Book Tutorial at Oh Hello Friend

I'm guesting once again at Oh Hello Friend :)
I composed a tutorial about making these little books.
http://ohhellofriend.blogspot.com/2010/10/guest-blogger-sasha-from-guilded-bee_03.html

Here are a few notes after making a bunch of these:
for the spine, lighter, more flexible materials than the cardboard are better.
Things like grosgrain ribbon, lighter weight cardstock, or smooth text weight paper move and flex with the pages.
A couple other things: be sure the pages are aligned perfectly, this is the moment to be finicky. I ran into trouble with pages falling out because they were uneven.
Secondly, be sure to use enough glue on the spine. I had one notebook split along the spine because I didn't have enough glue along the edge of all of the pages.
I tried to be extremely precise with all of the measurements.
On this project, uneven edges show.
I'm still learning about book binding and look forward to trying more styles. :)

Carnation { paper millinery flower } Tutorial

Here is a little something pretty :):
I'm guesting over at Oh Hello Friend, and have composed a tutorial about how I made these flowers:
http://ohhellofriend.blogspot.com/2010/10/guest-blogger-sasha-from-guilded-bee.html
happy creating!! :D

have your cake and glitter it too...

I *love* these little cakes!
Miss Livy of A field journal has worked her usual crafting brilliance,
How to make these cakes:
http://ruffledblog.com/2010/09/diy-mini-cake-toppers-with-glass-domes-by-a-field-journal/
I can't wait to make some. :)
Well, actually, I can, some of the supplies are coming in the mail. :)

{cute photographs by Livy}

Create Fan Garland: a tutorial

Originally, I was just going to post pictures of this garland, however, I thought I show you how to make it too...



I made this to hang in the gilded bee "studio".



SUPPLIES:
* 1 yard twine/string

* hot glue gun and glue

* white craft glue

* Six--11 x 1 inch strips of cardstock

* 1" circle punch or 1 inch circle to use to trace

* sheet of 8.5 x 11 inch white cardstock/ printed with your "create" clip-art letters

* decorative scissors

* glitter




Step 1. Punch or trace circles over your printed letters

Step 2. Using your decorative scissors, trim along one of the sides (lengthwise) of each of your 11 x 1 cardstock strips, then fold, accordian-style (about 1/2 inch pleats)

Step 3. {I spaced all of my "flags" about 1 cm. apart, all are equal distances from the center of my string} apply a bead of hot glue to the end pleat of the cardstock, insert twine into the fold and press down to secure, repeat with the other end of the strip.

Repeat with the other 5 strips.





Step 4. The strips will form springy loops, press them down, and gather them towards the string, apply a dot of hot glue and hold for at least 10 seconds so that it will hold its 1/2 circle fan shape.

Step 5. apply a dot of hot glue onto the back of your "C" letter and adhere to the first fan on the left end of the garland.

Repeat with your other letters.






Step 6.

As a final touch I smudged a little white craft glue to the edges of the fans and dipped them into some glitter (allow to dry, if the glue is slow drying, lay the garland out on some wax paper to dry before hanging)




{be sure to click to enlarge/to print clip art}



happy creating! ;)

Floral Crown Tutorial

Here is the special post that I hinted about,
I'm honored to be guesting at No Knows Weddings,
To see my post and learn how to make one of these pieces go here:
http://www.noknowsweddings.com/diy-wedding-accessories-vintage-floral-crown/
{she added the breathtaking, which I find quite flattering :D}

paper cones

I love paper cones, and have hunted around for some good templates/tutorials.
They are so perfect: any task, from Easter trifles to cones of fresh flowers as wedding favors, to holding cello bags of popcorn for trick-or-treats, to holding chocolates and small gifts on a Christmas tree, to new years crackers, to Valentine parcels.

I made these out of random vintage book pages.
These are inspired by the Lovely Livy of A Field Journal:
http://afieldjournal.blogspot.com/2009/04/paper-cones-craft-tutorial.html
Hers are made from vintage sheet music and are longer than these and are oh-so-elegant.
These are easy to make from any text weight paper, and look charming in vintage and patterned papers.



These cones are made from this free printable PDF template:
http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/cone.htm

You can add a fancy edge if you wish ;)

To hold heavier objects, I made these out of cardstock.



The template can be sized to be smaller too.
One way of dressing them up is to add a trim around the edge of the top.
In this case, gold tinsel.
They can be hung by wire.

They can also be suspended by ribbons or twine. I added a big white carnation to this one. The options are practically endless.

Security Envelope Rosettes

I started out my crafting life as a very small child.
Armed with a roll of tape, bottle of paste, and a pair of scissors, I would hoard "Garbage".
Paper towel rolls, cracker boxes, used envelopes and papers, plastic containers etc.
I made 3-D doll houses with them.

I've carried that attitude with me to the present: how can I make something interesting out of random components? Security envelopes have been on the random component list for a while.
I have been sure that something was waiting to be created...








I stumbled into this blog one day and have kept going back for more. I love her tutorials. I want to make the projects in all of them.

TO MAKE THE ROSETTES:
instructions:
http://papiervalise.typepad.com/scissor_variations/2009/04/judging-an-envelope-by-its-return-address-part-1.html

mini take out boxes and paper fortune cookies

Here is another post along the theme of interesting packaging.
I've been enamored with little and unusual boxes for a while, and collect templates to make them.
This one is a favorite: the mini take-out box.

This one is just the right size for a trifle, a single chocolate, or piece of jewelry.

To make "chopsticks", I just blunt some wooden toothpicks.

To create handles for the boxes, I use some wire, or in this case, a paper clip.

I saw these paper fortune cookies on a wedding blog and just loved them.

The template {link} provided can be sized to be larger or really tiny, as you wish.


THE LINKS
to make the projects:

The mini take-out boxes:
http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/takeout.htm

The paper fortune cookies:
http://www.oncewed.com/7578/diy-wedding/favors/diy-fortune-cookie-favors/

happy creating :)

Spiral Roses: A Tutorial

I was searching for botanical pics on the internet, when I stumbled on a blog article with these roses (dozi design). She had been inspired by a magazine article. I practiced making some of these and really like them. So I thought I'd share them with you:


Step 1:
On a square piece of cardstock (mine was 4x4) draw a spiral.

Step 2:
Working along the line, cut out the spiral.

Step 3:
On the outer edge, roll toward the center.
Keep rolling until you reach the center.

Step 4:
To keep it from unrolling, I tacked mine with a little bit of glue at the end.

These would look charming on a parcel. Some leaves and or tiny flowers would work with these too. With some practice, these are easy (and quick) to do without the pencil lines as a guide.

Lace+Butterflies Card: A Tutorial

I have so badly wanted to share this tutorial all week. Now I finally have had a chance to get these things assembled and pictures taken.
This is one of my Christmas thank you cards. You could certainly use this card for most anything. They would be lovely for save-the-date cards.

Supplies you'll need for this card:

1. square petal envelope template (you'll need a sheet of cardstock {8.5x11"} for this)

2. 1 sheet cardstock

3. 1 piece of 3.5x7.5 inch-cardstock

4. 1 paper doily (mine was 8" in diameter/I cut it in half, a smaller doily would work just as well)

5. scissors

6. decorative edging-scissors

7. hot glue gun+hot glue stick (I find white craft glue to be too moist here, and it has a much longer drying time)

8. glue stick

9. 1 vintage-style butterfly

{step 1.}

Print off envelope/enclosure at 133% on a piece of cardstock+cut out.

{free template+link: http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/square.htm}

Trace onto your other sheet of cardstock+cut out+fold along the lines shown on the template.

{step 2.}

Fold your 3.5x7.5 sheet of cardstock over in half+on the other edge trim with the decorative scissors.

{step 3.}

Using your glue stick, apply a thin even layer of glue on the front of the card+adhere your doily+press to smooth down. Trim off excess doily on edges of card.

{step 4.}

Using the hot glue gun, apply a bead of glue to the center back of the butterfly+adhere to upper center of card.

{step 5.}

Apply a bead of hot glue around the edge on the back of the card. Center card+stick to the inside of the envelope/enclosure. Stand back+admire your tasty little card.

Seal+with+love. Or wax.