Sunday 28 December 2014

Think I am on a roll...so to speak

Yes I am back again..think being in crafty bubble for several days its got me on roll....

Yesterday I spend most of the afternoon trying out another idea that I found the web, so just add to give it ago for myself, I have been looking at embossing folders or templates online and from my research they can be bit expensive so I decided to see if making my own would work the same.

First of all you need doe-flex but I don't have any in so I decide to box clever and put laminated pouch (these are so cheap to get hold of in stationary shops and discount stores) through a laminater first, then spray light mist of Stick and Spray on the back and stick the sheet to the cameo mat. 

This designed was created by myself using just circles in the silhouette software, and didn't think it would work but I always say give it ago and see what happens. Glad I did.. I have got the result I wanted which is always good and hasn't costed a lot neither 
 

 This one was made using cutting file that was purchased from the Silhouette store and still available to buy (the cutting file was originally a border)

The cutting settings I used to make these are as follows -
Blade 6 - Speed 8 - Thickness 8

This was a experiment with the settings and found they worked perfectly for me, but every machine can be slightly varied so you can play about on yours to see what suits you.

I am so chuffed with how they turned out and cant wait to start making something creative with them, I will be bring my creations on here very soon and show you how I got on with them. I am experimenting with them as embossing folders using the cuttlebug and I must say you do need a few sheets of copy paper to act as shims and using the two B plates and brown mat. Its not a really deep embossing but its very pretty and I will be using them regularly. I have not tried them as yet as templates for inking but think they should work well, but I will of course let you know how I get on.

(These are slightly smaller than 6 inches so they fit in the Cuttlebug)

So glad you visited my blog today, please leave me comment so I know you have been by and don't forget to follow my blog via the Follow button on right hand side of this post, so you can be the first to hear my latest news, posts and of course updates. 

I will be back very soon and until next time
Keep crafting and smiling 

xxxx 



Saturday 27 December 2014

Spent the holiday season getting back into my crafting with the Silhouette cameo - Part two

Well as I am enjoying being back in crafty swing again, I have tried out something I have been waiting to do in while after spotting this when I blog surfing. This one is from a brilliant blog called the Silhouette School blog - click here to take you straight there.

There is many pen holders available out there and can cost a range of prices, just recently Silhouette Cameo brought out their own pen holder that fits most pens and pencils. Well at the moment I personally can afford to purchase them. But I wanted to be able to still draw with the cameo and not have to buy add ons. So when I notice this idea in summer, I must give it try and see if it works for me. well I have finally got round to trying it and wow its brilliant idea..

First off you will need the pens that the Silhouette School states and are available in UK and I have seen them in stores -
Poundland - Poundworld - 99p Store and other discount stores for £1. (Available in many characters and colours too)

You can use these pens directly in the machine without converting them for other pens


Following the simple and quick instructions at Silhouette School blog (blog link above)

You will be able to make this pen holder for your cameo and its not costed very much neither, and the pens I have been using it with are the Bic round stic pens in black ink, but bic have range of bright colours are aswell and available in most stores. 

For the settings - I use the silhouette cameo sketch pen settings and works perfectly with this home made version,

As you can see it does a really good job of sketching and with excellent results.


Hope you give this a try and let me know how you get on it, you will have to be careful which designs you choose like they tell you with the normal sketch pens. But I know you will love this idea once you give it ago.

Keep crafting and smiling and I will be back soon with more ideas and inspiration

xxxx 

Spent the holiday season getting back into my crafting with the Silhouette cameo - Part one

Hope all my friends and followers had nice relaxing break during the holiday season, well like the title says I spent most of the holidays getting back into my crafting and getting my mojo back. I must tell you its been really refreshing to be able to chill out and focus solely on my hobby and its given me loads of lovely ideas that I will be sharing with you lovely people over the next few weeks and months ahead. Including tips on keeping costs down in your crafting as this time of year budgets are already squeezed.


After having such a lovely time playing and designing with my cameo machine, I set upon designing and making my own Peel offs from vinyl that I picked up free from my local sign writers shop. I would recommend anyone trying out the option as most sign writers will give you off cuts of there vinyl for FREE (a word I love to hear)

Has you can see, I have got tons of vinyl and its excellent quality and I have never paid a penny for it neither and if I hadn't of required it, it would of end up in landfill.  

I love peel offs so much and personally think more of us should be using them, as it seems they not in fashion at the moment but like everything, I know they will be back in fashion in no time at all. 

Using the silhouette cameo software I type and weld three occasions I regularly use on my cards, using Comic Sans font. 

As you can see it works perfectly on vinyl and looks better than the ones you can purchase in store, as most can sell for about 50p -£1 sheet, so you are saving money making your own.
The vinyl in these pictures are colour gold and pink..

 With using the vinyl makes the peel offs awful lot stronger than shop ones and would look fabulous on any card.

 Made using cutting file available in silhouette cameo



Also I have started creating my very own backing papers using Serif Craft Artist, this is so simple to do and so much more original. Using A5 document in the program, the paint brush tool and brushes tool.

I will be adding part two of this post next with more ideas and tips to save you all money.

I really hope you have enjoyed visiting my blog today, please leave me comment so I know you have been by and don't forget to follow my blog through the follower button on right hand side of this post - so you are updated on my latest news, ideas and plans.
Keep crafting and smiling
xxxx





Wednesday 17 December 2014

News to share

Hello my friends, I have some sad news to share that after nearly two years I have decided to stand down from Carley Duff's Cameo and Creata design teams, I have not took this decision lightly and loved being apart of such lovely team and the wonderful Carley Duff for giving me the fabulous opportunity in first place. 

I would like to wish Carley, Tracy, Michelle and Tina the very best of look for the future and we all remain friends, which I love as those guys have been amazing.


A few things have happen recently that as made me re-evaluate my crafting life, and will be getting back into my crafting and bring you more ideas and posts for 2015 on this blog. So be sure to follow me, by signing up with the followers button on right hand side of this blog.


Bigs Hugs and Crafty Smiles


xxxxxx


   

Saturday 6 December 2014

A Thank you gift


Well my posts of late seem to be coming fast and furious or like buses, waiting ages for bus and three turn up all at once. 

Well my mum asked me, could I make Thank you card and little thank you gift.. So I set out on making a gift box using The Boxer board with the fabulous card from Active paper who have eBay store - Click here for Active paper link

The handmade soaps and bath bomb fizzes were purchased from local market, but it as inspired me to give handmade soaps a try, so when I do get round to making some I will do a blog post on here..

I do love a Thank You card and gift and think we should send more as I find we don't seem to do it as offer as we should really.. What with our busy life's but its lovely to such someone you really appreciate them. 





Items used - Active paper on eBay - Couture creations embossing folders, Lifestyle crafts embossing folders, Ribbon, Card stock from The Works, Martha Stewart border punch, Docrafts Rubber Stamp, Spellbinders dies, Sequins,

Until next time keep crafting and smiling 
Big Hugs

Monday 1 December 2014

Hooray!! CREATA is back on our screens


Yes you have heard right that CREATA is back on our screens...Its been far too long since we have had our crafty army leader back on our screens but Carley Duff is back..

Create and Craft Channel (UK) Saturday 6th December 2014 11am - set your clocks and recorders ready.. Its going to be a-maz-ing!! 

Some of my samples for the fore coming shows















So hope you can join us and watch the show on Saturday, as CREATA have some amazing products on the market and lots of inspiration of course.

Bye for now and keep crafting and smiling


Back to Basics

I had to make couple of Thank you cards but didn't have a lot of time to get them done, so I decided to set myself my own challenge for change and go Back to Basics, creating my own background paper using stamping and rubber stamps - Which I have not done in ages...rather naughty I know!! but its something I've not done for many years. But I have re discovered my stamping bug now..so hoping to bring you more stamping samples soon. 

Also when I first started crafting I always used Peel Offs, but I am trying to start campaign to get crafters using Peel offs again as they seem to have gone out of crafty fashion these days. Which is sad as I love peel offs and they are good value and you can get them for next to nothing. With be being on budget these days like most people are, we all need to find crafty treats that fit around our budgets..

I love crafting on budget as I feel you don't have to keep spending lots of money on craft stuff when you can hunt out deals online, auction sites and local stores. You just have be a bit of thrifty crafter and think how you can craft on budget.





Items used for these cards are - C-ART-US embossing folder - Paperchase adhesive dots - Docrafts Papermania Free stamps from their magazine - Various Peel Offs - Forever Friends The Good Life Clear Stamps for the background wording - Pink and Red card by The works - Papermania adhesive gems - Purple,Orange and Light orange card DCWV - Martha Stewart Border punch and inked with Paintbox Pigment ink 

Thank you ever so much for visiting my blog today, please leave comment so I know you have been by..

Keep crafting and smiling until next time..Bye Bye

Saturday 8 November 2014

Blustery days

The nights are drawing in now and you can feel that nip in air most evenings, showing signs of Mr Winter arriving soon, Yes its time to get all your lovely cosy warm clothes out wardrobe and put the heating on again. Plus I always say its excuse for Hot Chocolate drink and or chocolate bar too. Yum!!

I have been crafting quite a lot of late with design team samples and will be sharing my work on here shortly but in the mean time I will show you card that was designed for Crafters Companion Facebook Challenge - Click here for that challenge.

This month's theme is Christmas or Winter, So I went down the winter route as we don't do Christmas really, we prefer to have lovely meal and couple box-sets to watch then swapping gifts, its  spending the holidays with family which most important of all than needing gifts.



Using the colours from the topper to inspire myself with the right colour theme, Its card that's a little  different to my normal card style, as I am trying to push myself to try new things. 



6 x 5 Card blank - I really love this size for friends and family cards.


Crafters Companion items used are - Topper printed on Crafters Companion Solar white neenah card-stock - Topper Image from Humphrey's Corner Everyday CD ROM and the Boxer board to create the fold to make the card.

Other items used - Lifestyle classic embossing folders - Printed Background strip from DCWV - Sequins from The works - Glitter card both white and blue from Quality save - Inked edges using Colour box chalk inks - Orange/red card from DCWV - Pale blue card from The works - Blue card stock from  Pound world - Mirror card from the The works. 

Topper was cut by using the Silhouette cameo software via print and cut and used my own design frame die to cut a frame around the topper and also created two offsets, plus the swirls were cut on silhouette cameo and purchase through the silhouette store.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today to my crafty world and would love you to leave comment so I know you have enjoyed your visit.

I will be back soon with those samples and some information on some TV shows coming soon.
Bye for now - Keep crafting and smiling. 

Other challenges this be enter into -




Tuesday 14 October 2014

Bows and Buttons!!

Howdy all!! by Joe is been ages since I have lasted share a post with you, but with one thing and another I just haven't add the chance. So I thought I would get cracking and get some lovely samples done to show my loyal followers..Speaking of followers - please do follow my blog using the "join the site" button on the left of my blog post.. I would love to have some more followers. 

This card I designed for two reasons one for a challenge and the other for special little boy who is one in December. The little boy in question is Sara Davies (Crafters Companion) little boy who will be one on his fore coming birthday!! so I will be sending this to CC HQ shortly so she as it before December..ready for his special birthday.



October's challenge at Crafters Companion Facebook Challenge is Bows and Buttons..
Click Here





Items used by Crafters Companion are - Die'sire Embossalicious Embossing folder ~ Happy Birthday / Stamp image by Crafters companion Toread rubber stamp - Just for you stamp from Bebunni ~ It's my birthday. Neenah solar white digital card.
Spectrum noir alcohol pen colours are -

Skin - TN2 - FS2 - FS3
Cheeks - PP1 -FS2
Hair - TH7 - TN8 - EB8
Stick - BT1 - BT2 - BT4
Clothing - BT6 BT7 - BT9

Other items used - OLIVER was designed and cut using the Silhouette Cameo - Background paper by DCWV - Brown card stock - Pale brown card by Papermill direct - Ribbon and buttons - Spellbinders dies / Number one cut out using Sizzix spaghetti alphabet.

Thank you for visting me today, please leave me comment so I know you have visited me today.

Keep Crafting and Bye for now until next time my crafty friends,





Sunday 7 September 2014

Good news to share


Last week I got to know that I am now apart of CREATA design team run by the very lovely Carley Duff....I was over the moon when I got the news as CREATA as some amazing crafty products and it was real honour to be asked. So thank you very much Carley..Whoop Whoop!!

Carley Duff presents and demo's shows on Create and Craft, so when I hear when the next shows are I will let you all know.

I am so excited and what amazing opportunity.

Thanks for visiting my blog today and hope you can follow my blog for the latest posts and news.
Bye for now.


Saturday 6 September 2014

Here is September and soon will be the start of the Autumn season

Well its September, which I cant believe as it does seem that long ago since we were back in January. Doesn't the years go by so quickly hey!! well I must admit I do love the Autumn, think its that feeling of the change of weather and the fall of the leaves. The need for lovely comfort food such as corned beef hash or lovely chicken pie. Bringing out your cardigans and maybe switching the heating on again. Autumn makes you have that lovely warm feeling inside and the start of brand new season.

Well I decided to use the Autumn for my inspiration for a challenge, Yes its that time of the month where I hunt out some challenges to enter. Over at Crafters Companion Facebook page their theme this month is can you believe is "AUTUMN" (Yay)
This is entry for this month's challenge - find it HERE








Items I used to create this card are - 
Topper is from Crafters Companion Popcorn and Pals CD ROM (UK) cut down using Silhouette Cameo Software.

 Brown card from Papermilldirect - Red, green, golden yellow card -Mirror card from Quality Save - Peel offs - Free Birds card template file from Birds cards and cut using Silhouette Cameo - scallops, mat and layer, leaves cut on Silhouette Cameo. 
Hope you enjoyed viewing my creation today and be sure to follow my blog for the latest news and blog posts. 
Bye for now until next time.

Saturday 30 August 2014

Massive crafty sort out and lots of scraps to use up

Well I've had massive sorted out of all my crafty stuff.. my word I have required quite lot of lovely craft things over the years. So it was long over due to get my craft stuff organise with the help from my new plastic storage unit I purchase from Aldi..

I found out I had tons of scraps of card and paper - so I have sorted all those into big A4 clear box and set myself a challenge to make some cards using up them scraps.
This is my first creation with my personal challenge and really enjoyed recycling the scraps too.

The image is from lovely site I found that as tons of free digi stamps - do visit as she as array of lovely things at Dearie Dolls Digistamps site and you will find the link HERE








Items I used - Free digi stamp by http://freedeariedollsdigistamps.blogspot.co.uk/  - All my leftover scraps from my supplies. Spectrum Noir Pens and WH Smith coloured pencils - Apple shape buttons - Peel off - White gel pen.

I enjoyed colouring this image so much as the image as lots of open spaces, and this was excellent practice for using my spectrum noir pens and using coloured pencils. First attempt so I am hope to some more samples with this technique. 

Hope you have enjoyed my blog post today and hope you visit me again. Please be sure to follow my blog for the latest post and news.

Crafty Hugs ;-)