Blog Candy at Hazel's

The lovely Hazel has some lovely Blog Candy on offer over on her blog pop over & take a peek.

For various reasons she has decided to sell her 13" Cougar Cutting Machine. It's only 9 months old & she's asking a very good price for it so if anyone's interested get in contact with her. You know how much I adore my 18" Cougar - it's an absolutely amazing cutter.

Promarker Storage

I've been looking for the prefect storage for my growing collection of Promarker Pens for a while now. I initially had them in a set of small drawers from Poundland but my collection soon outgrew them and I wanted a more organised way of storing them. A friend showed me this solution for Copics & I decided to adapt it for my Promarkers. This is the result:

Several people have asked me for instructions so here goes.

You will need:

1 - Koi Carp Filter Grid.
       - this comes in 16" x 27" sheets & can be found on Ebay

       - one sheet is enough to make one storage box (2 sheets gives enough for 3 storage
         boxes)
       - You can get it in either square or diamond cut. There's very little difference in how
          many pens you can house. I used the diamond cut.

2 - 9l Really Useful Box - this will hold the Promarkers nicely. If you want to put the lid on 

      to transport your Promarkers buy the 9XL Really Useful Box as this has a taller lid.

3 - Marker Pen 

4 - Snips from the tool box

5 - Stanley Knife

• Line the koi filter grid on top of your RUB & with a marker pen mark where you need to cut.

• Use your snips to cut the grid where you've marked. Remember it's better to cut it slightly too big then trim it down later rather than cut it too small.

• Use your stanley knife to trim it exactly to size. Check it as you go. I cut mine as a snug fit so it holds itself in place in the box without the need for fixings. If yours doesn't fit snuggly you could always use silicone or similar to hold it in place.

• Repeat to make the second layer of the grid making sure the holes in the grid match up to the holes in the first piece so the Promarkers will sit straight.

• Put the first layer of grid into the Really Useful Box & push it down until it's about 1 inch from the bottom. Make sure it's level.

• Add the second layer pushing it in about an inch from the top of the box.

• Add your Promarkers & you're good to go

The exact number of pens you can fit in will depend on where you cut the grid. On the first one I made I left the black edging attached which was nice and easy but I realised it took up an extra row that I could be filling with pens so when I remade it I cut the edging off & was also careful where I made the cuts on the top & bottom too. It's only a small difference but might be important to you. 

With the Black Edging attached                                                    Trimmed on all sides

I've created blank grids for both versions and a layout guide for the version without the black edges. 

You can download them from the links below, print them & colour them in so you have a reference guide.

Promarker Storage Layout

Blank Promarker Storage Layout

Blank Promarker Storage Layout (for grids with the black edging left on)

Digi Galore Challenge - For a Friend

Wow what a brilliant response we had to the first Digi Galore Challenge. The Challenge is now closed but pop back on the 22nd when the winner will be announced. There were some lovely entries but room for many many more. So here's your chance - our new challenge is:

For a Friend

As usual the Challenge will run for 2 weeks so you've plenty of time to join in. Digi's from any company can be used but this challenge our sponsor is Sassy Studio Designs. If you enter the competition you could win some of their digis.

I decided to go for a humorous approach to a card for a male friend. Hope it brings a smile to your face.

The Image is Pirate Penny from Sassy Studio Designs

I coloured the card with my Promarkers. 

Skin: Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush.

Hair: Walnut, Cocoa, Cinnamon

Hat, Trousers & Boots:  Black, Ice Grey 5, Ice Grey 2

Top: Burgundy, Cardinal Red, Lipstick Red

Treasure Chest: Raw Sienna, Cinnamon, Cocoa

I created a background with my Promarkers rather than matting & layering as I normally do. 

The sand is coloured with Tulip Yellow, the sky is made with my Sky Blue Promarker in my blitzer following Hazel's tutorial - see here for my first attempt

We'd love to see your creations. Come along and join us at the Digi Galore Challenge

A Redonkulus Surprise

I couldn't resist making another Redonkulus card - a bit different this time & a bit cheeky.

It comes out of the envelope like this ....

You push it down to open ......

and Ta Daaaah! Surprise!

Tee hee

From the side you can see that the base folds out into a box so the card stands on it's own.

I used the tutorial on Song of my heart stampers to make the self standing pop-up card base but converted the measurements to Cm's so trim a piece of A4 card at 28cm then the fold lines fall at 

2.5,    6.5,    9.5,     14,     18.5,     21.5,    25.5 cm

I scored & folded it using my Hougie board

The Image is Birthday Cake Surprise Girl from Redonkulus Designs

I coloured her & the ribbon with my Promarkers. I created the sentiment on my computer.

Hope she made you smile xxx

Redonkulus Designs Celebration Challenge

I've got two posts to share today as I've been making cards for the Redonkulus Designs 'Celebrate' Challenge.  I've had a few of Sheryl's lovely images & for one reason or another havn't coloured them and made them into cards so now was a really good time to do it.

I was introduced to Redonkulus Designs buy the brilliant Promarker Colouring video tutorials by Kimberley on Youtube. They're well worth a look - my colouring has come on leaps & bounds since watching them. She has over 20 now so loads of inspiration.

Anyway onto my cards. I'm separating them into two posts as you get three chances to enter the challenge but I've had problems with Mr Linky trying to do that in one post before - so you'll have to put up with two from me today.

I love how colouring in different colourways can make the same image 'Seduction Suzie'  look totally different. 

The image is Seduction Suzie from Redounkulus Designs

She's coloured with my trusty Promarkers:

Skin: Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush

Hair: Walnut, Cocoa, Cinnamon

Dress & Present: Antique Pink, Rose Pink

The sentiment is from a stamp set I have - designer unknown

The backing paper is from the Do Crafts 'Tulip & Friends' DVD ROM

Here's Seduction Suzie in a different disguise. This time I tried her in Kimberley's favourite colour combination of Forest Green, Bright Green & Lime Green. I normally use darker greens so it was nice to try something different

Image - Seduction Suzie from Redonkulus Designs 

Coloured with Promakers:

Skin: Coral, Bright Green, Lime Green

Hair: Buttercup, Pastel Yellow, Mustard, Raw Sienna

Dress & Present: Forest Green, Bright Green, Lime Green

Sentiment is an acrylic stamp from a set I have - designer unknown

Backing paper from the Tulip & Friends DVD ROM from Do Crafts

Redonkulus Designs Celebration Challenge card 2

Here's my second card to enter into the Redonkulus Designs 'Celebration' Challenge.  I've used the gorgeous Wedding Bliss digi stamp from Redonkulus Designs. I adore this image - it's so pretty & I hope I've done it justice.

The background was cut on my Cougar Cutting Machine from Thyme Graphics. The amazingly talented Bird of Birds Cards shared this free cutting file which is so beautiful. She shares some amazing Digi stamps & cutting files and all for free!

The White card was cut on my machine & then I put the fuchsia card behind it to show the contrast. I'm not sure the colour combination was quite right but I'll work on it.

Image - Wedding Bliss from Redonkulus Designs

Coloured with my Promakers:

Skin: Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush

Hair: Buttercup, Pastel Yellow, Mustard, Raw Sienna

Dress - Rose pink on the embroidery, Blossom as the shading

Flowers - Rose pink & Maroon

Rose Cutting File from Birds Cards

Sentiment from an acrylic set - designer unknown

My Cougar also comes in handy for those unexpected moments like the panic of trying to find a 'Grease' costume to wear to the Tickled Pink Fundraiser at work. Total panic for a moment as I knew I had nothing remotely right, but then inspiration struck!

A pink shirt (reduced in Sainsburys) and a roll of Sparkly Holographic Pink Fablon which I had in the cupboard, along with my trusty Cougar & here was the result. 

The Fablon is normal sticky backed plastic so not designed for fabric but it worked like a treat. It stayed on for the whole day & peeled off nicely leaving no residue in the evening. Definitely a technique I'll use again.

Cougar Fabric Blade Challenge

Something a bit different today. As you know I've got my amazing Cougar Electronic Cutter from Thyme Graphics that I absolutely adore.  Sheri of Lets' Scrap Inc - the USA distributor of the Cougar & now the upgraded Phoenix Silver Bullet has a Blog hop at the moment challenging us to use the 30degree fabric blade.

Now I've had a 30 degree blade for a while but not quite plucked up the courage to use it. Seeing all the amazing demonstrations on the blog hop inspired me and I decided it wasn;t too scary & to give it a go.

 I had presumed that the fabric blade cut fabric (logical assumption right?) but it turns out it cuts much much more than that. Have a look through the blog hop & you'll find all sorts of amazing ideas. The incredible Penny Duncan has a brilliant demonstration video on her blog showing her Silver Bullet cutting flattened coffee filters! What a brilliant idea!

A quick trip to Asda later & I had a pack of Coffee filters. I followed her instructions & cut along the sealed edge, stuck it to my mat and hey presto off it went. It cut beautifully - I'll definitely be using these again! I used the templates she shared for her Grungy Roses & her Poinsettia.

I didn't have the spray inks she has so improvised. I inked the roses with a Memento Dewdrop ink pad & coloured the Poinsettia with my trusty Promarkers. Both methods worked really well. The paper dried quickly so I could get to work. I followed her instructions & assembled them (yes Shoshi I used Lucy's Glue - AKA Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive which has got to be the best glue on the planet!) I made one rose with the stem and one without.

What do you think? I know I'll definitely be making more things with coffee filters in the future.

Pop along to start the blog hop here http://pennyduncancreations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/thats-scrap-fabric-blade-blog-hop.html

x

Aly's Crafty Challenges - Back to School

I hope you enjoyed the last post & have popped over to the Digi Galore blog to join in. I've now got news of another new set of crafty challenges over at Aly's Crafty Challenges.

It's a Facebook group but anyone with a Facebook account is welcome so come across and join us.

The theme for this months challenge is 'Back to School' (slight sense of de ja vu for me). I wanted to make something different for this challenge so decided to alter a notebook.

I bought the notebook from Asda & decorated the cover using:

The Digi  'Librarian' from Saturated Canary http://saturated-canary.myshopify.com/products/
As always I coloured her using my promarkers to colour her in.

Digi Paper is from the set 'It's Elemantary' from http://www.jessicasprague.com/

The Journalling Spots are a free download from http://misstiina.com/blog/ which I resized to fit the front of the notebook.

I added a red ribbon & red pen to the side of the notebook so now it's all ready for school :D



Come along and join in the challenge - it runs for a month and anything goes - traditional or digi, expert or absolute beginner - we'd love to see you all. There's a nice prize too.

Hope to see you there x

Digi Galore Challenge Blog!

Well today is the exciting day! The first challenge on the Digi Galore Challenge Blog is now live! Come across & join us. I've been a member of the Digi Galore Facebook Group for about 6 months now and have found it to be an amazing source of inspiration. Everyone is really helpful & there are some great tutorials on there. My colouring and card making has come on leaps & bounds since joining there.

We now have a challenge blog & I'm really honoured to be on the Design Team. Are you ready for the first challenge?????

The Theme is 'Back to School'  and here's the card I created for it:

What do you think? It's a bit bright and bold but I thought it worked for the back to school theme. 

The image is Travelling Colours from Saturated Canary. I love the images that Krista designs & she's such a lovely lady.

I've coloured it using my Promarkers (if I've not told you before I LOVE these pens) I even used them to create the red & blue mats so they coordinate in precisely.

The Digi paper is from Sassy Designs - I love digi papers as they take up no storage room & you can resize them to fit. Sassy Designs has a huge range of paper packs at very good prices I thought this one with the apples on worked for the back to school theme.

I hope you like it, I'd love you to leave a comment so I know what you think.

If you've not tried Digi images before don't be scared - you're in for a treat.

I'm a total fan for several reasons:

• They're easy to use - you download them from the internet, put them in Microsoft Word or any other publishing software & you're ready to print them. 
• You can resize them to suit the project you're working on.
• You can flip them to create a mirror image.
• You print them off your normal inkjet printer.
• If you use a nice smooth card you can colour them with the lovely promarkers. 
• They're affordable - most digis are under £3 each & there are many many free ones available. freedigitalstamps.blogspot.co.uk/ has a daily list of free digi stamps available - it's a great way to try to see if you like them.

Really looking forward to seeing your entries. There's a $10 voucher for Make it Crafty for the winner of this month's challenge.

Come back on Monday for details of a different challenge group .............