Thursday, February 28, 2013

Our Final Day to 'Polka' Together

 

It's our final challenge day here at The Twinery.

If you've been checking out our new bi-weekly challenge,
you will have been inspired to create using our baker's twine
with the theme of POLKA DOTS.

You've seen them in every size & in varying forms
and today, our final two designers share their take
when they think 'dots'.

First up is the uber-fabulous Kathy Skou


What a fun card!
You can read all about how she made it by visiting
her blog at My Happy Place.


Next up, is designer Stacy Rodriguez


Cameras are so on-trend in the paper crafting world
and this fabulous paper combined with our Charcoal twine
is 'spot' on  ; )
Check out Stacy's blog over at Rodriguez Designs.

You have until MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT to play
along with us and we sure would love to have you.
There are TERRIFIC PRIZES up for grabs!

Get all the details on the challenge & where to link
by clicking HERE

Thanks so much for coming by today!

 

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

More Polka Dots...

 
If you've been to our blog recently, you know that we've been creating very "polka-dotty" things for our new monthly theme challenge!

This month's theme: Let's Polka...Dot!


We hope you come over and play along! 

There are already SO MANY incredible polka dot themed projects from our readers and fans that have been submitted...and can we just say - you guys are AMAZING!

All you need is baker's twine and a polka dot inspired idea and you're good to go! 

Head over HERE to see how you can enter a project for our theme challenge and WIN prizes! 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We have a few adorable polka dot inspired projects from our Design Team to share with you today...


Amy Crockett created this adorable "Splish Splash" card using three types of polka dotted paper - and it's so cute! 

You can visit Amy's blog HERE for more inspiration and amazing ideas!


And we know that Project Life is so hot right now...and our Design Team member Kellie Winnell shows how she incorporated some twine circles (or "dots") on her page!







We hope you come join us in our "Let's Polka...Dot" challenge! 



Tuesday, February 26, 2013

DIY Tie Enclosure Envelopes

 
Today, we're going to show you how easy it is to use colorful baker's twine to create your own tie enclosure envelopes!


This is such a great way to spruce up an envelope to match the already-fabulous card you're sending to a friend!

With just a few tools and a few easy steps...you'll be on your way with some fabulous DIY tie enclosure envelopes.

First, you'll need to gather some supplies. Below, we give a list of the supplies you'll need and a little explanation of why you need each item...


You'll need:

Envelopes - any size will work! We fell in love with the long, slender look of the size #10 envelopes. We used #10 open end envelopes from Paper Source.

Hole Punch & Eyelet Setter - We used the Crop-o-Dile Big Bite because it's an "all-in-one" tool, but if you have a simple hole punch and eyelet setter, you can definitely adapt the tutorial to use those tools as well. You can also use the regular Crop-o-Dile if your 'reach' isn't more than an inch or so. We don't want this to come across as an "ad or promotion" for NEEDING the Crop-o-Dile Big Bite...it's an investment, we know, but it's a handy little tool that you'll find yourself reaching to use more than you'll know! 

Eyelets - we used the 3/16" size for this project, but any size will work! You can find fun shapes and sizes at almost any craft store or  online. 

Baker's Twine - you know where to find that, right? HERE

Scissors - you'll need them to trim the twine

Card Stock these will be used to create the enclosure base (or shapes for the tie enclosure). Choose colorful hues of card stock...or even paint swatch cards from your local hardware store! They work well and they are sturdy/thick. Just be sure you don't use flimsy paper...you'll want something sturdy for the twine to wrap around.

Hand Paper Punches - these will also be used to create the enclosure base. We took colorful card stock and used some of our favorite hand punches from The Martha Stewart Crafts line - check out these HERE - to create the circle and heart base for the enclosure. Any punch will work as long as it produces a shape of about 1 inch or larger. If you have a die cut machine...that works, too! 


Now you're all ready to get started!


1. Create your shapes with the card stock and paper punches. Choose the desired placement...see our image for placement reference.

**For easier work-ability, you can use a eensy-teensy dab a glue to adhere the shapes to your envelope if you would like. And when we say eensy-teensy dab...we're serious! If you use too much glue, it'll adhere the entire piece and you won't be able to wrap the twine around the shape. 

2. Mark the center of your shapes...this is where you will punch the hole and set the eyelets. 

3 and 4. Use your hole punch or Crop-o-Dile to punch the holes on both shapes on the envelope. Setting the hole and eyelets on the flap is easy, but when you'll need to actually insert the hole punch 'inside' the envelope (see image below) to punch the hole and set the eyelet...


...if not, you'll end up with a hole on the front of the envelope and that won't look pretty! 


5. Cut about an 8-9 inch piece of twine and then lift the shape on the top flap of the envelope to place the twine under it (you'll need to see the twine in the hole...that will ensure that when you set the eyelet, it also "grabs" the twine to hold it in place (see image 5 above). 

6. Insert the eyelet into the hole

7. Set the eyelet on the top flap

8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the bottom shape (you only need twine on the top flap). When you're done...it should look like image 8 above. 

Now you're ready to wrap the enclosure...

Using a "figure eight" wrapping techinque...wrap the twine around the enclosure shapes...and that's it! 


It may seem daunting at first...but once you try it once, you'll realize how incredibly easy it is...and you'll be making DIY Tie Enclosure envelopes in seconds!

Give it a whirl! 

We hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Be sure you also visit our blog post about our new theme blog challenge: "Let's Polka...Dot!"


Click HERE to see how you can enter to win fabulous prizes and join in our new theme blog challenge!




Monday, February 25, 2013

Winter Thanks



Jessica here popping in today to share some cards 
that I made for the new The Twinery's challenge. 

This month it's all about Polka Dots!


I pulled out some of my favorite stamps and whipped up a few winter themed thank you cards - perfect for all the Christmas and birthday gifts we've gotten here at my house the past couple of months.  My family's birthdays all fall from November to February!


I used a couple of my favorite twines on my cards - it's hard for me NOT to use them on my projects because they are so handy and 'homespun!'  My go-to twines lately have been my beloved Flax and Gold Shimmer twines... both of them are perfect neutrals for most of my projects.


More information about the Polka Dot challenge can be found right HERE.

I hope you get a chance to play along with us! 
Jessica

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Hello, Polka Dots!

  
 Hello Everyone! 


 This month, we introduced a new theme challenge here on our blog. Each month, we'll have two themes and we'd love for you to play along. It'll be a fun way to create new things based on the themes we have chosen plus...you'll have the chance to win some pretty awesome prizes along the way!

Our first challenge theme is: POLKA DOTS

     
We hope you'll join in and play along with us! 

Click HERE to see how you can participate.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We created a simple and fun card for the Polka Dot Challenge, too! We hope you like it. 


We created twine wrapped paper circles as our play on "dots" - and they are super easy to make


We'll show you how to create one, too!

   
Supplies Needed:

Hello Card - download HERE  (A2 Card size...choose between black or gray)

Three 1 3/4" colorful circles (we chose card stock to match our Caribbean, Pink Sorbet and Honeydew twine). We used this punch.

Three 1 3/8 white card stock circles. We used this punch.

Baker's twine - you can find that here, of course

A2 Envelope - we used a fushia A2 envelope from Paper Source

Adhesive and 3D glue dots


How to create the card:

1. Download, print, cut and score the card. 

2. Place colorful circles on the card...the placement is up to you! Secure with adhesive.

3. Wrap twine randomly around the smaller white circles. Don't wrap the twine too tight, or else the paper circle will 'bow' and not lay flat. Use a dab of adhesive to secure the twine on the back of the circle. 

4. Place the twine wrapped circles on the colorful ones. Use 3D glue dots to make them pop just a bit



That's it...easy peasy. 

We hope you enjoy making a few of these cards, too

And...we'd love to see you create something for our "Let's Polka...Dot" challenge as well! 

      

 

Friday, February 22, 2013

Beautiful Illusion with Baker's Twine


 
Hey everyone! Today I am sharing a card that I made for The Twinery's new monthly challenge!  I am so excited about participating in these each month!  The first theme is Let's Polka Dot and I have a lot of dots on my card, lol!  I started by stamping the dotted images in various colors on the rectangle stitched mat by Lil' Inker Designs.  Then, I took matching twine from The Twinery (Peapod, Mandarin, & Marigold), wrapped it around the end of a pen three times and tied it.  Then, I used a glue pen to adhere the twine swirls to my card.
 
 
The twine adds a fun little spin to the polka dot theme...literally!  It is really simple to do too.  To finish the card off, I tied a piece of Midnight Blue twine to the sentiment panel.

I hope you'll consider playing along. Each month there will be two different challenges posted AND PRIZES!! Whoo hoo!!  
To play along, just click HERE
 
Thank you for stopping by today!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Having a 'Play Date' in The Cafe



Welcome to The Twinery!

Julie Ranae here with you again today sharing a great
color challenge inspired by baker's twine from The Twinery.


The Play Date Cafe is an awesome challenge
{and yes...it is near & dear to my own heart ; ) 
full of inspiring ways to create with color.

The Twinery is sponsoring this week's challenge and provided
twine for the team over there to use



These colors were perfect for making a baby card,
which is exactly what I was inspired to do with these great
stamp images from The Craft's Meow.
You can see all the details over on my blog at
Julie's Open Window.


Ashley Bores is also a designer over at
The Play Date Cafe and made these adorable pin
using the color story
AND
the theme from The Twinery's challenge
(see below)  


A few of our teammates here at The Twinery share their
interpretation of these colors too!


I love this!  Created by Kathy Skou, it's a terrific
mini-album & a completely different theme
using the very same colors.


This beautiful card is from Senior Designer
Tifany DeGoughGreat Clean & Simple design
yet so bold & eye-catching.
Clean graphic designs are right on trend! 


Senior Designer Monika Wright shares
her take on the colors and makes them shine!


We hope you will come by
and check out the terrific inspiration & play along.

The 'Cup of the Week' winner will win

 { $30 retail value }


Speaking of challenges, don't forget ...
we have a brand new one here at The Twinery   


You still have plenty of time to play.
For all the details & a link to enter,
visit THIS POST & have fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

      
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...