Followers

Friday 27 July 2012

Friday Show & Tell #4... with Jo

Hi everyone...
Today, I want to share a fantastic technique that is always popular at my demonstrations, and this is how to use your die cutters to create a fantastic shaped edge to your cards!

So to begin, choose your image, stamp and colour - or even use a topper or decoupage - the choice is yours! I have taken the FREE stamp that comes with this month's Creativity magasine... isn't she beautiful?!

Then choose the die for the shape you want the edge of your cards to be. I just love this doorplate nesting die because it flows really nicely and fits perfectly over the edge of my square card!


Cut out the card edge with the die, then stick the chosen image over the top... trim the excess from underneath so that both edges are the same shape.

I stick the two pieces of card together so that it has extra support.

This is what the finished edge will look like.. see below? You can see the join where I have attached my image to the card blank.


Butt up some paper next to the join where card meets card, then blue and trim to size at top and bottom.

Cut the edge slightly wider than the card, then fold back onto the rear of the card, stick down and decorate with a peel off.

Also remember to line the inside part of your card too - the shaped edge will reveal the section underneath, so make sure you add some paper to where it is visible.

Ink up the edges with colours to match your image - I chose yellow and lilac. The take a mini stamp from the same FREE pack of stamps and stamp lightly around the edge with yellow ink. Use a dry baby wipe to ink up the edges.

I hope you get some enjoyment out of playing with your dies, and come up with some wonderful shaped cards... if you do, remember to post your entries here so we can come and view your cards too!!!

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Celebrity Guest Blogger Wednesday........


........This week we have the wonderful Kim Reygate joinging us as our Celebrity Guest Blogger
How long have you been crafting? - I have always loved sewing,
knitting, crochet, tapestry and patchwork but didn't get into
cardmaking until 1995. I met Maggie Wright at a craft show in London 
who introduced me to Rubber Stamping, and the rest, as they say, is 
history. My goodness it sure doesn't seem like 17 years ago!! 

How did you start crafting? - My Grandma and Auntie taught me all my
needlecrafting skills but I thought that to be Creative you had to be
able to draw like my Mum, something that I definitely can't do.
Stamping allows me that creativity. 

What is your favorite product line? - I love all things stamping and
heat embossing and there are just too many wonderful companies out
there whose products I get to play with on a regular basis to narrow it
down to one specific thing. 

What do you watch/listen to when you're creating? - I have to have the
TV on when I am working and I am addicted to American Dramas in
particular things like CSI, Bones, NCIS and Criminal Minds. In fact
there are just too many to list. My sky box is always full lol.

What do you snack on while crafting? - There is always a cup of coffee
on the go but I try not to snack too much, all this card making is
playing havoc with my waistline anyway. Well that and getting older :O) 

Any paper crafting pet peeves? - I do hate having to tidy up in 
between projects but apart from that I can't think of anything, 
although I am sure that there will be something I think of as soon as 
this goes live. 

Share your favorite tip/trick with the readers. - Never be afraid to 
play. At the end of the day it is just a little bit of ink, paper and 
time. 

What is your favorite color combination to use on your cards? - I love 
Black and white and pale blue or pink with brown, but I don't think 
that I have a real favourite that I use all of the time. Most of the 
time it depends on what stamps I am using or who the card is being made 
for. Thats why I like the challenges, they make me try out new things. 
 
Do you distress everything, not at all or somewhere in between? - i 
couldn't be without my Distress ink pads, but i think I'm somewhere in 
between when it comes to real distressing. 
 
What is your favorite tool in your scrappy space? - I couldn't live 
without my Guillotine or Score it Board. 

What is your favorite item in your scrappy space?

When creating a project, do you plan it out or go with the flow? - I 
could no more tell you what a project is going to look like when I 
first sit down to start it than I could fly to the moon. A project just 
evolves. Sometimes I will just start by going through my box of papers 
to find things that will go with the stamped piece that I have created.

What type of adhesive do you use? - I must get through a roll of double 
sided tape and a tube of Silicon every couple of weeks!! 
 
What is your favorite kind of cardstock? - Bazzil cardstock has to be 
my favourite although I use 300 gram white card as the base for most of 
my cards and then add coloured card and papers to the front making my 
coloured card go much further. Mind you if I lived to be 103 I don't 
suppose I could use all of the stuff that I own, it doesn't stop me 
buying it though. I need, I want, I have to have :O) 
 
Do you enjoy stepping out of your zone when creating new projects? - I 
do love a challenge. I guess i still stay in my comfort zone to a 
degree but it's good to try ideas and colour combos that I wouldn't 
usually choose. I still tend to stick to cards though, I'm not so good 
at coming up with ideas for other things, thats what places like 
Splitcoast Stampers and all of the challenge blogs out there are for. 
 
About how many projects do you create in a month? - I guess that I sit 
and craft most days after work. It is my way to wind down. I've never 
counted how many things I make in a month, a lot will depend on whether 
or not I have samples for the TV to make. I make samples for Barbara 
(Clarity Stamps), Jenny (Hobby Art) and Sue (Imagination Crafts) as 
well as teaching twice a month and then there are several friends who 
get me to make all of their special cards, so sometimes it feels like I 
don't do anything else but go to work and then come home and craft. 
It's a hard life but some one has to do it lol. 
 
When is the best time for you to create? - I work full time and so 
weekends are definitely a good time for me to catch up with things. I 
also try and do something most evenings.


Kim has made such a beautiful card for this weeks post i'm sure you'll all agree :D


Monday 23 July 2012

Design team Inspiration Monday

Welcome to another Design Team Inspiration Monday with another lovely selection from the team, enjoy & Happy Crafting xxx

Ger


Wishi Tape
Hero Arts House Stamp
Glitter Alphabet Peel Offs


Sarah

   
 Supplies A4 cardstock (Blue) Onesie Template (See my blog for free template) Graphic 45 little darlings collection Graphic 45 Little darlings stickers Stampin Up bakers twine Stampin Up seam ribbon Selection of buttons Stamoin Up Everything Eleanor stamp set


Jo



Thanx for stopping by we hope you enjoyed todays Monday Design Team Inspiration
Happy Crafting Crafty Bloggers Network Team x

Sunday 22 July 2012

Friday Show & Tell #3.....with Becky

Hello Crafty Bloggers.
 Becky here and I am going to show you how to make a toilet roll mini album, before I start I just want to say a huge sorry to my fellow teamies as they have been very patient with me as things have been a bit crazy for me and I am behind on getting this post up so a huge sorry and also a thank you to them.

This is the way I do my toilet roll mini's but there are other ways these can be done, I am just showing you my techniques here.

Step 1:




Gather your loo roll tubes and decide how many you are going to use and flatten them, I usually run mine through my big shot a couple of times and leave something heavy on them over night.

Step 2:
prepare to paint-
The tubes can be sanded to get rid of any ridges although I don't usually bother as when the paper is on them you can not see any rough areas anyway.


I have used Wilko's acrylic paint in white and to apply it I use a blending sponge (I find the paint glides on better using that instead of a paint brush)

Step 3:
Paint-
Paint the edges of the tubes and also part of the way inside, There is no need to paint the whole of the tube if it is going to be covered with paper.


Step 4:
Cover -
Take your chosen paper and cut a piece very slightly smaller than the tube


I have used the Papermania Book Print paper pack and inked around the edges.

Then stick your paper to the tube


Repeat this on the other tubes and attach paper to both front and back.

Step 5-


Once you have followed these steps on all of the tubes it is time to embellish your album however you choose and bind it. To bind mine I use my Zutter bind-it-all.
You will also need to make the tags that will slot in the side,I simply do mine by cutting some card stock a little smaller than my tube.


and here is the finished result



This is my first tutorial so I hope I have done ok and the steps are easy to understand, If you have any questions you are welcome to contacts me and I will try to help you further.

More pictures of this mini can be found Here.

Happy crafting,
Becky xx

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Crafty Bloggers Network Guest Blogger.......



Hi everyone, I was lucky enough to be asked to do a
guest spot on the  http://craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/, so
here it is.

I'm a stay at home mum of two children , Daniel 11 and Hannah who is 9.
Life in our house can be quite stressful at times, and not a lot of
sleep either. Daniel was diagnosed at 3 years old as being severely
Autistic. He goes to a special needs school which is really good.
Hannah also has some of the traits, so you can imagine the stress at
our house, hence one of the reasons I got into crafting.

I've always enjoyed making things since I was young, at one stage I
made beanbag frogs for friends ! .I got into cardmaking maybe 6 or 7
years ago when I decided to make all our own Christmas cards and
basically it's gone from there. Crafting for me is a way to relax and
forget the stresses of the day, also I love being able to make cards
for friends and family and see the enjoyment on their face when they
see it's handmade.

Recently I have also been decorating wooden letters for kids names,
mine both have some and for Christmas I made 7 sets for nieces and
nephews.

I have also decided to try and sell them and have had a stall at some
craft fairs. Trial and error but we'll see how it goes.

In April I was also lucky enough to be picked for the UK design Team
for http://kanbancrafts.com/which I am really enjoying doing, and have
made some great friends within the team.



I started my blog http://craftyfran.blogspot.co.uk/in March of this
year and through that and Facebook and the groups on there I have made
loads of friends.



As to my style of cards, I'm not sure I have a particular style, I just
enjoy using anything and will give most things a go.



This month's challenge is "Anything Goes" so here is my card . I love
these stamps and thought I'd go for a red theme as they are Christmassy
stamps.



Thanks, and happy crafting

Fran xxx

Monday 16 July 2012

Design Team Inspiration Monday

Welcome to another Design Team Inspiration Monday with another lovely selection from the team, enjoy & Happy Crafting xxx










Ingredients:
Digital Stamp by Krista Smith of Saturated Canary
coloured with copics Y21, Y26 and Y28 for the hair,
R81, R83 and R 85 for the dress etc. and
E50, E51 and E00 for the skin with RV10
Spelbinders Labels 14
Papermania Capsule Collection Papers
Papermania Adhesive Stones
Daisy and Dandilion Message tags






Friday 13 July 2012

Friday Show & Tell #2.....with Sarah

Scrap Backgrounds with Sarah This week I would like to show you a technique I used on my card on Monday for DT inspiration. I use this technique when stuck for that perfect patterned paper or background to match your theme or embellishments and is also a great way to use up those scraps and make room for some new stash. Begin by selecting lots of scraps of card stock and patterned paper.


 

Cut them to different widths.
 You can either stick them together or stick them to a thin piece of patterned paper.




Once stuck, trim to the required size. At this point you can cut them on a diagonal as well. Take a sewing machine and roughly stitch around the outside edge and up and down the strips.




Once stitched, add them to your card bases and decorate with your images, or embellishments. And here are the finished cards


 I would love to see your take on the technique so leave a link in the comments section TFL Sarah

Thursday 12 July 2012

Celebrity Guest Blogger Wednesday

Welcome to another new feature to the Crafty Bloggers Network Blog or Celebrity Guest Blogger Post!!
In between us showcasing our wonderful group members we are thrilled to also be able to bring you a little peek into the world of the wonderful celebrity crafters we all know & love out there in the craft business :D
First up we have the fantastic Kirsty Wiseman who as so kindly answered a selection of our questions to give us a peek into her fab crafty life <3


How long have you been crafting?
since I was 6 years old. Mum bought me a "things to make" kit and Ive been hooked ever since. Although, professionally, Ive been crafting since 2004

How did you start crafting?
Well, since that first kit in 1977 but I seem to come into my own because my parents didn't have much money when I was growing up. I had to make clothes for my Sindy doll using tissue paper and fabric scraps. I LOVED IT!


What is your favorite product line?
It has always been Basic Grey


What do you watch/listen to when you're creating?
I can't watch tv and craft unless its a sewing or knitting project. So I tend to listen to iTunes on shuffle. Im very much into The Script after Danny was reborn on The Voice


What do you snack on while crafting?
Mainly a cuppa and a bicky


Any paper crafting pet peeves?
Tidying up after inking - ugh

Share your favorite tip/trick with the readers.
My fat bow cheat - link is here:

What is your favorite color combination to use on your cards?
Oh gosh, I dont think I have one but I tend to reach for oranges and greens

Do you distress everything, not at all or somewhere in between?
As and when but often I like a clean finish


What is your favorite tool in your scrappy space?
My Tonic Studio Tim Holtz scissors


What is your favorite item in your scrappy space?
I have a tool spinny carousel thingy. LOVE IT.

When creating a project, do you plan it out or go with the flow?
I have a wee idea in my head as a seed but it usually grows into something beyond that. I let colour and texture run wild.


What type of adhesive do you use?
I love my ATG gun.

What is your favorite kind of cardstock?
Bazzill - it just has a beautiful quality about it

Do you enjoy stepping out of your zone when creating new projects?
I do! I have a lot of supplies and thinking of new ways to use them is an added bonus.


About how many projects do you create in a month?
Recently I have been pretty lame as I have been concentrating on other areas of my working life. But usually its between 10 and 15 a month....maybe more

When is the best time for you to create?
Always when the people in my house are asleep. No interruptions for starters but knowing they are all safe and cosy is a free reign to relax and unwind.

Thank You Kirsty :D

 If you'd like to check out more on Kirsty please visit her wonderful blog HERE

Monday 9 July 2012

Design Team Inspiration Monday

Welcome to another Design Team Inspiration Monday with another lovely selection from the team, enjoy & Happy Crafting xxx

Jo


Papermania Strictly Christmas Decoupage kit
Organza ribbon - black
Black and Red Cardstock
XCut border punch
Irridescent glitter


Ger


My wee girlie was 10 over the weekend and she is a huge Saturated Canary fan & when I saw this one I had to use it as it's her double :D

K & CO Papers
Copics
Woodware Sentiment Stamp
Creative Expressions Bling
Country Cottage Doily


Sarah



Random scraps of patterned paper and cardstock
SU Crumb cake A4 Cardstock
Sewing machine
SU Build a blossom stamp
SU antique brad
Bazzil on the edge scallop
Martha Stewart decorative edge punch
SU Petite pairs stamp

Friday 6 July 2012

Friday Show & Tell #1.....with Ger


We would absolutely love to see all your creations - please leave us a link to your entry. If you are joining us, and don't have a blog, then please take a look at the CBN group on Facebook, and edit the document (found at the top of the page) for us to check out your entries. Please remember not to link to old work - we would love it if you can create something new. Happy Crafting!

Show & Tell Faux Leather Background

You will need:
Card
Masking Tape
Distress Ink Walnut
Clear Embossing Power
Heat Gun
Stazon Black & Brown


Rip little bits of the masking tape, the smaller the tape the better the effect.


Cover all of the page


Take a foam pad and distress in and ink on top of the tapes page till you get the colour you like


Cover with embossing powder


As you can see the leather look is starting to show


Take a heat hun and melt the powder, mind your fingers


Now I felt mind was still a tad light so I cracked the embossing by bending the cards back and forth gently and then with a piece of kitchen roll gently rub over the top 


Do the same with a brown stazon till you get a colour you require



This is the final result & below the card I made with it, Happy crafting x