General Chat

Made over 30 so far. has anyone done any T bag folding. I might have a go, did you find it easy? Also have you come across mini glue dots? i have just 'found' them and think they are great. it is so easy to stick bits onto cards such as buttone etc. Ann Glos

somebody pushed this one up and it wasn't me - honest. Has everyone finished their Christmas cards now? I am still in the middle of mine, made 8 so far this afternoon, 5 craft and 3 photo. Ann Glos

Mandy stop putting websites on this thread, I can't resist having a look, and then of course I have to buy!!It's all your fault, I just HAD to order that tray from Lakeside LOL. Must say they are really quick with deliveries, ordered that and a few other items for the craft box I am making up for daughter as Christmas present. Order placed on Friday, delivered today! That's what I call good service. Off now to see this docraft site!!!

Have a look at this website www(.)docrafts(.)co(.)uk. You can't buy direct from them, but they give you lots of projects and ideas, and tell you when their products are on special offer. I've just discovered that one of our local shops stocks their items, and I got a set of four Christmas stamps and a stamp pad for £7.99, which I thought was very good. Liz recommended a brilliant little product to me - we got ours from Lakeland but craft shops sell them too. It's called a Snappy Tray (£4.95). It comes flat then the sides fold up and snap together with a little spout at one end. It's great for embossing etc, as you use the little spout to pour all the spare powder back in the pot! Mandy :) PS Docrafts also do a magazine which only costs £1 and usually has some free outline stickers with it.

Mandy, Churchdown, between Gloucester and Cheltenham. About an hour and a half from Conglesbury. A bit far really but may get there one day. i was in Hobbycraft at West End Southampton a few weeks back when they had a lady showing how to make cards, got some ideas from her. I also take the new magazine 'Quick cards made easy' and that has a few simple ideas (it has to be simple I can't do difficult!) I have done embossing, and have a proper heating tool but find it a bit messy with the powder. Also I never seem to have the design I want, stamps are quite expensive. However I have robin I might use on a few cards, he would look good embossed. I keep trying to think of a way of incorporating something in a Christmas card to a cousin who is also a keen Family Tree researcher - any ideas? I like to make cards for specific people. Ann Glos

Grannylonglegs, You could make a patchwork quilt or even a patchwork card - all the rage now! Sylvia xxx

Can I just say - how very much the recipients appreciate the hard work and thought that has gone into making a card? I still have a beautiful 'retirement' card displayed and keep meaning to buy one of those 'deep' frames to preserve it forever! Keep up the good work, all of you! I prefer dressmaking and have a super tools box from MFI for all my bits and pieces. What to do with remnants is a problem. Can't bear to throw them away!

Hi Sylvia, no I only mass produce at Christmas! I sell my cards in the staffroom at the school I work in, and in aid of our local hospice. They are popular because it saves a mad dash out at lunchtimes for the staff, and they are contributing to charity at the same time. We send out over 100 Christmas cards, so I've tried to make about half of them, including the 'special' ones for close family and friends. Mandy :)

Mandy, you are mass producing your cards. Are you selling them or for your own use? Sylvia xxx

Ann, I've just had a thought. I can't remember whereabouts in Glos you are (sorry!) but are you far from Cadbury Garden Centre at Congresbury? If you type it into google, their website has a list of all the craft demonstrations and it includes various types of cardmaking. Mandy :)

Hi Ann, it really was so simple - honest! I think the trick with rubber stamping is to tap the ink pad onto the stamp, rather than banging the stamp onto the pad, which gives you extra ink all round the edge of the pattern (we've all done that, haven't we!). It was a Christmas snowflake design and I'd got some nice silver glitter embossing powder. You just shake some powder over the ink while it's still wet, tap off the excess (onto a sheet of paper or little tray, so that it can go back in the pot), then heat it with the tool. It gets much hotter than a hairdryer and doesn't blow as much, and you can see the pattern raising and going shiny. Really simple but very much admired! Go on, have a go! Mandy :)

Mandy I am envious of the number you have made. What design did you emboss on your tags? I am assuming you used a stamp? or maybe I am wrong. i am not very good a stamping, could do with a lesson or two i think. My daughter is really good, but then she is good at all the types of card she makes. Marly, my trouble is, family history causes clutter as does card making and it is difficult to find room for it all. Most of my craft stuff is in drawers Ann glos

Hello Ann, nice to see you back! I finally finished last night - 75 cards altogether (some for me, some to sell for the hospice) plus 25 tags that I did with the wonderful embossing tool! Why didn't I buy one before?? Hubby has already bought me the wirework tool and set of coloured wires for Christmas, can't wait to get my hands on them Christmas Day! I started off taking photos of the cards I'd made but didn't keep it up, so now I haven't got a clue what my cards looked like! Mandy :)

You all sound as though you have too many hobbies like me. I don't know what to do first sometimes. I want to finish my last cross stitch picture and then my husband can help me frame them. He is better at measuring than I am. I have lots of letters to write to people who don't have a computer. Like to come on this Board now and again. I also make lots of different cards. Glad you had a nice holiday Ann. Sylvia xxx

Pleased to see this thread has gone on while I have been away. Good idea to exchange ideas and maybe take photos of cards we have made. could send the photos by e mail if we don't want to put them on the site. Anyone interested can have my e mail addy, just send a message. I now have to get back to mine as 3 weeks away means I am way behind. Ann Glos

Hi Sylvia and Molly, all I can say is .... thank gawd I'm not on my own, it did sound as if I was having a moan about my 'mess' but in actual fact quite honestly I don't really care all the while I'm creating it as I get so engrossed in what I'm doing, it's when I have a 'free' moment I have to 'force' myself reluctantly to - dare I mention it ... DE-CLUTTER! Bin bags are soooooo useful .... aren't they girls! have fun.

Yes, you don't have to worry about the mess when making cards. I just throw bits of paper etc. on the floor and clear up when I feel like it. It's a good job that I have my own hobby room! I often have bits and pieces sticking to my clothes too! Never mind, it keeps us all off the streets! Sylvia xxx

I bet none of you suffer from the same problem as me! Nah! you can't do, only I've just spent the last couple of days, wait for it .... DECLUTTERING my little craft room! aaah! and double aaah! it 'was' a very painful job as I hate throwing anything away, tho' some things did manage to find themselves back onto the 'might be useful' shelf (oops! must try harder) I didn't notice there were so many bits of paper, card and whatever all over the place after making the many xmas and other greetings cards for people, and now my little room is a much tidier 'mess' ... for how long! it'll be due for another declutter after xmas no doubt, but who cares.

Hi Mandy, do try and go to either or both those shows, both great day's out, click onto 'the Bath and West showground' site and it will give you their diary dates on coming events. I have been up to the N.E.C Birmingham to craft shows but I find it rather a long day out and a bit pricey. Re: heat gun - aren't they marvelous, they're a revelation as far as I'm concerned as I also make a lot of 'special' cards ie wedding, christening and 'milestone' birthday's, embossing them this way gives them that extra special look don't you think.

Thanks for that Audrey - I only live a few miles from the Bath & West showground but didn't realise they had any sort of craft show there (probably go around with my eyes shut!). I will look out for it in future. Have just had my first go with the embossing tool - wow, wish I'd got one sooner! It really is dead easy but the results look so good. And I didn't burn my fingers Liz lol!! Mandy :)