Friday 27 June 2014

DECORATOR SHEET DIE CUT TEDDY CARD

TEDDY BEAR DIE CUT  
This  cute card, made by Lois, is ideal for a quick birthday or baby card.

The teddy bear and floral background are both from a Sparklelight die cut decorator sheet, which features a variety of bears and backgrounds.

The decorator sheet, sticker and purple base card are all available from Regal Craft Cards.

Lois has used mounting tape to raise the bear off the page, and has made a hole in the Best Wishes sticker so that a ribbon can be added.

Friday 20 June 2014

TIPS AND TECCHNIQUES CARD

DEMO CARD
This is a card I made for a Regal Craft Cards demo ages ago.  Its not a particularly great design so I'm not suggesting you necessarily want to copy it (though you're welcome to if you want) HOWEVER it was made to illustrate a whole lot of techniques that can be used in cardmaking so.......
1.  If you are a bit challenged in the bow-tying department, an alternative is to secure your ribbon at either end, then cut a smaller matching ribbon and knot it around the longer piece.  Most people will "see" a bow
2  If you have a sheer ribbon and have trouble finding an adhesive that won't show or ooze through, then secure the ends behind a panel, then mount the whole lot onto the card.
3.  A nice straight shiny border can be made by sticking some double sided tape down to where you want the border to be, removing the other backing, covering with embossing powder (I used gold) and heating to melt.  (Check that the tape you are using is up to the job first - all the ones Regal sell are suitable).
4.  Colour metallic trim (this one's from Green Tara) with permanent pens to match your project.
5.  Just put the edge of an embossing folder over your opened card (before adding all the extra bits) and run through your Cuttlebug to make a border.
6.  Always use a thick, good quality base card if you are going to embosss/heat/collage etc etc .  (This one is PL2 - Regal's smooth white singlefold.

Friday 13 June 2014

REGAL STEPPER CARD CALENDAR

STEPPER CARD CALENDAR
Something that is worth mentioning about the new stepper card is that its the perfect size for a desk calendar, featuring one of Regal's nifty little calendar pads.  The 2015 ones are out already so you can get started as early as you like for next year.

This example uses a diecut ship's wheel (Couture Creations), a sparklelight picture (the back panel from a 3d sheet), stickers, twine, shimmer paper, and a split pin.  Its an easy card but does involve a bit of effort and so it would be really nice to give as a gift as well as a greeting card - hence the addition of the calendar.

All the techniques are pretty straightforward, although it might be worth noting that the split pin "Hanger" is inserted into the copper paper before its fixed to the card so that the "legs" don't show on the back, that the gold number stickers for the date were coloured with a brown permanent marker before sticking to the page, and lastly that a little dimension was added to the ship's wheel by cutting a gold backing circle and sticking the wheel to it with foam tape.

Monday 9 June 2014

STEPPER CARD FOR GOOD LUCK

NEW STEPPER CARD
As I mentioned on Friday, I'm having great fun playing with Regal's new stepper cards now all the hard work of measuring, scoring and cutting has been taken out of the equation.

This isn't quite a five minute card but its pretty close - just cut up a sheet of Graphic 45 paper (from the French Country range), add a Couture Creations diecut clock and a couple of rhinestones and stick it all to the stepper card with some double sided tape and there you are!!!

Friday 6 June 2014

NEW CARD RELEASE - REGAL STEPPER CARD

NEW STEPPER CARD FROM REGAL
We have some exciting news this Friday - a brand new card release from Regal Craft Cards.

Stepper cards are available in packs of ten or fifty.  They may not be on the website yet but they are packed and ready to go, so you can still order them.  XST1, a ten pack is available for $14.00.  A pack of fifty (ST1) will be $32.00.

Janet has decorated this pretty example with a variety of paper flowers, and Kaiser papers and pearls.  Note the clever way she has added a peel-off greeting sticker to acetate so that it appears to float above the main card.

I've always liked the look of stepper cards but all that measuring, scoring and careful cutting meant that I hadn't actually made all that many.  Now that the hard work is done, its my new favourite card shape!!  I'll put up another couple of examples of decorated cards onto the blog on Monday and Friday, so look back then for more ideas.

Don't forget the annual Regal Giant Craft Sale is coming up on Friday 20th June for those of you who are able to be in Launceston.  Doors of the hall open at 10 in the morning and close at 3.  There will be lots of bargains, especially for papercrafters!!  For those of you who are only able to order online, don't forget there are still weekly specials on the website.  New ones post each Saturday and run until the following Friday. The next one coming up includes stamps, gift cards and singlefold cards so check them out tomorrow!!