Hi

Hi, Thanks for dropping by.

My name is Eileen but to friends in the card making world I'm known as 'ikki'. (which is pronounced I-KEY) From where or how this came about I'm not sure - it just got shorten from my original craft name of Ikemo by various friends along my crafting way! I started crafting whilst recouperating from an accident, and from my first attempts with peeloffs and paint - I was hooked! Now my passion is my BUG! and now BEADING!

In the Cupboard you will find ideas, news, tips and techniques to help you get more from this fab little machine. So come in - join the fun and Cuttle with me!


Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts

Monday, 28 February 2011

Less is more challenge - Week 4 - Squares

I have just had a lovely, but very busy three days with my daughter and two granddaughters.  Caitlin and Megan just love getting their hands on my crafting stamps and inks, so no crafting for me!  Hence, a little later than usual for the LIM challenge which this week asks for 3 squares.    Now squares are a fav of mine, but just what to do with them????  Looking for something a bit different I decided to do this.....


I've used a technique called masking to create an illusion of depth and inked straight onto my card. 
 
First fold a sheet of A4 copypaper into 4, then cut with a Nestie Square size 3 (l being the smallest) to make a template.
   
You can play with the cutout shapes to decide on the best pattern

Leave the first cutout in place

Cover with the template and slide the sticky edge of a post-it under each side lining up to the square

When you remove the template you have your square ready to colour.  I used distress inks starting with dark at the bottom and working lighter.

When the first square is completed, cover with one of the square cutouts and repeat the process to complete squares 2 and 3.

    
 I used one of the stamps from the Elusive Image theme plate called Essennce of Nature (UA4SP0339.
By varing the shades of ink you can see all three squares -
masking the ikki way - easy, effective, and perhaps worth a try?
Later today I will show you some other examples of this technique.


Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Nestabilities - Squares, Snowflakes and Crfts 2 U folder

My tutorial today is based on Nestie Squares and finding a different look.

To make this card you will need:
A4 Cardstock: Cream Hammer
Decorative paper
Nestabilities: 2 large classic squares (size 4 & 5)
                    2 Create a Snowflake dies

Crafts 2 U: Snowflake embossing folder
Gems, ribbon

Base Card:  cut a 6" strip from the A4 cardstock and centre crease.  Place the embossing folder to the centre crease and emboss.  With scoreboard create two lines to finish the pattern.  I have debossed the folder so that the inside of the card is more interesting.

Place the smalliest snowflake die in centre of the plain panel (low tack tape will help hold it in place) and cut out.  Reposition and make two further cuts. Save the cutouts.
 
Cut a strip of DP and add to the inside of your card.


The embellishment:
Cut l square from the largest die in a matching cardstock to your decorative paper.
Cut l Cream square from the smaller - you can cut this from the strip left over from making the base card. 
Cut another of the small squares from the decorative paper used on the inside of the card. 

From the cream square - cut out the snowflake and add the decorative paper behind, then layer on coloured cardstock....

You will see I have used one of the cutouts from the base card and a red gem in the centre of the snowflake.
With a red gem added to the centre of the small snowflake cutouts your card will look like this.....   


As I said yesterday, an easie peasie card, but classy.  AND, a great way of using those leftover bits of decorative paper that you just cannot bring yourself to throw away!

Hope you like this one.   If you use the design and blog it, I would apprecaited you linking back to the cupboard - I started the Cuttlebug Cupboard to share my experience and knowledge with you - please help me to share it with others by spread the word.
                                                                           

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Nestabilities - Squares

I think the basic squares are soooo useful, and can be made to look different if you can conbine it with other  square shapes. 

Here I have cut a red large classic square, then with a smaller big square scallop die, cut out the centre to make a frame. If you want the stamp the edge of your square, don't do as I did - stamp before you cut!

With another square of decorative paper behind the frame you have.....
You will notice that I have embossed only part of the Craft-2-U snowflake folder straight onto the card base and added two lines to finish the pattern.  At a busy time of cardmaking, this is a useful technique!

If you have not done this before, my tip is to place the folder on the card where you want the pattern to be embossed, then place the second B plate on the edge of the folder and guide the uncovered back through first.  If the folder should mark the card, THE LINES WILL COVER THE IMPRESSION.   Scoreboard scores again!

Monday, 15 November 2010

Spellbinders Octagon Nestabilities

I'm beginning to get my head round the fact that Christmas is not that far away and I need to start making a few cards.  I had this idea for a quick card to get me going......

I cut  2 dark green octagons from the largest scallop die and a smaller white plain octagon.   On one of the green scallops, I ramdomly stamped a few swirls and snowflakes in silver, covered with clear embossing powder the heated. 

On the other piece of dark green ( the back ) I did this....
made a line and folded.  Now the two pieces can be joined with a strong glue.

Next I embossed the white shape with the winter scene folder, and embossed the edge with an embossing pen instead of putting through the Bug again.  With  a touch of distress ink in bundle sage round the edge and a sentiment stamped in the same shade, all that was needed was  a bit of  glitter, a ribbon, a star, and a few foam pads.



The card stands up well and is certainly a quick make.
Thanks for dropping by, 

Monday, 30 August 2010

Marianne Creatables - Make a border

Last week I showed you a border made with a small leaf die from one of the Marianne Creatables die sets, obtainable from my supplier Make a Lasting Impression (see link on side bar).
     Here is my 2" x 6" Border

Now I have a 2" x 8" Border
 
to add to my finished card....

Materials Used:
  Cardstock: Bottle Green, Sage Green Linen
Decorative Paper:  Artylicious CD - Essence of Nature - Misty Dawn
Marianne Creatable Leaf Die
Provocraft Vintage Corner dies
Sentiment, ribbon, scoreboard from stash

From a small die - a big  8 x 6 card!
  Since the paper is a beautiful tree design it fits in nicely with the die shapes
 and gives  the effect of falling leaves!
  Autumn approaches - just where has the summer gone?

                                                                        
PS: I will be back tomorrow with news of how the Cupboard will be changing, hope you will be able to join me and let me have your views.  Thanks.

Sunday, 29 August 2010

Nestabilities - Label 4 - Aternative cuts

Over the past week I have shown you how make 2 alternative die cuts, so why not make it 3!
The Label 4 die is one of my favourite shapes, but you can use it in another way.....

on a piece of card, tape the top of the die

Make sandwich:  A  /  B  /  Card  with taped die cut side down  /  C

You will notice that the C Plate is only placed on the die where the cut is wanted.
The uncovered part of the die is passed through the machine first.

The cut

Trim down the side and you have a shaped tag!
(When I use this method, I stamp my image first, then cut)

or you can turn the die and have a different shaped tag!!

If you wanted to make an even bigger shape you could do the same on the other edge.

See you tomorrow, 



Friday, 27 August 2010

Friday Followers Gallery

Hi everyone, today is FFG time and  I'm really pleased to bring you this idea as it follows on from my post on Monday and shows just what you can do with a bit of thinking out of the box.  On Tuesday, Tracy got in touch with me saying she had used my idea to solve her problem of her dies being too big for her image, and this was the result...
What Tracy did was....
cut a mega curved rectangle, but this was too big for her image, so....

by placing a smaller mega rectangle over the first cut

made a new shape! 

AND, I think is a very good shape that will be useful.  I do like value for money!

You will perhaps recognize the Butterfly image - it one of the Marianna dies, but instead of using it as a die, Tracy turned it into a stamp!  You can check this out by popping over to Tracy's blog.

 I love to hear that my ideas can be put to good use, and I'm happy to give credit where due which is why I started this FFG spot.  In return, if you use my ideas, I would appreciate you linking back to the Cupboard, that makes the Cupboard more available to others and my efforts even more worthwhile.  Thanks Tracy  - great crafting.
                                                                    

Thursday, 26 August 2010

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!

                                                                         

Monday, 23 August 2010

Nestabilities - Labels 2

Do you find sometimes that no matter how many dies you have none seem the right size or shape?  This happens to me quite often and it is real frustrating!

On my desk on last week's WOYWW I had a label 2 die cut on which I had watercoloured with Inktense pencils an image from the EI Townhouse Stamp themeplate.  Having done to a reasonable, but not entirely satisfactory colouring job, I looked the shape and thought...."now What"!  I could not come up with a design that looked right with the shape....so....knife in hand......holding breath.....I cut across the top and bottom of the die cut and ......

and I had a new shape


this new shape allowed me to stamp a scene onto a strip of card, matching up the tree and bush behind the house so that my new shape could be lifted on foam pads to give some dimension to the scene.  I like my new shape and think it could be very useful to ring the changes with the Label 2 dies - Wonder if any of the other labels can be changed?.....yet another challenge! 

Hope you like this idea, and if you use it - perhaps you would let me know so I can pop over.
                                                    

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Provocraft Alphabet - Personalized Cards

One of the most used die sets that I have is my alphabet!   I have never made a card that has been personalized with the recipient's name that has not been  admired or treasured.  Added to this, when struggling for that something different....this could be the answer....
Tommy's birthday card - some lovely decorative paper, a border from the same pack, a ribbon, a peeloff  ...
 and his name.

This alphebet is Harmony - I only have the one set and have found this adequate for greetings, names or just initials.  If you look at my Love and Marriage Label on the sidebar you will find lots of examples of how I've  used these dies.  I like this particular set because they can be spaced evenly or unevenly, or even interlocked, and with using  double side tape - adhering them is easy. 

 Cut a small square, place DST on the back.
Sandwich:  A / B / die cut face up / Card with DST face up over the letter to be cut / B
Using this method you only cut where you need and the DST does not stick to the die.

Always remember that with the Provocraft dies you do NOT use the C Plate - if you do - something will break!  I know this - I have done this!

Buying dies is expensive!  How many dies do you have that you use?  How many sit in the cupboard?
As crafters we all have the tendancy to want ALL...but with the vast amount of dies on the market, sometimes choices have to be made!    I realise that  I'm always alerting you of new dies and embossing folders, even machines (more about that on Thursday)!   I share my experiences and information with you because knowledge if a powerful thing, with it you can make your choices wisely and your dies and folders will pay you dividends, if you don't! 

Have a good day,

Monday, 16 August 2010

Marianne Creatables

Hi, and a very warm welcome to my blog.  Today is what my husband calls "Manic Monday" - yes, he often finds me surrounded by bit of this and bobs of that - in a "shall I" or "shall I not" mood.  Today was no exception...but I finally made up my mind and so.....

this is the Marianne Creatables frame that I showed you last week.    After printing a PC generated greeting on white card, I offset the frame and ran through the Bug. 
                                                   

In case you are having difficulties with intricate dies sticking to the frame, this is a photo of what remained after cutting, and tapping the frame against my metal waste bin. This serves two purposes, removes the bits and saved hoovering!   No problems whatsoever after I'd rubbed a wax candle over the die and buffed it up.  Not sure how long the wax coating will last...but for the time being...it cutting fine!
Off setting the sentiment allows space for a flower decoration.



The base card is embossed with a Daisy folder from Joy Too You , and the lovely paper is from Artylicious Echoes of Italy. If you like decorative papers, there is a special offer of papers this week of buy one A4 pack (£4.99) and get one 6 x 6 pack for £1 (usually £3.99) - enter promotional code ARTYPPACK at checkout. Unfortunately, the photo is......bad to say the least....and in no way shows up the paper, so it's back to the camera.   As I said  "Manic Monday"  reigns!

Back later with another photo!  PS: a bit better!