1 One of my favourite crafting items is the Sakura clear stardust gelly-roll pen. I use this to give a dewey effect on the petal edges of quilled flower embellishments. After sponging the petal edges with a pearlescent ink I then run the pen along the edges.

2 I like using the Glitter Girls' Romance board for making edgings and panels for cards. I have "collected" a few of the boards but have used this one the most.

3 Metal stencils and templates to do dry embossing, paper pricking and stitching are also some of my favourite items . After stamping, ornare paper pricking was one of the first techniques I attempted and still enjoy using it to do backing panels and borders.


4 The Coppernob Elegant Shoe template and Ideas Booklet has given me the inspiration to make some really special cards and has allowed me to use some other favourite crafting items and techniques too.

1 Since starting to make cards three years ago I've always liked to do paper pricking but this year I've combined this with stitching and have found a new, if time consuming, passion. The frames, borders and corners add another dimension to the cards and can pull colours together. I really like the Fabulous Frames and Brodery stencils by Kars.


2 Another technique I've really picked up on this year is scrap magic. I have great difficulty in knowing when to stop putting embellishments onto cards and this style of card making allows you to go to town. So far I've only used images and papers from Joanna's CDs but am amazed at the selection of designs on TT's gallery.


3 Attaching tags seems to be another addiction. My quickutz tag die is one of my most used dies and last year I bought an x-cut tag punch and have used this constantly. The tag is just the correct size for a set of Hero Arts alphabet stamps I have and I've used them both to personalise messages on cards.

4 I also like sponging ink around the edges of matts and layers or tags to draw colours together and soften edges. It also helps to diguise uneven cutting. I keep all my old wash-ups, put them through a hot wash and then use them to apply ink on projects.

5 Being a thrifty Scottish lass I don't like to throw anything away. When making a card I have no qualms about using five or six layers of paper and card but can't bear to throw away any off cuts. With all the spare pieces of white card I punch out daisies of various sizes and store them. When I've gathered enough daisies I glue two of the same size together, slightly overlaping, and then using an ordinary paper punch I punch out small circles of pale yellow glitter card for the daisy centre and glue it into place. These I use as embellishments when needed and sponge the petal edges with a colour of ink to co-ordinate with a project and finally touch up the tips of the daisies with the clear stardust gelly pen to make them sparkle.