Monday 30 September 2013

Christmas Mosaic Madness

Yes, I know it's still September but card makers need to start early!  Christmas is an expensive time, over the next few days I will show you some Christmas cards we made in class using non Christmas stamp sets, a way of cutting the cost and getting the most out of your Stampin' Up! purchases. The first card uses the Mosaic Madness stamp set and punch, if you but these together you get 15% off - another way of saving money!
I have seen a few cards on pinterest that use this set to make a poinsettia so this is not my original idea. Here is my card:
 A close up of the poinsettia:
The colour scheme is old olive, real red and soft suede and the greeting is from the Greeting of the Season stamp set from last years seasonal catalogue, it is still available to buy and is really useful set at only £10.95 for the clear mount set.  See my Promotions and Specials page for the carry over list.

Sunday 29 September 2013

How to cover a spiral bound notebook.

When I first started covering spiral bound notebooks I used to butt the paper up by the binding. This works fine but you do see a bit of the original cover were the spiral binding is which can spoil the look sometimes. I scanned you tube and the web to find a way to cover in-between the spirals, this little tutorial is not original and is an amalgamation of tutorials, I can't remember which ones, but if one of them was yours please contact me so that I can give you credit and link to your tutorial.
Equipment
  • Hardback Spiral Bound Notebook
  • Two 12” x 12” sheets of DSP
  • A4 card for inside lining
  • Sticky strip and tombo or glue stick
  • Pencil, ruler, trimmer, bone folder, post it notes
  • Crop-a-dile or 1/8” hole punch
  • Papers, card, ribbon stamp sets, punches etc to decorate.


Instructions

  • Tear a page out of the notebook to use as a template for hole spaces.
  • Measure the length and width  of your notebook cover.
  • Cut your DSP so it is 2” longer and 1” wider. (If the pattern on your DSP has a direction to it, e.g. stripes or flowers, make sure it is facing the way you want it before you cut it!)
  • My notebook was 6” x 8 ½” so I cut two sheets of DSP to measure 7” x 10 ½”
  • Turn DSP so the pattern you want showing is face down on the table.
  • Place your page template on the DSP so that the side with the holes is on the edge of your DSP and you have a 1" gap at the other side, bottom and top.
  • Use a pencil to draw inside the holes, remove template.
  • Now place your other sheet of DSP underneath the sheet with the holes marked, (the ‘front’ patterns should both be on the inside) secure together with some post it notes.
  • Punch out the holes using crop–a-dile or whole punch then make a diagonal cut from the edge of the page to the hole.  
  • If you open up your book you will see that the closure of the spine is at the back of the book, keep this in mind when you are covering your book!
  • I find it easier to put the paper on the cover if I open the book up. Use a bone folder to push the paper between the rings of the spine and glue to the front of the book using tombo or glue stick.
  • (If you haven’t got a 1/8” hole punch or you are in a hurry you could cut the width of your DSP about a ¼” shorter and but it up to the edge of the binding so the edge of the book under the spine will remain uncovered.)


  • Open your cover to the inside. Fold the edges of your paper over, reinforce the fold using a bone folder then unfold. Snip a little rectangle off  above the spine so that the paper will lay flat when you stick it down, (you can see it in the corner of picture).

  • To mitre the corners, fold the corners up so that the score lines from your previous fold remain vertical and horizontal, unfold. Using this fold line as a guide use a pencil and ruler to draw a line leaving about 1/8” between the corner edge of book and your line. Cut corner off.

  • Fold the edges back down and check the join at the corner is neat, (if not trim), then stick down using sticky strip.
  • Cover the front and back of the notebook.
  • Decorate the front cover of your notebook as desired.
  • Optional - I used the stretchy ruffle ribbon as a closure/decorative feature. Use sticky strip to secure the edges of the ribbon to the inside of the back cover. This will be covered by your lining.

  • To line the inside of the covers cut your card stock or DSP slightly smaller than the size of your cover. I Cut mine   8 ¼” x 5 ½” and stick on the inside of covers.
  • You can jazz it up as much as you like, I made a little pocket for the inside front of mine

Here is my finished notebook:

These notebooks make great gifts, use them for recipes, journals. idea books, the list is endless and you can let your creativity go wild. Enjoy!

Saturday 28 September 2013

Decorated Spiral Bound Notebook

At class this week we covered and decorated spiral bound notebooks. These are great to make for yourself and also make a lovely personalised gift for someone special.  I think hardest part of the class for the ladies was deciding which papers to use, I should know by now not to give people choices!
Here is a notebook I have covered using paper from the new In Colours DSP stack - I love the new patterns we have,I have used pistachio pudding, crisp cantaloupe, strawberry slush and baked brown sugar.
I used hearts a flutter and all dressed up framelits and the morning post alphabet.
 I fastened the elasticated ruffled ribbon to the back inside cover, as it is stretchy it makes a great closure.
 I lined the inside of the book with whisper white card and made a little pocket for the inside front cover.
Pop back to my blog tomorrow and I will have a tutorial showing you how to cover a spiral bound note book. 
If you would like to come to one of my classes please email me, it is a great way of learning and sharing ideas with fellow crafters, there is usually a lot of giggles, laughter and chocolate biscuits.  My craft club once a fortnight is £7.50 and I have a loyalty card, come to five classes and get the 6th free, a couple of my ladies made got their notebooks for free this week! 

Tuesday 24 September 2013

On Line Shop Clearance Rack!

I don't know if you have visited my on-line shop yet, if not then now is a good time to have a browse as we now have a CLEARANCE RACK!!! Fantastic, you can get up to 80% off some items (all retired), ink pads from £1.99, DSP from £1.99, ribbon, buttons, embossing folders etc, but when they are gone they are gone! Just go to my SHOP, then click on the Shop button  at the top or Products on the menu and it will take you to my shop.  Enjoy, any questions just contact me.

Wednesday 4 September 2013

My Digital Studio is here!

Now that the online Stampin' Up shop is up and running we can now buy  My Digital Studio, (MDS) which is great for EVERYONE, not just crafters!   I am sure there are a lot of people like me who have 100's of photo's on their computer, MDS is great for digital scrapbooking and documenting your memories. There are also lots of uses for MDS, stationary, leaflets, school homework, slide shows and more, or mix it up with your 'real' life crafting. I am off to try it myself so keep an eye out for my new creations. 
You can buy My Digital Studio software  as a download for £13.95 or try the FREE 30 DAY TRIAL, 
both available from my ONLINE SHOP.

Order Stampin' Up! ONLINE 24/7!

You can now purchase your Stampin' Up! products from my ONLINE SHOP 24/7 how great is that! So, no matter what time of day it is you can have a browse through my online shop, order your goodies and they will be delivered directly to you. Please note my Hostess/Stamp Club orders still need to come directly to me.

Click HERE to visit my shop

Monday 2 September 2013

Autumn and Winter Catalogue is here!

I know it's only September but us card makers do have to start early and there is oodles of choice and ideas in the new Autumn and Winter catalogue. As well as some gorgeous stamp sets, paper and embellishments there are some great kits ideal for those new to card making.
Click HERE to take a look
I hope to have some lovely samples to show you soon and some all day Christmas crafting sessions as well as my usual Wednesday class. 
There are also some stamp sets that are still available from last years autumn and winter catalogue, just take a look at my promotions and specials page to keep up to date with the latest Stampin' Up info.