Craft Forum

Nice tip about the butterfly wings, thanks.

Thanks hun

xx

Ok I havent been crafting long and I apologise if these have already been posted but I buy the packs of birthday paper sheets and use as backing paper. YOu can sometimes get big sheets for as little as 45p and you can get some really nice patterns. I find that is the best way to get backing paper for mens cards.

Also I go around the diy stores and take samples of wallpaper as it is free and you get some different patterns. Also ask friends when they redecorate to save you the left over wallpaper and borders. They might even get a matching thank you card for their trouble.

I agree with you Sparkle I am always buying wrapping paper and sneaking wallpaper samples

Forgot to add this yesterday. It is more money saving tips than anything.

I look around carboots and jumble sales and pick up broken jewellery and brooches for as little as and use the beads, pendants and broach fronts as embelishments. You can sometimes find people clearing out their own craft collections also which is handy for a beginner like me.

Dear All,

This is to all of you who very kindly helped me some months ago….!!!! when I was trying to start my own card making corner!!
DONT KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME!!

To: Maggie D, Torpenhow07, Tigger Tastic, Paper Kate, Lacey, Pink Puppy. M10 tmg, Maggie 50, Lollies & Sequin.

After some hard searching and money saving & spending LOL I managed to get my Cuttle bug and learn how to make the best of this wonderful machine. And also I found and bought the craft unit which ilove working in during weekends.

Am doing very nice greeting cards now.. which I just LOVE.

Thanks to all XXXXXXXXXXXX

Will be posting some pics later on.

Carrie xxx
Malta

Some great ideas.  -  here’s a few from me.

Pages from an old Argos catalogue make excellent scrap paper when glueing.
Tape a plastic carrier bag to your work table for all your bits.
Blue tak on the end of a bodkin for picking up and sticking down sequins etc.
When matting and layering, peel back just top and bottom of the strips of D.S.T. and fold back , when you are happy that its straight,  just pull off all the tape !
I have an old tea tray with 6 (clean !) cans stuck on for pencils, pens, rulers, watercolour pencils, rubber, pencil sharpener etc. (a place for everything) - I made this 15 years ago for my daughter’s colouring pens etc. and its still goiing strong.

jean

I use a concertina file which I put all the little off-cuts of coloured paper into.  it is sperated into the different colours (us crafters do not like waste!)  I can then find the colour of paper very quickly that I need when punching out shapes etc.

Yvonne x

Hi and thank you for the welcome to the site.

I like to cut up my various scrap pieces of paper and create a mosaic on the front of my cards.

Thank you! I’ll post some photos soon.

glamorousgreetings - 09 April 2009 04:15 AM

Baby wipes also work great for getting your rubber stamps clean!  Believe it or not, some of the girls gave me some lovely tips on one of the other forums.

Things like, cut out the dangly ribbon bits on clothes and keep them one side to use on cards.
Keep all your wrapping papers from both birthday and Christmas presents as they make fabulous backing papers for cards.
If you receive a card with a picture on that you really like, cut around it carefully and re-use it as a card topper.
Recycle used birthday candles to use on another card.  They look great tied up with a small piece of ribbon.

That’s all I can think of for now, but I’ll certainly be back again when I think of some more!

Thanks for starting this thread LoopyLoo.  It’s always great to read other’s ideas.

Michelle xx

I`ve been using the ribbon for ages even my sisters save them for me.

When doing Decoupage with foam pads.  Put a little silicone glue or use a prit stick glue, rub it over the back of your foam pads before playing your layer
You can them move it if need be before it sticks down :D

Hi Everyone - what a load of great tips! I can only think of one tip no one has mentioned yet. I’ve just posted it in a reply to Gti princess, but now I’ve found this thread, I’ll repeat it here.
If you’re new to stamping, or need a bigger acrylic block than usual, check out your A6 picture frames. If they’re cheap (like mine) the “glass” will probably be acrylic, and works perfectly well as a block. Even if they are glass, I guess you could use them if you taped over the edges first.
Bc

Hello fellow crafters, I have found your tips very useful. Its amazing how many different ideas are out there.
My tip is for people who have brought bunches of the paper flowers (roses) but not got around to use them, if like mine they have faded or look a little worn, brighten them up with pro markers they look like new once painted over. Susan