Introducing Inspired By Paper Magazine!

Happy Saturday!

I have an extra special treat for you today.

I am proud to announce that my new magazine, Inspired By Paper, is now out and available to read, and what's more, it's free! Yes, you did read that correctly. Free!

I created the magazine for my final project of my Digital Media Production course at university and I adored creating it, talking to my contributors, putting the magazine together, sourcing the best new products to feature.
As this is a university project, I would love some feedback (don't just tell me it's good, tell me what you like about it and what you don't). It'd be good to have some quotes to put into my report. I don't submit until the end of April so any feedback will be used to improve the magazine so it is the best it can be for submission!

Here is the link, so grab a cuppa, put your feet up, have a read and be Inspired By Paper!

https://indd.adobe.com/view/2ff83ecb-192c-49ac-9dbd-1ebebdb7f86f

Thanks for stopping by and thank you in advance for the feedback!

Emily xx

How To Deco Mache A Desk Tidy!

Hi all,

In today's blog I'm going to show you how to turn a plain kraft desk tidy into a pretty sparkly place to store your pens and pencils.

Here's a link to the desk tidy I bought from Hobbycraft http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/kraft-mache-desk-tidy/568032-1000

Here's how to make it:

1.  Remove the pots from the tray.  They may be stuck down but don’t worry if you tear the paper, it will be covered up anyway.
2. Cover the base tray with deco papers. Start across the middle and do each end afterwards.
3. Paint the inside of each pen pot with acrylic paint.
4. Once dry, cover the pots with different deco papers.
5. When the glue is dry, trim the excess paper from the pots.
6. Add washi tape around the top of each pot. An opaque, thick tape is better for this as it stands up by itself and won’t bend around the rim of the pot, achieving a much neater finish.
7.   Stick the pots into the tray and fill with your favourite crafty tools! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Craft Consortium Kori Kumi 3D Hexagon Box

Hi all,

A new project to share using the Santoro Kori Kumi collection from Craft Consortium.

I love decorating boxes so I was super excited when I saw the decoupage papers in this collection. I used them to decorate a box from The Works. 

I have learnt recently that it is no hardship to get out a screwdriver and remove the fixings from the box first and then put them back once the box is completely dry. 

As you can see, I made the top of the box into a little 3D scene using the wood veneer and some cut up lolly sticks as a little fence. I stuck everything on with hot glue and then added raffia along the top of the fence and pom poms around the bottom of the wooden elements and stuck in some of the heart pins for good measure. The sides of the box looked a bit plain in comparison so to finish I die cut some flowers. 

Now, while I've GRABBED your ATTENTION.....!

Please fill out this short survey about papercraft magazines for my uni project. Yep, I'm making a papercraft magazine, because let's face it, there's not that much on the market that's exciting and innovative! https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3PSXYFR

Thanks for stopping by! And an extra 'thank you so much!' for filling out the survey. 

Emily xx

Craft Consortium Kori Kumi Frame Box

Hi all,

A box to share today using the Santoro Kori Kumi collection from Craft Consortium.

As you may know I love decorating boxes and I was in The Works and I saw this one and I thought the frame would look cool with some 3D decoupage inside. 

It didn't take me long at all to decorate the box with the decoupage papers.. they cover really nicely and I love how they're opaque. 

I added in the decoupage and then finished off with some die cut flowers. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Emily xx

Tutorial Tuesday - Shabby Chic Heart Frame by The Works

Hi all,

I was kindly sent some products to blog about from The Works.
I have a new video to share today showing how I decorated this frame - I feel like decoupage can be intimidating when faced with a bare object and a pack of paper so here I show you how easy it is to make a beautiful home decor piece like this.

Stay tuned as I have a few more makes to share soon featuring more products from The Works.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xxx

Decopatched Star Boxes

Hi all,

I finally finished off some star shaped boxes so I'm going to share them today.
They are from the Bare Basics range, decorated with Papier Patch deco sheets, all from Docrafts.

I'm glad I finished these as I got to use up the last few stickers on sheets that had been sitting in my sticker box for a While..

The first one is the larger one, it's decorated with apothecary print paper which I painted with pale pink Distress Paint once the sheets had dried so the black of the paper wasn't as harsh. I then added Madame Payraud stickers and an accordion flower.

The star boxes are hard to decopatch because of their awkward shape.

Here's the second one, the smallest one. They are so easy to decorate because they don't need a lot to look pretty.

I think they would make nice little gift boxes if you put a nice jewellery set in with some pretty tissue paper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Decopatched Star Button Box!

Hi all,

For as long as I can remember, my mum has been keeping her buttons in either an old sandwich box or a takeaway box.

And I did have a set of three star shaped boxes from Docrafts...

So I decorated the largest one and it's now full of buttons!

It took a full pack of Docrafts Papier Patch papers to decorate the box with it being a funny shape and all but the end result is so pretty!

I finished it off with some decoupage from an older Docrafts collection (Sew Lovely) that had been sitting in my stash for a Long Time.. and then some painted wooden embellishments from the new Bare Basics range.

I trimmed the lid with Craft Collection Pastels trim. I love trims with little bobbles on.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Decopatched Drawers!

Hi all,

Some decopatching to share using Docrafts Bare Basics and Papier Patch.

I covered a drawer set in nature themed deco papers and then finished off with some little knobs I found on a clearance hardware shop on eBay. Without them I don't think the drawers would want to come out, plus they are a lovely finishing touch.
It took a full pack of deco papers but well worth it.

Until next time...!

Emily xx

A Sneak Peak at the new Santoro's Gorjuss collection!

Hi all
I am lucky enough to have been sent some of the new Santoro's Gorjuss products by Docrafts.
I've had a play around, scroll down to see what I made!

The range has a lovely cosy wintery feel, with tweed and tartan patterns. 

Here's what I made. 

I wanted to make use of the decoupage papers I'd been sent - I've always wanted to have a go at upcycling - so I covered a plain 8x8" scrapbook:

And in Manchester I picked up a little wooden frame and some glitter. I painted the frame with several coats of silver metallic acrylic paint, added decoupage paper, then finished it off with stripes of glitter and ribbon. I replace the glass with Gorjuss decoupage - a frame doesn't just have to be used for photographs!

And finally, a scrapbook page. I've dithered over this for days. What pictures to use. I am severely lacking in winter photos - most family ones involve people either asleep or washing up...

But I can always rely on the beautiful city of Chester to provide me with winter scrapbook layout salvation.

On this layout I've also use Bare Basics and Denim Blue products - they really complement the Gorjuss range.

Thanks for stopping by!