Top Tip Tuesday ... Number 7...

Happy Tuesday everyone.  At Humbug Hall things are much quieter now that Max is in the Scottish wing and Ann is in the Yorkshire wing so we thought we would give everyone a wake up call with a new Top Tip.

Here at the hall we've been sorting out all our card stock into separate drawers to try to make things easier to find.  Hmm, famous last words, sheesh who bought all this stuff?  Anyway things are looking pretty good now with each card size having it's own storage space and even better we've put fragranced sachets in each drawer.  Oh lavender scented card stock how special is that?

Naturally you could add whatever fragance you like and it might even be possible to get Christmas themed sachets so that your Christmas cards smell of pine or maybe cinnamon.  We think that would make them extra special.

If you have any more ideas on the best way to give cards an extra special aroma please let us know in the comments box as it's great to share those brilliant ideas.

Don't forget this week's challenge 'A card to make you giggle or smile'.  As always we've had some fantastic entries some making us smile and some almost causing us to fall of our chairs laughing and before anyone says anything no that wasn't the red wine!  To join in this week's challenge either scroll down or click on the link HERE.

Love and stuff

Ann and Max xxx 

Top Tip Tuesday...Number 6...

This week's challenge here at Humbug Hall led us into delving into the darkest cobwebby corners of our craft stash to dig out the Art Metal we knew that we'd bought, used once or twice and stashed away years ago.

Wow, how could we forget how fabulous this stuff is when used in conjunction with brass stencils and embossing machines.  On the other hand how could we forget how easily it marks and how fragile it is when you first emboss it.  Eeeeeeeeek our first attempt here at the Hall ended up a complete metallic tragedy as the metal would not part from the rubber embossing mat.  Okay we might have been a little impatient wanting to see the results, but oh dear by the time we had removed the stencil the embossed metal had all kinds of bends and dents in it that we certainly didn't want it to have.

Then came one of those candle light (or maybe light bulb for those not living at the Hall) moments when we decided to try using an anti static bag on the metal before embossing.  Yeah it worked the powder stopped the rubber mat sticking to the stencil and the metal could be removed without damaging the design.

You have to polish the metal up after mounting it onto thick card, but at least the piece doesn't get any marks or dents in it that cannot be removed.

Hope you find this tip useful when experimenting with Art Metal.  If you haven't entered this week's 'metallic' challenge yet there is still time.  It can be found HERE!  Do check out some of the stunning designs being entered this week.  Everyone seems to be really pulling all the stops out and producing some of their best work ever.

Love and hugs

Ann and Max xxx

Extra tips from friend's comments...
Kathy said 'Or, if you mark it too much - you could always use alcohol (inks that is!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' - great idea Kathy - at Humbug Hall we think both types of alchohol would work well!
Valerie - don't panic the edges are not very sharp.  The metal is so thin that it's not really lethal.  Never been cut yet, but probably will be now we've made that statement.

Top Tip Tuesday...Number 5...

 

Remember this post!

Hmm, well last year we Humbuggers had very good intentions, but somehow when December came around there was way too much moaning and groaning along the drafty corridors at Humbug Hall.  Lots of lovely cards, but no inners and there is nothing more boring or painful than trying to do lots of inners all at the same time.  Especially if you need to complete them in a rush because they have to be posted before the next snow storm.  Eeeeeeeeek remember all that snow! 

Anyway this year our halos will shine brightly because we are going to do the inners as we make our cards - well most of the time anyway!

So this week's Top Tip Tuesday is...

Complete your card inners at the same time as you make your cards.

We have heard along the grapevine that one of our loyal participants is being super organised and is not only completing the inners as she goes along, but also has a tick list of people she sends cards to so that all the ones she makes are suitable for the recipients.  Phew, we are in complete awe of such super organisational skills and only wish we could be half as organised.

So far we have seen the most amazing entries for our 'Things that fly' challenge, which can be found here.  We knew this was an easy challenge, but it hasn't stopped you all from really pulling out all the stops to wow us with your creativity.  Absolutely amazing cards on show this week and we are just so enjoying hopping or should we say 'flying' around your blogs to see them all.

Have a good week everyone and if you have time 'fly' around every one's entries and check out the fab work on show.

Ann and Max xxx

Top Tip Tuesday ...Number 4...

This week's Top Tip is a money saving one - a very important one too for UK Bah! Humbuggers!  It's no good having made the most gorgeous Christmas cards ever if when December comes round you just can't afford to post them.

Royal Mail have already given a huge blow to us crafters with the introduction of the dreaded Large Letter stamp which means that most of our cards cost a fortune to post.  None of ours at Humbug Hall have ever been slim enough to get through the slot yet, but things are going to get worse.  So sorry to be the bearer of this doom and gloom, but needs must.

This is the official notice of the price rises by Royal Mail...

'The  main price increases are:

• The price of First and  Second class stamps for standard items weighing up to 100g will rise by 5p to  46p and 4p to 36p respectively.
• The cost of a Large Letter  stamp will rise by 9p to 75p for First Class items and 7p to 58p for Second  Class mail.'

Eeeeeeeeeeeek  75p to send a card!  Well, here at the Hall we're going to try and combat this by buying as many stamps as we can over the coming weeks.  As none of the stamps have the price on them it's possible to stock up now and avoid the price increase for a little while at least.  
Our plan is to add a couple of books of stamps in with our weekly shop which hopefully won't dent the budget too much, but will make a big difference come December.  
Remember too that because your cards will be all done and dusted by the end of November you'll be able to post them early and use Second Class mail. That will make a huge saving, especially if you post a lot of cards.
Even if you are lucky enough to live somewhere where there hasn't and isn't going to be a price rise (is that possible?) it's still a good idea to buy a few stamps each week.  It will certainly save you from a nasty shock come December.
Our current challenge of Doilies is here.  We've had some amazing entries so far.  Keep them coming - we're learning so much from you all.

Ann and Max xxx

Top Tip Tuesday Number 3...

If you're planning on matting and layering on to a really special piece of designer paper or glitter card sometimes it's a good idea to use the middle section before you actually mat on to the piece.  In the photo you can see that I've cut out the frame and the snowflakes I needed for my card before adding the white section.  Once the white layer goes on top nobody knows there are holes underneath and it's makes the card lighter to post too.  Doing this means that my other sheet of glitter card is untouched and ready to use another day.

Once you know the size of mat you need it's possible to use a craft knife to cut a section out of the middle and then that can be used for something else.

I usually draw my frame on the reverse of my paper/card before cutting out and I do tend to make the frame quite a large one.

As you can see once cut out you have a great frame to mat the patterned paper on to and also a piece suitable for matting an image on to or using in a die cut machine.

Here's the patterned paper in place ready to be attached. 

Perhaps you already do this when crafting, but if not it's worth knowing especially at those times when you have only one sheet of a colour you really want to use and need to make it go as far as possible.
Thanks for visiting and reading this week's Top Tip Tuesday.  Hope everyone is enjoying using those stencils.  The Stencil challenge is here and there is still lots of time to enter your cards.
Ann, Irene and Max xxx

Top Tip Tuesday ... on Wednesday!

Well, there's one thing about us girls at Humbug Hall we certainly keep you on your toes!  Just when you think that Tuesday is the day for Top Tips we spring one on a Wednesday and it's another goodie.  Well, it is if you haven't already donated last year's cards to a charity collection or (eeeeeeeeek) the bin.

Our tip this time is ...

'Recycle last year's Christmas cards.'

Not the beautiful handmade ones you have received of course.  They are far too precious to tamper with, but all those shop bought ones that might end up in a bin or taken to a recycling collection.  Well, why not recycle them yourselves.
On my 8" x 8" card I've used the whole of the front of an old card.  It didn't cost me anything to print and I didn't even have to add glitter as that was already on too.  What a bargain!?  All I had to do was mat and layer the image onto matching card, add some embellishments and a little embossing using my Fisker's Shape boss and hey presto card is finished.
Hope when you have a look through your cards you can find some images and trimmings to put on one side and use in your crafting.  Such a shame for them to be wasted.
Don't forget our challenge this week is HOLLY - FAIRIES or BOTH and you still have time to enter HERE. 
Some fabulous cards and projects so far.  Good luck to everyone in the draw.
Tons of love from
Ann, Irene and Max.
xxx

Top Tip Tuesday ...1...

Hello, Bah! Humbug!  fans.  Did you have a good Christmas?  Did you party the night away or were you like some of us at Humbug Hall leading very quiet lives?  Whatever you did we hope you enjoyed it and are taking it nice and easy this week in preparation for a new year of fun challenges at Bah! Humbug!
To start the year off we are bringing you the very  first of this year's Top Tip Tuesdays and it's a real winner.  Well, we think it is...

When only the crumbs are left from your Christmas biscuits and chocolates make sure you save the tins.  With all the cards we will be stashing away during the coming months we will definitely need somewhere safe to keep them all and what better place than a Christmas themed storage tin.

I must admit when I bought my goodies this year as well as looking at price and content I also considered the tin size and which cards could be stored in it later. No round tins in my Christmas shopping basket!
The one in my photo is just the right size for 8" x 8" cards and envelopes.  I just need to find some space to store the tins now.  Eek!
Don't forget our first challenge of the year starts on Friday.  It's a good one with plenty of scope for you to use those new Christmas goodies and maybe even win some more as we have a great prize on offer too.
See you Friday - till then have fun.

Ann, Irene and Max xxx

Top Tip Tuesday...

Wow ages since we had a Top Tip on here!  So sorry, but this is one well worth waiting for or at least it is if you find chocolates or sweeties in your house hard to resist.  As someone who had to stop opening the door to Trick or Treaters the other night due to having eaten all the sweeties this is advice I really need to follow myself.

We, Bah! Humbuggers! are just so organised that of course as well as almost having completed our Christmas cards we are also busy buying our presents before the Christmas rush and the prices shooting sky high.

Well, okay here comes the tip...

As soon as you buy that special box of chocolates present wrap it up.  As extra insurance against the wrapping paper being ripped off early (yep, been there and done that) it's also quite a good idea to make the wrapping that bit special.  It makes it easier to resist the temptation of opening if you've spent ages wrapping the parcel up in the first place.

I can't promise that this tip will work, but it might have saved my mum's birthday choccies the other week.  Sshhh!  She doesn't know!

This week's challenge of Presents can be found here.

Top Tip Tuesday...Removing die cuts...

Wow it's been a while since we had any tips, but hopefully this one will be well worth the wait! Recently a friend was asking how to get die cuts out without doing any damage to the cut piece. She was using mirri card and as we all know if you start digging around with a pokey tool or tweezers it's all to easy to make marks on the card.

I must admit I've always dug mine out - until now when a sudden flash of inspiration struck! I was trying to cut some Marianne swirls, which can be really tricky to remove without tearing or completely wrecking the finished piece.

This photo shows the die with the paper still in it. As you can see it cuts really fine and as it was quite thin paper I was sure it was going to be tricky to remove without ruining the swirl.

Then a thought came to me that maybe if I stuck my putty rubber (blutack may also work) to the back and then pulled gently it may just release the die. Oh how pleased was I when this worked - one very happy crafter!

This photo shows the die cut half out of the die with the putty rubber still attached.

So far I've only tried this with this particular swirl die, but I'm sure it will work with most dies. An added bonus is that it also removes all those tiny circles that build up in the die itself.

Here's the swirl completely free of the die and undamaged. Yeah success! Hope you've found today's top tip useful. More tips are on the way and we do promise that there won't be such a long gap between this and the next tip.

Have a wonderful Tuesday and don't forget our challenge until Friday is 'Punched Borders' and you can enter your card here. 

Ann, Irene and Max xxx

Top Tip Tuesday...

Something new on Bah! Humbug! and something that may become a regular weekly feature or it may just crop up randomly when one of the team feel they have something they consider shareworthy - we'll see.

Anyway this week I want to share some bargains with you.
The January sale frenzy is coming to a close, but that's just when you can pick things up really, really cheaply and, provided you have a place to store them, you can get some great deals for Christmas.

I bought this set of gift bags and wrap at Tesco - reduced from £3 to only 70p!  Quite good for 3 gift bags and 2 sheets of wrapping paper me thinks and of course, being a crafter, I spotted the plain red bag in the set and immediately thought 'ooooooooh I can make that a bit more glitzy!'

Carrying on our Bah! Humbug glitter theme I cut a scalloped circle and snowflake out of glitter card and matted and layered them on to the bag. 
I used a small section of one of the wrapping papers and the original tag that was on the bag to mat the snowflake on. In the centre of the snowflake is a self adhesive gem stone ... which reminds me if you have a Poundland nearby watch out for these packs of gems...

They stick really well and ... okay some of the stones are a size that Elizabeth Taylor might wear ... but there's 120+ in the set so lots to go at and let's face it you can never have too much bling in your stash.
Hopefully you've enjoyed our first Top Tip Tuesday and don't forget to bring out your glitter for this week's challenge HERE. 
It might be nice to see some glittery gift bags out there as well as cards.