Category: Tools
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Starting from Scratch: My Card Making 101 Private Sessions
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how overwhelming it can feel when you want to try a new hobby but have absolutely no idea where to start. Walk into any craft shop or browse online, and you’re instantly flooded with thousands of stamps, endless ink shades, cutting machines, and tools you don’t even know…
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Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine – Essential of the Month
I was tidying up my studio in Oakleigh South yesterday and as I moved my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to wipe down the desk, I realised just how much work this poor thing has done lately. It really is the heavy lifter of my craft room. If you have ever scrolled through the blog…
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Take Your Pick Tool – Essential of the Month
If you have ever found yourself chasing a tiny sequin around your desk or struggling to peel the backing off a piece of foam tape, you are going to love this month’s featured tool. While big machines often get the glory, it is often the smallest scrapbooking supplies that save the most time! For this…
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Simply Scored Scoring Tool – Essential of the Month
I don’t know about you, but early on in my crafting journey, I spent way too much time trying to line up cardstock against the edge of a ruler, holding my breath, and hoping my bone folder wouldn’t slip and create a wonky line. There is nothing more frustrating than finishing a beautiful stamped design…
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Stampin’ Heat Tool – Essential of the Month
There is a certain kind of “crafty magic” that happens when you first try heat embossing. Watching a grainy powder transform into a glossy, raised metallic finish right before your eyes is what hooked me on paper crafting years ago! For this instalment of my Tool of the Month series, I am featuring the slender…
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Paper Trimmer – Essential of the Month
If you have ever sat down to create handmade cards or start a new project with your scrapbooking supplies, you know that the foundation of every great design is a straight line. Nothing ruins the “wow” factor of a beautiful card faster than a wonky edge! Today I am kicking off my new series featuring…
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Ombre Technique
Ombre Technique – It’s an inking technique that I enjoy using blending brushes. The aim is to overlap the colours but the transition should be subtle. It’s as if the colours are bleeding onto each other. Helpful tools for this technique will be blending brushes, sponge daubers, decorative masks and a colour wheel (to help…
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In The Moment Inspiration
The In The Moment stamp set is our take-home product for March Stamp Club. It’s perfect for keeping in touch with family and friends. Also, Mother’s Day is just around the corner so if your Mum likes to stamp, she might like this as a gift. Our Stamp Club attendees enjoyed the projects above. We…
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Trimming The Town Card
Our card inspiration features the Trimming The Town DSP, a new set of papers from Stampin’ Up! that are also found in the 2020 Christmas catalogue. First, what’s a DSP? That’s Designer Series Paper. They are double-sided printed papers usually in 12 x 12 inches but are also available in 6 x 6 inches. Coordination…
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Zoo Globe Graduation Card
Let’s use the Zoo Globe stamp set and coordinating dies to make a shaker card for our 2020 graduates. This year has been challenging for all our students. Remote learning was hard to navigate but it’s amazing how we all adapted quickly. I think a big congratulations are in order, especially to our graduates. Also…
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Zoo Globe Birthday Card
Today we’re making a Zoo Globe birthday card. Do you like Australian animals? I love them and this cute koala is the perfect little guy for our birthday card. If you noticed, I didn’t use this set for a shaker card. Instead, I used the dome as the sun for a sunny background. I stamped…
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Tailored Tag Punch
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Let’s use the Tailored Tag Punch for a fun Tile Technique to make a card. The idea is to lay your tiles side by side, almost like a mosaic. I like to cut the card stock with the punch before I stamp the images. Don’t worry if the images don’t completely fit in your tile.…
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How To Cut DSP To Make A Card
Let’s learn how cut DSP (Designer Series Paper) to make a card. A reliable Paper Trimmer will come in handy for this. Also, make sure that the blade is sharp for a clean and neat cut. Designer Series Paper (DSP) are usually 12 x 12 inches. It’s always a great idea to trim them to…
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Stamparatus Stamp Positioner
I love the Stamparatus. A must-have tool for all stampers, the Stamparatus® helps you perfectly align stamp images, stamp multiples of the same project quickly and precisely, and get complete ink coverage. It’s a stamp positioner that works. It’s also easy to use. It was created by stampers for stampers, so it has all the…
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Christmas Box for Nail Polish
Christmas box for nail polish makes a cute little gift. It’s a fabulous inspiration too for your Christmas table place settings this year. We all know that Christmas is not the same without the glitter and shine of tinsel, papers and Christmas decorations. With a little bit of Designer Series Paper (DSP), you can make…
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DIY Eco-Friendly Envelopes
Let’s make DIY eco-friendly envelopes. When I was clearing some shelves in the studio, I noticed my pile of magazines building up in the corner. They are outdated but the pages are filled with gorgeous photos of furniture, architectural and garden details. I also have a pile of brown paper packaging that I saved from…
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Country Livin’ Stamp Set
I’m in the mood to use the Country Livin’ stamp set. As I look out my studio admiring nature, I simply had to break open this set and start playing with it. The weather is starting to warm up and our hens are pecking away enjoying the warmth. I live in the suburbs but the…
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Heat Embossed Cards
Let’s make heat embossed cards. Have you tried heat embossing before? It elevates your card to another level by adding gloss and shine. It’s one of my favourite techniques for clean and simple cards. Heat embossing requires a few essentials: Heat Tool – It produces high heat to melt your embossing powder VersaMark – This…
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Gift Box Punch Board
The Gift Box Punch Board should be your box maker this Christmas. The holidays are here again and if you’ve been busy baking and making things, you will need packaging. Wouldn’t it be nice if you can make your own boxes? Well, there’s a gadget for that. It’s a nifty little punch board that makes…
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Pergamano-Inspired Technique
Join me and learn this Pergamano-inspired technique for your card making. Pergamano is an ancient, delicate and beautiful technique using parchment paper. It has a charming ‘granny-ish’ lace-like look that I love. We’ll keep that style element but give it a modern twist by using vellum instead of parchment paper. Also we’ll be combining stamping…
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Gift Card Holder Inspiration
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This gift card holder inspiration is fun and easy to make when you have the Envelope Punch Board. I also used the B.Y.O.P. stamp set because it has greetings and words appropriate for gift vouchers and cash. Bring out your Designer Series Paper (DSP) too because this is a great opportunity to use them for…
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Big Shot Special
The Big Shot Machine is an invaluable die-cutting and embossing tool for card makers. It is perhaps one of my best buys when I was just starting out as a crafter. Not only can I cut all sorts of materials with it, I also enjoy the embossing feature of the machine. For this month only,…
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Basic Essentials In Card Making
So what are the basic essentials in card making? And how much does it cost? It’s a question I often get asked. You don’t need a lot and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. I have narrowed it down here for you so that once you have them you can keep going for…
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Embossing Folders
Embossing folders add texture to your cards without the extra bulk. Do you remember the days when embossed stationery were limited to letterpress companies and designs were for weddings and engagements only? I remember my anticipation as I waited for my wedding invitations many years ago, ordered from a letterpress company in America. The satisfaction…
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I Love the SU! Punch
A punch is a valuable tool in card making and I love the SU! punch. Card making for me will never be the same without it. Coordination is key for an enjoyable stamping experience. Cutting is easier and fussy-cutting takes a back seat when products coordinate. I love decorative edges and a border does that…
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Envelope Punch Board
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The Envelope Punch Board is finally here and I’m excited for you to try it. It’s a compact little tool that makes 66 different sizes of envelopes. It’s easy to use and has no complicated instructions to follow. Sizes and instructions are printed on the board for your convenience. Have a look at the 2…
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Paper Trimmer by Stampin’ Up!
The Paper Trimmer by Stampin’ Up! is portable, lightweight and cuts sharply. It’s perfect for card making, scrapbooking and other papercraft projects. Here are it’s features: Includes 1 cutting blade and 1 scoring blade Cutting surface is approximately 12-3/8″ x 7-3/4″ (31.5 x 19.7 cm) Ruler extends to 17″ (43 cm) Replacement cutting blades available,…