A boy and his dog

*Silhouette bragging Alert*

So, I did it again, I used my silhouette for a card. Surprised much? I cannot begin to explain to you the ease with which you can put great projects together with this machine. I will never regret the purchase and if you've been on the fence about buying one or not, I suggest you go for it.

I made this one from a silhouette image of a boy, walking with his dog. I needed a card for hubby's birthday...last month. I struggle with male oriented cards in general and when I saw this image in the silhouette store, I knew I had to have it for my very own.

I cut the image onto some scrap black paper and layered it over a scrap piece of gingham paper. Oh My, but I do love my scraps :) I just wish that they would come to an end so I wouldn't feel guilty about cutting a new piece of paper every now and again :)

{P.S. Don't forget to vote in my poll in the side bar to the right}

Silhouette Image used:
- boy and dog silhouette

Challenges !
- The Crafty Pad: Use an Animal
- Fussy and Fancy: Anything Goes
- The the Craft room Door - Anything Goes
- Make it Monday: #112

xoxo

Magnetised Cards

We all love trying something new with our crafting every now and again. It makes us feel liberated from the same old boring things that we do day in and day out... or is that only me? Nevertheless, I really do feel this way about my crafting, and although I like to play it safe a lot of the time, sometimes I like to break out of my comfort zone and try a new technique.

The technique in question is the use of magnets on my card. And not just to make an actual magnet, but to make a paper doll :) I use to love playing with my Princess Diana paper doll back in the day, the kit came out with a ton of dresses for the deceased princess and I think I remember changing the clothes around so much that I wore off the tabs that actually held the clothes in place! hahaha!

The paper doll I made was compliments of Mo's Digital Pencil, Images I used in particular were a freebie set called Trudy's dress. A set downloaded long ago, so I cannot even tell you where to find it for your yourself unless you go hunting on Mo's site (that's Mo Manning for those who don't know).

The pictures tell the story, I stuck a strip of magnetic tape to the back of Trudy's party dress, as well as to the back of Trudy's image. I made sure the two strips aligned before I adhered, I also made sure that the magnetic sides facing each other were opposites (very important, else the dress will not 'stick').

 

The entire Image was coloured with a mixture of  watercolour artist's pencils and plain colour pencils. All paper came our of my scrap heap, as did the very short piece of ribbon for Trudy's dress bow (see! hoarding helps!)

The card went to my friend Rachel, see how I cleverly inserted her name on the gift tag behind Trudy? Clever me! LOL!

xoxo

5 Tips every crafter should know

I hope this doesn't count as plagiarism, but I saw these tips in a magazine and couldn't help but think that I needed to share with my followers. I know about 95% of you all craft and that the info will come in handy (if you don't already know it).

So, without any further ado, here are 5 tips (plus my added commentary, couldn't leave you to read in peace without my two cents):

1. Keep your stamps clean - most ink will wipe off with a baby wipe, but permanent ink can only be removed with a solvent cleaner.
(the magazine mention StazOn stamp cleaner for the solvent cleaner - advertising much? lol! I personally didn't know about the baby wipe trick, it is one I will put into use from now on as it is a huge schlep to trot to the bathroom with a dirty stamp every time, in order to wash it off with soap and water)

2. Sharpen your punches by folding a sheet of foil several times and then punching through it.
(this is one I knew, but then forgot about. It really is a clever little trick and saves you from wondering how on earth you are going to afford 'another' punch)

3. Use non-stick scissors for cutting through tape and other sticky items, or clean scissors with alcohol wipes.
(I must admit that I have been blessed to have owned non-stick scissors from the start of my scrapbook and card making love affair so although the tip is a useful one, the 'problem' has never really been a 'problem' for me. I hope it helps you?)

4. Store your ink pads upside down to prevent them from drying out.
(what a great tip! I have had sooooo many ink pads dry out! going to turn all my ink pads upside down tonight)

5. Keep a pin in the end of your glitter glue to prevent blockages.
(well, I say forget about just the glitter glue, what about all your glue? I'm sure this could work for more brands? will try and let you all know, though I am sceptical as to how the pin will stay where it is if the nozzle is larger than the head? and if so, what to do as an alternative)

Hope you got some use out of the tips, I certainly gained a lot of knowledge I didn't have before.

xoxo

Simple Savers & Caft Pal Gifts

The two are one and the same. I recieved a gift from a craft friend, who seems to come from the USA by looks of the postage stamp? The reason I do not know who she is, is because we are part of a group called Secret Pals...the same one I was part of last year. I will not find out she is until the end of the Secret Pal Term, which is still a couple of months away.

The aim of the group is to send a person (pre-assigned by the co-ordinators) anonymous cards throughout the year. Gifts are optional to send but not necessary. The aim of the group is to pass on a little kindness to someone else and get to know someone new :) We have ladies from all different parts of the world in our group. The group in question can be found at the Papercraftplanet.com site under the Anything Goes logo.

I have so far recieved a box filled with craft goodness, and two envelopes filled with same. My Secret Pal's 'name' is Sea Hag. Interesting name. In her most recent envelope to me she included two card kits and a couple of embossed blocks of vellum. How nice of her to make crafting so easy for me :)

See the aqua coloured card with the pink and white accents in the middle? I got to play with that this morning....

I added a couple of items and techniques...

And got this....

I stamped and wet embossed an image from a stamp pack I got from my Germany-based friend, Maria - for my birthday, called 'Cameo Image' by My Paper World. Ink used was Micia. Not a well-known brand I don't think, but the sponge is deliciously juicy and full of ink. The flat backed pearls were bought for R4.00 a pack of 50...Bargain.

The sentiment is from a set my American friend, Bridgette, sent me last year. Forgive me B, but I do not know the company name? It is mounted the same as Angel company rubber stamps, so that would be my best guess. Stamp pad used was Pretty Color, also deliciously juicy.

I made a matching bookmark, using a border image from the same cameo stamp set, the same ink, and the same embossing method. The sentiment is, I am assuming, an Angel company stamp and is from the My Inspiration set (T2390).

I will be thanking you in the group forum, but, thank you  Sea Hag for providing an awesome craft session for me. What you are will truly show in what you do, and your kindness and thoughtfulness proves you to be a kind and thoughtful individual.

xoxo







The Mighty Pinwheel

Ah, yes, the mighty pinwheel. How it has entertained millions for many years. I decided to give it a go today.

I whipped three pinwheels up in less than ten minutes (it helps to be a paper hoarder and to have tons, literally, of paper on hand - especially scraps). An easy craft, suitable for all ages, whether you are a bona fide 'crafter' or not these babies are simple!

I cut mine using my Silhouette (read fancy papercrafting cutting machine that cost an arm and a leg me a pretty penny) because I'm lazy like that, but you can easily print a template of the good ole internet and cut the form out with any old pair of scissors. Good craft for kids I think. Below are just three of the template and directions sites I found when I googled Pinwheels:

http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.com/pinwheeltemplate.html

http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/basicpinwheel.html

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/summer/mpinwheel.htm

There are many such sites I am sure, but I think the above will more than suffice.

So, what did I do with my pinwheels? Well, the avid photographer in me took them on a photo shoot of course!

In the Pot plants

By the Wheelbarrow

In the bush!

And in the house...

I even gave them a good ole exercising! Phew!

Would love to see the pinwheels you make, drop me an e-mail with a picture or two :)

Happy Weekend!

xoxo