Hello...this is the Friday update on Sunday!! (Well it is holidays!)  Regal are still doing their weekly special this week - some forest green rectangle cut-outs and sparklelight topper pieces are available at heavily discounted prices.  Pop over to the website at www.regalcraftcards and look under "Specials" if you want to check them out.
We still have places left in our April scrapbooking class with Susan Longman so if you'd like to book a spot or want more details either call into the shop or give us a call.  You can see some of Susan's work in this month's Kaiser workbook.
The April card class is fully booked but we are now taking bookings for the May class which is with Lynne Armstrong.  Lynne recently had an article published in Scrapbooking Creations magazine and we are lucky that she has agreed to come along and teach a class in making her lovely little notebooks with a card to match.  Once again call for further details or come and see me in the shop.
Our free demo is on again on April 11th - I'm doing this one.  The theme is Cards and Words but I'll be showing lots of different techniques and new products.  I'd love to see you there.
Well..... I think thats all........back to the Easter Eggs!!!!!!

FAUX TILES

FAUX TILE CARD

Janene made this elegant tiled card at one of Regal's demos last year.  She used a large patterned stamp (unfortunately I don't know the maker) to print on a piece of smooth white card of the same size, which had been scored into thirds using a scoring board and tool.  The ink doesn't go into the lines as long as the stamp is not applied with too much pressure.  The end result is a very convincing tiled effect.

Janene has stamped a greeting on a diecut white circle backed onto a scallop of dark blue (adding a ribbon bow for decoration), and then the whole panel has been mounted onto a smooth white singlefold card from Regal.

OFF THE PAGE DEMONSTRATION

BABY PHOTO DISPLAY BOARD

I couldn't wait until Friday to share this lovely project, completed by Sally Young, as part of her recent demonstration at Regal.

She has used a Kaiser swap card photo display board, and decorated it with a variety of kaiser and other products to create a beautiful depiction of a tiny baby.  Note the use of black and white photos to create a sense of unity .

Many of the panels could stand alone as a card or mini book page , as you can see from the enlarged panel on the right.

DANZA BOLERO CARD

DANZA BOLERO FUSSY CUT CARD

Lois has fussy cut around part of the design of a sheet of " Danza Bolero" paper and mounted it on some red backing before colouring some of the flowers and adding red adhesive rhinestones, to emphasise various parts of the pattern.

The greeting is a peel off sticker, coloured black with a permanent pen.  The whole panel is then mounted onto one of Regal Craft Card's textured white single fold cards for a simple but very effective result!

FRIDAY UPDATE

Just a quick note to let you know about this weeks specials over at Regal.  There is a fifty pack (yes I did say 50) of white textured horizontal fold cards and envelopes for only $8.00 and a five pack of white textured photoslot cards (also with envelopes) for only $3.00.  Plus of course, if you do buy one of the specials on-line you go in the quarterly draw for a $100.00 gift voucher!!  I'm going to get some of the horizontal fold cards because I've been playing around with die-cuts and white on white faux embossing and they're perfect for that.....I'll try to post an example of this technique in a few weeks time!

A reminder too, for folk s who live in commuting distance of Regal's shop in Launceston, that Sally Young's free demo "OFF THE PAGE"  is on Wednesday the 20th of March, running continuously between 10 and 3.  

MUSIC THEMED CARD

CARD WITH A MUSIC THEME FROM FEBRUARY DEMO

Marilyn made this card as part of her recent "Mostly Men" demo, but it would be suitable for anyone who loved music. The technique could be used with paper with other themes too. Using, a singlefold black card from Regal as her base, Marilyn has  cut out and mounted pieces of Graphic 45 paper onto gold before positioning them on the background, using mounting tape to give a subtle raised effect.  A peel off sticker completes the card.

COLLAGE CARD

STITCHED COLLAGE CARD

Here is another example of a really quick card that looks so much more complicated than it actually is.

Just take one of Regal's stitch cards XTH2.  (This ten pack isn't on their website but you can still get it by putting the code into the "special comments" box or by coming into the shop).

Add a small Kaiser pad - chose five or six different papers or elements for each cell (all of them have suitable papers and pushouts so you can just chose the one you like the best)

Finish off with a greeting sticker and.......that's it!!!

DOUBLE HEART CARD

DOUBLE HEART CARD

Janet has used Regal's black textured double heart card as the base for this unusual card.  The floral paper (from the Graphic 45 Playtimes Past collection) has been placed underneath the two heart apertures, but also  on top of the two corresponding cut-outs which have been attached with foam tape to give a 3d effect (this is not as evident in the scan as I'd hoped).  The text has been added with Kaiser sticker letters and the heart is a gold peel-off coloured with a red permanent marker.  Janet has drawn a border with a white gel pen, and added some little red rhinestones to finish.  Its a great card idea with lots of techniques that can be used on other projects too!

FRIDAY UPDATE

Just a quick note to let you know about the weekend specials that Regal are offering this Saturday and Sunday.......There are some really practical smooth white rectangle cut-out cards - great for photos, needlework and art, and some nice little cards that are somewhere in between a traditional gift card  and a standard greeting card.  More information is available on the website - www.regalcraftcards.com.au.  (Look under "Specials").  Have a lovely weekend......I'll catch up with you all next week.

WHITE FLOWERS

A nice flowery offering this week...

I've used an oval aperture card from Regal, and cut off the third panel.  I've then punched a lot of white retro flowers out of fairly firm card

Beginning on the outside edge, I've then glued a couple of the petals to the card, and then added flowers one by one gluing the petals together until most of the oval is covered in flowers.

The next step is to add a flower here or there on top and to gently bend up the petals for a 3d effect.  Some adhesive pearls in the middle, and you're finished.

Although its a different interpretation, the  inspiration for this card came from a book called Flower Power Paper Crafts by Julie Hickey which has lots of other good ideas.

BUTTON COLLAGE

BUTTON COLLAGE CARD

Trudy Meijer makes some lovely cards from a variety of repurposed objects.  In this example she has raided the button box to make a striking collage using Regal's square black singlefold card as a base.

BRAND NEW FAN CARD

PAPERCRAFT FAN
Regal have just released a brand new product - a fan kit which comes with five individual pieces to decorate as well as a  post screw to fix them together (so that the fan can fold up).  This would make a pretty table decoration for a wedding, an extra special card or a little mini scrapbook. This product is now on their website.  Its always fun to play with a new release.  I made the model on the left using Graphic45 papers, Lorraine did the fab version in the middle with cuttlebugged pieces and handmade rolled roses, and Tania made the fan to the right using Kaiser paper and lots of embellishments.!!  

CARDS FROM NESTING DIES

Here is a rather belated selection of cards from a demo that Janene did for Regal last year.  She has used a variety of nesting dies to create the cards bases and then embellished them with decorative papers, punched shapes, paper flowers etc. with some realy pretty results.

VALENTINE'S DAY CARD

A CARD FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Janet has designed a beautiful card to make for someone you love, based on one of Regal's heart cut out cards.  She has used Graphic45 paper to cover the front and added embellishments including a rub-on and lace.  The use of tulle within the heart cut-out gives a very subtle texture.

Regal has lots of different cards with hear-cut outs which you can see on their website.

FRIDAY UPDATE

Gosh, February already.........We have a busy month ahead.  The first cardmaking class will be held on the 6th, which I'm taking...I think we still have one spot left in the afternoon to learn how to make "Fabulous Flowers."  Marlene Exton is taking March's class - an intro to Parchment Craft and we can take bookings now.  Susan Longman will be holding her scrapbooking class on February 22nd and there are still spaces available and finally....Regal's free demo for this month will be given by Marilyn and will feature cards suitable for everyone but perhaps men in particular.  If you can come along on February 11th, please do.  We'll have the usual bargain tables etc....

Speaking of which, Regal has a couple of beaut weekend specials going this Saturday and Sunday - for just ten dollars you can have either a fifty pack of smooth cream single fold cards and envelopes or a fifty pack of horizontal fold ivory cards with a shortened front scallop edge.  Check them out at www.regalcraftcards.com.au or pop into the shop and see Janet on Saturday.

EMBOSSED AND DIE CUT COGS CARD

COGS  CARD

Our customers often say that they feel that making cards for men is a bit of a challenge.  I suppose it somewhat depends on the person....but this card has elements that might appeal to those who want a more "masculine" design.

The base card is one of Regal's singlefold black cards (trimmed slightly).  The silver "ttolbox" background is  Cuttlebugged shimmer card.  The black and silver cogs have been cut using Spellbinders Tim Holtz cog dies.  I've just added some silver split pins and a few dabs of black ink to finish.

I really like the cogs set.....they look all very industrial here, but they're great as flowers in bright colours and you can even use them for Spirelli.

CUP AND SAUCER SIT UP CARD

CUP AND SAUCER CARD 

Lorraine (who is a great source of inspiration for all of us) has come up with this alternative way to present Regal's cup and saucer card.


She has simply cut along the sides of the base of the cup so that the saucer can be folded flat.  It can then be glued or attached with a peg (as in the photo) or paperclip if the whole card has to be flat for an envelope. I haven't tried but I guess you could also use a split pin, punch a couple of little holes and tie the pieces together or just add a piece of doublesided tape with the backing attached so that the recipient can assemble it themselves.  Then, of course, there's Velcro and.......OK probably enough suggestions for now.........The main idea is Lorraine's sit up card, and what a good idea it is!

WEEKEND UPDATE

Its almost Valentine's day so if you want to sent some loving messages to family and friends you'll find that this week's weekend special from Regal is ideal -  a pack of fifty red heart cut out cards at a really discounted price.  There are also some bargain ten packs of Vintage cream singlefold cards that would be useful for just about every occasion.  Pop over to the website at www.regalcraftcards.com.au and look under "specials" for the details.

JAPANESE LADIES

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Japanese lady zigzag card

Monica Hirst, who was visiting from Victoria brought in  a couple of cards that she had made using our die-cut Spaklelight 3D sheets, some of her own pretty papers and Regal's DL zigzag cards.  I love it when people bring in their work to show us - the inspiration is always welcome.  I'm always especially happy when they give me permission to feature their cards on this blog! 

 A big thank you to all the crafters who have shared their work with us!!!

CARNIVAL LADIES

Most of the work shown in this blog is based on Regal cards, but every now and again one of our customers brings in something so amazing I have to make an exception.

I'm sure you'll agree that these lovely collage ladies by Rita McDermott were just too fabulous not to share with a wider audience!

TWO PARCHMENT CARDS

 I think I'll just let these cards, by the obviously extremely talented Lyn Kirkham speak for themselves.

All the embossing and cutting is done by hand, by Lyn.

PICKPOINT DUCKS

This is the time of year when we seem to either have less time than usual or more time available.  If you fit into the latter category, you might want to make some cards that take a little longer than usual and/or try a new technique.  This duck family were sewn using the pickpoint pattern PPF16 "Riverside Delights". I've sewn it onto one of Regal's three panel textured white cards, and used variegated stranded embroidery thread.  Metallic threads make more of a statement, but don't photograph quite as well.

 In case you missed my last post and were wondering, the shop is re opening on Wednesday 02 January.

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS CARDS

If you haven't started your Christmas cards yet don't panic (OK....well panic a little bit).  Pop in and buy some photoslot cards from Regal, find some  favourite photos (or take some especially, and make a dash to your local photo processor  and voila...instant hand-made Christmas cards!!

Regal closes up for the year tomorrow (Friday the 21st) which is why I'm posting today instead of then, to give you a chance to dash in for last minute goodies.  We don't re open until Wednesday January 02nd.

Every good wish to you all for the holiday season.

PARCHMENT WEDDING CARD

I don't imagine anyone would have the time to devote to making this card in December, so just rest a while, and take a few moments to enjoy looking at Lyn Kirkham;s masterpiece!!

FRIDAY UPDATE

Just a quick note to let Regal customers know that we will be closed from lunchtime on Friday until 02 January, and to wish all of you a happy and peaceful holiday season.