Storage Box for Embossing Folders

My collection of embossing folders just keeps on grwoing. I have got specific storage for A6 and 5" x 7" folders - but that is full. And now that Trimcraft have started to bring out such beautiful embossing folders I just want to store in a nice way and keep them handy for design team projects. This is how the idea for this storage box was born. And it is also such a great way of creating a project with the Dovecraft Sweet Paris collection that I can actually keep in my craftroom.

The assembled box measures 8cm (H) x 12cm (W) x 12cm (D). The dividers are deliberately a bit higher, so that the individual sections can be identified easily.

A product list and instructions are in my Trimcraft gallery. But I am also posting the templates here, as the images on the Trimcraft fourm are relatively small.

Paris, City of Fashion

Have you already seen the beautiful papers and gorgeous embellishments from the new Dovecraft Sweet Paris collection? There are even a set of dies and an embossing folder.

I had to spend a few days just looking at the products due to an enforced break. Due to the bad weather with wet, windy and icy conditions and washing the hands with ice cold water far too often the skin on my hands was in an awful condition - dry, sore and full of cracks. And unfortunately crafting with layers of rich cream on the hands would just leave greasy marks everywhere. Even paperwork at home and non-urgent private e-mails had to wait to give the skin on my fingers time to heal. But thankfully the skin has now improved  significantly, and Honeymania hand cream from the Body Shop gets me through the day while allowing me to touch paper and card again without ruining them. And there are now so many ideas for projects in my head.

I started with a fashion-themed Sweet Paris card. And haberdashery dies are now available from so many manufacturers. I used dies that I had already in my collection, but Trimcraft have also just brought out a nice set of haberdashery dies that provides the whole assortment of haberdashery dies in one go.

A product list and step-by-step instructions can again be found in my Trimcraft gallery. The gilding wax I used is by Creative Expressions. The trees are coloured in with Distress Markers in 'walnut stain' and 'forest moss'.

Trimcraft Template for Ribbon Boxes

This week Trimcraft have posted a fantastic free template for ribbon boxes on their forum. It is designed for eight small reels of ribbon. And each box can be created from an A4 sheet of cardstock.

Here is my take on these organiser boxes. I have made a few, as I have had already boxes for larger reels but nothing for the small ones that were consequently just piling up in my craft room. Now they are all stored nicely and so much easier to use.

I kept the decorations on top of the lids deliberately flat, as this will allow me to keep the boxes on top of each other.

The 'ingredients' for the boxes:

* Free Trimcraft template
* Kraft cardstock
* Black textured cardstock
* First Edition border dies
* First Edition doily dies
* First Edition window dies
* First Edition tea party dies
* Crop-a-dile for punching the holes
* Quick drying PVA glue
* Toolbox essentials

First Edition Dies

Leaving Christmas projects behind (at least for a couple of months) it is now time to focus again more on the other Trimcraft collections and on some fabulous new products.

For the card, which I would like to share with you today, I indulged a bit in the brand-new First Edition die sets. I used the script alphabet set, the lock and key set and the border set. And as if this was not enough, I combined the die-cuts with patterned paper from the new 6" x 6" First Edition Sail Away premium paper pad.

A product list and instructions for this card can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

2015

Firstly, all the very best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful year 2015 to all of you.

I used the last few days to create some more handcrafted decorations for the festive season. And although I am happy with the results, they turned out to be pretty time consuming and I wondered more than once why I started them in the first place.

To cut the Christmas tree itself the cardstock for each element had to run through the Cuttlebug five to six times before all sections were cut properly. And then I sat here for ages holding together the Christmas tree elements until the so-called 'quick dry' tacky glue was holding the two parts securely together ...

The die for the baubles cuts two at the same time, but due to decorating the entire tree I needed to run it through the Cuttlebug 16 times per tree. I ordered more 3mm pearls before Christmas, but Royal Mail kindly only delivered mail on Monday this week and they are consequently not yet here. The only other sufficient amount of pearls from the same manufacturers that I had here comes on strips - and yes, I ended up removing every single one of the pearls from the adhesive strip, which took ages. As I want to keep the decorations for future years, I wanted to use a tiny drop of PVA glue for a stronger bond under each pearl anyway. I will make more of these trees ... but that can wait for another couple of months.

The ingredients for these intricate Christmas trees:
* Spellbinders 3D Christmas tree die set
* Double-sided pearlescent cardstock (I used Moondust card in 'Crystal')
* Foundations cardstock in vintage gold and vintage silver
* 5mm pearls
* 3mm pearls
* PVA glue