Woven paper basket

Hello everyone! Once again I'm trying out something new for myself for a change....something I've never done before but have always been intrigued to try for a long time now. I've seen photos of people posting about weaving paper baskets from old newspapers/old magazines in Facebook numerous times over the years. And each and every time I see them in my Facebook newsfeed, I would be telling myself that this is something that I want to do someday. I guess that day finally came and I am glad I did it!

I searched and searched for video tutorials on YouTube to learn how to make the simplest woven paper baskets that I could do for the first time. And I finally found one that I initially thought was simple to do. Little did I know that it was not as easy as it seems! Haha! 

Rolling the papers one by one and weaving them was really time consuming and tiring too. I didn't have a lot of time in my hands to spend making this paper basket. I only did it whenever I have some short breaks from work. Instead of watching TV or doing other things to relax, I was weaving the basket! Haha! Whatever makes me happy! 😆😆😆.

I found out that there are a few ways of weaving paper baskets, and it's all up to your preference to try out which method that you like best. I was actually looking for a method to weave paper baskets that looks like baskets made from Rattan or Rotan in Malay. Since I found some that did have the similarities, I just had to try it!! I don't have old newspapers at home, but I do have a lot of old A4 papers to recycle and they were just perfect for this little project. I needed to make some paper baskets for me to use to organize some of my craft supplies in them and arrange them nicely on the racks in my craft room. It's a great way to recycle old papers and turn them into useful and practical items. Now there is no reason for wasting anymore papers at home.

One of the methods of weaving the paper basket is by making a base for the basket first before I can start doing the weaving. I thought that was a really brilliant idea because then I would have a really flat and even surface for the base. Although you could use any type of paper to wrap the thick board (I used an old drawing block board) for the base, I immediately thought of this wooden pattern sheet that I bought from MR.DIY a year ago. It has adhesive underneath the sheet so you can peel it off like a sticker and paste it on the board easily. The sheet is easy to clean when it gets dusty, so it's perfect for my paper basket project! Love it! 💗💗💗 

Check out the photos of the weaving process below 👇👇👇

Weaving was fun but rolling the papers was not. I needed a LOT of rolled papers in order to weave a big basket like this one. So it felt like forever to finish this big piece! HAHA! I guess I didn't have enough patience to do it as I was too excited to see the finish product. Furthermore, I didn't have enough time to spare anyways. I would probably do this again when I have some free time but I won't use the same method though as there are many other interesting methods to try out.

Painting the basket with acrylic bronze paint was really fun as it makes it look like a rattan basket. It also gives the basket a fancier look and hopefully will last longer since it's been treated with paint. I simply love the look although the basket is looking a little crooked because of my weaving method hahahaha. Hopefully I'll weave it better next time! 

Sweet pink and blue card in a box birthday card

HB139

Second card design in August! Woohoo! Excited about that since I only managed to make just one in July! LOL! Been busy with other projects, I hardly have the time to make cards like I used to back in the days. It seems that making quilling kits is more in demand nowadays and preparing them do take a LOT of my time. I also have other work to do that keeps me away from the craft table. However I do hope to have more time to spend on designing cards if possible this month. I also have to make a few birthday cards for birthdays that's coming up soon. Gosh....there's just so many things to do and so little time. 

This card was requested by someone who ordered the tri-shutter card that I made in July. I was supposed to get this one done at the same time but I was just too busy at the time to do it. Luckily for me that I got me a very understanding client. She gave me all the time that I needed to get it done. 

You know it's not that easy to get new ideas for handmade cards sometimes. You get stuck halfway through and start staring at it, hoping for a miracle to happen. But sometimes the ideas just flows like water. Well in this case.....I got stuck in the beginning and later on it just flows non stop. I haven't been making any card in a box for quite sometime....I did however made lots of them last year. They can be pretty challenging sometimes to create as there are so many sides to decorate on them. And they all have to match and harmonize. 

I did however get a lot of help making this card by using die-cuts that I bought some time ago. So I don't have to spend too much time cutting everything by hand or make them myself from scratch. All I had to do was to just figure out how to match them altogether in one card. Find the same colour combinations and matching theme and then BAM!! It's done! You just have to know what fits where and enhance them to make them look fancy with the sticker and bling blings.  But I did however do a little hand lettering to write the name of the birthday girl and her birth-date as per request. 

Do check out the video of the card design below and see how the card opens and closes. Thank you so much for watching :).

Pop up 3 layers birthday cake card

HB138

First card for August! It just so happens that on the 1st of August, my Mom and I celebrated a dear old friend's birthday. So for that I made a card for the birthday girl who turned 62 this year. I still can't believe she's 62! Wow! Feeling a little old myself right now! We're 20 years apart! Known her since I was in kindergarten. Always thought that she was the prettiest school teacher at the school where my Mom and Dad taught in.

Anyways...back to the card design hahaha....as always, I would be rushing like a mad woman trying to get the card done on time as I was extremely busy at the time with orders. In the midst of figuring out what to do....I realised that she has never received a pop up card from me before. So, I thought, it would be a good idea for her to get one from me this time around. The fastest and easiest pop up for me to do when I have very little time is that pop up 3 layers or tiers birthday cake I bought from MR. DIY two years ago. I bought quite a few of them so that I can use in times when I am in a hurry haha! I love that the cake comes with numbers that we can use to show how old the person is. It's a diy pop up cake...you would have to assemble it yourself. Luckily for me since I know how to assemble that type of pop up, it was easy peasy for me to do.

Usually it would take me about 5 to 6 times to write Happy Birthday with the calligraphy pen before I can get it right. I was surprised I only did it once this time and was happy with it! LUCKY ME!! Saved my ink! LOL!!!

Do check out the video below and see how the card pops up!! Thank you!!