First go at Craft Roulette

A couple of my Aussie virtual crafting friends post weekly their "Craft Roulette" projects and I can tell they're excited by it. This week I thought to myself lets go see what the fuss is all about and went and searched in YouTube and there's lots of episodes so I watched the one with Cathy Zielske whom I love as a crafter and I thought wow this is a really cool idea and different than my card challenges. For non-patreon entrants we have a 48 hour window to submit. I off course decide to do it on a day I have about 2 hours spare and then I'm away for 2 days.

But wow I did it I watched the show its kicks off 1130am Saturday morning in NZ, before it starts they show everyone's cards/projects from last week which I think is really cool.

The show starts off with an introduction to the guest designer, today's episode had Christopher Allen; founder of Brutus Munroe. Then about 10 minutes of highlights from last week's episode then they spin the wheel and then the 2 of them make the project. I only had time to see the spin and scribble down the parameters. Which were:

• Project : small bag
• Element : wheel
• Colours: Rainbow
• Random : Shimmer

At this stage I had scribbled on my scrap of paper: reveal wheel card, bikes, Ferris wheel, wheelbarrow but as I was wondering to my craft room I thought ohhhhh Santa carrying a bag of toys, looked through all my Christmas stamps but alas no Santa with a Santa sack :( At thiss tage thinking OMG I may have to try again next week and then I had a lightbulb moment I thought I can make a bagalope, what is a bagalope - it is a bag you make out of an envelope. One of the stamp sets I had grabbed out actually had a handbag on it and a wheel too. 

I love I can search my blog and find projects of many years ago. So big drum roll all the way returning to 2009 HERE is my bagalope project from then I had blogged and it is so cute! The blog post also links to the blog of Cambria Turnbow with step-by-step instructions on how to do it. I also blogged multiple times in 2008 "bag-a-lope" projects.  Here's my bagalope / bag-a-lope in 2023; it's amazing what is tucked away in your brain for 14 years but arises to the surface so I can make a bag project for Craft Roulette, with some tissue paper and "fake gift card" to go.

I have scored my sealed envelope at 5/8" on 3 sides. Definitely use your bone folder to work the score lines both way if you want to fold it into a bag easily. I used a stencil in sort of rainbow order to add rainbow colours plus a scrap of rainbow DSP. Bags and wheel are on the stamped image, which I have coloured up with my Zig markers very quickly. A sparkly gem plus some Nuvo shimmer pen to give me all 4 elements, easy peasy, all done in less than 1 hour it might have taken me longer to clean up the craftastrophe I made!

Supply List:
Stamps: On to Adventure (SU!)

Ink: Jet Black (LF), Versafine Clair Nocturne

Distress Oxides: Saltwater Taffy, Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, Shaded Lilac

Paper: Lavinia multifarious, Granny Apple Green (SU!), Sunshine & Rainbows DSP (SU!), C6 envelope

Dies: Layering circle framelits (SU!)

Zig Real Color Brush markers: Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Dark Pink, Yellow Green, Light Grey, Blender

Punches: Large tag (SU!)

Other: Repeat Rainbow stencil (TE), Hugs and Kisses gem stickers (HB), Nuvo glitter gloss pen, white gel pen, blending brushes (TE)

Well after typing that supply list I can see why my Craft room looked a mess as I also had out a few other stamp sets, which are on another table not snapped.

And the Craft Roulette parameters should you want to join in too:

I really enjoyed making a project/card with 4 parameters - it really helps focus you. I also liked that it's good to just go with the flow and KReate. So if you can't join in this week do have a go another time.

✿ Karen ✿

Cambria's cool bagalope basket

this is the one of the projects I demoed at a workshop recently totally cased from the very clever Cambria

I've always thought that Bag-a-lopes are such a cool idea - take one envelope - stamp or wheel it, score it, fold it & finally embellish it, really quick & a perfect wee gift bag in less than 15 minutes.

Stampin' Up! envelopes are prefect for the job, smooth (so perfect for stamping), white inside & good quality & you get 40 for $12.95!


Stamp set: A Good Egg
Paper: Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Whisper White, Spring Fling DSP (retired)
Ink: Basic gray, Pretty in Pink
Other: Whisper white envelope, large tab punch, scallop circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana markers, white Signo gel pen, word window punch

Now say ohhhhhhhhhh after me isn't this just the mostest! So thanks Cambria for an awesome project.

Easter Treat Part 2

Well it was card class tonight and my friend Julie was the only attendee :-(

As it was her first time maybe that was a good thing, we managed to make the acetate triangle box filled up with Cadbury mini eggs this time, a bag-a-lope for Easter using Bunny Hugs which is in the current Summer Mini catalogue and as she had a birthday tomorrow we made a buckle card using the incredibly versatile Bud Basics stamp set which my friend & SU! demo Anabel Welch taught me to make last week (only alteration in our card is we changed from Tempting Turquoise to Pixie Pink as I didn't have a TT ink pad).

Cardstock & inks for the projects:
Happy birthday buckle card: Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Chocolate Chip
My bag-a-lope: Barely Banana, Pretty In Pink, Creamy Caramel
Julie's bag-a-lope: Apricot Appeal, Lavender Lace

You can probably see the Easter eggs in Julie's bag-a-lope example better than mine.

Lavender Lace Bag-a-Lope

Monday night was my first training of my downline - yes I have recruits & a downline now (thank you SU! & SAB) who made it all too unresistable.

So a big welcome to the SU! family for Tracey, Clare & Donna.

One of the great things about this company is that the person who signed you up theoretically is responsible for their recruit's training & guidance. So hopefully I can inspire just a wee bit and share my love of paper crafting with the girls; if so that will be awesome.

So after a run down on the demo website on the PC; especially where to find templates, patterns etc. We were allowed to play. I had thought I'd do a re-run of the bag-a-lope technique & copied the concept I'd done for Jax's birthday treats as I had embossed the flower & thought yah we can cover 2-techniques in one session here!

I think it was a successful night for the Braeburn Paperkrafters as pretty much anything went & lots of creativity occurred.

This was my original concept but the troops final projects slightly resembled mine (most were better I have to say) - go team!!

Finally a reason to be creative

Wow since returning from my wee holiday to Whangamata I've been busy preparing for the Auckland Extravaganza next week - have I stamped & cut (& still not quite there yet but close). I didn't know that stamping was an exercise until now, but let me assure you I've sweated for you plus my shoulder & right thumb aches.

So I was delighted that my friend Jackie was free yesterday to join me for afternoon tea. She celebrated her birthday whilst I was away so this gave me a chance to play with stamps & bake (another passion of mine). As I'd missed the real event I just wanted a wee decorative container/bag to put in a few movie tickets (talk about a hoot she actually gave me a "boring" envelope with two in too as my Chrissie pressie at the same time).

In class last year I'd learnt to make a bag-a-lope - a decorative bag made out of a plain white envelope & completely forgot how to do it. So I Googled the term - I love Google!! It's so easy can't believe I could have forgotten how - so as I'm so kind to you I have made a bag-a-lope tutorial

Inspiration was taken from the original bag-a-lope I learnt to make using the Petals stampin' around wheel & Polka Dots & Paisley both of which were in our Spring Mini Catalogue & a lovely card my fantastic upline Jacque gave us all at Christmas - she used two of the FREE sets that are available as part of Sale-A-Bration at the moment - Friendship Blooms and Lots of Thoughts.

So I still used the same wheel for the background with Certainly Celery ink. Embossed the largest flower on Pretty in Pink cardstock with white & then added the highlights as "per Jacque" with my white Signo gel pen (the bestest & whitest - says me who has a few other models that are hopeless - yes one learns through one's mistakes). Crystal Effects & clear microbeads added to centre of flower to add pizazz - all cut out & mounted on Whisper White with the flourish from Friendship Blooms stamped randomly in the background. Then mounted on Bashful blue.

I made a little flap for the top & used the Cheers to You & It's Your Special Day sayings from Lots of Thoughts & then stamped a wee flower from the Friendship Blooms set again. A bit of pink grosgrain ribbon, a few dimensionals & all done. Much prettier than a "boring envelope" & so easy.

And by the way the Upside Down Blueberry & Apricot Cake wasn't bad either. Cheers for now :-)