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One of the main things a card maker or keen scrapbook maker can never have enough of is paper.

If you are anything like me you will have a huge pile of papers but when it comes to making a card or designing a scrapbook page you simply can not part with some of your wonderful and beautiful papers.

There are so many stunning designs of paper available for card makers and scrap bookers some are so stunning it seems a shame to cut them up and create cards from them, although the cards will be beautiful if you are like me you just do not want to part with any of your paper.

I have often found that when I want to create a card I will search through my pile of papers for background paper and cant find any thing simple enough to use, most of the pretty papers are too mach for a small card especially if you are going to add a large embellishment or maybe even a decoupage piece.

One of the solutions I came up with was to create my own backing paper. I tried out many ideas, some worked some did not the best way I found to create simple background papers is to use my ink pads.

Firstly I decided what topper, embellishment or decoupage piece you want to use so that you can determine the colors you will need so that the picture and the paper correspond and work well together.

Simply stamp your ink pad all over the paper or card front, do not worry about making it even it actually looks better if it is not perfect. If you are lucky enough to have a large supply of ink pads you could always use more than one color but make sure it matches what ever you are going to place on top of it.

It is important to wait until the ink has dried so that you do not smudge it. One dry you can then add your embellishment to the paper or card.

Making your own backing paper will save you money and you can choose the color to match your design perfectly.

You can use this technique on both paper and card but try not to be too heavy handed with your ink pads as this can leave a thick layer of ink. I find when doing this, less is more.

You can also lightly spray your paper or card with a small amount of water, this will make the ink go a lot further, again do not over wet paper or card as this can cause it to crinkle and no longer be flat making it a lot harder to work with.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Backing Papers including where to find the best bargains

Scrap booking is a hobby that relates to pasting articles, photos, magazine, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia into personalised decorative albums. Scrap booking is a growing hobby and often ’scrappers’ meet on a regular basis for weekends or evenings to share tips and ideas for scrapbook ideas.

In its earliest form scrap booking was a way to blend memorabilia and journals. Scrapbooks have been created since printed material has been available.

Older style scrapbooks tended to have photos that were mounted with photo mount corners with quotes about who was in the photos and when the picture was taken. Quite often these pages would have memorabilia attached to them to make them more attractive.

If like me you are the type of person who is always taking photos and keeps memorabilia from places you visit such as tickets or receipts then scrap booking would be a perfect hobby for you to embark on.

Scrapbooks are great to improve and express your creative side as well as being something that you can store all your photos in.

It is important to use high quality materials when doing scrap booking, as your scrapbook will probably become one of your most treasured possessions due to the time you will spend on it. The most important thing to remember is always use products that are acid free using something that is not acid free can deteriorate and colors may fade over time.

It you are stuck for ideas there are so many books, websites and magazines that will give you great ideas for scrap book pages, however I do think it is important for you to try and create something personal and unique as this will reflect your crafting capabilities and your own personality.

Scrap books can also be given as gifts, sometimes just looking through a pile of photos can be rather boring but choosing the best ones and presenting them on a beautiful page filled with memories will bring a smile to any ones face.

If you are new to scrap booking then you could always purchase a kit to get you started scrapbook kits will contain the basic supplies to create a few pages. The items you will receive will all correspond in colour so you know that it will work together. Although the more professional scrapper would probably not use a kit they are perfect for beginners and will give you great ideas where to start and what colours go with what.

Once you have created your first scrapbook page and have seen how wonderful it looks im sure you will be as hooked on this hobby as I was. Then you can be more creative and try the 100s of techniques there is. It is also a great way to make new friends so keep your eyes out for local scrap book clubs that you could join to share tips and ideas.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Rubber Stamping including where to get find the best bargains

Most professional crafters will already know and have enjoyed creating stunning cards, scrapbook pages and gifts with decoupage.

Decoupage comes from the French word ‘cut’ and originated in the 18th century.
In its early years decoupage may have been considered a child’s craft as it involves cutting pieces paper and layering them on top of each other to create an image that is 3d.

Today decoupage is becoming more and more sophisticated and quite often I have seen larger decoupage images framed as pictures around peoples homes. The effects decoupage has may make it look complicated but it is actually really simple.

It is important to have the right tools when creating decoupage images for card or scrapbook projects I would strongly recommend you invest in a pair of high quality curved scissors and when cutting remember to have the curve away from your body.

Keep the hand holding the scissors still apart from opening and closing the blades to cut the paper, you will get a far better result if you move the paper and guide it to the scissors rather than the other way around.

You may need to use a scalpel or craft knife when cutting intricate parts of decoupage or parts from inside the image its self. If you do use a craft knife make sure you have a cutting mat underneath before you cut.

Once you have cut your images out the next step is to create layers to go on top of each other, those that have been creating decoupage images for sometime may use silicone gel to layer the images on top of each other but beginners to decoupage will find foam pads are a great way to start.

Remember you do not want to see the foam pads when the image has been stuck down so take care not to place them too near the edge of your cutting.

Then simply layer the images on top of each other to create a stunning 3d look.

Decoupage sheets can be easily purchased on the internet or in craft shops some of which will come with step by step instructions making it even easier for you to know exactly what and where to cut.

You could also try finding your own images on the internet and simply repeating the design at least 4 times then printing on high quality inkjet paper, you will need to be careful with copyright issues if you do decide to try this.

It is also possible to purchase decoupage disks or cd where the images are all ready there all you need to do is print, cut and stick them together.

Decoupage is becoming more and more popular to crafters, if you are new to card making it is something that is simple but extremely effective for card projects giving them a really professional look.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrapbooking and Decoupage including where to get find the best bargains

If you are new to scrap booking, card making or any type of crafting you may not have heard of a sizzix machine. A sizzix machine is made by the company elision and is a wonderful tool that is use to create stunning die cuts.

The sizzix machine has a lever and a sliding cutting mat. You place a piece of card with the die face down onto the cutting mat underneath the pressure point then simply pull down the lever and you will have the perfect die cut.

The sizzix machine comes with full instructions and do not worry they are really easy to read and understand. The machine its self is heavy stopping it from moving around when in use it is also extremely sturdy.

The cutting part is done quickly and easily by simply pulling down the lever. The cut is perfect and precise. You will be amazed at how many different dies sizzix has produced it really will cover every hobby passion or theme.

You can also adapt the sizzix machine to use additional templates called sizzlits. The converter is easy to install and easy to purchase giving you access to loads more dies that are available.

The sizzix machine can be expensive and the average cost is about $65 it is also heavy and quite a large tool however it is one you will use time and time again due to its versatility.

The dies that you can purchase for your sizzix machine can vary in size but they come in a neat little box that can be stored easily.

The sizzix machine can not only cut through paper and card it can also cut through rubber, felt, metal and many other materials.

The die you produce from your sizzix machine can be used for embellishments, toppers and may other things.

One of the most popular sizzix dies is the alphabet, although you may feel they are a big expenditure once you have purchased the die you will be able to cut any word you wish, this is perfect for scrap booking and card making.

Over all the sizzix machine is a versatile easy to use addition to any crafters tools the cutting is easy and the adapter means you really can create anything you want. Storage may be a problem but it is worth clearing out that cupboard for this stunning machine.

Having used a sizzix machine for a few years now I would strongly recommend that this is a great buy, something that will be used over and over again. It is also something you can use with your children, although it is wise to supervise as the blades in the dies themselves can be extremely sharp.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Sizzix Machines including where to get find the best bargains

There is a really good book out called ‘Grow your own cut flowers’ by Sarah Raven published by BBC Worldwide which could prove helpful. (Amazon are brilliant at getting books from overseas) She suggests flowers such as sweet peas, scabious and snapdragons, dahlias and zinnias but you will need to concentrate on annuals and make sure no biennials creep in as they will not flower in time.

The lovely sweetpea colours, with the lilac-blue of the scabious and the lipstick pink of the zinnias would look fantastic, you could even pop a few florist bought freesias and roses in just for good measure. But if can get hold of this book, it will be of help I’m sure.

You may consider making a tied wedding bouquet, where the flowers are all kept on their natural stems and not wired. These are very popular at the moment and the beauty of these are they can be transported in a small pot of water and just taken out before the ceremony (make sure you take something to wipe the stems with)If you do decide to wire the stems, then make sure you spray them well with water and then cover them in a tent of cellophane and keep somewhere cool.

You will have to condition the flowers you cut from your garden very well. The night before, when it has cooled down and then stand in cold water overnight before using. There are many different methods of conditioning flowers depending on whether they are soft stemmed, woody, hollow etc. so you may be advised to get a book from the library, as the success of your bouquet will be down to the conditioning of the flowers and foliages used. Try out certain flowers the week before to see how long they last once cut and conditioned. It’s best to know this before the big day.

Most florists work from a design book that is generally provided by the relay organisation they belong to e.g Interflora, Teleflower etc. This ensures that the customer knows exactly what she/he has ordered and by rights the florist should work from that design book/manual and send out an exact replica. Relay organisations regularily test their members by sending them false orders and checking them for design, flower quality and value.

There are so many different styles nowadays and they are usually divided into; gift flowers (Bouquets, Hand tied bouquets, baskets, posies, planted baskets, Pot-et-fleur) function/wedding flowers; (pedestals, altar displays, garlands, pew ends, table centres, long low displays, candle displays) Then the bridal flowers; (Bride’s bouquet, Bridesmaid’s Posies, Baskets, garlands, hoops, corsages, buttonholes) Flowers for new born babies; (Cradles, ceramic containers usually in the shapes of prams and trains etc, filled with flowers) Then, sadly funeral flowers; (Sprays, sheaves, massed heart, cushion, pillow, crosses, open wreath, based wreath.)

I have probably omitted some but as you can see there are a very wide range of items that a florist should be able to produce for his/her client.Have you tried searching for Interflora on the web, they are bound to have plenty of pictures and ideas to help bulk out your project. Maybe a single white rose bud (thorns removed) with a small blue or pink ribbon tied right up under the rose head.

This always looks special. You could do the same with a gerbera or a carnation. Keep them in water and hand out just as the party finishes. Or a little pot of pansies with tissue paper wrapped around the pot. These will last a lot longer and can be planted in the garden afterwards.

Fresh tulips are wonderful in a wedding bouquet. If you have them assembled as a hand tied,you can place the stems in water until you need to use them (make sure you dry the ends well)and they should be alright for a few hours out of water. Then you could have a small vase ready, maybe on the cake table, that you can place the tulips for the rest of the day. This will only really work with a posy style hand tied and if the flowers are quite tightly packed and firmly tied, they should behave themselves.

I know that in Holland (where alot of our flowers come from in the U.K.) they do seem to have extended the season for lilac, especially the white variety so maybe a florist where you are could make some enquiries. I have been searching for alternatives for you and can suggest the following; White and lilac mop headed hydrangeas (will give you a lovely cluster)

Delphiniums come in some lovely shades of lilac and blue and also white and used in little sprays could look a little like lilac. I have in a vase at home some wonderful artificial stems of lilac which have been admired by so many people. Maybe combined with some fresh foliage and maybe another flower variety, this could be an alternative… so have a look round and ask about for silk lilac, but make sure it’s really good. How far you insert the stems will depend on the size of the bouquet holders you choose to use. You should leave the stems as long as possible without making them poke through the other side. One inch is the very shortest.

I would highly recommend that you try to get your hands on some FloraLock. This is an adhesive that comes with a nozzle that you spray directly onto the floral foam and around the stems after the arrangements are finished. But be sure you’re in love with the arrangement before you glue! You cannot make any changes to the arrangement once FloraLock has dried. Also, you don’t need much of it. Use it sparingly until you get the hang of it, or you’ll have it dripping down the handle of the bouquet holder. I don’t know if FloraLock is available at any craft stores - a florist may need to order it for you.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.SendFlowers4.info/. SendFlowers4.info is a great place to shop for flowers, gift baskets, and plants when you are looking for a special gift. Start here to search by “Special Occasion”: http://www.SendFlowers4.info/category/occasions.html.

Whether you are working on a card making idea or a scrap book page one of the main things you simply can not do with out is proper craft glue.

Depending on what you are trying to attach will determine the type of craft glue you need.

There is nothing worse that creating a stunning card or scrapbook and the embellishments fall off after a few days, which is why it is important to use the right craft glue to suit what you are doing.

Craft glue can come in various forms. Liquid, glue sticks, tape, dots, and glittered, envelope glue and so on. It is important to use the right craft glue to avoid ruining your projects.

The craft glue I mainly use is double sided tape, this is because it is very strong and will hold almost anything together, If I was to cover the front of a card in a different paper I would always use double sided tape, the only disadvantage of using double sided tape is that once you have stuck the item down you will not be able to remove it without damaging it, therefore you will have to get it right first time.

Sticky dots are another popular choice of craft glue, these are more versatile because it is possible to stick something down and if you are not happy you can carefully remove it and re position it. Sticky dots are however a little bit messy, they seem to get everywhere, you should receive a special rubber with a pack of sticky dots, which you can gently remove any stray one with.

Using a craft glue stick may work for some card making ideas however I find that if using thin paper it can cause the paper to crumple and have a puckered look which does not really give it a professional finish also most craft glue sticks will only stick paper to paper, if you wanted to stick a more fancy embellishment then it may not hold.

Spray mount is a wonderful craft glue that is perfect for card making ideas and scrap books, one of the advantages of using spray mount is you can reposition your work but once it is dry it is permanent the only disadvantage is that it is harder to control where and how much you spray.

There are so many different craft glues for different projects you will soon find you will need a draw to hold them all in but craft glue and having the correct type could mean the difference between your card making ideas looking fantastic or not so good.

You can even get a glue that will stop fabric from fraying, it is so annoying when you cut a lovely piece of ribbon and attach it to your project only for it to be all frayed and unattractive the next day. This glue bonds the fabric preventing this from happening.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Craft Glue including where to find the best bargains

One of my favourite types of craft paper to use for my card making ideas is vellum paper, there is so much you can do with it to create stunning effects and designs.

Vellum was initially a translucent type of paper made from calfskin that had been soaked and then dried at a normal temperature under some sort of tension.

Vellum is a parchment paper that got its name from the French word velin which stands for calfskin, it is smooth and durable and can be used in so many ways for card making ideas.

Vellum paper can come in a variety of colours or prints and can vary in weight and thickness.

Using vellum for your card making ideas is a fun way to embellish and add definition to your cards, it does not always have to be a sheet of plain color as vellum can come in many prints including flowers, swirls and even pictures.

You can use vellum to mat and layer and even to cover the whole front of a card however because it is slightly see though you will need to be careful when attaching it to your card making ideas as many adhesives will show through.

There are some vellum adhesives available however these can sometimes be expensive and I find that even thought they are supposed to be invisible you can still see the tape, maybe its just because I know its there and I am looking for it.

If possible try to attach vellum to your card making ideas by means other than adhesives, I use brads where possible so that the vellum is secured and no glue is needed.

You can also print on vellum which is a really effective way of having a message on your cards or a poem. Because vellum is so smooth you will need to be very careful when printing on vellum as it may smudge. I would wait at least a few hours before attaching the printed vellum to one of you card making ideas.

You can also try to dry the ink with a heat gun but use the lowest setting and be very careful as this can burn the vellum.

Vellum can also be used to punch out ghost like shapes, I find punching out flower shapes and building them up on the front of a card gives it a stunning look.

If using vellum quotes you can simply cut the wording out however I find if you rip around the vellum words it looks a lot nicer.

Whether you are using quotes, printed patterned or plain vellum you will find that there is so much you can do with it you will love it.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Vellum including where to find the best bargains

When I first began card making and scrap booking I though I knew quite a lot however over time I have picked up and learnt so many new tips and tricks and I am sure there is plenty more out there to discover.

One of my favourite accessories for card making is brads, they come in all shapes and sizes and a huge variety of colors.

There are so many things you can do with brads, when I first started card making I purchased some silver and gold brads just to see what I could come up with. I mainly used them to make a template for a word stand out, usually happy birthday. Id cut a piece of card into a rectangle then use peel offs for the words, id find some gold or silver mirror card and mount the words on the mirror card using 3d foam pads.

I would then use a pokey tool to make a hole in the word template all the way through my card, id then put the brads through the holes (one at each end) turn the card over and bend the backs of the brads to hold them in place.

Although this made the card look fantastic it meant that when the card was opened you could see the backs of the brads, so I would either make an insert to hide the backs of the brads or I would cover the back of the card front with another piece of card to hide them.

I did this for almost a year until I realised if I put the brad through the first piece of card where my letters or wording was before I mounted it onto the mirror card the brads would already be in place, I could then use double sided tape to attach the mounted wording to the card. This meant I did not go through the actual card itself so there was no need to cover the inside of the card as the back of the brads could not be seen.

It may seem obvious but it was a long time before I twigged that this is a better way to attach brads to cards.

Brads come in so many different colours however its always the way when your making a card that you never have the colour you want. I had a go at embossing one of my brads and it worked. Follow the same steps as you would for embossing a stamped image, cover the brad in ink the sprinkle your embossing powder over the ink and heat as normal.

Try not to over heat the brad as this can cause it to become fragile and the backs may snap. Using this method means that you make your brad any color you like.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for using Brads including where to find the best bargains

One of the most popular accessories to use when creating cards and scrap book pages is to accessorise it using ribbon. Adding ribbon to a card can really finish it off giving it a professional finish and really make a card stand out.

Ribbons today are manufactured from many different types of fabric from satin to nylon some are patterned some have decorative items such as sequins or pearls added to them others have stunning edges.

Grosgrain ribbon is often used for card making, grosgrain ribbon is one of the more heavy ribbons and is normally made from silk, it can be purchased in a huge variety of colors. Grosgrain ribbon has a sort of ribbed look to it and is bold and usually consists of 1 solid color.

Satin ribbon is made of a smooth silky material either silk or rayon, it has a glossy look and is sometimes dull on the back. Satin ribbon is great for card making and scrap booking because of its shine, it is also commonly used for gift wrapping. This type of ribbon comes in a variety of colors and sizes to suit any project you are creating.

Velvet ribbon is probably one of the harder ribbons to work with when card making, this ribbon is luxurious and adds a touch of elegance. Velvet ribbon is soft and is a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back. Velvet ribbon is available in many different colors and sizes.

Organza ribbon is becoming more and more popular with crafters, it can be purchased in every color you can imagine and every size possible. It is a lightweight ribbon that has a sheer crisp look. Organza ribbon is especially popular for wedding cards.

Organza Ribbon can be plain or extremely fancy, it is extremely versatile and looks stunning when made into a big bow for the front of a card.

Gingham ribbon is one of my personal favourites it is a medium weight plain weave ribbon which has a check or plaid pattern. The checks in gingham ribbon are equal in width so they resemble little squares. Gingham ribbon has been around for centuries and is becoming more and more popular. Gingham ribbon comes in many different colors and sizes.

When using ribbon for card making it is important to use the correct adhesives, some ribbons are see through and there is nothing worse than seeing glue or a huge sticky dot where the ribbon has been fixed to the card. If adding a bow try and incorporate something that will set it of and also fasten it to your project, I find a brad work just fine and it will secure the ribbon at the same time.

What ever type of ribbon you use you will not be disappointed, I find when I have finished a card and I feel there is something missing a bit of ribbon sets it off a treat.

Vicki Churchill writes for a site that specializes in Card Making Ideas providing you with excellent tips and ideas for Scrap Booking and Ribbon including where to find the best bargains

Finding the right brushes and becoming familiar with the texture and nuances of oil paint is critical to successfully using this medium.

As far as brushes go, you can use hoghair oil-color brushes with this medium - two or three round-shaped ones, sizes 3, 6, and 8, and two or three flat-shaped, with one large one, size 12. These can be the usual long-handled type of brushes. They should be kept carefully and washed well with first turpentine and then soap and water after use (see Figure 14). They should be kept in a long round tin if you can find one.

You could do with a strong ex-army knapsack to hold your tin of paints and your tin of brushes, your bottles, large and small, of turpentine, and plenty of soft rag. You will also need a tin dipper, a fairly good big one with a turned-over clip at the base to clip on to your palette.

The chief point to remember is that now you are not dealing with a water medium which runs downhill and takes time to dry - you have the knowledge that almost as soon as your brush touches the paper, your paint will “stay put,” you have no need to guide washes of color to the right place, and no need to wait for drying because the color dries almost at once. But it is not wise to put one wash over another as in watercolor - you have to get the full force of your color straightaway.

The mixing of colors is just about the same as with watercolors. The difference in use is the important thing. You do not mix up a lot of color, you dip your brush slightly into the turpentine in the “dipper” fixed to your palette, find the tint on your palette, and then take only the minimum of paint. Then, with very little of the required color on your brush point, you dip it well into the turpentine and rapidly apply it to paper. You aim at a full tonal effect from the start, for your colors will be fuller and stronger than in watercolor paint.

One of the things to remember is that as you are using a more expensive medium than water to dilute your colors, you must keep the amount of turpentine in your “dipper” as clean as possible by liberal and constant use of your rags. Should your “turps” become really dirty, however, do not hesitate to pour it away and put out some more.

Your technique should be one of directness, rigorous selection, emphasis, and simplicity, are essential for using this medium, for once a brush stroke is on the gleaming white paper, it is there finally: no subsequent overlaying with other tints is going to help - in fact, this will spoil the result at once. It spoils the effect if any preliminary drawing in pencil is made on the paper; therefore it is as well to take your smallest round brush and dip it slightly in your cobalt or ultramarine blue and, with a good jab into the turpentine, start off to draw your subject in a blue outline.

Or if you consider blue is too definite a color for your drawing you can use a mixture of madder and viridian green. This, mixed with plenty of turps, will give a nice soft warm gray tint, that will make a pleasant start to your work.

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