Tip 4: Die-ing with Washi

I thought I was fairly limited in using washi.  

I couldn't punch it - it would stick to the punch unless I taped it to card first, then it negates the fact that it's adhesive tape; and it's not wide enough to use with my dies (and again with the whole being sticky thing!), or is it??

Tip 3: Washi Tape is PERFECT for Border Dies!!!!!

I have a number of border (and small dies) and recently tried putting them through my big shot with some washi - OMG I love this!!!  It's easy as the washi doesn't move when you are winding the plates through, and all the fiddley little bits and bobs are already adhesive backed so no glue-messes for me, and using Tip 2 I can keep these bits as well!!

This make me a happy little vegemite! :-)  I am so excited I just want to spend all day Die-ing my Washi!!

I just had to share my success and urge you to try your dies with your Washi Tapes as well so I took some photos for you to show you how I did it:

1.  I put a strip of matte white slightly longer than my border die on the base plate, then stuck my clock washi directly over the top (It's a bit see through and I wanted solid colour).  You can just tape your washi to you base plate if you like :-)

2.  Lay the die exactly where you want it and put the top plate on the stack for your machine.

3.  Rolled the stack through - be careful, your washi doesn't move but your die might - especially if your top plate is a little, warped (like me)!!

4.  Remove the surrounding and inner pieces from the diecut wash tape - but do not throw them away!! Store them on your Clear Acetate from Tip 2!!

5.  You now have a diecut strip of washi tape!! Use on a project straight away or pre-cut a few to store on some Clear Acetate to use in your projects later!!  No more waste or gluey mess with fine die cuts :-)

I really hope you're as excited as I am - I'd love to see your projects using your Die'd Washi so leave me a comment with a link - please!!!  I'll have an example of how I've used it in a full blogpost soon!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jen

:-)

Tip 2: Storing your Washi off-cuts

As you explore the many ways of using your washi tapes - you may just discard your off cuts; the half-widths, the excess from a cut pattern, the words from the cromwell tape you didn't need... but I prefer to keep them just in case I can use them up.  The problem with that, is the many lengths of tape hanging from the edge of my crafting table, sticking to my clothes whenever I lean too close!!  

My solution is simple - Here's my "Before" photo:

Tip 2: Storing your Washi off-cuts
Save your off cuts to be used again by sticking them to clear acetate sheets.  I've punched some binder holes in mine to store it in an A4 folder that also have some of my nesting dies in (arranged on magnetic A4 sheets - AWESOME!)
The washi is easy to see, I can group by colour/size/style/whatever, and I can see at a glance that I don't need to cut the next 20cm from my Cromwell Washi Tape to get the word I'm after - as it's on this sheet!!

Here's my "After" photo:

Let me know how this tip works for you!
Thanks for stopping by
Jen
:-)

How To Use Your Twiddley Bitz - Part 2 (Technique Tag Ring)

While creating the large technique frame I decided to create a Technique Tag Ring for myself and to teach from my studio at home.  I store the tags on a ring by my work desk in the studio.  Each tag has the technique written on the back in permanent marker:

Here are the tags...

And the techniques are:

Free = Naked Chipboard

Cogs = Naked with Glossy Accents or Diamond Glaze

Flower = Aged and Distressed (sandpaper/craft knife)

Clock = Distress Ink using applicator sponge + through a stencil

Owl = Distress Stain (effect is like a paint wash)

Glitter clock = Glitter and Jac Paper using a stencil

Door & Windows = Acrylic Paint

Cog & Flower = Crackle Paint – Tim Holtz (Ranger), Jo Sonja’s.

Butterfly = Colour Sprays/Glimmer Mist

Brown = Flocking and Hot Set Powder (powdered glue)

Dust = Diamond Dust on Glossy Accents + stencil

Flourish = (with a) Bling

Music = Stamped Stazon on Colourspray

Laced up = Punches!  Any how, any way!

Cog flower = Layered and Rolled

Black & Gold = Stencils – Crafters Workshop etc OR use your Twiddleybitz!
Squiggly Square = Sewing – hand or machine

Mottled = Alcohol Inks and applicator

Bird = Patterned Paper (Graphic 45)

Wood = Ink + Pens + Mod Podge = Wood grain!

Cogs = Cuttlebug Embossing Folder + Stazon ink

Anchor = Regular Embossing Powder (AED)

Flower = Opals or UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) stamped into

Key = Rusting Powder (Mod Podge, Rusting Powder, Vinegar)

Here's another photo taken from an angle - you can really see the detail in the tags this way :-)

If you'd like to come to a class to make your own technique tag ring or would like me to come to your store to teach this as a class - please contact me through this blog or facebook.  I'd be happy to discuss with you.

Thanks for stopping by

Jen

:-)

Storage/Organisation Hints & Tips...

Ok so we as crafters are always on the lookout for 'better' storage solutions.  I have all sorts of things suggested to me including a visit to Ikea.  I am an absolute nutter for Stationery, Bunnings, and containers so I know it would be absolutely FATAL for me to go to Ikea(I have never been!).
As you know I recently 'finished' (I use inverted comma's because are our rooms ever really finished?) setting up the studio and have been struggling with storage for my 25 shot glasses of colour coded brads and buttons etc, and thanks to Tracy at My2Angels - my ever increasing number of charms, chains, flowers, tiles......

The answer come to me compliments of Kmart - $15 bought me a rotating spice rack with 16 bottles.  So damn awesome!  I have 1 for my charms - brass on the top row, and silver on the bottom, sorted by theme and when I can find my Dymo they'll be labelled!  The second  rack is full of my brads, buttons, and bits - sorted into colours (Riley had fun helping me sort out a few that were accidently mixed up!

If this is the answer to your 'small things and bits and bobs' storage - race into Kmart as they're only on special till Wednesday or Thursday (15th or 16th of Feb 2012).

Cheers!

My Studio

I have finally got some photos of my new studio to show you.  I am so excited - I have actually been scrapbooking again.  It's very inspirational to have a dedicated space and it's so easy to keep clean and tidy!  I'm also less cranky and Erin often comes to create with me on the weekend!!

I have converted two thirds of my garage into a studio.  The carpet was $55 per metre but I managed to get it for $10mtr and it was 'about 3 mtrs worth' according tot he salesman at Bunnings - BUT it was just over 5 mtrs long - and 6 mtrs wide!!  Bargain of the century :-)

I have room dividers borrowed from work as we don't use them anymore and I bought 4 bookcases from Deals Direct for $39 each.  Behind the dividers I have all our camping gear and the kids bikes and scooters etc, I can have the roller door open and no dust because the bikes etc and dividers stop it!

The white baskets are from a corner shop - they had no price on so he sold them to me for $1 each (they're $2.95-$3.75 depending which Coles you buy them from!) The jars for all my ribbons - sorted by colour, are old coffee jars from Mum's work - it must be quite stressful there!

My un-wood-mounted stamps go in the CD cases in the racks - another bargain I paid $5 each for the racks and $5 for packs of 10 cases :-) and my metal paper racks were on the discounted pile at Stampantics before it closed.

The torso is a project I have to do, and the big-arse drawers that hide my messyness was a bargain for $40 from the lovely Lisa Kamphius!

I have 1 dining table as my work table - Erin has one end, I have the other.  Then I have another dining table (extendable) for my sewing machine, overlocker, electronic cutter, printer, iron, and selphy printer.
I have the computer desk for my Mac, and 'office' stuff, and my stereo although I play most music through itunes on the Mac now.

I have decided that each week i will post a tip and photos on organising your scrap space... then I'd love to see some of your efforts too -  would you be interested???  Let me know in the comments for this post.

Thanks for droppin by!