Mixed Up Saturday with Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine review

 

Good Morning Ladies,

I hope that you are all relaxed and ready for the weekend, we have got a bit of shopping to do today and then hopefully we will be going to Newbury tomorrow.  Janet when do you set off for home, is it today or tomorrow?. I hope that you have a safe journey home, all ready to go back in 6 weeks! 

It just doesn't sound right saying that Christmas is only 6 weeks to Christmas day, It seems to have caught us out this year, we haven't got a thing in, nobody knows what they would like either, so that makes it so much harder.  I don't know whether it's just our family that are hard to buy for, I wouldn't buy them clothes as they are really picky about what they wear, not fancy designer or anything but they have their own style. We usually do a biggish gift and then a few stocking fillers, which tend to be smellies, candles etc. I think we will just start a new trend of just having surprises. I know some people that are so organised that they have everything bought and wrapped !!! 

Now here is this weeks magazine review....

Simply Cards & Papercraft Review

I quite like the Free gifts that you get with Issue 223, the stamps are really nice and the stencil is really useful too, I think these free stamps would work well with the Bauble Stencil that I got from Sweet Poppy earlier this week.  

This feature shares some great ideas for the Free gifts that you get with this issue, so much inspiration,

there is also a 'How To' showing how to get the most from your 13 in 1 stencil. 

Some lovely ideas here for adding different textures to your cards using the stencil, I have shared the tutorial for the 'Off the Page plaque' that has added texture. These cards are all so lovely.  Zoom in for a better look.

I love Julie Hickey stamps, there are some lovely ideas here for cards to bring a bit of sunshine to these dark winter days.

I really like the idea of this 'Trapped ink Technique' you basically stamp in colour then stamp over the top with Versamark and add clear embossing powder, the finer the better. Now add as much colour as you like, your image that is trapped under the embossing will stay protected. The second step by step is a more advanced version of the first tutorial,  using a multi layer stamp, very effective though. 

This looks so effective,  I thought at first glance that it was a fancy die, but it is infact just plain circle dies that you add your own die cut flowers to, building up the layers, so clever and so effective. 

I think these cards are so beautiful,  I love the soft shades that they have used, the concept is genuis, just thinking sbout where you place your dies so that you can use the waste as a card front.

Some more lovely ideas for using the free gifts, I love the colours once again, that stripey background is really fun, the tutorial shows you how to create it using washi tape.  

A great idea if you are stuck in a rut with your Crafting is to pick a card sketch and look at different ways of using it,  we haven't had a Sketch Challenge in a while on the blog. 

This final piece focuses on adding stitching to your cards, there is a little guide to create 'Faux Free Motion Stitching " it looks really effective,  I have wanted to try Stitching on cards for ages but wasn't sure if it would ruin my sewing machine,  so I have not been brave enough! 

That's all for this review,  there are a lot more features un magazine, i just picked a few highlights,  incase anyone wants to buy it. 

Maria's Shopping 

Oh Maria you bought some lovely things at the Craft Show,  

A lovely selection of Distress Oxides, those Glitter Pens are so handy for adding a hint of sparkle. The flowers are really pretty too.  I see you got some more of your Diamond Paintings I look forward to seeing them all finished  do you frame them? 

I have to say that I LOVE your scarf Maria, the colour is lovely,  it would look great with jeans !! 

Thank you so much for sharing your shopping XXX

Thats all for today Ladies,  I hope that you all have a restful day,

Love and hugs to all of you

Sandra

xxxxxx