Tag Archives: Maja Design

Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Christmas Explosion Box Tutorial

Graphic 45-Deck the Halls-Maja Design-Christmas Nostalgia-Christmas Explosion Box-Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Christmas Explosion Box Tutorial for Wonderful Wednesday

Hello, Friends!  We’re going to have so much fun today as I share this Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Christmas Explosion Box Tutorial with you!  We’ve invited Maja Design Christmas Nostalgia to this paper party as well, along with lots of pretty snowflakes and cheery snowmen.

This summer, I designed a large (5 1/2″ square) steampunk explosion box for our son’s birthday.  It looked so good and functioned so well as a home decor item, that I decided to share the tutorial with you this Christmas.

My process for making these boxes is probably a little different from what you’ve made in the past.  So if you’re ready to get started on this crafty adventure with me, let’s go!

Blue and Silver Christmas

Begin the adventure by pulling all the “blue” papers from your G45 Deck the Halls and Maja Design Christmas Nostalgia collections.  My thought was to create a blue Christmas project that could flow right into winter.

TIP:  Dig into your stash of handmade flowers and use them to embellish the cover of your box.  Be sure to die cut plenty of foliage so that your arrangement is nice and full.

Inside the Box

When you remove the lid from the box, the sides magically fall down to reveal an innovative folio inside.  We have waterfall elements, pull out pages, pull down pages and pop ups tucked inside. This gives you plenty of room to add photos to your box.

I found a darling Melissa Frances cloche stashed away in the closet and used it to create the woodland scene.

And pop up pages are always a favorite element.

Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Christmas Explosion Box Tutorial on YouTube

Would you like to see more of this box and learn how to build your own?  Then please grab a cuppa and a snack and join me on my YouTube channel for the full tutorial.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

I hope today’s tutorial has you inspired to play with pretty Christmas papers!  I’ll be back soon with another Ghost of Christmas Past project share and mini tutorial.

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

 

 

Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Tunnel Card Tutorial

Graphic 45-Deck the Halls-Maja Design-Christmas Nostalgia-Tunnel Card Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Tunnel Card Tutorial with Maja Design Christmas Nostalgia

Hello, Friends!  Our first Wonderful Wednesday project for November 2025 is a Graphic 45 Deck the Halls Tunnel Card Tutorial.  Do you like fun fold cards?  Cards with dimension?  How about cards that double as home decor?  Today’s Tutorial has you covered.

I also invited Maja Design Christmas Nostalgia to the paper party.  Sometimes it’s fun to mix and match papers from two different collections.  Here’s what I look for when I’m cross-pollenating paper collections:

  • First, of course, is look for a similar theme.  Both these Christmas collections feature nutcrackers, so that made it super easy to combine them.
  • Next, consider style.  It doesn’t always work to try to mix a vintage style paper with a retro style paper.  But both of these collections had a nice, vintage vibe.
  • Third, look at the color palette.  You want to mix papers with compatible colors, of course.  But the hue also matters.  Deck the Halls and Christmas Nostalgia were a perfect match on that count.
Wreathed in Joy

This photo shows the fun shadowbox effect you get with this card style.  It looks complicated, but I promise you, it’s much easier to do than you think!

Since this card isn’t built on a typical card base, I added my pocket on the back.  Look how beautifully the Maja Design vine motif blends with the blues in Deck the Halls.  So cool!

Believe Tunnel Card

For this card, I combined Maja Design patterned papers with G45 ephemera.  The star banner and Nutcracker chipboard lend a really festive feel to the card design.

The pocket on the back is a quick and easy make.  I’ll show you how in the video tutorial below.

Graphic 45 Tunnel Card Tutorial on YouTube

Have you made a tunnel card before?  Would you like to learn how?  Then please enjoy this video tutorial on my YouTube channel.

I can’t wait to make more of these using different shaped dies for the tunnel opening.  They are so much fun to create!

Christmas News

Since I have about a 25 year supply of papers from Christmas Past, I’m going to try to post more than my usual once a week project using some of those dear, older papers.  I’ll just do project shares for most of them with lots of tips to help you make your own version.  So look for me in your inbox and on my YouTube channel.  I’m in the Christmas spirit, and want to cut, score and glue to my heart’s content!

You can find a linked supply list below this post.  I also provide affiliate links within the video.  Simply click on the boxes and you’ll be taken to an online store.

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Strawberry Thief Album Kit Reveal

Maja Design Strawberry Thief Album Kit-Button Farm Club-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Maja Design Strawberry Thief Album Kit Reveal for The Button Farm Club

Hello, Friends!  Are you ready for an encounter with the cutest little Strawberry Thief known to man?  I’m very excited today to reveal this Strawberry Thief Album Kit for the Button Farm Club’s August Club Kit.  It’s like summer on paper, and filled with the most darling critter images, ripe, juicy strawberries, and gorgeous patterned papers.

Endless Summer

Button Farm Club-Strawberry Thief Album Kit-Maja Design-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Summer is the season of sunny days, outdoor picnics, pool parties, and strawberry picking. The days are fleeting, but you can make the memories last a lifetime in this memory album. Wouldn’t this be a great place to display photos of summer birthdays, pool parties, or jam  making?  You could even tuck a few strawberry recipes inside, just for fun!

Quick and Easy Pages

Strawberry Thief Mini Album Kit-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Button Farm Club-Maja Design

Let’s face it: life is busy!  And you want to find a way to document time spent with friends, family and grandchildren.  But you need it to be quick and easy, right?  That’s why I designed simple pages that can be completed in about 15 minutes.  This page has simple square photo mats on top, and pocket photo mats on the bottom.  This gives us room to tuck in adorable mini folios and fill them with pictures or journal memories.

Fun, Interactive Elements

Strawberry Thief Mini Album Kit-Button Farm Club-Maja Design-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

You’ll also learn how to make handmade rosettes to embellish fun, interactive pages like this pull out/pop up page.

Button Farm Club-Strawberry Thief-Maja Design-Mini Album Kit-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

The 8.5” x 8.5” x 3” gatefold album from Prima features thick chipboard pages and an expandable hinge system so you can add all kinds of layers and  dimension to your layouts. And there is so much room for photos here!  I just love that!

What Comes in Your Kit?

Maja Design-Strawberry Thief Mini Album Kit-Button Farm Club-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Your Strawberry Thief Album Kit from Button Farm comes with the following supplies:

  • Maja Design Strawberry Thief Collection Kit:  15 sheets of 12×12 patterned paper and 5 sheets of Monochrome Solid Cardstock
  • Strawberry Thief 6×6 papers (33 sheets)
  • Prima Gatefold Album Base
  • 1 yard of red gingham pom pom ribbon
  • 10 yards burlap string
  • 3 enamel charms
  • 6 sheets of 6×12 natural cardstock
  • 10 sheets of 12×12 natural cardstock
  • Full color printed Basic Written Guide
  • Links to step by step video tutorials

If you’ve never worked with Maja Design paper, you are in for a real treat!  The papers are top quality, cut like a dream and the colors are gorgeous.

Strawberry Thief Album Kit Reveal on YouTube

If you’d like to take a closer look at these lovely Maja Design papers and see the entire album, then please enjoy this reveal video on my YouTube channel.

How to Order

If you are subscribed to the Button Farm Album on the Month Club, your supplies will ship automatically.  Club members are always guaranteed a kit.  (Find out how to join the club HERE.)

You do not need to be a member to order.  Laura fills non-club member orders on a first come/first served basis.  Once the kits are sold out, they are gone forever.

Order your Strawberry Thief Album Kit HERE.

Next month, my September Quarterly Card Kit will be everything Christmas!  I can’t wait to share “Christmas in the City” with y’all.  It’s going to be gorgeous!

As always, thanks for all your lovely support and encouragement!  I appreciate y’all!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

 

Seaside Card Kit Reveal

Maja Design-Seaside Card Kit-Button Farm Club-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Seaside Card Kit Reveal for Button Farm Club March Quarterly Card Kit

Hello, Friends!  We dream in colors of the sea, and this Seaside Card Kit Reveal is just filled with vintage beachy goodness!  Y’all know I love anything connected to the sea, so putting this kit together for the Button Farm Club  was almost as good as a vacation.

Laura (the owner of Button Farm Club) and I are both very excited to introduce you to a new paper line.  Maja Design of Sweden is known for high quality paper, beautiful patterns and wonderful vintage images.  I think you’re really going to enjoy working with this gorgeous paper.  It just “feels” so good in your hands.  And if you are a paper lover like me, you know what I’m talking about!

 All Kinds of Cards for All Occasions

Maja Design Seaside Card Kit-Button Farm Club-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Don’t you just love the image on this shaker card?  The kit is filled with a generous selection of 10 all-occasion cards and a lovely tag folio.

Brand New Seahorse Stamp, Die, and Stitched Oval Set

If you’ve been enjoying my Shaker Tag Die set, then you’ll be excited to learn that the Seaside Card Kit contains new creative tools to enhance your card making experience.  This stamp and die set comes with 3 pieces: a large stitched oval die (3 ½” x 4 ¼”),  a 2” x 4” seahorse die and a matching acrylic stamp. The set is designed to complement the tag die and can be used as a stand alone unit.

Do you love seahorses as much as I do?  I was so excited to be able to add this seahorse stamp and die set to the kit.  Here are a few ways you can use it in your card designs:

  • First, you can just die cut the seahorse shape.  Use patterned paper, cardstock, cork paper, burlap paper or acetate.  You are only limited by your imagination.
  • Next, you can stamp the seahorse.  Or, stamp and emboss, if you wish.  Add a little inking to create even more layers.
  • Or, die cut the seahorse into a stitched oval to create a shaker window.  Wouldn’t that be fun?
  • Create paper layers with the stitched oval die.  It’s also a great way to add a cut out design to your cards.
Fancy Fold Cards

No kit is complete without a fancy fold design or two!  In addition to the fun zig zag fold on the cards pictured above, we’ll also make some very pretty easel cards.  I tried to keep all the cards in an “easy to mail” size and thickness.

Pop Up Cards, Too!

Wait ’til  you see the fun pop up gift card  holder inside these easy to make cards.  I’ll show it to you in the video reveal below.

Fabulous Seaside Tag Folio Bonus Project

Tags are one of my favorite things to make, so I had to include a little tag folio in this kit.  We use my Shaker Tag and Rectangle Die for the base, and add a really neat folio design inside the cover.

Oh, did I forget to tell you that it has a folio on both sides of the tag?  Yes, it does.

Seaside Card Kit Reveal on YouTube

If you’d like to take a peek at all the wonderful elements that come with this kit, and walk through all the various card designs, then please grab a cuppa and enjoy this video reveal on my YouTube channel.

 

How to Order

If you are subscribed to my Quarterly Card Kit, you do not need to order. Your kit will ship out to you on April 1st.

Do you want to guarantee that you will get a kit? The best way to do this is to subscribe to my Quarterly card kit.  You can sign up HERE.  All the supplies in the kit and lots of photos can be found at that same link.

I hope you enjoyed the video tour, and that your day is filled with sunshine and gentle breezes!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Summer Parties: Gifts for the Hostess With the Mostest

Summer Parties with Petaloo and Maja Design

Hello, Friends!   Summer is upon us, and I’m sure we will find ourselves enjoying summer parties somewhere along the way.  To help get us ready, Petaloo has teamed up with Maja Design in a special Product Spotlight week focusing on summer parties.  I have some really fun ideas for hostess gifts to share with you today, so let’s get started!

Petaloo Maja Final copy

Wining and Dining with Paper Pretties and Petaloo Posies

Hostess Gifts for Summer Parties by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 1

Wine is a natural choice for a hostess gift at all your summer parties.  Why not dress up your gift of wine with a pretty bottle hanger tag, ribbon, and flowers? Or, if wine is not your “thing” create a special little folio style card that can do double duty as home decor.  This lovely vintage card contains a mini photo album and a sweet little notebook for your favorite hostess.

Mixed Media Wine Bottle Tag

Hostess Gifts for Summer Parties by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 2

 

Hostess Gifts for Summer Parties by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 3

These Maja Design papers are so thick and heavy that they really stand up to distressing and inking.  I chose images from one of the cut apart pages and sponged them randomly with Broken China Distress Oxide Ink to bring out more blue tones.

Hostess Gifts for Summer Parties by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 4

Gorgeous Penny Lane Flowers in various shades of blue, seam binding ribbon, silver metallic string, a vintage style key, a painted butterfly and Wendy Vecchi bricks complete the design.  Once the wine is gone, the bottle would make a really pretty piece of home decor, too.

A Shabby Chic Folio for Capturing Memories from Summer Parties

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 1

Sticking with my blue and brown color palette, next I created this lovely little shabby chic folio. By adding a 1/2″ spine to a 5″ x 7″ card base, I was able to transform a simple thank you card into a lovely gift.

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 2

Don’t you just love these soft, vintage patterns and images?

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 3

This tiny silver spoon is one of the treasures I found while out junkin’ with my husband.  I dressed it up a little by adding a flower, ribbon and a miniature key onto the handle of the spoon.

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 4

I fell in love with this vintage photo of a mom and her children out riding bikes.  What could be more perfect for summer?

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 5

The inside of the card is where the real party is going on!  Look at all these lovely goodies stuffed into the pockets!

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 6

I love to create little folios where photos from a dinner party, birthday party or summer party can be preserved.  This side pocket is just the right spot to tuck in such a folio.

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 7

A stamped image is distressed with inks, then mounted onto gorgeous Maja Design papers.

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 8

You can fit four 4″ x 5.75″ photos in this pretty little folio.

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 9

There’s a double pocket on the bottom of the card.  I stamped this thank you sentiment onto one of the pretty journal cards from the paper collection, then tucked it in between the paper layers.

Shabby Chic Gift Folio by Kathy Clement for Petaloo by Floracraft Maja Design Spotlight Photo 10

And I made a lovely little notebook that fits inside the pocket.  Oh my, but these papers are dreamy!

This was my first time working with Maja Design papers, and I have to say, I’m hooked!  They are such a high quality paper, the colors are gloriously vintage and the patterns are divine!  Thanks, Maja Design for sharing your beautiful product with the design team at Petaloo by Floracraft.

Would you like to win a prize pack of gorgeous Maja Design papers and Petaloo flowers?  Then be sure to pop on over to the Petaloo blog and leave a comment so you can be entered to win!

If you’d like to find where  Maja Design papers are available in your area, please click HERE.

Thanks so much for joining me today.  You’ll find a supply list and product links below.

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List and Product Links

Petaloo Penny Lane Mixed Blossoms x 8 Robin Egg Blue 1836-056

Forgetmenots x16 Robin Egg Blue 1837-056

Mini Daisy Petites x 40 Robin Egg Blue 1839-056

Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics

Maja Design Vintage Spring Basics

Maja Design Vintage Autumn Basics