May 21, 2013Peg RcloseAuthor: Peg RName: Peg Rounds Site:http://www.pegscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/ About: Peg Rounds lives in East Moline, Illinois with her husband and best friend, Kevin and their son Josh and 2 dogs. She was an elementary school teacher turned stay at home mom, and later a home school mom. Over the years, she designed cakes on the side and went to school to become a certified chocolatier. She always has loved to craft since she was young and it was something that she wanted to be doing, but set it aside due to her busy life. After 15 years of doing cakes she decided it was time to stop and focus more on her family. She began doing layouts, then cards and it went from there. Before she knew it, next to spending time with her family, she spent every free moment creating something and blogging about it. One thing led to another and here she is today!See Authors Posts (99)Cardmaking, Crafts, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and MediumsNo Comments
I was excited when I was asked to review the new Imperial Gold Nestabilites Dies by Spellbinders. These dies add even more fun elements to any of your projects whether they are cards, scrapbook pages or even altered art items. For $19.49 you get 4 to 12 dies depending on which set you choose. This is a great price for the amount of things that can be created using them. These dies will cut, emboss, deboss, stencil and letterpress. You can do one layer or several. The dies can be used in most die cut machines, too. All you need is to follow the stack instructions for your machine that is provided with the instructions.
On this layout, I wanted to create a frame for the pictures. The top picture I used just one of the dies to create an embossed mat for it and the bottom 2 pictures I made the embossed mats for both of them and then added a die cut and embossed frame over the top of each picture. See how quickly it is to now create a beautiful frame for all of your pictures?
I experimented with several types and weights of paper to see how well they worked. On the packaging it is suggested that the paper weight be 65 pounds. That doesn’t mean that is what you have to use. Here I tried lighter weight papers and found that most worked. The foil (the red piece) didn’t cut, but did emboss. It was too thin using in a regular stack and as I ran it through my die cut machine (Spellbinders Grand Calibur) I could feel the difference as it seemed to easily roll through without pressure. A shim may have helped with this problem and I will experiment more on this to see if I can get it to work. It will make a nice mat for a smaller picture, though.
I mentioned earlier about the correct stack to use these dies, but you will also have to purchase the Junior Magnetic Placement Mat to add to the stack or the dies will not work. I was a little disappointed when I first received the dies and went to use them and couldn’t because I didn’t have this mat. Nowhere on the packaging does it mention that it is required. It was only when I opened up the dies and read the instructions was it mentioned. It is the only way to achieve the correct thickness for the stack and helps hold the dies in place when layering them. Luckily, Create For Less has them and they ship quickly. You will get 2 mats in a package for $8.49. The mats are thin so when they are used they become etched as shown in the right picture. This doesn’t affect the use of them, but after a while they will require replacing. This was a big con for me is that it is not mentioned on the packaging that it is a required item in order to use these dies.
Overall, I would definitely suggest this product to everyone. I love the different looks that can be achieved by just a few dies and that the price for them is reasonable. They are great to use for frames around pictures or for embellishments on cards. There are several different designs to choose from which is a great idea, too. One drawback is that the Junior Mat is required for use and there is no mention of it on the packaging. Now head on over to check the dies out for yourself and start a new layer of fun on your projects.
May 18, 2013Guest BloggercloseAuthor: Guest BloggerName: Guest Blogger Site: About: Interested in Guest Blogging? Got a project idea you would like to share? A craft tip to tell us about? Then sign up to be a Think Crafts Guest Blogger! If you are interested, simply email us at info@thinkcrafts.com with your blog post title, text and attach any pictures. We will let you know if your post was approved or not, and when it will be posted on Think Crafts. Please also contact us if you have any questions or would like further information regarding guest blogging. We look forward to hearing your ideas!See Authors Posts (216)Crafts, Holidays, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and MediumsNo Comments
Paper Phenomenon is full of in-depth tutorials and kits for your next scrapbooking project. Be sure to check out Kathy’s YouTube channel for step-by-step page making instructions and how-to’s for different scrapbooking tools and attend her scrapbooking classes online at her UStream Channel every Monday at 2 PM Central Time and Friday at 7 PM Central Time!
To celebrate National Scrapbook Day all month long, Kathy will be sharing her tutorial for a Retro Fitted Mini Album Layout every Saturday in May! If you love this layout, be sure to click the links above for even more tutorials and scrapbooking tips and check back next week for parts 6 and 7!
May 11, 2013Guest BloggercloseAuthor: Guest BloggerName: Guest Blogger Site: About: Interested in Guest Blogging? Got a project idea you would like to share? A craft tip to tell us about? Then sign up to be a Think Crafts Guest Blogger! If you are interested, simply email us at info@thinkcrafts.com with your blog post title, text and attach any pictures. We will let you know if your post was approved or not, and when it will be posted on Think Crafts. Please also contact us if you have any questions or would like further information regarding guest blogging. We look forward to hearing your ideas!See Authors Posts (216)Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Holidays, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums2 Comments
Paper Phenomenon is full of in-depth tutorials and kits for your next scrapbooking project. Be sure to check out Kathy’s YouTube channel for step-by-step page making instructions and how-to’s for different scrapbooking tools and attend her scrapbooking classes online at her UStream Channel every Monday at 2 PM Central Time and Friday at 7 PM Central Time!
To celebrate National Scrapbook Day all month long, Kathy will be sharing her tutorial for a Retro Fitted Mini Album Layout every Saturday in May! If you love this layout, be sure to click the links above for even more tutorials and scrapbooking tips and check back next week for parts 4 and 5!
Parts 1 & 2:
Part 3:
Do you have a layout you’d love to share? Enter our Scrapbook Layout Contest and you could win a $150 CreateForLess Gift Card!
May 7, 2013Peg RcloseAuthor: Peg RName: Peg Rounds Site:http://www.pegscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/ About: Peg Rounds lives in East Moline, Illinois with her husband and best friend, Kevin and their son Josh and 2 dogs. She was an elementary school teacher turned stay at home mom, and later a home school mom. Over the years, she designed cakes on the side and went to school to become a certified chocolatier. She always has loved to craft since she was young and it was something that she wanted to be doing, but set it aside due to her busy life. After 15 years of doing cakes she decided it was time to stop and focus more on her family. She began doing layouts, then cards and it went from there. Before she knew it, next to spending time with her family, she spent every free moment creating something and blogging about it. One thing led to another and here she is today!See Authors Posts (99)Crafts, Father's Day, Holidays, Mother's Day, Paper Crafts, ScrapbookingNo Comments
Create this cute little photo album for Mom this Mother’s Day or change the theme and make a gift for Dad. No matter how you decorate it, it will surely be enjoyed and used every day to keep those special photo memories in. It’s so easy to make that with a little help, a child can enjoy making one to give.
Happy National Scrapbook Day! CreateForLess and Think Crafts are celebrating in so many fun ways! We want to inspire you to get out your papers, embellishments and tools, and make some memories!
First up, be sure to enter your best layout in to our annual Scrapbook Layout Contest. We’ll be voting for the winners on Facebook at the end of the month, so make sure to check back and see if you made the cut! Here is last year’s winner:
Next, head over to CreateForLess for our Spectacular Scrapbooking Sale where you can save on all of your favorite paper crafting supplies. Treat yourself, this is a national holiday after all!
Finally, check out some of our favorite techniques and layouts right here at Think Crafts! Click the images for full tutorials.
We hope we’ve inspired you to get cropping and scrapping! Happy Scrapbook Day!
May 2, 2013Peg RcloseAuthor: Peg RName: Peg Rounds Site:http://www.pegscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/ About: Peg Rounds lives in East Moline, Illinois with her husband and best friend, Kevin and their son Josh and 2 dogs. She was an elementary school teacher turned stay at home mom, and later a home school mom. Over the years, she designed cakes on the side and went to school to become a certified chocolatier. She always has loved to craft since she was young and it was something that she wanted to be doing, but set it aside due to her busy life. After 15 years of doing cakes she decided it was time to stop and focus more on her family. She began doing layouts, then cards and it went from there. Before she knew it, next to spending time with her family, she spent every free moment creating something and blogging about it. One thing led to another and here she is today!See Authors Posts (99)Cardmaking, Crafts, Paper Crafts, Rubber Stamping, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums2 Comments
Q: Why can’t I get a clear stamped image especially with larger stamps?
A: Trying inking the stamp with a brayer to make sure all of the area is covered and stand up to do the stamping to get an even pressure on the entire stamp.
Q: I’d like to make some of my own 3-d embellishments to put on my layout, but don’t know how to do it. Any help?
A: A melting pot can be used to melt Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel(UTEE) which can be poured into molds and cooled.
A: These bags are rubbed onto the project before anything else is applied so it helps to stop ink from smearing and bleeding through. It, also, removes static when using glitter and embossing powders so they do not stick where they are not wanted and it deactivates the stickiness of stickers so they can be used in other ways on projects.
A: The best way to get it to stick is to burnish the glittered sheet. After pouring on the glitter and removing the excess, place a piece of paper over the top and rub over it to push the glitter down into the adhesive.
A: They are a pigment stick that can be used with or without water to add color to your projects. When used with water, they add a watercolored look to the project. It can be used on wood, paper and more.
April 30, 2013Guest BloggercloseAuthor: Guest BloggerName: Guest Blogger Site: About: Interested in Guest Blogging? Got a project idea you would like to share? A craft tip to tell us about? Then sign up to be a Think Crafts Guest Blogger! If you are interested, simply email us at info@thinkcrafts.com with your blog post title, text and attach any pictures. We will let you know if your post was approved or not, and when it will be posted on Think Crafts. Please also contact us if you have any questions or would like further information regarding guest blogging. We look forward to hearing your ideas!See Authors Posts (216)Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts, Rubber Stamping, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums5 Comments
Learn high quality techniques and unique ways to jazz up your scrapbooks over at the Club Scrap blog, and join the Club Scrap Kit Club for fun themed scrapbooking.
May 4th is National Scrapbooking Day, and before you break out all of your fun embellishments and stickers, consider taking a minimalist approach for a few of your pages. Using the less is more philosophy for this page, I only used color in three areas of this layout – in the title, the photo, and a rubber stamped embellishment. The rest of the page is basically black & white only.
I altered the 5×7 photo in Photoshop leaving only the actual art project color remaining. Then using Club Scrap’s “Color” rubber stamp , I stamped the image on five different cardstock colors and trimmed out the letters within.
After attaching the trimmed out letters with black mini foam squares, I had a fun embellishment that complimented my page well.
