TUESDAY TOP TIP

Today is a very quick 'Tuesday Top Tip'.

I had to laugh this week when a couple of my customers shared that they have adopted one of funny habits :-)

When watching TV (especially the crafting channels) and you see something you like, pause the TV. Then go and grab your camera and take a photo of the TV screen. OK, not everyone has this facility - it works on Sky+. This way, whatever has caught your inspiration can be captured and used later when you are crafting.

I have even taken a photo of a blouse/top that a TV presenter was wearing because of the colour combination. This is not copyright, just colour inspiration. Of course, I take care not to include the person themselves and once the idea is used the photo can be deleted.

OK, so I am addicted to my crafting............ that's not such a bad thing.

Happy craftin'

Sandra

Mummy ...... I'm helping .....

It's fatal to leave the craft room chair unattended with the door open !!

Here is my little Princess 'Smudge' trying to help Mummy getting class ready earlier this week.

:-)

Bank Holiday Weekend

Ok, so an unusual post this evening.

We have had an elderly Aunt in hospital in Manchester for the last 3 weeks and whilst David has managed to visit several times, unfortunately this was my first weekend that I could visit too.

I'm pleased to say she is much improved to when she came in very very poorly. We are staying overnight having visited and run shopping errands and back at hospital tomorrow.

For those of you who know, David is a Machester United fan and we are sitting in the hotel bar with a score of 3-1 down. David (and many others) not a happy bunny !!!

Luckily I have brought the laptop with me so sitting here amongst the footy supporters playing online with free Wi-Fi :-)

~~~~~

On a sad note, we have a very good friend in the village who is a Harley Davidson bike rider. He had an unfortunate accident last weekend at Brandon Creek and is still in Addenbrookes Hospital. We heard very sad news Wednesday that he has lost the fight to save his leg. Our love and thoughts go to Steve and his partner Cristel during this difficult time.

Sandra

TUESDAY TOP TIP

Today's Top Tip has been suggested by my downline Emily who reminded me of something I do with my Big Shot machine, which you might be interested in.

I am using the Big Shot even more now that SU have introduced lots of Dies and Embossing folders.

Most of us know the BS cracks and groans as it passes through the machine and also leaves cuts in the plates. These are unsightly but accepted as being part of the machines functions.

Sometimes these cuts can actually embed into card when going through embossing folder if you have part of the card outside the embossing folder.

To stop this happening I invested in another set of plates and labelled with permanent marker pen "EMBOSSING FOLDERS ONLY" on each plate. This way, these plates are staying pristine and don't leave unsightly marks, leaving the scratched ones for cutting Dies. I have advised all my classes using the BS and they are respecting why I have done this and so far (!!!!!!) with no accidents.

I know of a couple of other demos who have now done the same and some customers who are also following my Top Tip already.

A small investment but I feel it is worth it.

Happy Craftin'

Sandra

Daisy, Daisy

Here is a quick sample of a card of some daisies we did on my Big Shot Day last weekend.

When the new Mini was released, I was hesitant as to how many Dies to purchase. However, I'm taken in by all of them and keep gradually adding to them.

The Flower Daisies #2 Die #114520 is so versatile and creates beautiful results.

Sandra

RETREAT WEEKENDS ............ Watch this space ........

Emily is coming to spend this weekend with me in Norfolk to finalise our two Retreat weekends planned for September and November. Lots of ideas are jumping backwards and forwards by text and email already and we're so excited by this new venture and the interest that has been shown already.

Places will be strictly first come, first served and will require a non-refundable deposit.

Pop back on Monday for the finalised details.

:-)

TUESDAY TOP TIP

Welcome back to Tuesday Top Tip - and today there are a few Top Tips in one project !

When the 2011 Mini was announced, SU Demonstrators were given a FREE set of stamps at the launch training Itty Bitty Bits. Several people were cautious as to whether it would be popular or not. I eagerly awaited the matching Itty Bitty Punch Pack and matching Itty Bitty Buttons.

TIP 1 : Yesterdays card firstly used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. Each of the dimples were punched out using the small flower punch to make small flower heads. Don't forget to think outside the box and use for other purposes.

TIP 2 : For a different way to make a faux layer, cut a piece of scrap card the same size as project you are working on. Punch required shape - here I used the Wide Oval punch, positioning where you wish to make a template. The Whisper White card was placed underneath the template and then gently sponged through from the outside edges inwards.

To make stems, cut thin slithers of Old Olive cardstock free hand with scissors. Nature is not perfectly straight, so you don't have to be either !

TIP 3 : To make the leaves, I then punched one small flower in Old Olive cardstock and cut in half, then into segments as in photo above. OK, so they're fiddly to stick down but using a previous tip for the cocktail stick and blob of Tombow as a pick-up tool, it was easy. Again thinking outside the box.

Pop back again soon for futher Top Tips.

Happy craftin'

Sandra

ITTY BITTY PUNCHES

Here is a quick post of the card I made for the East Coast Stampers Get Together yesterday.

I love my punches and decided to make a CAS (Clean And Simple) design using one of the Itty Bitty Punches.

Please pop back tomorrow evening for 'Top Tip Tuesday' and I will show you a couple of techniques used on this card.

Happy craftin'

Sandra

TUESDAY TOP TIP - Recycled flowers

You may remember a Blog entry at the end of last year when I shared a birthday card I made with a beautiful flower ? Well, todays Top Tip will share another recycling idea together with a Tutorial on how to make these flowers.

Some of my regular customers will already have seen this technique. You may have seen lots of versions of this type of flower in 'Blogland' but this is a good way to recycle in a beautiful way. Apologies this wasn't posted previously but I found this in my saved 'Draft' entries this morning.

Stampin' Up! deliveries are very well packaged and padded with lots and lots of brown packing paper which used to fill up in my recycle bin !!

Much to the annoyance of my husband, I do like to recycle and when I think something may 'come in useful for crafting', it makes it's way into to craft room. (That's probably why it is filling up again, LOL)

Here is one of the cards from my workshop in January.

You will need to punch approximately 12 scallop circles from waste brown paper. It is easier to punch 2-3 layers together rather than one at a time. If you find difficult, try sandwiching between some scrap paper - no need to waste your printer paper, use junk mail !

Hold all layers roughly together and make a hole in the centre using a Cropodile or Pricking Tool. Insert a brad through and secure underneath.

Screw up each layer one at a time - don't be tempted to cut corners .... it really won't be the same as the layers need to be seperated.

Gently tease layers open. Grab your ink pad and 'scrub' the edges of the flower !

I like to pierce a hold in the project I am making and very gently partially undo the back of the brad to insert through hole to secure to my projects but be careful they don't all jump off !! This way you can hide the legs of the brad neatly underneath your project. Alternatively you can apply some red sticky tape or strong adhesive to the back.

Once you've had a go, I'm sure you will be saving all sorts of papers to recycle....... I found some lovely thick grey flecked tissue packing a pair of shoes.

Have fun playing and pop back soon !!

Sandra

BIRTHDAY CARD

Here is a quick peak at a birthday card I made for one of my downline. Instead of using her favourite colour, I was trying to think 'out of the box'.

The card uses the Friendly background stamp, stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Pink Pirouette cardstock. I have added some 1-1/4" Striped Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon which was ruffled by pulling a thread gently, a technique we used at both my classes this weekend. The envelope is one of our fabulous Stampin' Up! punches Petal Card and the two images are both from a Hostess Level 2 gift called Cute By The Inch.

I hope you like.

Sandra