Monday 27 October 2014

Quick Update

I've just returned from a fabulous holiday in Wales with my boys!  We had a lovely week, but it's nice to be home so I can get back to crafting.  I'm starting my next card for the Simply Cards and Papercraft competition, but I think it will take me a week to complete.  I'll post some pics as I go along, I'll be using my 3-step Silhouette template.

Thursday 16 October 2014

Free Silhouette File

I've added my first silhouette file in the link at the top right of the page.  It's a template for a card, approximately 6x6 with a popout in the centre.  It seems to work ok, I was able to download it onto a different computer so I hope you will be able to use it, too!

The file includes all the mats and layers for the centre, and I've used different colours for each layer so if you go into cut settings>advanced, you can select the layers you need to print.  The score lines are perforated so you could cut them, but I prefer to score them after I've cut them. They are also a separate colour so you can turn off the perforations if you prefer.

 Here's some pics of the card I made with my silhouette.




I apologise for the poor photography, I am hopefully going to improve soon! 

The items used for this card are :

Image:
Hopeful digistamp by Sylvia Vet at Wee Stamps
Coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils, and promarkers

Papers :
Kraft cardstock
Core'dinations
My Minds Eye Bluebell

Dies and punches:
Spellbinders circles and scalloped circles
Martha Stewart border punch
Marianne design leaves

The sentiments I just typed out and printed on Desert Storm Neenah and cut with my silhouette to fit.

I hope you like the card and cutting file. I entered "Hope" as one of my cards for the Cardmaker of the Year 2014 (Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine), so I'll let you know how I got on later this month.  It's the first time I've entered a competition like this one, but I'm hoping to enter the Papercrafter of the Year (Simply Cards and Papercraft) if I get my projects finished in time!




Wednesday 15 October 2014

From Embarrassment to Enlightenment...

I've decided to start a blog.  I want to keep a record of all my crafty projects. I love learning new crafts and crafting techniques, so it will be fun to look back at what I have made, including those craft fails!

As all of you crafty folk know, making something with your own two hands is immensely satisfying.
Over the years I have dabbled in everything from calligraphy to cooking, and patchwork to papercraft.  I am by no means artistic, l have no talents, just a love of creating and learning.

My current obsession is papercraft.  You can spend 30 minutes making a quick card or days on a complex scrapbook layout.  I love sitting in front of the TV colouring an image.  There's a reason why zentangle and colouring for adults is a growing trend - it's so calming.

I discovered my love of colouring by accident, when I bought my two year old his first colouring book and box of crayons.  We had such a lovely time!  A year or so later I found a box of promarkers in hobbycraft and couldn't believe the fabulous colours.  I had to buy them, although I have to say I felt embarrassed to be a grown woman spending so much on pens for colouring-in.

I googled promarkers when I came home, looking for tutorials. And I came across the world of cardmaking and papercraft.  I found that I had nothing to be embarrased about - I'm not alone!

I've not looked back since.


I am new to blogging, so I'll try to learn that as I go and hopefully create a blog that other people may enjoy.  First of all I'm going to have to take some pictures!