Tuesday Tip/Technique

Hello friends

Well Tuesdays have definitely become a little like Fridays in that

I hope to deliver something die-useful!

Without further ado - today's tip/technique...

Bottle Tops!

Some years ago flattened bottle tops were all the rage in scrapbooking,

they phased out after a while but I still like to use them on projects.

My Square Bracket Edge Box features a bottle top with Bitty Blossoms,

and a key using Engraving Art Board.

But how do you flatten bottle top?

Very simply in your Grand Calibur®.

Take your pink 'B' Embossing plate and pop a piece of scrap paper onto it.

Next, position your bottle top with the edges facing up.

Cover with tan embossing mat and then the Raspberry Spacer Plate.

Run this through the machine - yes I know, it looks like the sharp bottle top edge

will cut into your tan mat but magically it doesn't! 

Instead you end up with a perfect flattened bottle top.

Important: use new uncrimped bottle tops (not a used one off a beer bottle).

You can buy them in places like Wilkinsons, anywhere that does home brewing.

Go on...do some flattening!

Take care friends.

A Crafty Space

Hello friends

It's that day when I feature someone's crafty space for us to take a nose...
I mean to take a keen interest! ;)

Today it is Lesley McCloskey (aka Stamping Bubbles)
and this is what Lesley has to say:

Here are some photos of my craft room. It doesn't usually look this tidy! 
My room has to be multi functional and sometimes is used as a spare for room 
for occasional guests and my parents-in-law.
They have just been for a visit that's why it is so tidy.

I hope you enjoy looking at my photos.

It is a very special place to me - somewhere to relax and de-stress after work and family commitments. And I know I am very lucky to have the space to have a whole room to myself although I do share it sometimes with my hubby as long as he doesn't complain about the mess!

Thank you Lesley, it is great room and those Useful Storage Boxes in pink are superb.
I am delighted to see the Grand Calibur centre stage and what a brilliant stock
of DVD's - I also tend to watch films when I'm crafting, I get totally absorbed in both.

Other news...

Again, thank you for the Charity Kit orders, some of you are also purchasing previous
kits which is great.  There are still some available on the website here.
Lynn Derbyshire recently spent a day crafting and made up some of the
Charity Kits, she kindly sent a photo to me.

They are brilliant Lynn, the decorated heart sold very quickly but look out
for August's kit - I think it will be another winner!

Take care friends - back tomorrow.

For Mum

Hello friends
Are we recovering from all the thunder storms?
Perhaps we do need those brollies now!

Thank you for the lovely response to the July Charity Kit,
always delighted when the kits are well received and this one
was definitely Elliott's project.

Yesterday this card was featured on the Crafty Power Blog -
a special card that I made for a special lady...my Mum!
All the details can be found here and if you are able to leave a comment that would be super!
The papers used are Graphic 45 - Botanical Tea (very pretty).

I've used Blooms One for the flower feature and Sprigs.

The tag is created with Back to Basics Tags - a die set that never leaves my craft desk. 

The wooden hearts are Freckled Fawn - Wood Chip, Hearts - now in stock on the 

website - I love these, you actually get 32 in a pack, that's a lot of love!

Elliott created the very nice banner for Freckled Fawn on the website too - 

in between kitten parenting.

Enjoy your Sunday, I'm in the shop today working on projects,
all will be revealed soon.

Take care friends.

July Charity Kit

Hello friends

Today announcing the July Charity Kit and it is....

Christmas come early!

A kit this month based on Elliott's Christmas card design from last year,

he has been working hard to pack these this week.

You will receive all the components to make a pretty snowflake card.

 Each kit contains:

White card base (148mm square - Craftwork Cards)

Paper insert

Envelope

Silver ribbon

Metal snowflake charm

Die cuts: 2013 Snowflake Pendant 

1 sheet of 6 x 6 Graphic 45 - Twelve Days of Christmas paper

(it will be one of the designs pictured below)

Lucky number

Full instructions

You are able to purchase via the PayPal button below and the

price is £4.95 inclusive of postage and packing.

July Charity Kit - £4.95

Or you can purchase through the website here in case you would like to add any extras.

Please note the kit price is different as postage is calculated and added at checkout.

I know it is probably naughty of me to mention Christmas this early but it is 

only 22 weeks away!

Don't forget to keep hold of your lucky number - the winner receives a goodie
bag of dies, stamps, adhesive and more!

Thank you so much for your support, Elliott and I are visiting 

Camberwell House soon and we are always proud to drop off a cheque 

and knitted blankets.

Take care friends.

Friday Die Day

Hello friends
In the midst of a heatwave I bring you Umbrellas!
This is Umbrella Trio and what a pretty brolly set it is!

The die measurements are:
Floral Insert: 1¾ x ¾”
Panel Insert: 1⅞ x ⅞”
Polka Dot Insert: 2 x ¾”
Umbrella: 2¼ x 2¾”

This is what they look like cut/embossed.
You can have a plain brolly or three different inserts, dots, stripes, floral.

Some weeks ago I made a card with stamped umbrellas and it has proved popular

so here it is recreated with Umbrella Trio.

A raspberry pink card base with matted grey square.

A white panel, stamped sentiment onto Back to Basics Tags and tied with twine.

I cut/embossed two grey umbrellas and nipped off their handles!

Cut/embossed the pretty brolly in raspberry pink and positioned it over the grey ones.

Tiny crystal gems for raindrops.

These are in stock and available here -
they would also make nice parasols too for this lovely sunshine!

Take care friends and enjoy your warm weekend.

Seeds!

Hello friends

Occasionally I rummage!  

I go through all the boxes under my bed, in the stock room at the shop and find 

projects I had completely forgotten about.

This is one of them - a seed wrapper.

These are so easy to make and make lovely little gifts.

Grand Labels Four scored at the width of the seed packet and folded inwards

to create the flaps.

The centre piece is Jewelled Flowers and Flourishes topped with a brad.

'Love' is cut from foil and is the Sentiments die (currently on sale on the website). 

The seed packet is kept in place with some Dodz aka sticky miracles!

This project would also work with other dies, as long as the die cut covers the seed packet

and definitely flowers on the front...and perhaps a butterfly!

Take care friends - enjoy the sunshine today.