Workshops - Rochester

Jackie Whiteley Christmas Die-Cutting Saturday 4^th October £25

10am - 4pm Class Size 12

Explore the many possibilities of Die-Cutting, Dry Embossing and other amazing techniques which will set your Christmas
Cards alight this year. All materials will be provided.

Creative Juices - 2 new shaped cards

Well I have been busy busy busy and I am soo pleased to introduce two new shaped cards, do keep coming back to see what I have been up too as I will be providing a space for my GSD files here and on my website.

Here are examples of the blank cut shapes which I have added buy it now buttons so you can enjoy them quickly any time of the day - as automatic delivery of files will be enjoyed once payment has been received. Use the view cart to see the items you have added to your cart for payment and download.

These files are suitable for craft robo users or any other personal cutter system that uses GSD format.

This is my Garden Flower Pot with 3d Flower template, lots of flexibility with this file.

This lovely shaped flower pot card is suitable for a range of occasions from birthdays to thank yous, however with a bit of imagination you will found it suitable for ladies or gentlemen of all ages!

It has been designed to have extra interest by way of the elements included within the file which make up the 3d flower and leaf. This means that the elements and the card shape can be resized to create a worth of options in your card making or scrapbooking projects.

£1.50

GENTLE REMINDER: You can use the file for your personal use, where you can sell your cut out creations only.

By purchasing this file you are agreeing to this and that you will not share or sell the file. Please email if you have any request for new craft files or if you require assistance.

This lovely shaped house card is suitable for a range of occassions from 'congratulations on your new home' to 'hey we have moved!' or even a simple 'Welcome home', let your imagination go wild and invent a reason to send a house today!

It has been designed to have extra interest by way of the elements included within the file which make up the door and window boxes. This means that the elements and the card shape can be resized to create a worth of options in your card making or scrapbooking projects.

£1.50

GENTLE REMINDER: You can use the file for your personal use, where you can sell your cut out creations only. By purchasing this file you are agreeing to this and that you will not share or sell the file.

Creative Juices - Paper Piecing!

I have always loved paper, card, buttons and well you know anything ‘arty crafty’ lol However I have again found myself creating little characters. I have created 9 character templates which I really should finish off the examples so that I can share them here etc. That makes a total now of over 20 which include animals, bears and little people – I think that is my paper piecing creative juices all gone now…but we will have to see! They are a wee bit wacky but of a size that is great for scrapbooking or card making J I really would welcome some comments as I share these designs/templates – so far the ladies from the scrapbooking group have been very positive about the ‘lady bear’ with her long lashes, she reminds me of my eldest daughter a bit cheeky but definitely modern!

Creative Juices - Craft Robo Is Out Of It's Box for Good?!

So I am still playing around with my craft robo having had it safely in a box for many many months... I have found myself drawn to it each day! (My dad will be pleased x)

I am now comfortable with how to wield words and how to make the most of the software that I have already and the new Robo master software that I managed to download...gets me thinking about all the graphics that I have made and how fab it would be to create shaped cards or mats for my graphics... Well as I like to make any patterns through a combination of drawing sketches, cutting paper and card and then creating the lines on the screen I have had fun making mock ups of shape cards then making graphics to fit! Back to front I know but I am challenging my creative juices - ok back to front...mad hatter approach (can you hear the sirens ?) So nearly five hours later I have a shaped card with graphics..that I created in inkscape (opensource and very good for windows and mac), printed via craft robo software so that it could then cut out the outline shape of the card - very clever!

Here's a screen shot of the art work/cut lines..I may just share this online for those with a computerized cutter system...shout up if you would like the file. I will also put a picture of the finished card when it is finished as now I can decorate and glitter!

Although the optical eye of the craft robo is some what of a mystery sometimes it works...and sometimes..it doesn't! (I just keep setting it up and eventually it asks can it cut it out now??!!! Not sure what to do when I am bored of trying to get it to see the registration marks though! lol) I thought this would make a nice card for a dad or keen gardener..with the tag on the front saying 'To' and the back saying 'From' now I need to design an envelope as just smaller than A5...aww more work..enough for one night though. Scrapbooking club tomorrow and I have a nice treat lined up for them soooo need to get some sleep :)

Creative Juices - Craft Robo

I have had my craft robo for quite some time now and I have to thank my father for it as he purchased it - demonstrating his faith in my creative juices! Well I may have taken my time but it was worth waiting for I have designed from scratch about 7 files now that I would describe as being suitable for scrapbooking although could be resized. OH just thought, for those who don't know what a craft robo is....let me explain! It is a computerised cutter system which you operate from your computer, you can either purchase designs or use the software provided to create your own. The machine (which kind of looks like a printer) then cuts the shapes out for you. WOW clever I hear you say....now yes it is. However time to play is very important!

I am now quite confident with the machine and it's software - that I feel I can concentrate on my designing side further to create new die cuts to work along side my cutting papers etc.

So here is a preview of what I have been up too - I am hoping my friend (J) will be very kind and play around with all my new designs and things so I can have some examples made by someone else...as it is nice to see how they are used in the 'real world' as my crazy one...is well crazy! Concluding that I love my craft robo I just wish I had spent more time with it earlier :)

Favourite Tool - Fiskar Shape Cutter/Express

Today I thought I would share a little about a personal cutter system that is quite flexible and one that has grown with me over the last five or more years. (Confession I don't know how long I have had this tool - I received one to try from the local craft store where I demonstrate as soon as it became available to the UK soooo it could be longer...memory failing me today) However the shape of the tool has changed slightly and I have a wide range of templates to use with it, I was very lucky and was able to use the tool quickly with success although I know some find it hard to master - my advice PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! If you email me I will of course see if I can offer any suggestions :)

So what does this tool look like? Have a nose around here within the Fiskars website to see the tool and the templates that are currently available in this country.

Here is an example of a Father's Day card I have made by combining different templates to make a new die cut shape!

So here are the template numbers used to create this card:
Fiskars Bear Doll 4880
Fiskars Portrait Doll 4881
Fiskars Tags-1 4857
Fiskars Dimonds-1 4854

If you wish to make your own you will need to cut one bear shape and face (4880) and trim off the legs so that you can reposition them to create a sitting bear. Using the double round tag and the smallest circle (4857) you can create the darker parts of the new bear - the small circle was cut in half to make the inner parts of the ears. Finally the hands, middle piece of the banner and bow (for kite) were used to create the finishing touches using template 4881. I created a page of greetings using word and used the template to cut the banner and added chalk/ink to detail the die further. The picture here will guide you as to the placements - the kite was created using template 4854 a funky fiber was used to link the kite to the bear and was placed on the card using foam pads. If you look carefully you will see that the nose and edges were decorated using glaze pens and a doodle effect on the edges for highlights...I hope you enjoyed seeing what can be achieved using the templates! Of course this bear is just the right size for scrapbooking and could have any greeting/message attached. The card made here was A5 in size and is off to Barbados for my father......opps should I have shared that?!

Feeling Creative

I have had a few days of non stop sketching and cutting out! There is paper and card every where! But I have made some new designs for my scrapbooking and card making use - in fact I have been so inspired these are likely to become new cutting sheets in the next couple of weeks as I digitize the paper patterns to make design sheets. Here is a sneak of the mock up patterns - in fact these will be on ebay soon and on my website as I test the waters with my creations. I hope that you like them!

So lets explain the name!

I thought I would just outline why the name Icelma Creations - it is very simple really my middle name is Icelma odd but true and when ever I would try to explain how to pronounce my name I would say. I SELL MA MAMA, I SELL MA PAPA, I SELL MA CREATIONS!!!!!!

So there really wasn't any other name to choose when deciding on a business name and that was nearly 9 years ago now! Gosh...where did the time go - so why a blog? Well I need to update my website along with alot of other things that I have put on hold and reinvent myself after resigning from my 'day' job of working within education (10 years...well 7 years paid!!!) to widen my mind/wings....etc. etc. etc.

So I thought I would log my creativity, ideas and frustrations for all to see thus motivating my wee sorry self into being positive and to climb the hills of self doubt!

Day one : Today...created new blog account after 3 years of maintaining a learning blog relating to my BA (Hons) Learning Technology Research Degree it is soooo refreshing :)