Top Craft Tips From A Dragon… Sara Davies

1. “I always end up misplacing my stamps – is there a good way of storing them?”

SARA SAYS: "No one particular way is better than another – it’s about finding what’s right for you and the space you have to hand! Many crafters devise their own filing system for easy reference by using clear plastic wallets or folders for housing their stamps, which is great for seeing exactly what you have at a glance. Acrylic stamps stick straight to acetate, while grey unmounted stamps can be pre-cut and sprayed with repositionable adhesive and stuck to an acrylic panel. Organise them in a way that you’ll know works for you, whether that’s alphabetically, by brand or by type of stamps such as character, sentiment or background."

2. “I want to add more detail when colouring in toppers for my cards. Can you recommend a set of pens?”

SARA SAYS: "If you want to take your colouring to the next level, the Spectrum Illustrator pens are a great choice. Each one has a super-fine nib for precise line work and a flexible brush nib for smooth filling of larger areas. While Spectrum Noir markers are perfect for beginners, Illustrator pens are the next step for intermediate and advanced colourists and artists, thanks to their versatility. The tip is thinner and firmer than the original marker, and the colour chartis shared except with an additional 48 new colours, which have been added to balance the range."

3. “What’s the easiest way to give my cards a 3D finish?”

SARA SAYS: "Embossing has always been a great way to achieve texture and dimension. With one pass through your die-cutting machine, they can really transform elements and backgrounds. Why not take it a step further with our 3D embossing folders? They’ve been created using three different levels of depth, plus their ease and versatility has proved very popular amongst other crafters. Why not try out our textured designs, too? Featuring all-over patterns suitable for a wide variety of styles and themes, you can ink them, emboss them, wax, distress or simply leave them plain."

4. “I’ve recently bought the Ultimate Pro; any tips on how I can get the best out of it?”

SARA SAYS... "To get the very best out of this tool, I would highly recommend one of the DVDs to go alongside it. Not only does it show you how to use it, there are lots of different project ideas too. There are also tutorials on YouTube, so you can go there for guidance. There are very concise instructions inside the tool, so you'll be able to get started with new techniques straight away! Once you get the hang of it, there’s a variety of add-on boards that will enable you to create lots of different-sized cards, envelopes and boxes – so there's all sorts that you'll be able to make using the Ultimate Pro and accessories!"

5. “What can I do when my dies don’t cut correctly?”

SARA SAYS: "You might find that your machine needs a little extra pressure. It could be that you’re cutting a thicker cardstock then usual or the sandwich combination you’re using isn’t quite right. Whatever the problem, there are things you can do to help! Try adding a piece of cardstock as an extra shim. If you’re using one of our Gemini die-cutting machines, you will find that using the metal adapter plate helps brilliantly to cut the most intricate of dies."