My Crafty Life

    Over the pastvyear I have really enjoyed mixed media. I have collected quite a large amount of stencils. Now as a scan and cut owner I know it is great for cutting your own stencils. Indeed I have cut quite a few with huge success.     This week Create and Craft have the new In the Studio usb Stylish Stencils. I do intend to get this usb but it will be when it is available on The Highlights Crafts website.     One thing they have advertised is a pack of 10 sheets of Doflex for £17.99. Please don't pay that amount of money. You can get it much cheaper from other places. For example I got this pack of 50 sheets from ebay for £21.99. If you bought this amount from Create and Craft it would cost you £89.95. I find that quite unbelievable. Please don't buy immediately you see something. I have been guilty of that in the past myself. I guess having a row with Create and Craft has made me look other places and what I have found is sometimes quite amazing. Now when I watch Create a...

    I love making cards. It's such a fun way to express yourself, and because they're so customizable, they're the perfect way to let someone know how you feel without having to say it out loud or write a long email. Plus, they're great for last-minute birthday or holiday gifts too!     I've been making greeting cards since I hurt my back at work and was stuck at home unable to go anywhere. I came across craft tv one day when i was channel hoping and the rest they say is history.     It just became one of my favorite things about special celebrations. Nothing says I love you more than a handmade card. Over the next few months I am planning to do tutorials both here on my blog and over on my YouTube Channel.     So why not learn from the best?     Come and join me in my future adventures in Card Making.                  Until Next Time                   Happy Crafting        

   If you're a creative person, chances are you've wanted to create something with your hands. Whether it's making a costume for a play, knitting an afghan for your best friend, or designing your own greeting card (and then mailing it), there's no better feeling than putting something tangible into the world that you made yourself.     But what if you had all the tools and materials at your disposal? What if there was a machine that could do the work of actually creating the craft? And what if that machine could make it easier?     Electronic die cutting machines are just such machines. They can cut out any shape of paper without any specialized equipment needed at all. The only things you need is glue and scissors!     It's no secret I am a huge fan of the Brother Scan and Cut. I use mine almost everyday. There are many different machines on the market such as Cricut machines, or Silhouette machines. I'm sure there are more and there will be a model for everyon...

    Mixed media art is a great way to combine different styles, techniques and mediums into your work. The possibilities are endless!     The best part of mixed media is that it allows you to create an entirely new piece of art that isn't bound by a single style or technique. You could create something that combines painting with drawing, or writing with collage, for example. The possibilities are endless! Here are a few ideas: 1. Combine elements from different types of media in one piece. For example, combine a painting with drawing on the same canvas or paper, or mix ink and paint on the same surface. I have used paint, paper shapes and coloured waxes in this piece. 2. Use multiple materials to create one piece of art—for example, use watercolor paint and acrylics to make one painting instead of two separate ones. I have used paints and printed papers in this piece. 3. Combine different techniques in different areas of your work—for example, use pastels for shading on one area o...

       It's no big secret I am a massive fan of Ciao Bella products. A few weeks back they had the new Black Swan Collection on Create and Craft. Due to an ongoing at the time dispute with them I did not order.      I have been hopefully checking amazon ever since in the hope of getting it. My patience finally paid off and today I have ordered this. Of course this is only one pad and I will have to keep checking for the rest. It should arrive in the next couple of days. I have in mind a Memory Book project that I think it will be perfect for. Once I have the papers I can make my mind up and I will let you know. Until Next Time Happy Crafting.

I've had this kit in my stash for quite a while. I always end up making my Christmas cards at the last minute you I thought I would think ahead and get started. The kit comes with full instructions and pictures which are very easy to follow. I made these four cards to start with. I think this would be the perfect kit for someone who is just starting out in card making. I just followed the instructions but if you wanted to set your creative juices flowing you could.  Until Next Time Happy Crafting

      I have seen a lot of hype about usbs that are compatible with the Scan and Cut. Highlight Crafts produce a usb which they say is certified by brother as a compatible usb for the scan and cut. I cant dispute that, they probably have.     Brother themselves produce an extensive list of usbs that they gave found to be compatible with the Scan and Cut machines. Now here is the thing Brother also state at the end of this list they have not tried every usb on the very extensive market. They say you can try any usb and may find some that are compatible but have not been tried by brother so will not be on the list.      Simply what they are saying is give it a go, some may work, and some may not.      With that in mind way back when I had my CM900 I got some usbs from amazon and gave it a go. These are the usbs I chose. They worked perfectly. I am also pleased to say they work just as well with my SDX1200. They come in different storage amounts.  I have them ordered by companies so for d...

I am still using up the leftover pieces from my Memory Book project. I cut this A5 gift box with my scan and cut in black card. The top of the box is decorated with a piece of leftover paper from The Muse Collection. I have then added a couple of tags and a sentiment which are also from the Collection. I finished it off with some fabric roses and foliage. I think it is very pretty and I hope you do as well.  Until Next Time Happy Crafting.

     I am a fan of all of The Cutting Craftorium usbs and think it's a shame they are not going to do anymore.      I have been looking for this one for a while as it is out of production now. I was delighted to find it for sale in a Facebook Group. No hesitation I snapped it up. Today I made my first project. There were only three pieces to the whole box. There are no instructions with this usb but putting it together was very straightforward. I have a dolls house kit that I am going to put together at some point. I'm planning on it being a house owned by a Goth couple. This box is the perfect size to leave slightly open in an attic room. Until Next Time Happy Crafting.

I finally have access to my create and craft account. It came back yesterday afternoon. I did email them on Monday and say when my magazine subscription is finished I will be cancelling my membership. Low and behold my account was unblocked the following day. I have gone through my account and there is no evidence of any missed payments as they claimed. No apology either. It has taken Create and Craft 25 days to rectify a problem that as far as I can see did not exist. What a poor show. After years of being a Very happy Create and Craft customer I will not be renewing my membership.                 Until Next Time                 Happy Crafting

Today I am going to show you this card which I made using leftovers from The Muse by Ciao Bella. I used the main kit to make a Memory Book for our 30th Wedding Anniversary in September. I had a few bits left over so thought I would see what I could make from them. I used a craft card blank which I made by simply folding a piece of card in half. You can make the card any size you like depending on how much paper you have to decorate it with. I cut two pieces of decorative paper the same size, a pretty topper and a sentiment. I added the pieces of decorative paper so they slightly overlapped in the middle. I then placed the topper to cover the join in the middle. I put the topper onto foam pads to give the card a bit of dimension. Then I added the sentiment which I have also put onto foam pads. I didnt put foam pads on the end that overlapped the topper. This is do the sentiment will sit evenly on the card. Finally I added some faux pearls. As the whole card has quite a natural look I ch...

I saw this on Facebook and it made me giggle, partly its a little bit true for every crafter. Until Next Time  Happy Crafting 

I have shopped with Create and Craft since 2004 when I hurt my back at work and was stuck at home. I remember at the time the hosts were Alan and Barry. The shows were all pre recorded back then. The card making  bug got me and a couple of years later I became a Craft club member. Over the years like everyone else I have had the odd problem. I heard many people complain about bad customer service. In all honesty I could never say that. If I ever had a problem it was sorted out quickly and efficiently. Earlier in the year Create and Craft were taken over by the Craft Channel. For me that was a disaster. I ordered a copy of the Lynda Ravenscroft usb Fairies after Dark. I got a dispatch notice but a week later no usb. I emailed C&C and got a message saying they would contact me in  the next 7 days. Then they emailed me to say there was a delay with the usb. If that was the case why did I get a dispatch notice. Eventually after 2 weeks I finally recieved the usb. I ordered the In The S...

I'm on holiday from work this week and next week. Once again I am sorting out and clearing out my craftroom. This is my resin cupboard. It's looking much tidier than it was when I started this morning. The green box is full of moulds. Still room for a few more I think. I'm waiting for some big bottles of resin coming and I'm not sure they will fit in the cupboard now. So while I was sorting out the resin supplies I managed to fill a witches cauldren ( about the size of a large mixing bowl ) with resin shapes that I have cast but not done anything with yet. There are so many I think I better do something with them. I have had some ideas already so watch this space and see what I come up with. Until Next Time Keep Crafting 

Today I have had my first try at making my own silicone moulds. I bought this kit from amazon. Its a small kit but if it is successful I will buy a bigger one. I chose 4 Chinese coins which I placed in the bottom of a flat tub. The mix is 1:1 so one part A and the same amount of part B. You then mix them together for 3 minutes. Carefully pour the mixture into your pot. Make sure you are on a level surface so your mould will be flat. Then you leave it for 6 hours to set. I admitt I checked a few times to see how it was going. It seemed to take ages before anything happened, but it did eventually start to set. 6 hours later I have a mould. Next time I will use less mix as I clearly used to much here. I need something a bit thicker than a coin. I had a bit of a struggle getting it out of the tub, but I have ordered some mould forms that clip together so that should make it easier to get out. Not perfect, but I have learned things from it. All in all I would call that a success. Until Next...