Friday 31 August 2012

"Splash" class in Cork with Sizzix!

Hi there!
Today I want to share the experience I had last week - I had the honor of teaching a "Splash" class to a group of fantastic, talented women from all around the Ireland and Great Britain, who came to take part in the event organized by Cork Art Supplies and Cardz'n'Scrapz!



"Splash" class is of course media-based, but during the creative process we use a lot of Sizzix dies - Sizzlits Decorative Strips, which are a main part of the composition both for masking and layering...



Here are some of the dies that were used during this class:
657706 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Curly #2,
657709 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Ovals, Interlocking,
657708 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Flower Garden w/Scallops,
657744 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Fanciful Border,
657745 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Filigree Border,
657747 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Regal Edging,
657746 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Luxury in the Details,
657825 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Harlequin Border,
657826 - Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Washer Border.




And here are some of the photos taken during the process - just look at the creativity and talent of my students! How lucky I am!










Some layout decorating ideas - Sizzix Decorative Strips are just wonderful for all kinds of creations! I'm sorry I can't share all of them, but... there were so many great projects!











Finally - here we are, the whole group together after the long, but fun class - our fingers got dirty for sure! 


And this grungy layout I finished during the class - you can see Harlequin Border, Oval strip and elements of Washer Borders used here!




I hope you enjoyed this post - we surely had a great time! the next "Splash" class is coming soon, I'll be teaching it again in Belgium, during the Scraptastic event in October!
See you soon!
Finn




Thursday 30 August 2012

Table runner



The sun is shining into my work room so it still feels like the summer! 
Which is why it seems crazy to be thinking about Christmas - but we all know that we have so many ideas and plans to make things as done, (and I know no matter how much I like the idea now by next year it will be superseded by other projects - so they only have this tiny window in which to be created!)
So table runners - I like them because they are quite quick to make - can be used for our own table or given as a gift, and matching placemats are fun as well!
So here is a selection of table runners originally made for the Festival of Quilts, but with a change of colour suitable for Christmas, or weddings and birthdays - so versatile.


Starting from the left, the blue table runner was made using die 657615 trapezoid, in the Big Shot
machine. The pieces were joined together to make a friendship braid, and a plain border ( cut with die 656681 - 21/2" strip) was added and then a single colour binding.

 For Christmas try using reds and greens with a touch of gold and then make the binding in gold coloured fabric. It is easy to add length for any table.
The second runner is made of 21/2" squares ( die 657607) with a triangle at each end (die 657611) so that the squares are on point - very  easy to make and the triangles make a straight edge, for mine I used a single colour for the triangles to frame the squares and then made a binding out of all the pieces that were left.
 
I called the third runner Butterflies - and it is made using 2 sizes of squares ( dies 657607, and 657609) and 2 sizes of triangle (dies 657611 and 657613). The smaller blocks were used to run alongside the blocks to create the width that I needed, as shown in the photo beneath.
 
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 I
I used a single colour for the background and a selection of pretty florals for the butterflies, but you could just use 2 fabrics for the complete thing.
The last runner was made with triangles ( die 657613) because I wanted to show that you could just use 1 die and create a pretty effect. Using a mixture of plain and patterned fabric I arranged the triangles into squares and then joined them in a semi random way.

 

 
All of these runners used fat quarters or scraps for variety and no more than 1/2 metre for main fabrics. They can be made as long or wide as you like by varying the number of blocks you make.
So happy stitching for your table and gifts for any event, and some more to follow next week.


Demo







Just wanted to say today that this coming Saturday - 1st of September - I will be demoing at The Glitter Pot (Burges Hill, East Sussex) at their Christmas Spectacular. There is going to be quite a few demonstrators sharing Christmas crafting ideas.


No need to book, just come along to see Sizzix demos and samples like the one above, which I made using a similar method as another one that I featured here.

And the tree tutorial is here. It is made with both rosette dies from Tim Holtz, the original and the mini one.

How use your dies for a landscape Layout ?




Hello !

The holidays are nearly over! What’s best than scrapbooking to remember the nice places we visited during this sacred time?
Today I wanted to travel back to Namibia by scrapbooking a picture taken 2 years ago exactly…
You’re with me?

You’ll need the following Sizzix dies to realise this page with different shades of beige:

Big Shot (655268)
Borders and Hydrangeas (657721)
Tattered Leaves (656927)
Autumn Gatherings (657454)
Regal Edging (657747)
Heart, Stem & Leaves (657691)
Sweat Treats for You Set (657720)

  1. I started by working on the „words“ printed paper by spraying Glimmer mist (Key lime green colour) inks on it. Use the free time you have while the background paper is drying to prepare your accents with the help of the Big Shot machine.

  1. Use scraps of printed & kraft papers to cut leaves & flowers of varying sizes & shapes. Your aim is to create a wild nature scenery tone-on-tone.

  1. Glue your picture once your background is dry.

  1. Superimpose the accents cut with your Big Shot. Glue the smallest parts with 3D adhesive to make them stand out.



5-I added brown brads tot he small kraft flowers.

6-Add two borders in the lower left area of your lay out. The second border was cut out from corrugated cardboard.
7-Stamps some patterns directly on your background.
8-Add the title, then bring emphasis on your page by adding small touches of Adirondack yellow ink.



Here is my layout! I hope it will inspire you!





Have a nice day! Let’s meet again next Thursday!

Karine

Supply list:

Papers: Jenni Bowlin, Sultane
Cardstock: American Crafts
Alphabets: Jenni Bowlin
Stickers: Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon
Brads: American Crafts
Stamps American Crafts, Florilèges Design
Ink: Versafine Toffee
Spray inks : Tattered Angels
Dies: Sizzix
Others: Corrugated cardboard, 3D adhesives



Bonjour !

C'est déjà la fin des vacances ! Mais quoi de mieux que le scrapbooking pour se replonger dans nos souvenirs de voyage ?
Aujourd'hui j'avais envie de repartir en Namibie avec une photo prise il y a exactement deux ans...
Vous me suivez ?

Pour réaliser cette page toute en nuance de beige vous aurez besoin des Dies Sizzix suivants :

Big Shot (655268)
Borders and Hydrangeas (657721)
Tattered Leaves (656927)
Autumn Gatherings (657454)
Regal Edging (657747)
Heart, Stem & Leaves (657691)
Sweat Treats for You Set (657720)

1-Le fond de page imprimé textes est dans un premier temps retravaillé avec des encres en sray Glimmer Mist (couleur verte Key Lime). Pendant que le fond sèche, ne perdez pas de temps et préparez vos embellissements à la Big Shot.

2-Dans des chutes d'imprimés et de papier kraft, découpez des feuilles de tailles et formes différentes ainsi que des petites fleurs. L'objectif est de créer une nature sauvage ton sur ton.

3-Collez votre photo sur votre fond maintenant sec.

4-Superposez les différents éléments découpés à la Big Shot, pensez à mettre en valeur les plus petites feuilles en les collant avec des adhésifs 3D.

5-Les petites fleurs en kraft sont complétées avec des attaches parisiennes marron.

6-Glissez également deux bordures sur le côté bas et gauche de la photo.La seconde est découpée dans du carton ondulé.

7-Terminez en rajoutant quelques tampons directement sur le fond de page

8-Ajoutez votre titre, puis réhaussez l'ensemble de votre page en rajoutant quelques touches d'encre Adirondack jaune.

Et voilà ma page ! J'espère qu'elle vous inspirera !

Très bonne journée à vous ! A jeudi !

Karine

Matériel :

Papiers : Jenni Bowlin, Sultane
Cardstock : American Crafts
Alphabets : Jenni Bowlin
Autocollants : Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon
Brads : American Crafts
Tampons : American Crafts, Florilèges Design
Encre : Versafine Toffee
Encres en spray : Tattered Angels
Dies : Sizzix
Divers : Carton ondulé, Adhésifs 3D

Wednesday 29 August 2012

A Good Vintage


It's good to be back after a couple of weeks off with my family, followed by a crazy week which began with a QVC show in London, then some video filming to promote our new ranges (more of that in the future!) in Colchester and finally, demonstrating at a new Hobbycraft store in  Altrincham last Saturday.

There's always lots going on here at Sizzix Central which is just how I like it!

Today it is my pleasure to introduce a new range of dies/embossing folders that share the name Vintage Cardmaking, I was lucky enough to work with these dies last January in preparation for our annual UK trade show and it was my favourite set without a doubt.

Below are a few of the projects which I made for the show starting with a few cards, There are tons of different vintage style card ranges on the market today and any one combined with this range would be a winner. Check out the fantastic embosslits dies which I cut from silver cardstock and brought to life with alcohol inks.
Next up are a couple of embellished frames which combine Textured Impressions and some wonderfully decorative Sizzlits dies.
Finally, we have these gorgeous notelets which are cut using Bigz XL dies and embossed with their very own corresponding Textured Impressions folder.
Hope you like them, I had so much fun working with this range and it is one that has proved very popular at demos and trade shows over the last 6 months.
 

 

Mini baskets at 'Passion for Crafting'



Happy Wednesday everyone,

Last weekend Finnish hand crafters got together in annual ‘Passion for Crafting’ event in downtown Helsinki. I was really looking forward to this event as I was expecting to see many familiar faces, chat with my scrapbooking friends and do some nice shopping. In addition, I was hosting a Sizzix workshop; a stop-and-go type of thing, in which we made mini baskets of chipboard. Yes, the weekend was filled with inspiration, good spirit and lots of fun!







Scoring chipboard and making really nice looking folds is not a simple task. But with Sizzix ScoreBoards dies making sturdy baskets, boxes and holders could not be any easier: The ScoreBoards dies not just cut the images very easily but also make nice scoring lines into the chipboard. After simple assembly and some decoration you finish your projects in no time!

Look for more inspiration on ScoreBoards dies here.

This mini basket was made using Candy Cup Sizzix ScoreBoards Die. Here’s a list of materials we used in my workshop:

- Big Shot Machine (655268)
- Sizzix ScoreBoards Die - Candy Cup (657724)
- White/cream chipboard or mat board
- Single colour cardstock for the inside
- Stamps, stamping inks (Distress)
- Two-sided tape
  



Using the Candy Cup die we cut the basket from chipboard. Before folding the basket corners we decorated the outside with small stamps.


Assembly of the basket was super easy (instructions can be read here).

For the basket handle we cut a thin strip of leftover chipboard. To avoid breaking the strip we bent it a bit between fingers before adhering with two-sided tape.




The last step was to cut four pieces of cardstock for the inside of the basket. I had used the die cut image to prepare a pattern which was then used for tracing the shape on cardstock. Those four pieces were put into the basket and adhered with two-sided tape.


 
 

Finished!

Have a nice and sunny week,