Set of cards

Last week I made a set of cards for a Christmas Present. The person I was making it for has 2 young boys so I thought a set of 10 cards (6 boy and 4 girl) would make a very useful gift.

Each card is slightly different, but stay in the same format. Green, Blue and Brown for boys, and lilac, yellow and brown for girls. Here are 2 from the set. The girls cards also have a little bit of Stickles for sparkle. Unfortunately I am still new to photographing cards so the cards haven't come out there true colours, but I'm gradually improving.

Supplies
Various Plain Cardstock
Kaiser Pattered paper
Kaiser stamps - Dinosaur
Paper Craft Clings stamps - Pirates and Princesses
Sullivans Clear Stamps - Sentiments
Stazon Black
Brads and 'Bling' from stash
Black Marker
Ranger Ice Stickles

Free stuff

Ideas for where we can get free stuff to use in our scrapbooking and cardmaking:

Ribbon

• Keep the ribbon we get from clothes (you know the ribbon you trim off as soon as you get home because they put it on the clothes for hanging is nicely in the shop - usually under the arm pit part).
• Off gifts received from others

Buttons

• Collect all the extra buttons you get with clothes in case one comes off. Make sure you don't use it until you know you wont need it as a replacement.
• Take off old clothes not suitable for recycling.

Buckles

• From worn out belts.
• From worn out shoes

Material from old clothes and house hold items not suitable for recycling. Denim can be really effective to make a lot of embellishments. Leather from old handbags is another idea.

Wrapping paper - some beautiful papers can be used. My girls received some bath bombs that were covered in a beautiful textured strong tissues like paper, which I ironed and will now use in a project.

Glass Jars left over from cooking sauces, jams or coffee make great storage for all those small bits and pieces (especially buttons).

Old wool jumpers (not suitable for recycling) can be unraveled to use in projects. (Even re-crocheted into cute flower embellishments).

Old novel pages can be used to make interesting embellishments (check the text to make sure it is appropriate in the project).

Old kids cardboard books recycled make great mini albums.

Foil/Tin from a Milo tin (or equivalent) can be die cut or embossed for an embellishment.

I suppose the list can be endless..... but you get the idea.... if you are about to put it in the bin, look at it and think of other uses.

These idea's not only help us increase our stash of embellishments but also we are recycling and reducing landfill.

Note: Be careful what items you use in scrapbook pages. Not all items are safe to use in scrapbooks. I am not too worried myself as all my current photos (and I scan old photos) are stored digitally for future generations, and my scrapbook pages are for my enjoyment now, but this is just my personal decision (that is a discussion for another time).

An Ideas Book

Last night I decided to make an ideas book. Overtime I have often read people talk about journals and sketch books so I decided to make one for me. Often we all see things around us that inspire an idea for a scrap book page or card and I wanted to have those ideas in one place ready for me to use.

The inside pages I created on my computer using the 'draw' tool to place rectangles (for cards), squares (for cards and scrap book pages) and lines (for making notes).

This project is beyond the basic tools/supply list previously mentioned, but doesn't use a huge amount of different products. I also wanted to keep the book fairly flat without bulky embellishments so that I could easily write in it (the buckle on it wont be in the way when I write and draw in it).

I was still on a mission of being a little 'budget' conscious. The green card stock I used for this project is a colour I have not fell in love with from Stampin' up. It's call Glorious Green and as luck would have it I got a lot of it accidentally a couple of years ago with an order I placed. Yes, I was very honest and rang them, but they said I could keep it! Usually I would be excited at getting a freebie, but I must admit, all I could think was, what could I possibly do with it? Not my style at all.

Anyway, today it was Tim Holtz distress inks and perfect pearls to the rescue. These 2 products have so many uses. They have the ability to completely change the look of cardstock and embellishments. The same effects would be hard to duplicate using any other products.

The buckle embellishment was from my Grannie, who comes from the era of keeping all those bits and pieces. The word 'create' came from some Kaszazz stickers, but as I wanted this book to be well used I covered the stickers with glossy accents for extra stability.

Hope the shimmer shows up in the picture. This project is not my normal style, but I did use up some of the Glorious Green cardstock... so I am happy!

Supplies:
Stampin' Up cardstock
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Ranger Stickles
Ranger Glossy Accents
Ranger Perfect Pearls
Ranger Mini Mister
Stampin' Up stamp - Beyond Basics
Stampin' Up stamp - Time Well Spent
Kaszazz Alphamega Stickers
White Gel Pen
Kaiser Rhinestones
Ribbon from stash.

Photo Fix

Well I have ironed out a few photography issues and have fixed some of my photos on this blog. Hopefully thing will be on the improve form now on!!

2 More Tools and 2 More Cards

OK, well I have thought of another 2 'must' have tools.... but they are tools that most of us have around the house.

1. Scissors - probably a good idea to have a smallish pair of craft scissors. They help with intricate work, but remember to move the paper, not the scissors to cut, when cutting small and curvy items. Try to keep a separate pair for cutting material and ribbon, as cutting through paper and card stock dulls the blades.


2. Ruler - Measure, draw lines..... A metal ruler (which are really cheap) is a good investment, especially if you ever need to use it with a craft knife, and they are pretty hard to damage, so you will get nice clean lines for a long time.

See.. I said they were basic, probably didn't think of them before because they are an everyday items.

For my first card I still did the sentiment on the computer (remember, you paid for that computer and the programs on it, it is yours to use!). The rest of the card consists of cutting a square, matting it, and then cutting strips of card stock for fake ribbon. The bow at the top is hand draw with a marker

The next card is more paper piecing to make a 'layered' cake. I put it together on white card stock, and then cut is out with scissors allowing the white to become a mat for it. Mount with foam, hand draw the candle, and then use my ruler to create a border...all done.

These papers are still left overs, they have served me well. 2 sheets of double sided Kaiser paper and I have made 9 cards so far, with still more to go!!!

PS. I will work on my technique for photographing my work as the pictures on my blog certainly don't give the cards any credit. They look soooo much better in real life.

6 Basic Tool/Product must haves:

1. Trimmer- I use a very basic trimmer at this stage, I have my eye on a new trimmer, but have decided to invest in other products instead.


2. Adhesive including foam squares to add dimension – I love tape runners because they make card making and scrapbooking so much quicker, but most of the time I use x-press it double sided tape (or equivalent) for economical reasons. For foam adhesives I will purchase anywhere, and love having different brands because the thickness of the foam differs. I will even get them from my local cheap shop.


3. Computer/printer – or access to one. I use mine for searching lots of different sites for inspiration and learning new techniques, shops for purchasing products, and a word processing program for printing a variety of different things.


4. Cardstock and patterned paper – try to match up some plain cardstock with your patterned paper when buying or before starting a project to set the tone of your project. A must have is some decent white cardstock, I keep a supply of A4 and 12” x 12”, and keep all my white scraps left over in a separate container. Don’t forget, all cardstock has another side, don’t automatically throw it out because you have destroyed one side. Another good tip is to look out for double sided patterned paper, it gives you 2 coordinating papers without having to think. Paper pad packs are also great for having a lot of coordinating sets of paper.


5. White gel pen – I will only buy uni-ball signo white gel pens, they are usually also available from your local newsagent. Always have a back up one available because nothing is more annoying than a low ink gel pen!


6. Markers – there are many markers on the market, but if money it tight, don’t look past your childrens texta sets. I sometimes pinch my daughters textas, they have a set with 100 colours at a cost of about $19.95 (bought a couple of years ago) and they are great! Stampin’ up have a great range of markers. These type of markers have many great uses when stamping as well. A permanent double ended black marker is also a great investment.
   

Ok…..so my first project using only the above supplies is a card inspired by Kristina Werner. I love her blog… her projects are usually fairly easy to follow and can be adapted using basic supplies.

To make this card I printed the sentiment ‘happy’ on my computer using a word processing program. This takes a little bit of thought the first time, but you will soon get used to it. A tip is to ensure all your ‘page setup’ tools are correctly set (especially paper size and margins), a little playing around, and it will come to you. I personally usually don’t use my computer much, and prefer the feeling of stamping, but we live in a technological era, and this is my back up when I don’t have a suitable stamp. (Remember, I am a crafter on a budget).

I found some left over Kaiser patterned paper and coordinating plain cardstock from another project. Using the trimmer I cut 5 x 1” squares and 5 x ½” squares. The bottom strip of paper was the reverse side of one of the papers, but was a plain distressed blue and I felt it needed a little help. White gel pen and ruler to the rescue, a few lines and dots and it was done.

A blue marker pen for the sentiment ‘birthday’ (Kristina style, I think I did ok), a brown marker for some faux stitching, a white gel pen to draw stars on the ½” square embellishments and the card was finished. Although it doesn’t show up well in the photo, all the squares are mounted on foam adhesives to give the project dimension.

First card done

Well I have completed my first card using only 6 basic tools/supplies which include a trimmer, adhesive, cardstock, white gel pen, computer and some markers....... but my bed is calling me so I will have to post it tomorrow.

Craft on a budget challenge

Have you ever looked at all the beautiful cards and scrapbook pages around, and dreamt of having unlimited supplies? Well I spend hours looking at different online shops and blogs etc. looking and dreaming of what I could buy if money where no object.

Then I come back to the real world. I made the choice to be a SAHM over 11 years ago and will continue this choice for sometime (I recently started a little part time work a couple of nights a week while the kids are asleep but still consider myself a SAHM).

Sometimes I get a little disheartened that I cannot make projects as beautiful as the ones that I see due to lack of products, but then I look around my craft room (and yes I have a whole room dedicated to my girls and I for craft - how lucky am I!!), and see that I have collected so many products over the years that compared to others starting off I am very privileged.

I have always loved anything craft. I have sketched, crocheted, knitted, done oil painting, folk art, sewing, beading, needlework, (there is probably more)........ and most I have just either taught myself by watching, borrowing books and generally 'giving anything a go'. Most of these crafts I have probably made a couple of projects and then moved on (so I am by no means an expert in any of these crafts). But nothing has ever held my interest more that paper crafts (although I do love to pick up a paint brush!).

What I love about card making, scrapbooking and making 3D items is that I can combine any type of craft into it.

So..... here is my challenge...... to go back to basics and make projects using the tools and products that I already have. I also want to find ways of using up all those scraps of paper that I insist on keeping (I hate wasting my products).

Lets see how I go.

Colour Challenge

This is an entry for the Scrapbooking Boutique Colour Challenge. I have made so many cards this week, and I may have to post them later. Here is my entry for this challenge. I had a Wedding Card that I needed to do, but with limited supplies I came up with this. Unfortuantely you won't be able to see the Perfect Pearls that I have used in this project. This is the first time I have used them in my mini mister but I really love the look!!