Creative Cardmaking issue 13

We can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we first launched Creative Cardmaking!

A lot has happened in the past year and we have seen a huge number of inspiring projects and new techniques covered throughout all the issues. We hope you all feel like you have gained lots of new skills and have enjoyed the wide variety of papers we have included each month.

This coming year we have lots more new and exciting things in store and we can’t wait to show you them all.

Inside this jam-packed issue there are numerous different techniques for you to try.

Turn to page 56 for the beginner’s guide to alcohol inks by Dyan Reaveley, and check out page 31 for this issue’s monthly theme, which is parchment craft, by registered Pergamano teachers Tina Cox and Jenny Eggleton.

There is also the Simply Stamping section on page 63, where Karen Watson introduces us to the Nikki range of rubber stamps.

If you have been considering venturing into the world of digital crafting, Jo Prior’s feature on page 48 is a definite must-read.

You can learn how to incorporate scents into your cards by turning to page 27, and if you love the shabby chic look, Terrie Bailey’s cards on page 68 will be just perfect.

There are eight pages full of ideas on how to use your Debbi Moore free papers, starting on page 39, and if you like what you see there is a superb offer on the full CD on page 38.

Creative Cardmaking 12

You may have noticed that Creative Cardmaking has had a bit of a facelift! We thought it was about time we freshened things up for you, the readers, so we have made a few changes to the magazine based on all your feedback.

The main thing you wanted to see was more ideas using the free papers, so you will now find that there are eight pages full of inspiration wrapped around the free papers, starting on page 39. This month, Kirsty Wiseman makes the most of the free ‘Let them eat cake’ paper collection, which features lots of bright colours and bold patterns such as dots, stripes and paisleys, combined with cute cupcake and birthday cake images to help you create great cards suitable for all ages.

We’ve also made a few visual changes to make the magazine easier to navigate. For starters, we’ve colour-coded the different sections. For instance, in the contents page you will notice that the Beginner’s Technique Class (which this month is resist work) is boxed in a salmon pink colour and the feature itself has a strip of the same colour down the outside edges to make it easier to identify. There is also a stamp mark on the regular features showing you what they are. We hope you like the changes!

This month we have featured a large array of techniques and styles so there is something to suit all tastes. For instance, Dyan Reaveley teaches us all about grungeboard in the Technique of the Month on page 31, but if a more off-the-page style is your thing then you’ll absolutely love Judith Hannington’s fruity feature on page 48.

We also have a ‘1 Product, 6 Ideas’ feature on page 35 using an embossing board, and adorable stamped cards from PartiCraft in the How To Use section on page 59. If you are interested in stamping turn to page 70 where the gorgeous Thomas Kincade stamps are used to best effect, and we have the answer to creating cards for those awkward teenage years with Kirsty Maluga’s rock star designs on page 67.

Creative Cardmaking Special Edition: Spring 2010

We’re back with another fabulous issue of the Creative Cardmaking Special Edition to cover all aspects of your cardmaking for spring, and we’re giving you even more inspiration for your money – 64 pages worth of inspiration, in fact! Plus as always this issue comes with a range of 32 beautifully designed papers for all your spring cardmaking needs.

Covering occasions such as Valentine’s, Mother’s Day and Easter, the papers include everything you need to create stunning cards – plus there’s a bonus Sugar and Spice collection designed exclusively by Craftwork Cards, in warm pinks and bright blue tones with a mixture of polka dots and stripes. Julie Hickey provides instant inspiration for using these delicious papers to best effect on pages 8 and 50.

The Lovebirds collection features an array of heart-warming papers, toppers and borders in rich greens, passionate reds and warm orange tones. Su Pennick adds a new twist to the designs with embossing pens on page 24.

The Just For you collection is full of floral patterns for Mother’s Day in a delicate pastel palette – Zoe Pierson creates a set of beautiful cards using fringing on page 12, to showcase these versatile papers.

The Happy Easter Collection includes cute designs in a range of soft lilacs, lime greens and pale yellows to bring a bit of zing to your Easter cards. Nikki Bowman uses Twinkling H2Os to accentuate them perfectly on page 28.

As well as this, there’s tea bag folding, glitter, Glossy Accents, stitching, chalking and so much more covered, along with expert tips and tricks galore for getting the most out of your papers. We hope you enjoy it!

Creative Cardmaking issue 11

After months of preparation and build up, Christmas is finally over! After a good rest and time to recharge the batteries, we can now look forward to everything 2010 will bring us.

I’ve decided not to make any New Year’s resolutions this time as I never stick to them anyway! Instead I’m simply going to make an effort to try out new things – whether that is new craft techniques, food I’ve never had before or places I’ve always wanted to visit but never got around to.

To kick-start my new approach, there are plenty of projects inside this issue for me to try. For instance, I’ve never made a Jacob’s ladder before so I will definitely be giving Melissa Andrews’ friendship design on page 45 a go. I’m also going to dig out my crackle paints and reproduce Dyan Reaveley’s feature on page 39 as I absolutely love the ‘4 Reasons’ accordian card she has created.

As well as these innovative projects, we have pocket cards on page 49 by Jackie Huckstepp, a ProMarker lesson from Dawn Wheeler on page 59 and gorgeous paper flower cards by Judith Hannington on page 63, amongst many others.

There are two different paper collections for you this month – the first is Love Fool, and you will find quick and easy ideas for using these papers on page 12; the other is Floral Flutter and there is a gorgeous thank you gift set on page 16 making the most of these designs. Remember to send in your creations made using the papers and we will give a prize to every reader whose work is published.

Creative Cardmaking 10

The nights have really drawn in now, causing us to retreat to our craft rooms more in an attempt to escape the cold weather outside! The good news about being locked away in our own little craft world is that some of us have more or less completed our Christmas cards, but the bad news (for our bank balances anyway) is that now we want to try out lots of new materials and techniques.

For instance, on page 39 this month, Amanda Bateman and Craig Dougan show us how to create a watercoloured card from any photo. For those of us who’ve never been able to draw, the idea that we can take absolutely any photograph and turn it into a watercoloured masterpiece gets us champing at the bit to give it a go!

For all you stampers out there, turn to page 67 where Judith Hannington is let loose on a bottle of household bleach, with stunning results. Die-cutting fans should turn to page 54 where Sarah-Charlotte Peace from Ellison shows us some funky party invites made using the new Big Shot Express, and if you are looking for something that little bit different you can turn to page 31 for Amber Martin’s unusual family birthday cards and page 63 where you will find gorgeous circle cards.

The free papers this issue have been designed so that you can make all sorts of winter themed cards – from last-minute Christmas cards and party invites to general seasonal cards. For some great ideas on how to use the papers turn to page 12 for quick  and easy examples, or to page 16 for more advanced projects.

Creative Cardmaking 9

Issue 9 is available from 30th October. And what a treat we have in store for you this month!

The adorable Cute Companions visit us again, and this time they are all kitted out for Christmas. Not only are the free papers this issue a great selection of the new Winter Tales collection, but we also have six pages jam-packed with projects showing ways to use them. As always with Creative Cardmaking, you will find the quick and easy cards using your free papers on page 12, and the more in-depth creations on page 16.

Those of you who have been enviously organised this year and have already made all your Christmas cards may be keen to get started on creating the thank you cards you will want to send in return for the lovely gifts you and your family receive over the festive season. The craft stores have provided a great source of inspiration for a whole variety of seasonal thank you cards, starting with a stylish holly design on page 22 by Jobo Crafts.

The Christmas period is also the party season, so if you want to hold a festive get-together then we also have eye-catching party invitations from Karen Lines on page 31, using the Walnut Hollow Creative Metal range, and shrink plastic embellished treats from Zoe Pierson on page 48.

Creative Cardmaking 8

Issue 8 is on sale from 25th September and comes with FREE Easter Promise Christmas papers and vellums worth over £5.

We’re now into the full swing of our Christmas cardmaking, so if you are looking for great ideas on how to make extra-special cards for family and friends, look no further!

In store for you this issue is a complete festive feast from start to finish, including Judith Hannington’s interpretation of the 12 days of Christmas starting on page 67.

One of our favourite cards this month (it’s so hard to choose an absolute favourite as there are just so many) is Jacqui Eccleson’s A Christma Gift on page 61. FIMO is a fabulous medium and Jacqui uses it to great effect.

We’ve been busy making pop-up cards this month using the adorable new Mr Men Christmas range, and you can see examples in the monthly technique feature on page 39. If stamping is more up your street then Claire Hampton shows us the versatility of a Christmas Collage stamp on page 35. Meanwhile, the craft shops have come up trumps again with their selection of contemporary Christmas cards, starting with a fun Rudolph card on page 22.

The free papers this month have a contemporary style to them with colours including hot pinks, purples and blues that remind you of the Far East. There are background papers, toppers, borders, greetings and beautiful imagery to inspire your festive cardmaking. For a great selection of examples of how to use your free papers, turn to pages 12 and 16.

Creative Cardmaking Special Edition: Winter 2009

After your fantastic response to the free paper collections with each issue of Creative Cardmaking, we’ve launched the Creative Cardmaking Special Edition – a new publication featuring two designer paper collections for your seasonal cardmaking.

This issue we have such a winter treat for you! Issue 1 is packed with yummy paper designs plus co-ordinating toppers, greetings, frames and tags, as well as ideas and inspiration for how to use them. These two paper collections cover all winter occasions, from birthdays, New Year, party invitations and, of course, Christmas, and some of the UK’s most talented designers offer up ideas and advice to get the most from them.

The Winter Wishes collection features funky pink, peppermint green and icy blue tones and an abundance of snowmen, robins and winter mittens. Jo Kill gives them a youthful spin on page 16 with her refreshing designs and fun doodling using pens. Meanwhile, Kirsty Maluga gets creative with punches on page 28, to produce wonderfully stylish and simple cards you can make in an evening.

The Peace on Earth collection takes a step back in time with reindeer, gingerbread men and graceful doves in a pelette of traditional red, green and cream. Judith Hannington uses inking and paper-tearing techniques with the papers to create her beautiful cards on page 4, and Fiona Beckman adds a little festive detail with buttons and ribbon on page 30 for stunning results.

As well as all this there’s patchwork, bling, paper piecing, die-cutting and more – there truly is something for everyone, so look no further for all your winter stash and inspiration!

Creative Cardmaking 7

Issue 7 is on sale from Friday 28th August and comes with FREE Kanban papers and embellishments worth over £7!

As the days are getting shorter and the weather is turning back to its normal miserable self, we’ve found ourselves taking advantage of the changing of the season and doing a lot more crafting than we were in the summer months. We’ve also found ourselves leaning towards a more autumnal palette of rich reds, oranges and browns. We’re therefore delighted that there is such a beautiful selection of seasonal cards this issue, like the gorgeous 1 Product, 6 Ideas by Kirsty Wiseman on page 35, or the autumnal stamped cards by Lindsey Hopkins-Westbrook on page 67.

If you are looking further ahead than autumn and want to make a start on your Christmas projects, then you won’t be disappointed! The craft shops have been busy this month creating some gorgeous festive treats for you in a variety of styles, and we take a look at the Cathie Shuttleworth templates to make co-ordinating Christmas cards, characters, tags and decorations on page 44. If you enjoy using Flower Soft on your cards then you will love the monthly technique on page 39.

There is also an extra-special treat for you this month with the free papers! This issue you will find Kanban papers and toppers across the middle pages that contain adorable Christmas characters in a mixture of colour schemes. Brenda Walton shows a variety of inspiring ways for using your free papers, with features starting on pages 12 and 16. We’d love to see how you use your papers, so send in your creations and for each one that gets published we’ll send a prize.

Creative Cardmaking issue 6

In issue 6 of Creating Cardmaking is on sale from Friday 24th July and comes complete with FREE designer papers and decoupage images worth over £5, plus chances to win prizes worth more than £800.

The summer holidays are well and truly underway, and if the promises of continuous sunshine come true then we’re sure people will be making the most of it and doing plenty of outdoor entertaining. If you fancy holding a garden party then get inspired by Dawn Wheeler’s party invites on page 72.

We have a great selection of treats lined up for you this month including stamping on fabric with Claire Hampton on page 54, a friendship gift set by Debi Potter on page 49 and an exploding set by Redhotbed’s Michele Marsden on page 44. The 1 Product, 6 Ideas feature this month is using the Elusive Images Retro Flowers theme plate which you can find on page 35, and the technique of the month is creating background papers using Rollagraph stamps (page 39).

The free papers this issue are absolutely stunning (do you expect any less from us?) with a pretty palette of blues, yellows, greens and pinks. There are decoupage images, toppers, tags, borders, corners, alphabets, patchwork effects and gorgeous background papers in store for you. To whet your creative appetite we also have features on pages 12 and 16 using these fabulous papers.