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Monday, 10 August 2015
Saturday, 8 August 2015
Free Download Papers
So excited to share this!
I have designed six patterned papers for Papercrafter magazine for free downloads. Just click on any of the photos or here for the direct link.
In this months Papercrafter magazine I also have an article which gives you a few ideas on how to use them!
And you can also download them in the cooler tones!
I hope you like them and if you make any projects, please share the link in the comments box or on my Facebook page.
Thursday, 6 August 2015
Craft Conversations with the Pros: Karen Burniston
In this Craft Conversations series, I would like to not just keep to UK crafters but expand a bit our borders. So today is the turn to jump over the ocean over to the United States and ask the questions to Karen Burniston.
When and how did you start in the craft industry?
Well I’ve been a crafter most of my life, but when it turned professional for me was when I was named a winner in the 2002 Creating Keepsakes’ Hall of Fame contest. Back then that was a huge deal and provided instant "celebrity".
Was it full time? Part time?
In the early days I still had my full-time job as a project manager for a road construction company, so I would do all of my design team work and magazine submissions in my free time. My degree is in civil engineering. When my twins were around 3 years old I quit my job to stay home (my husband John had been a stay-at-home dad and we both wanted the switch) so I found myself with more time to devote to crafting.
What type of job did you have at first? Did you started as a creative straight away?
In 2002 I was already on the Creative Imaginations’ Design Team and teaching for them at events, but thanks to the Hall of Fame win I was given more opportunities, including the chance to submit licensed product designs. I designed products for Creative Imaginations for 3 years but they were traditional scrapbooking products - paper, stickers, rub-ons - and I often felt limited by my lack of formal art training. In those days CI was “the” place for licensed art and my products were in the same booth and catalog as Mary Engelbreit, Debbie Mumm, Joni Hallmark and a dozen other amazing fine artists. It was a lot of pressure! When my contract came up for renewal I decided to step away from the product design for a while and concentrate on teaching, where I had a true passion and felt right at home.
How do you describe your job nowadays?
I used to teach a lot in Europe, both in my Creative Imaginations days and afterward when I was freelance. Initially I was teaching traditional scrapbooking classes - mini-albums, layouts, etc. but then for one event I added an interactive waterfall tag feature to one of my classes. I’d been creating pop-ups as a hobby for 20 years, but never really thought to add those mechanisms to classes. After all, they only required a craft knife and ruler and some precise cutting. But the students absolutely loved that class and started requesting more and more interactive classes.
The next year at an event in the Netherlands I met Pete Hughes, of Sizzix, and sat on the floor in the teachers lounge showing him my designs. The following week I was scheduled to teach in England and Pete asked one of his UK colleagues to come see my work. From there my name got passed to California to the main office and I found myself weeks later at a CHA show pitching my designs to a room full of Sizzix executives. They signed me right away and I found myself back in licensed product design, but in a medium where I had great passion and skill.
After 5 years with Sizzix designing steel-rule pop-up dies I switched to Elizabeth Craft Designs and launched Pop it Ups - a line of wafer-thin die designs - in 2014. I learned so much working with a big company like Ellison (Sizzix) and I will always treasure my time there, but ultimately the smaller company environment fits my vibe better. I love working with Els van de Burgt and her family plus the talented staff at ECD.
Out of everything you do and have done, what is your favourite?
Having been in this industry for over a dozen years, I’ve really done it all - teaching, blogging, demoing, idea books, magazine work, videos and product design. Before I started designing dies I would have definitely ranked teaching as the part of my job that I loved the most, but designing dies has now taken the top spot. I just love it. I love thinking up an idea and figuring out how to translate it into a die. Plus, all my teaching has allowed me to better understand paper crafters and what they’re looking for. I want my dies to provide immense value and quality with the easiest assembly possible.
Your proudest moment and achievement in this industry?
Still being here. It’s an industry that’s seen its share of designers who were extremely popular and then dropped out of sight entirely. This industry is constantly evolving and to stay relevant you have to keep reinventing yourself to keep up. It’s not always easy and I think it would be impossible without a pure passion and love for the craft.
Is it hard to work in the craft industry? Can you name your major challenges you face working in this industry?
I think the hardest part, especially when you work from home and you’re the entire company, is being able to keep reasonable hours and “turn it off” to focus on family and life outside of paper crafting. I taught A LOT in 2014. I wanted to launch Pop it Ups with strong educational support and I overdid it. When I wasn’t actually out of town teaching I was preparing kits for the next trip. My family missed me. So I made the choice to take a one year hiatus from store teaching for 2015 to free up time to focus on my twins, who will be Seniors in high school this year and really need Mom to help them with college prep. I’ve taught trade shows this year, but just a couple of store trips. It’s been wonderful to realise that I can put my family first and it doesn’t mean my business has to suffer. It’s all about balance and making smart choices.
What do you think is more important to succeed in this industry: creative talent, hard work or luck?
All three. It really takes all three. Luck and hard work can only get you so far without creative talent, and talent and hard work won’t get you anywhere without a little luck. Of course, you can increase your odds of finding that bit of luck by putting yourself in the right place at the right time with the right portfolio.
If you could go back in time, what would you do differently career wise?
Oh, too hard to play what-ifs! I’ve enjoyed a lot of success and been blessed to make money doing something I absolutely love. All the road bumps and hiccups and heartbreaks have ended up teaching me something valuable and I grow from those challenges. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Also, what would you like to do differently style, technique, project wise?
Ha! I wish I would have figured out years earlier that my little pop-up card hobby was marketable!
What is your favourite project type to make?
Right now it’s cards. For years it was scrapbook layouts and mini-albums, but once my twins got to their technology-addicted teenage years there weren’t as many photo opportunities. I like creating interactive cards, of all sorts of styles. I craft mostly cute and pretty these days, because that’s what my students like, but every once in a while I get the opportunity to make something artsy or grungy or edgy or even macabre. I think my cute little Character dies would make great zombies!)
What is your favourite colour in general? And to make projects with? (Not always the same!)
Probably taupe. Boring, huh? Just looking around my house I see a lot of taupe, although it is usually accented with a pop of a bright color - orange, turquoise or red. For crafting I use lots of colors but blue is probably the one I would reach for first.
Where you go for inspiration?
My pile of paper scraps next to my printer. I scribble ideas all the time and add them to the untidy heap. I am never short of ideas but time to execute is a whole other challenge! I also get inspired by my amazing Design Team, who make things with my dies that I could never have imagined when I designed them. They’ve been with me since my Sizzix days and took the leap to follow me when I moved to Elizabeth Craft Designs. I consider my team to be one of the most talented in the industry. Yes, I’m biased, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a true statement!
What is next for you? Any art or craft dreams?
Well I’ve taken the leap into designing clear stamps to coordinate with my dies and since stamping was what got me into paper crafting to begin with, as I bought my very first stamp, an Inkadinkado leaping frog, in college. It feels a bit like coming home. I’m looking forward to stretching my design talents by adding more stamps to my brand.
And finally, Do you remember when we first met? Any good/bad impressions?
I do indeed remember when we met! You’ll have to fill in the details, though, because my memory is rubbish. The story in my head is that you came to a class I was teaching at a U.K. craft store called Treasure Crafts and thankfully you did not show me your projects until after the class or I would have had a huge crisis of confidence. That particular day the weather was English-damp (that’s usual, right?) so we had the added challenge of constructing pop-ups with paper that had soaked up all the moisture in the air and glue that didn’t want to stick. I remember feeling flustered and then, like a breath of fresh, not-damp air I got to see some of your projects and my mind was (in a word) blown!
You gave me your business card and I kept it, knowing that somehow, somewhere, our paths would cross again. Talent attracts, after all. When I signed with Sizzix and they asked me if I knew any designers in England I gave them your name.
Paula's version:
Perfect recollection! There have been about 5 people that I am incredibly indebted in this industry, that without them I would certainly have not made it. One those is Karen Burniston for recommending me to Sizzix Europe and the great help and encouragement through the years. Karen talent is pretty amazing and obvious, but she is equally as good as a friend!
You can find Karen here:
Monday, 3 August 2015
New blog post for Sizzix! a box and two intricate cards
Saturday, 1 August 2015
A little banner card using the Cupcake Box die
Today I wanted to share how I made a quick and simple window card using the Cupcake Box Thinlit plus die.
I used:
Once that you make up the box it looks like this (above) the window is optional, but looks pretty cute. I did a full step by step tutorial on how to assemble the box on the Sizzix blog here.
To die cut the window, simply select the die and place it in your chosen place and secure it with low tack tape.
Once die cut the window, I die cut the little bunting. There are two sizes so I die cut each color in both. I then folded them in half, arranged them and thread Bakers twine through.
I added a small foam pads (I mostly use Stix2 strips of foam and then cut to size) to only the first and last bunting and then I attached it to the card.
I secured the ends of the Bakers Twine with Tacky Glue.
Once dry, I trim the excess. The glue both secures the twine and seals it to prevent fraying.
Then I die cut a rectangle from the Rectangles #2 which is a perfect A6 mat and layering set. And attach to the card.
Then I selected my message from my Small Sentiments Everyday Messages. As the stamp is ever so slightly larger than the aperture, stamping through it wasn't and option so here is how I made it to be precise.
I used the left over rectangle from die cutting the window and then place in the aperture.
I used sticky notes round to mark the place where the stamping needs to be and removed the white rectangle.
Then I stamped the message in the card using the post it notes as a guide.
Result!
And here it the finished simple card with the Cupcake made up box.
I hope you like it!
(If you would like to see a couple of more ideas or how to check how to assemble the box here and another idea on how to use the little dies included in this set here.)
Thursday, 30 July 2015
Craft Conversations with the Pros: Kath Stewart
Today is the turn to ask the craft questions to Kath Stewart. Kath is one talented, brave and funny lady. I am glad that we are friends, I am happy that she is in the craft industry for this crafting world needs people like her! Talented and outspoken!
A brief professional paper crafter journey:
I suppose I’ve always been creative…as a young child I always had my nose in a colouring book and that progressed to knitting and sewing to make clothes for my dolls, then creating fashion statements (horrendous when I look back) for myself and my children. I’ve probably had a go at every craft imaginable, some attempts more successful than others. I ran my own Ceramics business for 10 years but closed it down in 2004 to take early retirement…the idea of a lady who lunched seemed appealing but boredom soon set in. It was time to look for another outlet for all this excess creative energy. A friend persuaded me to accompany her on a card making workshop organised by Personal Impressions, rather reluctantly I have to confess - why would you want to make cards when you can pop into a shop and buy one was my first thought? - but I soon discovered that magical things happen when you put stamps and inks together, I was well and truly hooked and the rest is history.When and how did you start in the industry?
I started off like lots of crafty folks do selling cards at craft fairs and making specially commissioned cards which I loved at the time but on reflection, it was lots of hard work for very little reward and took over my life completely. By pure chance I spotted an advertisement in a craft magazine for Fiskars demonstrators and applied, nothing ventured nothing gained as they say and was more than surprised when I was selected to attend an interview day in Newcastle and remember with cringing embarrassment the total disastrous project I made in an attempt to win the judges over. Must have been my scintillating personality that did the trick, to my amazement I got the job.
Was it full time? Part time?
What type of job at first? Did you started as a creative straight away?
Unfortunately for me my location in the far flung North East corner of the UK didn’t present many craft store demonstrator opportunities but Fiskars asked if I would like to demonstrate with the team at the SECC in Glasgow. I made some samples for the show and voila…they liked them and asked if I would like to make lots more to showcase Fiskars products. That progressed in to making projects for magazine adverts and media presentations and for the last 5 years I’ve been lucky enough to organise and teach the Fiskars workshops at the Hobbycraft shows at The NEC in March and November.
I’ve also been given the opportunity to work with great companies in the industry as part of their design teams, been featured in craft magazines and most important of all, had lots of fun and made wonderful lifelong friendships along the way
How do you describe your job nowadays?
Is it hard to work full/part time in the craft industry? Can you name your major challenges you face?
Every day I pinch myself, how lucky am I to be able to say that I love what I do and do what I love, to turn what was once a hobby into what is now a full time job. Winston Churchill once said that if you find a job you love, you will never work again and here I am sharing my passion for paper crafting with lots of crafty folks, a dream come true. Not everyone might realise that a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes, the kitting marathons and burning the midnight oil on a regular basis to nail deadlines but for me that’s just part and parcel of the job and the upside is, it keeps me out of mischief and the biscuit tin (most of the time).Would you do anything differently?
Definitely NOT...it's a lifestyle choice, a passion and the mistakes I've made along the way are all part of life's big learning curve.
Out of everything you do and have done, what is your favourite?
What I love most is escaping my sometimes lonely craft room existence, leaving behind the one sided long conversations with my dog usually about the most idiotic nonsense, getting out and about and meeting fellow crafters. I teach monthly workshops at my local craft store, The Papeterie in Aberdeen and look forward to meeting up with my lovely Kath’s Klub girls for a fun day.
Your proudest moment and achievement?
I’m not sure that I have one particular proudest moment or achievement but it does warm my heart when people tell me that crafting was a life saver for them bringing them back from the depths of depression. If sharing my passion has helped just one person that would be amazing.
What do you think is more important to make it in this industry: creative talent, hard work or luck?
To succeed in any industry you need to be passionate about what you do, be prepared for lots of hard work, having creative talent helps along with lots of luck, sadly it's sometimes about who you know and being in the right place at the right time.
What is your favourite project type (mini albums, cards, layouts, home decor...) and colour?
Thanks to one person I’ve moved on from being a CAS card maker to embracing a wide spectrum of crafting, love mini albums, mixed media and everything in between. And the person in question is the super talented, humble, sweet, generous with his time and inspiration...the most wonderful ambassador for the industry, the guy we all love, my hero Tim Holtz and my favourite colour…seriously do I have to pick just ONE…well it’s probably the latest colour to be added to the Distress Ink Family.
Where you go for inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere, Mother Nature is only too willing to share her wonderful palette of colour and textures and a visit to Pinterest or the blogs of the many crafters who share their amazing talents with us all can't fail to inspire.What is next for you: (both what you are doing next and what you Would like to do next)
Who knows what the future holds. I thank my lucky stars that I have fairly good health.
I’ve learned over the years that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks and with a bit of luck there’s still life in the old “won’t see 60 again” crafter. Here’s to many more years doing what I love.
And finally, Do you remember when we first met? Any good/bad impressions?
I remember well the first time I met Paula. It was at the Hobbycraft show at The NEC, my first time teaching a Fiskars workshop and across the aisle were the Sizzix Team. Paula was so friendly kind and helpful, can you imagine the embarrassment of having borrow a pair of scissors from Sizzix to open my box of Fiskars tools and did I happen to mention that she is also so unbelievably and annoyingly gorgeous.Paula's version: You are too kind Kath! I had seen your work online before we met and loved it! I am a big fan of both her work and her persona. I already admired Kath deeply but this week even more so.
You can find more of Kath here:
Monday, 27 July 2015
New blog post for Craft Asylum
This week on the Craft Asylum blog I share a little tutorial on how to make this card!
Thursday, 23 July 2015
Craft Conversations with the Pros: Pete Hughes
Today is the turn to ask the questions to Pete Hughes, someone who I both hate and adore. I hate him because every single time I see what he has done it makes me realise how much talent he has and how little I have. But the truth is that he is one of the loveliest, most talented, versatile and trustworthy people that you will ever meet, and I am not just talking about the craft industry. It is impossible not to adore him!
When and how did you start in the industry?
Was it full time? Part time?
What type of job at first? Did you started as a creative straight away?
How do you describe your job nowadays?
What would you do differently?
Is it hard to work full/part time in the craft industry? Can you name your major challenges you face?
Out of everything you do and have done, what is your favourite?
Your proudest moment and achievement?
What is your favourite project type and colour?
Where you go for inspiration?
What is next for you?
And finally, Do you remember when we first met? Any good/bad impressions?
Paula's version:
And the link to your blog and any social media?
Thank You Pete for your time, inspiration and friendship!
You can read other Craft Conversations with the Pros here:
Dawn Bibby | Pete Hughes | Kath Stewart | Karen Burniston | Jane Gill | Alberto Juarez
I started life as a freelance cartoonist/illustrator and I was working for an educational publishing company named SLP when we became UK distributors for Ellison Educational Die-cutting products. Three years later Ellison asked us if we would like to distribute a new craft brand called Sizzix and the rest, as they say, is history!
Was it full time? Part time?
It was a full time post.
What type of job at first? Did you started as a creative straight away?
While training at Art College I worked evenings and weekends at a local hotel which I continued to do after I left college and went freelance, I ended up as the restaurant manager and tried to balance this with my freelance work. Later on I took up a full time post as a designer for the company mentioned above.
Pete at the Sizzix/Ellison Europe Studio
How do you describe your job nowadays?
I work office hours based mainly at Ellison Europe HQ. I prepare projects for UK and European magazines, content for our website and my blog. I also create projects for workshop classes when I visit some of our distributors and retailers many of whom have become great friends down the years.
What would you do differently?
Nothing really! I don’t like looking back although there are certain techniques/products I wish I had discovered earlier!
Is it hard to work full/part time in the craft industry? Can you name your major challenges you face?
Sometimes; inspiration is hard to come by and at times the deadlines are a killer. I always feel a sense of responsibility to show the Sizzix products in their best light while still pleasing the magazine/client, but above all, pleasing the person spending their hard earned money i.e. the customer. My own personal taste or preferences come bottom of the list!
Card featuring two of Pete Hughes Elegance dies
Out of everything you do and have done, what is your favourite?
I know it’s a bit of a cliché but…. The last thing is always the best.
Your proudest moment and achievement?
My greatest achievement is continuing to grow as a designer while remaining enthusiastic and curious. I don’t have a single ‘Proudest Moment’ but it is very nice to receive compliments from the people in the industry whom I admire and respect.
What do you think it's more important to have a job in this industry: creative talent, hard work or luck?
A combination of the three but hard work it is the most important! Specially to make a long career out of it.
What is your favourite project type and colour?
I love cards because I like to work quickly and make simple statements. Layouts are always fun to do and there are so many fabulous styles to choose from, I just wish I had time to do more. Favourite colours change like the weather but I do love working with minimal colour palettes and I am loving monochromes with various shades of grey.
Where you go for inspiration?
Everywhere! You will often find me in high street fashion shops with my camera phone in my hand. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration which can act as a creative springboard when you’re stuck for ideas. I love those ‘eureka’ moments when all the pieces fall into place and you discover a new technique.
What is next for you?
Somebody once asked me what my ambition was and I said simply to become a better designer, this is what I love to do and that makes me happy. I just want to continue to grow as a designer and explore new styles and techniques for as long as I can.
Pete's projects for Tim Holtz at the Sizzix booth at Paperworld 2015
And finally, Do you remember when we first met? Any good/bad impressions?
When the very first Sizzix machine landed on these shores It was my job to create some projects which would hopefully persuade people to invest in this brand new technological marvel!
I set about buying a few books and visiting craft fairs. I also subscribed to Crafts Beautiful magazine which was and continues to be a great source of inspiration. The projects that really appealed to me where designed by a young lady named Paula Pascual but it wasn’t till a few years later that we actually met, when you introduced yourself I didn’t catch your name at first for two reasons….. I’m quite deaf and you talk at 3000 words a minute! I thought that you looked familiar and it was only a little later that I put two and two together.
I am happy to say that you came to work with us and I was able to learn so much from you about techniques and new products. Like me, you are always striving to offer people something new from old familiar dies and you are always very generous in sharing your ideas with others.
I’m also happy to count you as one of my favourite people in the whole wide world (maybe it’s because we are Birthday Buddies?)
We are Craft Twins! Born on the same day, though different years!
Paula's version:
I don't really know when we first met properly. Pete is one of those crafters that when I started going to shows in late 2002 early 2003, I could immediately identify as a huge talent and great personality. I learnt his name through the articles in magazines, as they always caught my eye as the most creative and colourful.
Since I started to work closely with Sizzix in 2011, Pete has become one of my closest friends in the industry (and I do have several) but his no nonsense approach, creative talents and great sense of humor have been such an inspiration and a constant delight!
And the link to your blog and any social media?
Social What?Pete does NOT do social media but you can find Pete´s weekly amazing projects here on the Sizzix blog. Also, check this other great interview on the Hobbycraft blog here.
Thank You Pete for your time, inspiration and friendship!
You can read other Craft Conversations with the Pros here:
Dawn Bibby | Pete Hughes | Kath Stewart | Karen Burniston | Jane Gill | Alberto Juarez
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Demonstration at Crafts U love
Monday, 20 July 2015
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