1--If you are having trouble with your die cutting templates because the card is not releasing after it has been cut, Buy the cooking tin liners from the pound shops and cut a shape which can be stuck in your template with a little double sided tape then your card will release easily.

Here Ruth has cut these out for me using an old non stick sheet that she was about to throw away

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2. Are you fed up with those stained fingers after a crafting session,--use whitening toothpaste or dandruff shampoo, and rub in with a nail brush or an old green scourer that has gone soft.

3.It is important that you don't fold your non-stick heat resistant mat (we use them for sponging etc.) The lines of the folds are easily transfered on to your project, keep it rolled up and use the cardboard inner from a kitchen roll to store it.

4.Not sure how to keep die cuts safe?--

    Line a CD box with magnetic sheet placed back to back, its the perfect size to hold 2 die cut sets. Put a label on the edge so that you can flip through quickly and identify the one you need.

 5. Label the edges of your Distress inks so that you can identify them when they are stacked up.

6. Do not store your Big & Juicy upside down and keep it flat to prevent the colours running into each other.

7. Want to emboss with a dye based ink and think that you can't? --

    Ink up your stamp with Versamark then on the top of this ink with your dye ink then stamp on to your card and emboss in the usual way. The Versamark allows you extra time before the ink dries.

8. Heating form underneath when embossing solid images gives a smoother surface but you need to keep your heat gun moving so that you don't scorch your card.

9.When using Gold Leaf just rub a little talc on your fingers this will prevent it sticking to them.

10. Use Blue or White Tac on the end of a cocktail stick to pick up gems.

11. Having trouble threading ribbon through lace or holes then just wrap a little piece of sellotape around the end and then cut at an angle now thread it is so much easier.

12. When doing Parchment craft use a tumble dryer sheet behind the parchment when pricking, also use one to rub over the back of your work before embossing and this will make it smoother.

13. Re-colour gems using Promarkers, Peel-off markers or permanent pens.

14. Use water based ink pads to paint if you need a matching colour to your background, just rub the ink on to a clear block or heat proof mat then pick up with a water brush.

15. When using a ruler to draw a straight line on your card turn it up-side down so that the domed side is on the card and when you pull it away from your drawn line it doesn't pull the ink if it hasn't dried.

16. If you have a wedding coming up and you have been using your punches then save all the bits to use as confetti.

17. When tying a ribbon in a tag, after you have put the ends through the loop and pulled it tight then tie the 2 ends in a single knot this anchors them and stops them coming undone.

 18. to make your own pearl gems , just place drops of white glue on to a non-stick craft sheet leave to dry over night and then rub over with Mica powder such as Cosmic Shimmer, Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls etc. The dots can then be lifted and placed on to your project, they will stick by themselves if placed on to card.