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Tuesday 25 March 2014

A few questions-part 1

Hey everyone! 
Today I decided to do something a little different and answer a few questions about myself so you can all find out about the designer of CraftinEm. Unfortunately I'm a little poorly at the moment so I'll do my best to answer them. Seen as I've had no questions through yet (but still want to give you some idea of who I am), I'm going to answer the interview questions given to designers in a favourite magazine of mine. 
I do hope you enjoy! If you do have a question you want me to answer please pop it along onto my Facebook page (http://Facebook.com/BeautifulBeadsNow) or email me at (Beautifulbeadsnow@gmail.com). I'm hoping to soon change these http addresses to CraftinEm too so it doesn't confuse anyone! So onto the questions. 

Q: How long have you been a crafter for?
A: I've been crafting on and off for about 4 years. I started out in jewellery design and craft, then made my way slowly onto Papercraft after buying a magazine one day. 

Q: Tell us a bit about your design background? 
A: I took a college diploma in Art & Design as a student as I knew I wanted to be in that area but hadn't decided which design path to take. During that time I found I liked Jewellery, hence resulting in opening Beautiful Beads (which has now closed making way for CraftinEm) and taking a diploma in Creative Jewellery Design. I took the course for a year in London travelling down every Tuesday for a day lesson. The course had shown me it was harder to make it in jewellery than people imagined! The rest was history! 

Q: What's your favourite type of project to work on and why?
A: At the moment I like themed work. All my work has a girlie vintage theme to it, however when someone asks for a male fishing card (past commission), I took the challenge and ran with it! This is the finished card..

Q: What sort of materials do you like to work with? 
A: My favourite part of a card/paper item is patterned papers! There are so many different types, colours and patterns! Then my favourite embellishment has got to be flowers. I get through so many on my vintage designs. 

Q: Your top tips for someone starting out with card making? 
A: Always look in the magazines first for ideas! Let alone the ideas are amazing but the free gifts are what can build your stash to the ultimate best! Also if you haven't got a layout idea, search Pinterest (mine is CraftinEm) for sketches. The layouts are perfect, just follow the design and add your own papers and embellishments.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
A: Mostly at the moment it seems to be from the papers themselves, seen as I tend to only buy vintage themed papers anyways. However I also do follow lots of card boards, cottage chic boards and vintage boards on Pinterest and follow vintage groups on Facebook (http://Facebook.com/BeautifulBeadsNow).

Q: What is your favourite card making technique?
A: For my cards themselves it has to be Decopatch! They make such a glamourous layered look in seconds! However I do also like stamping, inking and colouring, but I need to improve on these before I add them to my cards.

That concludes part one everyone! Sorry it was quite long with little pictures! I hope to add more into the next one! 
See you all soon!
Emma P 

Sunday 23 March 2014

The Shabby Tea Room- Week 210

Hey everyone! 
Let's have a shabby tea room post and guess what this week is! Random week! We have no limits, they haven't asked for anything except our creativity! I love this is idea however I do like the idea that we get given an item to put in the card- I mean this is why I do shabby tea room competition. 

This is the photo we were given.
(http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/week-210-anything-goes.html) 

I know this is a late card and I won't be able to enter it but I've done it anyways! 

(https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/183686510/handmade-decopatch-dressing-table-blank?)

Next week I will enter again! 
See you all soon!
Emma P 

Thursday 20 March 2014

Crafty uploads!

Hey all! 
I've got a busy day ahead of me today! Yes it's my day off full time work but back at home it means craft time! As of 8:59am (GMT) this morning I have already uploaded one beautiful card to my etsy and Facebook and have taken photos of my new uploads too! I'm on a roll! 

This is the card I uploaded earlier. 
(https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/183322281/handmade-pink-lace-girls-dress-and?) 

Here are the two I'm uploading later. I may just craft some more first! I've also got a MojoMonday post to do today too! All hands on deck today! 

(https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/183331235/handmade-decopatch-bags-and-hearts-cream)

To be uploaded

Don't forget everyone, see a Mother's Day card you like on my etsy, why not pop in the discount code and you'll get 25% off that beauty! Quote "MOT25" at the checkout. This finishes on the 24/3/14 so get it while you can! 

Have a good day! 
Emma P 


Wednesday 19 March 2014

25% off Mothers Day Sale!

Hey everyone, 
Do you fancy a cheeky little saving on a card for Mother's Day? Why not pop on over to my etsy (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CraftinEm) and whilst at the checkout pop in the code "MOT25" to save yourself 25% off your Mother's Day cards! Just like this one.. 


The offer ends on the 24th of March and you have to spend £4 for the offer to apply! 

Hope to see you all soon!
Emma P 

Monday 17 March 2014

Mothers Day Sale

Hey everyone! 
Today's post will only be short, just want to let you all know that as of Wednesday I will be having a sale on my etsy page (and promoted on my Facebook page) for my Mother's Day cards. I will reduce the cards by 25% and delivery will be speedy as always. That means you will have the awesome cards for a saving! 

Here are my links and a few pictures to remind you! 
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CraftinEm
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/BeautifulBeadsNow
Twitter: @BeautifulBeads1

 
Much loves all!
Emma P


Thursday 13 March 2014

The Shabby Tea Room- week #206

Hey all!
Just a little entry post this evening as I've got a majorly bad headache. I decided to make my shabby tea room entry without a sketch today and I loved how it came out. This is the picture we were given.
Link: http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/week-209-spring-is-near.html

We needed to make a card featuring baby blue, spring flowers and birds. Of course my designs being the way they are, it was perfect for me! I created this simple, yet elegant card.

Etsy: to be added soon.

Emma P


MojoMonday 336 AND news :)

Hey everyone! 
I hope you've had an amazing week, sorry I've not been around much! I've been here, there and everywhere. First I'll tell you all my news! As you all know I've been try to see if I have a place in the crafting market and it seems I do! I've sold my first card on etsy and it's just been sent off to its new owner today! I've never been happier! I was dancing around the room and even ran down to my parents! Since then I have sold another, both Mother's Day cards.

Now I've made you all happy and warm inside, who would like to see a card? Here's the MojoMonday sketch we had this week, I knew what I would do as soon as I saw it! 

I had a lovely circle card topper from HunkyDory Crafts that was perfect for this card! So of course with Mothers Day coming up, another Mother's Day card was created. Include ribbon, twine and flowers and there you go! Here it is.

Etsy link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/182528851/handmade-circle-flower-and-butterfly?

Enjoy your day all!
Emma P


Thursday 6 March 2014

3D works- gift bags


Hey all, 
This is my second post for today! Just another quick one showcasing a little 3D gift bag I made from a papercraft magazine I collect. It goes with a shoe 3D card made by Jenny (http://jfroog.blogspot.co.uk), i will be making the shoe card soon too. However I changed the basics of the design but kept the colour (purple). Here's my git bag.

I don't understand why the lighting gave the bag black edges, but it does show the bag size quite well. It fits a small bag of sweets inside. I already have a recipient in mind for this, a lovely lady who is leaving my work place soon. She will love this. My bag is decorated with gems, flowers, rub one, ribbon and paper. The tag is a personal message to my lovely colleague, very best wishes. 

Pop around soon for more 3D work of mine, I'm enjoying it more and more! 
Emma P

MojoMoney sketch #335

Hey everyone! I've got a few posts to do today so sorry if you have an abundance of them! The first is my MojoMonday sketch. I can't believe we're on sketch #335 already! I decided to switch this sketch around a little and even use a different size card base.
Here is the original sketch.
I've added a doily and moved the second square to the bottom right hand corner to add balance. Anyways here you go!

EDIT- etsy link
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/181962312/handmade-pink-doily-and-silver-bird-just

I apologise for the horrible photos! My lighting is decreasing rapidly!

Emma P

Monday 3 March 2014

New technique!

Hey everyone!
I decided seen as I was a little ill and busy this last weekend that I would make a few cards today. As of the moment I've only made one so sorry but this post will only have one card! Can you forgive me ;)
 Anyways I've been researching on Pinterest (CraftinEm if you want to follow me) about new techniques  to make my cards 10 times better! Then I found this! First I'll show you my card and then tell you about it!
                               


I found a video and a few card tutorials on how to make coloured and embossed background. So biting the bullet I tried it. First ink your embossing folder (the side which is not raised). Then press your card or paper in your embossing machine/die cutter and watch the magic happen! You will come out with a beautifully coloured and embossed piece of paper. Depending on the colour of ink you decide to use you can create a vintage background or a vibrant background. 

I decided to add lace and a beautiful red flower to make a gorgeous vintage card for when your thinking of someone. 

EDIT: etsy link, 
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/181720775/handmade-pink-thinking-of-you-dry?

Will be up on etsy tomorrow everyone!
Emma P