More rain today it seems. Its been pretty constant for the last 3 days. The Bruce Highway is closed, Kerry is stuck in Townsville and the street between me and the shops is flooded. Hope its going to ease up soon.
On a brighter note I have got quite a bit of scrapping done. Tried my first white and one, but I am not happy with it. I like simple, clean pages, but its a bit too bare. I need to add some more, but I don't know what. I'm sure something will come to me.
Have to work on this blog too. I need to find out how to add links etc. If I can't work it out I will pick Toni's brain.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A few tips for today
Emboss acetate or transparencies then sand part or all of the design to get a frosted look. It can also be coloured with alcohol inks.
If you don't have the right coloured stamp pad, you can stamp with craft paint. It gives a slightly messier look. I just dab the paint on to the stamp with a brush or sponge. Work quickly, the paint sometimes dries fast, and please remember to clean your stamps immediately!
Tags are great. The can be a mini LO on your page. You can add titles, journalling, photos, embellishments, comments etc. Cut out by hand or use a template or die cutting machine.
Sandpaper is a great tool. It can be used for distressing paper, cardstock, embellishments etc. Try it on scraps to determine which grade gives you the look you want.
Print your photos on pale coloured Bazzill for a canvas type look. If you age the photo first in Photoshop, it gives a great effect.
Draw a double line border around your page and journal in between the lines.
When you are punching tiny shapes like stars, hearts, circles etc, put a piece of DST on the back of your cardstock or paper, then punch through that. You now have a ready made self adhesive sticker.
Use an open circle of patterned paper or cardstock, or a circle of small dots or rhinestones to highlight an area of a photo.
Title letters can be adhered across an unwanted or dark area of a photo.
Thats all for now.
If you don't have the right coloured stamp pad, you can stamp with craft paint. It gives a slightly messier look. I just dab the paint on to the stamp with a brush or sponge. Work quickly, the paint sometimes dries fast, and please remember to clean your stamps immediately!
Tags are great. The can be a mini LO on your page. You can add titles, journalling, photos, embellishments, comments etc. Cut out by hand or use a template or die cutting machine.
Sandpaper is a great tool. It can be used for distressing paper, cardstock, embellishments etc. Try it on scraps to determine which grade gives you the look you want.
Print your photos on pale coloured Bazzill for a canvas type look. If you age the photo first in Photoshop, it gives a great effect.
Draw a double line border around your page and journal in between the lines.
When you are punching tiny shapes like stars, hearts, circles etc, put a piece of DST on the back of your cardstock or paper, then punch through that. You now have a ready made self adhesive sticker.
Use an open circle of patterned paper or cardstock, or a circle of small dots or rhinestones to highlight an area of a photo.
Title letters can be adhered across an unwanted or dark area of a photo.
Thats all for now.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Too busy scrapping to work on this blog .....
but I am here again now. I have been trying to decide what to put on this page and I have decided for the moment I will post some tips, tricks and techniques I have picked up over the years.
For any beginning scrappers, there are several techniques which are used on a regular basis.
TORN PAPER This is a common technique, but there are several ways to tear paper. You can use one of the shaped rulers especially made for the purpose, but it is easy to do it by hand. Hold your sheet of paper with both hands fairly close together. Bring your right hand forwards as you tear and you will notice that the paper in your left hand has a white edge. This is the piece usually used, but sometimes you may want the tear the other way. These edges can then be inked or chalked or left as they are.
DISTRESSING Cut your paper or cardstock with trimmer or scissors, then run your distresser or blade of your scissors backwards and forwards against the cut edge, until you have the amount of distressing that you want. Once again you can ink or chalk or leave it as it is.
INKING Several ways to do this as well, the one I use is with a small stiff paint brush. Dab your brush onto the stamp pad, lay your paper or cardstock onto a piece of scratch paper, and starting on the scratch paper and brushing onto your cardstock, gently go over the edges you want to ink. Do this lightly, you can go back over to build up the colour. Another method is to gently brush a stamp pad against the edge of your paper or cardstock.
CHALKING This can be done the same as inking, use a small brush and load from your chalks.
CRUMPLED PAPER Paper and cardstock can be misted lightly with a spray bottle, then crumpled tightly. Smooth out and iron dry. Cardstock treated like this then lightly rubbed over with a Distress Ink pad looks great.
STITCHING Stitching can be used in a variety of ways, the most common is a simple back stitch, just as if you were sewing, or a series of crossstitches. Pierce your paper or cardstock before you start, prevents holes in the wrong place (for instance, your fingers) and makes the job much easier. You can use embroidery thread, ribbons, string, leather, raffia etc for this.
That will do for this time, more later.
For any beginning scrappers, there are several techniques which are used on a regular basis.
TORN PAPER This is a common technique, but there are several ways to tear paper. You can use one of the shaped rulers especially made for the purpose, but it is easy to do it by hand. Hold your sheet of paper with both hands fairly close together. Bring your right hand forwards as you tear and you will notice that the paper in your left hand has a white edge. This is the piece usually used, but sometimes you may want the tear the other way. These edges can then be inked or chalked or left as they are.
DISTRESSING Cut your paper or cardstock with trimmer or scissors, then run your distresser or blade of your scissors backwards and forwards against the cut edge, until you have the amount of distressing that you want. Once again you can ink or chalk or leave it as it is.
INKING Several ways to do this as well, the one I use is with a small stiff paint brush. Dab your brush onto the stamp pad, lay your paper or cardstock onto a piece of scratch paper, and starting on the scratch paper and brushing onto your cardstock, gently go over the edges you want to ink. Do this lightly, you can go back over to build up the colour. Another method is to gently brush a stamp pad against the edge of your paper or cardstock.
CHALKING This can be done the same as inking, use a small brush and load from your chalks.
CRUMPLED PAPER Paper and cardstock can be misted lightly with a spray bottle, then crumpled tightly. Smooth out and iron dry. Cardstock treated like this then lightly rubbed over with a Distress Ink pad looks great.
STITCHING Stitching can be used in a variety of ways, the most common is a simple back stitch, just as if you were sewing, or a series of crossstitches. Pierce your paper or cardstock before you start, prevents holes in the wrong place (for instance, your fingers) and makes the job much easier. You can use embroidery thread, ribbons, string, leather, raffia etc for this.
That will do for this time, more later.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
I don't have much of my craft stuff with me at the moment, but hopefully it won't be long and it will all be here. I feel like I have had one arm cut off, I really miss my cricut, BigKick, embossing folders, stamps, BIA, papers, punches, Design Runner ... all the things that make life worthwhile.
In the meantime, I will just keep writing here to keep myself up with what is happening.
Today I posted my Boy Swap Embellishments to Mel from Hybrid Designs Scrapbooking. The swap closes next Saturday, I think, but I got them away a bit early so I wouldn't be rushed. This is the first swap I have participated in, it is going to be like Christmas when my envelope arrives!
I have bought a Making Memories Slice machine and I am waiting (very impatiently, I must say) for it to arrive. It will be interesting, I have heard good and bad reports. I will let you know what I think.
In the meantime, I will just keep writing here to keep myself up with what is happening.
Today I posted my Boy Swap Embellishments to Mel from Hybrid Designs Scrapbooking. The swap closes next Saturday, I think, but I got them away a bit early so I wouldn't be rushed. This is the first swap I have participated in, it is going to be like Christmas when my envelope arrives!
I have bought a Making Memories Slice machine and I am waiting (very impatiently, I must say) for it to arrive. It will be interesting, I have heard good and bad reports. I will let you know what I think.
Where I live
I have to show you all, this is where I live.
Looking over towards Dunk Island from the beach which is less than 5 minutes walk down the street.
I love it here, the climate is tropical ... we are in our 'wet season', getting plenty of rain, the green frogs are everywhere, the vegetation is luxuriant and there are cassowaries roaming around the bush!
I am a retired mum of 5, all grown up now, 8 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and 2 more on the way. I have always had a passion for crafts, making all the kids clothes when they were small. As they got older I progressed into knitting, embroidery, crochet, crossstitch and finally cardmaking and papercrafting. Now that I have retired I am enjoying the extra time that I have for my crafts, scrapbooking occupying most of my day. If I am not scrapping, I am on the net, looking at others work and getting inspiration.
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