Sincerely Yours, Lincoln- Oct 2012

I went to the Lincoln Sincerely Yours show at the weekend (again) and, as usual, for the very small £3 pre-booked entry fee, it was a great show. Not as many stands there this time as there was apparently another show in Doncaster on the same day where lots of the bigger companies were. I still managed to buy quite a few things though and have finally given in to the fact that I NEED a grand calibur.

I got the chance to see a Sizzix Big Shot at work and it was able to do most of the things I'm looking for. I don't need a machine that cuts as i have the cricut but want something to emboss with so that I can get more use out of my stencils (both brass & plastic). The Big Shot did this but because of the small plate size, I would only be able to emboss on my 6x6 cards. This is why I've now decided that a grand calibur is the way forward.

So, I get home and check out the C&C website only to find that, for the first time ever, they don't actually have a grand calibur in stock! I'm hoping that there will be some in soon (at a great deal of course) or if not, hopefully I can get a bargain when I go to the NEC next month. If anyone knows of a great grand calibur deal, let me know!

I did get 5 new distress inks in the new colours- gathered twigs (woody brown), peacock feathers (a beautiful turquoise), squeezed lemonade (pale yellow), seedless preserve (plumy purple) & shaded lilac (lilac/pale blue). Not had the chance to use any yet but half term is almost here!

Also added a few more plastic 6x6 stencils to my ever growing collection- some pretty flowers, a fab owl on a tree, snowflakes, poinsettia, santa in his sleigh & a nativity scene with the 3 kings on camels & the stable. This is why I now need a grand calibur!

Also picked up some good ideas for using card candi which was handy as I got a nice e-mail from QVC today telling me that my next instalment of the card candi goody box auto delivery is on the way! I will post some pictures when I finally get round to making something with them!

NEC is only a couple of weeks away so I'm hoping to pick up some more great ideas, as well as a few new products, there too!

Kanban 'so feminine' toppers- 'More Funny Business'

Here's another card made from the Kanban 'so feminine' kit using the 'More Funny Business' topper sheet.

I started with an A4 white card sheet that I folded in half to make an A5 card front. The backing paper was from a Kanban 'House of Kanban' kit and has quite a vintage feel to it. I cut it slightly smaller than the base card and attached with double sided tape. I then simply put the main topper onto the card with more double sided tape and attached the sentiment with 3d foam to raise it off the card slightly.

The card was then finished with 2 groups of Papermania pink gemstones, putting 3 in the top left corner of the card and 1 in the bottom right. A very quick card to put together and something a bit unusual too.

Strictly Party 2

Here's the second of the cards I've made from the 'Strictly Party' products I bought a while ago.

This card uses both the decoupage and one of the backing papers from the 'Ultimate Die-Cut Pack'. I have layered the decoupage onto some silver mirror card  and edged the backing paper with Black Soot distress ink before putting it onto the plain white A5 base card. I finished the card with a black grosgrain ribbon knotted around the spine of the card and 3 Kanban aurora borealis gemstones that I placed onto aspects of the backing paper that looked like they were supposed to shine!

Step by Step Cardmaking- Lesson 7- easel card

This is one of my favourite card folds as it is simple to create but makes your card a bit different. I've also found that when selling cards, this style is really popular as people have not seen it before and they are great to display.

An easel card looks like this when displayed

and like this from the side view

To create this style of card you start by folding the A4 card down the centre and then again down the A4 gatefold line (fold the front half in half again). The bottom front of the card has something added to act as a stopper for the top easel part. You can use a strip of card, gems, card candi or anything alse that can be raised with 3d foam. I like to use a whole piece of decorative paper raised up on the 3d foam.

The easel section displays your toppers and they can go above the height of the easel section- it is best to lay the easel section down as you attach the toppers so that they do not go above the entire height of the card (it will not fit in the envelope). Just remember to only put the double sided tape/3d foam on the bottom part of the toppers.

Kanban 'so feminine' toppers- 'Funny Business'

Here's another card made from the Kanban 'so fenminine' kit which I've really enjoyed making cards from as the toppers are a bit different to other things out there and also very much my style.

This card was made using one of the 2 topper sheets called 'Funny Business' & 'More Funny Business'. Each sheet has 3 large toppers that are perfect for an A5 card front. I started with a white sheet of A4 card that I folded down the centre to create an A5 card front. I then cut some Kanban backing paper (from an old 'House of Kanban' kit) to leave a slight white border and mounted this onto my card with double sided tape.

The topper already has a silver mirror edge to it so I simply attached this to my card again using double sided tape. I then took the matching sentiment and put this onto the card with 3d foam. I finished the card with some small paper roses that I've had forever and were a Poundland/QD £1 bargain. There were at least 30 in the pack and they are all slightly different, giving them the look of being handmade. I've had them so long that they've fallen off their 3d foam pads so I simply attached them with a good blob of PVA glue.

HOBBYCRAFT 20% OFF VOUCHER- 4th October 2012

Very quick post just to say that ALL HOBBYCRAFT stores have a 20% off day tomorrow (Thursday 4th October 2012). Most stores are open later with it being a Thursday too.

All you have to do is follow the link and print off the voucher.

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ControlPanel/uploads/2482_1_20_percent_off%20Voucher_EMAILv2.pdf?utm_campaign=20120925+-+20%25+Off+Everything+In-Store+at+Hobbycraft&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=

Enjoy!