Aichem

Hi Guys

As you know from one of my previous posts, I have been asked to provide a workshop at the Hilton for the Create & Craft Experience. This is just an update to let you know that there are a very few places left and if you want to book, have a look at the Create & Craft website, where you will find a link to book your place.

I am so excited about the weekend and have already stated planning what to do I am going to be using RedHot Bed products and we all know that they are just gorgeous …

One other update is that I will be doing another Pick of the Day on Ideal World Shopping & Create & Craft channel starting on Sat 31st May 08, show times will follow soon, so just make sure to put the date in your diaries

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Since the Pick of the Day a week and a bit ago, I have been on the go and really need to sit down. I am so pleased I am off with my mate, Lynsey, to a quiet little place to enjoy some peace for a day :-). I’ve never been to Stow on the Wold and apparently there is a Christmas Shop in a place close by called Bourton on the Water. It sells festive things all year round. I said I would buy Lynsey a bauble LOL

Anyway, I have uploaded a calender now and you will be able to see it under Events Schedule at the top right hand side of the page. I have started filling it and will update as soon as I can, every time I have more dates.

I am so excited about the Create & Craft Hilton Experience, it’s a weekend of crafting from 13th - 15th June 2008. There will be workshops running throughout the weekend and opportunities to buy craft products sold on Create & Craft and Ideal World. I have been asked to run 7 workshops and will be using RedHot Bed products. I hope that some of you will be attending, if you do please let know who you are, I would love to have a chin wag with you

To book onto the event, contact Create & Craft, there should be a number on their website.

Anyway, hope you are all enjoying the sun, make the most of it while we have it

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Hi Guys

Just to let you know that I will be on Ideal World and Create & Craft on Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th April 08. I have a great POTD for you, but I am afraid you will have to watch to find out what it is as I am sworn to secrecy

The show times are:

• Tuesday: 9pm & Midnight
• Wednesday: 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm

If you find the time to watch then send in an email to the studio on Studio@IdealWorld.tv I would love to hear from you.

Gotta go, samples to make …

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Oh my goodness, it has been ages since I last updated you guys. Since the last time so much has happened and I have been so busy.

I was on Ideal World and Create & Craft, simultaneously, doing the Pick of the Day. I so enjoyed myself, it was great fun, but really tiring. Eight hours live TV in 24 hours, I couldn’t believe how exhausted I was afterwards. I hope you got a chance to watch and buy your goodies. I did promise to put pictures on the website, which I will do shortly, I just need to crop them before uploading. I have pics of the Pick of the Weeks too…

I am also going to be updating the schedule page. This will include demonstrations that have been booked at various locations where I will be showing how to use the TrimCraft products. The main item is the Bind-it-All Machine. This is a fab bit of kit, it will punch the holes and bind the pages togehter, this will allow you to make your own scrapbooks, notebooks, diaries, address books, calendars, etc., the list is endless. At the £50 - £55 mark it is a considered purchase but well worth it if you are into your scrap book type crafts and like to make gifts to give to friends and family.

TrimCraft have also brought out the Laura Ashley range, which include papers, brads, sticky ribbons and wait for it … Stamps !! Wow, such a scrumptious lot of products in 2 choices, traditional and contemporary.

Making cards and embellishing scrapbooks is just going to be joy and the ideas will just flow

So, have a look at the schedule page and come along to a demo near you.

You will also find demos using fiskars products too, probably from September time, so watch this space

Til next time, happy crafting and stay lucky

Hx

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Sometimes I wonder how my life got so busy, cannot believe how much I have been running around recently!!

Well, I have been over to Peterborough again, to do a Create & Craft pre-recording of another Pick of the Week It’s due to be aired on Sky channel 661, the first show is on Sunday 6th April 08 at 4pm and the show is called Be Creative, Pick of the Week. If you can’t catch that show, watch out for airings throughout the week at various times, it will be broadcast while stocks last. I have been asked by many friends, relatives and crafters which cable/freeview channel Create & Craft is on, I am afraid to tell you that it isn’t available

I have been thinking about uploading all the show samples onto the website so that you are able to see the cards properly. I will do this but am not able to until the first airing of the show. So watch this space …

Besides the Pick of the Week prep, I have been sorting out samples for the Pick of the Day soon. This will be live on Tuesday 8th April 08 at 9pm, with a further 5 live shows at Midnight, 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm the next day on the 9th April 08. If you do get a chance to watch let me know what you think, I would love to know.

Other then the TV stuff, I have been busy running workshops and meeting you lovely people, sorting out projects for Lets Get Crafting and organising my diary as it seems to be getting a little full over weekends. I having been putting in dates for TrimCraft Demonstrations at various locations. I will be uploading these dates soon so if I am in your area, please come and say hello.

I think that’s about it, I am off to think about what I want for my birthday on Monday, I feel a spending spree coming LOL

Happy Crafting guys

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Outline stickers

These are self adhesive messages, letters and images are available in a variety of colours. They can be used on various surfaces including card, paper, photographs, acetate, etc.

They can be used as a finishing accent by using a border and/or message sticker.

Once stuck, the images can be coloured in using pencils, pens or felt-tips. They are ideal on acetate on an aperture card as the reverse of the stickers are very acceptable.

These stickers can be used as templates using chalks or inks to make a background paper for your project.

Take two or more sheets of the same image but different in colour. Take the outline of one of the images in one colour and fill in the gaps using the “waste” from the other coloured sheets. This is a lovely effect and you will be using up a lot of what you might otherwise throw away.

Try using an outline sticker the same colour as your card this will give an embossed effect that looks very sophisticated, especially gold on gold mirri card or silver on silver mirri card.

It is possible to colour your stickers using permanent marker pens. You can use over-head projector pens, CD pens or there are specially designed pens available in a variety of colours. The stickers can also be coloured using a permanent ink-pad and a sponge.

The best method of peeling the stickers away from their backing sheet is by using a pair of tweezers or a piercing tool.

When using a large sticker, place it upside-down on a flat surface and leave for a few seconds so that it regains its shape. Then place the card onto it so that it sticks without losing its shape again.

Stickers are an ideal way to secure vellum to a project as the vellum will show any glue beneath it.

Glues

• PVA - This is an all round glue which sticks most materials, the type of glue we remember from school
• Tacky Glue - A veriety of PVA which is tackier than regular PVA. It will give a quicker bond.
• Stick Glue - Ideal for scrapbooking as it is repositionable until dry. It won’t wrinkle paper and not as messy as wet glue. Also available acid free.
• Artists Institute Dries Clear and Dries White - These glues are fantastic for loose glitter projects, especially if using the ultra-fine glitters. Giving different effects when using the dries white or clear, choose the one that best suits your project. For example, if using on card, either will be fine, but if using on acetate the the dries clear is the best.
• Glitter Glue - Available in so many colours, they give a 3D effect to cards and papercraft projects. They can be bought in big containers, but I would recommend the smaller ones as they will be easier to direct to the places where you want them. Ideal just to accent so a small amount goes a long way.
  
• Glue Dots - Ideal for scrap booking, decoupage etc. Gives a 3D effect to cards.
• Double Sided Tape - Suitable for card making and children’s craft projects. Gives an instant result and leaves no mess. Sticks paper, card, foam etc.
• Sticky Fixers or 3d Foam Pads- Double sided adhesive, available in pads or rolls. Ideal for shaker cards and mounting materials to give a 3D effect.
• Fabric glue - Ideal for fabrics where finished product will require washing.

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There are a number of different types of ink pads available for use with rubber stamps, all have different uses and work better on different surfaces.

These are the main types of ink-pads used for stamping:

• Pigment Inks – These water-based inks dry slowly and are ideal for heat embossing. They can be used for general stamping and also used with a water brush for blended water colouring effects. They can be used on many types of paper, but using on shiny surfaces should be avoided as they will take a long time to dry and may not dry on some surfaces at all. Pigment inks come in a huge variety of colours which include metallic, fluorescent, multi coloured pads, etc.

• Dye Based Inks – These are water-based inks that dry quickly on a variety of surfaces, including non-porous surfaces. As these inks dry quickly they are not suitable for heat embossing and the image may run if it gets wet. Great for general stamping as they will give a good image even when using a very detailed stamp. There are many colours that are now available and the choice gets greater on a daily basis.

• Permanent Inks - These inks are available in both water-based and solvent- based forms. They can be used on most types of surface both porous and non-porous; card, paper, wood, acetate, shrink plastic, glass, metal, foil, leather, acrylic, etc. You will eed to use a permanent ink cleaner to clean your stamps after using these types of ink-pads.

• Brush Marker Pens - These are usually available containing pigment inks and the colours available are countless. They can be used for stamping by colouring in the image and then stamping it. This gives a lot more freedom to use several colours on one stamp to give unusual, rainbow type effects.

• Chalk Inks - These inks dry with a soft, pastel, chalk-like finish. They come in a variety of colours but are usually muted and subtle. They can be used for a variety of projects and are great for direct-to-paper techniques.

Just a couple of tips with regards ink-pads and stamps:

• If you find that your ink-pads are not “wet” enough, don’t throw them away or buy a re-inker, try storing them upside-down for a couple of days, this will bring the ink to the top of the pad. If they are old pads, storing them upside down will make them available for use any time

• Most inks can be cleaned from the stamp using a wet wipe, if possible, try to purchase alcohol-free wipes, they will be gentler on your stamps. However, use this method should only be used on a temporary basis. Every once in a while, clean all your stamps with a specially formulated stamp cleaner. Doing this will protect your stamp and preserve them for a lot longer.

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Scrapbooking

A creative art of displaying photos and memorabilia. It incorporates journaling and the embellishment of the pictures to tell the story of events. The primary purpose of scrapbooking is to preserve memories for future generations, but a secondary purpose is often to exercise your creativity as you display your memories in a scrapbook.

Crop

The actual meaning of this word, in terms of scrap booking, is to cut or resize a photograph. Possibly to eliminate some of the background or a part of the image.

However, this word can also mean a gathering of scrapbookers who work on their albums and pay layouts. Normally, CROPS meet on a regular basis just like a crafting club where the scrapbookers will bring their ongoing projects with them. They can also be in the format of a workshop where an expert will host the event.

Acid free

Papers or card that have a high acid content deteriorate over time and may become fragile and discoloured. Adhesives can fail and stain photographs. It is therefore essential to use acid free cards, papers and adhesives when creating scrapbook pages. This will ensure that photographs and scrapbook pages do not become discoloured, cracked or damaged over time and will last a lifetime.

Lignin free

It is also essential to use lignin free paper or card when creating pages. Lignin is a naturally occurring substance in wood that reacts with light and causes the yellowing and deterioration of paper and card. Lignin free paper and card is produced by removing the lignin during the paper making process. Using acid & lignin free materials will ensure that photographs and scrapbook pages do not become discoloured and deteriorated over time.

Layout

A page design or the grouping of scrapbooking pages that go together. A layout can be one page; two or some are even a panoramic 4 page spread.

Journaling

The term journaling is fairly self-explanatory. It means to write some information about the scrapbook page. This would normally be the who, what, why, where and when about the pictures displayed. The journaling an be done in a variety of styles.

• Using bullet points would be straight forward and factual.
• Captioning, which can be a title, a short explanation or a description about the picture.
• Another way to display information is to tell the story behind the photographs, especially if the photo used is kinetic and something happened just before or after it was taken.
• Poetry is another form of story telling which can also be very effective.

Journaling is a great way to finish off your pages.

Page Protectors

These are clear plastic pockets that contain and display a scrapbook page.

Album

Blank book used to store scrapbooking photographs and scrapbook pages. The most popular types are expandable with top loading page protectors. They come in a variety of sizes such as 12″ x 12″, 8″ x 8″ and 6″ x 6″ and many more.

Glassine

A translucent paper used to make envelopes or sleeves to store photo negatives. These can also be used for a decorative purpose, often for hidden journaling.

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Direct to Paper Techniques with Ink-pads

Edging Paper and Card

Just by stroking the edge of your paper or card with an ink-pad creates a second mat without actually matting. This makes such a subtle that it won’t be noticeable until you place it on another piece of paper or card. Make sure that it is dry before doing this as you may end up with smudges.

Doing this after tearing an edge is very effective too.

Distressed Paper

Before using any inks crumple your paper up into a ball and then open up and and smooth the paper down. Flatten as much as possible if yo want to achieve a subtle effect or leave more raised areas if you want to achieve a very distressed look. Stroke an ink-pad across the entire page and the raised areas will pick up the ink. Once dry, flatten as much as possible before using.

For any technique, its probably a good idea to test on a piece of paper if possible, this will give you an idea of what the final result will look like. The last thing you want is a big sheet of paper that you don’t like the look of. LOL

Shaped Ink-pads

There are so many different shaped ink-pads on the market, like small square, large square, round, tear-drop, triangle petal shapes and probably many more.

Use these directly onto you paper or card. For example, with the petal shaped, make a flower, make small circles with the round to form a background. Do this with the square too !!

The possibilities are endless, have a go and you might end up falling in love with a technique that you cant live without

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Hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday Weekend. It’s so great to have these long weekends. I don’t know if everyone else is the same but have so many plans for the long weekends and then I just end up either going out with friends or vegging LOL. Recently though, I have been working a lot so I suppose I deserve a rest

I just got back from Peterborough and thought I would update you on what I have been up to. I was doing a recording of the Pick of the Week with Dave Bradford and had a really good time Watch out for the show on Create & Craft, we had a lot of fun filming it. I think it is going to be aired on Sunday 23rd March 08, but I’m not sure so I’ll check and update you as soon as I know if it is different.

I will also let you know when other Create & Craft shows are on soon too. I know for sure about 2 of them, but need to make sure of dates before I post them.

Let’s Get Crafting have asked me to contribute to issue 5 so I will be sorting out designs for that too.

Another bit of news is that Trimcraft have asked me to demo on their behalf, which I am thrilled about, so dates and venues for these will be posted on the website soon. If you see that I’m in your area do come and say hello, it would be lovely to meet you. It’s great that I am getting to make so many crafting friends
I didn’t have any crafting friends before and now I have loads, it’s so nice.

I am off to the casino in Nottingham for poker tomorrow and visiting my Mum & Dad on Saturday, so that’s me sorted … LOL. I’ll probably end up sleeping it off on Monday LOL.

Well, enjoy the rest of the long weekend and I hope that the weather doesn’t spoil it too much for you. Til next time …
x

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