Wednesday 30 April 2014

How to ink an embossing folder

As it's my turn again to post in the Papermill blog, I thought I'd carry on the theme of embossing which I started a couple of months ago. Some folk have asked about using ink with an embossing folder so I've made a post showing how I do it.
It's a great idea for adding a different texture with colour at the same time.
The card I have used is Teal, White and Bright Orange  - all from Papermill 

1. You'll need a piece of card, brayer, ink and an embossing folder.

2. Run the brayer over the ink pad several times and transfer the ink to the inside front of the folder.
(I'm not actually left - handed , I was just taking the photo with my right hand  ;)

3. Put the piece of  card inside the inked folder and pass through your diecutting/embossing machine.

4. Now you have a lovely piece of inked and embossed card to use.

5. I have made a slice of orange and a slice of lime using the top of my Tonic Studios Domed Window die, Promarkers and Glossy Accents.





Tuesday 29 April 2014

Demo at Donegal Stationery, Letterkenny on Saturday.


Hi.....it's a gorgeous sunny day here and I'm busy making samples for my demo at Donegal Stationery on Saturday. I'll be combining Tonic Studios dies and punches with Trimcraft ranges and Promarkers - so there should be something to interest most folk in that mixture!
I always enjoy the craic with "the girls" at Letterkenny and I'm really looking forward to the day. I'd love to see some new faces there too, so if you're free, come along and join us.

Friday 25 April 2014

Gift box TUTORIAL using Tonic Studios Sentiment die set

I've been making cards and boxes with some of the new Tonic dies and it's time for another tutorial. This time I'm going to show you how I made this little gift box using the Happy Birthday Sentiment set.


You'll need:
A4 white card 
aqua card 
acetate
 ribbon


Tools:
Die cutting machine
Craft knife
Steel ruler
hole punch
Scoring board (or embossing tool and ruler)
DST
Tacky glue


1. Use the outer die to cut 2 squares.

2. Use the next die to cut out the pattern.

3. Do not use the next square die but use the two smallest dies to cut out the pattern and a small square in the centre of both shapes.

4. Take the A4 sheet of white card and trim according to the template above.

5. Score and fold the little flaps at the sides as shown.

6. Score and fold the centre part as shown.

7. Turn the "box" over and add DST along the outside edges of the flaps.

8. Glue the die cuts to the panels.

9. Insert the smallest die into the centre and tape in place (you'll feel it "click" into the correct position) and pass through your die cutting machine..

10. Do the same on the other panel.

11. Add a little square of acetate behind each aperture with DST.

12. To finish, fold the sides of the box up and attach with the DST which you already have in place. Hold the front and back together and punch  a hole in the centre.
Add ribbon through the hole  - and place the gift inside :)


Thursday 24 April 2014

Papermill - chance to win a box of card

There is a chance to win a box of card over at Papermill Direct.
Click the link to go over to the blog and see the details HERE

I have made the top card with Papermill white card and used Baby Pink for the flowers (Tonic Studios Rose,Pansy Punch and Stamp set) and Spring Green for the corner  (Tonic Studios Pansy Arch Corner).
I've used the Tonic Studios Ovals dies and Amelia embossing folder.


On my second card I have gone BRIGHT! I've used Daffodil Yellow and Bright Orange card for the flowers - Tonic Studios Peruvian Lily,Punch and Stamp set (with the petals placed in the opposite way).

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Using Creative Foam in your projects

Do you ever use Creative Foam on your cards etc? I've been using quite a bit of it lately for all sorts of things and thought I'd share some photos.

It comes in A4 packets and the one I've been using on these projects is the Dovecraft "Reds".
It's quite thin so is perfect for cutting and shaping without leaving thick edges.



For my first card I have taken a hole punch and punched out lots of small circles. Then I glued them to a piece of acetate in a random pattern to create a "dotty stamp". I have layered 2 circles on top of each other for each spot to give a sharp stamp effect. Then I attached the acetate to an acrylic block with masking tape before I covered in ink and stamped a background.

I cut a little heart shaped template from paper and used it to cut 5 petals from foam, then I drew markings with a permanent marker. I pinched the petals together at the base and glued them to a circle of foam with a hot glue gun. To create the centre of the flower I cut a tapered strip of foam, snipped along the length and glued into a spiral. I added some Dovecraft Crystal Glitter Glue to the middle.

I have also given the image a bit of dimension by using a piece of coordinating foam behind the panel as a matt.


For this card I've matted and layered the embossed white card and the Trimcraft Funfair paper onto foam before attaching to the card blank.
To make the flowers I cut two long tapered lengths of  foam and glued into a spiral shape with a hot glue gun before adding a gem in the centre of each. You can vary the width and length of the foam strip to create different sizes of flowers.

This time I used the foam again to create a dimensional matt behind the embossed white card and made a layered bow by cutting 3 strips of foam ( I have used a darker shade for the centre strip).
The bottom strip measures 12cm x 2cm and I cut tails at each end.
The middle strip is 15.5cm x 2cm and the top strip measures 10cm x 2 cm. 
I doubled the top two over so that the ends met in the centre and glued on top of the bottom strip. Then I folded the whole thing in half and cut notches through it all from each side at the middle. I wrapped a thin strip of foam around the middle and glued at the back.
The "Berries" are made with a hole punch and I've added a spot of Sparkle Mod Podge for extra shine.



I hand cut a tag shape from white card and covered it with Trimcraft Funfair 6x6 paper, leaving a gap round the edges. For the flower I cut a 4cm wide strip of foam from the whole length of the A4 sheet. I glued the long edges together with a hot glue gun and snipped into the other (unglued) length being careful to leave the glued edge intact. Then I wound it into a spiral and glued the whole base with hot glue. The "leaves" were made by quilling thin strips of foam and gluing behind the flower.

Monday 21 April 2014

..and we're off!

Well, that was the last of the "hols" and what a lovely day it was!
We headed down the scenic route to Carlingford and back across the border to Warrenpoint today...eating far too much on the way and even stopping off to watch a chicken race - seriously!!

Ready for anything! Not the healthiest option but hard to beat :)

I just love rural Ireland - en route to Omeath

 Road to Omeath

 Omeath

Greer's Harbour

Greer's Harbour with the Mourne Mountains in the background.

 Carlingford Marina

 Carlingford Marina

 Carlingford

 Carlingford

 Carlingford

 King John's Castle,  Carlingford

  Carlingford

 The "Carlingford Chicken Race"

Warrenpoint

Warrenpoint - looking across to Omeath.

Well, that's it for a while- back to porridge in the morning  - I have all my card, punches, dies etc set out and ready to go for tomorrow.