Celebrity Guest Blogger - Nigel May

Today, we have the absolute pleasure of getting to know a little more about the wonderful Mr Nigel May!!!

Nigel is one of the most popular presenters on Create and Craft and Ideal World TV. He is also a very avid writer, crafter and all round nice person! Enjoy the read.....

Name -

NIGEL MAY

If you have a blog, what's the blog address..?

My blog is part of my website which is www.nigelmay.net - I love writing it and try to update it as often as possible.

How long have you been crafting?

My interest started when I first began to present programmes at Create And Craft - I thought it was fascinating to see what people were making. I have been dabbling with it at home for a few years now. Demos on telly still scare me though!

How did you start crafting?

Watching people who were regulars on Create And Craft inspired me to have a go. People like Leann, Sara, Stephanie, Leonie, Nancy, Hayley, Sue Smith...they all made me realise how much fun and how affordable the world of craft is. Plus it's so much more satisfying to make something rather than buying a card from the shops.

What is your favorite product line?

I think the Ultimate Pro is such a good product - it just makes sense doesn't it? No wonder it's been a huge hit worldwide - it does everything. I am really proud of the A-May-Zing range too - it was like being an expectant father when the first CD-Rom was launched into the crafting world. I was so thrilled when people started to tell me they liked it. It was a lot of hard work.

What do you watch/listen to when you're creating?

It'll either be Create And Craft on the telly in the background or I will be listening to something poppy - I am an 80s boy at heart so it will probably be something retro like Culture Club or Duran Duran from the 80s.. Or Grace Jones - I love her! I could listen to her all day.

What do you snack on while crafting?

I graze all day long! Crisps, biscuits, sandwiches, fruit bars...anything. I seem to be continually hungry. I should really weigh about 20 stone!

Any paper crafting pet peeves?

Trying to put a card together with an inquisitive pussy cat on the table is never a good idea. My cat, Diva, is rather fond of sitting on piles of card and paper while I'm trying to decide what to do with them.

What is your favorite colour combination to use on your cards?

I love greens and purples but to be honest I don't have a particular favourite colour scheme. I do love a black and white card though, I think they look really stylish. I had a black and white Christmas one year which looked lovely.

Do you distress everything, not at all or somewhere in between?

I'm an inbetweener. Depends on what the card is hoping to look like.

What is your favourite tool in your scrappy space?

Sticky pick up tool - hours of fun moving things around your desk top and placing things like rhinestones on cards is so much easier than ever before.

What is your favourite item in your scrappy space?

I have some retro papers featuring Saturday Night Fever style dance figures. I love them - not sure what to do with them yet - I keep saving them for a rainy day. I know the card I make with them has to be disco-tastic!

When creating a project, do you plan it out or go with the flow?

I do try to plan, but usually something will take me off on a tangent half way through and make me think about trying something else so the end result will usually be totally different to the original idea

What type of adhesive do you use?

Colall glue is excellent and I do love a tape pen for speed.

What is your favourite kind of cardstock?

Core'Dinations cardstock. Beautiful stuff. There's so much choice.

Do you enjoy stepping out of your zone when creating new projects?

More now than I used to - I'm trying to challenge myself as I go along.

About how many projects do you create in a month?

It really depends on what is going on with birthdays, launches, special events etc. Some months are really busy and other ones are quite laid back.

When is the best time for you to create?

I'm a morning person. I have to do things early in the day. I peak early.

What quality do you like and admire in others?

Determination to succeed and a happiness and consideration to those around them.. Life's too short to get nasty - what's the point?

Here is Nigel's card, made to give you inspiration for this months Challenge... Pink and Black. The card is made from Nigel's first crafting CD...

And here's the card in progress....

Items used:

A-May-Zing - All Kinds Of Everything CD

6 x 6 Card Blank

Black and Pink Cardstock

Martha Stewart Boarder Punch

Foam Pads or 3D Glue Gel

Instructions:

1. Print out the vase of flowers decoupage and two pink backing papers from the CD.

2. Mat one of the backing papers onto black cardstock and attach to the base of the card.

3. Mat a smaller piece of backing onto black cardstock and attach to the base card as in the photo.

4. Cut out all the layers of decoupage and mat the base layer first onto pick cardstock and then onto black.

5. Build up the layers of decoupage using foam pads or 3D glue gel.

6. Punch a boarder from the black cardstock and attach to the base layer.

7. Attach the decoupage image to the card base to finish.

Design Team Inspiration Monday Week 3

Hope you are all having a great Bank Holiday Monday and are not getting to wet.

Here is what the Design team have come up with this week.

Sarah

Supplies

Brown coordinations cards stock, vintage Rusty Pickle patterned paper, various Green patterned paper (scraps), SU build a bloom stamp, SU Petite pairs sentiment stamps, Black stazon, Cream organza ribbon, SU Framlits dies, foam pads.

Kaz

Supplies

Bugaboo Digi Image Fabulous At 40

Promarkers

Glitter, Gems,& Ribbon

Red card core'dinations.

 Ang

Supplies:
DoCrafts Wellington Ultimate decoupage pack
Card Candi

Dont forget the DT Call ends on the 31st August

Kaz

XxX

Crafty Bloggers Network Guest blogger

This week we have a new guest blogger for you (slightly late due to technical issues), Jane Songhurst. So its over to Jane.....

Hello everyone, my name is Jane, I'm 52yrs old & am Mum to 4 wonderful sons, who have made me grandmother to 10 amazing & beautiful grandchildren. I live with my unruly Bichon Frise Ozzie aka The Hoolligan. Thank you to the Crafty Bloggers Network Girls for giving me this opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.

The card I have made for you is quite simple because most of my stash is packed away ready for my house move in about 4 weeks time. So please bare with me!

 I started crafting back in 1999 when I was disability retired from working in the care industry with the onset of Ankylosing Spondylosis & the work became to heavy for me. I started to collect craft materials with the view in mind of making cards, I still have the very 1st rubber stamp I bought, it's an Anita's wooden backed stamp if a starfish. I also at that time bought a mountain of pre made embellishments, ribbon, card & pretty paper, but didn't have a clue what to do with it all & it just sat there for a 12 months.

Then in 2000 I went to visit my sister in Australia & while in one of the huge shopping malls, I went in to look at one of the big craft stores & they were doing a demonstration for scrapbooking, I loved what I saw & purchased a 12x12 album & stack of papers ect.to bring home. That is where it all began, everything fell into place & I did nothing but scrapbook for many years, then I started attending a small local craft group & there was a lady there that made her own cards & they were fabulous, I also discovered a new era in die cuts had arrived, no longer were they the funny little everyday items like hearts, little people to dress or a fairy that I didn't have a clue how to use, they were patterns & shapes that you could build up & use with your rubber stamps. It was a whole new world evolving before my eyes & before I knew it I was addicted to cardmaking as well & I loved making them,while still enjoying my scrapbooking.

How would I describe my style? Eclectic I think, rarely 2 things the same & rarely turn out like the picture in my head at the start, whether it's a scrapbook layout or a card they just seem to evolve as I am working on it. They do always seem to be fairly clean lines, I love the look of the busy cards that some people make, but whenever I try busy, it just looks messy so I keep them simple.

I run 3 successful craft groups on Facebook known as The Craft Cupboard groups & recently started a spin off challenge blog called The Cupboard Trilogy  I also have my own blog called Doodles & Scraps of Me! 

The card I have made for you today which I haven't added a sentiment to yet, this is quite common for me because I tend to add a greeting later when I know who the card will be going too & what the occasion will be. I have used 3 half sheets of my favourite brand of Bazzill Basics card stock ~ Melon, Chiffon & Frosted, my Marianne Design Die ~ Anja's Quadrate Set, the piece of orange organza ribbon & the embellishment are from my tote. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this & I look forward to visiting your blogs soon Jane x

Design Team Inspiration Monday

Hope you all had a great weekend, here are our cards for this weeks Inspiration Monday.

Don't for great we are running a DT shout out as well, it's your chance to join our friendly little team here at Crafty Bloggers Network.

So come on what are you waiting for.

Kaz.

Supplies

Sassy Design Digi Stamp

Promarkers

Fancy Pants Pink Ribbon

Glossy Accents

Dovecraft Gems

Glitter, Feathers, Brad & Buckle.

Happy Crafting

Kaz

xXx

Friday Show and Tell #6 with Angela

Embossing with your cutting dies

Taking a card blank, tape your chosen die in place with low tack tape on the reverse side. Place the card and die with the ridge side of the die facing your tan (or silicone) mat as below

(I used a Grand Calibur for my card but you can use any machine, just cut the card size to fit your machine and use the appropriate sandwich listed below.)

Place the base plate on the card using the fold line for your guide as you do not want to emboss beyond the crease in the card.

Run through your machine.

Once you have done this you have a card with one side embossed (if you use a similar die to mine)

I then ran the card back through my machine with another die taped to the front giving me the following result:

In order to emphasise the embossing you may wish to ink the front of the card like so:

Here is my finished card:

Of course all this can be done equally as well onto a piece of card which you would matt and layer it to the front of your card blank.

The following sandwich recipes are from http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/ellen_hutson_simple_dream/compatibility_chart_spellbinder_dies/index.html

Big Shot:

Embossing Sandwich
1. Multipurpose Platform, Tab1 (flipped open to Tab 1)

2. Clear Acrylic mat*

3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock

5. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad

6. Clear Acrylic mat

7. Roll through Big Shot

Or Embossing Sandwich 2

1. Big Shot Impressions Starter Kit White and Black Mat (I believe that Big Kick has one of these as well, but I am not 100% certain)

2. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
3. Paper or cardstock

4. Big Shot Impressions Starter Kit Black Impression Mat

6. Clear Acrylic mat

7. Roll through Big Shot

Cuttlebug ™:

Embossing Sandwich
1. A plate

2. 2 sheets cardstock to act as shim. Add extra pieces if needed.

3. B plate
4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock

6. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Mat
7. B plate

7. Roll through Cuttlebug™

Remember that each machine may be calibrated slightly different from the next. So experiment with your machine being certain not to force product through the rollers.

Design Team Inspiration Monday & Design Team Shout

Welcome to another Design Team Inspiration Monday, hope you enjoy this weeks selection of cards!!

Sarah

Materials

My minds eye lost and found collectionblack cardstockPaper flowerButtonsBakers TwineHandmade fabric flower


Ger

Supplies

Docrafts Glitter Velum, Sentiment, Bell & Snowflake Embossing Folder
Crafts Too Circle Die
Bling Coloured In Black

Ang

Supplies

Sassy Studio image coloured with Copic pens

Papermania flowers

Paper from Cardmaking magazine

Cheery Lynn dies

Spellbinders die

Card Candi

Design Team Shout

We are looking for 4 dedicated crafters, you can be a scrapbooker, card makers, altered artist ect who loves to work as part of a team :D

You will be expected to meet post commitments, work with sponsors, leave comments on our wonderful entrants cards and be an active member in Crafty Blogger Network Facebook group & have fun crafting that it!!!

If you think you'd be park of our team please create us one craft piece showcasing your work and add to the linky below and will be open till the end of August, good luck!!!

Friday Show & Tell #5.....with Ger

Ribbon Flower Tutorial

A circle of card is needed either from a punch or cut by hand

Add double sided tape to all of one side

Tie a knot to the ribbon you have chosen

Push knot into the middle of the card and start twisting the ribbon around on itself

At the same time as twisting lay down around itself on the card, keeping the sections close to one another so none of the white card is peeking through

Once all covered cut & glue underneath card as shown below

Attach your Ribbon Flower to your card as you would any other embellishment

Guest Blogger Wednesday with.......

This week on CBN we have the lovely Alison Lister as our guest blogger. So its over to Alison

 

Hi everyone my name is Alison, I have just turned the big 40, I have two beautiful daughters and 5 rescued cats. And would like to say thank you for the great opportunity of being a Guest Blogger for the Crafty Bloggers Network. So some more info about me. 

I have been crafting all my life in one way or another, be it cross stitching, card making, drawing or making stuffed animals to name but a few, but I did not get into card making full time so to speak until 2006 when I got married and moved in with my in-laws. While we lived there I had my own little caravan down the garden for all my craft goodies so needless to say I spent A LOT of time down there happily crafting away lol. However, in 2009 I left the in-laws (and the hubby lol) and moved back to my home town of Barnsley, and for a few months I did not do any crafting but this was due to all my goodies still being in boxes until I was asked to do a commissioned card for a friend, so I made it my mission to create a crafty corner in my bedroom and get all the goodies out of storage, since then I have not looked back and enjoy crafting as much as I can. Sadly I did have to take a break for a few months because as well as being a full time mum I am also a full time student and my course work needed to be completed, However now that I have finished the Access to HE Diploma course I have a few months free to craft before I start University in September in which I will be for-filling my dream of becoming a qualified counselling therapist. I know that this is going to be a challenge and that I won't have as much free time as I would like to craft but the end result will be worth it. My card-marking style varies depending what mood I am in or what I have been asked to make, and I have had some strange requests which I am sure all crafter's have, but I have loved the challenges and luckily for me what I have created has been well received and loved. 

Therefore the card that I have made for this challenge is a one of the kind as it was also made for a close family friends daughter who turned 18 and who is a huge Adam Lambert fan. How I achieved it was by downloading the photo's, I then printed them on to high gloss photo paper, I cut one out in a heart shape with my spellbinders wizard, I also added black and silver ribbon along with card candy and peel off's then added them all to purple pearlescent card stock and finished it off with flower and hearts. I also added a verse on the inside. Needless to say she was over the moon with it and stated it was the best card she had ever received.

I do have a blog where you can find more of my creations. You can find it HERE. It is sadly neglected due to my college commitments so has not been updated in a while, however it is on my 'to do list' lol therefore I would love it if you could drop by and say hi and I will return the favour. Anyway I think I have rambled on enough now so I will sign off ........ Would like to just say Happy crafting everyone and thanks again for allowing me this opportunity. Take care and blessings to all. Ali xx

Once again Alison, thanks for taking the time to join in with CBN, from all of the team.

Monday Challenge Number 2

Well it's time for our second challenge :D the team are thrilled to bits to have had so many of you talented peeps join in with us for our 1st challenge, it was truly fantastic but made the job of choosing the winner and top three extremely hard.

Our 1st challenge winner is

430- Tracy

Well done please email your name & address to craftybn@gmail.com

The fabb 3 are

472, 6 & 131

Please bear with us whilst we find the links to the numbers! There was a problem with

Mr Linky, but they'll be posted very shortly!! Thank you for your patience.

Well done please take your winners badge for you blog

Congratulations to the winners and if it wasn't you this month please don't let it stop you from entering we have loved looking at everyones work and you never know next time it could be you. We really hope you are loving all the new features as much as we are and loving the great range of sponsors we have supporting us by offering fantastic prizes each month!!!

For this challenge it's a double whammy as we have two great sponsors

Sassy Studio are offering

FOUR fantastic images of the Winner's choosing

Cullen Crafts are offering a mixed bad of yummy craft goodies with products from Docrafts, Rubber Stamps, Ribbons & Washi Tape

Right below is the design teams take on the theme of Pink & Black with some of the team working with both sponsors products

Ang

All the items used in my creation are available at our sponsor this month Cullen Crafts

for more details please go to my blog by clicking on my name above :)

Sarah

Supplies

Bazzil 12 x 12 card stock-black Patterned paper-Pink Paisley, Teresa Collins, My mind’s eye, Stampin up-twitterpated Ribbon Handmade fimo flowers (Mold muse moulds) Bazzil on the edge strips Stampin up elegant Eleanor stamps Stampin up ink-pink and brown Hand felted flower Stampin up Labels collection framelets Chipboard Butterflies (Cullen Crafts)


Kaz

Supplies

Digi stamp Ava from Saturated Canary

Paper Love Letters First edition

Flowers and gems from Papermania.

Ger

Supplies

Inspire Me Card Pack

Creative Expressions Bling Swirl

Pirate Doily

Basil Bobble Trim

All from Cullen Crafts

Dilly Beans Digi

Becky

Supplies
Sassy Studio Designs digi image
Promarkers
Stampin' Up sentiment stamp

Caz

Supplies
Saturated Canary Digi Freebie "Ava"
Copics
Glossy Accents & White Pen
Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic Papers
Craftwork Cards Stardust Cardstock
Craftwork Cards Sentiment
Pins, Tulle & Bling

Jo

Image - Sassy Studios

Colouring - pastels, watercolour pencils

Swirls - Kanban stamps

Momento ink