Die cutting - StampinbyHannah

3rd June 2014

Card Making Basics – Tools

So I thought while we wait for my Stampin’ Up! starter kit to arrive and my online shop to go live I would start a series of posts around Card making basics, and where is the best place to start? tools? well it is now!

paper trimmer – the Stampin Up! paper trimmer is my personal favourite because of its large cutting and measuring area and the fact that it can be changed from a basic trimmer into a rotatory cutter
bone folder – I always though, a bone folder was a bone folder, I was wrong! there is just something about the Stampin Up! bone folder, either size or weight that makes a massive difference with burnishing score lines
Simply Scored – I LOVE THIS Tool! hands down my favourite tool from any craft company! I have yet to come across a project where I don’t use it; cards, boxes, bags, envelopes,
stamps – don’t think I need to say much more about stamps really, love them, cant get enough!
Punches – see stamps!
Paper piercer – use it for everything, in particular getting the backing off that pesky sticky strip!
Tweezers – use a basic pair (designed for eyebrows I do believe) to remove backing from tape, sticky strip, place jewels and pearls, hold items while embossing, I use my tweezers all the time
Grid paper – very useful for lining up papers, measuring, ensuring stamps are straight etc. and stopping your desk from getting messy!
Big shot! – so useful, admittedly can be done without, but fantastic for die-cutting and embossing. I would suggest that an embossing machine (the texture boutique is awesome) adds a special extra something to your cards and projects. Along the same vein, dies and embossing folders, I would suggest dies that match stamps, and simple embossing patterns such as dots and strips
Stampin Scrub – hands down the best way to clean those intricate and detailed stamps. I will openly admit, for years I have used the cheapest baby wipes I could possibly find, but no longer. My stamps are finally clean!

While I’m here, don’t forget to check out my site at StampinUp.net : http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampinbyhannah

Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

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30th May 2014

Thank you

I love sending little thank you messages to people, and a simple thank you card is quick to put together.

I’ve used my Spellbinders dies here, Floral Ribbon threader and curved matting basics A, along with a Papermania Capsule collection in liquorice, sadly I believe this has been since discontinued. I am currently working my way through some of my crafty stash, using up older products before an exciting order of new shiny things arrives next week (hint hint).

The flowers on this card is super simple to put together too, a couple of 1 inch circles punched from white card stock, layered with some patterned paper flowers die cut using the same Spellbinders die set, crumpled and finished with a bit of bling.

I’ve also tried some paper piecing on this card. I dont use this technique very often, generally because Its a big of a faff if you (like me) dont have a guide or piecing ruler. I line up my normal ruler and piece and half centimetre intervals, the problem with this is that sometimes I go off at a bit of an odd angle, but hey its only card!

25th May 2014

Storage Sundays

Hello and welcome to storage Sundays

This will hopefully be a regular posting focusing on different areas of my craft room.

Yesterday, in preparation for this post (and because it was desperately in need of a tidy up), I reorganised my 12×12 paper stash. I’m hoping this method works for me, I will keep you posted with any changes I have to make. I have tried a number of storage solutions in recent years; drawers, boxes, stashed on a shelf, and I suppose this follows along the same lines, but with the added bonus of being able to find what I’m looking for!

I have the IKEA expidit 4×4 shelving unit. I love it, although I currently have to share it with J for his college work.

My 12×12 has always had its own compartment within the unit, along with my current scrapbook, a box of Becky Higgins page protectors, and my misting box (just because I don’t have quite enough paper to fill the whole shelf). However, it has just been put there, shoved onto the shelf, and then sort of abandoned because I couldn’t see what I had, what were full sheets or just scraps. So I haven’t really used it!

That was until yesterday. First of all, I cut some labels. I would dearly love a tab punch, but I cant find one I like that someone still actually makes! But I do have the Tim Holtz Alterations Tiny Tabs and Tags Bigz Die from Sizzix, so out came the Big Shot, and a piece of 12×12 cardstock in a colour I am unlikely to use for anything else (strange sort of yellow, I’m not all that keen, but it’ll do for this purpose), and I cut myself a whole pile of tabs.

Grabbing my stapler and a pen, I got onto the floor, and sorted through all that paper. I decided to organise by brand. Until a couple of months ago I was a member of the Studio Calico Scrapbook Kit Club, and so have a lot of certain brands; Studio Calico, American Crafts, Crate Paper, etc. but I have also bought collections packs from other companies; Echo Park and Papermania, as well as a pad from K & Company (which, is very thin paper, and only get used for proto-typing) and a stack from core’dinations.

Each section got a tab, stapled to either; the front sheet (if it was a collection pack), or a piece of heavier weight cardstock. I find that I know what sort of papers I own from each company, and so find it easier to organise that way rather than say, by colour. But its about finding what works best for you, and if you find yourself thinking ‘I need a blue paper’ rather than ‘I think something from October Afternoon would work’ organise that way.

So, the final reveal. I’m pleased with the result, I did a bit of crafting after all my organising, and found what I was looking for pretty quickly (and sorting it all out helped me find a heap of stuff I’d forgotten I bought!).

Back with more crafts, cards, and storage solutions soon

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