BIRTHDAY CARD AND POST-IT HOLDER

CARD WITH MATCHING POST-IT HOLDER

Sometimes its nice to give a little gift with a card.  This example comes from one of the demos I did last year.  The card part is super simple - I've just used a pretty piece of Graphic45 paper and added a die-cut oval with coloured peel-off greeting, as the wording on the paper in the middle of the frame didn't suit the occasion.  The base is a textured ivory single fold frim Regal.

I can't give you precise instructions for the post-it folder as I just placed the post-its on a scrap piece of card and drew roughly around it, adding a flap on either side of the base and at the bottom, then neatened it up and checked that it all fitted together before using it as a template on my "nice" card.  I'm sure more formal templates for something similar are available on-line.

More G45 paper has been used to decorate the top flap, as well as a fabric flower and some little pearls.  Acutually I've just noticed that one is missing from the top rh edge already, which tends to suggest that using them for something that may well be tossed around in your handbag might not be a good idea.  Perhaps liquid pearls or similar would be better.

Probably the thing most noteable, is the closure mechanism which is just two pieces of sticky-backed magnet sheet (available from Regal).  Its easy to cut with scissors, you don't need glue, and it provides a surprisingly firm closure.  There's enough room at the top of the post-its to add a little pencil (save time looking for the right size by just sawing a big one to size).  You might want to tie it on just to make sure it doesn't go its own way.

With a different greeting this set would do for Mother's day or Secret Santa as well as birthdays.

FRIDAY UPDATE

It was lovely to see so many smiling faces at the free demo last week - some new and some familiar!  I hope everyone who came left with some useful ideas.  The next big date on the calendar for Regal Craft Cards is their giant sale on June 23rd.  I'll give you more details about that closer to the time.

The new Kaiser range will be available - there are two collections which include papers, dies, pads, collectables etc.  One is a pinkish vintage - "High Tea" and the other (which is my favourite) "Indigo Skies" is my favourit e colour combo - navy blue and white!  There are some other new dies in the shop - pop by and have a look!

COOKING THEMED BIRTHDAY CARD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR COOKS

Cooking is a popular pastime at the moment for all sorts of age groups and both men and women, so I've tried to think of a card that would be broadly suitable for anyone.

The colour choice is about a neutral as it gets - black, white and silver (TIP - if you're having a bad colour day choose b&w plus one colour or a metallic and you can't go wrong).

I've rummaged around my ever-expanding box of Kaiser dies and cut out squares, ovals, cooking utensils and the greeting and then just assembled it on a silver background and stuck it to a white Regal single fold card.  If you don't have all the dies, you can always substitute stickers or stamps for the greeting, and fussy cut pictures or stamped images for the utensils (or other cooking related items).  The silver I have used is mirror board and consequently, is very shiny (not so evident in the photo).

If you like to theme your cards around gifts, cookbooks, aprons, actual utensils, and exotic ingredients are obvious accompaniments.

FRIDAY UPDATE

Lots of lovely new things in at Regal.  There will be a rare chance to buy anything in the shop at a twenty per cent discount on Monday 20th (that's next Monday for those of you reading this today so don't miss out if there's something you've been thinking about adding to your craft supplies.)

There will be a demo on that day too.  It will run continuously between 10 and 3 so even although I'll be showing lots of different things you can just come and go as you please.  Attendance from 5 minutes to 5 hours welcome!  As I think I mentioned before, the theme of the demo is stamping and I will be showing both basic and advanced techniques so that if you don't use stamps often (or at all) or if you've been stamping forever, then there should be something to suit you.  I've certainly rediscovered some techniques from days gone that are well worth reviving, as well as some new things I hadn't tried before.  I'm taking a pretty practical approach - the "artsy" bits will be for you to decide.  I'll look forward to seeing some of you there on the day.

ANOTHER WAY TO USE A LATTICE CARD

BEE HAPPY - ANOTHER WAY TO USE A LATTICE CARD

This is not exactly how Regal's lattice cards are "supposed" to be used but it works just the same.

Fold out one panel, attach plain or decorative paper underneath the cut out section, and secure the whole panel to the base.  Add a button wherever you like (I've gone for the middle which is the safest option).  Fold the other panel and add decoration (I've used a giant bee from a Tim Holtz cut and emboss set), and you have an easel card.

It's probably worth mentioning that the bee was cut from Antique Gold shimmer card, which has a yellow core, so after sanding it lightly, the embossing showed up very effectively and there was an interesting mix of shine and matte.  I didn't have a greeting of the right dimensions at hand so I mixed and matched some black alphas with half a broken birthday sticker (!) for the greeting.

Just by the by, the card folds down flat and will still fit in the standard envelope supplied with the cards.

FRIDAY UPDATE

Just a quick reminder about Regal's stamping demo and discount day on Monday March 20th.  That's just over a week away - see last week's update for details.

CUTTLEBUG REFERENCE CARD

CUTTLEBUG REFERENCE CARD

This is an idea for an inexpensive gift for a crafty friend.  The card features a series of papers and tags embossed with different patterns.

 The "gift" is a collection of tags on an album ring.  The idea is for them to use their embossing folders to emboss about 3/4 of each tag, and then write the name/manufacturer etc at the top, so that when they are looking for just the right folder, sample patterns will be close at hand.

Because the tags are relatively small (but not too tiny) they are a handy size for handbags so that if the owner is shopping for new folders its easy to check whether or not they already have the same/similar patterns.  If you want to upsize your gift throw in a couple of embossing folders!

Clearly you could go to town and decorate the front tag a lot more thoroughly that I have, as all I did was add a few peel off letter stickers.  Why not make one for yourself as well!  All the materials are from Regal Craft Cards.

FRIDAY UPDATE

I'm back at work after some holidays.  Regal has so many new things to see - there are lovely butterfly and lace dies from Ultimate Crafts, the March Kaiser release, 3D sheets and a variety of interesting stamping products from Hero Arts - and that's just what I can see from where I'm standing.  If, like me, you haven't been in for a while, I'd strongly recomend a visit

I'm doing a stamping demo on March 20th (which is a Monday) in the hall behind the Baptist Church in Wellington Street (Launceston).  It runs between 10 and 3 and you can just come and go during that time as you want.  I'll be doing a basic technique followed by a more advanced version so hopefully it will suit a variety of skill levels.  I was inspired by two main things - one is the number of people who say "I just can't get on with stamping", two are the other people who say "I've got lots of stamps but I just don't seem to use them very much."  I'm in the latter category - and am pleased to say that in the course of preparing for this demo I've fallen in love with stamping all over again!

(PS There's a discount day in the shop on the 20th as well so mark it on your calendar now!).
(PPS That reminds me.......the little calendars for 2018...yes it's not a typo are now available at Regal.)