a video for you

No laughing at my very poor videoing. Especially for Helen and Michelle (and all those beginner sewers out there). I apologise for the video shake too, I was holding the camera with one hand and trying to do everything else with my other hand LOL.

Don't forget, you can do this in any size, just make sure you allow for the extra room when you fold your book shut. Diary covers make a great gift - and diaries are now in the cheap shops for a few dollars each.

Embellish the front with whatever you like, iron on or sew on transfers are cute.

Winners of RAK

I've decided that both Helen and Amy can have some cityscapes and bats.
Amy, I'll give you yours on Wednesday night, Helen, I'll pop yours in the mail soon.
Thanks for playing!

Faking it!

I recently posted a card on my personal blog which I got a lot of questions about the technique I used to achieve that card. So I thougth I'd pop the instructions on here for FAKE BRAYERING and simple masking.

I started with a cuttlebug cut out of a city skyscape in black. I also have a small bat cut using the cuttlebug. I've cut a piece of very vanilla cardstock from Stampin Up to the same width as the skyscape and slightly taller. This cardstock will be the background we will be inking and masking.

To create the moon, I cut a small 1.5" circle using my Fiskars shape cutter templates. You will need to keep both the circle and the surrounding cardstock for this project. Place some double sided tape (nonpermanent) to the back of the circle and place it on your background card - double check its where your moon needs to be.

Taking a sponge (a seasponge or soft makeup sponge are ideal), apply dabs of ink to the background starting at the top edge and working your way down to halfway, then continue again with the second colour working from the bottom edge to the middle. Be sure to blend the two colours slightly at the midsection. This process will take lots of dabbing and lots of reinking your sponge. The ink will come out at its darkest colour. I've used Buckaroom blue from Stampin Up for the sky, and Wild Wasabi by Stamping Up for the horizon.

Take your 'circle' moon mask off and then place the outside template so that the moon is only showing through. Ink up your moon, again working from one side and dabbing ink inwards. One side of the moon will be darker than the other.

Apply your cuttlebug pieces over your background and there you have it - a fake brayered and masked background sky. Effective isn't it?

My original card (here) was stamped with the owl and branch, which was then masked separately by stamping onto paper and cutting the images out and sticking over the top of the card. I then followed the same technique as above, creating a mask for the moon, inking the top and bottom of the paper and then using the outside mask to do the moon. I did add more ink around the moon to give a misty feel. I used watercolour paper for that card too - just because it was on my desk at the time.

I want to see your attempts too please! I have some cuttlebug bats and skyscapes here in a little pack ready to send off with some sweet goodies for one lucky person. Leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a winner this time next week. Don't forget to tell your friends about our free classroom blog too - full of great little projects :)

Thanks Helen

Thankyou so much Helen for a great little gift idea and for doing this for Divas.

Fifth Step

9. Position your decorated frame where you like on one side of your half circle and stick it down well ... and ... THAT'S IT !!! You're all done.

Fourth Step

7. Now decorate your frame anyway you like ... I used a left over piece of the pp as a backing, I added flowers in co-ordinating colours and inked around the edges of my frame. I also added some ribbon and a tag plus the alphas.






8. Using your glue/double sided tape or Xyron, stick your ribbons along the bottom of the gift pack - both sides. Be careful at the ends, try and overlap it a little without too much thickness so it looks neat. I used a paper clip to hold the ends in place til the glue dried.

Third Step

5. Now we are going to make a mini cardboard frame - I traced around the edge of an Autumn Leaves journalling spot which is approximately 8x6cm. You can cut any shape or size you like.




6. To make your shape into a frame, you will need to cut out the middle.

7. Paint or ink your frame in a co-ordinating colour.

Second Step

2. Fold your circle in half (keep the side of the paper you want to see on the outside).

3. Fold the folded edge up approximately 1 - 1.5cm.





3. Open out the circle and you should have 3 creased lines - smooth out the original centre fold line and stand your half circle up on its base.







4. Pinching the folded edges together, carefully staple each side - this may be a little fiddly to ensure the base of your semi circle stays flat - make sure you push the edge of the original centre crease line up between the folded edges when you staple it

Welcome & First Step

Hi girls, thanks so much for joining me here. I hope you like this easy little project I've come up with for my first ever online class.

I must give credit though to a Tarisota Designer because I first saw this type of project in their gallery a while back, however I have worked out the design myself for this little gift pack.

So here we go ...

This is what you will need:

* 1 sheet d/s pp - male oriented if you are making this a fathers day gift pack

* piece of thin-ish chipboard, doesn't need to be any bigger than 4"x6" or so as you will be cutting it

* assorted flowers to co-ordinate with pp

*assorted letter stickers/alphas etc - I have used the Carolee's Creation tiny alphas plus AC Thickers

*paint and/or ink to co-ordinate with pp

*ribbons - approx 60cm of 2 co-ordinating colours

*scissors

*stapler

*d/s tape and/or glue (Power Pritt)

1. Using a dinner plate or saucepan lid etc draw the largest circle you can on your piece of patterned paper and cut it out.

distressing technique - paint lines

Hopefully this little tutorial will help you think a bit outside the square as far as adding texture and layers to your page. Distressing can be very in your face or as subtle as you may want to make it. It is a technique that should be practised first time around as each paint will have a different consistency. I've used mine on a partly finished page, which has already had some distressed paper added and some bubblewrap stamping done to give it a grunge feel. Have fun!!

You will need a ruler or something straight, some paint and your layout.

Dip the edge of the ruler into the paint, be sure there is a fair amount on the ruler.

You should start by making several smaller lines on your page. Dip the ruler in the paint each time you do a line. You may want to move the ruler in a forward motion, dragging the paint in a straight line across your page or add more paint along your ruler so that the line is darker and longer.

Experiment and add lots of lines for a grunge feel or keep it simple with just a few for a more subtle look. You may want to try this on dark paper with white or light paint, or use paint a smiliar colour to your paper for a more subdued look.

Next Free Online Class - Helen's Fathers Day Gift Pack

When/Where : Monday 18th August @ 8pm - HERE!
Check out the Divas Form here for more information and what to bring.
Here's a sneek peek ...

It will be quick and easy and loads of fun. I hope you will join us.
Instructions will be posted here and all the chat in the Divas Chatroom.

Diva Ribbon Club... June... How to make a marble bag

I grabbed the red and white ribbons from this months Ribbon Club and immediately knew that I wanted to sew something for my Daughter Alesia with it. I've had the Hello Kitty material for ages and because its only a small cut I didn't know what to use it for.... Well it seems that MARBELS are the in thing at school again - so here is a marble bag for her :) Of course there is still tonnes of ribbon left and when I use it I'll share back in the forum :)



1. Cut top strip 15x2 inches, middle strip 15x3 inches and bottom strip 15x5 inches.
2. Sew with right sides facing, the middle and bottom fabric together.

3. Iron flat and then place your RIBBON PACK lace over the join and sew over several times
4. Add several other strips of trim from your RIBBON PACK to the lower section of your fabric, leaving 2-3 cm at the bottom for seams later.
5. With right sides together again, add your top strip of fabric. Fold the whole lot in half and sew down one side and across the bottom. You may want to zig zag stitch the seams so they don't frey. Adding some clear nailpolish will do the same thing.
6. Turn down the top opening of the bag and sew around it, leaving a 1cm opening at the seam side to thread your ribbon through.

7. Thread through one of the long lengths of ribbon from your RIBBON PACK then tie in a knot to secure. Turn your bag in the right way and iron flat. Don't forget to add clear nailpolish or Dimensional Magic to the ends of your ribbon to stop it from freying. Also add a key tag to the ribbon so that if it gets lost, it can be easily returned.

Thankyou

Thanks so much Mel for a great class and practical idea.

Thank you

I hope you have enjoyed making, this quick and easy project. I have enjoyed being able to share my ideas with you.

Mel x

Step 4

Step 4.

**Note** you may want to do this step after you have embellished your “Hang it Up”

Open the split ring and slip it through one of the holes in your bulldog clip. Slip the open end of the split ring into the hole of your “Hang it Up” shape, and close the ring. Do the same, on the other side.

Well done, you have now completed the basic “Hang it Up”

Now it’s time to make it your own!

Grab those letters and embellishments out and have some fun. The possibilities are endless.

Make sure you upload your completed “Hang it Up” in the gallery by June 30th. I will randomly pick someone and send you out a special RAK.

Step 3

Step 3.

Time to punch some holes. You need to punch two holes at the bottom of your shape to slip your ‘split rings’ into. Measure 5cm in from your sides and 1.5cm up from the bottom. Mark with a pencil and use your hole punch to make two hole on either side.

If you are hanging your “Hang it Up’ you will need to punch two holes on the top to put your ribbon through. Measure 3cm in from the side and 1.5cm down from the top and punch two more holes. Cut a piece of ribbon or thick string approx 30cm long. Slip into the hole at the top and make a knot. Do the same of the other side.

If you are putting your “Hang it Up” on the fridge. Turn you shape over and find the centre. Measure 5 cm down and glue your magnet on.

Step 2

Step 2.

Cover your shape with your choice of patterned paper or cardstock. I used a strong Craft glue, to glue this onto my backing shape. Trim off any excess.

Step 1

Step 1.
Choose a shape you would like your “Hang it up” to be. Simple kids colouring in pictures, make excellent templates for different shapes.

A good working size would be 20-30cm wide and 15-25cm long. Keep in mind this is only approximate sizes and would depend on your shape.

Trace or draw your shape onto your heavy cardboard and cut out.

Materials list and ideas

Let’s get started.

Materials List:

Heavy Cardboard for backing – Old Pizza boxes would work well.
Patterned Paper or Cardstock to cover
2 x 25mm Split Rings (Available from Newsagents/Office Supplies)
2 x small bulldog clips
Ribbon/String or Magnet to hang it up (any old magnets off your fridge can be recycled as you won’t see it)
Embellishments
Letters
Craft glue

Tools:
Scissors/ Craft knife
Hole Punch
Ruler


Here are some ideas for your “Hang it Up”
- Children’s picture hanger - Look what “insert name” made today
- Bills to pay
- Things to remember
- School Notes
- Grandparents “Special Pictures”
- Things to do


- I made this for My Dad

The ‘Hang it Up’ can be hung on a wall, or you can put a magnet on the back so you can put it on the fridge.

Welcome to Mel's Hang it Up class

Hello and Welcome to my first ever online class. I am very excited to share my “Hang It Up” ideas with you. This is a very quick and simple idea that can be adapted to suit any age group, male or female. It would make a lovely gift or a cute addition to have around the house.







Here are two examples of what you can do with your "Hang it Up"