Monthly Make - Craftwork Cards Wreath

Well the festive ribbon and toppers are safely tucked away for another year and it's time for January's monthly make!

This month I'm making a flower wreath from a Craftwork Cards kit that is currently a members offer on the Create and Craft website at the mo, so if you're a C&C member get your paws on this before it disappears!

In the kit you get enough to make 3 wreaths. Included in the pack you get ribbon, 3 chipboard rings with precut holes and loads of die cut flowers! (Which may come in handy for other projects if you have left overs!)

First of all, pop out a chipboard ring and cut 6 pieces of ribbon, 5 inches in length.

Thread these pieces of ribbon through the pre-punched holes and tie a knot. 

You will notice there are 2 holes closer together. This is the top of your wreath. I used different ribbon to tie in these holes to create a hanger loop, but you can use the ribbon that's provided if you wish. Make sure you have enough loop so you can hang it on a nail or something around the home when it's complete.

Next pop out your die cut flowers and get creative! I used an embossing tool to make the petals stand up a little so it was more 3D. Go crazy! Mix and match colours and make some wild flowers!

Next you'll need to stick your flowers on your wreath. 7 flowers should be a perfect fit but there's no limit! Obviously the less chipboard showing the better.

And there you have it! A gorgeous shabby chic wreath to hang around the home. I made one of these for my mum for her birthday and she has it hanging on a notice board in her kitchen which looks great! They'd also be great valentines/Mother's Day gifts.

If you're not a C&C member or missed out, you can buy the Craftwork Cards 2 piece wreath kit here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Craftwork-Cards-Create-Wreath-Kit-Vintage/dp/B00CMVD6R4

Bowtiful Bows with Fantastic Ribbons

Have you got all that ribbon in the bottom of the box that's too short to do anything with? Or maybe you're like me and have lots of pretty ribbon that's 'too pretty' to stick on the average card. Fear not! The bow maker is here and it's going to save you loads of money in the festive season and make you look well posh. 

This is my Embellishment Attic Bow Maker and beautiful ribbons from fantasticribbons.com !

First! Choose your ribbon. This is difficult especially if you keep a close eye on the http://www.fantasticribbons.com/ website and want to buy everything.. Come on, it can't be just me.. At the moment they have a fantastic bumper pack including my favourite thing of all time WASHI TAPE and a gorgeous bow wreath kit! Ahh! Watch this space, payday it's just about the corner and it's only a matter of time before I treat myself.. again.

Now I have both the bow maker and the big and bowtiful.. You can use one or the other or both! But on this occasion I used the smaller one.

Slide your ribbon into the slot in the bottom..

Decide what width you'd like your bow and put the ribbon across to the right and down the appropriate slot.

Bring the ribbon behind and over to the left slotting it into the slot the same number of slots away from the end as you did the right one.. If you don't get this bit right you'll have a wonky bow with a knot off centre. I know some people have numbered the prongs to avoid confusion.

Now your ribbon is back at the front, take it down the hole so it's at the back again. 

Then bring the ribbon up the back and down the middle slot.

Next unattach your tail that you put in first on the left and tie a knot with the two tail ends.

Make sure this knot is super super tight it is the core of the whole bow! Don't be afraid to use all your strength!

Finally when you're all secure push the bow up and off the bow maker and you're done! 

There's tons of different variations on the dvd that comes with the bow maker that is demoed by the lovely and very talented Steph Weightman and Nancy Watt.

Keep an eye on the Mama Makes and Bakes Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/mamamakesblog or Instagram http://instagram.com/mamamakesandbakes for lots of bow inspiration over the festive period!

The bow maker can be purchased here: http://www.fantasticribbons.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=86 for £15.. Highly recommended from me! You'll never make a bad bow again! 

Grandpa's Birthday Card

I find it really tough to find/make male birthday cards. I just find they're always so generic. My dad doesn't like fishing, football or DIY so.. none of the cards in the stores suit him! Also, when making cards, I sometimes find it tough to make a card not look too girlie.

I was appointed to make a birthday card for Charlie's grandpa Bob, and decided to look through my dies to see what I could whip up. I found a shoe die and decided to get creative!

I put the shoe die through my big shot and decided to work my way around it on the card, finding card stock and papers to match. The papers I used was from an A5 paper pack by Papermania called 'Elegance'.

I covered some card with the papers, and wrapped a matching ribbon around the card, placing a sentiment in the middle of the card, which was also from the Papermania Elegance range, so it matched perfectly.

To go with my shoes, I made a bow tie from some ribbon and some tape. I made a knot in the middle of the ribbon and then folded one side in sticking it with double sided tape, did the same to the opposite side. To neaten it up I folded a smaller separate piece of ribbon over the knot, to give it that bow tie effect.

My die cut shoes looked boring on their own so I decided to loop some waxed cord from my macramé bracelet making through the shoe lace holes. Then, to outline the detail I used a brown pro marker to gently outline the embossed detail.

When I stuck it all together on the card it looked great! Elegant and manly.

Do you have any tips to make cards look more manly? Stay tuned as up next on the calendar is Fathers Day!

Happy Crafting!
Mama x