'HOW TO MAKE' VIDEOS
CLICK HERE for NEW FOLDING CUT OUT PANEL CARD VIDEO DEMONSTRATION 
CLICK HERE for 'CUT AWAY' CARD VIDEO DEMONSTRATION 
CLICK HERE for A5 POP OUT CARD VIDEO DEMONSTRATION 
CLICK HERE for CARD BOX VIDEO DEMONSTRATION 
How do I open the PDF files?
ANSWER You need Adobe READER to open the PDF files. You will probably have it already - but if not, click on this link to download an up to date version.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS These card kits come in Adobe PDF files. This allows them to be used by everyone. When you open it you can scroll down through the pages to see the card, step by step decoupage, teabags, envelope, pop out/insert pages, backing papers etc
You can print straight from the pdf files. I assume that you know your way around your own printer but in the print dialogue box which comes up in Adobe, select ‘none’ in the Page Scaling window. This will then print the best sizes for A4 paper. Make sure that it is set at this setting for the whole card - if not then you will not get the decoupage being the correct size for the card. Also tick the ‘Choose Paper Source by PDF page size’ When you go to print you will have to select the page/s you want to print - because you will be printing onto different mediums - don’t tick ‘all ’ in the Print Range.
Decoupage & Teabag Card fronts- I print onto a good quality card. 160gsm card is not thick enough to end up with a good result. I use approx 240gsm card and print at ‘Text and Image’ quality.
Step by Step Decoupage - I use a Matt Photo paper of 135gsm weight (120gsm is OK too) and print at Photo quality and ‘photo paper’ setting. If you prefer glossy decoupage then use a glossy photo paper and set your printer appropriately.
Teabag squares and Envelopes- I use 100gsm paper for both of these and print at Text or Text & Image quality. 80gsm copy paper would do for the teabag squares - but not for the envelopes.
Insert sheets- again 10ogsm paper (or 80gsm copy paper will do fine) for these and print at Text quality. Background papers- again 100gsm paper is fine and Text or Text & Image. If you are printing the A4 sheets of papers and want a full sheet print ‘borderless’ or ‘edge to edge
’POP OUT card fronts & POP OUT inserts - I print onto 160gsm card (office card weight). Because these cards end up with a double thickness this card is thick enough.The aperture and the fold lines are already printed on the inserts.
How to type text directly onto the pdf file - for the downloads with this new facility - these files are called “……. enabled”. You must have at least Adobe Reader Version 8 to let you do this. To make it easy for you I have set it up for you - all you have to do is double click onto the page and the blank text box will appear - you will see a cursor and you can type your own text. If you want to change the font/size/colour, choose VIEW (from the top line) - then TOOLBARS - then Properties Bar - this will give you the Properties Bar for the text box which I have set up and you can then change what you want. You can just drag the text box about and resize it if you want to. The ‘Space bar’ and ‘Return’ will work as normal - allowing you type normally and start a new line.If you want to view the page differently - just choose View - then Rotate View. Some cards (landscape ones) look like I have put them on upside down at the top of the page - they are like that because printers don’t print the bottom of a page so this is my way around that problem.
How to resize, crop, add text etc...
From Adobe Reader 8, you can copy and paste easily. If you RIGHT click on what you want to copy, you will see a drop down list and can choose “COPY”.
Then if you open the programme you would like to work in (I use MS Publisher), you can then RIGHT click and choose 'paste' and you will get what you copied now pasted into your document—where you can do what you want with it - resize it, crop it, add text - whatever.
CARD FRONTS
The first page/s in all the card files have ‘Card fronts’ - these allow you to print a complete card. Just print onto card then score down the left hand side of the card front and fold. Then you can trim the 3 white sides away (while the card is folded) leaving you with a printed card with no white margins. However if you wish, you can print this page onto photo paper, cut it out & glue it onto card stock - but remember that with most cards you are going to cover most of it up with decoupage layers (which should be printed onto photo paper for better definition.)
DECOUPAGE HINTS
If you have never done decoupage before it is very simple with the step by step version. The idea is to build up the picture as a 3D one. Cut out all the decoupage bits for one card front - the idea is to start with the biggest pieces and build up the layers - the parts which are to the front of the picture get smaller and are in the foreground. Try to curve the cut outs before you stick them on - makes a BIG difference to the 3D effect! - use a bone folder , or just bend it round your finger - then it won’t look like stacked up layers - it will look more natural. Take the first layer and put small bits of 3D foam on the back to support it - spread them out - you don’t need all that many! Standing directly above the printed card, place the first layer on directly on top - try to line up the obvious bits. (Some people prefer silicone glue, others foam pads - your choice!)