Craft Buddy Brand Ambassador

Thursday 27 November 2014

Create your own calendar June 2015 - Stix2

Good afternoon, well we are creeping ever so closer to the New Year. 2015 is just around the corner. so scary to think where the year has gone. 
Its been a busy year especially towards the end of the year. I only work part tie in retail, i used to be management and work stupid long hours and now i think how did i have time to do anything back then. As iv said in previous post i have been lacking in my blogging but will be back blogging regularly in the new year. I have falling behind on my Create your Calendar by Stix2 but will have it all completed by Christmas, it has to be as it will be part of my mums Christmas presents. Here we go, here is June 2015. i have included a picture of myself and DJ as June is a special month because its my Birthday that month. Pleased excuse the tinsel around the remainder of my calendar months as i now have my decorations up and i have tinsel round my door haha. The products i have used for June 2015 are as followed;


Stix2 products;
Create your own calendar - S57309.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
1mm double sided A4 foam pad sheet - S57182.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
9mm double sided tape - FPAL2732950.
PVA glue with metal tip - S56890.
5mm x 5mm x 3mm foam pads - S57083.
Silicone glue - S57100.

Additional products;
Ivory textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Brown textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Lace bloom dies - Die'sire Crafters Companion.
Card candi - Craftwork Cards.







Wednesday 26 November 2014

A December to remember wedding card.

Good Afternoon. 
Iv been very bad and not blogging as of late, where is the time going? Been busy with Christmas commission cards, cards for fayres & cafés. All other commission cards and Hunkydorys recent collections. Just received the next one yesterday. 
 The ladies in Franco's cafe - where my cards are being sold, well some of the chefs is getting married next week and they ask if I would make a card, but also a box. The colour theme is cream and purple- cadburys chocolate purple. I really wanted to make it extra special. So I used my large score board from crafters companion aswell as their brand new flower die'sire die that was part of their 4 Day Deal shows last week. Could work out what topper to use so I decided on a Kanban love topper from their all occasion collection. To give it extra depth and touchy-feely I used my embossing folders and my tonic studios die, adding pearls and bows to finish it off. 
 The box was made by taken 2 pieces of 10 & 1/4 - ten and a quarter x 10 & 1/4 - ten and a quarter card stock. Then scoring at 1" all the way round. My base I used Centura pearl card stock and for the top I used the A3 elegant card stock both by Crafters Companion. I added some more flowers that I layered 3 times each, a sentiment in a tag - Done. 
 I was so pleased with how it turned out, especially the purple and ivory/cream colour. 
 The products I used are as followed;

Stix2 Adhesives products
9mm double sided tape - FPAL2732950.
6mm red liner tape - S57090.
Layer perfect Metric - S57321.
A4 foam pad sheet 2mm - S57182.
12mmx12mmx3mm foam pads - S57041.
PVA glue with metal tip - S56890.
Pick up pencil - S57265.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
Micro dots - S57124.
Silicone glue - S57100.
A4 die cut release sheet - S57316.
Low tack stencil tape - S56994.

Box
12mm red clear tape - S57091.
PVA glue with metal tip - S56890.
12mmx12mmx3mm foam pads - S57041.
Silicone glue - S57100.


Additional products 
Ivory textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Purple textured card - Bazzill Basics.
8x8 card blank - Craftwork Cards.
Bow circle die - Tonic Studios.
Lace bloom die - Craftwork Cards.
Love topper (Love & Marriage Collection) - Kanban Crafts.
Background paper (Love & Marriage paper pad) - Kanban Crafts.
Embossing folder - Free with Ebosser.
25mm Ivory satin ribbon - American Crafts.
9mm Purple satin ribbon - American Crafts.
5mm & 3mm pearls - Hunkydory Crafts.

Box
Elegance A3 double sided card - Crafters Companion.
Centura pearl A3 card with hint of silver - Crafters Companion.
Large A3 scoreboard - Crafters Companion.
Lace bloom die - die'sire Crafters Companion.
Ivory textured card - Bazzill Basics.
9mm Ivory satin ribbon - American Crafts.
5mm/3mm pearls - Hunkydory Crafts.






www.stix2.co.uk
sales@stix2.co.uk

Craig x





Tuesday 11 November 2014

Party for tonight card & Gift combo.

Hello, Well iv been trying to think of different things to make and do, but as making cards are my passion, i wanted to make a a card that could also include something that would become a gift. I was in a High street store where i seen this plaque. Also in the back of my mind i have Stix2 magnetic discs in the back of my head as i have been wanting to create something using them too! Seeing this plaque, the idea just instantly came to mind. I starting off making a card but instead of using a feature image or topper, i worked around the size of a piece of black card that is a few millimeters bigger than the plaque. This will be attached to the card base and when the plaque is attached it will give it a mat and layer appearance. On the back of the plaque using Stix2 glue gun i have attached 6 magnet discs. On the back of those discs i attached a very small craft dot onto each magnetic disc, this enables the plaque to stick to the front of the card. The recipient once received the card can easily peel the plaque off the card and simple roll the sticky dots off using their finger. Now they have a keep sake magnetic plaque or can hang using the hanger it comes with.
On the 2nd mat and layer, the one that has the ribbon wrapped round, i have gone round the edges with the PVA glue with the metal tip. I have then left it to go tacky before tapping the gold shiny foil sheet around the area. 
It really is something quite special and different to give to a special friend or loved one.

Stix2 products used;
9mm double sided tape - FPAL 2732950.
12mm red ultra strong tape - S57091.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
PVA glue with metal tip - S56890.
Hot melt glue gun - S57234.
Hot melt glue sticks - S57235.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
Ceramic magnetic disc (x6) - S57258.
Very small craft dots - S57115.
Shiny transfer foil sheets (Gold) - S57067.
16mm Lilac Satin ribbon - S57214. 

Additional Products used;
Totally girl 12x12 paper pad - My Minds Eye.
Black textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Ivory textured card (for box) - Bazzill Basics 
25mm Ivory Satin ribbon (for box) - American Crafts.
8x8 card blank - Craftwork Cards.
Elegance A3 card - Crafters Companion.
"Live for Today" plaque - high street store.
Bow maker - Embellishment attic.

This is the finished result with the plaque attached to the card using the very small dots.


This is what the card looks like without the plaque attached.


 This is the plaque as it could be used by hanging it.


 The plaque from the back with the 6 magnetic discs attached using the glue gun before the very small craft dots are attached.


As it is bulky i have created a box using my large A3 scoreboard from Crafters Companion. To create an 8x8 box that is 1 inch deep you will need card that is sized - 10 1/4 x 10 1/4 (Ten & a quarter x Ten & a quarter) and then score at 1" all the way around. 


 To decorate the box i simply added some matting and layering using the A3 elegance card from Crafters Companion, black card, Ivory ribbon and a wee panel that can be written on with the recipients name.


Craig x

Someone Special card and gift Combo.

Afternoon, hope everyone is well today. i seen this gorgeous wee poem with a keepsake heart when i was in a wee gift shop last week and instantly the ideas were ticking away. I thought it would be lovely to combine this with a card as well as it turning into a gift after. I have attached a magnetic disc the the back of the the "Someone Special" heart, and on the back of the disc i have attached a very small glue dot to attached it to the card. The heart easily removes off the card and using your finger, the glue dot just rolls off the back of the magnetic disc. I have also attached sticky backed photo orders to the poem tag so that it is held in place securely with out having to have any adhesives on the back. It means the poem tag can be easily slotted in and out should the recipient wish. This card i have made into a Birthday card but it could also be made into a Get Well card or a Just Because card. I really am pleased with the outcome of this project and hope everyone does to. 


Stix2 products used;
9mm double sided tape - FPAL 2732950.
12mm red ultra strong tape - S57091.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
Hot melt glue gun - S57234.
Hot melt glue sticks - S57235.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
Ceramic magnetic disc (x6) - S57258.
Very small craft dots - S57115.
Photo mounting corners - 57072.
16mm Lilac Satin ribbon - S57214. 

Additional Products used;
Totally girl 12x12 paper pad - My Minds Eye.
Lilac textured card - Bazzill Basics.
White textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Green Textured card - Bazzill Basics.
A5 card blank - Papermill Direct.
Someone Special poem and keepsake - Gift shop.
3mm pearls - Kanban Crafts.
Bow maker - Embellishment attic.
Ivory textured card (for box) - Bazzill Basics 
25mm Ivory Satin ribbon (for box) - American Crafts.
Elegance A3 card - Crafters Companion.


TIP - 
Don't stick the corner mounts to tightly as it will be difficult to remove and insert the poem. Make sure they are spaced slightly bigger than the tag.


Here is a front view image of the finished card. 


Image of the card with both the tag and the heart removed off the card.


A view of the card placed inside a handmade box to make extra special.


Using my large A3 scoreboard from Crafters Companion to create an A5 box that is 1 inch deep, you will need 2 pieces of card both sized at 10 1/2" x 8" (Ten & half inch x Eight inch) and score at 1" all the way round. 


If you seen my last blog post with the Plaque card i made, here is a picture of both boxes i have made. 


I have 3 differnect poem gifts - Cherished Friend, Special Friend and Gran. If you would like one made using either of these, then please message me. They will also come in a hand made box and are priced at £7 with free P&P if posting. I will be getting some other titles soon so watch my blog or facebook page for details of when they become available. 



Craig x


Create your own Calendar - July 2015

Good morning, not a very nice day here up in Scotland. The heating is on and i think it will be on most of the day. I do love the autumn and winter, days like this, either get comfy on the couch with a good film or spend the day in my craft room working on samples - heaven. 
We are now coming into the half way mark for November, cant believe it. just seems like yesterday since i changed my calendars over to November. Time to create the next month with Stix2 create your own calendar 2015. Carrying on with the fun from the previous months. This month i kept it quite simple, i simply done matting and layer with a bit of embossing. Created like a patch work effect. What you could do, which i haven't is go round all the edges of the squares with a fine liner pen to create a stitch effect and that would really add to the effect of your page. i Need to get my skates on as i still have January - June to create. I think i will make a couple of month this week as i just have so much fun. As always, watch my blog to see what i do. 
Dont miss your chance to get a hold of your calendar. Order online where you will get it for £5.49 and its FREE P&P!

Stix2 products used;
Create your own calendar - S57309.
9mm double sided tape - FPAL2732950.
6mm red liner tape - S57090.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
Pva glue with metal tip - S56890.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
1mm double sided A4 foam pad sheet - S57182.
Micro dots (Double pack) - S57124.
Pick up pencil - S57265.
A4 die cut release sheet - S57316.
Low tack stencil tape (tape down die) - S56994,

Additional products used;
Totally girl 12x12 paper pad - My Minds Eye.
Deep pink textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Centura pearl with hint of silver - Crafters Companion.
Stitch flower embossalicious embossing folder - Crafters Companion.
Butterfly die - Tonic Studios.
5mm & 3mm Deep pink pearls - Kanban Crafts.



www.stix2.co.uk
sales@stix2.co.uk

Craig x

Wednesday 5 November 2014

Create your own calendar - August 2015.

Afternoon, I'm later in posting this blog for my August page of my Create your own calendar. The weeks just seem to rolling now, am posting this one now, but will have an extra addition of the calendar later in the week as July will have to be done too. I am have so much fun with this project, not only the creating of it but also the fun of looking through photos - old and new. Trying to decide which ones i'm going to use is very hard. I think as the last half of the calendar get done, i'm going to have to include more than one photo per month. I just so many i want to include. There is plenty of space on the calendar to add 2 or even 3 photo - depending on the side of course. i do like the focal point to be focused on the one photo element but like i say, i think i will need to rethink this in the next few additions. 
On this month, i have used the green seed bee'd and fine glitter packs. Each one comes in its own wee tube. I deliberately ordered them as i'm not a fan of glitter but i really loved the look of these and wanted to include them in my future projects. The way i done mine was added a thin layer of Stix2 PVA glue onto a piece of my card and then poured the green coloured seeds on top for them to adhere to, i wanted to make sure there would be a permanent bond hence why i used the PVA glue.

Stix2 products used;
Create your own calendar - S57309.
9mm Double sided tape - FPAL 2732950.
6mm Red ultra stong tape - S57090.
1mm A4 foam pad sheet - S57182.
Tri pack seed, bee'd and fine glitter - 57075.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
5mmx5mmx3mm foam pads - S57083.
PVA glue with metal tip - S57890.
Pick up pencil - S57265.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
A4 die cut release sheets - S57316.
Low tack stencil tape - S56994.
16mm Hunters Green satin ribbon - S57215.

Additional products used;
Verso die - Tonic Studios.
Black textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Dark green smooth card - Bazzill Basics.
Cross hatch embossing folder - Crafters Comapnion.
Card Candi - Craftworks Cards.
Swirl die.
Bow maker - Embellishment attic.



www.stix2.co.uk
www.sales@stix2.co.uk

Craig x


Christmas with a Sparkle

Good morning. First off appologise for the delay with my August page of the Create your own calender, I will have it blogged today.Well Christmas is well and truly on its way isn't it. Halloween is over with, now just Bonfire night tonight then that's it, the official countdown to Christmas is on, well for a lot of people it is. For me the countdown to Christmas starts when The Xfactor starts. That's when i start to get everything organised. 
Its been very nippy here up in Scotland the past few days. It has been cold but its been really crisp all the way through the day. Had a lovely walk along the beach yesterday with DJ and i just sat on the rocks and looked out to the views of the never ending sea. 
So back to my post. I received the A4 self adhesive sparky acetate from Carol-Ann in the Stix2 offices last week. Its gorgeous and its shed free as people know i hate glitter, which is funny because i also ordered some of the glitters too. I couldn't resist as these glitters are so different, they are called See'd and Beed glitters. I thought i had to over come my annoyance of glitter and use them which i will over the coming samples. 
With this card i say i used the sparkly acetate. when using it with my dies, i thought it would be tricky to remove the backing cause of all the wee elements in the die cut but actually its not. Yes, if using dies you have to be patient when removing the backing sheet but the acetate it actually a good thickness and the backing removes quite easy from all the wee elements. The results really are spectacular irrelevant what kind of card or products to place the acetate onto. Its defo worth purchasing and trying it out.

Stix2 products used;
9mm Double sided tape - FPAL2732950.
19mmx38mmx2mm foam pads - S57137.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
A4 Self adhesive Sparkly acetate sheet - S57303.
A4 die cut release sheet - S57316.
16mmx5m Wine Satin ribbon - S57216.
Non Stick craft sheet - S57132.
"Handmade By" label - S57261.

Additional products used;
Holiday die - Spellbinders.
Wine textured card - Bazzill Basics.
4mm White pearls - Mei Flower.
7x7 card blank - Craft UK.



TIP;
When removing the backing sheet off your Sparkly acetate. Don't remove it all at once. Remove the top first and stick onto your chosen area and slowly remove the backing sheet while ensuring there are no air bubbles left behind. 

Depending on what you are using, don't throw out the waste. As you can see from the die i have used, there is snowflakes, NOEL and JOY that are classed as the waste. Keep them and use them, these are also sparkly self adhesive elements. Make wee gift tags for your Christmas presents with these elements as the main focus point of your tag.

www.stix2.co.uk
sales@stix2.co.uk

Craig

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Elegant Christmas Time A5 card.

Hello there, horrible morning here today. 
Recently i dug out all my old collections especially last years Hunkydory Christmas collection. These are all Design Team collections so there is an number of topper sheets that are all still unused. However, instead of using them, i have been making cards using all the elements and toppers that are left in the collection from previous cards iv made. By the end, all that's left in the collection packets are full topper sheets and background card. Its a good mission and challenge to use all the bits and bobs and create A6 cards aswell as 8x8 cards. Its a fun thing to do, as it pushes your craft limits and gets you thinking more of different styles you can make with all the left over toppers big or small. I have been really enjoying it. This card has been made from the Elegant Collections that was part of a Blockbuster in 2013.

Stix2 products used;
6mm Double sided tape - FPAL2732625.
12mmx12mmx3mm foam pads - S57041.
Layer perfect metric - S57321.
Silicone glue - S57100.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
6mm Red ultra strong tape - S57090.
"Handmade by" labels - S57261.
A5 cello bags - S57314.

Additional products used;
Sparkling tree topper - Hunkydory.
Co-ordinated background card - Hunkydory.
Purple textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Silver Mirri card - Anitas.
35mm black Silk ribbon - Own stash.
Bow maker -Embellishment attic.
Patina metallic gilding wax - Creative expressions.
"A magic time" Embossing folder - Couture Creations.
Card blank - Papermill Direct (A4 in half)
3mm Silver gems - Mei flower.



www.stix2.co.uk
sales@stix2.co.uk

Craig x

Magnificent Men Hunkydory 4 Day Deal.

Last week was another week prepping TV samples for Hunkydory launch of their new collection - Magnificent Men. It is a true honor to be on one of the UKs top papercraft companies Design Team. I do love other areas of craft such as stamping etc but Paper craft card making is where i started and its my passion. i just adore the collections that Hunkydory come out with. Sometimes i receive a collection and think its not my cup of tea but when i get started the fun just flows, that's what is magical about Hunkydory in opinion, how they manage to be able to convert me. For example, a previous collection - Fairy Sweathearts. Wouldn't of thought it was my thing - cute cartoon fairy characters but i had a blast creating samples. It really was fun with all the great bright colours and different elements in the collections. 
Men's collections dont come round often but then they do, HD goes all out and this 4 Day Deal collection is no exception. So many different yet traditional images for all ages. So versatile with what you can create whether its cards or projects or you can even incorporate them into scrapbook pages if you so wish. If you are into your collections and not bought this yet, it seriously worth going for. 
This card has been made by incorporating my own crafty stash and of course that means using my trusted Stix2 adhesives. Quite rightly all my HD samples for the Create and Craft shows must be used using their own products that are supplied to myself. When it comes to my own cards using the collections then i will always only ever use Stix2. 

Stix2 products used;
9mm double sided tape - FPAL2732950.
6mm red liner tape S57090.
Silicone glue - S57100.
Layer ferfect metric - S57321.
19mmx38mmx2mm foam pads - S57137.
Pick up pencil - S57265.
Non stick craft sheet - S57132.
A5 cello bags - S57314.
"Handmade by" labels - S57216.

Additional products used;
They think it's all over topper sheet - Hubkydory Crafts.
Coordinated background card - Hunkydory Crafts.
Frame from pleasure pastimes golf topper sheet - Hunkydory Crafts.
Mirri card - Anita's.
Ivory textured card - Bazzill Basics.
Ivory spiders web.
3mm gold gems - Mei flower. 



www.stix2.co.uk
sales@stix2.co.uk

Craig x