A: A light sanding with a nail file will wear down those little bumps without affecting the holes on the card front. By the way, when I went to research this online, the first article I read said that the raised side of the piercing is the front! Apparently we are all doing it wrong...

A: Photo paper and watercolor paper are verrrry different in their properties... so YES you can use it, but not in place of watercolor paper. Photo paper is made to immediately capture ink and pigment, so once you put color to it, you won't be able to blend it around. I do like using it with watercolor powders, especially the ones that are a blend of different colors. The photo paper takes an indelible 'print' of the inks, which really works well with the dynamic motion of the watercolor powders and makes layering fun. The colors are so vibrant, too. You can also ink up a stamp with dye ink, mist with water, and stamp to the photo paper for a faux watercolor look. Since you have a big stack of it, take some time to play around with it and see what it can do!

A: I did a little research and found that putting the feathers in a plastic bag with mothballs will get rid of mites. To rid the feathers of bacteria and viruses, soak them in a 1:1 mixture of rubbing alcohol and peroxide for at least half an hour. Finally, wash the feathers with a mild hand soap to remove any dirt and oils, and allow them to dry in the sun. For more details, please visit this blog post. Don't forget to share your projects in the gallery so we can be inspired!

A: Making a folder with positive and negative sides might be a little tricky, but it's easy to make an impression plate! Take a sheet of chipboard (I use cereal boxes) and cut it to a size that fits your machine. For the raised areas, use hand cut or die cut chipboard to create a design. Glue the pieces to the chipboard base (the more layers you add, the deeper your impression will be). Add a light brushing of Mod Podge or gel medium to secure all the layers and let it dry completely. You may need to fiddle a little with the thickness of your 'sandwich' when you run the new plate through your die cutting machine - it won't be as thick as a purchased embossing folder or plate, so you'll probably need to shim.

A: I have seen it tied around a card or wrapped around the edges and adhered behind the panel. For a veil or dress element, I think I would gather the tulle with my fingers and sew it onto the card - that's sure to stay in place. For more ideas with tulle, visit this thread.