Super Dad

Hi and thanks for stopping by. Today I'd like to show you a card that I've made using the gorgeous DP from the June Kit.

Materials used:-

DP: June Kit

Tim Holtz Journal Ticket: June Kit

Enjoy Sentiment: May Kit

Large Red Brads: April Kit

Everything else is from my stash.

Ok that's it for me and I hope you enjoy you're weekend.

Hugs Michele x

Felt Tote for a Tiny Tin and Mini

Everything used to create this project is included in the April kit with the exception of the tin; which can be purchased separately from the Crafty Alley shop.

Wow, try saying that title 5 times fast! I have one final post using the incredibly sweet, fun, and whimsical April Crafty Alley kit. It will be sad to see it go, but the day is not over yet. If you would like to purchase this kit, and reserve a May kit for yourself by doing so you can click HERE for ordering information. The kit for May is WAY over the top! Cathy did a fabulous job putting it all together! I absolutely am in love with it!

Included in the April kit was an A4 piece of felt; which at first glance, I just thought about die cutting and adding it as a project element. But then I decided it would make an adorable little tote to hold the tin I made for my daughter with a little accordion mini inside. It went together very quick, and my daughter is really enjoying it. Hope you've enjoyed seeing all of the DT projects this month. I know that I have.

Here are a couple of photos of how the tote was cut. I didn't include the sewing or hot glueing part, but that is pretty self explanatory. All I did was use the large strip to attach the 2 top note shapes that I cut with my Big Shot, and the 2 smaller strips are the handles; which I hot glued on. The large strip is the bottom and sides of the tote and can be cut to suit the width you'd like.

I cut the 2 handles each at 1", and the strip for the bottom/sides of the tote at 2".

If you don't have a die cutter, you can also create a tote as shown just by folding it in half and attaching the handles, and eliminate the bottom section by cutting the larger strip to fit the width of the sides. I used a Sizzix Bigz die in a top note shape cut twice for my tote. Hope that makes sense.

Have a great weekend.

♥Robyn

Material Girl Sewing Box

Hi there everyone and thanks for stopping by. Today I'd like to show you a project that I made using items from the April Kit (apart from the flowers and the cotton reels)

I have so many little reels of cotton that I decided to make this little box with four drawers that would hold them all in.

For this drawer I used the scissor charm from the kit and glued it to the button which is also from the kit.

For these drawers I've used the beads from the kit and I've attached them using buttons which are also included with wire and then glue.

I hope this has given you some ideas on how versatile this kit is.

Hugs Michele xxx

Grunge Board Circles are a "Rose" to work with!

Hey there Crafty Alley gals! I can't believe it's Friday already! The week has really flown by!

Have you ordered your April kit yet? There's still time, but there are only a few kits left. Also, by purchasing the April kit, it secures your spot for ordering the May kit when it comes out. There will be a limited quantity of each monthly kit. I'm still enjoying my April kit so much! It has been lots of fun playing with it, as well as seeing what the other DT members have created throughout the month. Hasn't it been fabulous?!

The rose on the tag pouch below is the Tim Holtz Grunge Circles that came in my kit. I created this lovely flower, and still have enough circles to create yet another flower as well! Doesn't it look almost like leather?

The tag is chipboard cut from the Sizzix Jumbo Tag die

I knew it would be fun to come up with a new idea for how to use these versatile Grunge Board elements. It sure was! Hope you like it, and that it inspires you to create something today!

Crafty Hugs,
❦Robyn xx

If you would like to purchase the April Crafty Alley kit, you can click here for a full list of what comes in the kit as well ordering information. :o)

Recipe Box Tutorial by Michele Roos

Hi there and thanks for stopping by. Today it's my turn to do a post and I thought that I'd show you a tutorial on how to make this cute little Recipe Box using the gorgeous goodies in the April Kit.

First, you will need a piece of cardstock that is 6 3/4" x 10 3/8" (this will be the bottom). and a piece that measures 7 3/8" x 11" (this will be the top)

Score the 6 3/4" x 10 3/8" piece at 2 1/2" on all four sides.

Score the 7 3/8" x 11" piece at 2 3/4" on all four sides.

Crease all score lines using a bone folder (on both the top and bottom pieces).

Make vertical cuts (following the score lines) to create "flaps" in each corner on both the bottom and top pieces of the cardstock

**Optional** - I like to cut off part of the flaps (see picture above). I find that it makes for a nicer finished product, but this step is completely up to you.

**Optional** - To pretty up the box a little bit I've used some of the gorgeous DP from the April Kit and then stuck it down using double sided tape.

Using a strong doubled sided adhesive, assemble both the bottom and top pieces.

For the dividers, that go inside the box, I made mine 5 1/4" x 3 1/4". I also glued the circle tabs (see pictures below) so that they stick up above the top of the divider. This is important because I have created the top of the box longer...to accommodate those tabs. If you would put the tabs flush with the top of the dividers, the top of the box would be too long.

Here are some additional pictures of the box and the dividers I created...

All the material, apart from the divider tags, I've used to create this project is from the April Kit.

I hope that you've enjoyed this tutorial and has given you a little inspiration on what you can create using the gorgeous goodies from the April Kit from the Crafty Alley.

Hugs Michele xxx

Truly Scrumptious Tuesday

Hi there and thanks for stopping by today. Well it's my turn to do a little posting on here, so I thought that I'd show you two cards that I've made using the gorgeous goodies from the April DT Kit. Don't forget that you can purchase them from here but you'd better be quick, as there's only a few left

This is the first card that I'd like to show you. The DP, corrugated/orange cardstock, yellow gingham ribbon, flowers and pearl-ended pins are all from the April Kit.

For the edges I've gone over them using Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber - Gold that I got from the Crafty Alley.

And here's a close up of the gorgeous flowers that was in the April kit along with the yellow gingham ribbon and pearl-ended pins.

And here's the second card that I'd like to show you using another of the gorgeous DP from the Kit. I've also used the gorgeous lace ribbon that was in the Kit

Here's a close up of the gorgeous ribbon and the DP. I've inked up the edges using the chalks that was in the Kit. To achieve the look around the image, I first stamped using clear embossing ink and then gone over it with the chalks that was in the Kit.

Robyn has done a fantastic tutorial on how to achieve this look, it's just a couple of posts down, click HERE go there now.

Don't forget to pop back here tomorrow, as the lovely and talented Louise will have a technique video for you.

Enjoy the rest of your day

Hugs Michele xxxxx

Stamping with Chalks (using April kit supplies)

Stamping with Chalks

Tutorial created using April Monthly kit supplies available here.

If you would like to download a pdf document of this tutorial, click here. (Download may begin automatically).

For today’s tutorial, I have a pretty basic technique – perhaps even to be called at the “Beginner level.” Maybe it will be a reminder to you to dust off your chalks, or if you are new to stamping, perhaps it will inspire you. So many times when we first begin down the road of paper crafting we find there is just SO much out there. Of course, we’d love to own it all, but our budgets may not allow for it.

I wanted to create this tutorial to share an idea that you can do using chalks and an embossing ink such as Ranger Distress Embossing ink, or VersaMark. Chalks are a lot more affordable than ink pads and you can usually purchase them in sets or color families giving you a lot of color choices with little investment.

So take out your favorite stamps, some embossing ink, and some chalks and lets get creating!

I happen to own a lot of chalks, as I enjoy creating with them, but for this tutorial, I’m going to use the set of chalks that came with my April kit from the Crafty Alley Kit Club.

Step #1
Ink up your stamp with your embossing ink.

Step #2
Stamp image on to your cardstock.

Step #3

Add chalk to your dauber, cotton ball, or finger tip.

Step #4

Pounce chalk over ink (you can vary the effect by apply several different colors of chalk).

Step #5

Use a brush to remove excess chalk using a light sweeping motion. Chalk will adhere well to the embossing ink, so your image will be fine.

Step #6

You can vary the stamps you use and combine different images. I am using small images to add to my journaling spot and will repeat the steps above using the other colors of chalk from the set.

(Sorry about the poor quality of lighting in my room for this tutorial, my lighting depends a lot upon the weather outside).

Step #7 - Decorate

The supplies used to decorate my tag are from the April kit. I used the ribbons and fibers at the top, and added one of the scissors buttons as a charm. I then added a charm that I made from glass beads. I attached them using the wire stems from the paper flowers in the kit. I had removed the blossoms for use in another project. I slipped the stems through the beads and used them like you would jewelry gauge wire by twisting them to form a loop at the top and bottom of each bead. I then added some recycled jump rings from some jewelry that I had taken apart.

The orange flower was created using the orange cardstock from the kit; which I die cut using a Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Alterations die. I added the lace trim and daisy trim from the kit along the bottom and added a half backed pearl to the flower center.

I truly hope that this tutorial has been helpful for you. This technique makes lovely cards, and accents to scrapbook pages, I just happened to be creating a journaling tag for a mini album that I’m creating for my little girl. If you have any questions, please only ask, I’m happy to be of help.

Hugs,

❀ Robyn xx