Christmas Planner Tutorial & Printables!

Welcome to our Free mini tutorial on making a re-usable Christmas Planner! With Christmas so close it may be great to get you organised or maybe something you can create as presents or for yourself for next year! (This was a tutorial I wrote a few years ago, so you will notice some of the dates on my photos are out!)

For this project you will need:

- 2x 6"x6" pieces of Chipboard (we have these precut and pre punched chipboard covers you could use but note they are only 5.75" square so slightly smaller than my example and you will need to adjust the sizes of the pages slightly from my suggestions below).
- 2x 1" book rings (you can also use 2" depending on how big you expect your planner to get!)
- Christmas Papers
- 1 sheet of 12"x12" Acetate (or several smaller pieces!)
- Letter Stickers (I used mostly ones that came in my collection kit)
- Plain white Card
- Printer
- Hole Punch (I used my cropadile)
- Optional Ribbon & Embellishments

Here is my example created using left overs from my last years Christmas paper collection. You can use any Christmas papers you may have in your collection (my papers were Echo Park) or we have a whole Christmas section in the shop here.



Step 1: Cover your Chipboard with your chosen papers (I was using part sheets so my front and back covers are different!).

Step 2: Trim your acetate down to size. You need at least 4 6"x5 1/2" pieces. I had printed acetate so used this. You can use plain acetate or create your own pattern acetate by stamping Christmas images onto it using acrylic paints. Your pages will be 6" high and 5 1/2" wide.

Step 3: Create tabs for each of your acetate pages by cutting a small piece of paper to approx 1 1/2" x 1 1/2". Fold in half and round the corners. Then attach to either side of your acetate piece. Repeat for each page but line up your tabs one below the other.



Step 4: Now punch your holes in the covers and acetate pages. I punched mine at 1 3/4 " from the top and bottom and 1/2" in from the side.

Step 5: Now you can decorate your acetate pages. I kept mine simple and just made a title block for the middle of each page. You will need a 'Gift List', 'Card List', 'Menu' and 'Shopping List' title. Also add a word to each of your side tabs so that you can easily jump to a section of your planner.

Step 6: Create or buy a small envelope. Mine measures 5" x 5". Punch holes so that the envelope is central in the book and add a 'Receipts' title block to it.

Step 7: Now you can print your inserts. I would recommend printing on some light card (I have used a plain white cardstock pack from Wilkinson!).

The following printables are PDFs and are sized to fit this album.

Click hereto go to the website and print the FREE printables!

Step 8: Trim down your printed elemants so that you have 1/2" on the right hand side of each table and 7/8" on the left hand side. This will ensure that your pages will fit perfectly behind each acetate page divider. (also make sure the height of each page is no more than 6"!) You only need 1 each of the calendar pages but you can print off as many of each of the others as you need.

Step 9: Now add your pages to your album using your book rings. You can choose the order you want your pages to go but for an idea mine is:

Calendar Pages
To Do List
Gift List Acetate divider
Gift list Pages
Card List Acetete divider
Card List Pages
Shopping List Acetate Divider
Shopping List Pages
Menu Divider
Menu Pages
Receipt Envelope



Step 10: Finally decorate the front of your planner. I simply took some card and layered it up with a snowman sticker and some alphas. I stuck this down with a piece of ribbon threaded through the middle so that I can tie my book closed and added some ribbons to my book rings.

By using acetate as your divider pages this will make your planner more durable as you will be likely to be turning pages quite a lot, if you used paper/card they would be more likely to rip.

Using book rings ensures that you will be able to put in more pages as you need them and for future years all you need to do is print more of the pages and you can use the planner all over again!

I really hope that you have enjoyed this tutorial and that the planner and our printables are of use to you. If you make a planner we would love to see, feel free to share on our Facebook page or leave a link in a comment here.

Maybe this planner is not your style? Then watch out for later in the week when we will be having another mini tutorial on a different re-usable style planner with no need for hole punches, chipboard or book rings!!

Until then, happy crafting,
Maxine

Please note: this tutorial and printables has been created by me (originally for Truly Madly Crafty, now for Creative Hobby Supplies) for your personal use only. Please DO NOT copy or reproduce this tutorial without prior permission. But please do feel free to link to this tutorial from your blog or social media if you think other people will find it of use. Thanks!

Pretty Glitter Baubles

So with Christmas fast approaching have you made yourself any decorations yet? This little project is easy and fun and you can create yourself some pretty decorations or maybe make some as gifts.

You will need:

- Plastic baubles - We have round and teardrop shaped.

(you could also make these with our Polystyrene balls)

- Mod Podge Glue

- Fine Glitter

- Paint Brush

- Ribbon (I suggest a 9/10mm wide ribbon)

- Gems/Pearls

This technique is very similar to glittering glasses, you can see our tutorial for that here.

Start by covering each half of the plastic baubles with the Mod Podge glue and then sprinkling with a layer of fine glitter. Make sure that you do not get the glue/glitter on the edges of the bauble where the 2 halves join together or this will make it hard to get a perfect join. You can easily clear up any stray glue with a cotton bud.

Leave to dry.

Once dry cover with another layer of Mod Podge and glitter. Again leave to dry.

You can leave it at just 2 layers or if you want another layer then repeat the above step. If you are happy with your glitter coverage then simply pop on one more layer of Mod Podge and leave to dry. This last layer of Mod Podge will seal in the glitter so that it will not come off on your hands.

Place the 2 halves together and string some ribbon/twine through the 2 holes at the top and you have a lovely glittered bauble! 

If you want to create a snowflake on the side like I did then using a glue with a fine tipped nib, place dots of glue onto the bauble in a snowflake pattern and place your gems/pearls onto the glue. Leave to dry and you have a pretty snowflake glittered bauble! You could also do other patterns on the side for example an initial.

Now you can fill your bauble with sweets, chocolate or a little gift and give as a gift or enjoy on your tree for years to come!

Happy glittering,

Maxine

Multi Loop Seed Bead Earrings

Hey everyone, hope you are all enjoying this heat here in the UK! Here is a little tutorial for a lovely pair of seed beads earrings. These are some of my favourite I have made. Lovely and light and can be made in a huge array of colour combos to suit your outfit!

You will need:

-         Seed Beads

-         Ear Wires

-         Jump Rings

-         Crimp Beads

-         Beading Wire

-         Bead Mat (optional)

-         Pliers – Cutters and flat nosed

Cut yourself 6 pieces of beading wire at approx 15cm lengths – 3 for each earring.

Put 3 strands through a crimp bead and then thread the ends back through the crimp to create a small loop. Flatten the crimp bead, trim off any excess wire and add a jump ring to the loop.

Now start threading on your seed beads to one of the wires. This will be your longest loop. I found it easiest to thread the seed beads directly onto the wire from my bead mat without picking them up, just poke the thread through the holes. I added 90 seed beads to my first wire. Add a piece of tape to the end to stop the beads coming off while you do the next 2.

On the next strand add 70 beads and the last add 50.

Now pull the beads up so they are level with each other at the end and thread through a crimp bead as before. Make sure the wire is pulled tight and there are no gaps and the loop is the same size as the first. Then crimp your bead and trim off any excess wire.

Now thread the loop onto the jump ring that is attached to the first loop and add your ear wire.

Repeat for your 2^nd earring.

If you make some earrings I would love to see. Feel free to share a link here or on our Facebook page. 

Happy Crafting ~ Maxine 

How to Glitter Glasses with Creative Hobby Supplies

Glittering glasses has become hugely popular recently and Creative Hobby Supplies now has the supplies for you to be able to have a go at this craft yourself at home!

You will need:

- A Glass 
- Superfine Glitter (we have a range of different colours available in the shop)
- Glue - Mod Podge
- Paint Brush or sponge
- Tape - optional
- A small pot
- Scrap Paper for working on

1. Tape above or underneath the area you are going to be glittering (optional).

2. Pour a small amount of Mod Podge Glue into a small pot.

3. Take your paintbrush or sponge and paint the Mod Podge onto the area you are going to be glittering.

4. Sprinkle the glitter onto the glued area of the glass (over the scrap paper so that you can tip the excess glitter back into the pot!).

5. When the whole area is covered in glitter, tap the glass to remove the excess glitter and then leave the glass to dry.

6. Once the first layer has dried you can repeat the above steps to add more layers of glitter to your glass.


7. Once you are happy with the amount of glitter on the glass (my example used 2 layers of glitter) and you have once again left it to dry finish off with one last coat of Mod Podge. This will seal in the glitter and stop it from coming off on your hands when using.

8. I have found that these glasses can take a gentle wash of water after using but DO NOT put in the dish washer or scrub the glittered area!

9. If you wish to glitter the top of the glass it is best to leave a gap around the top of the glass. This is so that your lips do not touch the glittered area and get irritated when using. If you are simple glittering for display purposes only then you can glitter the whole glass!

10. You can now glitter a whole range of glasses! 

I hope you have fun glittering glasses! They make great gifts or display pieces.

Happy glittering,

Maxine

Card Making Demonstration

I'm super excited to let you know that we are going to be having a (free) Card Making demonstration in our shop :)

If you are local to Trowbridge, Wiltshire then please do come and join us! 

Saturday 29th March 2014

10am - 4pm

A fab designer from docrafts will be joining us to share with you lots of projects, tips and techniques using the new products from docrafts!

I really can't wait :)

So what are the new products from docrafts you ask?

These 3 new collections - Gorjuss, Bellisima and Oyster Blush include papers, stickers, decoupage, stamps, ribbon, kits, trims, embellishments and more!

And if you are stuck on what to get then we have a fab Goody Bag that contains a selection of all the collections at a fantastic price of £15, which is over 50% off the RRP!!

And if that wasn't enough there is also a magazine that as well as containing free gifts has stacks of inspiration and projects using the new products!

If you are unable to join us on Saturday or you live too far away then you can still check out all these fab products on our website, just click on the pictures to be taken to them!

Happy Crafting :)

Lots of new goodies!

Lots has been happening at Creative Hobby Supplies this year. We have oodles of new supplies in stock and I have been juggling the stock to try and make room for it all! Today I am going to share with you some of our new stock from Crafter's Companion.

Spectrum Noir Pens

Have you come across these pens yet? 

They are professional high quality alcohol pens which give fantastic results when used on stamped images.

You can visit the Spectrum Noir website for loads of tips, tutorials and techniques for using these pens - http://www.spectrumnoir.com/

Spectrum Noir pens are alcohol ink based markers which have been designed specifically for crafters, but these affordable markers are also great for beginners, students and hobby artists alike. Each pen is double-ended, with a broad chisel nib for large area fills and a fine bullet tip for detailed work.

• Achieve effortless blending and colour matching.

• Alcohol baseds ink for perfect results.

• Acid-free and non-toxic.

• Two nibs in one pen.

• Each pack colour co-ordinates perfectly.

Each pack contains six colour-themed Spectrum Noir Marker Pens in blendable shades, so from a single set of pens you will always have colours which are perfectly co-ordinated and work together. Spectrum Noir marker pens are available in 168 colour shades including a colourless blender. The colours blend seamlessly, and can be mixed or layered over each other. For stunning results use with Neenah Classic Crest Card, this is perfect for use with alcohol based pens.

These fast drying, alcohol based markers are acid-free and non-toxic, and the coloured ends of the pen allow for easy colour identification. The image colour has been reproduced as accurately as possible.

These Spectrum Noir Makers have an ergonomic hexagonal barrel which has been designed for greater comfort when colouring. Each of these markers also has a unique non-slip rubberised grip.

You must check out the Spectrum Noir website to see the amazing results that can be achieved with these pens.

Also from Crafter's Companion we have received in some lovely stamp sets. These stamps can be used with the Spectrum Noir pens to give some beautiful results.

Party Paws Stamps

These are super cute images of Bamboo the panda and would make cards suitable for many occasions.

Check out these amazing examples created by the Crafter's Companion Design Team:

We also have a few other stamps from the Bebunni and Makey Bakey Mice ranges, plus EZ Mount for mounting these stamps and Neenah card for stamping onto. All our Crafter's Companion products can be found on our website here. 

Happy stamping and colouring!
Maxine