Issue 91 Boys & Girls toppers!

Jo Kill's designed the most gorgeous 'boys & girls'-themed toppers for our October issue (in shops 1st Sept)!

Jo used some brilliant digi downloads, so we thought it'd be a good idea to list them here with direct links so you can find them easily. Click below to check them out! Vintage ATC by Monbonbon, from Etsy Cowboy image, from The Graphics Fairy Sitting Trevor Digi Stamp, from All That Scraps Happy crafting!

Thrilling quilling inspiration

It's a while since I've had a go at quilling but seeing the gorgeous card ideas by Angela Poole in this issue of Papercraft inspirations magazine - issue 90, September, on sale now! - I'm inspired to give it a go.

By combining stamping (my current favourite technique) with quilling, and not only that, but using strips of fabulous patterned papers to make quilling papers, the effects are stunning, as you can see!

PIN90_quilling card by Angela

Looking for card making inspiration?

With the new issue of Papercraft inspirations - issue 90, September, on sale now, there's lots to enjoy, inlcuding our monthly gallery of beautiful inspirations found out-and-about in all crafting corners of the internet!

More money-saving inspiration - mould your own embellishments!

Here's even more inspiration about our new Masterclass guide to Using Moulds, as seen in the new issue of Papercraft inspirations, issue 90 September.

Did you see our first idea to try a ready-made mould, in Mariana's card here? Her adorable polymer clay flower embellishments have us drooling.... but if you fancy taking this idea a step further, take a look at this fabulous card from designer Laurel Beard.

Follow our easy-to-use Masterclass guide in the magazine to make your own oh-so-simple clay embellishments, and Laurel’s going to reveal more about showcasing them at their best in her wow-factor card!

Laurel's_birthday_card_Masterclass

“I love building mini scenes using stamps so combining these with my own custom-made embellishments is great fun! To go with my birthday themed idea, I made a bunch of flower-shaped balloons and a cute bow all using silicone moulds," Laurel says. “Then I added shimmer and shading to them for a special look, so they really look the part on my birthday card.”

Making Laurel's birthday wishes card is a breeze and her colour-coordinated embellishments are the perfect touch. "Here are my step-by-step photos to making this cute card!" she says.

First here’s my shopping list.

- Green & white card

- Patterned paper – I used the October Afternoon 'Togetherness' 8x8in paper pad

- Flowers & bow silicone moulds, from Mold Muse

- Fimo soft polymer clay, from Staedtler. Call 01656 778 668 for local stockist details.

- Lawn Fawn clear stamps set 'Bake Me a Cake', from Make the Day Special

- Acrylic block & black ink pad - Markers - I used Copic markers. ProMarkers by Letraset also work well.

- Ranger Liquid Pearls, available from Creative Expressions stockists

- Ric rac & baker's twine. Find the full range of Baker's twine colours at The Ribbon Girl.

Step 1. Mould and bake your clay flowers and bow as shown in the magazine Masterclass.

LaurelBeard_card_step1

Whilst your embellishments are cooling, score and fold a card blank from green card. Cut a panel of patterned paper and stick it on to your card front, adding a length of ric rac as a border along the top of the paper.

Step 2. Now stamp your cake topper. Stamp the cake direct on to white card, then stamp the sequential tiers of the cake on to various patterned papers. This is a great way to use up scrap pieces!

LaurelBeard_card_step2

Card idea – polymer clay fun with Mariana Grigsby!

Hopefully you read my sneak peek post yesterday about the new issue’s Masterclass guide to Using Moulds? If not, click here!

With the new issue of Papercraft inspirations, issue 90 September, on sale today, take a look at the fabulous ideas on making cards with polymer clay embellishments. What a great way to save £££ by custom-moulding all the embellishments you could ever want! Top designer Mariana Grigsby shows us her easy card to get started on using a ready-made mould to make cute flower embellishments. Simply follow our easy-to-use Masterclass guide in the magazine to make the super-sweet clay flowers. And Mariana’s going to show us more about how to make her card showing off those embellishments in style!

Join a card making challenge!

Looking for an inspiration boost? Make your crafting mojo flow by trying your hand at our Papercraft inspirations card making challenge!This month's idea to kickstart your creativity is from guest challenger and top designer, Kirsty Neale... "Make a card with a punched or die-cut shape, but use the negative of the shape on your card!” she says.

PIN90.challenge_card_KirstyNeale

What a great idea - thanks Kirsty! Give it a try and show us how you're inspired! Email us or write in to the usual address: Papercraft inspirations, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW. Every single letter we print wins a prize! Remember too that you can share your cards on our Flickr photostream for everyone to enjoy and be inspired!

Quick links to summer digi kits!

Issue 90 hits the shops on 3rd August, complete with a round-up of our favourite summer-themed digital kits!

Here are some quick links to the featured kits:

Sunshine & Happiness, from Two Peas in a Bucket

Summer at the Beach, from Scrapbook Graphics

Beachy Keen – Collaboration Kid, from Digital Scrap Cafe S

unbleached, from Sweet Shoppe Designs

Take your cards up a notch!

Check out this card featured in our latest issue of Papercraft inspirations issue 89, August 2011.

Card making challenge idea

Hope you're enjoying our new section in the magazine looking at top crafting questions, ‘Your questions answered!’.

We're including ideas for where you can find a card making challenge, both with a new challenge each month from us at Papercraft inspirations, and links to other online challenges. Our current challenge for you is... "to use an item of office stationery in your card!" Check out the card that I made – I couldn't wait to join in on this one as it's quite a trend in papercraft right now to use office and school-themed products! Challenge_card_issue89

Card inspiration - just a click away!

Hope you're loving all the new inspiration ideas in the latest issue of Papercraft inspirations - issue 89, August - on sale now!

And especially the extravaganza of carefully selected projects from all over blogland, to be featured in our new gallery of designs! Once again, we have all of the quick links to the featured crafters, so you can find out more about their projects. Just click on each link below to find out more!

Karen's die-cut sewing-themed card

Lori's cute girly footballer card

Frances' fun 3D 'Fred Bear plays indians' card

Ann's sweet card with clever pin-effect border