3D Spring Bag from KSCrafts

I used the small 3D Spring Bag die set from KSCrafts for this Easter treat holder:

This KSCrafts die set cuts out this bag and it is free standing but the bottom of this bag has a curved piece. To make this bag I went through printed card stock scraps and found a print for the front of the bag but for the back I used a piece of dotted card stock. I cut out the bag from light blue card stock. All the layering die pieces I used printed card stock. Before I assembled this bag I used liquid glue and added all the layering printed pieces to the light blue base while these pieces were flat which is very easy to do:

You need to cut out the base piece twice - one for the front and back of the bag. Now for the bottom - here is a photo to show this piece cut out:

I have other die sets that cut out the bottoms of treat holders and they also have these little die cut tabs... but even with folding the tabs to the front and back of the piece to help break the fibers in the card stock even using a bone folder does not make these tabs even or to lie flat.... so after I folded them to the front and back for this treat holder I folded them to the inside of the die piece - the way they would be attached to the treat holder for the bottom - and I decided to run them through the die cutting machine. I wanted this piece to be totally flat so I used the two plates for my machine that I use for embossing folders only. Ran this bottom die cut piece through the machine and it pressed all the tabs flat and even:

Using liquid glue I attached the bag front/sides to the bag back piece/sides. On the end tabs of this curved bottom piece I used tear and tape and added liquid glue to the tabs on one side of the bottom and put this into the formed treat holder bag piece. Pressed that in place and then added glue to the other tabs and pressed that onto the bag back. Here is a photo of the bottom of one of the bags:

To curve the bottom die cut piece with the tabs before I added it to the front/back pieces I ran it over my fingers curving it so it would bend easier to the shape of the bag:

This is the smaller Spring Bag and it holds a lot of treats for Easter or would hold a small gift easily. Happy to use more of the printed card stock scraps and the new butterfly embellishments clip onto the top of this bag easily.....

Tried Michaels again. . .

The closest Michaels store to me is a smaller store and they do not carry everything I see on videos and blogs from other card makers. Recently crafters have shown new products for paper crafting that Mikes is stocking but I have been to this store twice and they only have a few of the newer items...... then I saw a video on YouTube from "Eve Ara" and she was making butterflies using the Butterfly die set from KSCRAFTS. . . . 

On her butterflies she layered the wings and she used acetate sheets from Creatology, which is a brand at Mikes and this brand has lots of craft kits and supplies for kids. Well, I knew I wanted to pick up some of these acetate sheets but rather than go to the smaller store I decided I would go the largest Mike's in our area and see if I could find these sheets as well as see all the new items I have seen shown on YouTube at Mikes.... I was happy to see that this store had all the new items, supplies, stamps, die sets, embossing folders, tools that Mikes is now carrying in the paper crafting section that I have seen on YouTube videos and other crafters blogs.... I picked up two of their new die sets that I wanted:

Off to the Creatology section of the store -- this store had two full aisles of this brand/products. Walked up and down these aisles twice looking for the acetate sheets.... found nothing..... I saw a clerk walking by and I asked her if they had these sheets and if not could she check another store for me? She looked up the product and said they are on another aisle -- so there they were.... next to clay supplies.... WHY they were there I do not know but certainly happy to find them! I picked up two clear packs - one in pinks/yellows and one in blues/purples and a pack of the darker colours:

When I got home I made up some new butterflies using scrap printed card stocks and these acetate sheets using the ScrapDivaDesign Butterflies die set:

The acetate sheets cut with one pass in the die cutting machine and I assembled the butterflies:

Added paper roses from the stash to finish the butterflies:

And altogether:

The acetate layers bring a lot of sparkle/shine to the butterflies - here is a photo of the first butterflies I had made using this die set before I used these new acetate sheets:

Still a pretty butterfly but the acetate brings a whole other layer to these butterflies. Happy to have seen these sheets in use from "Eve Ara" on her butterfly embellishments!

One Buck Bunny Easter Card

Early February I attended the stamp show in Columbia, SC and since I was going to SC anyways I made a stop in Greenville, SC at the ReCraft Creative Reuse Center store where they sell craft supplies that are new or gently used that have been donated to them. This is the store I bought the Distress Oxide ink pads still in sealed packages. Once I picked out the ink pads I looked through the other supplies they sold and I found this Layered Bunny die set from Simon Says Stamp:

This die set was $1.00 and the Simon Says seal was still on the back of the packaging so I do not think it had ever been used. I did look it up online and it sells for $19.99 so paying only a buck for this layered bunny die was a good deal! Used him on my Easter cards:

For this card I cut and scored light blue card stock for the base, scored at the top. Cut a piece of green card stock for the card front. For the white decorated front I cut out the Frantic Stamper die "Star Quilt Card Panel" die. (Frantic Stamper is going out of business but has a lot of her own designs/brands still for sale). With those all cut out I set them aside. 

Cut a piece of plain white card stock to fit behind the Star Quilt Panel. I ink blended light green ink at the bottom of this piece with light blue ink from the green ink up to the top of the panel with it being a little darker blue at the top. Used liquid glue to put the decorated panel onto the ink blended piece. Set it aside to dry.

For the bunny I die cut that out of white card stock and used gray ink to sponge the edges of that. Cut out scrap pink card stock for the ears. I also cut out his base face die piece from a darker gray card stock and that gave me the base for his face which is for his eyes. Used a pink marker for the nose. Assembled him with liquid glue.

The flower die set used for the flowers and greenery is the "Layered Posies" die set from IO Stamps (which is Impression Obsession and they closed their doors late last year). I used scraps for the flowers and the greenery for those. For the two carrots next to the bunny I used the carrots die set also from IO Stamps and orange card stock and I sponged the edges of the carrots using a dauber and orange ink. The carrot tops are scrap green card stock and I sponged those with a darker green ink. Used liquid glue to put the flowers/carrots together. 

Assembled the card base with layers and then added the flowers with greenery and the carrots on the lower edge of the card. Put the assembled bunny on the card front using foam tape for dimension. I added a few extra flowers on both sides of the bunny. For the greeting "Happy Easter!" I used an old cling stamp set from North Coast Creations "Easter Basket".  (They used to be affiliated with Our Daily Bread which is now Divinity Designs). I stamped it onto scrap white card stock and used a banner die from the stash to cut that out and put it on the card front using foam tape. 

The bunny die is very easy to work with because all the dies in this set are on one piece of metal so one pass through the machine cuts out all the pieces. These dies also emboss the lines for placement of the belly, feet, face, ears and lining things up is very easy. Cute bunny for a buck and glad I was able to put him to use on this Easter card!

Easter Bags

Bought the Scrap Diva Designs 3D Egg Crate/Tote Bag/Box die set from her March release.  This Egg Crate die set is meant to hold two eggs inside this tote bag. I did not use the egg crate pieces but instead I measured the size I wanted the tote to be and cut one piece of card stock for the sides and bottom. Here are photos of the totes I made:

With the tote bag layered and my one piece of card stock cut and scored for the sides and bottom I used liquid glue to assemble the tote bag. But I decided the sides were too plain so I then measured the sides of the tote and cut the matching printed card stock to put on the sides. I wanted to use a scallop die for the top and bottom of the tote sides so here is a photo of the small scallop pieces on the sides:

I used two other dies to decorate this tote - the first is the Bitty Borders die set from Divinity Designs (formerly Our Daily Bread Designs):

For the greeting on the tote front I used the "Happy Easter" die with shadow die piece from IO Stamps (which closed late last year). For the greeting on all the bags I used glittered card stocks. For the flowers on the left front of the tote bags I used the flowers from this die set in the stash:

I had bought that die set off of Aliexpress long ago. For the flowers I used scrap card stocks. Here is a photo of part of the Scrap Diva Designs 3D Egg Crate die set:

and a photo of the Butterfly Set from her store also that I used for the butterflies on the bow piece of the tote bag at the top:

Fun project to put together and the tote bag is free standing and will hold lots of chocolate treats!

Dollar Tree Turntable and new prices???

Recent trip to a Dollar Tree I came across lots of new items but brought home two of their Essential brand turntables. Paid $1.25 each and I was surprised how sturdy they seemed in the store. I wanted to use them for my Distress/Shimmer Mist sprays and for re-inkers. Here is the first turntable filled with the Distress sprays and the Shimmer Mist sprays:

and the second turntable with the re-inkers:

Even with the weight of these bottles the turntables turn evenly and do not wobble. Since the turntables are a clear acrylic they match the clear acrylic ink pad holders I picked up earlier from Scrapbook.com. I have heard the rumor that prices at the Dollar Tree, that went from $1.00 to $1.25, are now going to be increased to $1.75..... I may have to go back this weekend and buy two more turntables before they are gone or the price increases...... but happy to see new items throughout the store..... 

Birthday Cake with Candles

DSS made me a cake with candles for my birthday and what a surprise it was!

She put it in a baker's cake box - cardboard with cellophane window.. Here is a photo showing the cake out of the box to show all the detail:

Nine slices --- once I untied the ribbon I could take each slice out and open it to reveal my gift:

I like yellow/vanilla cake so she shows that in the stripes which would be the cake layers:

Open each slice to show money and a chocolate treat!

Love the red ovals she used for the decorated frosting border on the cake slices:

Very labor intensive but certainly very appreciated! I will definitely have to find a location in the craft room to put this on display! A HUGE thank you to her for spending the time to make a delish birthday cake for me!!! LOVE IT!!  

3D Egg Carrier turned in a tote - -

www.scrapdivadesigns.com  just held her March product release for Easter/Spring projects ahead. I picked up both her new Butterfly Set of dies - 4 sized butterflies in that set - and I also picked up her 3D Egg Carrier die set. Here is a photo of the butterfly set:

and a photo of the 3D Egg Carrier die set:

The Egg Carrier die set has the main piece for the carrier front and back pieces, and a stitched piece to fit over the front and back pieces. It also has all the dies for the bow as well as the egg carrier tray that fits between the front and back die pieces. Before I ordered this die set other crafters were showing this die set completed and it holds two eggs or two items you would want to put in there. It was cute but I wanted to make a tote out of the carrier so I can use it as a tote and fill it with treat holders I am making for Easter. Here are photos of the first two totes I turned this carrier die set into:

Each of my totes were made differently. The top one I used a floral print for the tote front and back pieces but I also used a small printed card stock to line the inside of the tote. To make the insert for turning the carrier into a tote I made two different sizes. For the pink floral/kraft card stock tote I decided to measure the egg carrier dies that were meant to be used and I used that width for the width of my insert. I used that width and for the length I used 11" as the solid card stocks for my totes I was using was 8 1/2" x 11".  I scored this strip with the long side at the top of the scoreboard at 2 7/8" and again at 8 1/8". Turned this and scored each long side at 3/8". Creased the scored lines and clipped the creased lines and at the top and bottom flaps. Normally I would use tear and tape to assemble boxes or a tote but this time I used liquid glue. 

To assemble these two totes - for the pink floral tote I die cut out the two front/back die pieces using kraft card stock. Then I measured the window opening, allowing extra, for my clear acetate window sheet. I cut two pieces of the acetate for the windows on the totes. I only have plain acetate but I wanted a design on it so I layered the two pieces of cut acetate sheets and I ran them through the die cutting machine in an old dotted embossing folder. Once embossed I was ready to assemble the tote pieces. 

Putting the kraft tote front piece on the work table, right side up, I then put tear and tape on the acetate sheets on the edges and adhered those over the window openings on both the front and back tote pieces. I used the stitched tote die and cut out my printed card stock for both the front and back of the tote. With those cut out I used liquid glue and put the printed card stocks onto the tote pieces over the acetate windows. For this kraft tote I wanted to line the inside of the tote with a light pink floral print so I cut out a front/back base carrier/tote piece. With the acetate adhered to the front and back pieces I used liquid glue and put the light pink floral print over the back of the kraft piece with the acetate sheet in the window. Set these aside to dry. Die cut and sponged my bow pieces and assembled the bows and added the butterflies I had made last week to the center of the bow on the tote front. 

For the blue floral tote I decided I wanted the box insert to be narrower than the kraft box insert. I measured the tote pieces and decided my width I wanted the tote to be and I cut a piece of the blue solid card stock 2 3/4" x 11". Again scored it with long side at the top of the scoreboard at 2 7/8" and again at 8 1/8". Turned it and scored on each long side at 3/8". Creased the scored lines and clipped the folds to form the box/insert and I used liquid glue to put the tote front and back pieces onto the box/insert piece. Glued the sides to the tote front and back to form the box/insert. Again assembled the bow and added a butterfly to the center of the bow. 

Here is a photo to show the two totes next to each other so you can see the size difference of the box/insert pieces:

And another photo to show size difference:

I will say I think the 2 3/4" width of the box/insert piece works better with the 3D Egg Carrier die set and it still allows lots of room to add treats or treat holders. That is the size I used on the blue tote.  Here is a photo to show the insides of the totes:

The blue tote shows the blue card stock used for the front and back pieces of the tote and in this photo:

You can see the inside pink card stock that I used to line the front and back tote pieces. This is a very easy die set to assemble and lots of possibilities for decorating the front of them. They are sturdy and free standing so could be used as a treat holder table marker at a holiday table. Cute tote to be used for any holiday or just to hold a gift. Happy I was able to finally get this tote made!

Shopping Haul

 Yesterday I scored another shopping haul -- one is all "previously enjoyed" (used) items and the second was a quick trip to Hobby Lobby. Here are photos of items I scored of used items:

Altenew floral stamp sets with matching dies, a MemoryBox Santa die set, a Bat tag die from Simon Says Stamp, and second photo shows the Berry Basket die set and Bunny Ears die sets from The Stamp Market. In the bottom photo I have a bag of gems for $1 for the whole bag and three spools of the metallic threads which I will use when I make my Christmas rosettes for projects ahead. 

I am working on Easter projects in the craft room and just found out that all I have left of yellow glittered card stock is a few very small pieces. I made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple sheets of the yellow and other colours of the glittered card stocks. Also picked up daisies and a package of small eggs to decorate some of my Easter projects. All Easter products were 40% off so I paid less for those but they will get used this year. Happy to have new and new-to-me additions for this craft room....

Parts Department - -

www.Scrapdivadesigns.com  just released her new products for March 2025. The first die set I ordered from this release is her 7 piece Butterfly Set of dies. This die set makes four different sizes of butterflies and all of them put texture on the card stocks when you die cut them. Here is a photo of this new die set:

Lots of her team members on YouTube have put out videos on their projects using her new release products so lots of inspiration there! I decided to dig through the stash and I used single sided and double sided card stocks, shimmer card stocks, plain and coloured vellum.  For the butterfly body/antennae pieces I used foiled card stocks, shimmer card stock, and scraps of gold poster board from the Dollar Tree. This is a small project so I was able to use a lot of printed card stock scraps for the butterflies. Here are all the pieces after I did my die cutting:

I did not want my butterflies to be all matchy, matchy so some of them I used two pieces and others I used three. All of my butterflies do have a layer of vellum -- some of the older vellum in my stash is very thin so when I tried to die cut the first butterfly layer from this vellum the vellum tore and it was hard to get it out of die. So I decided to try again -- I put the die, cut side up, on the die cut machine plate. Then I put a piece of the vellum, and then a piece of light weight white card stock. Put the top plate on this stack and ran it through the machine. This time the vellum and white card stock were cut together and the vellum did not tear and it was easily removed from the die:

Some of the crafters using this die set suggested you emboss a piece of vellum in an embossing folder and then cut out your butterfly so that it is embossed. But if you do it in that order the embossing design will get flattened while die cutting out the butterfly. So I cut out the vellum butterflies and then put those in an embossing folder and embossed them in the machine. This way the embossed design is raised on the vellum and more noticeable. With all pieces cut, embossed and ready to go I assembled all my butterflies. Once they were all assembled - some with tear and tape and others with liquid glue - I pulled out my little stash of premade flowers and used hot glue to add flowers to the center of the butterflies:

Once the flowers were added to the butterflies I pinched the wings towards the center to show the layers of these:

And some of the groups of them:

For my butterflies I used the two smaller dies. These butterflies will make nice embellishments, look nice on a tag, treat holder, etc..  Happy to be able to use more of the stash and the scrap printed card stocks. The next die I ordered is the next project I am working on - her 3D Egg Holder which I am making into a tote to hold treat holders and treats... Another cute product for Easter projects ahead!