Thank you to all who read my Blog and leave a comment. I really do appreciate every one of them and do my utmost to reply as soon as possible.
Crafty hugs to all!


Sunday, 30 August 2015

HOCHANDA with Barbara Gray

Hi Folks!  Well another lovely Sunday.  Who did I spend this morning with...the lovely Barbara Gray on the New Craft Channel HOCHANDA.  It was a Groovi Morning!! 
Brilliant to see Barbara in teaching mode.  
It was fantastic to see all the lovely Design Samples from the other Ladies from Claritystamp...most of whom are very new to this Groovi Parching or Parching in general. look what they produced all with the help of the Groovi Plates
(and of course their wonderful inbuilt talent)
I thought that I would share the pictures of my Groovi Design Team Samples that were shown on the New Television Craft Channel  
HOCHANDA
Home Of Crafts, Hobbies, AND Art
I hope you like them

Layered Dove with Circle Sprig
coloured with Spectrum Noir Pencils and ProMarker
Circle Sprig, Nested Circles, Parchment and Paper Die Cut Butterflies
Coloured with ProMarkers
Dove, Peace, Nested Square, Dot Border Plate, Die Cut Sprig
coloured with Spectrum Noir Pencils
Dove, Circle Sprig, Ribbon Border, White Parchment
which I coloured Green before embossing and Sakura Wink of Stella Gold Gel Pen
Paired Doves, Lines and Dots Border Plate, White Parchment
which I shaded Black
Nested Circles, Dove, Lace Border, Parchment Poinsettia, Die cut Large Circle
Large Dove, Nested Squares, Nested Deckle Square, Olive Branch Circle
Medium Dove, Nested Squares, Nested Deckle Square, Olive Branch Circle
Small Dove,Nested Squares, Nested Deckle Square, Stitched Border Plate

Here are the last three together.  They are ONE piece of parchment with the nested Squares etc to give it a layered look and then finished off with Blue Satin Paper and then Silver Satin Paper.  The colouring between the Square and the Deckle is with an Indigo Blue ProMarker
As usual if anyone wants anymore details then just give me a comment and I will get back to you.
Hugs and have a great day.
Happy Crafting
Emma xx

P.S.  All the Groovi Plates used to make these cards can be found at

and the New Craft Channel can be found at
HOCHANDA can be found on SKY 663, FREVIEW 39, FREESAT 822
or visit their website

Saturday, 15 August 2015

Parchment Gift Boxes...sizing

Hiya Folks!  Just a little update to my Blog Post of the 4th  August regarding the Gift Box I designed using the Claritystamp Groovi Plates. ( click on the link below to see full instructions)
I was asked the question : can they be made bigger....and the answer is yes!


I had to check my design out first...just to be sure....didn't think there would be a problem...there was however one drawback!   The parchment I had in my stash!!  I wanted to make the biggest box I could but the largest Parchment I had was 12 x 12 cm. From this I made a 10cm Square Pyramid Box.

If you are reading this post then you will want to know my formula!
(You will still have to read the original post on how to make the boxes)

I used the Nested Square Groovi Plate to measure out my box base.  My first box had a 7 x 7cm base which resulted in using a sheet of 21 x 21 cm parchment and from that I have worked out that the size of Parchment needed is 3 times the length of one side of the Base Square. Use the Nested Square Groovi Plate for PERFECT Squares.  (The squares go up in 1cm increments...handy or what!!)
Size of Parchment Required
A4
5cm Square Base = 15 x 15cm     6cm Square Base = 18 x 18cm      7cm Square Base = 21 x 21cm                                                
12 x 12
8cm Square Base = 24 x 24cm     9cm Square Base = 27 x 27cm      10cm Square Base = 30 x 30 cm

A3
11cm Square Base = 33 x 33cm    12cm Square Base = 36 x 36 cm    13cm Square Base = 39 x 39cm

Mark for Triangle Insert
('Dot' on instructions)
This mark should be placed at (1 cm) less than the length of one side of Square Base
for example
5cm Square Base = Dot marked at (4cm) out from edge of embossed square
8cm Square Base = Dot marked at (7cm) out from edge of embossed square
11cm Square Base = Dot marked at (10cm) out from edge of embossed square 

I would also like to point out that in the Larger Pyramid Box I decided to use the Outer Edge of the Nested Ovals Groovi Plate to get my curve...just to see if it would work as well as the Nested Circles.
As you can see...it did!!

I hope these measurements are helpful to any who are going to make the boxes.
If you do, please let me know as I would love to see your versions. 
If you do not have a blog of your own then I would be happy to share it for you.
You can email me at

emmburns58@gmail.com

Happy Crafting 

Hugs 

Emma x

Tuesday, 4 August 2015

It's All In The Groovi !!

Hi Folks!  Another little piece of Groovi work from me to go along with Groovi Week at Claritystamp.  Check out the Special Offer on the website at www.claritystamp.co.uk/ groovi

So my offering for today is a little Pyramid Gift Box and as the title of this post says.......
It was Designed and Made using Groovi Plates and the Groovi Plate Mate!!!
Warning!!  This is a Step by Step Tutorial and I have added Pictures for each stage,
So it is Definitely NOT a short Post!!

along with the Groovi Plate Mate Kit and Groovi Border Plate 1
21 x 21 cm, 140 gsm Parchment, Claritystamp Parchment Embossing Tools, Parchment Scissors, Ruler, White Leaded Propelling Pencil, Cutting Mat, Low Tack Tape, Tumble Dryer Sheet 
two pieces of slim Ribbon.  
(No Glue or Double sided Tape needed)
All Embossing on one side of the Parchment (back)

Tape Parchment to Groovi Plate Mate and Insert the Nested Squares Groovi Plate.
Give Parchment a rub over with Tumble Dryer Sheet 
 Emboss the 7th Square from the middle 
Replace Nested Squares with the Netting Groovi Plate and emboss the area inside the Square
Remove Parchment From Groovi Plate Mate and Place it onto the Hard Side of the Mat
Center the middle lines of the Netting Pattern as in the photo below
You want a center line showing through horizontally and vertically
Take your Ruler and Pencil.  Mark a Dot 6cm out from the edge of Pattern on the Middle line.
Repeat for all 4 sides.
Take Parchment back to the Groovi Plate Mate change to the Nested Squares Plate
Align the Dot on your Parchment to the Bottom Right Hand Corner of the 7th Square
Now Emboss the Line going from right to Left
Do this for all 4 Dots.  You will now have 4 lines all 7 cm long as in photo below
Turn your Parchment Diagonally
Once again using the 7th from Middle Square
Place Corner of Embossed Square to Top Right Hand Corner of Nested Squares
(Left Hand end of Embossed Line to Bottom Right Hand Corner)
as in Photo Below (probably better just to look at photo lol)
Emboss down this Line and your Parchment will now look like this....and No it's not a Windmill!
Next use the Groovi Border Plate
(Plate with the Dashed Line and Scallops)
Arrange Parchment on Plate, use the Dashed Line to complete the Triangles as in the picture below
Next Groovi Plate in use is the Nested Circles, so place that into the Groovie Plate Mate
and using the Outer Curve of the Circle, Place your Parchment as in the next picture
(Outer Circle touching Corner of Triangle and Corner of Embossed Square)
Emboss the Curve between these points on  all 4 sides and you have a piece that looks like this
Now this is your basic box.
Oh, and as you can see from the next pic, I am using the Snowflake Groovi Plate
Emboss Snowflakes of your choice.  I went for two different sizes
You can of course use any of the Groovi Plates to add your desired decoration
Just remember to ONLY emboss in the Curved area
You all still with me!  Not nodded off to sleep! Or given up because I have waffled too much!
Grand, let us continue!!

The only bit left at this point is to mark a circle on all 4 Curves for your Ribbon to go through
Look at the Groovie Plate Mate, down the Right Hand Side you will see Symbols.  
Emboss the Small Circle.   
You can stop right here and have the basic box - just cut or use a single hole punch to cut out that little circle  for your Ribbon.
You would then cut away the excess Parchment with a Craft Knife or Scissors
You will of course have to read to the end to see how it folds together
(ha ha, you thought you were done! lol)

If you want to have a Fancy Edge then follow the next steps.

Look carefully at the next picture to see the placement of the Design.
It is time to use the Scalloped Edge on the Groovi Border Plate
The Scalloped Edge is in a straight line and I will show you how to turn that into a Curve
(I think the Parchment could be doing with another run over with the Tumble Dryer Sheet)
Place the Parchment onto the Scalloped Edge, (see picture below)
HOLD Parchment in place Do Not Tape Down. Use a Fine Ball Tool to Emboss ONE Scallop
Keep Ball Tool in place
With Free Hand Gently move the Parchment towards you until the top of the next Scallop is touching the Curved Line, Emboss the Scallop.
Repeat the Process until you have Embossed 7 Scallops
Just repeat around the curved edges of your design
 This is called 'In-Line Embossing'









Remove Parchment from Border Plate, Turn it over (Front) and place onto a Piercing Mat.
Using a 2 Needle Tool
Begin by piercing the inside Curve of the Scallop.
Hold your Tool as upright as possible.  
Keep going until all the Scallops are Pierced
 Next Pierce along the Outer Curve of the Scallops
 Taking Your Parchment Scissors Cut between the Holes on the Inside Curve of the Scallops
Insert Scissors, Slightly Turn Wrist (or Forearm) Then Snip.
Turn your work as you go along
Turn Parchment around and Cut between the Holes but making sure you
 DO NOT CUT the Point where the Scallops join together
 As you cut the final bit the scrap Parchment will fall away
 Cut Between the Holes on the Outer Curve of the Scallops, Turning your work as you go along
 Once all the Scallops are cut free from the Parchment, Transfer Your Parchment to a cutting Mat
Using Ruler and Craft Knife Cut along Every Outside Edge
you will be left with a piece as in the Picture below
Turn your work over (Showing the Inside)
Gently Fold inwards the edges of the Square
Fold Inwards along the Dashed Line
  (If you didn't cut away the Small Circle - Do so now)
Bring Two opposite Sides Together and Thread Ribbon through Holes
Tie a single knot.
Your Triangle within the design will sit along the edge of the square
Now bring the other two Sides together and Thread another Ribbon through the Holes
Tie a Bow
And if after ALL of that you need a reminder of what the box looked like
Here it is lol!!

So that's it Folks!
This Design is quite Versatile, especially as Barbara Gray has brought out those Lacy Borders!!!
I will definitely be buying them!
As I said before you can use any design from the Groovi Plates to decorate the box
Doesn't have to be a Christmas Design
And yes you could just cut out with a Die or buy one of the precut shaped boxes
but to give someone a gift with a very personal handmade box is something special!

I hope you all like this tutorial
(as long winded as it was)
I would love to hear from you

Happy Groovi Crafting

Hugs
Emma xx

Saturday, 1 August 2015

Groovi Week !!!

Hi Folks!  Since Barbara Gray is having a Groovi Week over at Claritystamp HQ starting today, I thought I would pass on a few tips on edging your Parchment.  Have a look at her Blog to see more!

Here I have placed one of the Groovi Border Plates onto the Mat that comes in the Starter Kit.  I have taped the Border Plate to the Hard side of the mat.  Notice the 5 designs...all of them follow a straight line...handy!


One of the simplest Borders to do is the Double Straight Lines.  I cut my Parchment into a square then taped it to the Border Plate. I simply embossed the double lines from one edge to the other and repeated it around the square.  This gave me the initial framework for the rest of the card design.


Once I had embossed and coloured the main design I went back to the Border Plate and added a line of Dots around the frame.


I then went in with a Two Needle Tool and cut the excess away using my Parchment Scissors. When using these Scissors just place the tip of the points into the holes, turn your wrist towards you slightly and THEN snip.  This was then mounted onto backing sheet and card using Brads through the little corner square made by the lines crossing over.


For the next edging I have used the other Border Groovi Plate that comes with the Groovi Plate Mate. I embossed the Single Line to make a square for my design, and then I used the scallop edge. Now the tip for this is NOT to start at one end of your square (unless your line fits exactly), but to center the scallops evenly along your embossed line.  Do this for all 4 lines.  THEN go to the corners and emboss a single scallop. you can see from the photo how I have placed the Parchment onto the Border Groovi Plate.



I then went on to  use a Two Needle Tool to pierce inside and outside the Scallops which were then cut out with Parchment Scissors leaving a lovely delicate edging.  I embossed the corner Scallop and placed a bit of double sided Foam Pad for attaching to the card.


For this Edging I used the Single line again only this time I used it Twice.  I embossed one line first, left a space for piercing and then embossed the line again.  I then pierced a double line using a Two Needle Tool and a Grid.


I used a Ruler and a craft knife to cut as near the outside line as possible.  I then attached the slimmest Red Double Sided Tape to the back of the design.   Once this was mounted onto the backing sheet the tape did not show through due to the embossed lines and the whiteness the piercing made.



This edging was very straight forward. I simply used the Double Score Line from the first Border Groovi Plate at the top of the Page.  I coloured between the lines to match the backing sheet.  I pierced around the edge of the Parchment Design and cut with Parchment Scissors.  I then Pierced a hole in the cross over in the corners so that I could mount the design onto card with a Brad.


Well thats all from me today as I am off to Edinburgh in the morning to help my daughter get ready for an exhibition (and to get a bit crafty with her too).  My Groovi Plates will be coming with me too.

Pop on over to the Claritystamp Website to see the fabulous offer that Barbara Gray has put on for us.


Happy Crafting!!

Hugs 

Emma xx