Lace Ribbon Again!

So my last post was all about the Lace Ribbon punch and how I struggled with that technique.

Well, while cleaning up, I had to decide what I could "save" from the various disastrous attempts.   This is what I did:

I've used Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla & Choc Chip.  The I Heart stamp set is stamped with Elegant Eggplant & so are the Tiny Tags.  The ribbon is Perfect Plum.  And I've added some pearl jewels to the centres of the punched lace flowers.

So cute!

Karen

I Did It!

How yummy is this card?  It's soft suede with Spice Cake paper...super yummy in fact.

I cased the card from Mickey Roberts. A link kindly sent to me by Susie, the ever faithful blog hopper over at Paper Alchemy.  However, I only looked at the picture and didn't read the instructions.  Silly me!  Consequently I used a lot of cardstock trying to work out how she got the lace border to be even and I discovered something I hadn't noticed before.  The LB punch is different at each end.  A ha!  That makes getting the two sides even more challenging than ever.  Because just when you think you've got it, bam you figure out that the top and bottom are not the same.

Anyway, it's gorgeous, I sussed it out and I'm a happy crafter.  

Tip:  Don't just look at the pics, read the instructions too.  :-))

Have a great weekend.
Karen

Leftovers

Why are leftovers always so yummy?  Is it because you were able to just "heat & eat", or maybe it's that the flavours develop?  Anyhow, regardless of the why, it's absolutely delicious to sink your teeth into leftovers.
This is also true for paper leftovers - no, I don't eat them!

But look what happened when I found some leftover green bits on my desk.......

And leftover pink bits.........

The silver hardware was also lying around.  No idea where I got them but I've had them for years. SU's Hodgepodge Hardware would also work nicely, dontcha think?

That said, what will you make with your leftovers today?

Cheers
Karen

Beautiful Fabric

Our fabric is so lovely.  The fact that it coordinates with other products makes it very easy to use in your projects and you can make gorgeous accents really quickly when you use it in the Big Shot - you need one of these!

This card started off being all about the lace border punch.  I had intended something completely different - no surprise there - but after I'd punched once, realised what a nice feature that was all by itself.

Supplies used:
Stamp Set:   Established Elegance & Vintage Vogue
Cardstock:  Pacific Point, Whisper White
DSP & Fabric: Beau Chateau & Spice Cake
Ink: Pacific Point & Marina Mist
Big Shot, Fun Flowers Die
Linen thread, Rhinestone brad, tiny rhinestone Jewels & a button from the brights collection
Lace Border Punch
1/2" circle punch
Small oval punch - the retired one

Happy Friday
Karen

Snowflakes

With our tropical weather right now, snowflakes are not exactly on my mind.  In fact, I feel more like I'm living in Singapore than Sydney!  But it is Christmas and I love snow......ahhh the christmasses of my childhood.  And more recently, those spent in the US.
Anywho, making that lovely snowflake using the lace border punch for class recently, I had some over and this is what I did:

 

I've had these note pads for ages...years maybe..giggle.  They were already cute with their little built in pen holder and miniature pens.   But now they're gojus!! 

I covered the fronts with DSP.  The one on the left is Beau Chateau, on the right is Old Olive from the Brights Stack.  The Not Quite Navy scallop circle comes from the Perfect Pennants die for the Big Shot.  If you haven't got one of these, you're mad (and I mean that nicely!), because we've already had a great sale on the machine this year so now you'll have to pay full price.  Still 24 hours to call me before it's too late for a gift certificate though!!

Here's a close up of the snowflake.  You take a strip of cardstock, mine was about 18cms long and punch the whole length with the Lace Border punch.   Then you accordian fold it and adhere the two ends with sticky strip to make a circle.  It will want to sit up like a funnel so you have to tease it flat in the centre and use a dollop of mono liquid glue to stick it to the scallop circle.  Punch a bit more out with the Lace Border again and cut out a centre piece to glue onto the middle of the snowflake.  Top with a rhinestone and you're done.

For extra pizzazz, use a Zig glue pen to add a line of glue along one edge of the punched strip before you accordian fold it.   Sprinkle it with Dazzling Diamonds and wait a couple minutes for it to dry before folding - carefully to avoid all the glitter coming off on your hands.

Now who wouldn't want a pad to write their wish list on that looks like this?

Be merry!
Karen

Lace Border Punch

This punch is gorgeous.  I've already used it on several projects and taught a class with it.  However, it's unlike any of our other punches and may cause a bit of strife until you get used to it. 

So I thought I'd give you a few tips on how to get the most out of this tool.

Firstly, this punch slices the whole punched image off the paper or cardstock leaving a straight line.  That makes it easy to keep using that same piece of cardstock.  However, it won't give you a border on a piece like the scallop or eyelet border will so you should know that before you turn your 12" x 12" scrapbook page into a 12"x 10 1/2" page!!

Next, use this punch on the table, right side up.   It needs to be on a sturdy, level surface.

Place your cardstock or paper onto the punch ensuring it's flush with the guard rail.

Put the heel of your dominant hand on the punch, place the other hand on top and PUNCH!   It's a SHORT, SHARP action, not a slow squeeze ;-))

I'm right handed so my right hand is on the bottom, left on top

Then, slide your cardstock either left or right and align with the silver template, then put the heel of your dominant hand on the punch, place the other hand on top and SHORT SHARP PUNCH AGAIN!

Continue until you have the length of Lace Border that you want.

Now, what happens if you accidentally do a slow squeeze?   Well, quite simply you'll jam the whole thing together.   The plastic top of the punch will feel lose, the paper will be so stuck inside you can't see it, and you'll be a little antsy! 

So, how do you fix it?   Well I'm not telling YOU how to fix it, but I will tell you how I fix it: 

 I get a hammer or a screw driver....yes, I know it's in the shed, go get it.......then I tap the underside of the punch lightly until it releases its captive paper.   Salvage what you can of the paper and/or start over.  I've only had one time when I couldn't release the punch like this, so I dropped it on the concrete patio which fixed it instantly.  Don't tell Shelli I throw my SU stuff around like this please!

So, there you have my little "how-to" with the Lace Border Punch.  It really is gorgeous so don't be scared....it's just a punch, after all!

See you soon.
Karen

Less Than One Day To Go!

That's right, tomorrow we can order from the new catalogue.....woohoo!   But today, I had a play with some things I got on my preorder (demonstrator privelages, yeh!).

I really like the Lace Border Punch and wanted to use it to edge this card....but guess what?   When I punched it on the edge of the Wisteria Wonder base it fell off!   Yep, it's a border punch that comes clean off leaving a straight line on whatever you've punched it from....funny when you do it the first time!  So the resulting strip of Lucky Limeade was a necessity, and fortunately I like it.

Supplies used:
Stamp Set: Creative Elements and Well Scripted
Cardstock:  Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade & Whisper White
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder & Island Indigo
Ribbon:  White Taffeta
Lace Border Punch
Basic Jewels Rhinestones

Hope you like it too!
Karen