Have a Groovy Birthday

Hi everyone. At last things to seem to have cooled down a little. A lovely day, wonderful sunshine and much more comfortable as well. How about a great birthday card for today's post made with some of the Retro Collection. This would be great for a teenager, a bloke, well actually anyone really, a really fun card, looks totally different with other colours or embellishments. This one also uses the small set of rose petals to add the balloons.

You Will Need:

Craftascope Retro Vibes

Craftascope Small Rose Petal Dies

White Card Blank 5 1/2 x 7 3/4

Archival Forget Me Not

Archival Sunset

Versafine Black Ink

Black Fine Liner

Copic Alcohol Markers (Blue, Red & Yellow)

Glossy Accents

3D Glue Gel

Step 1: Use the single frames and solids to position and stamp onto your card blank. Start with the solid colour, then add the frames and words.

Step 2: Cut 3 of the rose petal dies, each in a different size, Colour with your alcohol markers.

Step 3: Stamp another of the large solids with the Archival, Then stamp 'Birthday'. Cut out and mount onto some Black Card.

Stamp 4:  Use 3D Glue Gel to position and add the last sentiment and the balloons. Use a black fine liner to add a wobbly line around the card, approximately 1/4'' in from the edge. The use the fine liner to add some strings to the balloons. To finish the card, add some glossy accents to the balloons to add a lovely gloss.

Thank you for joining me today. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and the finished card. It's been great for you to join me. I hope you will stop by again very soon.xx

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

Positive Vibes

Hi Everyone, Well it's so hot here today, I can hardly breathe it's so humid as well. So today, I have a really quick and effective card for you. We sometimes need a card in a hurry, that looks great but doesn't take us too long to create. This card still has a lot of texture and interest and would really suit any occasion, depending on the words or sentiment you decide on.

I hope you will join me later this evening for my 'Natter with Nick' at 7 pm. I have another offer for you that will last until Sunday at Midnight so tune in so you don't miss this weeks.

You will need:  

Craftascope Retro Vibes Stamp Set

Craftascope Retro Fever Stamps Set

Craftascope Retro Leaves Die Set

Pearlywinks Hot Pink & Vintage Teal Sprays

Clarity 7 x 7'' White Card Blank

White Stamping Card

Copier Paper Masks (your chosen design)

Versafine Black Ink

Black Card

Tacky Glue

3D Glue Gel

Step 1: Cut your chosen leaves from copier paper to make the masks, spray on the back with Temporary Spray Adhesive and set aside. Take 2 halves of copier paper, use the spray again to secure to your card to form a 3'' strip down your card blank, this will act as a mask. Arrange you leaves all along the strip.

Step 2: Use the Pearlywinks sprays to add that vibrant colour  then remove the masks to reveal the design.

Step 3: Using your Pearlywinks sprays again, colour your small piece of stamping card.

Step 4: Stamps a selection of words from the Retro Stamp Sets and cut out. Mat them onto Black card using Tacky Glue.

Step 5: Use the 3D glue gel to secure your sentiments in Place on the card.

And here is your finished card.

Thank you for joining me today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial today. Just another reminder about the Graceful Striplet Die,There are very few left and there are lot of people who have them in their baskets. I don't have enough for each person who has it in the basket, so if you do want it, please check out, I feel like I am going on and on, but I really dont want anyone to miss out and they are going to. 

For now, Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

One Day Special Launch show and more

Morning Friends and Crafters. Today is the start of my Journey home, Im travelling to Luton today on the first leg. I like to do it in stages so it's not too much all in one go, so I have a hotel booked for tonight and hopefully I will get chance to catch up with a few things online. I was so proud of my Retro Collection and the One Day Special went so well, Im really pleased you embraced the designs as well. I have a few weeks off now until I bring my new collection to you in August, so dont forget to tune into my Natter with Nick on Wednesdays at 7pm. It will be shared on my Facebook page and youtube. I look forward to chatting with you then.

I have uploaded the Launch of my One Dy Special today so you can watch even after the show is removed from the Hochanda website, I think it's always nice to re visit it now and again for more ideas and inspiration. I hope you will take a look.

I will be starting my tutorials again next week, once I have unpacked and got everything away, washed and in it's place. There always seems to be a lot to do when I get back home. Obviously the first thing will always be my lovely animals, there are a couple of cats who never seem to recognise me when I arrive, but it doesn't take long to get back to normal.

Thank you to those of you who have made purchases from My Etsy store after seeing my post about the craft club. Every little bit helps me get nearer to the goal and with any luck I can get it up and running as soon as possible. I know I miss it and the children in the village do as well. Don't forget that once you have used the goodies, leave a review on Etsy for the products ad you will be in with a chance of winning the GIVEAWAY, its the 3 Beautiful Stamp Sheets, 2 Stencils and 2 beautiful dies. It's a wonderful prize and someone is going to be very lucky. 

If you didn't see the post, please do take a look, it is something really important to me. Rather than ask for donations, I just ask that you buy something from My Etsy store and help me save the money I need to buy a building in the village so I can continue with my Craft club. I know a lot of my followers were very generous years ago, when I first started in the Village Library and knew how passionate I am about it. If you can help, please do, every little bit makes a difference. For Now Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx