Craft Consortium, Tell The Bees (Special Edition), Mini Album (Part 1)

Hello everyone!

Tell The Bees (Special Edition) has its official launch day today!

See it HERE over at Craft Consortium...

As it's a first for the company I wanted to celebrate by making a 6x6 mini album that holds 6 pages full of flaps, folds, pockets and envelopes, but rather than have a substantially 'photo heavy' post I've chosen to break this down into a post per page. 

Before that however, there's a front cover...

As you can see, I've included papers from the Ink Drops collections as well as the decorative circle from the Dienamix 'Live Laugh Love' cutting dies.

This stamped on tissue paper and pasted on bee that you can partially see echos an element you will notice on several pages of the album...

And here is my bee charm...  no longer gold but painted with acrylics to give it a worn, aged look.

Thank you for stopping by!

Part 2 coming soon...

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https://www.instagram.com/roominacupboard/

Donna.

Craft Consortium, Tell The Bees, Stationery Organiser

I'm just stopping by today with an idea for a mixed media stationery organiser.

This one also includes a few ideas on coordinating books and note paper...

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Craft Consortium

Tell The Bees

12 x 12 Premium Paper Pad

Clear Stamp Set

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Always and Forever

Vintage Feather Charms

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Please feel free to email me if you would like to know which dies I have used for the pull out drawers or the booklet storage to the side.

I don't include them here as this post is for Craft Consortium products only.

Look after yourself...

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Donna. x

https://www.instagram.com/roominacupboard/

Craft Consortium 'Flip Flop' Card, 'Tell The Bees'...

 Good morning to you!

Well, it's morning here as I type this - and it's another lovely warm day which makes me happy.

Speaking of making me happy...  

I just love, love, love creating distressed looks on cards.

So for my 'Tell The Bees' design project that I'm sharing with you today I went all out on distressing just as much as I felt I could get away with!

It was my first go, too - (at a 'flip flop' card, that is)...

These are seriously such fun to make!

So what have I done?

I've used the front cover of the paper pad, a sheet of the design paper to die cut a layered flower, another sheet of paper to fussy cut the bees, paper scraps from previous projects for the 'lines'...  and I've stamped (don't forget to heat set) in Archival ink, partial stamped/stamped and used Embossing Powder - and added a lace edged die cut.

As you can see, I've used my distress tool a lot for this project, too!

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Tell The Bees - Premium Paper Pad

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Craft Consortium really do sell the most beautiful design papers.

Don't forget to 'tag us' with your makes - we would love to see them...

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Click here if you would like to see a quick IG video of this card, too.

Donna. x

Craft Consortium, Tell the Bees, Through The Window...

I had just one goal in mind for this Craft Consortium, 'Tell The Bees' card...

Colour.

Not something I normally embrace head on - but hey, there's just no fun in always making the same thing, right?

So I gave it a shot and ended up with this...

Where, oh where do I start in trying to break this one down for you?

Some photo's might help...

...  but be warned - I changed my mind so many times that not every step was documented!

Hopefully there's enough info in these photo's to give you the basis of my design - but please feel free to email me if there is anything specific you need to know.

Need a list of the supplies used?

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Craft Consortium supplies used:

Tell The Bees

Premium Paper Pad

Clear Stamp Set

Linen Cotton Ribbons

Santoro - Kori Kumi

Raffia String Set

Raffia Cord Set

Flocking Powder Set

Always & Forever

Elegant Lace Ribbon - Heart Chain

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Other supplies used:

Holtz Distress Ink

Peeled Paint

Walnut Stain

Picked Raspberry

Bundled Sage

Gansai Tamby Starry Colours

Red Gold

Yellow Gold

Spectrum Noir Aqua Tints - Perfectly Primary

Blue

Purple

Yellow

Other

Crackle Glaze

Chalk Paint - White

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As ever, thank you for stopping by...

Donna. x

Craft Consortium, Tell The Bees, Bee Collage Tag

Good morning to you!

It's fast approaching 7.30am here in the UK and it's still pitch black outside.

And I can't craft in anything but natural daylight.  Believe me - I have tried...  even with 'good' daylight lamps on.  It just doesn't 'work' for me.

So as much as I would normally already be crafting by now I'm having to revert to 'Winter Mode' and use the first few hours of each day to check over my blog posts before they go live, or to write them up...  or to edit the photo's that go along with these posts.

Thankfully I know of at least one other crafter who is like me in this respect so I know I'm not completely alone in what might sound quite odd to a lot of you!

Anyhow...

You may have noticed that I've been making a fair few 'Tell The Bees' projects for Craft Consortium lately...  and what happens when you make lots of projects using a paper pad for inspiration?  Well, you get lots of left overs...  obviously! 

Why am I telling you this?

Because this project was inspired and made entirely from some of those leftovers...  

There are no 'how to' photo's on this one as it's a 'leftover surprise' as I like to call them, but for those of you who haven't seen my earlier projects I will at least do another run through of the supplies used...

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Craft Consortium supplies used:

Tell The Bees

Premium Paper Pad

Linen Cotton Ribbons

Clear Stamp Set

Santoro - Kori Kumi

Raffia Cord Set

Always & Forever

Silver Pearl Glue

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Other supplies used:

Ink

Brilliance - Lightning Black

Stazon Ink - Timber Brown

Holtz Distress Ink - Picket Fence

Other

Vellum

Mulberry Paper

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It just goes to show why so many of us 'crafting types' refuse to throw scraps of paper away.  You really never do know when or how they may come in handy.

...  And speaking of scraps/snippets...

I haven't played along with many challenges for a while now, but this tag is the perfect example of how to put snippets to good use so I'm entering it into

Pixies Crafty Snippets Workshop

I hope you find the links to the products used useful.
Craft Consortium really do have some very pretty papers and embellishments, don't they?
And I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what comes next from this shop.




Have a lovely week...

...  and as always - 'Thank You' so much for stopping by today...

Donna. x

Craft Consortium, Tell The Bees, Resin Flower Tag

I had so much fun making this bright and cheery tag that I'm sharing with you today.

Yes, it's another from the Craft Consortium, 'Tell The Bees' collection...  yet this time my focus is not on the papers - it's on the stamp set itself.

Want to see?

I'm a great believer in 'mixing things up', so for me the idea was to keep the bees black and white so that the focus of the colour lies elsewhere on the tag.

Here's a visual breakdown so you can see just how simply this tag can be made...

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Craft Consortium supplies used:

Tell The Bees

Clear Stamp Set

Premium Paper Pad

Linen Cotton Ribbons

Santoro - Kori Kumi

Resin Flower and Leaves Set

Mini Resin Flowers Set

Leaf Ribbon Set

Raffia Cord Set

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Other supplies used:

Ink

Versafine - Black

Brilliance - Lightening Black

Holtz Distress - Twisted Citron

Holtz Distress - Walnut Stain

Stazon - Timber Brown

Other

Mulberry Paper 

Acetate - scrap from craft packaging

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Before even starting to decorate this tag, I made sure that the base of it was thick and durable by gluing a few layers together - but that's a personal preference thing, I guess.  I just know from experience that I prefer my tags to feel 'sturdy'.

Then I focused on the bees...
In addition to layering them up from the back (stamp image, cut it out, turn it upside down, draw around it, cut it out and glue into position behind the stamped image) three or four times, I've also stamped and cut out additional parts to add extra dimension to the front.

See that top itty bitty bee?  That has an extra 'body' part.

The middle bee?  Cut an additional head and wings - just taking out that slight sliver of body in the middle.

...  And the bottom bee?  Extra 'wings'.

Threading two leaf ribbons through the tag at the top, then weaving them gently together before tying into place with a piece of brown raffia cord was all that was needed to complete this fun looking tag.

I do hope you're enjoying my ideas on how to use this set.
It really is so versatile.

Thanks once again for taking the time to stop by...

Donna. x

Craft Consortium, Tell The Bees, Flowers, Lace + Twine

My card for today shares another idea on how to use Craft Consortium's 'Tell The Bees' Collection - which includes a beautiful, muted palette of papers that can be dressed up or down with ease.

As you can see, I've opted for a card with a bright pop of colour, plenty of texture, flowers...  and of course those bees!

  

Want to see the back of it?

It's not as complicated as it looks...  honestly it isn't!

Let me explain...



Take the front cover off the paper pad - removing the topper section for use another day - and cut the front cover into four equal pieces.
(I used the top left section, trimming it to size to fit a standard 5" square card).

Then I tore off a section before getting out my circle dies.

I used one circle to cut away the logo, one to cut a tiny hole near the bottom...   and the third circle (the biggest of the three) was used to cut some circles from the gorgeous patterned paper.
I chose to layer up four of these circles to create a panel with some extra strength - gluing two from the front and two from the back of the front cover to create a sandwich - but don't do this part yet as you need to decorate it first!
(I wrapped around some lace, then added flowers, leaves, more twine and a sequin to mine).

The 'twine circle' at the top was made using one strand of twine (cut to length and simply untwist).
I used high tack double sided tape to hold the ends of the strands in place, and then simply layered them across each other.

Then glue some bees into place.
(I always layer up my bees by turning the 'cut out' upside down and then drawing around it onto scrap card.  Cut out three or four per bee to add visual interest...

...  and add some extra flowers, sequins and a piece of lace ribbon...

...  a scrap of 'Tell The Bees' paper to go underneath the tiny hole...

...  plenty of foam pads...

...  and mount everything into place on a card that already has a piece of the patterned paper glued on to it.
(I favour 'tatty/distressed' edges - as you can see)!

All done.

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Craft Consortium supplies used:

Tell The Bees
Premium Paper Pad
Linen Cotton Ribbons
Sequins

Santoro - Kori Kumi

Raffia Cord Set
Floral Die Collection

Always & Forever
Resin Flowers - Ivory
Elegant Lace Ribbon - Heart Chain
Adhesive Pearls - 5mm


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As always, thank you so much for stopping by today...
I hope I've given you some useful ideas on how to use your 'Tell The Bees' Collection for yourself.


'Bye for now...


Donna. x

Craft Consortium, Tell The Bees, Quick Card Make Using Ribbon Trims

I'm conscious that not everybody has a whole heap of time to spend on making a card, so today's post shares a quick and simple idea that should be easy to put together.

Guess I should show you the card first!

... In fact, it's so easy that I haven't included any step by step photo's today - but I do have one tip to share with you... 

See that piece of mulberry paper with those soft, fluffy edges?

That was achieved by tearing and then using a 'Pick Tool/Craft Pick/Pokey Tool' to tease around the edges.  (Seriously, just how many names does this little craft item have exactly)?

Here's a few more close up shots...

...  and a list of Craft Consortium supplies used:

Tell The Bees:

Premium Paper Pad

Clear Stamp Set

Linen Cotton Ribbons

Santoro - Kori Kumi:

A6 Embossing Folder - Hearts

Daisy Chain Ribbons

Just in case you want/need it, here's the 'How To' guide...

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Take a piece of Kraft card and cut it slightly smaller than your card base, then score it at the centre going from top to bottom and again from left to right.

Cut a piece of red card to size (A6), emboss it using the hearts folder and then glue into place.

Cut and/or tear a piece of the Tell The Bees Paper Pad to size.  Then, using clear embossing ink followed by white embossing powder,  add three bees from the stamp set near the bottom right corner. 

Glue into place (adding a second layer behind just to reinforce the part that pokes off the edge).

Wrap around a piece of linen ribbon and secure from the back.

Then, add the flower ribbon.

(You should hopefully be able to see that I haven't completely glued this piece down - choosing instead to add some extra dimension by having it loose at one point).

Cut out a bee hive from the Paper Pad packaging, layer it up (turn it upside down, draw around it, cut and glue into place) and put into position.

Do the same with the bees.  (These were cut from one of the many gorgeous Tell The Bees Paper Pads sheets of paper).

Add the mulberry paper that's been stamped on with the honeycomb image.

Glue the whole card front into position...  

...  job done!

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As I said, a quick make.  

But a quick make that still manages to squeeze in some texture and dimension.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy your day...

Donna. x

Craft Consortium. Tell The Bees, Mini Shaker Gift Box

Today is my first post as part of the Craft Consortium Design Team.

Who are they?

This is what they have to say on their 'About Us' blog page...

Craft Consortium is an Award winning, family run, Crafts Manufacturer & Wholesaler; We pride ourselves on delivering innovative, design led product offerings for the Creative Arts, Crafts & Hobbies Industry.

Since our worldwide market launch in 2015, Craft Consortium has quickly established itself as The premium crafting Brand in papercrafts and home décor, with the Craft Business Awards accolade: Winner of ‘Most Innovation Collection 2017’ for our Santoro -Kori Kumi papercraft collection, and nomination for the award ‘Best Papercraft Manufacturer 2017’.

And I get to play with their products and let my imagination run wild.

Little old me!

It's an absolute privilege...  and I'm already having a blast.

But seriously, who wouldn't?

These truly are beautiful product ranges...

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So today's offering is a little shaker bee box...

And yes, it's a little bit of work to put together., but if you've already got a gift box die to hand or a plain box in need of decoration it's really not too much work at all.

Let me show you...

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I made my box using Always & Forever - Non Shedding A4 Glitter Card - Silver. 

Once that was made, it was simply a case of cutting some of the Tell The Bees Premium Paper Pad front and back cover to size.  

(You see, as well as having some gorgeous and 'oh so handy' extra topper elements, these pads also have a pretty design printed on the inside of the covers that is just begging to be used.

And as I hate seeing anything with craft potential go to waste and I love using product packaging this seemed like the perfect option).

Add a die cut circle to what will be the top of the front of your box, glue on an acetate layer to the back (again - mine's cut from scrap packaging) and then build up a frame along the inside edge.  

I chose to use layered up die cut frames (which I cut to size before gluing together), but foam tape can work equally well.

As for the rest of the front of the box?

If you look at the photo you'll notice that I've inked onto a piece of scrap vellum using Stazon Timber Brown along with the honeycomb stamp from the Tell The Bees - Clear Stamp Set. 

I glued this into place - just along the edges so the glue can't be seen - and I also glued down those four Tell The Bees - Sequins that you can see.

Why would I do that?

Because as much as I love shaker cards, tags, etc.  I hate the fact that all the sequins end up hidden in the corners.  Gluing a few into place means that no matter what, they at least will always be seen...  and that makes me happy!

You should hopefully be able to see in this photo that I've distressed all the edges - top and sides - and then added some Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  

Once dry, I've wrapped Always And Forever - Elegant Lace Ribbon - Heart Chain  around the side pieces...  and then I've glued them into place on the box.

As for the top of the box?

Carefully add those loose sequins onto the top of the vellum - keeping well away from the edges.

Pick up your top piece that has the acetate on and glue around the inside edges before very carefully putting into position over the top of the sequins.

Do not pick up the box until completely dry!  Not unless you want your sequins stuck in the corners and all along the edges!

(I placed my die cut plates carefully onto the top to help everything get a firm, tight seal).

And there you have it...  the basis of your box.

Now how you choose to decorate it from here is entirely up to you.

Me?

I cut out bees from the inside front cover and bees from one of the sheets of the paper pad.  

Then, using scrap card I drew around the outlines, cut out and glued and layered them all up.  

I also added some of these...

Santoro - Kori Kumi Resin Flowers And Leaves Set.

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So there you have it.

One little shaker bee box.

There's also 15% off selected Kori Kumi lines...  while stocks last!

So be quick and go take a look.

(Shop link at bottom of page/sidebar).

Wishing you a happy day wherever you may be...

Donna. x