Hello, crafty friends! A few recurring things have come up in the comments that I'd like to address: 1. They're cheaper to buy! This depends on where you live and what you already have in your stash. Here in the UK, craft supplies are usually expensive. We don't have many big UK-based papercraft companies, so a lot of products get shipped in from the USA, which means they're more expensive for us to buy. Also, because UK craft brands tend to have a smaller customer base than US companies, they can't offer their products at lower prices. For example, a small pack of Simple Stories enamel dots is £5 from a UK supplier, whereas the same enamel dots from scrapbook.com only cost £3.50 (at today's exchange rate). The circle die I use for making enamel dots is only £7 which makes it a great investment seeing as I already have the inks, paper scraps and glossy accents in my stash. 2. Using alcohol in home-made shimmer sprays to prevent mold growth: Please be VERY careful with this! Alcohol can be absorbed into your bloodstream by breathing it in and through contact with the skin. Please do your research about how to safely use isopropyl alcohol (aka: rubbing alcohol and surgical spirit). 3. How to stop home-made shimmer sprays from rubbing off once dry: Some pigment powders contain binders that fix the pigment and mica to the paper once they've dried, so they won't significantly rub off. If you find that your pigment or shimmer rubs off, you can spray it with hairspray or a transparent fixative. This should keep it in place. (Use in a well-ventilated area). Hope that helps! x
Hey where did you get the small circle die for the enamel dots? I only have a sidekick so I can't get the regular size. Thank you for all your great ideas I'm definitely a new subbie🎉
Watching the replay from Palm Bay FL. This is a great video. I love how you've shown us to use what we already have to make embellishments and what not. Thanks for sharing😊
@@makeishiagrant5602 Just shooting from the hip here, but, if the die is problematic, maybe different sized paper PUNCHES would work? I’m thinking of the simple ones used to validate tickets. Granted, most of the ones sold in stationary sources, drug stores, etc., are standard ¼”, but they do come in various sizes. During CV-19 I found a range of 5 sizes - WITH 2” ‘throats’ !! - that I intend to use for bubbles on some card ideas. The punched circles would be good for “dots”. F.Y.I.: Stick them onto a small piece of “Freezer Paper”, and store in a zippered sandwich bag.
It took me decades to realize that I didn't need fifty-eleven colors of embossing powder and just needed clear. Now I have fifty-eleven ink colors. LOL!
Same here. I cut up some foiled gift bags & embossed the large pieces & die cut the side panels where the folds interfered. Some cheaper gift bags the foil breaks when embossed, creating a silver layer accidentally.
I love DIY craft supplies! I started crafting 35+ years ago - it was all about recycling, DIY, repurposing. In the last 10 years or so, the craft industry has pushed trendy things that are replaced with new trendy things on a monthly basis. The cost of these tools/supplies are crazy! I'm still using my Cuttlebug, which cost $35 in 2004 (a big investment in those days). 🤣 I did not know about DIY enamel dots until watching your videos - thank you!!! A couple of my DIY's: I make shimmer sprays with isopropyl alcohol and never have mold. It dries very fast compared to water. (It has the initial smell of alcohol when spraying it, but then fades away.) You could probably use a water/alcohol mix if the smell is too much for you. And I use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to seal my distress/oxides inks instead of Microglaze, blending with a flat blender sponge. It can remove some of the "chalky" look of oxides, so important that the ink is completely dry, you use a light hand in blending and a very thin layer. (It should not feel greasy afterwards.) Thank you for all your wonderful videos! ❤👍❤
🔶️To add height/ dimension, I sometimes use cereal boxes or other similar thickness boxes. That way you don't need to cut as many pieces when stacking. And, it's free 😁 recycle♻️
I bought fabric dye and use that in place of brushes etc. So much more for your money, and you can always add in mica powder etc. Some beautiful colours available too
I make my shimmer sprays with Isopropyl Alcohol/Surgical Spirit instead of water. It dries quicker and never moulds (well I haven't had any in 6yrs so far so good) I do a lot of what you do, but there was some that helped me. TFS and have a great Easter weekend. 👍❤
This is the first time I've seen your videos and having lots of different types of muca powders would love new ideas for using them. Thank you for sharing your ideas ❤❤❤
Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! This has been one of the BEST videos on ways to DIY versus buying these supplies over and over again! Thank you for sharing! GREAT demonstrations!
Excellent advice. Another reason patterned paper isn't useful to me these days is that I've come to prefer making clean-and-simple cards, and the busy-ness of so many store-bought papers takes away from that look. 😊
Thank you for an awesome video. I made sure I liked and subscribed . Instead of printed paper I too agree with another that I love clean and simple for the most part . I also love using embossing folders especially 3d ones. You can ink the inside of the folder with water base pigment ink from your ink pads before embossing. If I do wish to use some printed paper , I print my own card stock. Thank you for so many great ideas . 💜
I haven’t bought patterned paper for bout 8 years once I discovered Distress inks and stains. I do buy clear rhinestones and color those with alcohol ink pens. I do buy Distress or Dylusions shimmer sprays though. I used to belong to monthly Tonic Studio club in which monthly we got Nuvo drops. I do like them but often I forget I have them.
Very helpful hints. Another way to create shimmer sprays is using metalic acrylic paint, folk art works lovely, and watering it down to a liquid watery consistency. It works beautifully and most crafters have acrylic paint in their craft stash.
Absolutely love your ideas, especially how to make one’s own enamel dots…mostly because I too love enamel dots. My name is Charlotte Hutcheson, and I live in Austin, Texas. Happy holidays to you. Love your videos!
Your shimmer spray will last longer on the paper with a little liquid hair spray added. The mold can be prevented by adding a little isopropyl alcohol. I make it with no water, just hair spray and isopropyl alcohol . You can add mica powder or ink. A glass bead in the spray bottle helps to mix it.
Thanks! Be careful with spraying alcohol. It's dangerous to breathe in the vapours. I don't need to add liquid hairspray as the powders I use already have a binder in them so that they don't rub off the paper. x
I have respiratory problems, but add ethanol to my sprays. I wear gloves and always have my air conditioner on when mixing, but have no problems when using , as such a small amount is used. Great idea about the bead.
Yes thank you the water only would t seem to be to fast with no binder. I was thinking pva glue with loads of water, but hairspray and iso sounds like a really good mix!!
I used to buy a lot of psper flowers. I don't even prefer them anymore over my own creations. I have small paper punches that are very inexpensive and some die cuts I've had for 10+ years. I cut several bits and glue them together to make dimensional flowers. I save flyers from the mail and do my punches and cuts from the colored areas. I get great variation of color from a pile of lemons or strawberries, etc. in grocery ads. Even outdoor scenes provide winter greys and blues. Recently, I cut several sizes of hearts from ads for Valentines Day. I especially love when it is not a solid color and I get that variation in my pieces. that were very inexpensive
That circles for sequins/ enamel dots will be a game changer for me! I don't buy colored texture paste; easy to make with a little ink on the nonstick surface, add a dollop of white texture paste, mix. It may need to be water reactive ink. I use oxide inks for just about everything. As for patterned paper -- I can't give that up 😊 I love pretty paper! I just need to find a way to use the ugly papers that are inevitably included in any paper pad. 💛😊
I love how you make your own embellishments/enamel dots so much that I bought a bubble coverplate die with 3 sizes of small circles so I can make my own. I love being able to make them the color I want to use. The other toys are great too. I'm saving this video.
A series on pigment powders would be great! I have Brushos, Luscious, Nuvo Shimmer and Micas. Haven't been very successful using them, so look forward to your ideas.
Could you show us how to make refills for our Wink by Stella to again save money. Or just use the sprays you mentions and dip a brush to color or splatter. I'm thinking they are the same thing just delivered in a different expensive brush/squeeze system. Thanks for all you share. You have taught me soooo much in a very short time!!!❤❤
Love videos like yours that are DIY cost saving ideas. As I am a retired lab person, I enjoy creating potions and such in my craft room. Pigment powders would be an excellent video!
Me, too! I've been decluttering my craft room, and giving a lot of supplies to a family at church that I haven't used in a long while. I gave them a couple of alphabet dies. Now I almost regret doing that, but I just remind myself that I hadn't used them in recently. However, my other ones stay!
Nice idea regarding enamel dots. Here is a cheaper way. Use different sized hole punchers and metallic paper and punch out all different sizes from that metallic paper.
Thanks! I've tried hole punches, but you get a nicer edge when you die-cut. The dotty coverplate die that I use was only £7 so cheaper than buying multiple hole punches. :)
I use ink and glossy accents…smudge some ink on a rubber mat and then drop a bit of glossy accents on the ink…then mix it up with a toothpick and make little drops on the mat…they dry in about an hour and the work wonderfully!
I hit a sale on Lucious powders. I bought them because they look wonderful, but they have been sitting ever since. I’d love and appreciate videos on this product!!!🎉🎉🎉 This video is invaluable. ❤️👍🏻
We all do that!😂 I have at least 60 jars of colored embossing powders. I have only opened and used about 20. The same goes with markers (expensive Copic because they will make me into a spectacular artist, just like in the videos). And who has a box of distress sprays that you can never find until you give up and used something else or abandoned the project? But this video gives me hope! I shall get out something and use it. 😊
Thank you for showing us this Natalie, some great ideas here. Can you please do a video on different ways you can use brushos & mica powders, and the difference between mica & pigment powders? Thank you
I do a lot of scenes with stamps and backgrounds. For the latter I have cut my own masks from any pieces of stiff-ish acetate, wavy lines for mountains and lots of moons, crescent and half ones plus I use the holes for suns. Also I have cut window shapes, church windows and round- topped ones for Xmas scenes, turned upside down I can get little animals or fairies in “ glass jars” ! I get so much use from these and when I see the costs of them, I am over the moon myself!
You presented so many good ideas. Thank you. I have perfect pearls, color sparks and Lindy’s powders. I would very much enjoy ideas that would inspire me to get even more use of them.
I put nuvo drops on freezer paper. Usually, I do 20 or 30 at a time, and it gives it the shine and the depth that you really need for Enamel dots. But the thing is, you have to let them sit and dry. I usually dry mine for a couple of days at a time. Or they'll flaten out.
I have jeweller’s boxes and whenever I have little bits from die cutting that look promising for embellishments I pop them in one of the little containers. Then I can colour what I like later as required. Your idea about Glossy Accents on the top will make them that much better.
This is an awesome video! Thank you so much for these great tips. Can you please tell me the name of the cover plate you used for the sequins at 8:30? As well as the tiny butterfly cover die at 9:18?
I’ve read so many of the comments that talk about diy things and I don’t know how to do any of them! How about a diy series for us newbies?? It would be amazing!!!
You might find these playlists helpful Spend Less, Craft More th-cam.com/play/PLrdeSKOxOe6bm7ifLhJ76RgyXM4ywQMsr.html&si=1ZiEzvDzyJz0Lzlu 10 (or more) Ways to th-cam.com/play/PLrdeSKOxOe6buGVWfw363wr6sytdN6olq.html&si=1CFTlpgvIKFvKPbU They both contain lots of DIY videos! :)
I think when we start everything in every colour is bought when we're in a craft store. It soon dawns on you that we don't use or need lot's of the supplies we have. Nos I try and use up and if I don't have something I just improvise. Great video with some clever ideas thankyou xxx
@ReesaReeselynn I thought it was lovely. I'm glad she left it in. So realistic and relatable. I'm always getting my words mixed up and saying funny stuff. 😁
I love enamel dots. I make my own melting plastic beads. The sequins mix is very interesting, I have noticed that I get shaker cut out bits with a lot of dies. I made my shimmer sprays with alcohol a couple years ago and they are still good. One tip you can do when making your own thickers is use clear packing tape to cover the paper before you cut them out and they will be shiny
You can use glitter glue in tubes to create flat backed beads when you pour a dot onto wax paper . Allow it to dry and you have easy embellishments. Make your own glitter glue mixing glitter with clear school glue .
Pigment/mica other powders that rub off do not have a binder in them. Add GumArabic small amount to powder and mix it. Gum Arabic is a binder. I'm still learning about all these powders etc. You can get it at your craft store in art supplies.or at a art store. I have to start playing and see where it goes. 😅 have fun at what ever you do.. OH, you can also use clear nail polish for shine and if put on thick and several layers, works great to give shapes or areas dimension. Also glitter nail polishs. I got mine at our dollar store. Swatch out on a piece of card stock to see how they dry and how many coats need to get the effect you want. And write it next to it.Thanks for Sharing. I took notes.
Very good video for today's card makers. There are so many products marketed to us that we really don't need. We can make most of this stuff on our own, and it would help get rid of all the products we already own.
I hadn't thought to mix in my pigment powders with embossing powder! Also, your charity shops sound AMAZING! I haven't had much luck with crafting supplies.
Like you, I no longer purchase enamel dots, colored embossing powder, foam, thickers, and rubber stamps. Unlike you, I love love love patterned paper! Especially for my scrapbooking (but card making too). Would love to see some of your scrapbooking someday!
You are changing my thought process completely and I'm loving it. Anything that saves me money so I can buy more dies is so helpful. I appreciate your ideas. Whatever you can think of for a series sounds great to me. Thank you as always Natalie.
Love your show. In your “Not Going to Buy…” show you said that homemade sprays may mold so don’t make too much ahead of time. I was wondering if you made your sprays with old eye shadow. I’ve seen other crafters who make their own sprays with eyeshadows from the Dollar Store. And since the eyeshadow is a commercial product there’s got to be some kind of preservative in it. Just wondering. Keep making your lovely shows. Della👏🏼👍🏼
Thank you for all these ideas. I still buy all of these categories but I never bought more than a few items in each, so I never had to stop, except for patterned paper, which I have waaayyyy too much of. 😂 I use clear Nuvo crystal drops instead of glossy accents. For me the glossy gets goopy and unusable. For embossing with mica, I prefer heat and stick powder. It’s like glue when heat embossed, then you sprinkle the mica (or glitter) over and lightly heat again to “set” the powder in place. It’s the strongest and most vibrant color method I tried. I also never bought into laminating machine or foiling heat machine. I am fine w ironing any laminating pockets (but I have never found the need). I have tried foil sheets with glued design sheets. I think just heat embossing is just as good. I never tried Cricut machine. I love cutting vinyl colored sheets to make decorative designs. But i use my dies for this. For alphabets, I prefer the stickers over dies, which is very expensive, I have one 12” die strip that has all alphabets and numbers and 2nd 12” die strip that says Happy birthday. that’s it. Bit I don’t make any thick letters, as you do. I use small sticker letters in various fonts, and I find them much faster and cheaper by far. To each her own! Please keep this up. Ideas for multi-use of card supplies are always in demand. ❤
Brilliant iv just gotten into pigment powders, iv luscious powders by Indigoblu, I also have some pearl powders, and I have loads of mica powders, cant wait for the video now.. xx
I use different sized hole punches for my dots and it's also a great way to use up scraps, especially with glitter, shimmer & speciality papers. I don't Glossy Accents them until I'm ready to use on a project etc.
I, too, had "discovered" that I didn't need to buy Thickers once I had a stash of alpha dies and a box of craft foam. I hadn't thought about the use of Glossy Accents to make enamel dots. I'll have to try that. Thanks!
I REALLY enjoyed watching. I do a bit of what you do. And, I get why a little better now... it is the process of MAKING my own that is fun. And making an exact match when needed is so satisfying too!😅
Would you consider doing a video of your journaling? I also do mixed media and watercolor. I actually added card making to my repertoire more recently.
Dryer sheets is a part of my daily routine in crafting. Once you get used to using them you won’t have to pick those tiny dots out. I put the dryer sheet in back of my paper instead of in front of paper. Works like magic. Thanks for all your lessons, tips and tricks. DJ from Texas
Oh my gosh, this is brilliant, totally brilliant!! Love these ideas and thank you for sharing. Your video just popped up in my you tube and have no reason why!! But super glad it did. I’m commenting right after the “creating the dots” played! Have to stop video and tell you I’m already pumped to watch the rest of it. New subbie here and clicked for future videos. Great and again, thank you so much. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I try not to buy patterned paper, but I still sometimes do. I dont just have a pouch of pretties. I think I probably have 3 or 4 large drawers full. Hard to throw little bits away...might just need that sometime 😅
Thank you. I am fairly new at card making and don't have much of a stash, so very useful to know what not to invest in. Your advice is very timely for me. 😊
I LOVE this! Such simple ideas, that I've never thought of! I don't have a lot of money to spend on my papercrafting addiction, and have lamented several times over the fact that i don't have all the metallic accents I see favorite crafters using. But I DO have metallic papers, and I DO have a cover plate that cuts circles...duh! Thanks for all the great ideas! This is my first time here... Liked & subscribed. ❤️
Some good tips, thanks. I have been crafting for 40 years and the one product that I really find a game changer is the stamp positioners, and the sticky mats have made them even more effective. I love the quality of good rubber stamps and love my Tim Holtz platform as it allows me to use them just as easily as the clear stamps. I remember pattern papers came along with scrapbooking, and they did make cards quicker to make, but they did feel like cheating, less individual, but the stamp positioners really help you make your own backgrounds as well as making sentiment placing so so much easier then the wood mounted ones we initially used. I found roller stampers too messy and difficult to align and I think I will be getting the Stamp wheel 2.0 for Christmas and they will be sent to the art department at school my housemate teaches at. Regarding the sprays , I add some ethanol and some Manuka essential oil to inhibit bacteria in aromatherapy sprays. I might give it a go with the mica spray next time I restock. I also use some re-inker to mine.
Hello, crafty friends! A few recurring things have come up in the comments that I'd like to address:
1. They're cheaper to buy! This depends on where you live and what you already have in your stash. Here in the UK, craft supplies are usually expensive. We don't have many big UK-based papercraft companies, so a lot of products get shipped in from the USA, which means they're more expensive for us to buy. Also, because UK craft brands tend to have a smaller customer base than US companies, they can't offer their products at lower prices. For example, a small pack of Simple Stories enamel dots is £5 from a UK supplier, whereas the same enamel dots from scrapbook.com only cost £3.50 (at today's exchange rate). The circle die I use for making enamel dots is only £7 which makes it a great investment seeing as I already have the inks, paper scraps and glossy accents in my stash.
2. Using alcohol in home-made shimmer sprays to prevent mold growth: Please be VERY careful with this! Alcohol can be absorbed into your bloodstream by breathing it in and through contact with the skin. Please do your research about how to safely use isopropyl alcohol (aka: rubbing alcohol and surgical spirit).
3. How to stop home-made shimmer sprays from rubbing off once dry: Some pigment powders contain binders that fix the pigment and mica to the paper once they've dried, so they won't significantly rub off. If you find that your pigment or shimmer rubs off, you can spray it with hairspray or a transparent fixative. This should keep it in place. (Use in a well-ventilated area).
Hope that helps! x
Hey where did you get the small circle die for the enamel dots? I only have a sidekick so I can't get the regular size. Thank you for all your great ideas I'm definitely a new subbie🎉
Watching the replay from Palm Bay FL. This is a great video. I love how you've shown us to use what we already have to make embellishments and what not. Thanks for sharing😊
@@makeishiagrant5602 Just shooting from the hip here, but, if the die is problematic, maybe different sized paper PUNCHES would work? I’m thinking of the simple ones used to validate tickets. Granted, most of the ones sold in stationary sources, drug stores, etc., are standard ¼”, but they do come in various sizes. During CV-19 I found a range of 5 sizes - WITH 2” ‘throats’ !! - that I intend to use for bubbles on some card ideas. The punched circles would be good for “dots”. F.Y.I.: Stick them onto a small piece of “Freezer Paper”, and store in a zippered sandwich bag.
@@makeishiagrant5602Thanks! This is the die: amzn.eu/d/8nQQwaa
@@micheletrow1382Thanks for watching! x
It took me decades to realize that I didn't need fifty-eleven colors of embossing powder and just needed clear. Now I have fifty-eleven ink colors. LOL!
I hear you! The struggle is real. Thanks for watching. x
I just found you!! I love this tutorial. Thank you so much! “Liked and subscribed I did”!
Fifty-eleven! I didn’t know others used this phrase. LOVE IT!
@@nancywatson9084 Thanks, Nancy! Welcome aboard. x
My mother used to say that. Made me smile
Pealable offable!!!! Love it.... I truly enjoy your posts. THANKS
Glad you like them!
If you use glitter paper with the glossy accents, you get glittery dots. I did this for Christmas cards. Very pretty
Ooh! Fantastic idea. I'm stealing that! ;) Thanks for watching. x
Same here. I cut up some foiled gift bags & embossed the large pieces & die cut the side panels where the folds interfered. Some cheaper gift bags the foil breaks when embossed, creating a silver layer accidentally.
Fab idea! x @@brrjohnson8131
This is an excellent idea! Thank you for sharing.
I love DIY craft supplies! I started crafting 35+ years ago - it was all about recycling, DIY, repurposing. In the last 10 years or so, the craft industry has pushed trendy things that are replaced with new trendy things on a monthly basis. The cost of these tools/supplies are crazy! I'm still using my Cuttlebug, which cost $35 in 2004 (a big investment in those days). 🤣 I did not know about DIY enamel dots until watching your videos - thank you!!! A couple of my DIY's: I make shimmer sprays with isopropyl alcohol and never have mold. It dries very fast compared to water. (It has the initial smell of alcohol when spraying it, but then fades away.) You could probably use a water/alcohol mix if the smell is too much for you. And I use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to seal my distress/oxides inks instead of Microglaze, blending with a flat blender sponge. It can remove some of the "chalky" look of oxides, so important that the ink is completely dry, you use a light hand in blending and a very thin layer. (It should not feel greasy afterwards.) Thank you for all your wonderful videos! ❤👍❤
Great ideas! Thank you for sharing. x
I'm also still using my old Cuttlebug from about 2010. Works perfectly!
@@cherylmurphy1549 I wish a lot of things were as well made as back in the day. 😊
🔶️To add height/ dimension, I sometimes use cereal boxes or other similar thickness boxes. That way you don't need to cut as many pieces when stacking. And, it's free 😁 recycle♻️
Fab idea!
Yes!! A special series about pigment powders❤ I have and love Brusho’s and Lindy’s
I'll start work on a series soon! :)
I bought fabric dye and use that in place of brushes etc. So much more for your money, and you can always add in mica powder etc. Some beautiful colours available too
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. x
I've got Brushos and really old pearlex powders in my stash. 😂
Cool! @@tjyb1502
I make my shimmer sprays with Isopropyl Alcohol/Surgical Spirit instead of water. It dries quicker and never moulds (well I haven't had any in 6yrs so far so good) I do a lot of what you do, but there was some that helped me. TFS and have a great Easter weekend. 👍❤
Thanks for sharing! :)
This is the first time I've seen your videos and having lots of different types of muca powders would love new ideas for using them.
Thank you for sharing your ideas ❤❤❤
Thanks so much! I'm putting together some pigment powder video ideas.
Me to
Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! This has been one of the BEST videos on ways to DIY versus buying these supplies over and over again! Thank you for sharing! GREAT demonstrations!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. x
Excellent advice. Another reason patterned paper isn't useful to me these days is that I've come to prefer making clean-and-simple cards, and the busy-ness of so many store-bought papers takes away from that look. 😊
So true. :)
Thank you for an awesome video. I made sure I liked and subscribed . Instead of printed paper I too agree with another that I love clean and simple for the most part . I also love using embossing folders especially 3d ones. You can ink the inside of the folder with water base pigment ink from your ink pads before embossing. If I do wish to use some printed paper , I print my own card stock. Thank you for so many great ideas . 💜
I haven’t bought patterned paper for bout 8 years once I discovered Distress inks and stains. I do buy clear rhinestones and color those with alcohol ink pens. I do buy Distress or Dylusions shimmer sprays though. I used to belong to monthly Tonic Studio club in which monthly we got Nuvo drops. I do like them but often I forget I have them.
Great ideas there! Thanks for sharing. x @@sirrahinct471
@@patriciacyzauskas4067 It's so easy to forget what we've got isn't it?! Thanks for watching. x
Perfect Pearls pigment powders ... yes pls to vid ❤
Coming soon!
Yes, a series about pigment powders please! I have a lot and rarely use them, got a great deal on them!!
Will do!!
Very helpful hints. Another way to create shimmer sprays is using metalic acrylic paint, folk art works lovely, and watering it down to a liquid watery consistency. It works beautifully and most crafters have acrylic paint in their craft stash.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing. x
Absolutely love your ideas, especially how to make one’s own enamel dots…mostly because I too love enamel dots. My name is Charlotte Hutcheson, and I live in Austin, Texas. Happy holidays to you. Love your videos!
Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful. x
Your shimmer spray will last longer on the paper with a little liquid hair spray added. The mold can be prevented by adding a little isopropyl alcohol. I make it with no water, just hair spray and isopropyl alcohol . You can add mica powder or ink. A glass bead in the spray bottle helps to mix it.
Thanks! Be careful with spraying alcohol. It's dangerous to breathe in the vapours. I don't need to add liquid hairspray as the powders I use already have a binder in them so that they don't rub off the paper. x
Great ideas!
I have respiratory problems, but add ethanol to my sprays. I wear gloves and always have my air conditioner on when mixing, but have no problems when using , as such a small amount is used. Great idea about the bead.
Awesome tip! Thanks!
Yes thank you the water only would t seem to be to fast with no binder. I was thinking pva glue with loads of water, but hairspray and iso sounds like a really good mix!!
I add a little gum arabic to pigment powder when painting or making shimmer spray - it's a binder so powder stays put and doesn't smudge once dry
Fab!
Great ideas - not only saving money, but also storage space!
Yes! Thank you!
I used to buy a lot of psper flowers. I don't even prefer them anymore over my own creations. I have small paper punches that are very inexpensive and some die cuts I've had for 10+ years. I cut several bits and glue them together to make dimensional flowers. I save flyers from the mail and do my punches and cuts from the colored areas. I get great variation of color from a pile of lemons or strawberries, etc. in grocery ads. Even outdoor scenes provide winter greys and blues. Recently, I cut several sizes of hearts from ads for Valentines Day. I especially love when it is not a solid color and I get that variation in my pieces.
that were very inexpensive
That sounds like a great way to create embellishments. Thank you for sharing! x
Add a little white distilled vinegar to the shimmer sprays to prevent mold or few drops alcohol.
Fab tip! X
That circles for sequins/ enamel dots will be a game changer for me! I don't buy colored texture paste; easy to make with a little ink on the nonstick surface, add a dollop of white texture paste, mix. It may need to be water reactive ink. I use oxide inks for just about everything. As for patterned paper -- I can't give that up 😊 I love pretty paper! I just need to find a way to use the ugly papers that are inevitably included in any paper pad. 💛😊
Thanks for sharing! :)
I love how you make your own embellishments/enamel dots so much that I bought a bubble coverplate die with 3 sizes of small circles so I can make my own. I love being able to make them the color I want to use. The other toys are great too. I'm saving this video.
That's great! Have fun making your dots. It's so satisfying. :)
A series on pigment powders would be great! I have Brushos, Luscious, Nuvo Shimmer and Micas. Haven't been very successful using them, so look forward to your ideas.
Coming soon! x
This, this, this!
I agree with everything!! I have also been using old colored card stock in place of foam tape for dimension. I have enough for a lifetime😘
Thanks for sharing!!
Could you show us how to make refills for our Wink by Stella to again save money. Or just use the sprays you mentions and dip a brush to color or splatter. I'm thinking they are the same thing just delivered in a different expensive brush/squeeze system. Thanks for all you share. You have taught me soooo much in a very short time!!!❤❤
Thanks, Suzy! x
I refill my WOS brushes with my home made shimmer. Works a treat 😊
Love your accent. Thank you for great tips.
You are so welcome!
Love videos like yours that are DIY cost saving ideas. As I am a retired lab person, I enjoy creating potions and such in my craft room. Pigment powders would be an excellent video!
Coming soon! x
I’m an Alphabet addict myself. Thanks for a great video.
I just can't say no to an alphabet die set! Thanks for watching. x
Me, too! I've been decluttering my craft room, and giving a lot of supplies to a family at church that I haven't used in a long while. I gave them a couple of alphabet dies. Now I almost regret doing that, but I just remind myself that I hadn't used them in recently. However, my other ones stay!
@@kristytyra2633 Not sure I could give away my alphabet dies! ;)
Love this so much!! Reduce, reuse, recycle - cut down on consumption AND match!
Thanks! x
Nice idea regarding enamel dots. Here is a cheaper way. Use different sized hole punchers and metallic paper and punch out all different sizes from that metallic paper.
Thanks! I've tried hole punches, but you get a nicer edge when you die-cut. The dotty coverplate die that I use was only £7 so cheaper than buying multiple hole punches. :)
I have enough patterned paper to wallpaper my 3-bedroom unit. Thanks for the tips.
LOL! You are so welcome!
I use marvy wet look pens to stamp with in different colors, then clear embossing powders
Fab!
Thank you so much for all your great ideas💕
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for this video. Crafting is so terribly expensive, no matter where you live, and anytime we can save a bit of $$ helps.
Thank you! x
I use ink and glossy accents…smudge some ink on a rubber mat and then drop a bit of glossy accents on the ink…then mix it up with a toothpick and make little drops on the mat…they dry in about an hour and the work wonderfully!
I'll have to try that. Thanks for sharing! x
I hit a sale on Lucious powders. I bought them because they look wonderful, but they have been sitting ever since. I’d love and appreciate videos on this product!!!🎉🎉🎉
This video is invaluable. ❤️👍🏻
Thanks, Robin! x
We all do that!😂 I have at least 60 jars of colored embossing powders. I have only opened and used about 20. The same goes with markers (expensive Copic because they will make me into a spectacular artist, just like in the videos). And who has a box of distress sprays that you can never find until you give up and used something else or abandoned the project? But this video gives me hope! I shall get out something and use it. 😊
Now I want to look up Lucious powders and buy some for my unused stash pile.😂😊
You are amazing love your ideas
Thank you!
I'm working on a low spend year, so I appreciate you demonstrating ways to make enamel dots and how to make use of embossing supplies.
Thanks! x
Thank you for showing us this Natalie, some great ideas here. Can you please do a video on different ways you can use brushos & mica powders, and the difference between mica & pigment powders? Thank you
Sure thing! Thanks for watching. x
I do a lot of scenes with stamps and backgrounds. For the latter I have cut my own masks from any pieces of stiff-ish acetate, wavy lines for mountains and lots of moons, crescent and half ones plus I use the holes for suns. Also I have cut window shapes, church windows and round- topped ones for Xmas scenes, turned upside down I can get little animals or fairies in “ glass jars” ! I get so much use from these and when I see the costs of them, I am over the moon myself!
Fantastic! They sound great. x
Yes please Natalie. I have Brushos, Cosmic shimmer powders, Pearl Ex .and a heap of no name pigment powders I bought .online. Barb
Coming soon! x
It's also a solution to only buy white dots and color them with an alcohol marker.
I don't have any alcohol markers ... but for those who have them it sounds like a good alternative. :)
You presented so many good ideas. Thank you. I have perfect pearls, color sparks and Lindy’s powders. I would very much enjoy ideas that would inspire me to get even more use of them.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching. X
Thank you for sharing your amazing gifts. Your ideas make a craft possible for those of us who choose not to break the bank.
You are so welcome! It's always good to use what we have. :)
To make shimmer sprays I also have used alcohol there is less chance of Mould and such. These are awesome ideas! Thank you.
Thanks!
I put nuvo drops on freezer paper. Usually, I do 20 or 30 at a time, and it gives it the shine and the depth that you really need for Enamel dots. But the thing is, you have to let them sit and dry. I usually dry mine for a couple of days at a time. Or they'll flaten out.
Thanks for sharing. 👍
I have jeweller’s boxes and whenever I have little bits from die cutting that look promising for embellishments I pop them in one of the little containers. Then I can colour what I like later as required. Your idea about Glossy Accents on the top will make them that much better.
Sounds fab! Let me know how you get on. x
This is an awesome video! Thank you so much for these great tips. Can you please tell me the name of the cover plate you used for the sequins at 8:30? As well as the tiny butterfly cover die at 9:18?
I’ve read so many of the comments that talk about diy things and I don’t know how to do any of them! How about a diy series for us newbies?? It would be amazing!!!
You might find these playlists helpful
Spend Less, Craft More th-cam.com/play/PLrdeSKOxOe6bm7ifLhJ76RgyXM4ywQMsr.html&si=1ZiEzvDzyJz0Lzlu
10 (or more) Ways to th-cam.com/play/PLrdeSKOxOe6buGVWfw363wr6sytdN6olq.html&si=1CFTlpgvIKFvKPbU
They both contain lots of DIY videos! :)
Thank you..more pigment powder info…on my list..you are so generous for sharing…
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching. x
I think when we start everything in every colour is bought when we're in a craft store. It soon dawns on you that we don't use or need lot's of the supplies we have. Nos I try and use up and if I don't have something I just improvise. Great video with some clever ideas thankyou xxx
So true!
Peelable offable. Love it 😂😅😊
Thank you! 😃
I thought the same thing!! I love when people say stuff like that that just makes me giggle!
@ReesaReeselynn I thought it was lovely. I'm glad she left it in. So realistic and relatable. I'm always getting my words mixed up and saying funny stuff. 😁
I love enamel dots. I make my own melting plastic beads. The sequins mix is very interesting, I have noticed that I get shaker cut out bits with a lot of dies. I made my shimmer sprays with alcohol a couple years ago and they are still good.
One tip you can do when making your own thickers is use clear packing tape to cover the paper before you cut them out and they will be shiny
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing. x
So glad you showed us mixing the powders with the clear embossing powders 😊
Glad it was helpful!
I'm totally in agreement on ALL of these... and regularly do the very same as shown! Yay!
Great! Thanks for watching. x
You can use glitter glue in tubes to create flat backed beads when you pour a dot onto wax paper . Allow it to dry and you have easy embellishments. Make your own glitter glue mixing glitter with clear school glue .
Thanks for the info!
Yes please! That would be awesome!! Thank you💖 This was so so helpful. Love your videos so much!!❤️👍
Thank you! x
I can see me phasing out patterned papers also, as I have also started experimenting with mixed media and love creating my own unique patterns.
Great!
Pigment/mica other powders that rub off do not have a binder in them. Add GumArabic small amount to powder and mix it. Gum Arabic is a binder. I'm still learning about all these powders etc. You can get it at your craft store in art supplies.or at a art store. I have to start playing and see where it goes. 😅 have fun at what ever you do.. OH, you can also use clear nail polish for shine and if put on thick and several layers, works great to give shapes or areas dimension. Also glitter nail polishs. I got mine at our dollar store. Swatch out on a piece of card stock to see how they dry and how many coats need to get the effect you want. And write it next to it.Thanks for Sharing. I took notes.
Thanks for sharing your tips!
Very good video for today's card makers. There are so many products marketed to us that we really don't need. We can make most of this stuff on our own, and it would help get rid of all the products we already own.
Thanks so much! x
You can add Nuvo drops/stickles to double sided adhesive dots
Fab!
I'm so glad I found your channel. I have just really been enjoying your content & creativity. -Sarah
Thank you! :)
I hadn't thought to mix in my pigment powders with embossing powder! Also, your charity shops sound AMAZING! I haven't had much luck with crafting supplies.
Thank you! x
I'm with you on that! I've NEVER seen crafting supplies/items in the charity shops around my location.
@@GayleRobinson-bu2vt I feel very lucky to live near such a great charity shop.x
Great ideas
Glad you like them!
Thank you
You're welcome!
Peelable offable 😂 you just made my day!
Aww! Thanks. :)
You can also make acually enamel dots by placing pony beads in a 300 degree oven for a few minutes and wala….
Fab idea! Thanks. x
I make my own sprays in tiny bottles with ink refills, water & perfect pearls for shimmer
Fab!
How do you get the mica powder and water to stick to the cardstock? Mine brush off...
@@mb6285 When the paper is dry, spray it with hairspray or a transparent fixative.
Great video! Such wonderful ideas. I might have missed it but I would love a mica powder video
Oh yes please do a series on the pigment powders.🙂
Will do! x
You are very innovative. Just subscribed to your channel.
Thank you so much 😊
yes, please do the video on pigment powders
Will do!!
Love the enamel dot idea! Genius!
Thank you! 😊
Like you, I no longer purchase enamel dots, colored embossing powder, foam, thickers, and rubber stamps. Unlike you, I love love love patterned paper! Especially for my scrapbooking (but card making too). Would love to see some of your scrapbooking someday!
Maybe one day. :) Thanks for watching. xxx
Love the tip for embossing ink over a color ink! Genius!
Thanks so much!
A video on pigment powders would awesome!!! I have Lindy’s, Elements and Brusho.
Coming soon! x
You are changing my thought process completely and I'm loving it. Anything that saves me money so I can buy more dies is so helpful. I appreciate your ideas. Whatever you can think of for a series sounds great to me. Thank you as always Natalie.
Oh absolutely! The less more I spend on consumables, the more dies and stamps I can buy! ;) Thanls, Jan. xxx
Love your show. In your “Not Going to Buy…” show you said that homemade sprays may mold so don’t make too much ahead of time. I was wondering if you made your sprays with old eye shadow. I’ve seen other crafters who make their own sprays with eyeshadows from the Dollar Store. And since the eyeshadow is a commercial product there’s got to be some kind of preservative in it. Just wondering. Keep making your lovely shows. Della👏🏼👍🏼
Thanks! I have used eye-shadow before. I don't know if they contain a preservative but it's worth giving it a go and seeing how you get on. x
Thank you for all these ideas. I still buy all of these categories but I never bought more than a few items in each, so I never had to stop, except for patterned paper, which I have waaayyyy too much of. 😂 I use clear Nuvo crystal drops instead of glossy accents. For me the glossy gets goopy and unusable. For embossing with mica, I prefer heat and stick powder. It’s like glue when heat embossed, then you sprinkle the mica (or glitter) over and lightly heat again to “set” the powder in place. It’s the strongest and most vibrant color method I tried. I also never bought into laminating machine or foiling heat machine. I am fine w ironing any laminating pockets (but I have never found the need). I have tried foil sheets with glued design sheets. I think just heat embossing is just as good. I never tried Cricut machine. I love cutting vinyl colored sheets to make decorative designs. But i use my dies for this. For alphabets, I prefer the stickers over dies, which is very expensive, I have one 12” die strip that has all alphabets and numbers and 2nd 12” die strip that says Happy birthday. that’s it. Bit I don’t make any thick letters, as you do. I use small sticker letters in various fonts, and I find them much faster and cheaper by far. To each her own! Please keep this up. Ideas for multi-use of card supplies are always in demand. ❤
Lots of great ideas there! Thanks for sharing. x
Thank you for this video. I never knew about making embossing power with Lucious powder. A video on Lucious would be very appreciated.😊
Coming soon! x
Brilliant iv just gotten into pigment powders, iv luscious powders by Indigoblu, I also have some pearl powders, and I have loads of mica powders, cant wait for the video now.. xx
Coming soon! x
Very informatvie video thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
When you make shimmer spray, if you add a little drop of clove oil, it will prevent mould!
Cool! I’ll give that a go. thanks. x
I love to do things this way, and these ideas are amazing!
Thank you! x
I use different sized hole punches for my dots and it's also a great way to use up scraps, especially with glitter, shimmer & speciality papers. I don't Glossy Accents them until I'm ready to use on a project etc.
Sounds great!
You can use an old fashioned hole punch normally used in offices i use them ..
Nice!
I, too, had "discovered" that I didn't need to buy Thickers once I had a stash of alpha dies and a box of craft foam. I hadn't thought about the use of Glossy Accents to make enamel dots. I'll have to try that. Thanks!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching. x
I REALLY enjoyed watching. I do a bit of what you do. And, I get why a little better now... it is the process of MAKING my own that is fun. And making an exact match when needed is so satisfying too!😅
Wonderful! Thanks for watching. x
thank you so much. Mica, I put a little amount of glue in water, then mica. Works OK.
Wonderful!
Ide like to see you make some mixed media backgrounds. I saw a wavy one in you stack that was sooo interesting 😁
Cool! I'll be sure to make some more on video. x
Marvellous ideas. I shall be experimenting with your ideas. Thank you
Great! Thanks for watching. X
Would you consider doing a video of your journaling? I also do mixed media and watercolor. I actually added card making to my repertoire more recently.
Maybe one day. :)
Dryer sheets is a part of my daily routine in crafting. Once you get used to using them you won’t have to pick those tiny dots out. I put the dryer sheet in back of my paper instead of in front of paper. Works like magic. Thanks for all your lessons, tips and tricks. DJ from Texas
Great tip!
Just found your channel….love your ideas, tips and tricks. Thank you for sharing them with us!
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching, Sandy! x
Oh my gosh, this is brilliant, totally brilliant!! Love these ideas and thank you for sharing. Your video just popped up in my you tube and have no reason why!! But super glad it did. I’m commenting right after the “creating the dots” played! Have to stop video and tell you I’m already pumped to watch the rest of it. New subbie here and clicked for future videos. Great and again, thank you so much. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks so much! 😊 Glad you found it helpful. x
Great ideas! Im a scrapbooker who is new to card making. Thank you!!
I try not to buy patterned paper, but I still sometimes do. I dont just have a pouch of pretties. I think I probably have 3 or 4 large drawers full. Hard to throw little bits away...might just need that sometime 😅
I know your struggle! 😀
Thank you. I am fairly new at card making and don't have much of a stash, so very useful to know what not to invest in. Your advice is very timely for me. 😊
You are so welcome!
I LOVE this! Such simple ideas, that I've never thought of! I don't have a lot of money to spend on my papercrafting addiction, and have lamented several times over the fact that i don't have all the metallic accents I see favorite crafters using. But I DO have metallic papers, and I DO have a cover plate that cuts circles...duh! Thanks for all the great ideas! This is my first time here... Liked & subscribed. ❤️
Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful! xxx
Some good tips, thanks. I have been crafting for 40 years and the one product that I really find a game changer is the stamp positioners, and the sticky mats have made them even more effective. I love the quality of good rubber stamps and love my Tim Holtz platform as it allows me to use them just as easily as the clear stamps. I remember pattern papers came along with scrapbooking, and they did make cards quicker to make, but they did feel like cheating, less individual, but the stamp positioners really help you make your own backgrounds as well as making sentiment placing so so much easier then the wood mounted ones we initially used. I found roller stampers too messy and difficult to align and I think I will be getting the Stamp wheel 2.0 for Christmas and they will be sent to the art department at school my housemate teaches at. Regarding the sprays , I add some ethanol and some Manuka essential oil to inhibit bacteria in aromatherapy sprays. I might give it a go with the mica spray next time I restock. I also use some re-inker to mine.
Thanks for sharing. 👍
I’d love to see a video on using pigment powders. I have Pearl Ex pigment powders from Jacquard.
Coming soon!
3:22 thank you. Super smart idea to create enamel dots.
Thank you! 😃