Cuttlebug Techniques

I found in this blog http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008/03/ive-been-bitten.html some really interesting stuff about cuttlebug techniques.
Thanks Mel!

I'm in love with...my Cuttlebug!

I' m totally amazed by my little Cuttlebug! I've spent some time with it and I love it.
It goes without saying that I ruined a few paper scraps, trying various combinations of dies, inks, embossing folders etc, but the result are better after every try!
This time I ventured a happy birthday card for a friend of mine, the whole idea came from a greek word that he likes to use, in loose translation it means something like feeling dizzy, so I came up with a little boat in a turbulent sea!
First I used my nestabillity to cut the frame, then I embossed it with a cuttlebug folder and finally I used an ink pad (I merely swept it very lightly) to ink the raised surface.
Then I embossed with the same folder a blue scrap paper, used an inkpad in a darker shade of blue and touched lightly the raised "waves" and finally I cut them in pieces and glued them in rows, behind and in front of the boat.
Ready to sail!

Delivery Day: Cuttlebug!

I've been watching videos about Cuttlebug for a few months and I knew that at some point I would buy one. I started buying dies and embossing folders on ebay, mostly on auctions or when they were on sale, at really good prices, so that I would be ready for a variety of designs for the day when I would buy the Cuttlebug itself.

So, on Monday I decided to take the step, it helped that it was on stock at http://www.scrapbooking.gr/ and today I received it!

I am amazed by the diversity of results, and I still haven't tried everything that's on my mind!

My first attempt is this cute little card with nestabillities and a cuttlebug embossing folder and it came out really nice, I know for sure that my friend will love it!

Tested and Trusted: Prismacolor Pencils

Playing with pencils is always fun, either with stamps or just sketching stuff. I use Prismacolour Premium pencils (bought them at a sweet price on ebay) because they are creamy and blend well. Besides the pencils, the paper also makes a huge difference on the final results, so I always use Winsor and Newton's Bristol paper pad because it is really smooth, ideal for stamping, sketching, whatever.
When I color stamped images, I always use a black ink (to stamp) that won't bleed , for instance Versafine, and when I'm finished I like to outline the image with a dark marker.
Paper stumps are really usefull (in various sizes) in combination with an odourless spirit (I use Sansodor) because it makes blending easier, although you can have beautiful results without them, it's just a matter of taste.

Delivery Day

Delivery day today!

I received two little (ideal to carry in a purse or handbag) K&Company brag books, a pink and a light blue, both are for gifts to friends of mine who have newly born babies (boy and girl).
Each holds 24 photos 6,35 x 7,62 cm.

My mother totally loved them, so I'm definetely going to buy a couple more (for ourselves this time!).

http://www.kandcompany.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=6127





I also received some Prima flowers (Whispers-Pansy), really cute! It's the first time that I bought flowers and I'm really excited and looking forward to use them in a card or layout!

That's all for today, Delivery Day is always a happy day!

Monthly Layouts: April

What I like most in this page is the grass at the bottom of the page: I cut it myself, with scissors (but I'm actually thinking of buying a cuttlebug, I'm in love with all these dies!)

The eggs were cut with Fiskars easter egg punch, I chose dark pink cardstock to put underneath so as to make the page more vivid.

Monthly Layouts 2: March

It was a fun day: my brother was visiting us with my niece and decided to wash the car: a lot of excitment for her, we were constantly trying to keep her out of the water!

I've never used thickers before, so it was fun and I really like them. I bought the American Crafts white foam "Giggle" thickers, and I can paint them any color that matches better my layout. Really practical.

Finally, behind the center photo I've hidden another, I really like hiding stuff!

Monthly Layouts: March

The colours were inspired by a major issue: in March we moved to a different location (my work) so I saw a LOT of brown boxes!!! I also wanted to combine it with the sea, so blue and brown it is!
The patterned paper is Basic Grey. For the waves. I used Fiskars scalloped ruler and Ranger's distress ink. The stamped bird is Inkadinkado.

Finally, I like to have little surpises on my layouts, so behind the brown cardstock I've hidden more pictures and journaling.

Birthday Card

For this card I used:
- Crafty Secrets "Fairyland" stamps
- American Crafts Cardstock
- colored pencils
- Doodlebug sugar coated glitter

I stamped right on the white cardstock, painted with the pencils, added some glitter, and added the little paper bow (I don't have any ribbon as yet, but I'm considering to buy some).

My friend is keeping it on her desktop, at work, so everybody is asking her about the card!

Wedding Card

I wanted to make a card for a friend of mine who got married.

- Inkadinkado "Gem Stone Birds" stamps

- Crafty Secrets "Home Sweet Home" stamps

- White American Crafts Cardstock

I stamped the birds (I tried for different shades of gold) and the key (I used dark brown ink for the sides) on white cardstock, then I put them on top of the card and stamped the little message on the left front of it.

It came out really nice and my friend loved it!

Mother's Day card

Happy Mother's Day!

I made a little thank you card for my mom:
- Crafty Secrets "Fairyland" stamps set
- American Crafts cardstock
- colored pencils
- Inkadinkado "Asian by design" stamps
- Ranger stickles

I stamped the bird and the nest on white cardstock, then painted them with colored pencils. Then I stamped the folliage on green cardstock. For the branch, I simply cut a strip of white cardstock, made some lines and then painted over them in a lighter shade of brown.
I glued them all on my card, and I added a little of stickles gluefor the shine and two butterflies.

That's all, easy and fun fun fun!