Parchment Workshop Groovi Butterfly

Hi Folks!  Hope you are all doing ok out there!  Yes, I know it has  been a while since I have posted. Blogger, technology and life in general have conspired against me over the past few months but hopefully I can get through this post without things crashing around me lol!

I have a piece of Parchment White Work to share with you.  This piece was made for one of my Parchment Workshops a couple of months back.  The design I have created including the grid work frame can be taken to different stages to get a finished sample, you can "get off the bus" anytime you want, you don't have to travel all the way to the end!

I hope you like it xx

For this piece I have used a Straight Bold Grid to work out the border Frame, I have used 4 Groovi Plates from Claritystamp Ltd to make up the center image.  These are:  Nested Square, Sprig Background, Netting Pattern and Jayne's Butterflies.  150gsm Parchment, 21cm x 21cm.   

Working on the back of the parchment and using a No.1 ball tool,  I built up the design by embossing the outer lines from the Nested Square then added the two butterflies.  I then used parts of the Sprig plate (using the whole pattern would make it too cluttered ) before finally adding the Netting.

Because of the depth of the lines in the Groovi Plates I was able to get nice crisp lines and curves.

Using small shader and No.1 ball, I added white work to the leaves and butterflies. The additional design on the bottom of the large butterfly is achieved by using a straight bold grid, two needle bold.  Turn the Butterfly so that the tips of the bottom wings sit on the same line in the grid, pierce alternate double holes......see pic at end.

I then made up my grid work border frame, Bold Straight Grid, No.1 Ball, Single Bold Needle.   Embossing the dots on the back of the parchment then shallow piercing on the front.  This gave me the First stage of the design.  You could stop now and mount your piece into a 10 x 10 inch Mount. Or continue with the design.

Next stage:  use a Fine Two Needle tool to freehand Shallow Pierce in and around the Sprig, Butterfly and Netting.  I then used a Single Bold Needle to re-perforate ALL the holes, going deeper. (keep needle upright as it makes for better holes!) You could stop here if you wish!

Next Stage:  Using either Parchment Snips (Perga Cutters) or Parchment Scissors cut away the waste parchment between each hole, within each Diamond Shape that the Netting Plate makes.  (It is easier to handle one Diamond at a time, to stop you missing any holes) For more experienced parchers, you know the drill....!

You can get off here and mount your piece, I have used Black Card for backing, you can use any colour you wish (the darker the better, to show off your white work) or continue to cut out the grid work and then mount.

Next Stage:  Is to repeat the process of piercing, snipping the top part of the inner design until you have it all cut out as in this last framed picture.

Notes:  

There are variations that can be made in the Grid Work too.  It doesn't all have to be cut out to give a nice design.

Be careful when snipping not to put your scissors too far in to the holes, always have points of snips / scissors over the waste.
When embossing, go slowly and gently, remembering to lift your tool up from the parchment at the end of each stroke.

Tilt your head to the left and you will see the grid work on the butterfly.  The spacing is pierce two holes, miss two holes (on the vertical).  Then the line above the space begin again, pierce two holes, miss two holes.  Turn work to the back and using a no. 1 ball gently mark a diagonal line between the top of each two holes to the bottom of the two holes above....repeat for each diagonal.
(it is easier to follow if you do all the diagonal lines in one direction before going in the other)

The gridwork is designed on a Bold Straight Grid. Emboss dots on back of parchment then Pierce holes working from the front.  Build the design out from the corners till you meet in the middle.  You can then decide if you want to leave it as it is or go on to do some Picot Cutting.

Well thats it for now folks, let's hope that my computer doesn't go into shock now that I have finally got blogging again!

Happy Crafting

Hugs

Emma xx

August Claritystamp Challenge

Hi there Folks!  Hope you are all well especially with all the sadness in the world just now.

Another month gone and another challenge from Claritystamp Ltd.

This month the theme is:

FUSSY CUTTING!!!

I am so looking forward to seeing all your wonderful entries and just to give you a bit of inspiration, here is my Design Team Sample.....hope you like it xx

Groovi Plates used for first stage

I began with colouring a piece of A5 white Parchment using the Dorso technique.

I applied the Dorso Crayon to the parchment and then applied a touch of Dorso Oil to a piece of Kitchen Roll. Then I applied this to the parchment in a circular motion, blending the colour until even.  The picture on the left is my first application.  The picture on the right is my second.

I then attached the parchment to my Groovi Plate Mate using the Baby Inset Adapter Plate and the Baby Nested Square Plate. I embossed the Outer Square.

I removed the Baby Inset and replaced it with the larger Groovi Nested Square and embossed the 9th Square, counting from the middle.  This gave me a neat frame with slightly smaller border.

I then re-inserted the Baby Inset Adapter, this time I used the Baby 'New Arrival' Plate and added the sentiment to the top and bottom of the square leaving room for my embellishment which you can see comes from the same plate. (more on that later)

For the next stage I worked on the new Groovi Border Plate Mate

Using the Lacy Corner Border (sadly it is omitted from the picture....ooops!) and the Lacy Border Plate, taking elements from these Border plates I built up my design, making sure that the design was even all around the outside and inside of the frame.

Then it was time for a bit of white work, tumble dryer sheet, embossing tools.  Nice gentle strokes to gently stretch the parchment and to build up the white work evenly.  Go around all the areas to be embossed once, before going around again...giving your work a chance to rest.

  

Note: always use the size of embossing tool that fits into the area to be embossed......no use using a 6mm ball tool if the area only takes a 1.5mm tool! 

This is where I got carried away with the design and went straight to the piercing and Cutting.... without taking photos.....

I attached the white parchment to the Groovi Plate Mate, this time with the Straight Piercing Grid

Using the 1 needle and 2 needle tools I pierced the area between the Frame and Border design.....
forgetting that I wanted to colour the Frame......You can see from the finished pic that I rectified this later......not to be advised once pierced unless you have a steady hand as you do not want the colour to go into the holes or onto your picot edges!!

I used a 2 needle fine Pergamano tool to pierce around the lacy framework and then cut a picot edge using Pergamano Parchment Scissors.......yes it did take a little while.....I was more worried about the edges catching on my clothes......don't wear wool garments when cutting.....or make sure your sleeves are rolled up good and proper......saves the air from going blue.....yes I did have to walk from my craft room to my husband and ask him to very carefully detach me from my work.....and yes after over ten years of parching, I Should Know Better!!

So composure regained, I very carefully shaded in the border using a Blue Faber Castel Pencil, applied a tiny bit of Dorso oil to a very slim paper stump and blended.....very happy that the colour didn't get onto the back of the pierced holes!

Next step cutting and mounting the two pieces together.

I applied Red Double Sided Tape to the back of the Blue Parchment and also the Front.  I attached it to my backing paper.  I then removed the cover of the tape on the front and carefully attached the Lacy White Parchment.....best to match up the corners first.  I then used my Perfect Layers Ruler to cut the backing paper. This was then attached to a White Card with Red Tape again.  I applied some Silver Iridescent Peel-offs around the edge of the blue backing paper and  mitred the corners for a better finish!

  

Now about that Rattle!

You can see that is taken from the Baby Plate along with the Bow.

What you didn't know was that.....it actually rattles!!

I embossed the Rattle twice onto the spare bits blue parchment, embossed on the back to give it shape and to do a bit of white work....I was very gentle with the shaping as I didn't want to loose all the colour.

I cut the Rattles out with my parchment scissors, piercing and cutting the inside of the handle and around the bow.  I used Perga Glue to attach the handles and halfway up the circle (to the blue band) together.  I then added some Micro Beads (those beads that are used for nail art are very cheap and are the perfect size for something this small).  I then finished glueing the rattles together.  It didn't take too long to dry. Next I used Perga Glue to attach the Bow and then attached the rattle to the center of the card using a clear double sided pad.

Hey just a thought.....I will be giving the baby his first Rattle lol!

Now to be honest with you all, this card is not finished yet.....why?

I have added a Satin Insert to the card, just ready to be written on, and now I am awaiting the birth of the baby (not long now) so that I can add his name and the date and time to the tags and add it to the card!

My First Grandchild!

(Tags Border Plate and Scrap Parchment, Scrap backing paper.  I will emboss lettering from the new Universal Framer before piercing all around and giving them a picot edge)

So there will be a bit more fussy cutting from me to come, just as well that I love it!

So now it is up to you to get your thinking caps on and to help you, why not pop on over to the Claritystamp Challenge Blog and have a look at what the other Design Team Members have on show.

If you click on their names you will be taken to their blogs to see how they have made their designs.

Wishing you all good luck in the challenge, the Winner will receive a £50.00 Claritystamp Voucher

You got to be in it to win it!

Looking forward to seeing all your lovely art work

For more information and to see the rules of the challenge click on the link below

RULES

All Groovi Items can be seen by clicking on the Orange Banner at the top right of this page where you will see all the Groovi on offer to date.

Happy Crafting

Hugs

Emma x

Groovi Samples Quiz

Hi Folks!  Well what do you know, I have some blog posts that I never got around to posting.  Silly me!  I came on here to do a tutorial of a parchment box that was shown on Wednesday this week on Hochanda tv.com.  It was for the Groovi Show with Maria Simms.  But then I noticed that I had a few draft posts! As I will not be doing any crafting today I thought I had better get around to getting that sorted out first!

Now I had a little quiz going with a lovely friend on FB as to what plates were used to make a particular sample.  So I thought that I would continue it here.  (sorry Lisa P....you have to choose a different card lol) If anyone can list the plates used to make a particular card (just pick one), then leave the list in the comment box below,  I will pick a winner at random and the prize will be a copy of the particular card that they chose to comment on.   I shall announce the winner on the 20th January and make arrangements to post out the prize.  I will then do another Groovi Quiz for the next set of samples.

First up are my design Samples for  the Barbara Gray show, which was aired on the 3rd January 2016
(I do have older shows to post on...ooops!)

If you click on any of the pictures they will enlarge for you to get a better look.

.

 I hope you like my samples and that you join in with my little quiz.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Until then

Happy Crafting!

Hugs

Emma xx

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

www.claritystamp.co.uk

and the New Craft Channel can be found at

HOCHANDA can be found on SKY 663, FREVIEW 39, FREESAT 822

or visit their website

www.hochanda.com

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)

http://emmburns.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/its-all-in-groovi.html

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

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!!

I used the Nested Square, Nested Circle, Netting and the Snowflakes Groovi Plates 

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