Everything Selling Out!

Hi everyone,

It's been such a long time since I've posted to this Blog. Since my last post 2 new babies have joined the Craft Cents family!  As you may remember, I lost my darling girl Lily back in January and I've been lonely without her ever since.  So, I'd love to introduce you to my new babies, Isabella and Willow, my little Ragdoll girls :)

Full of life and fun at only 4 months old, they're into everything and I love every minute of it lol.

I'm going back to full time work in the near future and hopefully moving to a new place and new town.  I guess in a way I'm starting all over again.  Exciting and scary at the same time :)  As long as I have my girls with me though, it's all good.

Before the move I need to clear as much stock as possible so I don't have so much to box up.  Everything in the store has been reduced in price and a lot of items are priced at cost.  All Inky Antics, Art Gone Wild and Teresa Collins stamps have been reduced to cost price and I'm in the middle of drastically reducing the Hero Arts stamps too.  Most of them are done but there's still a few to go.  The majority of the Inque Boutique stock has been reduced too and will continue to be done until I've done it all.

Something really exciting to share with you is that I have the Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiousities books coming in soon.  A few of them are already reserved but I still have a few copies free.  If you want to put your name down for one, let me know and I'll put one aside for you.  If you have seen anything on the internet about this book already, you'll know that it's a MUST HAVE for your stash!

Take care everyone and I hope you are enjoying life.


Deb, Isabella and Willow
xxx

TECHNIQUE: Converting Stickers Into Die-Cuts

When I first started scrapbooking years ago, I'd buy almost everything in sight.  If it was on sale, I'd buy even more.  Stickers were a big favourite so I have quite a nice selection in my stash.

Only problem is that I don't use stickers much anymore as I prefer die-cuts.  Why?  Because I can make them into 3D embellishments with a few glue dots.

To use up my sticker collection, I've taken to converting them into die-cuts.  I know it's an old technique, but for those of you that are new to paper crafting it may be new.

All you need to do is sprinkle a little talcum powder over the sticky backing of the sticker, cover it completely and then brush it off.  Simple!  The talcum powder neutralises the adhesive which makes them instantly into die cuts.

Happy crafting.


Debbie
xxx

RIP My Darling Lily

Hi everyone,

I'm absolutely shattered to tell you that my darling Lily, my beautiful girl, was put to sleep at 2.30pm Perth time and died in my arms.

I was so blessed to have been her mum for the 4 years of her life and I don't know how I'll cope without her.  She was my rock, my angel, my light, my life.

Goodbye my baby girl.  I am so sorry.  Tears simply aren't enough to show the loss I'm feeling.


xxx

TECHNIQUE: Inking Cuttlebug Folders For Beautiful Backgrounds

Hi everyone,

2 posts in one day, what's up with me?  I'll tell you what's up..... it's too hot outside!

Something that I do really often is ink up my Cuttlebug embossing folders to add colour and texture at the same time.  Do you do it too?  I like subtle backgrounds so I use the Hero Arts Shadow Inks.  If you want to share what you use, feel free to add your comments to this post.

If you've never tried it before, check out this fantastic video that shows you just how easy it is:  Inking A Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

There'll be a MEGA OFFER on Cuttlebug Embossing Folders..... soon..... lol.  If you want to expand your collection, and our low prices aren't low enough already, watch this space over the next day or two!

Happy crafting.


Debbie and Lily.
xxx

Remembering Those No Longer With Us Through Scrapbooking

Hi everyone,

It's that time of year again, Christmas.  I don't know if you're like me, but it's times like Christmas that make me feel the loss of those I loved more than any other time of the year.

Personally, I've experienced loss of friends and family, but no loss is felt more strongly than the babies of mine that are now angels who watch over me.  I have 7 of them and I wish so much that they could be with me now.

One of the ways to remember them forever, and acknowledge their existence, even without pictures, is through my scrapbooking.

It's a difficult task sometimes to scrapbook memories of those who are no longer with us.  Because of that, I wanted to share with you a wonderful Blog that I guarantee will have you in tears, but inspired at the same time.

Please take the time to visit http://www.goodgriefblog.com and see for yourself.  Make sure you have tissues handy!

Merry Christmas and please take care of yourself and those you love.

Debbie and Lily.

My Favourite Blog Ever! Especially Great For Cricut Lovers and Stampers

Hi everyone,

Another week is well underway and I'm totally unsure where the past few days have gone.  Busy, busy, busy!

I wanted to share a link with you all to my favourite Blog ever:  www.mypinkstamper.com.  Robyn is totally gorgeous and mad as a cut snake.... you just have to watch the out-takes of her videos to see what I mean.

If you've ever wondered what some of the little buttons are on your Cricut machine that you never (or hardly ever) use, check out her amazing collection of videos.

I've learnt so much from Robyn and just love her wacky sense of humour.  Hope you take some time to visit her Blog and enjoy it as much as we do :)

Hugs.

Debbie and Lily.

Craft Technique: Wax Resist Backgrounds Using Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

Have you ever tried the "wax resist" technique? It's where you apply wax on a project, and when you apply ink over the top, the ink doesn't stick to wherever the wax has been applied.

Here's a wonderful technique that I played around with this afternoon and the results are fantastic!

Run a piece of wax paper through your Cuttlebug and emboss it using an embossing folder.

Place a piece of scrap paper down on your work surface, followed by a sheet of cardstock or paper that you're planning to use on a project, then the wax paper that you've already embossed. I normally put another sheet of cardstock or paper on top if the wax paper is double sided (so I get two projects from one sheet of wax paper). Lastly, add another piece of scrap paper on top.

Use a hot iron (no steam!) and iron for about 5-10 seconds. Remove your pieces of cardstock or paper that will now have the waxed pattern on them. Rub an ink pad or brayer that has been inked over the top to apply the ink.

To finish the process, take a piece of kitchen towel and rub it across the whole surface. This will remove any excess ink, in particular the ink from anywhere that had wax on it. Hey presto, you now have a customised background with a gorgeous pattern on it!

Give it a try. With so many wonderful embossing folders around, it's another way of getting more use from them. Try adding a few different colour inks at the same time to mix it up a bit too.

Happy crafting!!


Debbie and Lily