Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Gift Card Holders


 December 22, 2010
by Wendy Switzer





Supplies:

·         Card Stock – Dbl sided
·         Card stock - coordinating
·         Copy Paper
·         Adhesive runner
·         Ink – black or brown
·         Glue dots
·         Glue lines
·         Velcro
·         Corner rounder punch
·         1” circle punch
·         Bone folder
·         Greetings stamps
·         Embellishments
·         Edge punches


Instructions:

INSIDES

1.     Depending on the number of gift cards you are giving, you will duplicate the inside “pockets” as many times as needed to accommodate your gift cards.  You can have the holder vertical or horizontal (both directions are included).
2.     VERTICAL: Cut copy paper 5”X4”.  On the 5” side, score and fold 1 ½” in from one side and 1 ¼” in from the other side.  Score and fold ¾” up from the bottom. Cut out corner pieces from the bottom (as shown in photos).  Fold sides in first and place adhesive along the edge of the shorter side and secure longer side by pressing it down on top of the adhesive.  Use corner rounder punch to round the corners of the bottom flap.  Secure with adhesive. 
3.     HORIZONTAL: Cut copy paper 7 ½” X 2 ½”.  On the long side, score and fold 2 ¼” in from one side and 1 ¾”  in from the other side.  Score and fold ¼” up from the bottom. Cut out corner pieces from the bottom (as shown in photos).  Fold sides in first, then place adhesive along the edge of the shorter side and secure longer side by pressing it down on top of the adhesive.  Use corner rounder punch to round the corners of the bottom flap.  Secure bottom flap up onto the pocket with adhesive. 
4.     Using your circle punch, punch part of a circle in the open ends of each “pocket”.  DO NOT punch out the entire circle.  You want about 1/3 of the circle punched.  Punch just enough of a circle so that it creates a “thumb & finger” pull area to grip the card when pulling it out.
5.     VERTICAL COVER: Cut a piece of cardstock so it measures 7 ¾” X 2 ¼”.  Along the longest side make the following score marks: 3 3/8”, 3 ½”, 6 7/8” & 7”.  Make crisp folds along each of your scoring lines. 
6.     HORZONTAL COVER: Cut a piece of cardstock so it measures 5 ½” X 3 ¾”.  Along the longest side make the following score marks: 2 ¼”, 2 3/8”, 4 5/8” & 4 ¾”.  Make crisp folds along each of your scoring lines. 
7.     For both covers:  In the small area between the two largest areas, place a glue line.
8.     Next, place all of your gift cards into their own pockets and gather the bottom edges so that they are all even.  Gently press them into the glue line.  Press firmly on the tops of the gift cards to give a little added pressure to secure them into the glue line.
9.     Decorate the outside as desired.
10.  You can secure the flap with a small piece of Velcro, a button and some string, a snap, etc.  DO NOT use magnets for the flap.  The magnet could react with the magnetic strip and erase or damage information on your gift cards. You can use a decorative edge punch to punch a piece of coordinating paper and adhere under the flap for an added texture and look.
11.  You can add a decorative band to secure your holder closed.  Band size will be the same whether you create a horizontal or vertical.  Cut cardstock 1” X 5”.  Wrap around your holder and secure with adhesive.  Make sure you make is a little loose so that it slides on and off easily.  Option: you can layer another color onto your band, just cut a coordinating color ¾” X 5” and adhere it to the 1” piece before you fold and secure.
12.  Add a message stamp, embellishments, etc. and you are ready to give your gift cards in style!

OPTION:
1.     You can turn your horizontal gift holder into a purse by adding a handle and some bling.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Affordable Christmas Gifts


SEGMENT #1
 December 8, 2010
Custom Decorative Plates
by Wendy Switzer





Supplies:

·         Ceramic Plate (with decorative raised areas)
·         Stickles - gold
·         Gold & Red vinyl OR decorative stickers
·         Cricut Machine
·         Transfer tape
·         Cricut Cartridges “Christmas”, “Joys of the Season” & “Trim the Tree” OR letter stickers
·         Plate rack or metal easel
·         Bone folder or popsicle stick


Instructions:

1)     Wash and dry plates completely
2)     Using the gold vinyl, cut a tree out that will be just 1” smaller than the center of your plate.
3)     Weed out all of the unnecessary vinyl pieces, leaving behind only the tree image.
4)     Press transfer tape onto your image.  Peel image away from the vinyl backing.
5)     Press image onto plate and using a bone folder, or popsicle stick, rub vigorously to transfer your image onto the plate.  Remove transfer tape slowly.  If image pieces peel up with your tape, press down again and firmly go over that area again. 
6)     Once you have your image in place, do the same technique with your saying and place it on top of your tree image.
7)     Use your gold Stickles to outline any raised or decorative areas around the plate edge.  Let dry completely.  Drying time varies with the temperature conditions, but usually is set in about an hour.  


This is a GREAT way to give a personalized gift without looking homemade. 







Total Gift Cost:  Plate $1.00, Stickles $4.99, 2 yards Vinyl $7.00 (Stickles & Vinyl will do 9 plates) Ea plate $2.33








SEGMENT #2
 December 8, 2010
Copping Plate Makeover
by Wendy Switzer



Supplies:
·         Ceramic chopping plate/spoon rest
·         Alcohol inks – lt. green, dk. Green & silver
·         Alcohol ink applicator & pads
·         Vinyl - Silver
·         Transfer Tape
·         Cricut Machine
·         Cricut cartridge “Storybook”
·         Isprophyl alcohol
·         Paper towel
·         Wired ribbon – silver
·         Bone folder
·         Metal easel




Instructions:

1)     Apply 4-5 drops of light green alcohol ink to your applicator pad. 
2)     Dab ink around the entire surface of the plate.
3)     Apply dark green in the same method.  Use sparingly and apply in a random pattern
4)     Apply silver ink in the same manner, only do not seek to apply to entire area.  You want the silver to be randomly places so as to give the effect of marble or granite when you are finished.  NOTE: if you do not like the look when you are done, you can simply spray with alcohol and rub with a paper towel to remove the ink and start over.
5)     Using the silver vinyl, cut your letters “NOEL”.  Weed out any unnecessary pieces of vinyl, apply transfer tape, peel letters away, press onto chopping plate and burnish with bone folder.  Peel back transfer tape.
6)     Add a bow to the side and place into a metal easel. 


             Total Cost: Chopping Plate  $3, Alcohol Inks $10 (MANY plates per bottle), ribbon $1  Each plate about $4.50

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wood Medium and the Cricut

My guest on today's show was Howard Fullmer.  He lectures & teaches at a local college.   He also designs and builds sets for infomercials and films. Howard is a very talented designer and I was very impressed by his eye for creativity.  I recently had the wonderful opportunity to work with him while filming Provo Crafts "Creative DVD Series" (www.4cricutdvd.com).  Howard and I both were hosts of instructional DVD's that centered around the Cricut machine.  Howard, also, has an amazing sense of humor!  He used this humor to keep us rolling with laughter while we endured long hours on the set.  What an amazing experience this was.

SEGMENT #1
Howard shared with us how he used veneer wood in the Cricut machine to create a beautiful inlaid effect.  By using two different colors of wood "paper", he cut the same image then simply exchanged pieces back and forth until he had created the look desired. Once this process is complete, you can sand it smooth, stain it, seal it and you have created something unique and stunning!



SEGMENT #2
My creation came from taking a Christmas tree cut out and tracing it onto a piece of pine wood.  I then used a jigsaw to carefully cut out the delicate tree.  I smoothed the edges with sandpaper and an electric sander, painted the tree, sanded the edges again to remove a small amount of paint along the edges and stained the entire tree.  I cut ornaments from 40 gauge metal, used alcohol inks to add a bit of color to them and secured them to the tree.

Using your own creativity and experimenting with different mediums, can expand your Cricut's ability.

HAVE FUN!