Inspiration:: No.2

Owls are everywhere, aren't they?

K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.6

Decoupage isn't just for girls! This card was also made using one of these great value 99p sheets. I've used a larger card blank (A5) and some more masculine backing papers. I've even restrained myself from using glitter this time - instead, I've inked the edges of my paper with my favourite Versamark in Jumbo Java. This baby is my go-to colour whenever I want a dark edging that isn't too heavy, but gives definition.

K x

Inspiration:: No. 1

What inspires you?

I spent the last weekend in May discovering that Mindy and I are both museum junkies....we spent many happy hours exploring the delights of Oxford, and the Ashmolean was a big highlight for me. Everything was beautifully displayed (and well lit - take note, Pitt Rivers museum) and I was allowed to take photos to my heart's content. I will definitely be taking inspiration from these in the weeks to come.

K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.5

Die-cut decoupage is one of the easiest ways to create a stunning card in minutes. These sheets are just 99p and each one creates two toppers - great value. Here I have backed it with plain card and added a peel-off sentiment to finish it off. Perfect!

K x

Recording my life, one scrapbook page at a time

Last year was somewhat 'scrapbook interruptus' for various reasons, mostly health-related. Which means that over the last few months I have had plenty of photos to work on, and it's been lovely to re-live some fantastic moments from 2009. It was a busy, fun-filled year and I have the photos to prove it.

Further proof, if any were needed, of my glitter obsession:



K x

Quick and easy cards:: No.4

Another quick card...this one I have left blank, just waiting for a sentiment to be added to the middle. Sometimes I make a load of cards that all say 'happy birthday' and then need something for another occasion - so I like to have a few cards like this sitting in my stash that can be adapted to suit.

Use a simple patterned background and then punch your butterfly out of contrasting papers. I've used some stickles glue to highlight the edges. I know, I love my glitter!

K x

I don't think he understands me

Morpheus is my cat. I love him to bits, but I don't think he really 'gets' scrapbooking - other than as an endless source of bits of paper and ribbon to play with.

Quick and easy cards:: No.3

These embroidery stickers are technically for using with thread to create embroidered patterns on paper...instead, here I have used them to create some quick and beautiful embellishments for a simple card. Stick them on some fairly robust patterned paper, and then use something round (I use the blunt side of a pair of scissors) to curve the paper for a 3d effect. Position on a coloured background, and add some swirls with Stickles glitter glue. Easy!

K x

Sparkly scrapbook paper

Would you believe that one sheet of double-sided scrapbook paper was enough to do 2 pages, a card and a tag?

I kid you not. So I had fun experimenting with some different styles.

These photos were taken exactly a year ago....life has changed so much since then. I have to say, though - short hair is so much easier to look after ;)

This flower is part of the paper - just use a craft knife to cut around the petals and bend them slightly before you stick it to the page.

I didn't even need to add any extra sparkle to this one - all glitter is included!

K x

Need some inspiration with your kit?

If you have one of these kits from Hunkydory, you might be looking for inspiration...when I was putting together some samples for the shop, I noticed that there weren't a lot of images in the card kit itself. So, to help you - I've put together an idea sheet with some images of the cards I made. I hope it helps!



K x

Tip of the week

If you are embossing a straight line against a ruler it’s very easy using a Pergamano shader tool or PCA shader (holding it vertical), if you use a ball tool it can slip underneath the ruler if you are not careful.

Do you have any Crafting tips???

Send them in to us so we can share them we everyone, for every tip that we use, we will send you discount voucher for your next order when you shop with us (online or instore).

crafts@wightcat.com

It's all hunkydory

These new card making kits from Hunkydory are fabulous. I'll admit that they're not my usual style, so when Mum asked me to have a go at making some samples I was dubious to say the least. But, I'll try anything once - so I took the kit home, and am I ever glad I did!

The kit comes with enough cardstock to make at least 8 cards, including 4 A5 size. By adding extra card blanks from my own stash I was able to make more than double that, and I even added some tags using the leftovers. The quality is amazing - the cardstock is thick and glossy, the die cuts are beautiful and the gold finish makes them look truly luxe. These are quality cards and even better - they are super-quick to put together. You'd never guess that I made most of my cards in one evening, would you?

And some close-ups of the details. I couldn't resist adding even more glitz with some Stickles glitter glue.

The die cuts include single butterflies, and two sets of pyramid decoupage:

And you get a whole sheet of matching sentiments to add a message to your card:

Please excuse the mess on my desk - I think I have some clearing up to do now!

K x

Squares, repeated

I do scrapbook as well, you know!

Repeating a simple shape for a patterned effect works just as well on a larger scale as well as on cards. For this scrapbook page, I simply used a variety of co-ordinating scraps and arranged them in a grid pattern. I stamped on some of the squares to add a bit of variety. As you can see, the photo didn't quite fit in the grid so I added some brads down one side to balance everything out. The scalloped trim on top and bottom ties it all together.

I've just ordered a big batch of photos - there is so much of last year still missing from my scrapbooks. I'll have plenty more to share with you soon!

P.S. I use www.snapfish.co.uk for my prints - email me on katebucci@wightcat.com if you would like a referral :)

Quick and easy cards :: No. 2

Any punched shape, repeated in co-ordinating colours, is an easy way to create a stylish card. I particularly love this scalloped square, but any similar shape would do. A striking ribbon finishes it off nicely.

Do you know the simplest way to get your ribbon to look good? Instead of tying two ends of ribbon together to make a bow, lay one long piece of ribbon flat, take a shorter piece and tie around it. Much easier!

Do you believe in fairies?

This book is available to pre-order now, and will be with us (and you) in May. There are some beautiful designs in there and we are dying to get our hands on it!

New Book - Parchment Craft, A Classic Collection

This new Parchment Crafts book will be published later this month and is now available for pre-order on our website www.wightcat.com

This 92 page book is ideal both for beginners and experts in the craft.
It contains parchment craft techniques, step-by-step instructions for embossing, lace making, 3D figures & painting in various mediums

Each project is accompanied by work descriptions, a large colour photo of the completed work, thumbnails enlarging various sections of every project & patterns printed in full size for easy replication

Clear and concise instructions help to ensure that even newcomers to this fascinationg craft can follow with ease. There are plenty of tips from the designers, a tools/materials conversion table & tricks on how to achieve perfect lace

Designers- Dorothy Holness, Julie Roces, Tatsue Shibata, Loes Laanen, Ria van der Ploeg, Akiko Shida, Robyn Cockburn, Carla Prediger Trasel, Trisha Liu, Kannikar Sukseree, Mary G Kerr, Ria Van Avondt and Patricia Murphy

A total of 32 patterns and a multitude of interpretations guarantees months of endless parching

Available from Pre-Order Now at Wightcat Crafts www.wightcat.com

A parchment peek...

Hilary has been hard at work on the sample card for this week's parchment workshop.

I wish I had her patience!

A quick and easy card

Ever need a card in a hurry? I have been making a stash of quick and easy cards that I thought I'd share with you. Simple designs are the best!

For this one, all you need is some paper scraps. Cut into strips that are not quite as wide as your card blank, and around 1.5 inches high. The beauty of this card is that it doesn't matter if they are not even or exact.

Ink the edges of each strip. I find this makes such a difference and really makes your card look great. These chalk inks are great for this as the small pads are easy to handle and they dry quickly.

Arrange the strips on the card blank, deliberately making them slightly askew. This saves you having to line them up evenly. Use a strong pattern in the middle of the card, and choose two or three other papers to repeat, bringing the design together.

Layer some paper flowers together and secure them with a brad. Two or three flowers together gives a fuller effect. Secure these to the card. If you don't want to poke a hole in the card to put the brad through, just use a glue dot or some double sided tape instead.

Create your greeting. I like to use my own handwriting on a strip of co-ordinating cardstock. If you don't like your handwriting, you could use a stamp or a peel-off instead. Ink the edges of the cardstock strip and adhere to the card, tucking it behind the flowers. Of course, you could always leave the greeting blank and just fill it in when you're ready to use the card.

And there you have it! A quick card to use up your scraps.

It's more fun on the move

Isn't new technology great? I can sit here and type on Mum's shiny new blackberry. So much quicker than using the PC.
Which is a good job really, as we are being kept busy with some exciting new deliveries!

Spring = crafty goodness

It's been a long time coming but Spring is finally here! After what seems like weeks of hibernation the sunshine has restored my creative mojo. Of course, some new products always help and I've been trying out the latest products from Flowersoft.



The new Ultrafine is far more subtle than the original Flowersoft, and is great for doing cute outlines on cuddly bears, or for adding little details to the new recipe cards. It comes in some delicious colours and I think it would be great for adding texture to other projects as well. In the original Flowersoft is the new autumn range, which is a beautiful mixed orange and works with the new 'Autumn' and 'Oriental' cards.

I've been really impressed with these new products and love the results!