Cuttlebug and Stencil Tutorial

These tutorials are a product of extensive reading, researching and lots of time spent on making them. Please do not copy, or share on your page (for promoting your items in your shop) unless I give you permission to do so. Please ask nicely....I won't say no...but you need to ask.... You can link it on your blogs if you have used these tutorials...please share the link with me when you do use these tutorials...I would love to stop by and see what you have done!

I already have this post up at Pie Lane blog....but just posting it here for those who drop in here...Do drop in at the Pie Lane blog for some more inspiration!!

ETA- 

For Big shot users - the stack would be follows (This is only my research, someone will have to do it and tell me how well it works)
From bottom up
Tab 1 of the multipurpose platform
 Cutting Pad
 Metal Stencil
CS
Tan embossing mat/Silicone sheet
Impressions Pad ( link here)

Picture Heavy Post!! 

I have been struggling with  how to use the stencils...I didn't get a proper embossing for a long time...I could use it with with mists, I could get it to work with inks but the traditional embossing...zilch!!! So while stumbling around I finally found how I could use it..but before I tell you that...for those who want to try traditional method of embossing, here is a great tutorial on how to use your stencils with a light box (or use a glass table and put a lamp underneath your table)

Here's Sri showing you how to use a glass table and a lamp under it to use your stencils..(zoom in and you can see some new stencils!!)

But what I did was for gadget freaks like me!!! I used my Cuttlebug!! YES!! The cuttlebug works great with your Pie lane stencils!!

I will show you the cuttlebug stack later on, but first this is how the embossing looks!! That left me speechless!!!!

What can you do once you emboss it?  Place the stencil back on the embossed side...tape it down...and use a sponge and your inks to sponge it over....

The embossed part fits right in the grooves and takes inks very well....

That is Broken China distress ink....is that fabulous or what!!
You can also just rub a small ink pad right over the embossed area without the stencils.. This was with Fabriano Brustro CS...

I also tried with a bit of scrap of pattern paper!!

The paper is on the stencil...instead of removing the paper from the stencil, I just turned it over and inked it up!!

You can use either side for your projects!
I also tried with a scrap  piece of parchment paper (I'm still researching on parchment vs vellum)

So now you've seen what you can do with your Pie lane stencils...and the cuttlebug!!! Here is how to do it!

From the bottom, you use your
A plate
B plate
Stencil
paper (same size as the stencil - try not to use bigger)
Tan embossing mat (this is the secret to that fabulous embossing...you can use a rubber mat not a mouse pad , silicone baking  mat but the thickness has to be around 1.25-1.5mm)
B plate
and CS shims (very necessary)

The shims and the tan embossing mat (from Spellbinders.com) are the most important part of the embossing stack. You can vary the CS shims depending on your CS...for Fabriano I needed 3...but when I used the same 3 shims for the Pattern paper and parchment, the embossing tore the papers. Its a bit of trial and error on your part, but once you get hang of it....the whole world is open for you!! try whatever you can!! and Share with us!

When I used 3 shims, it  tore the paper, 2 would have been sufficient for thinner papers. I use the backing of the cuttlebug dies as shims...you can use thick chart paper, cereal box sheets, etc...one word of warning..if it feels tight when rolling throught the cuttlebug...it is tight...reduce the shim and try again. This is what I've discovered...if you find something new...do share in!

So hope I've inspired you to look at your stencils in a new way today....Do post any questions you have and I will post the answers here itself...so everyone can benefit.....

And coming soon...ways to use glitter with your stencil..

Yes!! I love glitter!!
Happy Crafting!!

Wedding Inspiration!

Hey there...did you guys check out the Scrappy Swap at Saumya's blog? I'm surely in...someone's trash is surely my treasure!! :)
Maybe we shall have a challenge post the swap...more when we reach that point!!

For now, I've got a fabulous card for you up on Pie Lane ... and small tip to using your products better!!

Hop on over to the Pie Lane blog, be inspired and come back with your own challenge cards..we love seeing your creativity out there!!

See you over at the Pie Lane blog!

You make me Smile...

Thank you everyone for you warm support and unquestioning understanding of my previous post. Most of you on Facebook have already got previews of this card...but I had to post it here!!
First of all wishing you all a very Happy Valentine's day!! hope this day brings love, happiness and much more, all year through!!
Now for my card...
This card is for Kavitha's Challenge - Blooming Gorgeousness where I'm the Guest Designer for winning her 1st challenge...

 I decided to use my Papertrey ink Sunflower set and turn it into Dahlia/Gerbera daisy's. I just stamped the flowers using Rose bud memento ink and worn lipstick distress inks...
The center is stamped with Dandelion ink and sentiment is from Signature greetings, again a PTI favorite set and embossed in white.

I do doubt that you can see the glitter on the yellow centers of the flowers...I did use my new Rock candy distress stickles!  Butterflies...I am gonna show you how to use your Pie lane stickers better!!!

All of these flowers and leaves have dimension...I have used an embossing stylus on the reverse of each flower to give each petal definition...its hard to see in the photo, but every flower is curved!!

Lots of dimension to the butterfly and the flowers!! Thanks Kavitha for such a fabulous theme!! I had fun making it!!

p.s. did you see my new digi siggy? I loved making them and am willing to make custom digi signs/watermarks for you if you are interested. Email me for price and samples.

Pixie Dust Tutorial

These tutorials are a product of extensive reading, researching and lots of time spent on making them. Please do not copy, or share on your page (for promoting your items in your shop) unless I give you permission to do so. Please ask nicely....I won't say no...but you need to ask.... You can link it on your blogs if you have used these tutorials...please share the link with me when you do use these tutorials...I would love to stop by and see what you have done! 

I'm just re-posting the pixie dust tutorial from the Pie lane blog...Just for those who missed it there!!
 
Its going to be loads of photos...I could have done a video..but my camera decide it didn't want to film in the dark and cloudy and cold day today...so pictures it is for you!!

 My tools of trade....Double sided tape in different sizes....over here I have 1/4th inch, 1/2 inch, one inch and two inch tapes...tweezers, glitter, punches, and most important - baby wipes and a paint brush..and a large rough paper to collect glitter...I have a printer paper with me .

 Here I have the 2 inch double sided tape stuck to the paper...I usually scribble with a pen on the tape so that I know which side to stick back...

Peel off the backing...and save it...That is the most important sheet in this technique.
I tend to save scraps from other projects too. And keep your CS far away from glitter as possible while you're doing the next step.

I have punched out stars of different sizes from the backing paper..You can re-use them later on too...

Use your tweezers and start attaching them back on the sheet with the adhesive (double sided tape) Try very hard not to touch the sheet with your fingers..else the stickiness of the the tape will go away...

a picture of the whole sheet once covered in star peel offs!! Use your tweezer to stick them down properly.

Start pouring your base color glitter. This was my first mistake of the day....Never use light color glitter first...But as I learn .. you will learn....so continuing on..cover the whole sheet with transparent glitter...Wherever the star peel outs are there, the glitter will not adhere....

The most important part...Shake off the excess glitter and use your finger (sorry about that chipped nail..) to rub the glitter into the adhesive backed cardstock. Not too vigorously  but gently....rub all over the sheet and if necessary use a paint brush to brush off the excess.This rubbing motion sets the glitter in...and is called Burnishing.

 Here, I've removed a couple of the small star off...and poured glitter over only those areas...This is aqua color..again..pour, shake off the excess and rub over those area..

Work with one color at a time..I love how the blue-green glitter looks like a comet...its actually not..I'm just pouring it over the last of my stars...burnish and voila...the arrows show where the sticker has been peeled off and the adhesive of the tape is showing....

Your finished piece. Now you can see why it was a mistake to use the lightest color first? The darker colors have gone into the white and messed it up....but still its good!!! now this piece is ready to be used on a card...

And if you thought, that was all that I had to share..you're wrong!!! I've got some more!!

So here I start with a random scrap of CS that I had lying around...

I used my cutting mat as a guide and drew diagonal lines on it... (Mishtake number 2 of the day) use a very light hand while drawing these!!!

 Using those lines as a reference stick down 1/4th inch double sided take on teh whole sheet...know where I'm going with this? you'll see....

 Start adding green glitter on every 3rd line...work with one line at a time...use a paint brush to clean off in between and your wet wipes..

Then bring in color number 2..red..again every 3rd line with red...remove the backing, pour glitter, shake off the excess, use your fingers and burnish it and clean it with a brush...

 

Added the final and the 3rd color..transparent white...now see my mishtake? the pencil lines are visible through the white glitter...Your piece is ready to be used in a card....

And btw I'm still not done yet!!! Do you hate me by now?  Tee-heehee!! Promise this is the last!!!

 This is what happens when you keep the paper with the adhesive near glitter...its Contaminated!! I've just cut a butterfly out of the backing paper of the double sided tape....
ETA - I think I skipped a few steps over here...the piece on the right is a piece of 2x3 inch CS covered with the 2 inch double sided tape..and the backing has been peeled off...that's why you see the red glitter stuck to it.. The butterfly is cut out of the backing paper that I peeled off. 

Attach the butterfly to the card base, pour the color you want...burnish it very well and then with tweezers remove the butterfly backing...and this is what you get after removing the backing... the part that is white is still sticky, as there is the double sided tape under the blue glitter.. 
you can add transparent glitter at this point...but I was going for extreme contrast...so ..

Yeah, BLACK!!! Isn't that gorgeous...just add a magnet tape and you've got yourself a fridge magnet....

Here's after cutting the shape...and its ready to go on my fridge.

Hope you learnt something and will surely give this a try...simple tools...but dazzling results!! 

Any queries....shoot an email at Tejal2210 (AT) gmail (DOT) com.

Pixie Dust Tutorial

I'm sure most of you have been to the Pie lane blog and have been momentarily stunned by the bling...but I'm happy to note that most of you have survived. And those who get affected and start glittering up their husbands, kids and cats and dogs...I'm not to blame! :)
If you haven't been there, why are you still reading this? Just hop on over and check out 3 projects I have in store for you....Here's what I'm showing...

 

A galaxy of glittered stars (Thanks for the descriptive word Kalindi!)

A rainbow of Christmas colored stripes

A super blingy butterfly fridge magnet! 

Hop on over to the blog now...

Glitter Galore!!

My new post is up at Pie lane blog....just before you hop over there...please put your glares on!! Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect over there!!!

Know what I mean now? Bling Bling and off you go to check it out!!! Do leave some love on the post!!!

Oct ATC Swap

We had our  ATC swaphosted by Rachna. It was exciting to see so many participate...

I love ATC's coz they offer a tiny canvas on which to portray your imagination..

For those who don't know what an ATC is...here's my short intro..They're a 2.5x3.5 piece of paper, called ARTIST TRADING CARDS that you embellish, decorate and sign on the reverse ( please don't ever use the word backside..it does not exist in the dictionary...I shudder when I read the word backside in newspapers and magazines)
Back to ATC, you sign on the reverse so that your recipient knows who sent it. ATC's are always traded as the name suggests. They are not mini cards. They're like your playing cards or baseball trading cards. Here are a few examples of fabulous ATC's on flickr.
Here and here ( you can browse more by changing the number of page)
These are primarily stamping ATC's. They can also be made with mixed media, collage, paints..any medium!

 So having said that, let me share the ones that I received....

Pics from Kalindi's blog

Pic from Kalindi's blog

These two fabulous cards came from Kalindi....I love the neatness with which she packed the cards..and the tiny bling stones and the scoring!! Way to use your new tools girl...simply fabulous!!! Thank you so much for this gorgeous cards!!

This gorgeous fall creation comes from Vintage queen...Mallika. Thank you sweets for the fabulous burst of color!!!
Coming up are ATC's that I made

I had a few extra poinsettia's printed while I was making cards for Pie lane...and took one..cut it into two and colored glittered, and glossed (the 2nd  card has gloss, the first only glitter) The main card front is distressed (what's new?) with shabby shutters, peeled paint and forest moss. stamps are from Inque Botique..the fern and the sentiment both. Glitter balls and glitter dust from Pie Lane! And a touch of hobby ideas glitter along the border to look like tinsel... ( you can see it better in the first card) 

And on a reprimanding note...I haven't got many comments on my Pie lane card...didn't ya'll visit the blog? or didn't like my card? I know its shameless to ask for comments, but that's how I improve..that's how I know what I did was good or need to improve basis....so please hop on over to Pie Lane blog and let me know if the card is way too simple? 

Christmas has arrived

I have loved Christmas every since I was in school...and for your dose of Christmas fever..hop on to the Pie lane blog and check out what I have in store for you today!!

I have loved making this card and I hope you love it too

Blingy Poinsettia

Just sharing another Card made with Pie Lane products...my favorite..glitter strips and the Pixie dust glitter and glitter balls...

Its essentially the same card I made for Crafty JC's challenge..but this one is on a larger scale..A5 size card..
I've just added a strip of Red CS along with some scalloped borders and a sentiment printed off. (I should have printed it on the same CS..the white and cream are glaringly odd)

There isn't much to explain...drop in a comment if you have any more questions...

Happy Diwali everyone!

Blinging up Diwali

One week before Diwali...most of you must be in a cleaning, cooking frenzy...so will I...hopefully!! I'm not too keen on the cleaning or cooking part..especially if I have to do it without any help...domestic or otherwise!!

But if I had to bling up...that I can do...I've got a ton of lights up...and am blinging everything I can!!

Just a teaser of what else I've blinged up....drop by the Pie Lane Blog to see what I have in store for you this Sunday!!

Don't forget to leave your comment/any questions that you might have....
Have a great Sunday!!!

Crafty JC Challenge- Simplicity!

When I saw the theme for this month's challenge at Crafty JC, I was so happy! It was something pretty close to my heart...Simplicity.
Jaya and I both are ardent fans of Susan Rahila ... and both of us have had our styles influence a lot from her...With Susan providing an inspiration on day one I was keen to take part....and out of the blue Jaya called me and asked if I would provide an inspiration for the Challenge...I knew I couldn't say no.
I set aside all my other commitments and jumped to create not one, but two cards....Well, when the brain works, its works!!!

This image is by Jane Beljo. I'd won it a long time back and till today..I've never used it... But as I said, when the brain works....I wanted to make it snazzy as well as CAS...so picked all the glitter elements that I own...Glitter strips, Glitter balls and pixie dust glitter in gold...All Pie Lane products. The flower is popped up on dimensionals.
The sentiment is a Rub-on..a Rak saved up for 3 yrs!!The image was colored with Bic markers in pale lavender and red.
To keep the pixie dust glitter from smearing everywhere...I spray it with a fixative. and then no more glitter dust in odd places!! (The fixative is the Arfina Artist's Fixative for setting Charcoal, pencil sketches)

I wanted to show that CAS doesn't have to be one layered....It can be multi-layered and yet retain that CAS element.
I've matted the main panel on Black CS and popped it on the card with foam tape. For this, I wanted the glitter to be subtle, so use a red line of pixie dust glitter...random sprinkling of glitter balls, and a frame around the main image..with a Sakura 0.25 mm pen.. Sentiment is from Flower Fusion#1 from PTI.

 

So there you have it...my two inspirations for you for Crafty JC's Simplicity challenge. I hope you will give it a try....Thank you Jaya for asking, I'm truly honored!! Big big hugs!! (Babes, Aim for the 20th Nov please)

And for a sweet sweet beginning on this auspicious day, I would love to direct you to the newly created
Pie Lane Blog...and the new Design Team that will be working for them. And yours truly...i.e. me...is one of the DT members...The blog is in its initial stages...We'll get it running in a few days...but today was the best day to announce it....Wishing all of you a very Happy Dusshera and happy beginnings to all...