Kaleidoscopic Explosion

     Another sample made for John Next Door using the Deco Butterfly Collection, these dies really are pretty useful on their own.

     

     This card is based on the traditional exploding box, it's just a butterfly shaped box.

     From cream card I cut two of the large solid butterflies and made an explosion box without any flaps. It's just the framework with a few tweeks so it sits behind the butterflies without being seen.

     

     As the back butterfly can be seen I decided to cut two filigree shapes in dark brown card to cover the solid cream shape, they are only attached down the body leaving the wings to stand out.

     It's just like a normal explosion box in that it will fold flat for posting, it will just need a large envelope to hold all the insects.

     All of the smaller butterflies were cut in coloured card, each one was then made with opposing colours of solid and filigree, no two are the same.

     To get the butterflies flying I have used some strong acetate, the thin one couldn't hold the weight of the card very well. They are all attached with redline tape at various angles so they all 'explode' out of the large shape.

     I did find that the back shape had to be trimmed down at the bottom by an eighth of an inch to stand correctly, the weight of the flying shapes was trying to pull the whole thing forward and they didn't stand tall.

     This is another of those cards that looks complicated but really isn't and with dies like this you can put your own twist on it by changing the look of the box.

Materials used 

JND212 - Butterfly collection Dec Large Butterfly

JND211 - Butterfly collection Deco Butterflies dies

S57320 - Thick Acetate

S57262 - 3D PVA glue

S57085 - Ultra Clear Tape 6mm  (Redline)

   Other items from stash

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers - #2110 Butterflies

Craft Rocket - #79 Use Dies and/or Spring

Mod Squad - Beautiful Butterflies

Through The Craft Room Door - Mar 9 Anything Goes 

Lemon Shortbread - #141 Anything Goes

Day Of The Month Card Club - #25 Learn About Butterflies

Blue and Silver Swinging Snowman

     This one is a mix of old and not so old items, the die to cut the swing card is new to me and the lovely snowman came from one of last years Christmas cards. It's blue and silver to comply with the new challenge we have at Christmas Craft Creations.

     I cut the base card in white using the swing card die, it came with solid panel dies as well so I cut them in silver pearl paper.

     The blue snowflake pattern was a separate die set which I was lucky enough to get at the same time I bought the swing card set. The snowman was cut from an old card and as luck would have it he had a dark blue glitter band all the way around him.

      The hardest thing was making sure I stuck the snowman on the correct side of the circle. A nice easy card to make, especially when you get to recycle parts of old commercial cards, gentle on the pocket too. When folded up it's a 5.75inch square so standard letter post.

      Please come and join us at Christmas Craft Creations with your blue and silver projects, we'd love to see what you've made.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas

Sparkles Christmas - Snowman     Top 3

The 12 Months of Christmas - #74 Card For A Child

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - #528 Anything Christmas/Cute

The Holly and Ivy - #87 Anything Christmas

Merry Little Christmas - #31 Anything Christmas     Top pick

Fezziwigs Festive Frolics - #30 Take Your Pick - Shaped card/Snowflakes/Glitter

Shutter Card Fairy

     This was made using the new Shutter Card die set from John Next Door, it's not as complicated as it looks....honest. John has made a video on how to put this card together, which you can find here.

     The background was something I already had sitting in my 'to finish' pile, it's a stack of part made experiments. The coloured area was made using Distress Oxides and a 'Splatter' stamp from Inkylicious, the stamped seed heads and fairy are all Lavinia Stamps.

     To add extra effect I used the new Poppy Heads die set, adding DS adhesive sheet to black card then cutting two seed heads and adding them to the stamped ones.

     The image panel was mounted on black and then on to white card, this was trimmed to fit once the front panel was cut so that they would be equal once assembled.

     Using a sheet of patterned card and two square dies I cut the front aperture. To make anything other than the rectangle that comes in the set the only thing to remember is the height of the shutters, as long as they are able to open through the aperture it can be any width you choose. The shutters are added individually so you can put in as many as you like, I chose two for this card.

     The shutters have a stencilled pattern in pink on the back to look pretty when open. I've also cut a couple more seed heads to go on the outside and a tiny butterfly. The banners are in the main die set, as are the words, these are cut in silver mirri and then a black top one with the words cut in. To finish I added a couple of die cut corner decorations, also a JND die.

Materials List   (available from your local craft shop)
JND198 - Shutter Card die set

JND177 - Poppy Heads die set

S57262 - 3D PVA Glue from Stix2

Lavinia Stamps - various seed heads & tiny fairy

Inkylicious - Splatter Circle XL  

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Inkspirational - Frame It

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Castle Reveal Card

 

     Today is the launch of a new die set from John Next Door called the Reveal Card, it has internal sliding doors that reveal the back panel when the front doors are opened.

      The outer cover and the inner sleeve were die cut from grey card to look like stone. To get some texture and increase the stone look I used an embossing folder, but as I didn't want an all over texture I used the open folder and a ball tool so I could be selective on where I embossed.

      For the inner sliding doors I cut from light brown card and stamped woodgrain in a darker brown. I did find with the inner doors I needed to cut a tiny bit off the height to aid sliding, this may be because I fixed the window sleeve a little to tightly, I would suggest you check yours before gluing.

     For the reveal I cut an arched window in the sleeve and added some ivy for a splash of colour and interest.

     The image is a piece of my artwork from a few years ago which I thought went well with the castle theme. I placed the window over the image and held it with clips until I had the image in just the right place, then I stuck the image down.

     The window sleeve was then stuck down in the centre of the back panel. I slid the doors in place and held them together with a small piece of stencil tape while I stuck them in place, this made sure they would still meet when the card was shut.

     For the front cover I used the 3D embossing folder called Quilted Blocks, I though it looked like an old studded door. Using Kraft card and some Distress ink to dirty it up, one embossed piece of card was enough for two door panels.

     For the hinges I used a Sizzix Tim Hiltz die and cut from Kraft card, to make them look a little more metallic I used Distress ink for the rust and gilding wax to look like brass.

     For a castle I thought the doors should have brass studs, so I used a pearl pen from Dutch Doobadoo, it's similar to pearl drops. 

     I was going to cut the hinges off at the edge of the card but they wrapped around to the back and met in the middle so beautifully, so I stuck them down.

     To help my doors slide a little more easily I added a gentle fold down the back, this means that the doors have less tension on the inner sleeve when they move, making it all run more smoothly.

     John has made a video to show how this card is put together which you can see here. For my card I didn't use foam tape, I scored a second fold very close to the first, both top and bottom of the sleeve to make a tiny tunnel for the doors to slide through. 

     I strongly suggest making this up in basic card to get the feel of it before you use your best card. Bear in mind that a textured card may make a difference to the slide of the doors, as will anything raised on the back panel behind the doors, this is speaking from experience!

Materials List
JND170 - Reveal Card die set
PCD304 - Quilted Blocks 3D embossing folder
JND129 - Mini Ivy die

656632 - Sizzix Tim Holtz Hardware Findings  (retired)

S57262 - 3D PVA Glue

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/ optional Winged Things

Challenge Up Your Life - Dragon or Kite     Top 3

Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes

The Fairy and The Unicorn - Anything Fantasy

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything With A Critter

The Dream Factory - How To Train Your Dragon     Top 3

Wedding Card / Table Decoration

     Using the Tag Card die set from John Next Door I made a wedding card that could be used as a table decoration. The first one I made was for a cafe table, you can find John's construction video based on that card over here.

     I cut two of the tag pages in white card, then using the dies from the Wedding Bells set I cut the doves, bells and Mr/Mrs panels. These cut outs were then backed with pink pearl card, I used a whole strip to do this to keep it neat.
     For the panels that would stick out once assembled I chose to decorate them with pink ink through a stencil, continuing the pattern to any panels that would be on the inside. When this card is on a table you can see the inside so it needs to be neat and tidy.

     I cut all of the little hearts in the panels in gold mirri card and stuck those in place, it adds a tiny bit of shine to lift the card.
     The name and date panels are cut in white card and decorated with the same pink ink and stencil as before. Each panel is edged with gold gilding wax to highlight it. Using a darker pink card I cut all the names and dates and stuck them on to the panels.
     With all decoration complete I then assembled the card, the folds are the opposite way if using as a journal type card, please watch the video for guidance, it's easier to watch than it is to following written instruction.
     The beauty of this card is it will fold flat for posting or transportation to a venue, it's simple to construct making mass production easy.
     We have all sorts of craft inspiration for you over at Not Just Cards so please pop over and take a look, then come and join us with your project.

Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND160 - Wedding Bells   (die inserts for Pop Box)
JND100 Tag Card Large
S57262 3D PVA Glue

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Inspire, Create - Fancy Fold

Watercooler Wednesday - Occasions

Sparkles - Wedding

Love To Craft - Anything Goes

Creations In Pink - Anything Goes Mainly Pink

A Perfect Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Cardz 4 Galz - Wedding

Tag Card Nature Journal

     Another use for John Next Door's new Tag Card die is to make a journal, this one is only three pages long but you can make it as long as you like. There is a basic assembly video by John HERE.

     For this project I cut one cover in Kraft card and three pages in off white card.
     Using another piece of Kraft card I die cut the corners and leaves to make the decorative cover, this was stuck onto a piece of gold mirri card. To fill in all the gaps I die cut the corners and leaves from gold pearl card and then glued them into the gaps. To finish off I added a die cut circle with a letter embedded in it, just like the rest of the cover, to the centre.

      Each page was decorated with a stencilled design in pastel inks with a rough theme to each page. I clipped the pages together to see if I was happy with the overall look when fully open.
     There are two panel dies in the set, one straight edge and one stitched edge. I used the straight die to cut a couple of panels for each page, then stamped them with a script design and edged them with pastel inks.

      Each page has a selection of die cuts and stamps, you can decorate as much or as little as you wish, leaving spaces for things to be added as you find them.

      Two of the pages have an envelope to house a tag, this tag die is in the set as well but the envelope, Sown With Love by Sheena Douglass, was from my stash.
     I chose not to stick the last page to the cover, this means it will open out, plus it can be added to if so desired.
     Inside the back cover are two die cuts, one is a pocket for tags and tickets, the other is a small envelope for little treasures, both are Sizzix dies.
     With more pages it may be necessary to create a spine to the cover, this is relatively easy to do but does need to be done before you glue in the pages.
     A journal like this would make a nice gift for a someone going off on a walking holiday, or bird watching, it's almost like a mini scrapbook. It's much easier to put together than it looks and is sure to deliver the wow factor to it's recipient.

Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND100 - Large Tag Card die set
JNDAD014 Regal Flourish die set
JND094 Decorative Corners die set
Strong PVA Glue
Sheena Douglass die Sown With Love
Sizzix 662697 - Stitched Slot & 657843 Pocket Envelope
Stencils, card and inks.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky - Anything But A Card

The Sisterhood of Stampers - Birds, Bees and butterflies

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/option Diamonds & Lace

The Artistic Stamper - Journaling

Blank Page Muse - Stencil It

Creative Crafting Uncles - Anything But A Card

Advent Folding Tag Card

     John Next Door has a new design out this week, its' a Tag Card inspired by Barbara Dear. It looks much more complicated to construct than it is, so if you need to send a card with the Wow factor then this design could be it. This card is made using the large Tag Card die set, there is a smaller one aswell.
     There is a video on You Tube HERE, by John, showing how to put the basic card together. I did make one small change to my card though. When the tag insert is folded the single tag sticks out further than the two tags, I didn't like this so I moved my score line over by 5mm to get the tags to sit evenly. I would suggest cutting two inserts in rough card and playing around until you are happy with how it all works, this will save any hiccups with your good card.

     For this card I cut the two covers in dark blue card and then cut five inserts in white card. I coloured the inserts with two blue Distress Inks, there were some patches that weren't perfect but much of the card was covered by flaps and tag pouches so it didn't really matter.
      I decorated all the inserts before folding them so there would be no obvious crease lines showing on the finished card, plus it's much easier to stick things down on a perfectly flat surface.

     There are three tags per page so I die cut 12 little envelopes using a Sheena Douglass die called Sown With Love, it's the perfect size to hold the tag that comes in this JND set. All the envelopes were cut from a paper pad that's been in my stash for years.
      There are also 12 flaps in this card, these were cut from two shades of blue card. I used the shapes in JND Pop Box set for this because each shape has at least two sizes, but any shapes you have will do just as well.
      Each flap is slightly smaller than the decorated white shape it covers. All the white shapes have different pictures or sentiments stamped on them, this is a chocolate free calendar but you could write special message under each flap and turn it into an advent chocolate hunt if you wish.
   

     Each tag is different, again you could write special messages on these, to be kept in the card or used on gifts.
     In this die set you get a fancy tag as well as a basic shape so there are many possibilities, especially if you raid your stash and use dies and stamps from other sets.

      I have decorated the backs of each tag that sticks out with the same inks, each one has a die cut snowflake stuck on it just to add to the overall look.
      With all pages decorated I stuck them all together, I would strongly suggest laying them up and checking all is right before you start to glue them together, check twice and glue once!

      When it came to the covers I tried them on the card and noticed that the spine stuck out a little, so I trimmed approximately 2mm off the inside of each cover. This allowed the pages to sit neatly within the covers like a real book.
      Again each cover was decorated before it was stuck to the pages, I kept the front simple as the inside is what will be on view most of the time.

      All of the numbers used are from the Advent Numbers set used with the Pop Box die set released last year. All cut in silver mirri card and stuck on at random so the recipient has to search for the right one each day.
      This card did take a long time to make but I hope you will agree it was worth it, after all it will be on show for almost a month.

Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND100 - Large Tag Card die set
JND147 Advent Pop Box die set
JND148 Advent Numbers die set
JND138 - Deer Scenes die set
JND130 - O Little Town Scenes die set
Strong PVA Glue
Papers, card and inks.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland - Favourite Colour Combo - Blue & White

Sparkles Christmas - Add Ribbon, Lace or Twine - Twine

The 12 Months of Christmas - Anything Christmas/ option Dec The Paws

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas - Anything Chrsitmas

CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes

Crimbo Crackers - Die Cuts

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas

Happy Little Stampers Christmas - Anything Goes/option Ornaments 

Krafty Chicks - Christmas

Fezzwigs Festive - Anything Festive

Spring BBQ

     Making cards for men can be a bit of a challenge but with this bench/bridge card die set from John Next Door it's easy to come up with ideas, here's another one. You will find John's basic assembly video here.

      The base for this card was cut from white cardstock, approx 250gsm, but the shelf was cut from black card.
      Before sticking it all together I covered the base card with sky backing paper and the long 'bridge' panel with grass backing paper.
     Each side of the card has a small strip of black card added to make a shelf for the BBQ. The main shelf was cut down in height to give a gap underneath to show grass, it was then stuck on the outside of the main strip. Two tiny wheels and two small doors with mirri handles were added to the front, plus four tiny brads for knobs.
      The coals on the BBQ were made using alcohol markers on white card, covered with a small die cut mirri grid and dabbed over with black acrylic paint to knock back the shine.
      All the tools were cut from mirri card, those with wooden handles had the handles added from kraft card. The bottle of wine is the chopping board cut in green card and trimmed to look like a bottle, with a tiny scribbled label added.
      There is plenty of space to add a greeting or more tools and bottles, adapt it to suit your recipient. If this is not quite for you then pop over to Not Just Cards to see what else you could make.

Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND083 - Bench (Bridge) Card die
JND086 - Kitchen Tools die set
JND087 - Kitchen Tools stamp set
Strong PVA Glue

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

Southern Girls - Anything Goes

Creative Moments - Anything Goes/option Something to look forward to - BBQ with friends

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Love To Craft - Anything Goes

Down In The Forest

     A variation on the bench/bridge card, this time just using two parts of the die set to make a different fold.

      Using green card I cut the main body of the die set and the long front panel, this long front panel was then cut in half along the length. Both of these bars will need to be folded at the halfway point and at the three quarter point.
      Before sticking anything down I printed off a woodland scene to use as my backing paper. From this I cut four of the small panels and one large square panel. The square panel has had two narrow slits cut into it at the top and bottom, this is so that the backing paper will cover the card bars that make the fold.
      Once all parts were ready for assembly I stuck the two bars on the base panel, one across the top and the other across the bottom, both with the full half at the front.

      With these bars in place I stuck the backing papers on, making sure the slits in the square piece sat over the bars to hide them.
      For the Silver Birch trees I used John's Woodland Trees die, cut in white card and coloured at random with green ink for moss. I had to trim the trees to fit but made sure I had enough ground at the base to hold them firm.
      The little birds and animals are odd dies I have in my stash, I think they might be Xcut mini dies. The sentiment plaque is one of John's from a die set that matches some tiny sentiments, it was stamped and cut, then coloured before removing the die so I got a tiny white border around it.
      This card will fold flat for postage, you just have to take care with the trees. I have loved using this die set, there aren't many production pictures for them as I was so carried away I forgot to take them as I went along.


Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND083 - Bench (Bridge) Card die set
JND141 - Woodland Trees die
JNDAD003 - Mini Tags die set
JND0013 - Everyday Sentiments stamp set
I-Zink Dye Ink -Verveine
Strong PVA Glue
Animal & Bird dies
Green Card

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Try It On Tuesday - Beauty Of Nature

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Mix It Up - Anything Goes/optional Fancy Fold

Something Fishy

     Another bench card made with John Next Door's new die, this time something a little different. There are so many different ways this die can be changed, it's great as a base to work from.

    The basic assembly video is here, but this card has a few differences. You will need one base section, one long front section and three bracers, all in black card, plus one shelf in kraft card.
     The base section has the front flaps cut to form long tabs, see photo. The long front section has been cut into two thirds for the bottom and one third for the top, these long bands will wrap from one side to the other to hold it all together.
      There is one bracer in the bottom to support the shelf and two across the top to hang the fish from. The shelf will need trimming down at the front to fit inside.
      For the background panel I printed a free aquarium scene I found on line, reduced to scale. Using some of John's foliage dies I cut green weeds and mounted them on tiny folded tabs so they stand up for display but fold flat for postage. The shelf already looked like sand so I left that alone but it could be decorated to look like stones if you so wished.

      The fish are all cut with tiny dies that some of my friends hunted down at a craft show a few months ago, the big ones cut from coloured card and the little shoal from silver mirri.
      To mount the fish I used redline tape on to small tabs of acetate that hang from the top bracers, two bracers makes for better positioning and it makes it stronger too.
       When the bottom shelf is lifted the tank will fold flat....but all the water runs out!! Just checking to see if you're read this far.
      There are so many fabulous ideas out there that have already been made, search bench or bridge card to find them. If you are on Facebook take a look at 'Crafting with John Next Door and Crafts Too' where you can see all the samples made by Lockwoods Angels.


Materials List    Available from your local craft shop
JND083 - Bench (Bridge) Card die
JND056 - Ferns die set
JNDAD016 -  Elderflower die set
Redline Tape
Strong PVA Glue
Fish dies - Craft Emotions
Acetate, black card, kraft card

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Love To Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Must Feature A Creature

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes