Card making tips!

girlyhappyface

Hi,

As a new-ish crafter (card making specifically), I would love to learn from all you experienced card makers. I'm sure there are loads of tricks and tips that people learn along the way, and I would really appreciate learning from you all. Even if you bought some tool or equiptment that you couldn't live without, or how you store your supplies.

I'll start with my little find at the weekend:

I went into Hickey's Fabric Store in Dublin to buy some ribbons. I found a sort of edging material (I'm SO bad with names of things) that was made up of loads of embroidered multi- coloured flowers sewn together in one row. Each flower was about the size of a €2 coin, and for €5.75 a metre, I got 36 flowers (in one metre). If you were to buy these separately, they would have cost a fortune in an Arts and Crafts shop. They also have other sorts of flowers (individual lillies/ sunflowers/ roses on green, covered wires) for less than €2 a pack. There were about 6 or 8 in each pack. I'm so impressed and will definitly be going back for more

So what are your little tips or hints to your fellow crafters?

TreasureBin

girlyhappyface wrote: »

Hi,

As a new-ish crafter (card making specifically), I would love to learn from all you experienced card makers. I'm sure there are loads of tricks and tips that people learn along the way, and I would really appreciate learning from you all. Even if you bought some tool or equiptment that you couldn't live without, or how you store your supplies.

I'll start with my little find at the weekend:

I went into Hickey's Fabric Store in Dublin to buy some ribbons. I found a sort of edging material (I'm SO bad with names of things) that was made up of loads of embroidered multi- coloured flowers sewn together in one row. Each flower was about the size of a €2 coin, and for €5.75 a metre, I got 36 flowers (in one metre). If you were to buy these separately, they would have cost a fortune in an Arts and Crafts shop. They also have other sorts of flowers (individual lillies/ sunflowers/ roses on green, covered wires) for less than €2 a pack. There were about 6 or 8 in each pack. I'm so impressed and will definitly be going back for more

So what are your little tips or hints to your fellow crafters?

If you're looking for storage tips, a good way to store fiddly bits (e.g. little flowers and stuff) is in clear drawers - you can often get sets of 3 or 4 little drawers in Euro 2.
Peel Offs can be stored in polypockets in ring-binders

ceecards

I have been a card maker for 15 years the best equipment i have is
1 a swan scalpel
2 a good quality scoring board
3 good double sided tape ( lift it slightly on oposite corners this will allow you to stick whatever you are using down straight then hold in place and remove backing tape)

when doing 3d decoupage colour the edges of the cut outs with felt tip markers matching the picture
this is time consuming but will make them very professional

use silicone or pinflair glue it will give you time to line up your images before they set very forgiving

hope these are of some use to you any question please ask I love to help new crafters
Colleen

girlyhappyface

Thanks for the advice, ladies.

Ceecee, one thing I'm not good at is the terminology for things. What is decoupage? Is that the pieces of card in shapes/ designs that you stick onto your actual card? Sorry- I know I sound about 12!!! Where did you get your tools? I want to get a guilletine but don't want to go mad with cost.
Also, what do you use for writing messages on cards, either in the card or on the front? I've seen some lovely cards with writing on the front and am always curious do people use stamps or is it just practice and their own handwriting.. I have just been using messages on card bought from craft shops. I tried to use a printer but it looks cheap.

Thanks in advance for the response! And if you could, I would love if you could post a link up to your cards.

TreasureBin

Decoupage literally means 'cut out' and 3D decoupage is copies/parts of the same picture layered on top of each other to make the design look three-dimensional. You can get the pictures printed the way you cut them, with a gap around the design. That usually leaves the edges of your design white so Ceecard's tip about colouring the edges is a good one.

Guillotines can cost from 10 Euro upwards and you can even get them in Aldi/Lidl but they don't last that long so it's best to spend around 20-30 Euro and get something that will cut at least A4 size, and will last you for years. I discovered the Crafter's Companion one just this year and it's my new favourite - it has 4 types of blade (cutting straight or wavy, scoring (to fold your card) or perforating). It even has a corner rounder included.

The writing on cards can be done on the computer, or using rubber stamps or stickers. The last 2 techniques can give a slightly raised texture and look metallic/glittery.

Have a think about the kind of cards you want to make and just get the essentials for that. Then you can add on tools and accessories as you expand your range.

looksee

A gillotine should not be at the top of your want list. If you have a scalpel with plenty of blades (change them, don't expect them to go on for ever), a metal ruler and a cutting mat you can do all the cutting you need until you work out whether you need a gillotine.

A reasonable sized cutting mat (A3 or bigger) will be absolutely invaluable - I have had the same one for about 8 years, it has been well used. Don't cut on a cardboard base as the blade will slip into old cuts and go off in wrong directions.

You also need a clear plastic ruler (do NOT use with the scalpel) and a well sharpened HB pencil which you use lightly for marking out. Also a soft eraser, get a good one not those little coloured ones.