Whilst crafting you make mistakes and find better ways of doing things. Hopefully this page will provide some hints and tips that I've picked up on my way that may help you on your crafting journey.
I will add to the list as I have more crafting mishaps and learn new tricks. Just click on a link in the list below and you will be taken straight to the hint, tip or how to.
So the example I am going to use is sticking a patterned rectangular piece of paper to some backing paper.
I put double sided tape on the back of the patterned paper starting at the top. Then working round the rectangle clockwise.
Pull back a tiny piece of the backing paper from the double sided tape on the right side (if looking at the back of the patterned paper with the double sided tape visible) from the first piece of double sided tape you put down. Ensure that the small amount of backing paper you have pulled back from the double sided tape is sticking out at right angles and can be seen when you place the patterned paper down onto the card backing.
Place it down gently on the backing paper as evenly spaced as you can get it. The patterned paper is now stuck to the backing paper top left, however as we've only pulled a little piece of the backing paper away, the whole patterned paper can be moved slightly to ensure it is straight. (You can see in the below picture, the patterned paper is slightly wonky. But you can move it straighter before sticking the next corner down).
Now pull of a tiny bit of backing paper from the next strip of double sided tape (clockwise). Wiggle the patterned paper about until it looks straight then gently press down the corner you have just removed a tiny bit of the backing paper from. The piece of paper should now be as straight as you can get it and won't really move anymore.
Carry on working around the rectangle in a clockwise manner, removing a little piece of backing paper and sticking the corner down.
Once you have removed a little piece of backing from all the strips - then pull on the backing paper tabs that are sticking out from behind the paper to remove the whole backing paper from each strip of double sided and press the edges down fully so the double sided tape sticks.
The patterned paper is now as straight as you can get it. (Even if it is a little wonky - don't forget it is handmade and don't be hard on yourself)
To do this you will need a plastic pot, some glue and a small piece of sponge. Put a dollop of the glue onto the plastic pot.
Use the sponge to pick up some glue, then with your die cut on a piece of scrap paper, dot the glue covered sponge over the back of the die cut.
Turn the die cut over and stick it onto your card.
I've used a magnetic cutting plate which sometimes holds your dies in place but sometimes they still jump about.
The best thing I have found is to use some washi tape. Just layer up your cutting plates etc into your die cutting machine but when you try and line your die up over your stamped image, hold it in place with a little piece of washi tape.
The tape doesn't interfere with the cut and it's easy to remove after.
These instructions work for the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board but other makes are very similar.
On the board itself, there is a size guide. (Mine shows inches but I had a separate sheet which shows in centimetres). Choose your card size and read along the line - it shows you how big your piece of paper or card needs to be and which line you need to align the left corner with. So in my example I am going to make an envelope to fit a 12 cm square card.
The nearest card size is 12 . 7 cm x 12 . 7 cm. So I need to cut a piece of card 20 . 6 cm x 20 . 6 cm. The alignment mark is 10 . 5 cm.
Put the card you have just cut on the board as shown below with the left edge aligned against the 10 . 5 cm mark (shown on the envelope punch board).
Press the punch button down and using the bone folder that came with the set, Place it in the notch under the button and score from the centre of the punch down to the right in the groove. (This may take a little practice and the thicker the card, the harder it is to feel the groove underneath.)
Turn the card anti clockwise 90 degrees so the score line you have just made lines up with the point coming off the punch button.
Press the punch button and once again score the line from the punch button down to the right following the groove.
Repeat turning the card, punching and scoring until you have scored 4 lines.
Put one of the corners of the card in the other side of the punch button and press the button down. It will round off the corner. Do this for the other 3 corners.
Fold where all of the score lines are and use the bone folder along the folds to make ensure a nice crisp fold.
Put tape along the bottom flap edges on the inside. Fold it back up so it sticks to the side flaps.
That's your envelope complete.
If you have a 'Happy Birthday' greeting stamp on a wooden block and want to stamp the Happy and Birthday in separate places with an ink pad rather than stamping pens, then use a piece of washi tape:
Apply washi tape over part of the stamp you do not want to stamp this time. For my example, I wish to stamp the word 'Birthday', so I will need to cover up the word 'Happy' with washi tape.
Ink up the stamp as you would do normally and then remove the washi tape.
Stamp your greeting where you need it. As the washi tape was removed there will be no ink on the part you do not wish to stamp.
You will need to clean the stamp if you wish to repeat the process and stamp the other part - in my case, I would clean the stamp and then put washi tape over the 'Birthday' word so I can stamp 'Happy'. If you do not do this you may end up with some residual ink that could mark your card.
You need to cut a piece of card to make the box base.
The width of this piece of card will be A + B + A. The length of the card will be A + C + A.
Where A = depth of your greeting card + 0 . 5 cm
B = width of your greeting card + 0 . 5 cm
C = length of your greeting card + 0 . 5 cm
Once you have calculated and cut out the card for your box base, make a score line along each edge - the measurement of the score line will be whatever you calculated A to be.
The score lines will create squares in the corners. These will be the tabs. Cut up one score line of the tab and then cut next to it to cut a thin triangle out of the tab (see above photo). Repeat for all tabs.
Fold along the score lines.
Put glue or double sided tape on the tabs. Bend and stick them behind the sides to create the box shape. This finishes your box base.
You now need to cut a piece of card to make a box lid.
The width of this piece of card will be D + E + D. The length of the card will be D + F + D.
Where D = A - 1 cm
E = B + 0 . 2 cm
F = C + 0 . 2 cm
Once you have calculated and cut out the card for your box lid, score as you did for the box base but score at D measurement.
Cut the tabs, fold and glue as per the base.
The lid should now fit neatly onto the base and keep your card in perfect condition.
Your cutting mat probably gets really sticky and inky from all the crafting you do. I found the best way to clean it is get a plastic box big enough to put your cutting mat into, or use your bath, and put enough water in to just cover the mat. Add a couple of cups of white vinegar for a large mat and one one cup for a small mat. Let it soak for 20 minutes. I then scrubbed the mat with an old tooth brush and a bit of washing up liquid (you may be able to use a nail brish or washing up brush but nothing that is too harsh). Rinse the mat and then dry flat. Hey presto, nice clean mat!
I will add to the list as I have more crafting mishaps and learn new tricks. Just click on a link in the list below and you will be taken straight to the hint, tip or how to.
- How to stick layers down straight using double sided tape
- How to glue fiddly or delicate die cuts
- How to keep dies in place when cutting
- How to make an envelope with We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
- How to use only part of a stamp with an ink pad
- How to make a box envelope
- How to clean your self healing cutting mat
How to Stick layers down straight using double sided tape
So the example I am going to use is sticking a patterned rectangular piece of paper to some backing paper.
I put double sided tape on the back of the patterned paper starting at the top. Then working round the rectangle clockwise.
Pull back a tiny piece of the backing paper from the double sided tape on the right side (if looking at the back of the patterned paper with the double sided tape visible) from the first piece of double sided tape you put down. Ensure that the small amount of backing paper you have pulled back from the double sided tape is sticking out at right angles and can be seen when you place the patterned paper down onto the card backing.
Place it down gently on the backing paper as evenly spaced as you can get it. The patterned paper is now stuck to the backing paper top left, however as we've only pulled a little piece of the backing paper away, the whole patterned paper can be moved slightly to ensure it is straight. (You can see in the below picture, the patterned paper is slightly wonky. But you can move it straighter before sticking the next corner down).
Now pull of a tiny bit of backing paper from the next strip of double sided tape (clockwise). Wiggle the patterned paper about until it looks straight then gently press down the corner you have just removed a tiny bit of the backing paper from. The piece of paper should now be as straight as you can get it and won't really move anymore.
Carry on working around the rectangle in a clockwise manner, removing a little piece of backing paper and sticking the corner down.
Once you have removed a little piece of backing from all the strips - then pull on the backing paper tabs that are sticking out from behind the paper to remove the whole backing paper from each strip of double sided and press the edges down fully so the double sided tape sticks.
The patterned paper is now as straight as you can get it. (Even if it is a little wonky - don't forget it is handmade and don't be hard on yourself)
How to glue fiddly or delicate die cuts
To do this you will need a plastic pot, some glue and a small piece of sponge. Put a dollop of the glue onto the plastic pot.
Use the sponge to pick up some glue, then with your die cut on a piece of scrap paper, dot the glue covered sponge over the back of the die cut.
Turn the die cut over and stick it onto your card.
How to keep dies in place when cutting
I've used a magnetic cutting plate which sometimes holds your dies in place but sometimes they still jump about.
The best thing I have found is to use some washi tape. Just layer up your cutting plates etc into your die cutting machine but when you try and line your die up over your stamped image, hold it in place with a little piece of washi tape.
The tape doesn't interfere with the cut and it's easy to remove after.
How to make an envelope with We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
These instructions work for the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board but other makes are very similar.
On the board itself, there is a size guide. (Mine shows inches but I had a separate sheet which shows in centimetres). Choose your card size and read along the line - it shows you how big your piece of paper or card needs to be and which line you need to align the left corner with. So in my example I am going to make an envelope to fit a 12 cm square card.
The nearest card size is 12 . 7 cm x 12 . 7 cm. So I need to cut a piece of card 20 . 6 cm x 20 . 6 cm. The alignment mark is 10 . 5 cm.
Put the card you have just cut on the board as shown below with the left edge aligned against the 10 . 5 cm mark (shown on the envelope punch board).
Press the punch button down and using the bone folder that came with the set, Place it in the notch under the button and score from the centre of the punch down to the right in the groove. (This may take a little practice and the thicker the card, the harder it is to feel the groove underneath.)
Turn the card anti clockwise 90 degrees so the score line you have just made lines up with the point coming off the punch button.
Press the punch button and once again score the line from the punch button down to the right following the groove.
Repeat turning the card, punching and scoring until you have scored 4 lines.
Put one of the corners of the card in the other side of the punch button and press the button down. It will round off the corner. Do this for the other 3 corners.
Fold where all of the score lines are and use the bone folder along the folds to make ensure a nice crisp fold.
Put tape along the bottom flap edges on the inside. Fold it back up so it sticks to the side flaps.
That's your envelope complete.
How to use only part of a stamp with an ink pad
If you have a 'Happy Birthday' greeting stamp on a wooden block and want to stamp the Happy and Birthday in separate places with an ink pad rather than stamping pens, then use a piece of washi tape:
Apply washi tape over part of the stamp you do not want to stamp this time. For my example, I wish to stamp the word 'Birthday', so I will need to cover up the word 'Happy' with washi tape.
Ink up the stamp as you would do normally and then remove the washi tape.
Stamp your greeting where you need it. As the washi tape was removed there will be no ink on the part you do not wish to stamp.
You will need to clean the stamp if you wish to repeat the process and stamp the other part - in my case, I would clean the stamp and then put washi tape over the 'Birthday' word so I can stamp 'Happy'. If you do not do this you may end up with some residual ink that could mark your card.
How to make a box envelope
If you have a lot of 3d elements to your greeting card and it will not fit into a standard envelope you may have to create a box envelope.
You need to cut a piece of card to make the box base.
The width of this piece of card will be A + B + A. The length of the card will be A + C + A.
Where A = depth of your greeting card + 0 . 5 cm
B = width of your greeting card + 0 . 5 cm
C = length of your greeting card + 0 . 5 cm
Once you have calculated and cut out the card for your box base, make a score line along each edge - the measurement of the score line will be whatever you calculated A to be.
The score lines will create squares in the corners. These will be the tabs. Cut up one score line of the tab and then cut next to it to cut a thin triangle out of the tab (see above photo). Repeat for all tabs.
Fold along the score lines.
Put glue or double sided tape on the tabs. Bend and stick them behind the sides to create the box shape. This finishes your box base.
You now need to cut a piece of card to make a box lid.
The width of this piece of card will be D + E + D. The length of the card will be D + F + D.
Where D = A - 1 cm
E = B + 0 . 2 cm
F = C + 0 . 2 cm
Once you have calculated and cut out the card for your box lid, score as you did for the box base but score at D measurement.
Cut the tabs, fold and glue as per the base.
The lid should now fit neatly onto the base and keep your card in perfect condition.
How to clean your self healing cutting mat
Your cutting mat probably gets really sticky and inky from all the crafting you do. I found the best way to clean it is get a plastic box big enough to put your cutting mat into, or use your bath, and put enough water in to just cover the mat. Add a couple of cups of white vinegar for a large mat and one one cup for a small mat. Let it soak for 20 minutes. I then scrubbed the mat with an old tooth brush and a bit of washing up liquid (you may be able to use a nail brish or washing up brush but nothing that is too harsh). Rinse the mat and then dry flat. Hey presto, nice clean mat!
