A friend recently asked me to try out the Ultimate Crafter’s Companion (UCC), the latest in cardmaking accessories from Crafter’s Companion, but frankly I was skeptical. What could this “little pink suitcase” do for me that I couldn’t accomplish with a ruler, paper cutter and scissors? While I usually jump at the chance to acquire new crafting tools, I wasn’t convinced that this was really anything different from what I already had. Boy, was I wrong. Actually, I was blown away.
Easy Folding
My first discovery was a simple but important one—the ease of folding cardstock. Anyone who has tried making their own cards knows the frustration of folding the cardstock, only to discover it is slightly uneven. Refolding looks awful. I was amazed to discover that the Ultimate Crafter’s Companion provided a way to fold any size card in half in seconds, with perfect, professional results every time. No measuring, no guessing, and no mistakes. I’m a fan of saving time, so this was a good introduction to this new product. And it only got better.
Envelopes
After watching the instructional DVD I couldn’t wait to get started making the unique cards, envelopes and boxes I saw demonstrated. They even have what they call an “envelobox” for extra thick cards. I love the idea of being able to make a perfectly sized envelope for any size card, add a contrasting liner and even emboss the flap. I had never been able to master the art of making envelopes, but it will never be a problem again. The creative possibilities are endless.
Make your own gift boxes
Once I tried boxes I couldn’t stop making beautiful gift boxes. Just in time for the holidays! The lids fit perfectly – no measuring on my part. This system is fabulous. Just like the envelopes, the UCC folks have done all the thinking and measuring for you.
Speaking of holidays, this winter I’ll be sending out some stunning cards—without the stunningly high price tag. Join me in tackling some fun holiday projects.
Although collage is not my primary medium as an artist, it is one of my favorites to work in. I find the process of collage to be limitless in its rewards. When I have been painting or drawing for an extended period of time, collage can be a breath of fresh air. The manipulation of text, paper, and found imagery has the ability to generate ideas that would have otherwise remained undiscovered.
When working with a collage piece, I usually choose either a piece of panel (wood of canvas) or a shadow box (using an old dresser drawer is a popular technique for making shadow boxes). When working on panels, my collages are usually double sided with one side showing the text and the other showing images. All of the images that I use in my collages come from books of clip art and copyright-free vintage illustrations.
Making a collage is a lot like an act of brainstorming. When an artist feels that his or her creative well has run dry, collage can be a source of newly generated inspiration. To keep our creative juices flowing, it is important for us always to try new things. You never know what you might discover.