University Guest Speaker ...

Hi Everybody,

I have no card for you today but I wanted to share this piece of news that dropped into my inbox earlier this week.

This is  from a lady called Melinda  and I have given it some consideration.... a whole two minutes ....

Here is part of the email I got ....

I have been following your blogs for a long time now and just love them! I am always so excited to see what you have come up with each day for your crafting audience.

Not only do I love to craft, but I also teach journalism at Mid America Nazarene University in suburban Kansas City, USA. 

This semester I am teaching Reporting & Writing and requiring my students to create and maintain a blog for the duration of the class. I admire your work so much that I'd love for you to tell my students about your blogging experiences.

Would you be able to join us via Skype on Tuesday, Sept. 3? 

I know you are incredibly busy and I have not given you much lead time, but I couldn't resist at least trying to make this happen.

If you agree, then you would be addressing a small (not more than 10 students), upper-division, multimedia class.  The students are juniors and seniors, and the atmosphere is conversational.

The students also would have questions prepared to ask you and would have explored both the Flowers, Ribbons and Pearls and the Card Making Magic sites.

You are absolutely one of the best and most thorough bloggers I've encountered so would love to give my students the opportunity to pick your brain.

Now I ask you ... what would you say to an offer like that ????   My answer was Yes Yes Yes ...   I would be delighted and honored to do so and of course I wrote back to accept the offer.

The reply back from Melinda was ...

Thanks so much for agreeing to speak to my students.

You will love them; they are wonderful people, who I've had in classes since they were freshmen and sophomores. 

And I know they will love you, too!

And so I am preparing for this and  I am nervous about it.   The time scale is different and  we need to set it  up with Melindas'  computer technicians to make sure we get it right.... otherwise I will be sat here talking to myself !!

But what an honor to be asked in the first place ... and didn't I say that 2013 has been an amazing year for me so far ... and it's only August 

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Spectrum Noir ...

Hi Everybody,

Todays card is using Spectrum Noir to color the image,   and this is Nevaeh from   Saturated Canary

Colors used ...
Skin            FS2, FS3, CR1,
Hair            GB1, GB8, GB11
Dress          CR1, CR5, CR6, CR7  with Gliter highlights
Frill/socks/shoes     IG1, IG5, IG7

The new Spectrum Noir class with The Art Studio is due to be added soon and I will let you know exactly when it is available.

The background panel is embossed with the A4 folder Interlocking Circles  from  Creative-Studios

The image has been curled with my fingers and added to the card with Pinflair Glue Gel to raise her up.

This is the glue that comes with a syringe to help you position it accurately.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts  and are a mixture of Roses, Carnations, lilies and Daisies.

I thought I would use the Venetian Accents and Motifs dies a little differently for this card and I added the mask to the images face ... adds an air of mystery to her. What do you think ??

If you are looking to add your name to the Give Away you will find it   HERE  and it is open until Saturday.

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

Another Frame Tutorial ...

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday I added the tutorial   Creating a Frame with Spellbinders  ... but I promised that I would do another tutorial making the same style card without the use of dies at all.

And so here is Making a Frame Tutorial  and although it takes some work to get the frame I still think that the end result is worth the effort.

I have shown you just two ways to add the strips in the video ... as these photos show ... but you can make whatever pattern you prefer.

Make it look like a window or simply add them in squares, but I am sure you will agree that it looks pretty either way.

The background is created with the 8x8 Embossing folder Regency Swirls from Crafters Companion

If you did the diamond pattern you could add pearls into each of the crossed sections.    My pearls are from Want2Scrap

And please, please don't be a perfectionist about the space between the diamonds ... you will drive your self crazy trying to get them exact.

It is after all a hand made card  ... and no body will know ... if you don't tell them !!

All they will see is the lovely card that you have taken the time to create with love  ... JUST for them

I have been asked where you can get the Quatrefoil Pattern die  ... here are the links for you

 ....   In the UK  .....  In the USA   

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx

A Requested Video ...

Hi Everybody,

When I added the tutorial for Adding Flowers to Cards I had many emails asking me about the centre panel made with the Quatrefoil Pattern die.

The link above is to the UK supplier and if you are in USA then this link will take you to your supplier

So another video has been filmed and it is now there for you to see ... so get your cuppa and settle down to watch and I know you are going to love this card.

 Creating a frame with Spellbinders    shows how the featured card is made and takes you step by step through  the whole process.

The blue card used in the making of this card is Centura Pearl from Crafters Companiuon

This photos hows you the depth involved in the card .... but please be aware that it takes a lot of matching card to get the layers.

It also needs patience to cut all the layers but once you have finished it is so well worth effort.

As I say to you on the video ...  be aware of all this extra  work and the material you are using when you are pricing your cards to sell.

You are going to need to replace your stocks and YOUR time needs to be paid for too

Another request I have had is to include more videos for those who don't have Spellbinders.

So later today ... once my "Film Crew" has watched his Formula 1 ...  I am going to create the same card again and not a Spellbinder will be used throughout. I will add the video for that later in the week.

If you still haven't entered the "Give Away" the link is still here .... August Give Away   ... it's open until Saturday

More tomorrow ...

Hugsxx

Robyns' Gift...

Hi Everybody,

My Grand-daughter  Robyn  is going to be Godmother to Gracie Mae and  she wanted something to give as a gift that no body else would have.

I have made these frames in the past and  Robyn likes them so much she asked if I would make one for her to give.

Here is the finished frame which is quite large and the characters inside are pre-colored from the Pretty Sweet CD  from  PolkaDoodles

The frame itself is from Dunelm Mill  and I have added silver Gilding flakes to the edge.  The name is  cut from the Spellbinders alphabet set that I have and  the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts

The other elements are items that I have in my "Stash"

 Robyns' response when  she came to pick it up was .... "WOW" and that is good enough for me and today is Christening Day and the gift will be given ....hope they like it

More tomorrow ...

Hugs xx