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!


Sunday 15 February 2009

Cuttlebug and Nestie Tutorial - Making a Nestie Flower for a Flapper Hat

Hi, another week flown by! Time for another tutorial. I have had so many questions about my Nestie flower from last week, that I thought I should illustrate it further because it really does make a great embellishment, and matching your flower and papers is easier and cheaper too! Then you will save your pennies to buy more nesties! Clever, eh!

You will need:

Patterned paper - I like to use handmade paper because it's stronger, and you can emboss, curl, manhandle and it just looks better for it.
Nesties Petite scalloped Circles in 3 different sizes (or 3 hand cut circles, or 3 made with any other method you have at hand)
Cuttlebug folder: I like the Textile folder for this


Ink for edging petals
Flower centre - I used a pearl brad
Sissors and, of course, your Cuttlebug

If you would like to make the complete card you will also need

A4 sheet of cardstock folded in half and shaped as this template
NB14.4.09 - I download this template last year and didn't know where I had had it from, but today discovered that this template is from Imagination, they offer various free printable templates - so I have them to thank for this, and apologize for not mentioning it previously.

To make the flower

Cut 3 circles











Now emboss


Cut into embossed circle and re-shape edges of the petals. Curl, ink and fasten together with brad. (With the petite scallop circle, cut between the 4th and 5th scallop, then rounded the edges. If using the large scallop you will need to adjust. )








Your finished flower



When attached to card you have a very striking embellishment






I hope you'll find this flower tutorial interesting - please let me have your views on this. It's no good doing projects if I don't do the ones that peeps like and can use!
See you next week,

Monday 9 February 2009

Double embossing with your Cuttlebug

Today's tutorial looks at double embossing. My template method of embossing makes this possible using any folder, either the border folders or your A2 folders.

If you are of an inquisitive nature, you can scroll down and take a peek! But, otherwise this tutorial illustrates making a distressed card that I made for a challenge. Whether you choose to distress or not, the method for double embossing is the same, so.....

To make this card you will need
Cardstock to make a 6" x 4" card
Patterned paper for mat and flower - Handmade paper is best it's strong and takes manhandling Panel of plain card 4" x 3.1/2" (I used Core c/s so I could sand)
A2 Distressed Stripes Folder
A2 Texture Folder
Wide flower border from Frills Border set and template from last week
A template the fits the narrower borders of the frills set
Ink pad for flower petals,mat and card - I used TM Distress ink
Usual crafting tools

You are now ready to begin:


Card stock.
Make a 6 x 4 card and ink the edges

Preparing the mat.
Place patterned paper in A2 Texture folder and emboss, rub over with ink pad. Tear and ink edges top and bottom. Add to card.


Embossing panel
Place panel into border folder at an angle. Using template, emboss pattern three times. Tear and ink the edges top and bottom to match your base mat. Sand or not.




Your panel will look like this after sanding the cardstock

NOW for the double embossing
Place your panel in the Distressed Stripes folder at an angle so that the lines can be embossed between the border pattern. Again I have used a template, BUT this one is not as wide - it was made to fit three of the other patterns in the Frills Border set. You could use the same template you used to create the flower pattern, but I wanted a contrast of stripe widths.

You will not need to use the 2nd B Plate - the template will do that for you.

Finished panel when it had been sanded




Making the flower
Select A2 folder. I used the Texture. On the same patterned paper as you used for base mat - cut three circles with Nesties. (alternatively, you could cut freehand shapes). Place circles in folder and emboss. Cut and shape petals, curl edges, crumble paper, whatever, and ink edges. Remember you are after a distressed effect.

Your finished flower when attached to panel ready to be added to your card



and your finished card

As you will now be discovering, your Cuttlebug folders are more versatile than you first thought. You can use any folder to make a border by using a template. Next week I will use a shaped template for a completely different look, so I hope you'll drop by next Monday to see what's in the Cupboard - your views and comments on this week's tutorial will be appreciated and will assist me in finding out what peeps need to help them cuttle!

So, Keeeep Cuttling and I'll see you next week.






PS Forgot to add: If you are visiting from DC and do not have a blog, or google account - you can leave a comment by using the Anonymous box on the comments page, and please add your name and DC after your comment so I know you have visited. Thanks




Friday 6 February 2009

New Tutorial on Monday

Back on Monday 9th Feb with a new tutorial for you to try out.


In the meantime here is a card using the the technique that was illustrated last week. A simple card, but very effective







.

Thursday 5 February 2009

Your Blog Rocks


A lovely surprise today from Heather nominating my new blog with its first award. Thank you Heather for this special award - Your help and advice and been so useful in starting this venture, I'm so lucky to have such a talented friend and fellow blogger. If you don't know our Rica - visit her blog - you'll see what I mean - if any blogs rock - Rica's does!

Now I can pass this great award on to 5 more rocking blogs....thinking cap on....I love so many!