Tippy Thursday and a lesson in colouring

Hi, Thursday again and this morning I have something different for you.  Glenda Waterworth owner of Chocolate Baroque has today posted a tutorial on colouring which is sooooo good and when I've finished this post I off to look for my pencils!  Thanks Glenda for your video - your work is inspiring!

http://glendawaterworth.com/2011/05/18/whats-the-story-morning-glory/






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Spellbinders Summer Surprise! Announcement
You’re invited to a Party!
An exclusive die template release from May 23-27! Ten of Spellbinders’ amazing designers will contribute to the Summer Surprise posts and prizes!


Visit the Spellbinders Blog daily from May 23-27, to enter the daily contests. Daily winners will receive all five of these fantastic die templates, the actual featured projects and a copy of Nestabilities Basics and Beyond, our latest book!

I will post links for you on Sunday 22nd - entering is free and you COULD BE A WINNER!

Tippy Thursday - bits and pieces

Hi folks, like many crafters I do not like to throw things away but the other day I looked around me and thought "YOU REALLY MUST DO SOMETHING WITH ALL THESE BITS AND PIECES" but the question is WHAT?????

For a start this is what sits by my desk.....

it's where I store cut offs of paper and card - I'm sure you have some too!

colour coded (well most of the time) in plastic wallets

 One way to use these leftovers is to make tags, and since I have some new stamps from Inkylicious and also a Martha Stewart corner and border punch this seemed a  good way to start.....

I felt really pleased and proud of myself when I had finished my project - I had used two bits of waste, 2 new tools and stamps, and some raffia that had tied up a bunch of lovely red roses from my crafting mate Chrissie of LIM fame, and enjoyed myself!  No wonder I love crafting!!  I have my thinking cap on for more ideas on using more of my leftover stash because I have lots (and I mean lots)!

If you have any suggestions - please tell!

Tippy Thursday - Marianne Creatables

Hi, bit of a change in the weather today, but my spirits were lifted when the postie dropped my order from Make a Lasting Impression on the mat.  Boy was I pleased with the contents, getting new crafting goodies is something I LIKE!

I was so pleased that the ironing went out of my mind, I needed to see what these beauties would do.....

These dies are from Marianne Creatables - and I think they are going to give the die cutting manufacturers some competition!

They have changed the colour of the die, which did seem to be giving some crafters a problem with transferring the dark blue colour to the cut, and instead have gone with this lighter blue.  No colour transfer here!  The designs are interesting, - the leaf and the hearts cut and emboss really well, and they have thought about making the cuts easier to release and have successed with the additon of small holes positioned round the dies.  The leaf which is a delicate cut came straight out of the die first time.  At a cost  of £7.90 including postage - not unreasonable.  

 

Talking of cutting, a few crafters have been having problems with the Bug cutting and embossing.  I think that the main problem for this is not the Bug but the plates.  Repetative cutting, especially if you always place the die in the middle to the plate, will make the plate thinner and so reduce or give a uneven pressure on the sandwich.  You will also find with well cut plates the the cut is not always clean (ie the edges are rough), and the cut marks on the plate will also make marks on the underside of the cut.  If you don't want to buy new plates, you could try moving the die to the side and rotating the cut 90 degrees after the first run and doing it again.  The under marks can be eliminated by placing a piece of copy paper on top of the plate.  I have an old and new set of B's, I use only 3 of the 4 - 2 old very marked one and l of the new ones (I'm saving the other new one for a rainy day).  If I try cutting intricate dies with 2 old sometimes they wont cut, if I use 1 old and 1 new - it works.  Why don't I throw the old ones away - well I'm a crafter and the two old ones work with embossing and still have some life in them!   

After telling you about the Marianne dies, I will also add that some of the new Nesties are on sale at Liz's. Now before you tell me I'm a temptress, you can look out of interest, but you don't have to ?????? 

Tippy Thursday - Joy Trouvaille A4 - New Wizard Shapeabilities Dies

JT machine update - My JT machine is working, but I'm finding that I still turn to my Bug!  Perhaps I'm just so disappointed and also cauious!  I still have not received any communication from the manufacturer, which is very disappointing that they just do not care!!  Thanks to all who replied to my request to complete a questionnaire - I will be in touch with you asap.

If you are interested in the new dies from spellbinders, pop over to Make a Lasting Impression (link on my salebar), Liz has some on sale at  £16.50 with free UK postage.  But, be warned - these are very tempting! 

I also pick up a post from Craft at Home called Big up your Bug.  Might be of interest to you and you can also from the link watch a video of using these large plates on utube.

If you have been reading my posts of WW - check out the page - see if you are going to join me.  This morning is my serious start day - on the scales this morning I have already made a loss on the last week and I think this is just due to thinking more about what I was doing and a little (I do stress I mean a little) exercise.  What a pleasant surprise to start the day!  Hope your day goes well too.

Tippy Thursday - Make more use of your Nestie Squares

Today I thought I'd show you this little trick of making photo corners from your Nestabilitie Squares.
I first demonstrated this technique way back in August 2009 (gosh where's the time gone!), but many of my new readers may have missed this post.

It's called my "Wibby Wobby Card" and you will find the instructions on this link if you are interested in seeing more!

When I first used this method of making corners I used a magnetic mat - today I did it a different way......

First  tape two squares together

run through the Bug, but leave the cuts inside the dies

  then using a stylus round the inside edges of both squares

 You have a frame and a square both with an embossed edge. 

 This method is useful if you do not have the tan mat.

Cut across the corner.

 I sometimes cut the length of one side longer than the other, but here the cut is equal -  to do this I line the square up to the lines of my old cutting mat that sits under my glass cutting mat.

when finished -  an embossed square and four photo corners

I know that you can buy this shape of corner punch, but I have never been able to find one, so I use this neat little trick instead.

Back tomorrow with this week's card for my Friday Followers Gallery. 

Thanks for dropping by, hope you find this idea useful.

 

Joy Trouvaille Die Cutting Machine

Well I've ordered the Joy Crafts Trouvaille die cutting machine and it should (everything crossed!) arrive today!  I'm like a child on Christmas Eve! 

I waited patiently to see the new Cuttlebug V2 and I was so disappointed with the presentation by the demonstrators on C&C, and the presenters eventually got on my nerves with their stupid comments that I feel I have made the right decision after months of dittering!  I have the Cutting/Embossing sandwich for the machine - they are very concise and tested by an owner/seller, but I obviously have not tested them myself.  As soon as I can I will, and I'm also thinking of adding a new page to the Cupboard that will cover all the recipes in one place, which will make them more accessible.  That's another job in progress!

Tips for today:

Wire - if you want to make embellishments, I find a finer wire the best.  I've no idea what it's called - mine came in a job lot from ebay, some even off a bottle of wine!  (That's something else you now know about me - I like wine - preferably RED if you're buying!)     When I first started using beads and wire, I bought a box of mixed colours of a thick wire and beads - I have use some of it, but it is more difficult to loop.  You also need round nose and cutting pliers. 

Glue - I have a thing about getting messy glue on cards - I'm a bit of a tidy freak I suppose.  I use various types depending on what I'm doing, but a  most useful is a Prit stick (or even the cheaper sticks sold in Poundland etc., work well).  When using DST - you can run the glue stick over it so you have a bit of play before the tape graps.  If you find the glue has gone (not sure of the word) but lumpy, not running well, I find that my spotlight above my desk comes to it's rescue.  Just a couple of seconds close to the light and the heat warms the glue and it will then run smooth.  Worth a try instead of binning it as I used to do! 

Well back to watching for the postie, so for now "bye".


ikki

By the way the draw for a new scoreboard is still open - check out the post below. 

Tippy Thursday - using the Cupboard

I promised a few months ago to slowly make my blog more user friendly.  It turned out in the circumstances to be quite a feat!  I knew I'd done a lot of postings, but until I came to trawl through them I  didn't realise just how many there were! 
I still have not managed to update and add all the new dies,  but I have made some progress in so far as I have looked at each tutorial and made some improvements in the way they are labelled.  Now if you use the search facility you can find all the tutorials contained "circles", "squares" etc.,  Or if you look at the labels section on the sidebar you will find more catorgies, such as "love and marriage", butterflies, aperture cards, frames, altering die shapes, etc., but at the moment if you 've not finished your Chrissie cards, I would tip you to look at "Christmas".  There are over 40 tutorials all with some element of embossing or die cutting, many with both.  No point have a Bug and not make it work for you! 

Hope this will help this useful and help you find your round the Cupboard shelves!  I think I can truefully say my Cupboard is well stock!!

Tippy Thursday - Making borders

Tippy Thursday again, and today I'm looking at using those little dies that tend to get overlooked!

This die is my most recent purchase.

It's from the Marianne Creatables range and consists of 3 dies.  The fancy scalloped rectangle and 2 leaves.  Stating the obvious - the leaves can be used as leaves, but is there something else you can do with them?

How about making a border......

I make my own cards and have lots of strips of card left over like this...

Using the Bug sandwich:  A  /  B  / card  /  die cut down  /  C

(All of the die cutting tips I give can be adapted to your own machine, but because I only have experience of  the Bug, and feel I don't need tell you what recipe to use, because you will know!  BUT, if you do need help - just ask).

 

From a peice of card 6" x 2" you will have 4 leaves and the die cut strip...now

I have added two scored lines to the top and bottom of the strip, then when placed over a decorative paper...you have a nice little border, which can be adjusted in length to suit your project.

 AND, you still have 4 leaves to use!

Time restraints have not allowed me to finish my card....hopefully later I will be able to get it finished!! 

Hope you like this idea of using your smaller dies....don't leave them at the back of the Cupboard....get them out and make full use of your of all your dies!

                                                                         

Tippy Thursday

Over the last few weeks there has been news about  Spellbinders Nestabilies new dies - BIG dies as well as more labels!

For the big dies you are going to need  (would you believe it!) a new machine called the Grand Calibur
due for release in September. There are a few video available to view and you will find details on Spellbinders. I have to admit to an interest in this as it takes card and paper up to 8.1/2" x 11", but what a pity not 12".  Wonder if Provocraft will be going this way too?  I'm thinking it would be good to be able to make one's own shaped cards in a larger size but on the other hand - an expensive purchase!  Just where do you stop???

As for news on the Spellbinder dies, Create and Craft have a Spellbinder's Pick of the Week on Friday, their prices are often on the high side, but it might be worth a look!  My supplier Liz, (link on the side bar) will no doubt be cheaper and also worth checking out.

My new die this week is again from Marianne Creatables......

Isn't this pretty!

Well back to my craft desk......lots going on that I will be able to show you soon.  If you live in Northumbria,  Friday and Saturday are open days at Graphicus - what  an interesting visit that would be, if not you'll just have to pop in on the Cupboard  to see what is going on because I'll be keeping you informed!  Since it's Friday the 13th....anything could happen!?!?!? 

Message:  Nessie - I have replied on your blog re your problems of getting the Marianne dies cut out of the die.  To anyone experiencing this problem this link may  :  help

Tippy Thursday and new Folders from Crafts Too You

News of new folders from Crafts 2 U.

Baubles

Greetings

Hearts

Sentiments

You can view details at Making a Lasting Impression (link on sidebar). 

I will be ordering these today and at a price of £3.99 and free UK postage until 25th July, and Christmas looming for crafters -  I thought worth investigating!

The folders are A6, and slightly bigger then Provocraft.  Although I have, and like this company's folders, their new idea of word embossing folders are new to me, so I will let you know how they work.

Realised I have not shown you my new dies from yesterday, I will try to do this later as an add on post.

                                                                         

Tippy Thursday- Impressabilities

Hi, thanks for dropping by, but I sorry to say that I have no tips for you today, just a little card from my experiments with the impressabilities dies.

The card base is embossed with my cut up impressabilities, and the flower is the Dahlia die.

If you have left any queries or comments I will get back to you soon - today I'm somewhere in the North Sea travelling back to Southampton and should dock tomorrow.  I'll be back posting on Monday with a special card for a special birthday girl! 

Have a great weekend!

Tippy Thursday - Score Board

When I first started crafting the first crafting tools I purchased was my scoreboard.  - it called Eazi Scorer and I use it on nearly every piece of crafting I do.

I mainly make my own card size with the help of my board, but even though it scores all weights of cardstock and tells me where to score for the size I want;  there are times when you fold  the card and find that the card is sligthly squiffy.  If you have had the same problem here a little tip:

After scoring,

 push the card up against the lip of the board (or any square edge) and then fold and crease - and your card edges will be straight.

Recently I saw a board called a Hougie - I liked it at lot!  To start with it matches my little green Bug, and I can see it being  a very useful aid to measuring novelty cards because of the lines being in cm and inches, but there are no card size measurements on it if you make your own cards!  So it looks like me having to have 2 boards!  Isn't easy to find reasons to buy a new tool!

Tippy Thursday - Ribbon

I have been asked how I made this kind of tassel for my tag...

It's a bit different and it's very easy......

Take a length of satin ribbon and cut off the binding edge on both sides, this will allow you to shred the warp threads from the weft.  Now you repeat the process on the other end and hey presto.....

         a fancy ribbon for the tag I made and didn't know what to do with it....actually I still don't, but at least the tag is finished now!

Tippy Thursday - Joy Craft Border Dies

Sometimes you see a die and wonder what it will be like cut and embossed.  So I thought I would show you a set of dies from Joy Crafts that I bought last week from Liz at Make a Lasting Impression (you will find the link on the sidebar if you would like to see more of this company's product).

 

These are the dies cut and embossed.

I found that they cut better using the sandwich  A / C / Die cut side up / card / B

The dies are cheaper than the Spellbinder dies and they are not as sturdy, but the cut and embossing I found quite satisfactory, and the designs are lovely.

 

This is how I used  one of the dies to make a card base

.  Despite the poor picture, I think you will see they are very effective.

My thanks to all who have left comments this week, your imput is greatly appreciated.  Unfortunately at times I cannot get back to you if you have a query or suggestion if you do not have a blog, or leave me an email address.   So I will continue to leave messages for you either on my Tippy Thursday post, or on the comments page where you left your query.  Hopefully this will work - if not....I'll think of something else!

Alexandra:  Your suggestion was interesting and I think I have tried or seen something similiar, but I would love to see your work and if possible share it with other Cuttlers.  Could you leave me a contact on the comments page please.

Embossing Folders

Tippy Thursday and not a lot to say!   Yesterday was a sad day,  also a busy one trying to catch up with WOYWW.  I managed to visit some desks and very interesting they were too...now for a few more!  Catch you soon.

1jmass:  In answer to your question - sorry I do not have a list of the Cuttlebug Folders, and I don't know of anyone who has!  If you are reading this and can help please contact me and I will pass on the info.

You could look at this link:  http://www.provocraft.com/products/catalog.php?cl=cuttlebug&scl=embossing
I was very surprised to see sooooo many folders on embossing, and a lot of new ones too!  The only problem with their A2 size is that it's a bit small for our A6 card and because of this the card can crease at the edges.  As for their 5 x 7 size - the use of this is limiting to me and also confusing - why if the Bug rollers are 6" do they do this size?  I like to emboss straight on to the card and not wrap the card round the folder, as this give me more useage.  But, 7" portrait - not for me!  Now I would like a 6" x 6" folder.  Craft 2 U do a 5" x 5" so hopefully my ideal size will soon be here!

Thanks to all who gave me their opinion on the search feature.  SOOOOOO pleased it works!

Now I have to go a blog visiting, back soon.

Provocraft - Cuttlebug Vintage Corners on Tippy Thursday

A couple of days ago I posted a picture on what I had done with one of the dies from the Vintage Corner set.  I had a reply from Nessie saying she also had this set of dies and I like me had used the corners but wondered what to do with this one.....

In the end she cut it in half to use as a corner, so.....

this is what you will get.  Nice one Nessie!

this is a stamp from Elusive Images that I have been playing with.  It lacked something?!?!?

So instead of cutting the die in 2, I cut it into 4 and left and bits in!

I like it now - the corners finish the picture nicely and

if you use DST (double sided tape) on the back of the card - they are easy to attach.

The Sandwich for Provocraft dies that will help stop your plates from bending is:

  A /B / die cut face up / card / B

Whilst editing my picture I thought I've have a play with the hue control.   What do you think of this?

 

I have a tendency to dither over what colours to use on an image......I think this could be  a good way of "making my mind up" for the next time I use this beautiful stamp.  Have you tried this?

Have a great day!