To A Special Friend

I hope you took advantage of my Thank you Gift yesterday. If you missed it take a look at the post I blogged yesterday,it's still available. The project today uses elements from a few of the Craftascope Collections, showing how well they go together  and how to get more out of them. Hopefully I will have time to sort out a 'Back to Basics video to show the ATC Card and Envelope Die Set, as I have had a few questions about how to elongate it and use it in other ways. I have added the Hochanda show which does show it, but I can go into it in a little more detail for you.

You Will Need:

Craftascope ATC Card & Envelope Die Set

Craftascope Triskaidecagon Layering and Nesting Die Set

Craftascope Floral Companions Die Collection

Craftascope Floral Scent Stamp Set

Clarity 7 x 7'' Black Card Base

6 3/4 X 6 3/4'' White Stamping Card

Blue card cut with the Dies (Die 1 Layering), (Die 6 Nesting).

White Centura Pearl Cut With (Die 2 Nesting), (Die 5 Nesting), (Die 5 Layering) and a thicker frame cut with Dies 6 & 8.

Navy Blue and White Foamiran

4 1/2 x 4 1/2'' cut with the ATC Trellis Die

Trimmings of your choice.

Step 1: Use PVA to secure your white card to the base card.

Step 2: Cut your dies as detailed in the shopping list above.

Step 3: Cut your trellis die, you will need to rotate them to remove the cartouche as shown on the show, cut it 4 times. You can make this as large as you want for other cards and projects.

Step 4: Arrange and secure your layers as shown for the center, I would recommend foam tape or 3D glue gel

Step 5: Cut a selection of the clematis flowers using the die.

Step 6: Twist them gently but firmly and leave for a few minutes.

Step 7: Gently unwind leaving the shape you have achieved.

Step 8: Secure your card with 3D glue gel and add centres if you would like to. Stamp a sentiment onto white card and edge with blue ink, layer onto coordinating blue card and mount onto your card.

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you have found the tutorial useful to show how well the collections go together to give totally different looks. Don't forget to use the 20% discount code I offered yesterday, it's still valid for a little while yet, if you would like to take advantage of it (THANKS20). Until next time, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Beauty In Everything

Morning Friends and Crafters, another great project for you this morning to make the most of your crafty stash. Here using the Craftascope Floral Stamp and Dies collection that I launched with Kathryn a few weeks ago on Hochanda. I have used this along with the wonderful Pearlywinks from Donna and Simon.

You Will Need:

Craftascope Floral Stamp and Die Collection

Pearlywinks Pumpkin Orange and Vintage Teal Winks

Clarity White card black cut to 6 3/4'' square

Clarity 7 x 7'' Black Card Blank

120 gsm paper

Black Fine Liner Pen

Versa Clair Black Ink Pad

Sentimentally Yours PVA

3D Glue Gel

Step 1: Arrange your chosen leaves on the paper and run through your die machine. I always like to use 3 sheets when using such thin paper, you will use them in other projects.

Step 2: Use masking tape to secure your white card in place. I like to overlap the card by 1/4'' to form a border. Use temporary adhesive to secure your leaf paper over your card. **I use the Clarity Card Blanks as they take the ink beautifully, having been let down in the stamping card I used to use.

Step 3: Spritz the teal first from one corner, so the ink is lighter in the middle. Repeat from the other corner with the orange. You will get a beautiful blend in the center.. Remove the paper.

Step 4: Remove all of the tape carefully, (always away from your piece) set aside to dry thoroughly. When dry rub over with a dry clean tissue. I've not done that here but it does remove the excess adhesive.

Step 5: Take a piece of white card and stamp your sentiment onto it, here i have used the Versa Clair Black ink.

Step 6: Spritz half and half with the same colours as before.

Step 7:  Cut out the sentiment and mount it onto black card, leaving a narrow border. Next cut one of the larger leaves from the spare card you spritzed. Stamp using the same black ink, look at how beautifully the stamps transfer, the leaf is fairly small but the text is so perfectly clear. Cut another leaf from the same black card.

Step 8: Slightly offset the  black and secure using the PVA.

Step 9: Mount your back ground card on to the black card base, this will leave a really nice thin border.

Step 10: Use a black fine liner to mark around your card to give a faux mat. Position and secure the sentiment and leaf onto your project using the 3D Glue gel.

Here is the finished card:

Thank you again for joining me today. It's always wonderful to have your company. I do hope you enjoy the posts that I share and find them useful. I am doing a lot more on my Youtube channel now and hope you will subscribe to that and keep an eye out for weekly shows, Here is a link to make things easy. NICKS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

(If you read the next bit, Please dont mention it on Facebook just yet) I have some amazing news to share with you today. I have been nominated in the Crafts Beautiful 'Best of Craft' awards. I have had to send my collections off to them and they have all arrived safe and sound. I have to thank each and everyone of you who took the time to nominate me. I have to say it was a real shock when they contacted me and must confess to crying  a little, well more than a little really. I couldn't have got this far without you and really words can't begin to explain how I feel, a few of you will know why this is so important to me, so thank you. I will give you more details as soon as I find out more. To get this far is amazing, obviously I would love to count on your support when the voting starts, it would be fantastic to go a little further. But THANK YOU so much.

Way Out!!!

Morning Friends and Crafters. Fancy a little bit of fun with some vibrant colours and some straws? Well that's just what I have been doing, with the background for this mutlicoloured banner. This is a real statement die, great for any occasions and all types of crafting, from card making, journalling and scrapbooking and lots more. It's a great addition to your crafty stash and also makes a great card for a bloke.

I have managed to get a little bit of stock back on my Etsy Store, I am still trying to get the Stamp version of the 'Retro Banner' back in stock and will let you know if it's possible.

You will need:

Craftascope 'Retro Banner' Die

Craftascope Retro Fever Stamp Set

Craftascope Retro Vibes Stamp Set

Clarity Stamp 8 x 8'' Black Card Blank.

Selection of Brusho

Mat Black Cardstock 7 1/4 x 7 1/4''

White Stamping Card 7 x 7''

Mat Black Cardstock to cut the Banner

Coloured Card (A real Scrapbuster)

Tacky Glue and 3D Glue Gel

Step 1: Take 4 colours of Brusho, totally your choice. Premix them with a little water. Drop the first colour onto the card and blow out towards the edge of the card. Repeat this with your other colours to give a wonderfully vibrant background.

Step 2: Cut out the Retro Banner 3 times in black card from gutting. You need to whole banners and a section of 2. ****TOP TIP**** Don't use your pokey tool, tap the die firmly cutting side up on a surface to release on it's own, It does release and doesn't distort your die cut.

Step 3: Mount your vibrant background onto your base card, You can easily gut this card before sticking it down and use it on another project. 

Step 4: On your white card secure the banner die cuts to form a circular shape. Use coloured card to paper piece the banners.***TOP TIP***** This is a great way to use all of your scrap card pieces, I know we all have them.

Step 5: Back this piece onto your black card and make sure you have gutted it. You could easily position your banner die and use it latter for another card or project.

Step 6: Select a sentiment for your card. When I finished the background, I used the rest of the premixed Brusho to colour some scraps using the straws as well, these come in really handy for sentiments or smaller projects and we dont like to waste the colours. Here are two variations, but you could use any sentiment to suite the project.

Well, thats a really fun card to make, the explosion of colour with the banner would look fantastic in a journal or scrapbook, it really does make a statement. So versatile, how about printing thumbnails of photos and putting them in the blocks. Whatever you make or decide to do with your Banner I do hope you will share your Creations. Look forward to my next Back to Basics with Craftascope Show, dont forget if you have any ideas or anything you would like to see, please add it to the comments section under the videos, it makes it easier for me if they are all in one place. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx