First Aid!

Hello friends

Glad you liked the sneak peek of the October Charity Add-on Kit -

the chalkboard item seems popular.  I'm rather proud of it as I designed

it completely.  I downloaded fonts and a chalkboard background and spent

a fair amount of time at my computer creating it!   

(Elliott kept laughing at me!)

The big reveal will be soon....

Today, something a little different - I'm doing a crafty First Aid blog post.

I am always happy to answer any Spellbinders® questions and I thought I would post

some of the more frequently asked questions and the answers.

I have gleaned some new tips from some craft forums and thought it would be

good to pass this knowledge on. 

Q: My die isn't cutting on all the edges:

Move your die around your base plate, the Grand Calibur™ cuts more deeply at the outer 

edges as opposed to the middle.  Also, try placing your die at an angle. 

Q: My die is cutting the edges but not the area in the middle:

Again, try moving your die around the base plate. 

If that doesn't work, place a piece of masking tape on the back of the die on the problem area.  This helps to shim just that area and will hopefully add a little bulk to cut that 

area without having to shim the whole die.

Q: My die cut is stuck inside the die:

Spellbinders dies have little holes that you can use to insert a pokey tool through to help release the die.  If this doesn't work, try cutting with a piece of waxed paper first and then leaving that waxed paper inside the die and continue cutting.  It acts as a release layer.

Q: My A4 M-Bossabilities™  folder will not run through the Grand Calibur :

As you create your sandwich insert hinged section of the folder so that it overhangs the end of the plates, this should allow it to run through more smoothly.

A diagram to explain:

Q: The embossing seems a little faint:

Try misting the cardstock/paper with water in a misting sprayer.  

This helps loosen the fibres in the paper so they accept embossing a little better.  

Do not over-mist - you don't want soggy!  

It was suggested that opposed to water you can use vodka!

Yes vodka!! I think I may have other uses for that.... :)

I hope that helps, as mentioned - always feel free to contact me with Spellbinders questions.

I do my best to find the answer and if not I can direct you to the right people :)

Take care friends.

Winning Charity Kit Number and Sneak Peek

Hello friends

Today I am announcing the winning number for the September Add-On Charity Kit!

It is a yellow ticket and the number is......

If you are the winner first of all...congratulations!

I then need you to rush over to Waltzing Mouse Stamps -

click here and select 6 stamp sets - WOW - how brilliant is that!

(please ensure you select the ones that are in stock -
you don't want to be waiting for these lovelies!)

Jot the stamp names and numbers down and pop them on an email to me, don't forget your postal details and I will contact the lovely Claire at Waltzing Mouse
and she will dispatch them directly to you.

Now how about a little sneaky look at the October Add-On Charity Kit.....??
Something with a chalkboard theme... (all the trend right now).

 Wooden bunting and natural twine...

That's it for now, I'm not going to show any more just yet - I am a tease!
I will be revealing the October Charity Add-On Kit very soon, my family is working
super hard doing all this while Elliott and I go to and fro hospitals.
Again, with each kit a lucky number will be enclosed with another chance to win
6 stamp sets from Waltzing Mouse Stamps.

Finally, ...goodness I'm waffling on today!
 Oh yes, the Spellbinders® die cases - more are due in stock as
they have proved popular.  They are lovely, the suede is very stroke-able!

Inside it works like a clip folder and comes with plastic pocketed inserts. 

It can hold quite a lot - there are 2 inside cover pockets measuring 8 x 5". One page of small die template pockets (10 per page) measuring 2-7/8 x 1.5". One page of medium die template pockets (4 per page) measuring 2-7/8 x 4.5". Four pages of large die template pockets (2 per page) measuring 5-7/8 x 4.25".

It is possible to purchase more of the inserts, I am tracking 

them down and I will let you know as soon as they are also available.

Have a wonderful Sunday friends.
Take care.

A Little Giveaway!

Hello friends

A quick injection of Christmas today and a little giveaway!

This is another card from Make Christmas Cards.

It was the final card I made when I was working on this commission

and realised I had lots of scraps of paper left over.  

I then recalled a design that fellow design member Michelle Woerner had made

and was inspired - thank you Michelle!  

I cut the paper pieces into strips, adhered them to cardstock using an Adhesive Sheet 

and then cut/embossed with Stars Five.  

Tied some red twine around one star point and finished the card with one of the 

sentiments also free in the magazine.

Easy, quick and effective! 

I have a new sealed copy of the magazine to give away - 

it comes with all the papers, stamps, toppers and more - in fact it has 279 pieces -

(what an odd number, you think they would have rounded it up!)

If you haven't started thinking about Christmas cards and projects it might just be 

the little bump start you need or perhaps you are already in the throws of 

Christmas creating and would like more!

Either way - really simple, just leave me a comment today and I will

ask Elliott to pick out a winner.  

Thank you for all your kind comments on my crafty space yesterday,
remember to look up the Crafty Storage blog from time to time,
there are some great ideas.  Talking of storage - did you know Spellbinders have
a gorgeous raspberry coloured micro fibre suede die case available...

I have managed to get my hands on some of these and I'm stocking them in my Amazon shop.
Ooops! They have sold out! But I have placed an order for some more so
if you would like one I'm very happy to reserve one for you - just drop me an email.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend, I'm planning to have a lay-in at some point,

if you knew me you would laugh, I think I last managed to lay-in circa 1995!

Always been an early riser!  

Take care friends.

My Crafty Space

Hello friends

I'm talking about my craft space - the reason is that at some point today my 

craft room is going to pop up on this brilliant blog - Crafty Storage.

If you haven't come across this blog before be prepared to sit for hours and

be inspired by so many ideas.

When I first started crafting I never thought I would have a proper craft room.

I would find beautiful rooms on the internet and sit and drool! 

Like most crafters I started by using my dining room table, that's not so bad 

when you have a small craft collection but then everything grows -

your stash, your ideas, your 'crafty needs'! 

In my little VT I moved from the dining table into the conservatory - perfect lighting but ....

a bit chilly in Winter!

It was at this point I began to work with Design Teams and realised I needed a place 

that was far more organised and a tad warmer!

My first proper craft room was on the second floor of an office centre - 

I was in heaven - so much space!

But give a crafter space and it will be filled with more stuff and...

...more crafters! My first step into running classes.

Within six months I began to look for different premises and, as many of you know,

this is when I found my little studio/shop.

Now my craft room is the middle room, I miss having a window but I'm pleased I chose
a bold wallpaper to brighten the room.

 My quiet corner with plenty of storage.

 My desk looking VERY tidy, that's a rare thing nowadays!

 And within a few steps I'm in the studio/shop and that's definitely a happy place to be.

I hope you enjoyed my little crafty space tour today.
I will be back very soon - have a brilliant weekend dear friends.

With Love...

Hello friends

Today popping in quick to show a technique card - 

this card is being featured in the Q and A section

of Cardmaking and Papercrafts magazine that has just been published.

The question asked about different ways of using an embossing folder and I explained 

a few techniques.  Embossing envelopes is one of my favourite things at the moment. 

I have good intentions of doing this with all my Christmas card envelopes this year even

if I end up buying the cards!  It would be nice to add a crafty touch even if it is just the envelopes!

I also explained in the magazine about embossing die cuts with a pattern

and inking embossing folders. 

 I've used Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany - it really does have an inky distressed look -
I must have felt like emphasising the distress that day! 

The M-Bossabilities™  folders are: Awesome Blossoms and Enchanted.

I'm back in my London job for the next two days, it will feel nice

to be back into some normal routine.  Things are still progressing well at home,

we are back at The Royal Marsden next Tuesday but I will be back with lots more 

craftiness and news (lucky number news!) before then.

Take care friends and thank you for all the lovely comments, messages and emails - 

you are all amazing.

Seaside and Sunshine!

Hello friends

The sun was shining yesterday and although there was so many things

I should have been doing (shop door did get painted but could do with another coat!)

I decided a day at the seaside was in order. We piled into the car - 

myself, Elliott, Mitchell (his girlfriend too) and not forgetting Bella!

Whitstable was our destination and it was glorious.

Whitstable is famous for its oysters and they have put in place a recycling point for oyster shells!

It seems they are doing a grand job.

The town is quaint and full of lovely little shops and restaurants.

We discovered this particular eatery!

We had lunch outside the Tudor Tea Rooms ('outside' because Bella was with us!)

Everyone that walked by stopped to make a fuss of her, she totally stole the show 

and was very happy.

We all had a lovely time and when I got home I felt energised enough to 

do my garden, something that was well overdue.  

Elliott is progressing well with his mask at home - I feel we can surround him

with positively and by taking little steps we will eventually get there.

I will be announcing the winning number for the September Charity Add-On Kit within

the next couple of days - just a tiny delay as I've just received in a couple more orders.

The lucky winner will be selecting 6 stamp sets from Waltzing Mouse Stamps! 

Look out - October Charity Add-On Kit is nearly finalised thanks to my little workers (aka family!)

Now, as I've talked about seaside and sunshine how about a Christmas tag?!

Yes, I'm still sharing projects that I created for Make Christmas Cards magazine.

A simple design using Labels Four for the outer tag shape and also for the 

green criss-cross paper.  Wrapping a tiny piece of lace to the bottom section 

(never throw little pieces of lace/ribbon away!) 

Classic Hearts and Create A Flake complete the design. 

Take care friends and I do hope there is a little bit of sunshine in your day today -

it makes a world of difference.