Clouds

Hi, back again with how the clouds were created.....a stencil.....

This is the stencil  

 (the outer comes in one piece - but I have cut mine cause I've been playing and will show you why later)

The inner part of the stencil with which you can use inks or chalks to create layers of  "clouds" or moons, or stars

This A6 image was made by Phyllis from Diamond Card Crafts who produce the stencil.

Good, don't you agree?

Me being me(!)wanted to play to see if the outer piece could be used in the Bug and the answer is YES! 

You can emboss or deboss an A6 without the outer lines marking your card.

 

Here you can see that I have cut into the stencil.

Without cutting the stencil, on a larger card the lines show, but without the outer edges.....    

a 6" square card embossed

and the effect of debossing. 

So now you have two shapes with which to make your clouds!

 Sandwich for the Bug

Embossing:  A plate, stencil, card right face down, tan mat, 1/2 shims, 2 B plates

Debossing:  A plate, stencil, card face up, tan mat, 1/2 shims, 2 B plates

The stencil costs £2.75 plus postage from Diamond Card Crafts

Nice one Phyllis! 

Make Nestabilitie Squares into Rectangles

How many times do you have a stamp that doesn't fit any of your Nestie dies?  I have a stamp that needs a rectangle mat, but no rectangle dies!  Well some dies can be changed - you can make your squares into rectangles.....

so, taking a piece of card with a straight edge.......

position your stamp and mark  with a pencil

position your square die and tape into position

your rectangle mat......

with a stamp positioner you can now use your stamp and be sure of getting it straight!

This stamp is a Charles Rennie Mackintosh design, which is difficult to colour unless you emboss it first.  This done, with the left over bit of card as a stencil  (as shown) and a make-up sponge and ink (or chalk) you can create  a straight line round the edge of your mat. 

I picked up this tip from Barbara Grey on one of her C&C shows.  Thanks Barbara, it's easy and works well - a good tip worth trying!

Things were going swimmingly up to this point....but.....then....disaster....

Being a meanie type of crafter, when my first stamped image had not embossed equally and not wanting to start again, I had stamped and embossed on the other side of the card, and...drat...it showed through the triple embossing, which also went pear-shaped because I'd somehow got some black bits in the powder!?!?!  So now I do have to start again, but  thought I'd show you this to make you smile, even laugh out loud - the principle works but on this occasion I didn't.  Oh, well - back to the cupboard! 

Nestabilities - Cut, emboss and stencil

Hi, how's this weather suiting you?  We have gone from one extreme to another this week - all I can say to phew!!!!  I was going to finish potting up my tubs and baskets, but it's so hot out there that I've retreated to the cool of my craftroom - any excuse!

What do you think of this idea - stencilling your die cuts.  The packet label tells us Nestabilities cut, emboss and stencil - but have you done it?

After stamping the image  I used the Labels 4 die to cut, and  then with the tan mat (or embossing pen) embossed the edge.   Leaving the die cut in the die, I coloured the background with  inks (or chalk) - I used the distress ink Scattered Straw and coloured with Promarkers.  

remove the die and you have a mock layered look. 

 

Add a bit of cuttling and a few beads and wire curl - a quick but great card suitable to any occasion with a change of sentiment.  I made this for a male friend's birthday, but you could also use it on a thinking of you, get well or sympathy card.  The stamp by Elusive Images is from the Eastern Grasses set.

I wasn't until I'd finished the card that I decided to share this with you, or the photos would have been slightly different, but I think you will see clearly the effect you get.

Cuttlebug - Top Tip of 2009 - Die Cutting, Embossing, Stencilling with Nestabilities

Before I share with you my top tip of 2009, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. 2010 - where will it take us with our crafting?

In January 2009 when I started this blog I had no idea or plans. I was encouraged by blog mates that this was the way to go! So go I did, and look where it got me! 297 fellow lovers of the Bug, and over 100,000 visits from across the world. I know I love my Bug, but I had no idea that there were so many of you out there feeling the same. I also did not realise that so many owners of this little Green Bug were looking for help and inspiration!

I hope that you have found a place where you can visit and browse at leisure, and also a place where you feel able to ask questions and share your own ideas and experiences.

Now for the tip that I consider to be the best idea I had in 2009. This simple way of stencilling and embossing is so useful. You do not need a Tan Embossing Mat to emboss the edges of many of your die cuts - all you need is an embossing pen. Like most good ideas - simple when you know.

From my Tutorial 20th April 2009

"Hi Cuttlers, another week - another subject - Stencilling. I'm adding this now because it follows on so nicely from the last two tutorials. Thank you Heather for your suggestion and contribution to make this an interesting and enlightening subject. Even though it says stencilling on the Nestability package, I had not thought or tried it before, but I have now and will again! Obviously, I only read what I want to see! How about you??? Have you tried this?

You will need: a stamp, card and a Nestie Die

First stamp your image or sentiment on the card, place the die over the image and cut as usual.
Sandwich: A; B; Card; Nestie cut side down; C plate


Having cut your shape, emboss. If you have not done this before - check here on last week's tutorial.


Leave the card inside the die - now you can stencil a colour(s) round your image. This will leave a white edge which gives more definition to the image - the more colour - the more dramatic the effect will be!

I used chalk and prisma pencils, but you could also use ink. I must say I found it easier with chalk, especially if you have a rubber handy!!!


Now this has to be my tip of the week! Discovered completely by a mishap embossing when not adding enough pressure by too few shims, left only a faint impression.


With the card inside the die with the cut side up image face dwn, run an embossing tool round the edge of the inside rim of the die as shown

This is what happened - a remarkably clear impression. To test this out I used a heavy weight card and ......was very pleased with the result. Let's call this a "Cheats guide to embossing".
The cuttlebug embossed and the hand embossed - can you tell?

As I said before the stencilling idea was passed on to me by my Cuttlebug Mate Heather. If you don't know Rica you should! Her crafting is exceptional. Her blog outstanding for inspiration and creativity, as you can see from a glimse at these cards where she has used chalk and ink to highlight the main image. Thanks Heather for sharing your work. "


 
It's a long post today, but I felt sure you would like to read the tutorial in full. As I said - a simple idea discovered by accident, but what an accident it turned out to be! My Cheat's Guide to Embossing just has to be No 1 Tip of 2009!

Okay 2010 - now I'm ready to move on. Thinking cap on...what's next????

Spellbinder - Die cuts

Hiya, Today I thought I would show you this card (No.19) and the way that I have used the Spellbinder Oval Classic Standard and Scalloped die.

The materials used:
Cardstock 6" x 8"
Spellbinder - Ovals
Papers: Basic Grey
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Bits and Pieces

I like this style of card made by making a 2" front flap -  it shows off two of these lovely papers from BG. Some of the stamping on the ground paper has been added by me!!

On the close-up of the embellishment you will see that I have chalked the edge of the oval.  You can add colour to a dit cut in two ways:

1.  With a sponge or cut and dry foam - drag the colour in from the edge until you have sufficient shading.

2.  Leave the shape in the die and use as a stencil - chalk or ink - when the die is removed you then have a white edge and colour as well.

Drop by tomorrow and see the cards I'm taking to a sales day at the Hospital.  To all the kind crafters who donated cards, I will let you know how I got on on Wednesday. 

If you read my post yesterday re tips on embossing folders, I have added a couple of very useful tips which I forgot about at the time of writing - namely embossing larger cards and using an MFP. Can't think why I forgot these two because they are so helpful in extending the useage of your folders!

Cuttlebug Tutorial - Christmas No.6

Day 6 in my Christmas Cuttlebug Cupboard. I have my blogging mate Barbara to thank for this very simple, but stylish image. I struggled at first to come up with a design that would compliment the image, I was looking for style, simplicity, and yet wanted a contempary colour - I hope I've achieved this. See what you think....

I used:
6 x 4 Card in Dark Turquoise
Nestie - Mega Rectangle
Shapeabilities - Creat a flake
Embossing Folders:CB Distressed Stripes - Crafts-too-you Snowflakes
Silver embossed image
Chalk,Ribbon, gem and sentiment stamp (unknown)


Here you will see the embossing using the two folders. The easiest way to do this is to decide where you want the middle to be and emboss two or three lines with a score board. Unfortunately the picture is very dark but I think you'll get the picture (sorry for the pun!)

To give some relationship to the image and base card, I left the image in the die and chalked in a lighter shade of turquoise. You can get a super effect with chalk (or ink) by using a Cut -N-Dry pad.

My finished card with all the bits and pieces added.

This simple card was a challenge, but then less is more is often difficult. When to stop - that is the question!

See ya tomorrow with No. 7.....!?!??!?!......