Hobbies and Crafts

Sarah, the board book I assume is a child's book?


Jean you are well away with cards there, while I had shingles, although not ill, I couldn't be bothered to settle to much so have not done much crafting except essential cards. How are the church cards selling? I tried to get more bags for the cancer research UK shop but they have run out, I have a couple of bags left so will do those and then probably no more for them.

Hi, everyone I havent been on here for some time , I have been busy doing cards, but now I have time to chat... I have been reading your comments and its so interesting to read... I use the glaze on decoupage I forgot I had it. I have also been painting some embossed flowers with pearlised paints the effect is lovely,
I did some with Promarkers which gives a watercolour effect... I use the pens to edge cards too so easy yet so effective. I also made a threefold card and added a pocket with a bookmark in , there are so many ways to make novelty cards now, Loads of ideas and tutorials on youtube.... Happy craffting.

Jean x

Hello everyone...

Many thanks Sarah if you have time I would also be interested in the plate sandwiches please.

Heavens I didn't realise there were so many distress ink colours...I have a long way to go yet then! I blame this all on you Sarah lol.

I did think what a good idea for the altered board book...they make perfect mini albums. I will be scouting around the charity shops now lol. Will you be adding your board book on to your blog I would love to see the finished result.

Linda x

Thanks Ann! I'll try it and let you know how it turns out.

I have not used it myself but I would not be inclined to use nail varnish in case it altered the colour of something, it might react with the die in the paper do you think. I have had cards where varnish has been used and it is lovely. Give it a try and let us know.

Ann, could you please tell me if you have ever used decoupage varnish?
I thought I might try it on a couple of pieces that I've already made up, not really sure about it though, so I thought I'd ask your opinion on using the varnish before I buy it. We went to the Range yesterday, and a lady there told me to use clear nail varnish, because it's cheaper. Not sure if that would be okay.

Love, Sallie x

Sarah, I would be interested in the different plate 'sandwiches' if you have time please. Many thanks.

And Linda my altered board book is based on the one in Craft Stamper

Hello All, not been about much because I've been trying to get caught up after being out of action because of my little accident. I'm still bruised and achey but can at least sit for long enough to make crafting rewarding. This week's project is an altered board book :)

There are 36 distress ink colours - 24 original and 12 launched at the start of the year - although I did read on one online shop site that there were more on the way. No hints in that direction from Tim holtz though and I follow his blog. There is also a clear embossing distress pad.

You can use pretty much any dies in the cuttlebug, but the earliest bugs won't take the largest sizzix dies because the opening is just a fraction too small. I use the same plate combination for the sizzlet dies as for the proper cuttlebug dies, some do need an extra shim of card underneath to get a good cut but this can be the same in any machine. The C plate is more for really thin dies, nestabilities and the like. I think I have a file on the old PC with the various plate sandwiches for different dies that I could email to people if it's of interest.

I'm actually waiting for the Tim Holtz embossing folders to reach thiscountry. They have been designed so the texture 'fades' in and out and the bottom half is slightly smaller than the top so you can emboss the front of a card right to the edge.

No you are not the only one Linda. I tend to take a look at a technique and decide if I like it if I don't I don't use it again. I like decoupage and stamping and using die cuts. I have had a go at Iris folding, like the result but a bit too time consuming. Don't like Pyramidge and not keen on waterfall.

Many thanks Ann...I have looked at the instruction booklet...why didn't I think of that doh!! For using other brand thin dies you replace one of the B plates with the C plate so it says!

I have been doing a bit of experimenting tonight I am trying my hand at stamping and powder embossing. I bought a Versamarker pad and a couple of Cosmic Shimmer powders last weekend and I have incorporated an embossed design on to a page I am doing at the moment...I am really pleased with the result.

I bought the Craft Stamper magazine yesterday...I have been dipping into it today and I have found it really good. I will definitely buy it in the future.

I hope you have enjoyed using your promarkers Jan...something else I have to try. Am I the only one who is overwhelmed by all the techniques and the ever growing list of products that are available on the market these days lol.

Linda x

Shame they stopped selling them in their store, used to buy quite a bit there when we went to the Lake District.

Having a nosy on lakeland online today and noticed they sell craft bits too :-))))

enjoy your pro markiers Jan.
Linda, you can uses Sissix dies in your Cuttlebug. You may need to put an extra piece of card in if the die is thinner than the C dies. I think it says in the C instruction booklet that you can use alternative dies.

Thanks Linda

Guess what?? Me new promarkers are here :-))))))))))))))))))))))

and I found that card from a while back I looked at the description and they used *Fun Flock* on it
:-)))))))))))))))))))

Many thanks Ann & Sarah...gadgets and I don't usually mix lol...I will have to have a look for extra dies and embossing folders. I did buy a folder of a Christmas tree earlier on last year thinking that I would try my hand at cardmaking and then I didn't get round to it...too busy scrapping photos of our latest grandson born in the November.

Sarah you mention Sissix...reading your post I am presuming you can use these on a Cuttlebug however do you use the dies and embossing folders exactly the same way as using the Cuttlebug dies and folders please?

Good luck with your house hunting Jan...I agree with Ann you will know as soon as you walk through the front door it is home. We decided to move from our home town to some 50 miles away due to my OH's work...the travelling was a nightmare for him and I was pregnant at the time. It took us six months to find our ideal home. By the the time we moved in our youngest was exactly four weeks old and it was our first home with central heating...absolute heaven! That was 30 years ago and still here...where does the time go lol.

I have been reading the threads about the unmentionable meet Daff... it seemed all went well lolol. Perhaps I may pluck up the courage to go to the next Chester meet...if there is ever another one sometime.

Linda x

Thanks Ann
we went to look at two that were very nice but they were too near busy roads - We couldnt stand the noise and we have 3 cats, although they dont travel very far out of our garden when we move they will probably explore so busy/main roads are def out
We are in no hurry to move which is good :-)))

I think you know if a house is for you the minute you walk through the door, as if it has been waiting for you. Good luck, I hope you find what you want. Or it finds you.

Priority number 1 - must have a craft room :-))

Yes Ann staying in Bristol - found a nice house in Thornbury but Mags told me thats to far from her lol - we are looking for a certain house if that makes sense a house that suits us , we have a lot of wishes for our move so it could be sometime lol