Sunday, 5 July 2009

NEW AT BLADE RUBBER STAMPS


Magazine ad copyright
Craft Stamper
Stamp images & card samples copyright Susie Jefferson



New Blade Rubber Stamp designs!

These are my latest stamp designs for BladeRubber Stamps, and you are seeing them for the first time here!

I hadn't realised the magazine was even out yet (bought mine yesterday) and there the stamps were... I have to say I was thrilled...

CLASSES TILL CHRISTMAS

Here's the new list of classes Blade Rubber is offering - right through till Christmas! Fuller details of the classes I am teaching are here.

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FAVICON TUTORIAL

I have put a tutorial on how to change that boring little icon in your address bar (the favicon) to one that suits YOUR blog.

It's on my Computery page, along with lots of other bloggy stuff like adding tag clouds, blogger buttons, making your own email buttons etc. Just look for the links in the sidebar.

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ALCOHOL INK & MEMORY GLASS TUTORIAL

Those wonderful people at Ranger have just released a new video!

This one uses frosted Memory Glass - so you not only get a tutorial using frosted glass (works with slides too) but you also have a new technique for alcohol inks. It's also a resist technique.

So you get three brilliant techniques all in one quick demonstration.

Now go forth and create some little mini masterpieces!

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Saturday, 4 July 2009

TUTORIAL ON ETSY

So many people ask me about bookbinding, and I can physically only teach so many in person - so I am pleased to announce I have posted my first tutorial for sale on Etsy!

It's a nice easy bookbinding one, for those who haven't made a book before: it's just two holes, with a scored cover, and perfect as a little album, brag book, scrapbook, journal or sketchbook. Great to make for yourself, or to give as a present, or to make for sale.

This format is the easiest to start with, and it has a hidden binding as well (no knots showing).

I'm charging a huge $5.00 for it, as it's only 10 pages long and A4 size (a downloadable .pdf which can also be printed) with my hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations plus lots of photos.


My idea is to do lots of affordable little modules, so instead of paying a huge amount for a huge ebook-sized tutorial, you can buy just what interests you.

I finally got a decent camera, so now can really get going on the tutorials! I am really excited about this, so fingers crossed. I'll be very interested to hear your comments.


Talking of Japanese stab-bound albums, I have also put the Fairy Album and the Wedding Album onto Etsy for sale.


I'll be following up with some smaller, less expensive ones (I know these aren't cheap, but there is a lot of work in them, plus very expensive ingredients)!

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Thursday, 2 July 2009

FREE DOWNLOADABLE MAGAZINE!


Scrapbook & Cards Today has just launched
their latest edition - and are allowing you to download the new Summer issue FREE!



This Canadian magazine in .pdf format, which means you can read it on screen, or save it to your hard drive. Aren't they wonderful! Lots of new ideas, and a very classy presentation: clean, clear and colourful.

If you go to the website you'll notice a bonus article (right sidebar) on colour theory, which you'll find very helpful.

Hope you enjoy it!

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Monday, 29 June 2009

NEW BACKGROUND, HEADER ETC

Since it's Summer at last, I thought it was time for a new look - hence the new header and background.

Maybe the background is a little plain, but you know me - it won't be left like that!

Hope you like the new look - feel free to leave a comment!


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Thursday, 25 June 2009

METAL TOOLING & FOILS - WITH FREYJA

We haven't had any tutorials for a while - so here's a brilliant one on Metal Tooling with Freyja.

All artwork & How To notes copyright Freyja Lee.

FREYJA SAYS:

Gold Leaf & Punches



Not stamped cards, but easy to do and they look very pretty. A tall card makes the most impact with this type of design..





  • The black card uses a Giant Flower Punch and a matching clear sticky peeloff fixed over the aperture.
  • Apply gold leaf to the sticky side.
  • Optional - attach another peeloff onto the back sealing the gold leaf. Not necessary if you use a card insert.
  • Attach a multi coloured peeloff butterfly over the leaf and tiny flowers from the same sheet at the base. Add ribbons for extra colour.
  • The blue card uses a giant 3.50 cm punch to make thre apertures.
  • As before use sticky squares, back with silver leaf (real silver leaf is luxurious and not expensive to buy) and add peeloff snowflakes ad gems to the apertures.

Silver Heart

Stamp - nonSequitur 'Italia' Stamp Plate
The English Stamp Co.2102 Leaf


This is the easiest design of all using, a small piece of metal foil with a simple printed or pattern placed on top and traced with a stylus. Take the pattern away and impress the design more deeply.


It is not difficult to work free had copying a pattern or making your own.
  • The leaf is embossed twice onto coloured vellum and cut out.
  • The background is from the Italia plate and silver embossed .
  • Two rectangles of sparkle gauze are layered with the other elements as shown.
Oak Leaves


Again no stamps, but very effective with real leaves traced onto heat coloured brass tooling metal.






  • Very easy to do: add the veins copying the leaves after cutting out following your outlines.
  • Heat colour two pieces of fine mesh and attach with squares of black card and bleach painted peeloffs.
Girl With Plaits


Stamps - Magenta M17069Q

This card uses the stamping and tooling method.




  • Stamp one half of the image with Brilliance ink on heat coloured Copper metal.
  • Turn under the edges and flatten, or file raw edges carefully.
  • The butterfly has been drawn on paper in one piece, and transferred to foil with freehand decoration on the wings.
  • Cut out and shape around a wooden spoon handle.
  • Stamp a brown panel with Brilliance ink using any suitable small Ethnic design image.
  • Twisted wire curls around the head and string wound round a brad.
Clown and Leaves


Stamp - Magenta M23388Q








  • Stamp one of the three stamp images onto copper metal sheet and emboss on both sides to get the right effect.
  • Bleach peeloff leaves, remove leaves and mount the metal panel to a card of choice.
Foiled Flower Tiles


Stamp -Rubber Stampede Cosmos Blossom 2877B







  • Stamp the flower six times spaced out onto black card with Versamark and 'Heat and Stick' or 'Stamp and Bond' embossing powder.
  • Just melt with a heat gun and immediately apply powder coated foil - here rainbow but plain available if preferred.
  • Cut the card into squares or use a 3.5cm giant punch.
  • Arrange the squares over a cream panel and attach punched shapes in a decorative way over the panel.
  • Add jewels and a stamped on acetate greeting with two mini brads.
  • Finish card as shown.
TIP: Note six stamped images, keep one for a quick punched card - see Gold Leaf and punched cards

Foiled Mums


Stamp: Any open floral image.







  • Stamp the image onto acetate.
  • Run through a Xyron maching or apply double-sided photomount onto the back.
  • Apply powdered foil to the sticky back.
  • Attach with a choice of panels.
TIP: If using a plain foil sprinkle a little glitter, PearlEx or a few gold leaf flakes before applying the foil.

Ophelia


Stamp -Rubber Poet DB-47-B
Any suitable background stamp







  • Stamp and black emboss the image onto acetate.
  • Colour on the reverse side with gel pens before applying a sticky backing and silver leaf.
  • Stamp and silver emboss a background.
  • Mount the acetate panel as shown or use mounts of your own choice.

Aren't they all just fabulous? Thanks, Freyja!

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