Christmas Card Printable

I've been busy making some holiday cards lately, and yesterday afternoon I went on the "get 'er done" method. Simple, easy, and repeatable. Instead of going all out with techniques sometimes you just need to get cards whipped out fast and furious. So I came up with this printable. Print out onto a letter size sheet, cut, fold and accessorize with patterned paper or ribbon. Simple, quick, and easy!

To download the printable simply click THIS LINK to go to the download page, open, upzip and get busy making your holiday cards! Once printed I think both these cards below took all of 5 minutes to make!

Supplies: Cardstock: Georgia Pacific; Paper: Imaginisce; Font: Teen; Ink: Close to my heart;

For my second card I decided to cut the white panel out and mount it onto red cardstock for the card base. I think it gives it more pop! But I really like both versions. Obviously this one took a little longer, maybe an extra 30 seconds!

Supplies: Cardstock: Georgia Pacific & DCWV; Paper: Imaginisce; Font: Teen; Ink: Close to my heart;

 Enjoy!

Di

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Scrapbooking.com: Dimension & Texture

My article for the July issue of Scrapbooking.com magazine was all about ways to add dimension and texture to a layout. On the layout below I used Foil paper, embossed stickers, dimensional stickers, clear stickers, rhinestones, and glitter to add depth and texture. Ordinarily I wouldn't use so many different types of medium on one layout but as these were from the same manufacturer I think they worked well together :)

Supplies: Adhesive: Adhesive Roller, Adhesive Foam Squares (3L), Glue Dots; Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View; Computer Software: Corel Paint Shop Pro; Paper: Me and my Big Ideas; Stickers: Me and my Big Ideas; Tools: Computer, corner rounder

More soon!

Di

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Digital Scrapbooking Sunday

This month at Scrapwow, subscribers can get this kit free for April. It's a kit from me called "Tween Dream". Just a pastel inspired kit, with a little funky touch added.

As always for these kits we designers create printables and add-ons to coordinate with the kit to show just how versatile digital scrapbooking is, so I thought I'd share some of my sequels to this Tween Dream kit. First up Quickpages! I made four QPs for this kit, here is QP1 my favorite, you can see all the QPs in my Scrapwow store. Each QP is on sale throughout April for just $1.25 (regular price $1.50)

Also available is a printable! I love making and using printables so I was happy to finally find the time to design this notepad printable. Tween Dream Notepad set is set of 6 printable images (3 per 8.5x11 sheet) that when printed can be cut out and assembled into a fun notepad to stick on the fridge, pop in your handbag or simple for the kids to doodle on! On sale throughout April for just $1.50

The download includes both the JPG and PDF versions of the file, so you could open the jpgs in your editing softward and add text if you wanted to! So fun to print, cut and create that it's a great project to do with the kids and makes great teacher gifts!

To bind the notepad you could use a clip like a bulldog clip, here you can see one that has a magnet on the back to use on the refrigerator!

Or you could punch holes, then thread through some ribbon to make a more girly notepad!

Or you could just use a stapler, and just put a couple of staples in the top. Simple, quick and easy whichever option you decide! Fun too!

More soon!

Di

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Rosie-D's Challenge

Sharing my Guest Design Team card for this weeks challenge at Rosie-D's Challenge Blog. This weeks challenge is to use Lemon/Lime color combo with a dash of ribbon. We were also using digital stamps from Heather Dennis who is this weeks prize sponsor so make sure to go check out the challenge and get your cards uploaded for a chance to win.

Supplies: Digital Stamp: CoffeeCake 3 by Heather Dennis; Cardstock: DCWV; Patterned Paper: DCWV; Ribbon: Offray; Rhinestones: MAMBI; Font: Ravie; Photoshop

Really enjoyed using the digital stamp and seeing Heather's store has really made me think about doing my own digital stamps for cards! Maybe something to work on it the future!

More creativity soon!

Di

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Card Sketch Oct #4

Taking a break from coughing, sneezing and wheezing to bring you this weeks card sketch! I love this sketch and it's going to be one I use again and again. So easy with the digital template too for the text on a path :) Or you could use stamps or rub-ons for the same look.

As I feel like I am sitting here dying with the flu, I opted for quick and easy. Nothing for me is easier or quicker than using photoshop with one of my digital kits, printing it out then embellishing with some traditional supplies. This card took all of 10 minutes, most of which was me deciding on which color to do the horizontal band, lol!

"Happy Anniversary" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Revitalized Kit by Di Hickman, Flower by HOTP, Brad by Bazzill

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"Snowflake" card by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Flair paper, Basic Grey paper and chipboard

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"Monochrome Heart" card by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Patterned Paper - Making Memories, Pearls - Prima Marketing, Chipboard Heart - Heidi Swapp, Stickles, Red Velvet paper cut on a Craft Robo to make trim, Stabilo Pen

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"Happy Birthday" card by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: pink background paper was from a set I got from a local book store, the candles are epoxy stickers from paper cellar, white souffle pen from sakura.

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"Happy Holidays" card by Linda Flinders

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"Merry Christmas" card by Jo Willis
Supplies: Papermill card, DCWV paper, Distress ink, Green Tara blossom, Creative Imagination chipboard snowflake, Dovecraft adhesive ribbon and brad, vintage Letraset dry transfer lettering, Stickles and a black fine pen.

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"Snowman" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: Paper ~ Rob n Bob Studio; Felt Fusion ~ Queen & Co; Snowman Panel ~ Etsy; Gems ~ A muse

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Di

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Scrapbooking.com October

My latest article for Scrapbooking.com is up online and available for viewing. You can check it out here. Thought I'd share a teaser of the layout I made for this article called "Feelin' Good!". Basically inspired by my rediscovered love of health and fitness.

I have to say I love these papers from Me & My Big Ideas. How fun are they? The layout is hybrid, I printed the photo's with borders and printed the journaling using the reverse text technique. Plus as I said to my friend Nancy when I showed her the layout "Flowers AND bling on the same layout!!!". HAHAHA has to be a first for me!

Check out all the other great articles this month at Scrapbooking.com

Di

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Up up & Away

I love hybrid projects, paring digital with traditional. The green and red papers were printed along with the photo's as a whole sheet. I simply cut them out of the letter size sheet and adhered them to the Boxer paper!

Boxer Products: Yellow dot paper; Dog lovers mega alpha; Dog lovers small alpha; Library card;

Di

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Hybrid phase continues

When I made my hybrid card for yesterdays sketch I doubled up in the printing to use up the paper and made another card which I thought I'd share today. Same design just different papers/colors. Same Anne Langpap Kit from 2 peas.

"Thinking of you!" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: March Freebie by Anne Langpap (2 peas in a bucket); template, wordart & stitching by Di Hickman; Flower: Prima;

I love the paper on this one, hard to get the right colors for the sentiment but I think this works without it being too overpowering. Anyway I'm obviously still in a hybrid/digital phase right now so just gonna go with the flow and see where it leads me :) This card will probably go in my Cards for Heroes Box, which I really need to send soon cos it's overflowing!

Di

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Make a wish

Just making my card for next weeks sketch and I went hybrid again and whilst I was printing off papers I decided to use up the paper and print some extra's so I whipped up a couple of cards using July #2 sketch.

Supplies: Glitz card CD; DCWV paper; Misc ribbon & Buttons;

I am LOVING the digital collections by Glitz. I have two of their CDs, one scrapbooking and another for cards and I totally LOVE both. Especially the cards, cos they are just so quick and easy to make! I whipped these up in photoshop with my templates in about 5 minutes, 1 minute to print off, then fold and done.

The card on the left I just printed the pink panel and mounted onto cardstock. Super quick and easy, and totally a great idea if you have some paper with no matching cardstock/supplies. Just pick the colors and print out a panel with the sentiment and stamp! Made to match embellishments!

I'm busy going through supplies here at Hickman HQ. Already given some items away on Freecycle but I've got another box of Scrapbook paper to go and another piling up. The cards I am working on lately are for a friend. Her sons community project is collecting/making handmade cards for the local childrens hospital so you know I am all over that and helping them out!

Off to go swim in the pool :)

Di

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the teacups...

Thought I'd share a layout today :) Haven't really done many layouts recently but I got this one published in Ready Set Create's June/July issue and it is one of my favorites in a LONG time. I really felt like the whole layout just came together pretty easily, I guess I was just feeling the creative groove at the time? Maybe it's because it's hybrid and everything seems to come together quicker for me when it's hybrid? Who knows I just know I like it :)

Supplies: Fonts: SP Wonderful Wendy; Paper, button, brads: Boxer Scrapbooks; Digital journal stamp: Di Hickman (DiALOGUE 4);

The pic is my Dad at Disneyland back in 2003. My Mum was in the photo too but I cropped her out as this was a layout about Dads. Oh and I have to say I am LOVING the turquoise polka dot paper from Boxer! Mmmmmm dots.... you know I LOVE dots :)

Back tomorrow with some cards and a sketch :)

Di

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Card Sketch May #4

Happy Wednesday! Time for the final card sketch for May, and this weeks is perfect for scraps. As always the digital template will be available in my digital store for a limited time only, snag it while you can.

This week I decided to go hybrid with my card using my "Daydreams" kit turned out to be a good idea, as I really like the end result! Coupled the digital portion with some photo corners, flower and a brad for finishing touches. Using the template for the papers, stitching and text etc really makes this card a snap to make!

"Friends" hybrid card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Daydreams digital kit by Di Hickman; Font: Arial; Photo Corners: Heidi Swapp; Flower: Prima; Brad: MM;

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"Just for You" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: Papers ~ Sassafras Pocketful of Rosies & My Dearest; Journal Sticker ~ Hambly; Alpha stickers ~ Adornit; Gems ~ Hero Arts; Trim ~ from local market

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"Thanks a million" card by Chrys Rose
Supplies: SEI papers; Melissa Frances rub on

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"Joy & Cheer" card by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Various Patterned paper scraps from stash including Cosmo Cricket, Fancy pants and Bazzill Basics cardstock and Swiss Dot. Rub-on from Basic Grey, Ribbon and button from stash, Blooms from Jenny Bowlin and prima, Floss from DMC, Fiskars Border Punch

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"Friends" card by Pearl Liu
supply list : Rose Moka pps , DCWV Sweets dimensional sticker, K&CO dimensional sticker , Cuttlebug Embossing Folder -D'vineSwirls

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"Best Wishes" card by Linda Flinders

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Remember to link me up in the comments if you make a card with the sketch, I love to come check them out!

Di

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Create & Decorate

Just sharing a published piece in the April issue of Create & Decorate, great mag for full step by step projects.

This project was a piece I originally created for Prima Hybrid back in 2008, the editors at Create & Decorate loved it and I shipped it off to them. One thing about getting published is it always seems like forever from when you send projects in to them actually getting published, I think some people don't realize that, lol. Kinda like creating for Christmas in March *sigh* or right now, creating for Valentines in May! lol.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far! I'm totally in vacation mode. Dunno if I mentioned but I am taking a little vacation from my DTs in June and totally looking forward to it :) Time to design for fun (I have tentative plans for June) and to get into my Summer schedule, open up the pool and get some jobs done around the house!

Have fun!

Di

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Cheep Shot

This week I thought I'd share a layout I had published in the April Issue of Scrapstreet Magazine. The layout is based on a sketch by Michelle McClung. The center portion of the layout with the photo, title scallop and journaling was created in photoshop and then printed. Simply cut it out and then assembled the layout traditionally.

Supplies: Yellow polka dot paper; green gingham paper; plum mini brads;

I love how the layout turned out! The title is a play on words, kinda corny but I think it works!

Di

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Scrapbooking.com May issue!

The May issue of Scrapbooking.com magazine is available for viewing online! My article this month is on hybrid scrapbooking, you all know how I love to merge traditional scrapping with digital! You can check out my article here, and here are the projects I made for the article!

Supplies: Adhesive: E-Z runner (Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L™); Brads: lime (Creative Impressions); Cardstock: Vintage Collection (Core’dinations); Chipboard: Lime Alpha (Heidi Swapp); Die cut border: Bazzill Basics; Patterned paper: Pool Fun digital kit (Di Hickman Designs); Printing service: CraftSassy.com; Photo Corner: Sassy Collection (one heart… one mind); Photo Paper: Epson; Printer: Epson Artisan 800; Software: Paint shop pro Photo X2 (Corel)

Supplies: Adhesive: E-Z runner (Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L™); Art Pens: purple Permapaque (Sakura); Brad: floral (Provo Craft), round purple (Doodlebug); Digital Scrapbook Collection: Season 3, Gigi (Glitz Designs); Photo Paper: Epson; Printer: Epson Artisan 800; Rhinestone: pink (me and my BIG ideas); Software: Paint shop pro Photo X2 (Corel)

I am loving working with Scrapbooking.com, they are truly just awesome to work for! Plus remember they have lots more articles and eyecandy in the current issue so check it out! Oh and remember to enter their pets layout contest!

Di

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101 in 1001 - Self portrait a month

I have a few projects lined up for the 101 in 1001 project, one of which is to take a self portrait every month up until my 40th birthday in 2011! Naturally I need somewhere to put these photo's so I dove into my treasure trove of a scraproom and found this photo album with an alterable frame cover! I decided this would be perfect! To begin I simply painted the wooden frame white then went to town with the Boxer papers!

Supplies: tropic flowers paper; Turquoise dots; Black buttons; White mini brad;

I think it turned out super cute! I love the black and white with the turquoise! The turquoise really POPS! The center panel I created in photoshop using the same color scheme. The book holds 60 photo's so I will have room for journaling or extra's too!

Di

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Printing on the Prima chipmates stickers

The Prima Hybrid store has coordinating digital chipmates stickers for some of the paper lines so I thought I’d do a little tutorial to show paper peeps how to use the stickers to print just one sticker at a time. There are a few ways of doing this, but I am focusing on using digital editing tools. For this tutorial I am using Photoshop CS3 but the principle should be the same in all photo editing programs.

1. First open up photoshop and the chipmates sticker sheet you want to use, in this case I opened the “Signs of spring” chipmates.

2. Add a new layer and fill with white (second layer in screenshot). Duplicate the background layer and move ABOVE the solid white layer. Using the marquee tool draw a box around the chipmate sticker you want to print.

3. Next click, select, inverse (or right click, select inverse) and the selection should be inverted so all the sheet EXCEPT the area you wish to print is selected. Simply press delete to remove the excess printing area, leaving just the green sticker and text in this example.

4. Print onto a chipmate sticker sheet, and use in your project

Physical Prima Supplies: Signs of Spring papers; Clearly IOD transparency tape #517809; Loft 18 Flowers #52005 Signs of Spring epoxy overlay stickers; Chipmates Inkjet diecut stickers Digital Prima Hybrid Supplies: Signs of Spring Chipmates

I hope this helps you to save ink, save supplies, and makes your hybrid projects easier! As I said there are other ways to do this technique so if you have any questions about the tutorial just ask!

Di

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UHU sketch challenge!

Are you ready for a challenge? I think I've mentioned that I'm a "UHU gluer" before but the site/blog has moved, and us gluers, well we're getting busy with the UHU and crafting up a storm! I figured I'd lead the way this month with a little challenge and a prize package sponsored by UHU and Saunders Manufacturing! The prize package has a retail value of $30!


For my challenge I had to do a sketch right? So here is the challenge, create a layout using this sketch, link me up in the comments, then on 9th April I'll draw a random winner :) That gives you two weeks to get creating!!! *no digital entries, paper or hybrid only sorry!*

Here is my sample layout using the sketch! Just my DH messing about in the pool. This is a hybrid layout using one of my digital kits. I just printed the parts, cut them out them adhered it all together with some traditional embellishments!

Supplies: Glue roller, twist & glue: UHU; Summer Fun kit by Di Hickman; Flowers: Prima; Misc brad & buttons;

Good luck!

Di

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Prima Hybrid - altered

Going hybrid today! This week I'm using a kit from Valerie Foster which is meant for cardmaking but I used it for a calendar cover, so I guess technically this is digital recycling and I could have used it for Thursdays 'green' post :)

I have to say I ADORE the papers in this kit by Valerie! The designs are just beautiful, I've just been waiting for the right project to use them on. This project is one of those pocket/purse size calendars, I've simply added a new cover and a little of "me" to the look.

Digital Products:
Stone Rose Hybrid card kit (digital) by Valerie Foster @ Prima Hybrid; Prima Fancies #1 by Valerie Foster @ Prima Hybrid;

Physical Products:
Chipmates Inkjet diecut stickers; Chipmates chipboard shapes; Fancie flower from "the bitty bag" #506988; center kisses round 9mm #520717;

Instructions

1. Unfold the calendar and pop the full length cover (back and front) onto your scanner, and scan @ 300dpi (this saves measuring!)
2. Using the marquee tool drag a box 1/4" larger than the cover, open a new layer and fill with white.
3. Open stoneose_card04 from digital kit, drag onto document and resize to fit a front cover. Use a clipping mask to form to the box in step 2.
4. Make a copy of stonerose_card04 layer, flip horizontally and use for the back cover.
5. Add MixedFancies_02 from digital files, adding a blending mode: color (turquoise color-picked from stonerose_card-4), place in upper right corner
6. Print onto cardstock and let dry & cut to size. Assemble cover of calendar
   
7. Open stonerose_chipmates, using marquee tool drag a box around the item you want to use, then invert selection and delete. This will avoid printing the rest of the sheet when you only want to print ONE chipmate item.
8. Add text to tag, print onto chipmate sticker. Let dry then adhere to chipboard chipmate
9. Adhere chipboard to front of calendar, add prima fancie and center kisses!

Tips:

• I adhered the chipboard to the front of the calendar ontop of the plastic cover otherwise it'd be too lumpy to get into the plastic cover.
• The top of the flower was hanging off the edge of the chipboard so I secured it with some pop-dots cut in half giving some support to the flower.
• Print your chipmate onto paper first, then check the color/text/placement etc is correct before printing onto the sticker sheets.
  

Hope you like!!!

Di

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Happy Birthday Mum!

Just want to say a BIG Happy birthday to my Mum who is another year older (and wiser?) today! Happy birthday Mum! For those not in the know, my Mum lives back in England and so we have an email/web/phone relationship right now. I made her this hybrid card, and the flocked alpha I grunged up just wouldn't come out right on the photo, one of those that looks better IRL. The beige paper is more a pinky beige IRL and the alpha more beige than pink! Lol!

Digital: Beautiful Day kit by Vera Lim; Steel Toe Mary Janes by Vera Lim @ Prima Hybrid; Card template set #3 by Di Hickman;
Prima Physical Product: Center kisses ; Loft 18 burgundy 520045 ; Whispered Words flocked alphabet

Instructions

• Reduce digital papers to 5"x5" and design digital portion of card, print and set aside to dry.
• Make a 5"x5" from white cardstock, cut out digital card and adhere to card base.
• Adhere flocked alphabet, flower, and center kisses.
• For a unified look I added some chalk to 'dirty up' the white flocked alpha

Remember you can see more Prima Hybrid projects on the Prima blog every Wednesday!

Have a wonderful day Mum!

love

Di

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Prima Hybrid

Wednesday is Hybrid day on the Prima blog, so us hybrid girls get to shine and show our stuff. New in the Prima Hybrid store this month is this "beautiful day" kit by Vera Lim. I love the colors and had to use it for a project (and probably more in the coming weeks!). This is a layout of my BFF's daughter Bella.

Digital supplies: Beautiful Day by Vera Lim ; IOD Silhouettes gem frame fleurishy small; IOD Silhouette gem strips hearts; IOD Silhouette gem alpha royal; IOD Rue 88 coordinates; All from Prima Hybrid Notepaper scanned and extracted myself
Physical Supplies: Elysee Ribbon; Center Kisses 9mm - 520717; Kisses hearts - 520694 all by Prima Marketing Inc

Quick how-to

• Open a new document 11x8.5" @ 300dpi, drag and drop the blue floral paper, large flower and green solid from the Beautiful day kit, and the beige solid from Rue 88 kit. Add the heart strip, "C" alpha silhouette, photo and frame onto the layout.
• Change Alpha color to green, add dark brown stroke, repeat step with rest of title.
• Resize photo to fit the frame
• Duplicate frame, change top layer to dark brown overlay.
  
• With the green solid paper from Beautiful Day kit under the first frame duplicate, using the marquee tool 'cut out' the inner and outter sections of the frame
• Repeat the above step with the inner section and the large floral paper
• Using the erase tool on the beige solid from Rue 88 kit, erase all but the floral area under the frame stamp.
• Add notepaper and journaling
• Print layout and allow to dry.
• Carefully cut along notepaper edge and floral edge with a craft knife, then slide ribbon through and secure.
• Embellish with center kisses and hearts
  

Di

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