KEEPSAKES - Cat in a Box

Hello Little Roos,

Stephen and I have never been known as conventional so when it came to our friend’s wedding we weren’t likely to buy them a standard wedding present. This was decided by knowing the interest of the bride and a theme that had developed during the wedding planning.

[caption id="attachment_63" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Cat in a Box - Finished[/caption]

Presenting Lucky and Hope (the names I decided to call the cat and butterfly).

Since the wedding gazebo and the fairy princess castle I wanted a new challenge. I had rediscovered a japanese site that has a section for papercrafting. The Japanese are amazing when it comes to papercrafting but I wasn’t quite prepared for the kinds of websites that have
papercrafting sections. Amazing!

Lucky the cat and Hope the Butterfly can be found at Canon’s Creative Park along with other breeds and some of the most wonderful things I’ve ever seen. I am sure I will be uploading photos of more soon. The Butterfly was slightly adapted (size and without the flower).

[caption id="attachment_64" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Lucky the Cat out of the box[/caption]

First of all I put the cat together using 300gsm white card and experimenting with different glues. However, this is more of a manipulation process and therefore the 300gsm card was far far too heavy. I would recommend 160-200gsm. As for the adhesives, I used double sided tape, superglue (naughty, I know), and craft -acid free- glue in a glue pen form. The double sided tape did not hold so I wouldn’t suggest this one (I also used the mouse tape roller for the fairy princess castle when I ran out of craft glue and that didn’t work either), the superglue was used on the muzzle of the cat as nothing else would work – this was because the weight of the card was so heavy that a craft glue was not strong enough.

[caption id="attachment_62" align="aligncenter" width="622"] Hope the Butterfly sitting next to Lucky the Cat's foot[/caption]

Then I made up the Butterfly using 300gsm white card again. This was great for this particular 3D item. The box is the same one as I used for the wedding gazebo, however I made it slightly taller and sealed the lid closed. I used a different backing paper – gold butterflies – and only had
windows in three of the four walls and a window in the lid. I then used ribbon to decorate the box and added some 3D effect butterflies to the front corners.

[caption id="attachment_61" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Looking down on the Cat in the Box[/caption]

I found a beautiful butterfly on a download site that was part of a card topper kit. I printed off six. Three make up each butterfly and this can be done by sticking one left wing to another right wing.

Rating:-
Design: Original
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Additional: Take your time. Don’t rush. For this particular gift I didn’t attach the tail to the cat until the end as I altered it so it would lie further round the cat’s feet.

TIP: For the cat use 160-200gsm white card and craft glue in a pen.

KEEPSAKES - BLOSSOM CASTLE

Hello little Roos,

This, for me, was one of the most beautiful models I’ve made or even seen. I made this for a friend who was celebrating her daughter’s first birthday – Made using (and slightly adapting SHHHH!) a template from a digital download site. The template was a simple black line template allowing the user to choose their own backing papers. I am for and against this as I think the ease of use comes from the technical level of the crafter.

[caption id="attachment_56" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Blossom Castle - Finished[/caption]

I chose my backing papers, deciding on cream and blossom for the colours and decorated the finished castle with pearls, blossom gems, ribbon, and glamour dust (the glamour dust was put on before construction).

The base of the castle is a lovely little box but it’s not the easiest box to open since you have several tall towers on the lid, including one which is approx 12 inches.

[caption id="attachment_57" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Detail of Blossom Castle - The pearl gems really bring out the roof of the castle[/caption]

As a designer as well as a crafter and artist I would have preferred the gate towers to be on the lid and the walls to be lower and the gate I would have made less complicated and busy (the latter to I did myself, not for any other reason than finding the pieces obstructive and thus complicated to put together.

I have had wonderful feedback from family and friends regarding this piece and a request from my lovely mother to make her one.

[caption id="attachment_54" align="aligncenter" width="577"] Blossom Castle with the box base[/caption]

Rating:-
Design: Classic
Level: Advanced
Additional: You have to be patient with this one but it’s well worth it.

TIP: Print the matching paper on the reverse of the template too as you can seen inside. This is not suggested by the designer of the template. Only choose two backing papers, for the walls a cream or pale colour with a non intrusive pattern. For the roof and box, a more solid colour with a non intrusive pattern in a pale colour.

CARD PROJECT - LITTLE FAIRY IN MY GARDEN

Hello Little Roos,

I have been spending the last few nights on a paper crafting project that has been a vocal secret. I’ve been making something special for my friend’s daughter’s first birthday party. She knows I’m up to something but she has no idea what, and I do love to tease.

However, I am a believer, especially when it comes to children, it is important to get your present and card delivered for the actual birthday. Little Amelie was born a week to the day after my son, Vincent. She is more like a sister to Vincent, and her mother is one of my closest friends. So, although I have a special something for her party which is the following week, I have also made her a card.

I decided to route around on Card Making Downloads and came across this lovely little card by Card Buddy Designs. The only addition I made was the glamour dust on the card and envelope.

Rating:-
Design: Whimsical
Level: Beginners
Additional: This is very easy to cut out except for two little curls

[caption id="attachment_41" align="aligncenter" width="675"] The finished card and envelope[/caption]