How to make a Pop up box cards blank. Step by step

Good morning. It's a bit soggy out there today and a rather wet school run done for now. So I'm cosy in my craft room so thought I'd put together a post on making a simple box pop up card as I get asked alot about how I do mine and get them looking so good.
Unfortunately I haven't got the gear to do a proper video tutorial yet so I've done a photo step by step guide using an a4 piece of card stock. So here goes.

So we start with any piece of A4 card stock you have, the thicker the more sturdy the box will be.

In your trimmer portrait style cut the card stock to 6.5" (this will be your base)

Then using the left over piece cut that portrait style again to 1"

Now using the 1" strip pop it in the trimmer and cut 2 pieces at 4 3/4" ( these will make the straps to go inside your box for you to decorate)

Next we move on to the scoring. Now you can use the Fiskars trimmer to score using the black embossing tool or use a specialised embossing board it's up to you.

So we start by placing the card stock in landscape style on the board 

And we are going to score at 2 3/4", 5 1/2", 8 1/4" & at 11"

Now turn to portrait style on your board

And we are scoring at 3 3/4" all the way down.

Now that's your base of the card scored ready to trim and fold in a minute.

Now take the 2 inside straps and place on your board in landscape and we are going to score at 1" and again at 3 3/4" this givesite you the flaps to secure the panels inside the box card and allows it to fold flat.

Next we move to trimming the card. Using the scored lines cut to centre centre line from the shorter side in this createsection the flaps for the main card and leaves the taller section as your main body of the box.

On the thin edge of the card cut a diagonal piece to join the slit you made this create the piece in which secures the box together.

Now we score and fold the sides as below.

Now I've used double sided sticky tape to the thin edge but you could use pva glue or a tape pen if your prefer. I like tape as it's quick and less messy.

Remove the tape cover and pull the left side over and it will adhere the strip to the edge and your main box is ready.

Next we fix the inside straps inside the box again I have used double sided tape to quickly and mess free stick the syrups inside the box.

All finished that is the basic method of making one of these box cards. You can now decorate it as you wish using decorative papers, embellishments etc.

I usually cut 1 x 6", 3 x 3.5" & 3 x 2.5" paper panels to stick on the card.

I hope theverything instructions help you

I love making these box cards and they are always well received.

Thankso for looking.

Crafty Hugs

Tracey 

Xx

Docrafts Demonstrations in March 2018

Good Morning, its a brisk cold morning here in Coventry blue we have sun and blue sky so I'm busy in the craft room today working through orders and sorting out my Demonstration list.

This March I start my journey as a demonstrator for Docrafts which is very exciting. I will be attending The Range Stores in the Midlands area. There is a full list below.

Saturday 3rd March - The Range - Redditch

Sunday 11th March - The Range - Coventry

Sunday 18th March - The Range - Leicester

Sunday 25th March - The Range - Loughborough

Sunday 31st March - The Range - Kidderminster

These demo's run from 10am to 4pm ( Sunday hours may apply) so please check the The Range Stores website for full store details of opening times and car parking facilities.

Docrafts have some amazing new ranges coming out on the 28th February like

Moroccan Blue, Moroccan Haze & Freshly Cut Flowers and theses new collections are just brilliant. I can't wait to start making the samples when it all arrives this week.

Watch this space 

The doorbell has just gone and I've had my starter kit delivered today so I shall be busy playing with that lot too. 

Exciting Times

Plus I have a photo Shoot with Create & Craft Tv on the 16th February for their Club Magazine so that's super exciting too.

Have a crafty day everyone

Hugs

Tracey

xxx

Kanban Crafts Once Upon a Time Launch

Good morning everyone. Hope you all had a lovely weekend. It was a very busy weekas the week with Design Team duties for Kanban Crafts as they havery had 2 big new collections launching within a few days of each other. So what better way to spend your wages than on some gorgeous card stock ;)
Well Saturday's 'Vintage Glamour' was a sell out with 2 shows and it wasn't surprising the Create & Craft TV fans loved the new kit.
Well they and you are going to love this next release. Once Upon a Time launches tomorrow at 9am and another show at 3pm. It's anot amazingly magical kit and I've had great fun crafting the samples and demo's for it. Here is a sneak peek of what I made.

A nice big a5 Easel Card with shaker element

A simple Diamond fold card with tags

A big A4 card using the 12x12" card stock from the launch

This one I have done as a demo for Keith using the upsell item of double sided foI'll card stock

And a Scrapbook layout using the amazing 12x12" card stock. Layered the Princesses, cut flowers from the off cuts and created a pocket to put tickets or special keepsakes.

So why not join Kanban Keith at 9am tomorrow for a fun filled show and be quick I think this is going to fly out the door. 

Create & Craft TV 9am and 3pm

Crafty Hugs

Tracey 

X

Valentine's Day Chocolate gift boxes

Welcome to a lovely wet and cold Sunday  here in Coventry.

I've been working on some gift boxes for my Valentine's Day range to sell and here is what I have created so far.

They are 4"x4" and have a compartment inside to hold 9 foiled heart chocolates.

So far I have these 5 made up ready to go.

We've got these gold metallic boxes with a red & black theme on them.

These 2 are using pink metallic foil card stock and then added with Pink and red embellishments.

This last one is using a rose embossed card stock and I've made into a more floral chic look. 

Loved making these fun little gift boxes.

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Tracey x

Exciting News -

Well it's been a bit of whirlwind adventure over the last few months since I gave up work to focus on my crafting full time.

But my latest bit of news is that I have been accepted as a Craft Demonstrator for Docrafts. 

This will mean popping to the Range stores within the Midlands area showing and demonstrating with their latest releases. This is yet another great opportunity for me to build my skill base and help inspire and encourage more crafters which is something I'm very passionate about from my time with Hobbycraft and loved that side of the job. 

I will post a list of events as I get them confirmed so if anyone is local then you can pop in and catch me crafting.

Here's to a super crafty 2018

Hugs

Tracey 

Designing Samples for Hobbycraft Coventry

Hello and welcome back to my blog. This week I have been  keeping myself busy by making inspiration samples for my local Hobbycraft store here in Coventry.
I have worked with Simon and his team for nearly 2 years now making samples for new collections or to promote some of their products.
This week I was given the new seasonal papercraft ranges to create with from Trimcraft & Dovecraft. Here are a few of the samples I have made so far using their Hearts & Crosses and also the Mum in a Million ranges.

Paper Mache Magnet hearts decorated up with the Hearts & Crosses range.

7x5" card blank (£5 for 50 cards) and decorated with the Valentine's range and using a thick satin ribbon

I learnt a new technique for this one and made this 3d Diamond fold card which folds flat. 

A selection of the Mother's day cards I have made using the Mum in a Million ranges.  We've got an easel fold card, an a5 split folding card and a simple 7x5" card with washi tape and layered paper flowers. 

And finally for today I have taken a Paper Mache Heart box which I've covered with 180gsm card stock from the store, added pale aqua satin ribbon, coordinating washi tape from the collection Mum in a Million. Then I've made a topper for the lid to match. This would make a lovely gift box or keepsake for any mum.

All these samples will be on display and shown on the stores Twitter page over the coming weeks.

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Tracey x

Inspiration Sample Sunday

Good morning and welcome to my blog today.

This week I have anot interview with Create & Craft TV and I am busy making some samples of my work to take with me.

Here are a couple I have created this weekend.

Rock star Card

This one is very simple as in its lots of layers of matching card stock and embossing wet and dry techniques.

Floral Vine for a Friend Card

This card is made using a Stamp called Floral VINE and is made by Woodware Crafts distributed via Creative Expressions.

I have used Wow Embossing powders to create the topper and border on the card blank. The flowers have been coloured using Polychromo pencils.

I'm now back to desk to create some more ideas.

Happy Crafting on this lovely Sunday morning 

Hugs

Tracey x

Cute woodland animals stamp set

Good afternoon and welcome to my blog again.

Today I have been  creating using a stamp set bargain I picked up from the Making Cards Magazine  the set of super cute woodland animals was just £1 from their website. 

Great for Christmas cards as well as Wintery scene cards like this one I have made today.

Why not pop over and check out the other fabulous bargains and free papers and toppers on their website. 

Welcome to 2018 of Crafty fun

Hugs

Tracey x

2018 is going to be full of craftyness

Good morning and welcome to 2018 here at Unicorn Crafts Handmade Cards and Gifts.

I am officially back in the craft room and office and have lots of fantastic news for you coming up over the next few weeks which is full of craftyness.

I'm busy working on samples and demo's at the moment for an interview next week so that's super exciting with Create and Craft Tv .

Craft, craft and more craft. I promise to keep up this blog too now so here goes.

Thankso for reading.
Hugs
Tracey
X

February a month of new beginnings & lots of crafting

Hello and welcome to February already, where did January go?

I've been busy making new stock for the shops we stock cards in this week, and I have been making more of these cards as they are a firm favourite in all sorts of colours. Green is one of my favourites

It's a gorgeous Honey doo Crafts stamp and has been coloured using Promarker Pens.

I'm currently building my freelance demonstrator portfolio and looking at other design teams for the future maybe one day I might even get on the Tv hey you never know :) 

Well enjoy the rest of the evening wherever you are in the world

Hugs

Tracey 

xx

Welcome to 2017 Happy crafty New Year

I've been a bit busy with working for Hobbycraft over the last few months making samples and display items as well as working for them in store too.
But 2017 see's the started of new year with lots of great opportunities for Unicorn Crafts.
Firstly I have had an article published in the Making Cards Magazine this month using a Kanban Crafts kit and ribbons from Truly Inspired Crafts.

Then we have my work for Kanban CRAFTS as another huge kit is due for release worldwide next week. Which is under top secret control at the moment so I will share some snippets when I can.

We are really looking forward to a fantastic Crafty 2017 and look forward to seeing you all over the next year.
Big hugs
Tracey
Xxx

Red, White and Blue theme over at Glitter n Sparkle Challenge blog

Good morning and welcome to this week's challenge over at Glitter n Sparkle

Our theme this week is

Red, White and Blue

and I was lucky enough to get a lovely image by

Lacy Sunshine

Called Blossom Mermaid

I have used some matching themed papers from Hobbycraft and it's just priced at £1.00 a pack.

I have added some ribbons and a sentiment from do Crafts. 

Wishing everyone a very happy 4th July and we look forward to seeing you over at the Glitter n Sparkle Challenge blog

Throw back Thursday

Good morning, I feel like a throw back Thursday session today and here are a few of my older projects and cards I have made.

Here we have a gift set that I made for a new born baby back in 2014

Paper roses used to create a pram. The card is made using a Lili of the Valley rubber stamp and coloured with promarkers.

Next we have a cute porcelain watering can that I paper pieced to make it look more ornamental.

And finally some new home cards which I sell on my Etsy shop made using a Woodware Crafts Stamp and coloured using Promarkers.

I am off to work on some Kanban Design Team work now before I am back at the Hobbycraft Store in Coventry tomorrow.

Happy Voting day 

Hugs

Tracey xxx

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog week of Anything Goes

Good morning. It's been a funny few weeks with no Glitter n Sparkle images to use and starting my new job.

Well I'm back this week with a gorgeous image by Aurora wings called Diamond and here is my finished card. I decided to keep this on very simple as the image it's self is so lovely.

I have used promarkers to colour this image and used a blender pen to take colour out and create shadow effects.

I do hope you can join us over at the Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog and join the theme and be in with a chance to win some amazing crafty goodies.
Crafty Hugs
Tracey
Xx

Crafty weekend

Good afternoon,  I have an unusual weekend off from Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog duties as my image to use never arrived in time.
So instead I have been having a play with my new products I have bought from my local Hobbycraft store and a few online stores.
I shall share some photos before I head off to work tomorrow :)
Have a a great crafty Saturday.
Hugs
Tracey x

Ikes Art Sponsor over at Glitter N Sparkle's Week 190 Flower Power Theme

Good Morning and welcome to Week 190 over at the Glitter N Sparkle Challenge Blog

This weeks challenge is all about 

Flower Power

and my Sponsor for the week is Ikes Art

here is the card that I have created

I went for a slightly different card blank style this time and it's a dl shape that opens on the short side

I have used off cuts for this card which is a great way to be thrifty when crafting.

I stretched the floral digital image to give a longer look to the flowers.

I coloured them using Promarkers

Marsh Green - Buds

Cocoa - Branches

Pale pink & Aniseed for the petals

I wanted to keep it simple and added a floral ribbon from Meiflower Crafts and then stamped flowers down the right hand side.

If you would like to join in the fun then pop over to the Glitter N Sparkle Challenge Blog and have a go and maybe you will be lucky and get some great new digital images from our sponsors.

Crafty Hugs

Tracey

xxxx

Glitter N Sparkle - Week 189 - Anything Goes week - The Stamping Boutique Sponsor

Wow, another week  is almost over and this weeks Glitter N Sparkle Challenge is one of our most popular themes and is 

Anything Goes week

One of this weeks sponsors is the fabulous The Stamping Boutique and I was very lucky to get to choose from their amazing selection of digi's

I chose:

Audrey the Equestrian

I thought it was such a  fun image to work with and would work really well on a larger card size.

Here is what I came up with

I have coloured this image in using Promarkers:

Horse: Cinnamon & Burnt Sienna

Tail & Mane: Sandstone & Praline

Saddle & Bridal : Henna

Blanket: Grey Green

Skin : Blush, Saffron & Pastel Pink

Hair: Burnt Sienna

Jumps: Lipstick Red

Rider's t-shirt : Cardinal Red

Grass: Pear Green & Marsh Green

I made a large 8" x 8" card blank from a sheet of A3 card stock, next I used a Stampin Up Stamp set which included the apple and used memento ink to stamp the apple border on the card blank. I also stamped and extra 2 on a scrap piece of card to use as embellishments.

I have matted and layered the image with coordinating papers and card stock colours.

The final pieces were to add the apples and then the sentiment which is a Woodware Crafts Stamp set called Make a Wish.

I love these fun cartoon like digital images, if you would like to win some of these great images or soem from our other sponsors then pop over to Glitter N Sparkle Challenge Blog and add your entry using the linky.

Have a great Sunday

Tracey

xxx