A Creative Journey: April 2017

Spring and Summer in our family means lots of birthdays and trying to find something small to add to that already perfect gift can be challenging. While I was out at one of my local scrapbook stores I came across some Mini Mason Jars from Tim Holtz's Idea-ology line. This trigger my mind to think it would be cool to decorate the outside of the jars with a few dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs. So, by combining a variety of dies from Els van de Burgt Studio, Joset Designs and ModaScrap I was able to decorate the outside of the jars, add some treats to them and make them the perfect addition to that already perfect gift. Grab a cup of your favourite beverage and read below as I've created a tutorial for each jar for you so that you can recreate them at home.

Let's start by creating the Girl version of the Happy Birthday Jar.

To start, die cut two of the 3/8" Stitched Fishtail Banners out of patterned paper. Die cut two of the 3/4" Stitched Fishtail Banners out of patterned paper. Cut the two 3/8" stitched fishtail patterned paper banners to 3 3/4". Cut the other two 3/4" stitched fishtail patterned paper banners to 4 1/4". Once the banners have been cut, use an edge distressor and distress the edges of the patterned paper banners. Once the edges have been distressed, ink the edges of the patterned paper banners pieces using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.

Using the Small Cupcake Die, die cut the cupcake top, the heart and heart on a stick out of Super Stock Cardstock. Die cut the bottom portion of the cupcake out of patterned paper. Blend Vintage Photo Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the top portion of the cupcake. Blend Worn Lipstick Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the heart and heart on a stick. Using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam, ink the edges of the cut out patterned paper bottom portion of the cupcake.

From the Small Cupcake die, die cut the cupcake top part and cherry out of Super Stock Cardstock. Die cut the bottom portion of the cupcake out of patterned paper. Blend Vintage Photo Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the top portion of the cupcake. Blend Worn Lipstick Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the cherry. Using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam, ink the edges of the cut out patterned paper bottom portion of the cupcake.

Using the Dotted Scallop Circles, die cut the 2 1/8" dotted scallop circle out of patterned paper. Using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam, ink the edges of the dotted scallop circle.

Using the Stitched Circles, die cut the 1 3/4" stitched circle out of patterned paper.

From the Dreamcatcher die, die cut the middle portion of the dreamcatcher out of Super Stock cardstock.

You'll need to get a doily out of your collection.

Now it's time to start to create the band to decorate your jar.

To start, adhere one of the small banners to the large banner. Adhere the second small banner to the large banner. When lining to the two banners up, make sure the stitching is showing on the left and right sides of the banner.

Adhere the patterned paper dotted scallop circle to the doily. Adhere the doily to where the two banners meet.

To assemble your first cupcake, adhere the bottom portion to the top portion. With the top and bottom portion of the cupcakes adhered, there is a mark at the top of the cupcake, use a knife cut to cut a slit so that you can stick your heart stick in. Once the heart stick has been placed at the top of your cupcake, adhere the single heart to the middle of the bottom portion of the cupcake.

Foam square the cupcake to the middle of the patterned paper dotted scallop circle.

With your band now complete, add a couple of glue dots to the back of the band where the doily sits and adhere to the middle front of the jar. Now wrap the band around and adhere together at the back of the jar.

To decorate the top of the jar, adhere the 1 3/4" stitched circle to the lid. Adhere the inside portion of the dreamcatcher to the middle of the stitched circle.

To assemble the second cupcake, adhere the bottom portion to the top portion. Adhere the cherry to the top of the cupcake. Score 1/8" at the bottom of the cupcake and fold up.

Place adhesive at the bottom of the cupcake were you've folded. Adhere the cupcake to the middle of the dreamcatcher middle. If your cupcake flops forward, cut a piece of cardstock about 1" long and 1/2" wide. Score the piece of cardstock at the top and bottom and fold the score areas to make a "z". Apply adhesive to the top and bottom of the "z" and adhere behind the cupcake.

Using the Stitched Fishtail Banners Die, cut the small banner out of Super Stock Cardstock. Once the banner has been cut, flip the banner die to the non pennant side and cut out the other side to create the banner pennant on that side. To finish the banner, apply Jet Black Archival Ink to the 'Happy Birthday" sentiment stamp. Stamp the sentiment in the middle of the banner. Ink the edges of the banner using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending with foam.

Here are some closeup shots of the Girls Happy Birthday Treat Jar.

Here's the finished version of the Girls Happy Birthday Treat Jar.

Now, let's create the Boy version of the Happy Birthday Treat Jar.

To start, die cut two of the 3/8" Stitched Fishtail Banners out of patterned paper. Die cut two of the 3/4" Stitched Fishtail Banners out of patterned paper. Cut the two 3/8" stitched fishtail patterned paper banners to 3 3/4". Cut the other two 3/4" stitched fishtail patterned paper banners to 4 1/4". Once the banners have been cut, use an edge distressor and distress the edges of the patterned paper banners. Once the edges have been distressed, ink the edges of the patterned paper banners pieces using Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.

Using the Small Cupcake Die, die cut the cupcake top part and the banner on a stick out of Super Stock Cardstock. Die cut the bottom portion of the cupcake out of patterned paper. Blend Vintage Photo Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the top portion of the cupcake. Blend Shabby Shutters Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the banner on a stick. Using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam, ink the edges of the cut out patterned paper bottom portion of the cupcake.

From the Small Cupcake die, die cut the cupcake top part and candle out of Super Stock Cardstock. Die cut the bottom portion of the cupcake out of patterned paper. Blend Vintage Photo Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the top portion of the cupcake. Blend Shabby Shutters Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire bottom surface of the candle. Using the Squeezed Lemonade Distress crayon, cover the top portion of the candle with the crayon. Using your finger, rub the wax the crayon in. Using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam, ink the edges of the cut out patterned paper bottom portion of the cupcake.

From the Feathers die, die cut the small and large feathers out of Super Stock cardstock. Blend Hickory Smoke Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the small feather. Blend Black Soot Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of the large feather. To give the feathers some extra dimension, score down the middle of each feather and fold the sides up.

Using the Stitched Circles die, die cut the 1 3/4" stitched circle out of Super Stock Cardstock. Ink the edges of the stitched circle using Black Soot Distress Ink and a Blending Tool with Foam.

Using the Stitched Circles die, die cut the 1 1/4" stitched circle out of patterned paper. Ink the edges of the stitched circle using Black Soot Distress Ink and a Blending Tool with Foam.

Using the Stitched Fishtail Banners, die cut the 3/4" stitched fishtail banner twice out of patterned paper. Trim each banner down to 2 3/4". Ink the edges of each stitched fishtail banner using Black Soot Distress Ink and a Blending Tool with Foam.

Now it's time to start to create the band to decorate your jar.

To start, adhere one of the 3/8" banners to the 3/4" banner. Adhere the second 3/8" banner to the 3/4" banner. When lining to the two banners up, make sure the stitching is showing on the left and right sides of the banner.

Adhere the two feathers together. Adhere the feathers to where the two banners meet.

Adhere the two 3/4" patterned paper banners to the white stitched circle creating a ribbon.

Foam square the ribbon to the feathers.

To assemble your first cupcake, adhere the bottom portion to the top portion. With the top and bottom portion of the cupcakes adhered, there is mark at the top of the cupcake, use a knife to cut a slit so that you can stick your banner stick in.

Foam square the cupcake to the middle of the white stitched circle.

With your band now complete, add a couple of glue dots to the back of the band where the feathers sit and adhere to the middle front of the jar. Now wrap the band around and adhere together at the back of the jar.

To decorate the top of the jar, adhere the 1 3/4" patterned paper stitched circle to the lid. Adhere the 1 1/4" patterned paper stitched circle to the 1 3/4" patterned paper stitched on the lid.

To assemble the second cupcake, adhere the bottom portion to the top portion. Adhere the candle to the top of the cupcake. Score 1/8" at the bottom of the cupcake and fold up.

Here are some closeup shots of the Boys Happy Birthday Treat Jar.

Here's the finished version of the Boys Happy Birthday Treat Jar.

Here are the finished versions of both the Boys and Girls Happy Birthday Treat Jars.

Thanks for joining me today! I hope that I've inspired you to re-create one or both of my Happy Birthday Treat Jars!

Elizabeth Craft Designs Products Used:

- Dreamcatcher

- Feathers

- Small Cupcake

- Stitched Circles

- Dotted Scallop Circles

- Stitched Fishtail Banners

- General Sentiments Clear Stamp

- Clear Double Sided Adhesive - 6mm

Other Products Used:

- Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Mini Mason Jars

- Bo Bunny: Life In Colour - Eclectic, Nature and Discovery and Butterfly Kisses - Petals and Springtime

- Tim Holtz for Ranger Ink: Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Black Soot, Shabby Shutters, Worn Lipstick and Hickory Smoke, Distress Crayons - Squeezed Lemonade and Blending Tool/Foam

- Ranger Ink: Jet Black Archival Ink

- Creative Scrapbooker/Cathie Allan: Super Stock

- Katelyn

Happy Saturday! Have you ever needed a small box that looks pretty for something special for that friend or loved one of yours? Well, I've got the perfect project for you today, that features the Lantern Box Die from ModaScrap which creates a beautiful little box. I have a tutorial below for you so that you can recreate my pretty Thinking of You Lantern Box at home.

To start, you'll need to die cut the Lantern Box die twice out of floral patterned paper.

Once the two lantern box pieces have been die cut, assemble your box using clear double sided adhesive in 3mm.

To finish in behind the flower cut outs on the box, cut four pieces of purple woodgrain patterned paper that measures 1 1/2" x 1 1/4".

Adhere the purple woodgrain patterned paper pieces behind the flower cut outs.

Using the Stitched Fishtail Banners, die cut the smallest banner out of Super Stock cardstock. Once the banner has been cut out, trim the banner down to 2". With the banner cut down, apply Jet Black Archival Ink to the "Thinking of You" sentiment. Stamp the sentiment onto the banner. Using a blending tool with foam and Black Soot Distress Ink, ink the edges of the banner.

From the Dancing Butterflies die, die cut the small butterfly out of Super Stock cardstock. Blend Milled Lavender Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire butterfly.

Using the Leafy Branch 2 die, die cut two branches out of Super Stock cardstock. Blend Shabby Shutters Distress Ink with a blending tool and foam over the entire surface of each branch. You'll need to cut the majority of the stem of the branch off, leaving about 1/2" of the stem.

Now it's time to decorate your box.

Adhere the branches on the top right hand side of the box, making sure one of the branches sits off to the right slightly.

Fold the wings on the butterfly slightly up and adhere the butterfly to the right hand side of the Thinking of You banner. Adhere the Thinking of You banner to the leafy branches.