craftzy_adm – Page 3

Scrapbook Blog Design

What was behind my idea of site re-design?

I thought of bringing fresh life to my blog and since I moved to Wu Wei, a WordPress theme that allows me to upload my own blog backgrounds, What the Heck! I can make my own backgrounds! So, I started messing around with free patterned backgrounds but I found that most of them were unreadable between the font colors that the WordPress template offered and the patterns/colors I selected. Then it struck me that I needed to make a background with two areas- a white/cream colored center area which would be under the blog text and a patterned outer area that would not be below the blog text.

How did I create the background for this blog?

A chance search for “blog backgrounds” in Google led me to some brilliant sites offering great wallpapers and backgrounds for free. I started first with www.shabbyblogs.com but I couldn’t use their backgrounds on my free WordPress blog. I saw this background there which made me decide that I wanted something similar- trees, a woodland theme perhaps and maybe some owls ‘cos I craft mostly at night!

From there, jumping from one link to another led me to this gem of a site – www.Kevinandamanda.com ! I followed Amanda’s step-by-step tutorial to make my blog back ground. It was such a well-written, easy to follow template that I could follow it even with my basic Photoshop abilities! I think I will create a similar background for my Twitter page and as desktop wallpaper at home to sort of tie the whole thing together.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements

Papers, ribbons, stitches and buttons: from www.Kevinandamanda.com

How can you make this look your own?

I’m not a designer and I can hardly claim to be an expert but I thought I’d make some more backgrounds just for fun.

I made more blog backgrounds using the same tutorial. Do download them and share them with your friends too…Do let me know in the comments which one is your favorite and also leave links to your blogs – so that I can see these backgrounds if you use them.

The first background I made is this Teal and Red one- just right in warmth and coolness- I’ve put teal buttons on the side.

The second background is Red and Green…I know its too early for Christmas, but who said you can’t have a red and green background in August! This one has ribbons and buttery yellow buttons for style!

Origami Box-Tutorial

Wanna make simple Origami boxes with lids? Here’s how you can-

Stuff you’ll need:

A pair of Scissors( the smaller the better)
Glue ( Fevicol or any other white glue is good)
Square Sheets of Paper( I use two different colours)
Patience

NOTE: Keep some extra paper to use for decorating the box lids and to make a flat lining for the boxes.

How to make the boxes:

NOTE: Instructions are to make the lid, repeat steps with smaller paper to make the base.

Collect your stuff and settle down at a table- use a flat surface for folding paper…I use a plastic chopping board…
Step 1-Gather your stuff
Fold the four corners of the square paper to the center.Crease.Open.This is fold #1.
Step 2 Fold corners to centre
Fold each corner to Fold #1 opposite it. Crease.Open. This is fold #2.

Step 3 Fold corner to opposite fold#1

Fold corner to nearest fold#2. This is fold #3.

Step 4 Fold corner to nearest fold#2

Cut four slits around two opposite corners( hope the pic explains it!)

Step 5 Cut four slits- two on each side of Opposite Corners

Fold inwards on Fold#1 crease line. Repeat for opposite side.

Lift the folded sides till they are vertical along fold#2.

Join two opposite sides by holding them together as shown.

From one side, tuck the loose flap in.

On both sides, tuck the flap in and flatten it till the points meet in the center of the box.

Great!! Repeat this with a slightly larger square if you want to make a lid for the box (or a slightly smaller square to make a base for the box)

Your finished box should look something like this. Decorate it to your heart’s content- sequins/paint/thread/paper cutouts/ stones/ ribbon/block print on it- whatever you want!! This box is adaptable to any number of looks- you can make it formal as I have or make it casual by using magazine/newspaper pages.

Hope this tutorial is useful!

Cell Phone Charms Two

I made this cell phone charm for myself recently just cos I was bored with my phone and needed a charm that wasn’t too noisy and didn’t squash in the side of my face when I use my phone.

I found an awesome blue crystal bead ( half of a pair of earrings I used to have- I seem to have lost the other half). I added some small white beads and a turquoise blue tube bead- also from another orphaned earring. I took the lariat or charm holder cord from a free charm I received from Vodafone at some college event (Yes I hound stuff like that….but who doesn’t?).

My colleague saw my charm and asked for one for herself..I had a nature theme in mind and was inspired by two more orphaned earrings- one with a brown tube bead and the other a light green crystal bead. I added two tiny white beads for balance so that the brown and green combo didn’t seem too “tree-like”. I gave this charm to her today and she has already put it on her phone!!

Do you like them?