Cuttlebug and Border Folders

Using your Border Folders
This was always a problem for me because I kept getting the lines of the folder on the card, which I did not like. I know from the mail I have received that many other peeps are experiencing this. So, after many trys I came up with this method that I find works every time, (perhaps I shouldn't say this because there is always going to be "that" time when it doesn't).

1. Making a Modifying Folder Pad (MFP). The MFP as you will see is slightly smaller than the folder so that pressure is only put on the pattern and not on the edges, which is why you get lines on your cards. The MFP is made of thick card, taped together to make a thickness that resembles the thickness of the B plate. It's a bit time consuming, but once made can be saved and used again. PLEASE, take care here, keep testing, better to start thin and build up - if you make it too thick it could break your beloved machine.




Once you have the MFP you are ready to start embossing.

2. The equipment that I used:

A Plate, B Plate, Cardstock, Frills Border Folder, and the MFP which replaces the 2nd B Plate

You will also notice that I'm embossing straight onto my cardstock. But, you can emboss on a piece of card to use for matting and laying. I always try to emboss with the back of the card NOT wrapped round the folder. I feed this part through the CB first. I think you will see the blue card on the picture. The reason I do this is twofold. It helps to avoid creasing on the card, and also I feel looks better, but this is just a personal thing!

3. Here is the finished card

You will see that I have added a second border, using the same method

These are a few samples of cards made with the fancy corner folders - the MFP method works just the same, only a different shape.





Now are you ready to make a card using this method - go on try it out - I challenge you.

HOWEVER, I feel that I must state that I'm not saying that my way is the correct and only way, it is just my way and it works for me and hopefully will work for you so you too grow to love your bug and find out just how versatile it is. But, I stress again never force anything through your bug, better and safer to build up your MFP.

You will find more Cuttlebug and Nestie tutorials on my blog ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard

I hope you will come and "Cuttle with me" again.

Quilled Bunny Tutorial

Quilling a cute bunny just in time for Easter.Visit my BLOG for more videos and tutorials too! Enjoy!

Attaching charms with jump rings and chain

I use forceps (medical ones that I picked up from a medical suppliers) but any pointed nose pliers will do the trick, tweezers won’t work as they are not strong enough. I use cheap silver plated jump rings and chain which I get from the jewellery section in Hobbycraft but I would think you could pick these supplies up at any bead/craft store.

Hold the jump ring with both sets of forceps/pliers with the join uppermost.
Twist the right hand forceps/pliers towards you – DO NOT PULL IT OUTWARDS, all this does is misshape the jump ring, By twisting it forwards to open and backwards to close the ring remains a perfect circle and does not distort.
Repeat with the other end of the chain and feed this jump ring on to the brad to secure to your flower.


Thanks for looking,

My Blog

Egg shell texture technique

This is a little Tutorial on how to create a Textured back ground like i have on this Altered book. Dont forget to check out my blog Here for more ideas.

Flower Soft Tutorial

I had posted a card in a previous post using Flower Soft. I wanted to do a short tutorial on how easy it is to use it. Enjoy!

Don't forget to sneak a peek at my BLOG for more tutorials.

Basic Quilled Shapes

I was looking over my posts the other day and in all the time I've been giving tutorials I haven't ever given you the basics of quilling. The shapes are very important in all the quilling you do. So here's a copy for you to use as reference and to practice. This will help you on future projects and tutorials I have for you. If ever you need another one or want to share with a friend, it's on the tutorial sidebar under basic quilled shapes. Don't forget, on the Scribd page under "more" you can print it from there. You can visit MY BLOG for other great quilling goodies too! Thanks!

Basic Quilled Shapes

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Home & Garden How-To Guides & DIY quilling

Daffodil Tutorial

Here is how I made the daffodils on this card.

You may like to refer to this post if you haven't seen it before - Tool Substitutes

As usual - click on any picture for a larger view.


Here's the list of items needed to make a daffodil:

• Scraps of yellow and orange paper
• Green card
  
• Moulding mat
• White pva glue
• DEET tool
• Embossing ball tool
• Character shaper
• Pencil
  
• Scissors
• Deckle edge scissors
• 5-Petal Flower Punch
• 1/2" Circle Punch
• Boho Blossoms Punch
  

Punch out two 5-Petal Flower shapes, one of the largest Boho Blossoms shapes and one 1/2" circle.


Using the scissors, cut out one petal as above.


Continue cutting off the petals as with the first one until they are all separated. To make one daffodil, you will need six petals, so cut one petal from the second flower also.


With a petal on the moulding mat, and using the DEET tool, place the needle end flat on the petal running from the base to the tip. Apply pressure and draw the needle along the petal towards the tip, all the time keeping the tool flat against the paper. Now do the same thing once on each side of the central line, and make these lines fan out from the base of the petal to the edge. Turn the petal over, and make some more lines in the same way, between the ones already made. Repeat on all of the petals.


Draw a dot with the pencil in the centre of the 1/2" circle. Hold the petal by the tip, and dip just the very point of the base into a blob of pva glue on a scrap of paper.



Stick the petal on to the circle, with the point of the base in the centre. Stick on two more petals in a triangle arrangement.


Now stick the remaining three petals on top, evenly spaced between the first three.


Using the deckle edge scissors, cut the tips off the largest Boho Blossom flower all the way around.


Cut a slit from the outside to the centre.


Using the rounded end of the Character tool, and light pressure to begin with, emboss in circles - around the edges first, gradually working your way in to the centre.


Where you have cut the paper, the two edges will slide over each other - as indicated by the arrow. Place a tiny spot of glue between these overlapping edges, and stick together to hold the cup shape.


Place a small spot of glue in the centre of the yellow petals, and place the trumpet on top. An embossing ball tool is handy for pressing the two layers together. Make sure that the trumpet settles in an upright position.


Cut a small rectangle of orange, and at one end cut about 7 narrow strips to make a fringe. Cut away the rest of the rectangle from beside the fringe as above.


Beginning at the fringed end, roll the paper tightly. Here I am using a quilling tool, but if you don't have one, you can use the needle end of the DEET. Place a spot of glue at the end, and continue rolling and stick together.


Trim the rolled base so that it is a couple of mm long, and also trim the fringe if necessary to make it about as long as the trumpet is deep.


Dip the base of the stamens into the blob of glue on the scrap paper, and then stand upright in the centre of the daffodil. Once you are happy with the position leave to dry before gently spreading the stamens a little. If you try before the glue is dry, they will come out!


Cut slightly tapered, narrow strips of green card to make the leaves. Round off the top, narrow end. Then use the DEET tool in the same way as for the petals, to make a crease down the centre of the leaf. The flower stalk is made in the same way, but just cut a slightly longer length, and don't taper it. No need to round the end as it will be hidden behind the flower head.


Stick the stalk on to the back of the flower as shown.



The finished flower.

On my card, I made three flowers and a few leaves, which I arranged at different levels. I stuck them down to the white oval and then trimmed off the excess length from around the bottom edge of the oval before sticking it down to the matting.

My blog Mainly Flowers