Artistic Matchboxes

for gifting or decor

Hi and welcome! Want to make a fun little (literally) project? Let’s take a utilitarian matchbox and make it into a pretty and functional matchbox worthy of giving with your favorite candle.

To begin, you will need small commercial matchboxes.

  • Remove the cover and cut it so it lies flat, but avoid damaging the strikers. Measure the length and width. Add 1/4″ to the length for overlap when assembling.
  • Cut-off and save the strikers.
  • Cut the box cover to the size you measured in the first step. The new Harmonious Hodgepodge paper makes a beautiful cover. If using other paper, 90# is good. Too thin and the paper may warp like my yellow rose box did in the photo above.
  • Score your cover where it will be folded to make crisper folds.
  • If stamping directly onto the cover, do it now. Or, if you are stamping your image to be die-cut, stamp that now. Use the postage stamp images from the new Travel & Postage stamp set. Stamp with an ink appropriate for your coloring medium. I used black hybrid ink.
  • Color your image as desired. I tried different mediums: alcohol markers, watercolor, and colored pencils.
  • Adhere your colored image to your box cover. Add embellishments such as die-cut rope or chain from Borders & Trims. Glue the strikers to the sides of the cover.
  • It’s a fun surprise to stamp a sentiment or decoration to the inside bottom of the box.
  • Last, use glue or tape to adhere the box ends overlapping the 1/4″ flap.
with watercolor
also with watercolor
Copic Markers

There are so many fun things to do with these! Make them as hostess gift to accompany a candle, stamp the host’s name on them, or make some representing their hobby. Or, remove the matches and insert a message or gift. Endless possibilities.

Thanks so much for reading along. Questions?

Happy crafting,

Di, a little bird crafts

The products used are listed. You will get a 10% discount if you use my links and I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you https://ecraftdesigns.com/ALITTLEBIRD28

  • Misc Supplies
  • Matchboxes
  • Black ink
  • Alcohol markers or
  • Caran D’ache Luminance colored pencils
  • Kraft paper (optional rope border)
  • glue or adhesive
Colored with colored pencils on the textured side of Soft Finish Cardstock

Little Birder’s Journal

Have You Ever Counted Birds?

Hi and welcome! I’m Di. This is the first blog that I wrote for Elizabeth Craft Designs as a design team member. Now I can share it here. 

Have you heard of the Great Backyard Bird Count? It is an event where people all over the world count and record birds. It’s hosted by The Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Birds Canada. This year’s count is February 16-19. You can get more informations at https://www.birdcount.org.  I’ve submitted my counts several years and that inspired me to create this small birder’s journal. My observations will include bird location, date, species, and notes. Here’s how I created the journal.

  • Die-cut the large folder from the ATC Special Kit from Neenah Desert Storm paper. 
  • Position the die-cut with the two slits on the left.
  • Use brown ink to stamp “For the Record” on the right side. Score at 3 1/2” from the right side.
  • Turn the folder over. On the back middle section, stamp “Journal” from Honeybee stamps in brown ink. This will become the journal’s cover. Stamp frames from Layered Labels around “Journal”.
  • For the woodpecker, use Reminiscence book 3 paper and Layered Birds dies:
  • Cut a bird body, then an extra black tail using the bird body die (left)
  • Cut one large black wing and the bird’s eyes, beak, and feet from white paper and black paper.
  • For the woodpecker’s red head, cut the jagged breast piece from red paper. It will be used in reverse. Cut with the red side away from the die (photo on right above). Assemble the woodpecker.
  • Cut a cork branch and small leaves from red paper using the Fall Wreath & Owl dies.
  • Turn the file over. The slits should be on your right. Adhere the cork branch and leaves. Add the woodpecker.  
  • Flip the folder over so the  woodpecker is on the back. Fold the side with the slits along the score lines, and adhere creating a pocket. 
  • Use Splatter Page 1864 to cut a bird silhouette from black paper. Attach the bird above the top slit. 
  • Cut & create two vellum envelopes with the Journal File XL 2 envelope die. Leave the top flap open for memorabilia like found bird feathers.
  • Cut 4 of the Journal File XL 2 from tan paper. Score and fold all of them in the middle.
  • On three of the Journal File XLs, use the “Highlights from Today” from the Ink with Journaling Cards set to stamp on the front left and back left with brown ink. 
  • On the fourth Journal File only stamp “Highlights from Today” on the back left.
  • Use the lined stamp (from Ink with Journaling Cards) to stamp on the right front and right back of all four Files.
  • Cut four 1 inch wide pieces of Rustic Winter paper 4 3/4 inches long. Score each lengthwise at 1/2”. 
  • Attach a Rustic Winter strip to the back of the pocket folder with glue. The fold should be at the back. Glue it to the File Folder XL front that wasn’t stamped.
  • Adhere each folder back-to-front with the next folder to create a book.
  •  Use the bird from the Fall Wreath & Owl set to make the dove pair. Cut one gray body and one pink chest.
  • Turn the papers over and cut again to make mirror image doves.
  • Cut a red wreath from Fall Wreath & Owl from the Reminiscence book 3.
  • Adhere the wreath to the front of the File that wasn’t stamped. Attach the lovebirds (a nod to Valentine’s Day).
Embellish with stamped VersaMark ink
Small die details
The paper has a list of birds – perfect!

Thanks so much for reading along with these very long instructions. I’d love to see what you make!

Happy crafting!

Di

Want 10% off your Elizabeth Craft Designs order? Just use links provided. I will also earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Elizabeth Craft Designs Supplies:

Layered Birds #2023 https://collabs.shop/ufivjl

Fall Wreath & Owl #2079 https://collabs.shop/31kmei

Splatter Page 1864 https://collabs.shop/qvus09

Floral Foliage 1 #2087. https://collabs.shop/ajn687

Festive Season stamps #CS327 https://collabs.shop/j0injh

Bloom #CS298 https://collabs.shop/k6gr3h

Ink with Journaling Cards #CS280 https://collabs.shop/y8g1wl

Honeybee #CS300 https://collabs.shop/l6nev3

Layered Labels #CS328 https://collabs.shop/utbskf

All Occasion Sentiments #CS329 https://collabs.shop/plgejx

ATC Special Kit #K016 https://collabs.shop/quheju

Journal File XL 2 #2015 https://collabs.shop/xui7u7

Reminiscence the book 3

Rustic Winter paper #C013 https://collabs.shop/0jk1j4

Soft Finish Card Stock #80 https://collabs.shop/95ccuq

Other Supplies:

Neenah Desert Storm #80 paper

Vellum paper

Cork paper

Distress Oxide gathered twigs

Distress Oxide black soot

VersaMark

Cigar Box to ATC Storage

Using Everyday Elements

Hi and welcome!

Elizabeth Craft Designs fun new ATC Special Kit has inspired me to create many artist trading cards (ATC) that I now need to store. Fortunately, I have an empty cigar box that’s the perfect size (3.75″ length x 3.5″ wide x 5″ depth). There is space for about 35 trading cards – I’ve made 29 ATCs in the last month!

I want the box to be decorated, but still have a hint of its original purpose, so, I left the blue and gold paper strip that came on the box intact. However, I removed the paper from inside the lid and saved the gold lion stamp. You’ll see that again.

To decorate the box, I only used the new Garden Party paper pack, Soft Finish and black cardstock, and Annette Green’s Everyday Elements line of dies. I was inspired by Reana van Haren’s recent video to make a layered mixed media feature on the lid. I stacked and glued two layers of thin cardboard honeycomb die-cuts, adhered the honeycomb to the lid, then applied gesso. Next, texture paste was randomly applied through the honeycomb stencil. When dry, I sanded some areas to soften the look, then applied brown distress stain and wiped it off. Some gold splatter and the “ATC” letters were added and it was topped with the beautiful, detailed, large honeybee. A dusting of Silk Microfine Glitter over the top represents pollen. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show up in the photo.

I used the partial die cutting technique (described in my previous post) to adapt the postage stamp dies to fit the sides of the cigar box. The largest and second largest postage stamp dies were the best fit. I selected and cut areas of the Garden Party paper that had blue flowers. Since I wanted the paper to coordinate with the original blue cigar box paper, I used a blue Copic Marker to add touches of deeper blue around the center of the flowers.

I avoided the flowers in the paper when I cut the owl, flourish, flower stems, and large layered honeybee. I was concerned that flowers on both layers would not be enough contrast. Brown Distess Oxide was added to the die-cut edges and I splattered gold watercolor over most elements. Each little scene was assembled and adhered to my box. I’m really please with the final result!

Do you make ATCs?

Thanks so much for reading along. Do you have any questions? 

Happy crafting,

Di / a little bird crafts

Box front with the owl on a cork branch.    
Back of box.          
Side of box.           
   Side with the lion image originally inside the box                                  

Use the links provided to receive 10% off of your order and I will receive a small commission with no additional cost to you – thank you.

Bee ATCs

Hi! Thanks so much for dropping by.

Have you ever made artist trading cards or ATC’s? Do you know what they are? I first heard about them a few years ago and did a bit of investigation into what they are and what their purpose is. I made a few and swapped a couple times, but since my crafty friends weren’t swapping, my interest dwindled.

However, Elizabeth Craft Designs just came out with a new set, ECD ATC Special Kit. I don’t have it yet, but it has inspired me to revisit the small format. Here’s what I learned about ATCs:

The only “rule” for Artist Trading Cards is that they should be 3.5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide – the same size as sports trading cards and playing cards. Swiss artist M. Vanci Stirnemann initiated ATCs in 1997. Now trading, known as swaps, can be found around the world. Creators use all types of art media as long as their cards can fit into a standard size trading sleeve because many collectors store their cards in sleeves. A trading card that is sold is called an ACEO for “Art Cards, Editions and Originals”, but otherwise it is the same as an ATC.

The back of an ATC will typically include the name of the artist, date created, title of the artwork, artist’s contact details, and series number. (sources: tinteddy.com and strathmoreartist.com)

Knowing those few limitations, I’m joining in on the fun.

Two of the cards before adding the White stamp-die to the back

For the base of my ATCs I used the Elizabeth Craft Designs Postage Stamps Dies. The second largest stamp-shaped die is 2.5 inches wide but about .25 inches too short. So, I used the partial die cutting technique to cut the die on three sides (left photo) then repositioned the die farther down but within the previously cut grooves adding .25″. I cut the die-cut again, cutting the fourth side and making it 3.5 inches long (middle photo). The photo on the right shows the extended length compared to the original die-cut size.

I stamped and embossed yellow 2.25″ x 3.25″ paper with the honeycomb stamp then cut it with the dripping Mason Jar die to create dripping honey. I popped that up onto a black 2.25″ x 3.25″ rectangle, added part of a gold honeycomb die-cut, a small bee, embellished it, and splattered with gold watercolor.

The second of my ATC designs has the honeycomb embossed on black paper and I used a large bee. A bit of flowing honey is “dripping” from the corner by using of a piece of the dripping Mason Jar die again. “Love is Sweet” is heat embossed with white and gold splatters represent pollen over these small cards. So, two fun designs using the same products.

Thanks for reading along. I hope you’re inspired to make some ATCs. Want to trade?

It would be great if you’d leave a message and I’m happy to answer questions.

Happy Crafting!

Di

  • Supplies
  • Postage Stamps dies, Elizabeth Craft Designs #2026
  • Honeybee stamps, Elizabeth Craft Designs #CS300
  • Layered Honeybee, Elizabeth Craft Designs #2024
  • Mason Jar Special, Elizabeth Craft Designs #1862
  • Journal Phrases 1, Elizabeth Craft Designs CS294
  • Mason Jar Special Stamps, Elizabeth Craft Designs CS230
  • Mini alphabet stamp set, hampton art
  • Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter, Elizabeth Craft Designs (on wings)
  • Zing! Clear embossing powder
  • Quickie Glue Pen, Sakura
  • Metallic gold watercolor

Falling Leaves Spinner-Slider

Hello Autumn

Hi. Thanks for dropping in.

I love trees and leaves and I really enjoy using those in my cards. Creating a falling leaves effect seemed like a fun challenge.

1
2
3

I painted red, orange, and yellow watercolor paint onto my media mat and spritzed it with water (first image). Then I pressed watercolor paper onto the paint repeatedly until there was color over most of the paper . It was allowed to dry, then I repeated the process until I had some interesting blends and splotches of color (image 2). As you can see, the process is not pretty. Remember not to mix warm and cool colors or you’ll end up with a muddy brown mess.

I used leaf dies to cut from the most interesting areas of the dry paper. A bit of brown blended along the edges (image 3) helps give the leaves some depth and contrast from the background paper.

I cut the slider from my background paper twice to create two sliding tracks. One was cut shorter using a partial die cutting technique. Then I laid the cut paper over my card base and set-in and glued only the pieces that had been cut out.

I adhered the birdhouse to the card front, then added thick foam tape on the back making sure not to interfere with the sliding elements. The white slides were added and it was adhered to the card base. Then the watercolored leaves were glued to the top of the slides using a small dot of Glitter Glue. While it was drying, I carefully moved the slides within the track to make sure they weren’t glued down.

Once the sliding elements were dry, I added leaves and other details around the birdhouse.

I hope you get the feeling of falling leaves from this card. Is this something that you’ll try? I’d love it if you’d leave a question or comment. Thanks for visiting!

Di

  • Supplies
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs* Floral Foliage 1 SKU #2087
  • ECD* Turkey #1905 (leaves)
  • ECD* Rustic Winter paper #C013
  • ECD* Watercolor Palette #WC01
  • My Favorite Things On the Move Slider
  • My Favorite Things Spin & Slide Discs
  • Waffle Flower Water Media Mat

Halloween Shaker and Slider

Hi and welcome. It’s All Hallows’ Eve. Will you dress up or hand out candy?

Traveling has kept me from posting recently, but I have made some things to share.

I made a few cards among other things. This one was made with a die from Elizabeth Craft Designs’ Halloween Set 1. Although it’s from a Planner Essentials set, the die fits perfectly on an A2 card. The scarecrow is painted with watercolor onto Soft Finish Cardstock. Doesn’t the Halloween themed sequin mix really pop against the black background of this shaker card?

Here Distress Oxide was blended on Soft Finish Cardstock then the slider element was cut out. The witch was made with three layers of black cardstock to strength the broomstick for the slider element. Be sure to keep the sequins out of the witch’s path and blocking the sliding element. Ask me how I know.

This A2 card is essentially like the first card, but without the shaker element. Glue was applied with a fine tip over the spiderweb, then glitter was sprinkled over.

This slimline base was made much like the other, but mica spray was spritzed over the top before adding the graveyard elements. The headstones are two of the same die cuts overlapping. Tiny bits of headstone were cut-off off or altered to help the two pieces look more varied.

These were all a lot of fun to make and I hope they’ve inspired you.

Until next time. Happy crafting!

Di

  • Supplies
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Planner Essentials Halloween Set 1
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Planner Essentials Halloween Set 2
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Planner Essentials Halloween Set 3
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Slimline Adventure Edges (grass)
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Watercolor Palette
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Soft Finish Cardstock
  • Tim Holtz Moon Mask Stencils
  • Distress Oxides: squeezed lemonade, carved pumpkin, candied apple, villainous potion, hickory smoke, and black soot
  • My Favorite Things On the Move Slider Channels Die-namics
  • My Favorite Things Slider Elements
  • Picket Fence Candy Corn Sequin Mix Plus
  • Wendy Vecchis Pearl Mica Spray

The Happy Dapper Snail

Hi. And welcome.

This dapper snail looks like such a cheerful gentleman.

Oh my! Isn’t this snail die the cutest?! It’s just so cheerful that I couldn’t resist (didn’t try) adding it to my shopping cart.

I made three slimline cards using the new Elizabeth Craft Designs Snail die, Florals Minis and Pretty Pastels papers. All have a similar layout, but different color schemes and sentiments.

The snails were edged with a bit of Distress Oxide and a coordinating light, fine tip, water based marker was added within the embossed swirl of the snail’s shell to enhance the detail.

I cut and shaped the mini flowers then added a touch of matching Distress Oxide ink at the tips of the petals. The ferns and leaves add even more interest.

Doesn’t she look like she’s meeting a friend for tea?

I would make my day if you’d leave a comment.

Thanks for dropping by,

Di

  • All listed supplies are from Elizabeth Craft Supplies
  • Snail #2063
  • Florals Mini’s #2044
  • Stitched Indented Rectangle #1697
  • Bugs and Kisses stamps #CS316
  • Pretty Pastels paper #C014
  • Slimline Adventure Edges #1925

Gel Print Journal Page

Hi! Welcome to my page. I made this art journal page for the ECD (Elizabeth Craft Designs) Planners & Journaling June prompt, “pastels”.

I haven’t used my gel plates in a long time and this seemed like a fun project to play with them. To start, I cut paper masks using the ECD Stemmed Flowers dies. Then I applied blue, and a bit of green, acrylic paint to a gel plate with a brayer and placed the flower masks over the paint. The print was pulled with mixed media paper. I like the way that the masks created white silhouettes on the background.

I cut Canson watercolor paper with flowers and leaves from the Florals Mini’s set then painted the blooms purple with watercolors.

Do you ever use your dies in reverse? I didn’t want all of the flower stems to look exactly the same, so, I used one of the stems flipped over. The die on the left (above) is lying face-up while the die-cut on the right is upside down. Since the edges of the upside down die look “rough”, I used a nail file to sand the grain of the paper toward what is now the back. It isn’t perfect, but it really helps to smooth the edges.

After I painted and then glued the flower stems in place, the effect was too busy and none of the flowers stood out. Adding orange dots to the centers of the top flowers helped to create some variety and interest in the top stem of flowers. That also visually separate them from the flowers underneath.

The boxed Journal Phrases are a playful way to add sentiments and helped to ground the flowers so they didn’t look as if they were floating. And, that’s all there is to it.

Thanks for dropping by! I’d enjoy it if you’d leave a comment.

Di

  • Supplies
  • ECD Stemmed Flowers
  • ECD Florals Mini’s
  • Journal Phrases 1
  • ECD Watercolors
  • Canson Watercolor Paper
  • Gel plate
  • Acrylic paint

Beauty and the Bee

Hi. Thanks for dropping by! This art journal page is for the Elizabeth Craft Designs Planners & Journaling May prompt to use a teabag.

The pretty Earthy Girl stamp was inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and stamped onto the opened teabag. Since Distress Ink can be used as watercolor, a water brush was used to blend the ink into the stamped image. More ink was added as needed. I used gel pens in pastel colors for the purple flowers, greenery, and lips. The gel pen was surprisingly vibrant and easy to use on the thin teabag.

I used a black pigma marker to add curls in her hair, outline the eyes, and enhance the eyebrows so the image was more distinct.

The large bee from the Everyday Elements Collection was die cut from vellum, gold glitter paper, and pink Bellarose paper. Aged Ivory was embossed around the wing edges to strengthen and highlight the wings.

The die cut doily was heat embossed with a thick layer of white embossing powder. Then bronze embossing powder was added around the edge and and also melted. Didn’t the white and bronze blending together create an interesting effect?

I used the tab from the teabag as a template and cut a new tab from kraft cardstock. I applied black Copic marker and stamped “Art” on one side and “The Story” on the other side. Then I re-threaded the teabag string through the newly stamped tab.

I pressed a piece of watercolor paper onto diluted Vintage Photo Distress Ink. When dry, I cut it to fit my Square TN Planner. The elements were then arranged and adhered onto the page with double sided tape and Art Glitter Glue.

Thank you so much for reading along. I hope this sparked a new idea for you!

Happy crafting!

Di

  • Supplies
  • Earthy Girl stamp by Elizabeth Craft Designs
  • Layered Honeybee dies by Elizabeth Craft Designs
  • Bellrose Pink Paperback by Elizabeth Craft Designs
  • Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel by Stampendous
  • Versamark Ink
  • Collorelli Gel Pens

Tip: I was surprised and happy to see that a stamped teabag still looks good flipped over and used on the backside. The ability to use an image facing either way opens up some fun options.

A Crate of Watercolor Flowers

Hi and thanks for visiting! This sweet little Mother’s Day project has very few supplies (for a change).

Soooo. Please don’t judge me, but, I save trash.

I try to hide it, but apparently my family knows and occasionally they’ll leave interesting paper, string, or containers for me – things that most people would consider trash. This cute 3″x4″ Vermont Creamery box was definitely not going to see the inside of the trash can at my house. I’ve had it for several years just waiting for the right project and I’m so pleased with the outcome.

I used the Elizabeth Craft Designs Stemmed Flowers set to cut a minimum of 6 of each stem from Canson Watercolor Paper. Each stem needed to be two layers thick for strength to “stand” within the box. I painted the front of half the die cuts and the back of the other half using watercolors. After the paint was dry, I glued the unpainted front and back of matching dies together with Art Glitter Glue. This way the flowers could be alternated with some “backs” and some “fronts” facing the front of the box to alternate the direction and look less repetitive. The flowers are also pretty from any side.

Originally my little cheese box did not have the two slats. I cut the two slat pieces from flat disposable chopsticks that I had (more good trash). They were glued in place with Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue. These were added so flower stems could be added in the middle of the box to fill it.

I glued stems to the front and back of each slat for depth.

A bit of kraft paper grass (more of my stash being re-used) covers the bottom opening. This project is now ready to give to my mother for Mother’s Day.

Thank you so much for visiting. Please leave a comment or ask questions.

Happy crafting,

Di

  • Supplies
  • Elizabeth Craft Designs Stemmed Flowers dies #2027
  • Canson XL 140 lb watercolor paper
  • Watercolor set by Elizabeth Craft Designs
  • Small box or cheese “crate”
  • Art Glitter glue
  • Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue