Which ink is best for digi prints??? the answer- pigment inks!

I have read many posts on various other blogs raising issues with ink bleeding when colouring digi prints.  This is a site I found when I was first experimenting with digi prints and buying the right printer...I hope you find it helps too: http://www.oddparts.com/ink/faq19.htm   .....So basically, you have two types of ink: dye based and pigment ink.... I liken it to comparing memento ink and staz on ink! My printer is a cheap ($50 from post office) canon printer (MP480) and it uses pigment ink.... the pigment ink cartridges are a touch more expensive, but let me tell you I get a whole lot of images outta one cartridge!!! Also, you can preserve ink by only using a half ink.  To do this when you drop down to print, instead of hitting print straight away, click on (print) properties, on your print quality box, tick "fast" ....this will give you a lighter print (which I kinda like cause I dont like really bold lines for skin etc) but your cartridges will last twice as long!  I hope this is helpful for some people. Stay Safe XOX Tania

Dying to diecut challenge at Southern girls Challenge using Lili of the Valley

Hello! It's time for our fortnightly challenge over at Southern Girls Challenge and this fortnight we would like to see die cuts or punches....either machine made, pre-made or hand punched. Easy right?? I have done an easel card using my grand nestie.... I have used the following die cuts/ punches:

Spellbinders: Scalloped Circle Large

Cheery Lynn: English Tea Party Doily

My Favourite Things: butterflies die

Memory box Dies: Elegant Scrollwork

Stampin' up! Punch: Blossom Punch

The image is from Lili of the Valley called "Hello Cupcake" ... colored with copics. 

Hat pin made by me :0)... Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts

I would like to enter into the following Challenges:

Wild Orchid Crafts: anything goes

One Stitch at a Time: anything goes

magnolia book card thingy hehe (with a little tutorial)

Hello!! I was so excited when I got this book card thingy finished (well that's what I call it hehe!)  I saw this type of paper project over at Malin's  and remember thinking..."How awesome!!". Mine is nothing on hers, but I had to try making one!!!  I have used two magnolia images for this one- Fancy Romantic Tilda and Longing Tilda.  As you can tell, I am still getting used to colouring with copics...... I would like to say I am getting better, but I am still struggling a little.  BUT... I don't think it looks TOO bad right???  I have cut the lacey circles with my spellbinder die, used flowers from wild orchid crafts and ribbon from stash.  I have been wanting a Martha Stewart butterfly punch, but with postage cost, just haven't been able to afford it, so I went down to Sam's Warehouse (like a $2 shop) and got this beautiful butterfly  punch for $15.  The swirls are cut with my cricut and I've lathered it with pearls and stickles.

I would like to enter into the following challenges:
Wild Orchid Crafts: anything goes
Cute Card Thursday: a touch of sparkle 

When you open the inside, this is what you get..... some more flowers and crystal chandeliers from WOC and the beautiful longing tilda.  this next picture gives a better idea of the boxed card which stops the flowers from getting squashed.

thanks for stopping by, please read further if you would like to know how I did this book

Stay Safe XOX Tania

so, do you want to know how I did this box??

You need two A3 sheets of 600gsm multiboard (I bought mine from officeworks and it comes in packs of 25). One sheet you need to cut 6 x 14cm squares.  From the second sheet, you need to cut a strip 14cm x 29.5cm (the width of the sheet) put this aside for later... now, cut the rest of that sheet into 4 more 14cm squares.  You want to take your squares and cut the centre out of them to make a frame.....I have cut a frame depth of 2cm around.... you should have 10 "frames".  It doesn't matter if your square frames are not perfectly the same dimensions- it adds to the book effect! On one frame glue your patterned cardstock- let dry, turn upside down and trim around the frame.  Glue all your frames together, stacking them on top of each other trying to keep them neat, but not necessarily perfect!  With your 14 x 29.5cm strip, you need to "cut to score" 14.3cms from each edge- this will leave you with 1cm in the centre for the spine of the book.  Fold the book covers in, glue in your stack of frames on the bottom of the book and you are ready to decorate once dry.

Hope this makes sense

Take Care XOX Tania

Krista Smith Saturated Canary Cinders

Good morning.  Today I have a card again from the ultra talented Krista Smith (AKA Saturated Canary) called cinders.  I have gone out of my comfort zone using oranges for this one, but I think it works well.  The cute printed paper (what you can see of it through all the flowers/ribbons etc LOL) is from We Are Memory Keepers called "baby mine- sugar & spice".The flowers are from kaiser craft and wild orchid crafts.  the butterflies are cut using  a MFT die-namics, I got them at my local scrapping place, but you can get them here. The card is cut with a grand scallop circle nestie.  the image and sentiment is cut with spellbinders labels four.  I made the hat pins ( I should start selling them again on ebay, but just dont get time :0) I have colored the image with copics- struggled A LOT with red, hoping with practice I can get better!!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Creatalicious: Bingo- easel, ribbon and butterflies

Saturated Canary: May Flowers
Crazy for Challenges:  C4C136: inspiration photo- colours and shape

Thanks for stopping by Stay Safe, XOX Tania

 

Slyvia Zet "hopeful"

Good evening! I've had a busy day today- up early to the doctors and then a visit from a girl friend. She had a new baby boy 2 months ago, and this was the first day I got to have a nurse :0) Each time we made arrangements to meet up, he (James) had a bad night's sleep or suffering with reflux...... oh it's so hard to remember back when my kids were that little XO He is such a little cutie!

Anyway, onto my card.  I am so hooked on digital images at the moment, there are some gorgeous ones out there...this is a Sylvia Zet Wee stamp called "hopeful" you can get her stamps here. I have colored her with copics and am slowly building up my collection!  I have popped her up with foam to get her over the lacey paper underneath.  The embossed card underneath is from a pack of embossed DCWV box of cards (I cut them up as I prefer my cards quiet sturdy and found these very thin) I have run some purple Versa magic over the raised embossed writing....I'm not sure of the brand of flower paper here, but it is divine! I edged it with a martha stewart lacey border punch.  I snipped in at each scallop and then half way between the scallops, then I twisted the lacey part with my alligator (????) tweezers to make the frill effect.  I used the same technique for the large flower..... the flower is a flower punch and stamp set from Stampin Up! I use Versa magic chalk ink to ink up the stamp, then, once stamped, I sprinkle it with a mixture of clear embossing powder and glamour Dust and heat emboss the flower.  If you ink the edges darker, you get a really cute result! The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and Kaiser Craft. Ribbon from stash. The swirls I have cut using my cricut and the accent essentials cartridge

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenge: make it pop- add dimension

Wild Orchid Crafts: anything goes

Thanks for stopping by. Stay Safe XOX Tania

CRAFT STALL

HI ALL.  JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT MY LOCAL SHOPPING CENTRE LILLYBROOK IS HAVING AN ARTS AND CRAFT MARKET FOR MOTHERS DAY THIS SATURDAY 12 MAY.  POP ON DOWN AND SAY HI...ITS ON THE CORNER OF BRICKWORKS ROAD AND OLD GYMPIE ROAD KALLANGUR STARTING AT 9AM - 2PM.  SEE YOU THERE xox TANIA

saturated canary (Krista Smith) "windy day" (with copics YAY)!

 Hello, thanks for stopping by.  I'm so excited to show you this card today....it is my first image I have done using only copics!!  I have been fumbling my way through blending, watching different tips on youtube, and devising my own techniques that work for me :0) I struggle keeping in the lines (HAHA I feel like I'm back in pre school LOL!!) and from previous attempts (not shown) I think I'll steer clear of reds for the moment!!  I am happy though with my first attempt.  I have basically only used two or three of each colour and as I can only afford a few at a time, I think you'll bee seeing lots of browns, blues and pinks hehe!!

onto the card.  The image...isn't she beautiful?? She is a Krista Smith (AKA saturated Canary) digital image known as "windy day".  I got her from etsy but she is moving to another site, so she will have a link when she is up and going again.  I have printed her on copic paper (much more forgiving paper for beginners as it doesn't pill) and coloured with copics.  I dabbed some liquid pearls around her for added effect.  I have used "magnolia" fence die....which I cut in half so it would open so you could see the whole image.  I have also used a "memory box" swirl die under the flowers, a "my favourite things" butterfly punch, and an old "cuttlebug" die called ornate flourish- cut it down a little for the corner of the image.  Flowers are from wild orchid crafts, ribbon from stash. AND guess what??? No stickles!! I know! I kerbing my addiction haha....but I did use a little teeny tiny bit of glamour dust on the liquid pearls on the fence and the corner of the card :0).  The beautiful butterfly paper is from graphic 45 called "heaven sent" - from the little darlings collection.  The inside is decorated to match the front.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Paper take Weekly: Cute Cute Cute

Dream Valley Challenges: For a Special Lady

One Stitch at a Time: mother's day: use a digi
Crazy for Challenges: the great outdoors/gardening
Creatalicious Challenges: butterflies and flowers

Thats it for now, I am going to try and get some tutorials done for my photo boxes and acetate butterflies I have been coloring up.

Take care, stay safe XOX Tania

school fete cards

XMAS cards for school fete

 HELLO!! Long time no see :0) I have finally finished the cards for the kids school fete stall.  I have done them pretty simple because the kids are only five and six years old...basically I have cut, paper pieced and stamped everything they need, so all they have to do is glue everything together....Its taken me ages!  I did a girl and boy birthday card and a xmas card for each class...totaling 320 cards in total!!!! I hope they enjoy making them up and selling them....I donated everything, so all cards sold will go straight to the school ($2 each) I hope they sell every single one of them :0)

some ideas for you anyway for some quick and simple cards....enjoy

Thanks for stopping by Take care, stay safe XOX Tania