Colours and how them

Over in my beady box I have posted some information on colour and how to use if effectively in making jewellery. This info also applies to papercraft - how often have I looked at colours and papers and wondered which is the best to use! If you make a mistake in cardmaking - it's often the bin, but with beading the mistake is easy to put right with rethreading and of course your time! The information includes this chart of this season's colours

I hope you will find this useful and if you want to see the complete post you can use the link on my sidebar to get to the beady box.

A new A4 cutting machine

This is news that I picked up on DC and of course the info on "Next Generation of A4 Die Cutting Systems" interested me - Apparently it will be on display at the STITCHES TRADE SHOW IN FEBRUARY - Coming to the UK late April, it will be available to all UK retailers through Once Upon a Stamp. Now this is the supplier who first brought us news of the incredible A4 Joy!!!!! Who having sold many, when they broke, told buyers to contact the manufacturer and only with pressure helped sort out the problems! I just hope they have got it right this time!! Also coming this autumn ....a new 12 x 12 system featuring the same technology as above and 12x12 nested dies !! If anyone can add information and has experience of this new machine - I sure my readers would like to hear your views.

Cutting and embossing with the Joy A4 machine

I've had a request for info on the Joy A4 machine, not my favourite because of the problems I had with mine! However, since it is still on the market and folks are buying it - it may be that the manufacturers have improved the cog system which seemed to be the reason why the machine kept breaking. All of the information I have on this machine is on the separate page listed under my heading. As far as using 300 g card - I would suggest that you work up to this weight slowly. If you find any resistance with turning the handle - the sandwich is too thick! Sorry not to be more helpful, but all machines are difference - with my machine I have to take care, yours may be different! Sandra, please let us know if embossing and cutting this weight of card works okay. Happy cuttling

ikki's gemstone beady box

Today I have launched my new gemstone jewellery blog. If you would like to open the lid and have a peek - click on the link on side bar. Your comments, suggestions, ideas are alway welcome.

Thanks for all your support - without your encourangement, I would not be here!

Hi, hope you are all warm and safe - the weather is not very good here in North Staffs - it's freezing what snow we have left (mainly on the paths) and walking is a tricky!

I have been very busy this week working on my new blog which I hope to open tomorrow (fingers crossed) but in the meantime thought I would post a card that I did last year for CB and was not able to show.

Materials used:


Cardstock: A4 burgandy, A6 white glossy, gold mirri, extra white card
Inkpads:
Distress inks: forest moss, peeled paint, aged mahogany, antique linen
Clear Embossing Powder
Shimmer mist:
CB Stamps:
Texture Fragments
UA4SP0339 Essence of Nature Sentiment - floral spray
Joy Craft border, butterfly dies
Ribbon, gems, foam pads glue gel

I'm not used to using texture stamps and my first few efforts ended in the bin, but in the end I was pleased with my sample.  This combination of colours works really well.

Thanks for dropping by.

Things are a changing!

Hi again, and another big thank you to all for your encouraging and sooooo supportive comments and visits.  I have just returned from a visit to Edinburgh and will catch up with you asap. 

As you know, I've been trying hard to find myself, but recently when visiting my new hairdresser I came across a quote, tattoed across her arm and chest ,that made me think and question what I was trying to find????

Creating is just what we crafters do! And what I do!!  (Or perhaps I should say DID!!!)  My problem has been hidden behind what I think I should be doing and guilt about keeping the cupboard going because it has proved to be a success and a source of information, and what I'm doing and accepting that my inspiration has not vanished into thin air, it has just moved on to another form of creating and that's okay.

That form of creating is jewellery made with semi-precious gemstones. I find the tactile nature, variety of colours and shades of these stones fascinating and inspiring and so theraptic! I first got interested in beading after breaking a necklace and not finding myself able to throw the beads away - I think you will all have experieced this hording feeling!  My fellow CB teamster, Judith helped me with good advice and info on what I needed to restring my beads and I was off on my new journey.  I'm now finding that many others are also following the same path and I'm in the process of starting a new blog instead of posting in the cupboard but I'm so rusty on blogging that this is going to take some time and I'm rather busy because I have people now approaching me for pieces of jewellery. Like with cuttling and papercrafting, anything I make enables me to BUY MORE! What a great feeling this being creative is!!

More stash that arrived this week

tools, beads and wire .... more experimenting and a big learning curve - but I'm excited and eager to get going.....back soon....stay warm and safe....the on the news that the weather is a changing.

A New Year

A New Year and I thought I'd open the cupboard door and say "hello".

I'm very aware that I was not around much in 2012 and I'm unsure if things will change in 2013! As far as cuttling and inspiration to make cards goes, little has changed - my mojo is still missing, BUT I have been offered a glimmer of a challenge that may inspire me to get out my mountain of stash and start again - nothing definite is settled, but I'm hopeful! It may even be that it is my gemstone jewellery that brings me back to blogging.......fingers crossed.

I would like to thank you all for your support and messages, your concern and thoughtfulness has touched me greatly and I really appreciate you popping by to keep the cupboard going. My good wishes to you all for health and happiness in 2013 and hopefully I will be catching up with you soon.

So I'm leaving the cupboard door open and just saying bye for now.