Paper piecing with "Nora with Ducks"

Hi everyone, it is Kylie here. With the Paper Piecing challenge starting today at Whiff of Joy challenges I thought I would do an easy tutorial to show how I do my paper piecing.  I like to colour my images with Copic markers so I use these to shade sections of the paper pieced areas.

I usually stamp my image using Memento ink onto my colouring cardstock first and then basically arrange my card so my patterned papers are cut to the correct sizes for the layout.

Next I choose which areas of the stamped image I want to paper pieceand which patterned papers from the card would look nice.  For this card, I've chosen to paper piece the umbrella and boots with the small dotted paper as I felt the bolder, multicoloured paper would be over powering. I stamp my image onto the patterned paper with my Memento ink.

I then colour the parts of the main image with my copics as normal, leaving the areas that I will paper piece uncoloured.

To create shading on the paper pieced areas, I use my Warm Grey copics - W3, W1 and W0. Depending on the colour paper you are using, you might like to choose your cool, neutral or toner greys.

For the umbrella, I start using W3 for the areas that I think will be the darkest.

I then blend that out with W1

Followed by W0 to blend a bit more. I have left quite a large part of the umbrella uncoloured so the true colours of the patterned paper show through.

Next, are Nora's boots. I repeat the process, beginning with W3

Then some W1

And lastly W0

Next, we carefully trim around the areas that we are going to use for our image.

And apply some adhesive. I like to use a glue stick for this as it is easier to get a nice coverage right to the edges. You don't want any little corners not adhering well and sticking up. Then place the patterned pieces over the white area on the coloured image.

And this is the finished result! Paper piecing is a nice fast way to add some interest to your card and to co-ordinate areas in your image with your patterned papers.

I can't wait to see all of the entries over at Whiff of Joy Challenges this fortnight!

Using Border dies to create round borders

Hi! It is Kylie here with an easy way to create a pretty border around your favourite circle or oval die cut shapes using the fantastic Whiff of Joy metal border dies.

What you will need is:

• Whiff of Joy border die (I am using Heart Lace)
• A coloured Whiff of Joy image (I have Willow Dressing Up from the City Girls collection)
• A personal die cutting machine ( I have a Cuttlebug)
• Two strips of cardstock 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 12 inches long (30.5 cm)
• Some removable tape
• Craft glue
• Sharp scissors

Have a look at your die to ascertain which edge is the cutting edge

Align this with the top of your cardstock strip and use some tape to hold in place. Run this through your die cutting machine.

Remove your die and carefully line it up matching the pattern on the first cut, adhere in place,

 If you like, you can check from the other side that your pattern is matching, then run this through your die cutting machine again

Once cut, remove the die and using your scissors, carefully cut a slit on the strip, close to the edge of the valley, but be careful not to cut right through the cardstock.  Repeat this with the remaining strip.

Put some clean scratch paper down, and place your coloured image face down. Starting at the lower edge inthe centre, apply some glue, about 2 inches (5 cm) at a time

Attach your first scallop of your die cut lace, press in place to adhere. Carefully curve your strip around the oval, pressing the die cut strip to the oval for each scallop.

 Apply more glue as you continue around your shape

It is likely that one strip will not be enough,  as you can see I didn't quite have enough of my first strip to meet at the end. Take your second strip and measure how many extra scallops you require.

I only needed two, so I have the remaining piece of die cut strip to use else where on my card. Adhere the last two scallops to your oval

And this is what it looks like finished on the front. If the ends of your strips don't quite match up, this can be easily hidden with a flower or ribbon embellishment on your card

And this is what the reverse side of the image looks like:

And my finished card!

To complete my card I also used:

• General Sayings sentiment set
• Romantic Swirsl 2 die, and
• Heart Banner die

I hope you found this tutorial useful :)
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Kylie x

Pillow Box Tutorial by Kylie

Hi everyone! It is Kylie here with a fast and easy Pillow Box tutorial for you.

Being the holiday season I like to have lots of little treat boxes handy for those just in case moments. These pillow boxes are fun and so easy to make.

Materials used:
Whiff of Joy Seasons Greetings stamp set
Whiff of Joy Fancy Shape die
Double sided patterned paper 7 inchs x 7 inches
Scoring tool (I used my bone folder and paper trimmer)
Ruler
Curved item (Roll of tape works fine, or a plate or Circle cutting tool)
Scissors
Small circle punch
Strong double sided tape
Items to decorate

I started with a square of double sided patterned paper measuring 7 inches x 7 inches

 I scored this at 1/2 inches and 3 3/4 inches, giving me two equal sections of 3 1/4 inches wide

Next, fold on the score lines and on the side of the paper that is to be the inside, measure from each end 1/2 inch on both fold lines. These are the guide marks to mark your curves.

Using something that is curved (I used my roll of double sided tape, but a plate works well) and a pencil (I only used a pen here so the line would show on the photo), line the tape up with the two mark on the folds and draw in the curve on both ends.

Then using the tape again and your bone folder, score a curve in the other direction as you can see in the photo below. Repeat this at the other end.

 Trim off the ends along the pencil line

 And using a small circle punch, punch out small half circles which are used to help open the pillow box.

Open out your box again and carefully trim off the little corner sections on the 1/2 inch flap along the score lines.

Apply double sided tape along the flap, staying close to the score line, remove backng paper and adhere the box together to make a cylindar.

Carefully fold along your curved score lines on both ends of your pillow box to give it a nice puffy round shape.

And now it is time to decorate the box and if you wish, make a matching card. I created a belly band around the pillow box using a 2 1/2 inch wide strip of patterned paper (the other side of the same paper used on the box) and added a punched edge, some ribbon and added the sentiment from the Seasons Greetinngs sentiment set with coordinating Fancy Shap die. 

This pillow box will hold contents approx 3 inches wide, 5 inches tall and 1 inch thick.  If you want to make a pillow box a different size, just measure your contents and add 1 inch to the height and 1 inch to the width of your paper. By adjusting the curve on the top and bottom of your ends you can alter the thickness of the box.

I have used Wee and Christmas Tree to create a matching card for this set:

I hope you have found this tutorial useful!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Hugs
Kylie xx

Creating a pendulum card

Good morning everyone! It is Kylie here and I would like to show you how quick and easy it is to make a card with a swinging pendulum. It is sure to impress your friends and relatives this Chrsitmas.

First, gather your supplies:

• Penguins Winter Fun stamp
• Seasons Greetings Sentiment set
• Fancy Shape die
• Snowflake Trio die
• Acetate strip 3.5 inches x 1 inch (9cm x 2.5cm)
• Decorative Brad
• Small flat brad
• Paper piercing tool (I used my silent setter but a cropadile would work as well)
• 6x6 card base,
• Designer paper 4 ½ x 4 ½ inches
• Cardstock 4 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches
• Embellishments

Stamp and colour your image. Cut it out carefully.

Using your square piece of designer paper, carefully cut a shape out of the centre. I used a die to cut a shape but you could trace a circle and carefully cut that out if you wish. If using a die, centre the die on the paper and use some tape on the inside to hold it in place while you run it through your die cutting machine so it doesn't move.



Apply double sided tape to the back of you designer paper, leaving a space at the top for the pendulum to move.

Apply some adhesive tape to one end of the acetate strip

Attach the acetate strip to the back of the image. Position the designer paper over the backing cardstock - don't adhere together yet.

Turn your image to the correct side and line it up in the centre of the hole you cut earlier.

Place a small dot on the acetate where you will create a hole to insert the brad that will create a pendulum. Carefully remove the designer paper without moving your image or acetate as you need to ensure your dot remains over the cardstock where you will need to pierce a hole through both thicknesses.

Pierce your hole through the acetate and the cardstock. You want the hole to be neat so I used my silent setter to cut the hole to ensure a clean hole and a smooth swing of the pendulum.

Fasten the acetate to the cardstock backing with your small flat brad. Your Penguins now swing!


Remove tape backing and position the designer paper over the cardstock.

Cut your Snowflakes using the Snowflake Trio die and pierce a hole in the centre of the large snowflake.

Pierce a hole in the top of your acetate strip and fasten two snowflakes together with the acetate with a decorative brad (the new Whiff of Joy brads are perfect for this)

Decorate your card base and then attach your completed pendulum square

And here is the finished card

Just move the snowflakes and your Penguins sled down the slope!

I hope you find this tutorial useful! If you make a card using this tutorial, please leave a link below so we can have a look!

Enjoy your weekend,

Kylie