Category Archives: Christmas

Victorian Christmas Envelope Album Tutorial

Prima Victorian Christmas Envelope Mini Album Tutorial for Throwback Thursday by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Prima Victorian Christmas Envelope Album Tutorial for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  If you are a fan of all things Victorian, then you are going to love this Christmas Envelope Album Tutorial.  Welcome to Throwback Thursday!  Normally I would tell you to grab a cuppa and a snack while we talk all things papercrafting.  But this Victorian Christmas Album seems to call for china cups, linen napkins, silver spoon and crumpets.

As many of you know, I have been in the process of re-organizing and purging my tiny studio.  As is always the case, I found some forgotten goodies that inspired this Throwback Thursday.  Prima’s Victorian Christmas Collection was released in 2015.  I fell in love with it immediately.  All those jolly Victorian Santa Claus images,  sweet birds and vintage toys captured my imagination.   When i also found a forgotten stash of 5″ x 7″ burgundy envelopes, the concept for this envelope album was born.

Now,  I did not invent the idea of using envelopes to make a mini album.  It’s been around forever.  But I did make a few innovations to make the concept my own.  I’ve created a little video tutorial to guide you through the steps of making the album base with something wonderful from your crafty stash.

Some Helpful Tips and Tricks

This album measures about 5 3/4″ x 7 1/2″.  That’s because I used envelopes for 5″ x 7″ cards.  But you can use whatever size envelopes you have in your stash as long as they are all the same width and height as one another.

Adding canvas and fabric to the cover design really strengthens and reinforces the album spine.  Ranger Industries makes a Sticky Back Canvas that is really easy to work with.   I highly recommend it.  Just measure it to size, peel off the backing and press it in place.  Easy peasy!

If you choose to use a fabric spine as I did for this album, there are a couple of things to bear in mind.

  • First, don’t use fabric that is too thick or stiff.  It will make it hard to open the cover.
  • Next, stitching around the edges will keep the fabric from fraying.  If you don’t sew, you can use a product called Fray Stop for this purpose.
  • Stitch your buttons in place before you adhere the fabric spine to the base.
  • Adhere your fabric spine with a strong adhesive like Red Line Tape or Scor-Tape.
The Picture Show

This little gold letter box is a charm that came as an add on to the collection.  Fill it with festive greenery for a fun detail.

Use foam dimensionals or waste chipboard to build up lots and lots of layers.  Look for Christmas greenery in the floral department of your craft store.  The Christmas pick this greenery came from was on clearance.  I love a good deal!

A Peek Inside

Because Victorian Christmas had a countdown cut apart page, I decided to turn my album into a December Daily.  You’ll see all the details in the video tutorial and tour below, but I thought you might like to see a few detail shots here as well.

Double waterfalls with magnetic closures offer a great way to use up scraps.

Use a circle die to create an interesting edge on your envelope pocket pages.  These also make it easier get photos and recipes in and out of the pockets.

There are so many wonderful Victorian Santa Claus images in this collection.  It just makes a fun lap book, even without photos or journaling.  But I included lots of room for both.

TIP:  Add even more of a Victorian Vibe to your envelopes by brushing the edges with gold paint.  I did not have any gold paint in the studio.  So I brushed the edges with Prima Gold Crackle paste.  It worked beautifully.

Envelope Album Tutorial

If you’d like to see how to create the envelope album base, please enjoy this tutorial and video tour with tips and tricks.

 

Do you have this collection in your stash?  Or have you ever made an envelope album?  I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Please note:  Throwback Thursday projects are designed to inspire you to get into your stash and make something new from something old.  Because many of the products I use for Throwback Thursday are older or retired, I may not be able to link to them.  But I bet you have a suitable substitute in your crafty stash!  

 

 

Christmas Mittens Twisted Easel Card Tutorial

Eileen Hull Mitten Box Die Sizzix Chapter Christmas Mittens Twisted Easel Card Tutorial with Authentique Paper A Magical Christmas by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Eileen Hull Christmas Mittens Twisted Easel Card Tutorial with Authentique A Magical Christmas

Hello, Friends!  Today I have a Christmas Mittens Twisted Easel Card to share with you.  The Eileen Hull Educator Team is featuring Eileen’s darling new Mitten Box Die and Snowman Box Die this week.  (Be sure to check out the Eileen Hull Blog on Wednesday. You’ll find a group post filled with inspiration, tutorials and ideas for her new release.)

There’s something magical about mittens at Christmas!  Instead of using the die to make a box, I created a cute focal point for this holiday card.  Authentique’s A Magical Christmas Collection is such a great partner for this cute die!  Hanging the mittens upside down with a cluster of ribbons and flowers at the top gives them the appearance of an ornament.  In fact, you could even make tree ornaments this way!  I’ll show you how to do this in the tutorial below.

TIP: Add festive mini banners by cutting card scraps with Eileen’s Banner and Pennant Thinlets Die.  Stagger the die layers to create a sense of depth and dimension   Then add cute little bows and bitty buttons to the corners.

The Twisted Easel Card

Twisted easel cards may look complicated, but they are actually very easy to make.

  • First, create a 6″ x 6″ top fold card base.
  • Next, fold the point of the bottom right corner up until it lines up with the point of the top left hand corner.  (It will look like a triangle.)
  • Then just fold and crease!  Now you have a twisted easel card base.
  • Cut mittens, rickrack, and hearts from mat board or medium weight chipboard.
  • Flip the mittens so that you have a thumb on the right and a thumb on the left.
  • When die cutting the designer paper to cover the mittens, put one piece in face down and the other face up.  This way your papers will “match” and fit the die cut properly.

TIP:  Fold the bottom left hand corner up to the top right hand corner to make a twisted easel card that faces the other direction.  Isn’t that fun?

I love using twisted easel cards as home decor.   This Christmas version would be so pretty perched on a holiday mantel!

A Hidden Pocket

The video tutorial will show you how to build the card base, add layers and create this fun hidden tag pocket.  Eileen’s Pocket and Tag Die fits perfectly behind this pair of Christmas mittens.  You can easily add a gift card to the tag with a dab of hot glue or a glue dot.  So now, this card is also a gift!

A Peek Inside

The pocket part of Eileen’s Pocket and Tag die fits perfectly in the corner of the card interior.  I tucked a little Holiday Tea Bag inside, just for fun.

Christmas Mittens Twisted Easel Card Tutorial on YouTube

So are you ready to get your craft on?  Please enjoy this video tutorial showcasing Eileen’s dies and Authentique Paper’s A Magical Christmas Collection.

Once you learn how to make this fun card base, I know you’ll want to make a ton of them.  They would make great Christmas luncheon favors or girlfriend gifts.

To see more projects made with Eileen’s new dies, click HERE.

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Authentique Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial

Authentique Calendar Collection Christmas Joy Shaker Folio by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial with Authentique December Calendar Collection

Hello, Friends!  Today I have a sweet little Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial to share with you.  The month of December is filled with so many wonderful photo ops: picking out the tree, Black Friday Shopping  Marathons, cookie baking, decorating, pageants…the list goes on and on!  It all happens so fast that it’s easy to miss those special moments, or keep up with them in a December Daily format.  But this little flip folio is a quick and easy make.  All you have to do is add photos, a few captions, and you’ve preserved the magic of this holiday season for years to come.  the December pages from Authentique Paper’s new Calendar Collection makes it extra easy !  let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial: The Basics

The tri-fold folio base measures 5 1/2″ x 7 1/2″ with 1″ spines. I used 12″ x 18″ natural cardstock for the base, then lined both sides with Authentique Spectrum cardstock in Denim and Tricycle Red cardstock.  This adds a colorful base, and it also strengthens the base.

The front of the album is just one layer of the December plaid topped with a festive shaker frame.  Here’s how to make the frame:

  • First, die cut a Calllista Rectangle Shadow Box Frame from ivory cardstock. Be sure to place the insert die in the center of the frame to cut out the shaker opening.
  • Next, cover the frame with Versamark Embossing Ink.
  • Now cover the frame with Ranger Bridal Embossing Powder.  Heat emboss.  This will add a lovely sparkly shimmer to the frame, but it will also strengthen those delicate edges.
  • Cut a  3 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ piece of clear cardstock to fit the back of the frame.  Adhere with Scor-Tape or Dries Clear Adhesive.  Remove the liner tape from each layer, but leave it on the top layer until after you’ve added your shaker mix.
  • Next, adhere 3 layers of Darice Foam Strips to the back of the solid sides of the frame.
  • Now, cut out the image from the December Calendar pages. Adhere it to the plaid patterned paper. Then place beads, sequins and other sparkly goodies in the center of the image.
  • Remove the liner tape and carefully line the frame up over the image.  Press in place.
  • Finish with flowers, ribbons and other pretty Christmas baubles.
Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial: The Spine

Cover the back and spine of the album with the cable knit sweater pattern from Authentique Snowfall.  Adhere a little Tim Holtz Christmas Ephemera label to the back of the album.  This is a great spot to write down the year you made the folio and any other little details.

Use a silver lobster clasp and jump rings to create a charm cluster on the spine.  This is the easiest way I’ve found to do this.  I just punch a hold about 1/2″ from the top of the spine, tie a bow through the opening, and add my charms.

Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial: A Peek Inside

This folio is filled with fun, interactive elements.  The tag pocket on the left flips open.  The carolers on the right hand flip up.

The center panel is a box style pocket with a gift folio insert.

TIP: Score and fold the December calendar to create a spot to write down December events, shopping lists, or special memories.  Save the off cut from the shaped pocket and use it as a turn tab on the fold.

The right hand page flips out to reveal a sweet little waterfall and another die cut frame for a special photo.  Because of the box style pocket, the album stands up for display so it can be used as a home decor piece.

Fill the folio with some Christmas treats.  Once they are removed, you have a great place to tuck in even more photos!

Christmas Joy Shaker Folio Tutorial: Video Tour and How to Make the Base

If you’d like to see more of the details in this folio and learn how to build the base and mechanisms, then please enjoy this little video tutorial.

I hope I’ve shared some ideas, tips and techniques that you can use in your next crafty adventure.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. You will also find a linked supply list below the post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Carta Bella Christmas Market Shaker Card Folio

Carta Bella Christmas Market Shaker Card Folio by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Carta Bella Christmas Market Shaker Card Folio

Hello, Friends! This Carta Bella Christmas Market Shaker Card Folio is a great way to start off the month of December.  Wait…is it really December already?  That’s what the calendar says, so it’s time to get our Christmas crafting on for reals!  So let’s roll out the buffalo plaid, glitter and glam!

Christmas Market is such a happy collection!  I’ve used it to make some of the merriest Christmas projects this year!  This 5″ x 7″ shaker top card has all the things I love about Christmas crafting: plaid on plaid (does it get any better than that?) sparkly shaker elements, a festive banner, and cheery red flowers.

The base for the shaker box is a Spellbinders Nestablilities Oval Majesty Die.  I’ve filled it with a chipboard Christmas Tree and some pretty new Desert Sky Shimmerz shaker elements from Buttons Galore and More.

TIP: To make the MERRY banner, follow these easy steps:

  • First, mat the stickers on scraps of green cardstock, then trim out.
  • Next, back the stickers with foam dimensionals.
  • Always start with the middle letter of a banner, then build out to each side.  This will keep things symmetrical and balanced.
  • Top the pennants with shimmery stars and pearls from the shaker collection.
  • Finally tie small bows and adhere in the corners.
Christmas Market Shaker Card Folio: A Peek Inside

Build a box pocket inside the card, then fill it with lots of fun goodies.  Attach a mini candy cane with a bit of buffalo plaid washi tape, just for fun.

Use a We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board to make a custom treat envelope.  I actually made 2 envelopes: One for the honey packet, and one for the other goodies.

These little card folios are such a fun gift at the holidays.  They are perfect for Secret Santa, hostess gifts,  or office exchange parties,  It’s a great way to give something handmade and personal.

I hope I shared some tips, tricks and ideas you can use in your next crafty adventure.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment box below.  If you’d like to see more Christmas Market projects click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List

Heartfelt Creations All is Calm Shaker Christmas Card

This hop is now closed.  The winner is Dana Roepke chosen from Glenda’s Blog.  Thanks for hopping! 

Heartfelt Creations Candlelit Christmas Shaker Card by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Heartfelt Creations All is Calm Shaker Card for the Alumni Hop

Hello, Friends!  Welcome to the Heartfelt Creations November 2019 Alumni Hop!  Christmas will be here in no time, so I thought I’d use the new Candlelit Christmas Collection to make this All is Calm Christmas Shaker Card to share with you today.

All is Calm Shaker Card: Tips and Tricks

This is a 6″ x 6″ double z-fold card.  You can find a tutorial for making this style card HERE on my blog.  The shaker frame is made with the wonderfully versatile Eyelet and Rectangle Basics Dies and some clear acrylic cardstock.  I love the way the shaker elements resemble snow.

Follow these steps to make the flowers:

Now tie bows with Blue/Ivory/Gold Plaid Ribbon and cluster them together with the flowers.  Paint jingle bells white and dip in the Crystal Clear Glitter.  Add these with a snowflake for the perfect finishing touch.

Die cut the Starry Night Decorative Die to layer behind the shaker element. Go ahead and die cut the border piece as well.  It will be used inside the card.

All is Calm Shaker Card: A Peek Inside

One of the things I love about this fancy fold is the number of surfaces you can decorate!  And, opening it is so dramatic!

TIP: Before you start putting your card together, take a few minutes to die cut the elements from the cut apart page using the Ticket and Tags Die, Album Tags and Accents Die, and Ornamental Tags Die.  Then you will have them all ready to use when you are embellishing your card.  You can do the same thing with the Glow of Christmas Die and the Candlelit Poinsettia Die.  While you are at it, go ahead and die cut the Fanci-Fold Pocket & Accents Die.

All is Calm Shaker Card: More Details

Tie round charms through the die cut ornaments for a fun card accent.  Create quick and easy tag pockets by adhering 3 sides of a paper scrap to a card panel. Everyone loves to pull a treat out of a pocket!

Decorate the center panel with die cuts and frames that you cut out earlier.  Then create a lace-topped pocket to hold this lovely little folio.  I glittered the trees with Dries Clear and Crystal Clear, but the camera did not pick it up.  It’s gorgeous in real life, however.

Tuck a Christmas tea bag inside the folio.  There’s plenty of room to write a Christmas greeting  here , and to tuck in a gift card!

Don’t forget to decorate the back side of your card folio!  Create a fancy tag pocket with that die cut Fanci-Fold Pocket.  The center panel is large enough to hold a family Christmas photo.

Use the handy side pocket to add special memories of your family activities.  These little card folios are such fun to make, and the are unique, thoughtful gifts, too!

On With the Hop!

From here, hop on over and see what inspiration my dear teammate Glenda has in store for you this month!

Visit and comment on all the blogs in the hop.  A  comment from a mystery blog will be randomly chosen to win a $25 Heartfelt Creations Gift Certificate.  The winner will be announced here on Monday, December 2nd at the top of this blog post.  Heartfelt Creations will also announce the winner on their blog and Facebook page on Wednesday, December 4th.  The winner will have 72 hours from that date to claim the prize by contacting socialmedia@heartfeltcreations.us by email.  Please write “Winner of the November Blog Hop” in the subject line.

The hop runs from 8AM EST on Friday, November 29th until 11: 55 PM EST on Monday, December 2nd.  No comments will be entered into the drawing after the cutoff time.

Here’s the hop list:

KATHY (You are HERE) ♥ Glenda ♥ Amarilys ♥ Els  ♥ Alissa ♥  Vicki   ♥ Sarah  ♥ Monica   ♥ Candy

Thanks for hopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy