APRIL PRODUCT FOCUS

So, I thought it might be fun ( as well as focusing me to use some of my stash better) to start a monthly 'product focus'. I'll post a project a week using what I'm focusing on, plus top tips and techniques (and of course where to buy - if you've not already got it!)

It might be bit of hardware - boards; punches; dies.

Or it might be software - stamps; CD crafting; special papers

 

And although it's not quite April, I couldn't resist an early play and post.

 

PRODUCT FOR APRIL IS: HOUGIE BOARD

 

This brilliant bit of hardware is the baby of Kay Rutter. I came across it at a show about 3 years ago and never looked back. There's rarely a project I make that doesn't involve this green board and pretty much every commission I have for Creativity Magazine uses this cool bit of hardware.

 

What's Great About It?

In a nutshell is takes all the measuring and guess work out of projects. Have you ever seen a project in a magazine or on line with scoring measurements and you have to get out your ruler and embossing tool - well no more!

I whip boxes up in no time. And the embossing fun you can have is endless.

 

It comes with an amazing little score tool which has flexibility so it bends with your paper rather than rip through it.

The board has inches one side and centimetres the other.

 

TOP TIP: Whenever you score your card on the Hougie always turn it over and score again. Kay calls this the 'Hougie trick'. Honestly, it means that you'll always get the cleanest crease on your folds. Try it in mirror card which is the ultimate test for me - it works like a gem :-)

 

How much does it cost? On their website it's £24.95 but have a look at the one which comes with Book 1 as it's £29.95 a great buy.

 

To help, Kay has brought out 3 project books. They are jam packed with ideas and projects and all different. I'll be doing some of these throughout April.

 

Here's the first one: Tea Bag Gift Bag

 

 

This fab little bag is from Project Book 3. It's not just for tea-bags though. Pop a gift card in the back or tickets to a show or cinema. You could even make up your own 'voucher' for a friend; maybe babysitting or cooking dinner.....

 

 

This is the side view so you can see how easy it would be to add a few goodies into an acetate bag and secure into the overall gift bag. Maybe a few chocolates.... yum yum :-)

 

 

The sentiment comes in a much larger set and is available from 'Lili of the Valley'.

 

 

 

The flowers are paper pieced - a technique that means you stamp onto patterned paper and cut out. This little flower stamp came free in my latest edition of 'Simply Homemade' And the leaf is a woodware punch.

 

Go and check out the Hougie website and if you've got any questions or any views on Hougie then get in touch. I'd love get you all 'hougie' converts. Spend more time creating and less time constructing that's what I say!

 

Oh yes, I nearly forgot, there's a fab Facebook group on the go for hougie fans. Type in 'hougie idea and help page' into your facebook and ask to join the group.

 

Til next time: Happy Hougie'ing

 

Teresa xx

 

 



Spring baby... Challenge #68

Apparently there was a lot of 'celebration' in the UK last summer what with the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations...

 

Strangely enough there seem to be a lot of babies being born 9 months later!!

 

Why not enter our baby challenge this week over at Card Crafters Circle and then you've a card all ready to give to a friend for their new arrival :-)

 

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish where you'll find lots of fab digi stamps to play with.

 

 

I got to play with the lovely 'Lucy' baby and here's my make...

 

 

The card base is from a bib template I got from B-C-E.

Here's a few closer looks at the stamp and flowers...

 

 

I used Spectrum Noir colours on this, mixture of skin tones, lavenders and heathers (oh yes, golds's too for the flower!)

 

The die for the frame is Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Labels Two' (I put white dots around using Sakura Jelly Roll pen)

Little fence is from Crafts-Too

 

 

This fabulous new buys (got from Create and Craft pick of the day last week!) are from Crafters Companion and I've used:

Leaf 1; Camelia - small; Lace Flower

They are soooo easy to use. For a really full flower quill two strips of the die cut.

 

I can't wait to see what you all produce and stop by on your blogs to leave a little hello..

 Enjoy your Easter weekend

Teresa xx

 

 Challenges:

www.craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.co.uk  Anything Goes
www.drdesignsblog.blogspot.co.uk  Paper flowers
www.milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.co.uk Anything but a square
www.paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk Ribbon or lace
www.pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk Anything but a square
www.perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.co.uk  Babies or Brides
www.craftdoormagazine.com Anything goes
www.digidarlas.blogspot.co.uk Flowers
www.squigglefly.blogspot.co.uk Anything goes
www.houseofgilli.blogspot.co.uk  Flowers and ribbon

Bargello Technique

How about learning something a little different?

 

I picked up March's copy of 'Quick Cards' and found this fabulous technique called 'Bargello'. Simply it's about taking strips of paper and cutting/arranging these to make fun backgrounds.

 

I decided to give it a go, and here's what I got :-)

 

 

I've put the instructions so you can create your own Bargello card on the 'class' page of my blog. It's a great way of using up scraps. Plus because the results make for the most fabulous background you really don't need much in the way of embellishments!

 

I've added a Gorjuss girl from docrafts range; some ribbon; leaves and flowers and that's it :-)

 

here's some close ups...

 

 

I'd love to know what you think, leave me a comment and let me know if you plan to play (mainly so I can come nose on your blog and see what's you're playing with!)

 

Crafty smiles

Teresa xx

 

 

Challenges entered

www.operationwritehome.org Using stripes

www.lexiscreations.blogspot.co.uk Special card for a female

www.dustinpike.blogspot.ca Girly card challenge

www.thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk  Anything Goes

www.cardsinenvy.blogspot.co.uk Paper strips instead of ribbon





Challenge #157

Happy Monday all, although if you're in the UK, it's been a freezin' start to the week!!

 

I had to put on scarf, gloves, winter coat and hat this morning to head to work - where is spring?!

 

Well, if we can't feel it then we'd better make it :-)

 

Our challenge this week on Critters Sketch Challenge Blog is a sketch. Head over to our blog to find out more..

Out sponsor this week is the fabulous Paper Nest again (I'm a new fan!) Click on their fabulous owl to get to their shop....

 

 

Here's my card using Easter theme :-)

 

 

Once you've had fun colouring in the sweet little girl and her easter eggs...

you'll need Martha Stewart big border punch;

papers are from docrafts spots and stripes range

Woodware leaf punch

 

Have fun making your own flowers by cutting a circle spiral, inking edges and back of the patterned paper. Secure with wet glue.

 

I can't wait to see what fun you have with our sketch...

 

love

Teresa xx

 

 

Challenges entered:

www.abcchallenges.blogspot.co.uk

www.createdwithlovechallenges.blogspot.co.uk

www.cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk

www.daisydoodlescreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk

www.kaboodledoodles.blogspot.co.uk

www.vostamps.blogspot.co.uk

www.cutedaisymay.blogspot.co.uk

www.craftysentiments.co.uk



 

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge #67: Sketch it

Happy Friday - well, that was one long week!! Pleased to report that I got to the end of it in tact (glass of wine pending after this post!).

 

What with it being Friday, it means it's weekly challenge time. This week we've got a sketch for you so head over to our Challenge Blog to find out more....

 

We're sponsored by the fabulous DigiDarlas. There's a huge array of little characters to pick from, so get shopping :-)

 

 

I got 'Boy with Flowers' and thought I'd use the sketch on a door hanger.

 

 I went for a star instead of a circle but it still follows the plan on the sketch :-)

The stars are cut from Xcut nesting dies and then embossed on Papermania 'brick wall' and a freebie small dots folder I got off a magazine a while ago (don't you just love freebies!!) 

 

I've coloured this little dude in with watercolour pencils, keeping it light and soft.

 

Have fun in our challenge this week, me and the other design team members will be keeping an eye on what you post and dropping by your blog to leave a little note :-)

 

love

Teresa xx

 



 

Challenges entered:
www.clearlyistamp.blogspot.co.uk Challenge #71 Anything goes
www.happycamperscc.blogspot.co.uk  Add dimension
www.shellysimagesblog.blogspot.co.uk Anything goes
www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.uk  The Kids are Alright
www.rileyandco.blogspot.co.uk  Twine
www.lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk  Anything goes

For a friend...

A good friend at work is Indian, so when it came to making her a card I wanted to create something vibrant and that reminded me of the beautiful henna designs the women in her culture are known for.

 

So, out came a 12x12 paper pack I'd bought at The Range along with some other goodies and this is what I ended up with....

 

 

And then, because Neeti deserved a little something extra, I took a plain cardboard round box (£1 from the Range!) and turned it into this...

 

 

 I couldn't resist these butterflies which I found at The Range. They are truly exquisite and the embroidery is wonderful. Here's some more views of the card which is from docrafts....

 

 

The sentiment is from a set made by Hunkydory
 

 

You may recognise the amazing Memory box die here: Cherish Border (love this one!)

 

 

On the front of the card it's kept simple with a paper strip punched with Martha Stewart doily border punch. Finish it off by pleating (TOP TIP: use red double sided tape as it's stronger)

 

 

Side view of this brilliant card blank

 

 

A closer look at this gorgeous butterfly :-)

 

 

To make the flower on to the top of the box I used Spellbinders 'Blossom 3' and cut all 5 dies out of both patterned papers and layered up. TOP TIP: Spritz with water as it makes 'scrunching' the flower much easier.

 

I had great fun making this card and box gift, hope it inspires you to decorate something yourself and if it does, then don't forget to share!

 

Have fun

Teresa xx

 

 

Challenges entered into:

www.pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk #119 Gingham/checks (card entered)
www.perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.co.uk PSC71 Fairies/Butterflies (card entered)
www.stephanie-whimsicaldesigns.com Buttons & Bows (card entered)
www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.co.uk Challenge #72 (card entered)
www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.co.uk Favourite Embellishments (card entered)
www.creativecreationschallenges.blogspot.co.uk Challenge 6 'anything with a b'
www.kaboodledoodles.blogspot.co.uk  Anything with Frills
www.craftroomdoormagazine.com TTCRD 19-25th March: Anything goes
 

For my little Gorjuss Girl...

So, if you haven't seen the latest docrafts release of this range - where have you been?

 

We know these little girlies have been around for a while, but what hasn't come with them until now is a gorgeous collection of papers and embellishments.

 

I thought I'd make a door plaque to go on Ella's bedroom. I had great fun with this project...

 

This little cutie is from the mini decoupage set. The backing papers and heart brad are from the extra's you can buy from this range.

Add a die cut bird cage (of course!) and this one is Xcut's.

Behind the frame is washi tape that's also in the range.

The letters are in the large decoupage pack.

 

I can't wait til Ella wants to craft along with me :-)

 

Happy evening all

Teresa xx