Jan 22, 2014

Lark Book: Quilled Valentine Card


Since the Valentine card is shown on the back cover of my book, Pretty Quilled Cards, I thought it would be timely to feature it in a post. This is a project I know all beginners will love because it's easy. In fact, I happen to know boys like making it for girls as much as vice versa.

I know when I started quilling cards as gifts, I got stuck figuring out where/how to glue it. So this flip design is included in the book (there are a few sprinkled throughout the book). Simply photocopy the design, score, cut where indicated, and voilĂ  – the perfect background for a memorable Valentine's card.


Each week when I visit Amazon, I discover they unveiled something new in my book – is this a deliberate sneak peek, building up to the day? Since I never anticipated a book this way, I've never taken note. Now I've learned they are showing a few pages inside! You can finally see what I mean about how the lengths and fold marks are shown rather than stated. This means all you have to do is lay your strip on top and cut/fold where indicated.

Every strip is labelled so you can find it in the template easily. The quantity of each strip is also stated so you can cut as many as needed, efficiently. Each project includes an actual size template, which can be photocopied and placed under a sheet of plastic wrap to be pinned on. I remember reading once that Martha Stewart's recipes were always stated in the order they were needed/used. I kept that in mind as I listed the elements and tested each design.

When deciding card themes, my editor and I were conscious of celebrations throughout the year as well as cards for other occasions like "congratulations on a new house", a "get well soon", or a simple "thank you". Besides listing each project, the Table of Contents page also has an indication of skill level (1-5) so you choose based on your comfort zone.

Since showing my advanced copy to friends and family, I think the most flattering thing I've heard so far (from a non-quiller) is that my step-by-step diagrams and photos make it seem like they can do it too!

Jan 16, 2014

Valentine Party Favors


These 5 printable Valentine party favors have now been added to my Etsy store. They are so quick to make that you'll have lots of time for filling them up with sweets. Each message has a different background pattern.

Thanks for all your great enthusiasm for the past Halloween and Christmas party favors. Please use this coupon code to receive 25% in my Etsy store until next Friday, Jan 24th: VALENTINE25

Hope your Valentine's Day is filled with sweetness all around!






Jan 15, 2014

Yin Yang Valentine Card - Printable / Hand Cuttable

 

I've had quite a few requests for this and have finally adapted my Yin Yang Valentine Card into a printable version, which is easier for hand cutting. The two hearts still tuck under one another and open up nicely.



The flower blossoms no longer need to be intricately cut because they're printed now, saving time.


Another printable benefit is the ability to type in your own text above and below the red heart on the inside. I've also added a matching envelope which fits the square card, since square envelopes are uncommon.

In order to achieve the finished size of 5" x 5", the card needs to be printed double-sided on a sheet of 11" x 17" (tabloid) card stock. This can be done at Kinko's or a local digital printer. One card fits on one sheet. The envelope needs be printed on an 8.5" x 14" (legal) size sheet.

Jan 11, 2014

Lark Book: Quilled Cherry Blossom


Although one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, in this case I think it's quite indicative of what you'll find in the book, Pretty Quilled Cards. Some of my friends and family have told me this is their favorite card and since Lark chose it for the cover, I thought I'd showcase this card first.

As quillers, we are used to gluing our designs on the paper's edge. However, I wanted to share ideas of how we can also glue our versatile strips flat. I think having a coordinated border defines the inner space and even has an Asian feel to it.



Since quilling takes us a while to finish, it's nice to have a card like this ready to use for any occasion. Adding smaller buds next to the full blossoms gives these branches a more detailed look. Did you notice there are actually two sizes of buds?

I really enjoyed using metallic card stock as my surface because it contrasted so well against the matte quilling strips. Pale pink can seem almost white against pale colors yet also get overpowered by darker colors. When I am searching for the perfect card stock, my studio turns upside down - kind of like a teenage girl trying on outfits for her first date. I like how the branches and deep pink pops, giving the eyes so much to look at.

Please know that this process is all new to me as well, so I don't know how or when things will be revealed. I have just re-visited Amazon and noticed they have now shown the back cover, which shows my cards for Valentine's Day, a bird/treehouse, a snowman, and Father's Day ties. Can you see a pattern on the Valentine's Day card? That pattern is supplied to you in this book for photocopying. There are lines to indicate where to cut and score, because that heart ends up flipping over as you pull left and right, revealing your message. I hope you'll enjoy how this book gives you easy paper crafting ideas as well as quilling.

Thank you all for your wonderful responses so far! I've been overwhelmed by your kind words!

Cecelia

Jan 8, 2014

Quilling Paper Storage


I recently built a new storage method for my quilling strips out of foam core. It's 27.5" wide x 10" long x 1.75" deep and fits in my Ikea shelf drawer. I like seeing and choosing from the whole range of colors at a glance.

I use scrap paper to "belt" the unruly waves so they stay orderly. To allow for different amounts of paper I ordered online, I varied the gaps between the 1/4" foam core divider walls. Notching a half moon out of the sides allows me to lift each layer up. Then I put elastic bands around each layer to keep them from doing any accidental back flips.


I used to throw all the leftover bits into a bin, but found myself literally looking for a needle in a haystack, only to find what I wanted after I cut a new strip. Now for the smaller scrap pieces, I enjoy using my binder method. It's compact and I can quickly see what scrap I can use up before pulling out a new strip. It takes some time to put them in, but it saves much more time when finding what I want.



If a finished shape isn't quite to my liking, I'll store it in a fish tackle box like this and use it up some other time.

OK, I know I'm not the only one out there who likes to organize. What's your favorite storage method?

Jan 5, 2014

My Photo Set Up


This is my gift to myself this year - an Intova Monopod. We screwed the bottom end under the table and off to the side to be out of my way when I am sticking half my body in the photo cube, which was last year's gift to myself. The Ezcube diffuses the daylight bulbs so I don't get harsh highlights or shadows in my photos.

I use a point-and-shoot camera, shooting in RAW format, even though I have a digital SLR. When I am shooting straight down, the weight of the SLR is too much at the neck and tends to slump down. And well, um, to be honest, all those SLR buttons are daunting to me!



This is how I've been taking all the photos for my blog and recent book - using a Gorillapod on top of an Ikea lamp. It works too but now I have a freed up space in front of my hands.

A great tip for any one else taking photos with your hands - place a white card or board in front of your body to bounce light back under the hands to lighten the shadows.

Why not use a standard tripod?
  • I was able to move back and forth, up and down, change the tilt or whatever in a quick second without fussing with levers or knobs. 
  • Many of my shots are taken straight down, so I tilted the tripod forward into the cube. This  makes the whole thing top heavy and unstable.
  • My hands and body are usually partway in the cube as I look at the screen, so I end up playing Twister with the tripod legs.
Please note: I'm not a spokesperson for the items I've mentioned here - I just thought some of you may wonder what my work space is like.

Jan 1, 2014

I'm an AUTHOR!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1454707844/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1454707844&linkCode=as2&tag=crafting0d2-20

In February 2012, I received an email from Linda Kopp, an editor at Lark Crafts with a publishing opportunity. I had to read it several times to believe it was real. Then I had to float down to earth to type back.

I have dreamed of being an author for years but never imagined this bucket list item could come true. Heavy loads of library books are like hidden treasures to me, waiting to be revered. My favorite craft books are from Japan. Although I can't read them, the diagrams and charts are enough for me to fumble through them anyway and the end results are always cheerful and useful. I also love craft books that offer varying degrees of difficulty, showing me steps as a beginner, then providing more of a challenge as I develop my skills - exactly the type Lark is known for.

So with the encouragement of my husband, family, friends, and editor, I plunged into this project. A year later I handed in my manuscript which included instructions, photography, and step-by-step diagrams. Then it resided another year with the crack team at Lark for editing, more photography, and printing. I work 4 days a week at a "real" job so quilled during evenings and weekends, with my husband taking up the household slack. He was a trooper and kept me sane and fed, and provided a keen eye on paper textures and card layouts. I also had help from friends with my patterns, photography, and how to get the ideas in my head onto paper. I could not have made this book without all of their help. After the timeline ended, I re-discovered what it was like to sip my coffee on a Sunday morning and not have to rush off to my studio to work. I had to say no to some activities and gatherings, but then I was able to say yes to producing some of my best work to date. 

For those of you who have come to follow my quilling via my previous blog, Crafting Creatures, this is the reason why I haven't shown as much quilling lately – because it's been saved up for you here. I'm sorry it's taken so long but I do hope it's worth the wait. I will be showing some finished projects in the coming weeks, but rest assured I strove to make the instructions visually easy to assemble and included a wide range of skills for advanced quillers. Some of you have purchased my patterns on Etsy and have come to know how I supply pre-measured bars with fold/pencil marks – the templates provided in this book are the same. 
 
The official launch date is March 4, 2014, but Pretty Quilled Cards is available via pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I look forward to reading your reactions and seeing your masterpieces! Wishing you all a quill-filled New Year!

Cecelia