Magic in Minutes

Hello you lovely Dottie followers, Louise here,

Before I begin, don't link the title of this post to the card above because it really did NOT take just minutes :). However it was very popular and I have been asked to make more. If you are like me you don't usually have the luxury of spending hours just on one card so today I would like to show you just how easy it actually is to make super speedy cards using the Charmed Downloads. Here is a quick 'how to' for a simpler and quicker version of the card above.

Print out your bride image twice to the desired size. The secret to speedy results is to print out the ready coloured ones. Don't forget, if you are not impressed with the vibrancy or colour your printer decides to give you, you can still brighten up elements of the image using your usual colouring technique but the main part of the job is done for you. Below you will see I have recoloured the pink border.

To create the 3D ribbon effect take the image that you want to have showing and cut around the lines where you want to curl it up - as shown above. Now simply glue the back - avoiding the 3D parts and fix it onto the other image. You can do this method with plain or contrasting paper behind if you prefer but I like to have the true colours of the image showing through. Fix to your card base.

Next it's the fun part - glitz it up! here I have made a glittery border by applying strips of DS tape then adding glitter.

The finishing touches are always what add the magic to quick cards, I have added sequins pearls, flower soft and...wait for it....more glitter. Go wild!

So there you have it! Try this 3D technique out on other images too, it's quick but effective. Enjoy!

Daisy Card Tutorial

Hi Folks Louise here,

Today I thought I would show you how easy it is to make a fabulous card using the card kits included in the Pixie Chicks digital download collections. Yesterday I showed you the Water Lilly card made from the elements included in Pixie Chicks Collection 1, well, today I'm showing you how to make the Daisy card using the elements from Pixie Chicks set 2 -the same principle works for both cards.

1. Open Microsoft Word and insert the Card template, Layer 1, layer 2, the Daisy image shown above and the plant pot. The kit includes the ready coloured images and the black and white images so if you're in a hurry you can print them out ready coloured!

Once on the screen you can move them around and resize them as desired. Try dragging the images over eachother to check they will fit together how you want them to. Here you'll see that I've put the flower pot in position on layer 2 to save me from cutting and sticking later on. If you have trouble moving an image around in a Word document; right click on the image, click text wrapping then click in front of text, you should now be able to drag the image freely around the page. To resize the image either right click and alter the size by cms on the size screen or just click on the image and drag from the corner. NEVER RESIZE BY DRAGGING FROM THE SIDES, TOP OR BOTTOM this will distort the image.

2. When you're satisfied with the size of your card elements print them out onto your chosen cardstock. Time to colour! Here's a really big tip; You're going to be cutting them out so feel free to use big strokes of the pen from the inside of the of the petal outwards. It doesn't matter if you go over the outer edge, in fact it's better if you do because you'll get a smoother finish. It's so much quicker too! I used Copic Markers to colour mine.

3. Cut them out! It's acutually quicker than you might think. The quickest way to cut out the to petal layers is to first cut right around the outer edge (next to the petal tips) then snip out the tringles between each petal.

4. Fold your card base then simply put it all together! I sat my Pixie onto the card with foam pads for a 3D effect but I actually glued her bottom to the card (ouch!) to make it look like she was really sitting on the pot.

Here you can see that I've curled the edges of the petals over on the top layer to add dimension.

If you make one of these cards I would love to see the results so please leave a comment here and I'll visit your blog for a peek.

To purchase the Pixie Chick Downoad collections which include the card kits annd lots lots more just click here.

Enjoy your day

Louise xx

Spinner Card Tutorial

Now, I'm calling it a spinner card because I can't think of what else to call it. You may have seen this with another name but for now it'll have to remain a spinner card!

I think they are just perfect to compliment the new Dottie and George collection- Back To Front, what do you think?......

Cool eh? Here's how you can make one for yourself.....
First of all you need to print out your front and back images and mount them onto two identical shapes (they need to fit together). All the cutting on my card is done on my Silhouette (digital craft cutter) If you don't have any fancy cutters it doesn't matter because it will be equally as effective with a rectangular aperture and spinning section.

I used a Cuttlebug Embossing folder for the textured white background.
Prepare a card blank, covering it with your chosen patterned paper and cut an aperture slightly bigger than your centrepiece - the spinning section needs enough space to spin freely.


Take one of your mounted pictures and tape some thin craft wire down the middle, leaving around 2cm at each end. Now stick the two images securely back to back, sandwiching the wire in between. Add beads onto each end of the wire to act as spacers - check against the aperture of your card to see how much space you have for your beads. Open your card, lay your centrepiece in position and tape the wire securely onto the inside of your card as shown above. I've used clear tape but it would look better if you used a little scrap of the same card you used for your card base stuck down with double sided tape.

Now just add any finishing touches to the front of your card. I've just used some We R Memory Keepers chip board corners to decorate mine. The paper is from the We R Memory Keepers Nonsense range too.

Here's a better view of the reverse of the image...

This kind of card would work well with any of the Back To Front images, you could try out some different shaped appertures too, how about a heart spinner for Valentines day? There is a fab image of Dottie and George that would work well for that - when you spun the picture it would reveal George pinching Dottie's bum! To check out the Back To Front downloads pop over to Charmed Cards and Crafts.

I hope you find this helpful, let me know if you have a go and I'll pop over for a look.

Louise xx

Thursday taster

Hi everyone, its been one of those weeks unfortunately, so i havent a card to show you for the first time ever, so i thought i'd share some tips.


Firstly if you missed it before on my blog there are two tutorials on teabag folding,one to make a wreath and one for basic folding.


Also when using a template, i photo copy the template( just for my use,as remember copyright) and attach the copy sheet over your chosen card,using de-tacked masking tape(this is just where you stick it to your clothes a few times to take the sticky off a bit)then using a ruler for straight lines etc and a pencil or embossing ball tool i trace over the lines on top of the copied template,which is why i always copy mine first so as not to ruin your original template. This the gives you the exact template embossed on the card beneath, which you then just cut out with a knife or scissors. As by the time you draw round a template the size of your pencil and accuracy of cutting determines how well your piece fit together.


Nicola.xx

Simple Re-sizing and Printing Tutorial

I often get email from people who have purchased the download bundles and then experience problems re-sizing and printing the images. Personally I find the quickest and simplest method is to insert the image into a word document and work from there. Here is a quick step-by-step guide - please excuse me if it seems like I'm trying to teach grandma to suck eggs ;o)

Open a word document and insert the image: Insert/Picture/From File

Double-click on the image to open the picture format box and go to the size tab. Set the size you want, making sure the "Lock aspect ratio" is ticked. Bear in mind that the image may have an "invisible" border so crop that first if you want to be totally accurate (see further steps for guidance on how to crop a picture).

When you have the size you want you can print directly from Word. Set any printing preference from your printers software. If you use the "Print" icon on the task bar you wont be presented with this option so print via the "File" menu.

If you are layering the image then copy and paste the image before printing (select image/copy then paste).

If you only require certain elements of the image for layering then don't print the whole image, wasting ink in the process. Just crop the sections you require. Select the image, click on the crop icon in the tool bar then drag from the points on the sides of each line on the image as far in as you require the cut. TOP TIP: To get really close to the image hold down the Alt key as you drag.

Repeat the copy/paste/crop action for any other elements you require then print in one go (best quality print).

I hope it helps those of you who perhaps haven't yet mastered this technique.

xx

Simple Paper Piecing Tutorial

Good evening everybody.

A few of you have asked me how I do my paper piecing on my cards so I've decided to show you just how easy it actually is to start off paper piecing.

First of all print your image, first onto your white paper and then onto any other papers you want to include - I'm just using one patterned paper for this example.

Tip - you don't have to waste paper by printing onto A4. Change the paper size in the programme you're using (I use MS Word) according to how big you need it.

Now cut out the part you want to be patterned.

Colour in and (if desired) cut out your base image.

Tip - use scalloping scissors to cut around dottie's hair.

Finally stick the paper piece onto your base and it's ready for the finishing touches.

I'll keep you in suspence and show you the finished card tomorrow when we launch our first challenge.