Happy Birthday..

Hi everyone.

My very first inspiration post here on the blog and i'm delighted to be here.

Ive made a little card to share for a bit of inspiration today.

Ive used the "Happy Birthday" doodle word as well as  the 

"Funky Kraft Stach" papers.

I am well know for loving all things vintage and distressed and I decided to show that, that style works real well, even with a fun and funky image.

 The backing paper already have little "bubbles" on it, but to accentuate them a bit more, and to really distress the papers, I stamped over the paper witha bubble stamp. I stamped using distress inks, and then sprayed with water.

It made the stamping "run" so i simply dried it with my heatgun.

This little butterfly is indeed a Funky Hand Image as well.

It is indeed from the "Flutterby Flowers" digital stamp pack.

I simply printed and cut out. Then gave it a good smudge of the same distress ink I used on the card, sprayed with water, and again dried with the heatgun till fully dry.
As the colour fully dried, it changed colour.

Finished my card with a few gems and Voila...

And that is it from me today. I hope you liked what Ive made.

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments left behind.

If you want to see more of my work, visit my blog HERE

To You From Me

Happy Saturday everyone
It's my turn, Allison, to share a make with you and I decided to keep it simple yet again but also to show you that papers can be the whole feature on a card and not just for the backing.  I used some dies to cut shapes and inked the edges and used a sentiment stamp for the centre.  The fabulous papers are from the Happy Happy Birthday CD which is just jam packed with lovely papers and colour ways, digi stamps etc
Have a great weekend and pop back on Wednesday for some more inspiration.

AllisonX

It was (almost) the Night Before Christmas

.......and all round the Funky Folks' Houses everything was wrapped and serene and ready for the big day....

or maybe not....

because if you're anything like me (it's Kathy here btw)  you'll be crafting and tweaking things right up to the last minute.  In fact, while I was writing this I was just thinking that all I had to actually make now were a few pretty things to decorate my parcels when I remembered a gift card holder of some sort that I still need to make.  And it's for my MiL, so forgetting wouldn't be a good more.  ooops!

Anyway, I hummed and ha'ed about what to share with you this close to Christmas and then decided a little reminder of  a couple of packaging ideas might be a help for last-minute wrapping, plus a couple of ideas for making your parcels look just a bit special when they are sitting under the tree - it's always amazing how adding a bit of something made from paper really makes a gift look extra special

First though here are those ideas for the actual packaging

If you've got the Funky Hand Papercraft Factory CDs then don't forget to check out the templates sections for some great ideas;

Slice of cake shaped box template -  Happy Happy Birthday CD

Pillow box template - Twelve Crafters Crafting CD

Gift card holder - Wishes and Kisses CD

Exploding box - Wishes and Kisses CD

There are also a couple of envelope templates on the CDs - great for making presentation envelopes for gift vouchers or tokens and so much nicer than a plain envelope or dull card.

Don't forget to check out the shop site too for Anice's wonderful "how to make..." videos!

The pillow box template is one of my favourites and is soooo easy to use.  I've made a shamballa bracelet for each of my three nieces

This pillow box will be for one of them

Pillow box template:from Twelve Crafters Crafting CD

Designs from "Presents Wrapped" download, Printed directly onto thin card

Flower topper made using the flower template from Wishes and Kisses CD

This little origami box will be perfect for another of the bracelets - fabulously easy to make from a couple of paper squares!

You can find the link for how to make the box, along with instructions for how to make the flowery topper HERE

Papers and flower image all from the Daisy Day download

I do love to make a few "pretties" to put on my parcels - add a bit of ordinary curling ribbon, or even a scrap of tinsel and they really add some sparkle to your gifts.

Rosettes are just the simplest way to add pizzazz - you can make them from wrapping paper, or choose one of Funky Hand's fantastic papers to make it even easier as there are so many colours and designs you're sure to find something to match your wrapping!   I often just hand fold a strip of paper, but better still is using a die such as those from Memory Box and my trusty Cuttlebug!

I#ll be making loads of rosettes for my parcels this year, but I thought I'd show you a tag I've made  instead - these are fab for using up any paper scraps you have left from all those cards you've been making!

Papers are  from "Santa Baby" download

This multi-layered star looks complicated but is really easy - so easy that in a previous life I made them with a class of 6 year olds.  Use them "flat" with some curling ribbon and maybe a tiny offcut of tinself in the centre for a gift topper, or add more layers on the back then pierce a hole right through the centre and add some ribbon or cord to make a fabulous bauble

I've used the Winter Wonderland download for this one

Start by printing on both sides of your paper, then cutting a bunch of circles - either by hand, with a punch or with a die cutter - there are 4 circles in the star I've made

Fold one circle as shown in the diagram, then holding the four circles tightly together on top of each other, use the fold lines as a guide for making the cuts - stop cutting about 1.5cms from the centre

Each circle will now look a bit like this

Now curl the ends of each section inwards - you could use the pointed end of a pencil to help form the shape if you wanted.  Add a dab of glue to hold them in shape, the next photo shows one being made

Once all your stars are made all you need to do is add a dab of glue in the middle of the first one and stick star 2 in the middle, repeat with the other stars - they will take up the rounded shape as you go and you'll end up with something just like the one in the first photo.  

Here's another "star" decoration, this time made using 8 squares of paper.  I've used the Winter Wonderland download again for this one too

I used 10cm squares and the resulting star is quite large - great to put on a big gift box - but for my next one I'll start with smaller squares.

Again, you need to print on both sides of the paper before you begin

Cut 8 squares then fold each in half 4 times so there folds going straight and daigonally, and going each way. 

 Making these folds makes it easier to do the next bit

 With the square folded on one of the diagonals, push the corners (of the long side) in to form a square - or diamond shape if you prefer ;) crease firmly

 Now fold in the two sides of the top square so the top bit looks a bit like a kite shape like this:

Do the same thing with all the squares then join them all together by tucking each one under the "kite" shape of the previous one - use a dab of glue to hold them in place.  Eventually you get a shape like this, which you can decorate with ribbon, tinsel, glitter etc  Add a hole in one of the "points" if you want to hang it up

Looks complicated but really isn't, the folds are really easy quick and you'll have your star finished in no time!

I hope you've enjoyed my little bit of gift wrapping inspiration - even if it's a bit late for Christmas the ideas might come in handy for other gift giving occasions.

We'll be back soon with more ideas for using your Funky Hand stash - but please remember that we would really love to see what you make with yourss - the Linky Gadget is there to be used so please come and share your creativity with us soon.

Wishing you all a Very Happy and Creative Christmas

 

 The linky that you see below is for you to add pictures of anything you have created using Funky Hand products recently or what you have made using the latest Funky Freebie download available on the Funky Hand website www.funkyhand.com.

Happy Birthday - Paula's Turn

Hi Funky Hand fans

Thanks for coming back to read this post.  I'm all excited about this challenge as it's a nice and easy one -after all, don't we all make loads of Birthday cards as crafters?

The very lovely and talented Jenny started this months challenge off HERE to co-incide with the launch of the very latest of the Funky Hand Papercraft Factory CD's aptly named 'HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY' - in the meantime, the design team has been entertaining our eyes and stirring up our crafting juices with their fabulous projects - wow, and aren't there are some corkers this month?  Well for me, I've just played it safe and done a couple of cards for you.  I was on too much of a roll to stop at just the one though - and truth be known, I didn't stop at two either!!! ;o)

Here is the first one i've brought for you:

This might look like I followed a sketch - but truth is, I was at this layout for ages - and wish I had have followed one, but I was really happy with how it turned out.  This is nice, pink and girly and suitable for a girly girl young or old and used papers from the Birthday Girl collection.

The next one is quite bold in contrast to the first one using papers mostly from the Birthday Gal collection.  This is the front of the card which is a square gatefold:

and a peek inside the card:

I won't show you all of the cards I did, but I do want to share a secret with you.    I have used scraps on all of the cards I made and haven't purposely printed anything off for these two cards (although I had pre-planned the sentiment on the second card above).  You see, when I first got the CD, I had been having printer problems, so my sister kindly lent me her spare one until I got sorted again.  Just incase, I thought I would print off a few of the design papers.  I'd also printed loads of the digi stamps off (as you do) - so I currently have quite a boxful of those - but those corners are another thing.  I became a bit addicted to them so printed them out in other colours by shrinking the design papers on the workspace... those corners make such a difference to a card... give it a try - try your design with, then without a corner - you don't even need to do all four - and you'll soon see what your card was missing.

If you want to create a mirror image of the corners so they look OK in all four (not being symetrical, they may look a bit odd), some people might be able to print out in mirror image by setting this up in your print management instructions.  However, Canon printers don't have this facility (well mine doesn't anyway), so instead you have to tell the printer you are printing on Tee-shirt transfer paper - (which needs to be printed in mirror image) - and thats the way to get round it.  If you want any of the images printed out in a mirror image for what ever reason - just select tee-shirt transfer paper in the drop down menu (rather than plain paper or photo paper - whatever you print on regularly).


I must admit to liking somewhat of a clean and simple (CAS) card - which is really difficult to do sometimes - what with the luscious scrummy papers that Anice brings us - however, used in a certain way - you can achieve the look and full injection of colour and still indulge in a bit of CAS.  Well I believe so anyhow.  What do you think?  I'll be displaying some of the other cards on my blog in the next couple of days.

If you haven't taken the plunge so far, or haven't got anything by 'Funky Hand' to be able to join in, go HERE where you will find a very generous freebie from Anice, the designer of all the Funky Hand CD's and papers.  There are only 2 more days in which to be able to obtain the freebie - and also to join in so hurry if you don't want to miss out.  You must have entered your card before midnight on the 14th October because on the 15th, another challenge is will start.

Remember - at least ONE element/item in your project must be from Funky Hand.  If there isn't, then unforunately (and this is quite sad) - you won't be considered a contender for the prize - winners are announced on the morning of the 15th - just before the launch of the brand new challenge for the month.

Well, I think that's it from me for another month, so thanks for reading - and for all the entries made so far.

Happy crafting

Paula x x x

P.S.  Look out for more shows coming up on Create and Craft with Anice and the Happy Happy Birthday CD  - Saturday 22nd October at 11am and 4pm or check Anice's blog for details just in case these times change.