catch the ends in the slits on the card.

5. Pass the loop under the top of the tassel wraps. Tighten.

6. Cut the tassel off the card. Straight across the bottom edge, then trim the ends. The tassel looks like this:

The tricky bit comes next: the tassel wrap.

7. Pic above shows how to position the tassel-wrap thread. Make a contrast-coloured loop. The loop is positioned with the loop end towards the cut end of the tassel. Hold it tightly against the tassel. 

8. Time to wrap. Important: start from the top end of the tassel and spiral downwards towards the loop. Wind tightly. When you get to the bottom, thread the tail of the winding thread through the loop.Trim the tail so it is shorter.

9. To complete the tassel, slowly and steadily pull the loop end thread from the top of the tassel. This will draw the threaded loop inside the tassel wraps, securing it. You can then trim off the top of the pulling thread. Tah dah! Tassel now finished:

10. Tie the tassel onto through the hole at the top of the Milk Carton Matchbox Wrap. If you wish, add a gift tag before you knot on the tassel. Slip the drawer inside the wrap. Milk Carton Matchbox is now complete:

To tag or not to tag...

The basic box design (withouth the small prints) would be the perfect surface for Zentangle-type doodle embellishments of your own design.

I'm now thinking of other hybrid boxes I can make. Hmm... bakery box/shoe box? Office envelope/shopping bag? Stay tuned. I'll probably have a go.