Through the Annals...

Hey! I'm just switching around with Julia so apologies if you've come to the blog expecting her. She's back next Saturday with something awesome!

I thought I'd just post some cards done with older sets...not such very old stamps, but easily forgotten with the excitement of the 'new'

 

Year Four is a tiny set that packs a real punch! These little hippos are perfect for colouring with markers and I've added in the fab sentiment dies from WPlus9

 

Speaking of WPlus9- remember this set? 

And on the inside? ....

 

 

Keeping the Lawn Fawn sets in mind, how about a simple gift bag for a birthday boy? 

Do excuse the slightly dodgy colouring-I've improved a little since I created these!- told you I was going through the annals!

 

 

Hope you've enjoyed a little peer through some of the older sets-

do have a rummage around some of the sets from a year or two ago. They need love too! ;-)

 

See you next week!

 

Keren x

Hoop-La

Hi everybody,

I hope you are all well.

So today I've got a couple of cards to share, using both the positive and the negative from the same Paper Smooches 'Ring Trio' die.

I have so many things I want to do with this die.  It is such a simple shape but the possibilities, with all the empty space, are endless.  This was my first idea, and I couldn't wait to rip the wrapper off and get started!

I got to use up soooo many little scraps of paper that I (...and I know I can't be alone here!) like to hoard making these cards - bonus!

I started by taking a load of my patterned paper off-cuts, cutting them into strips of various widths, and adhering them to a sheet of paper.  I then die cut the awesome 'Ring Trio' from that sheet of paper, twice, thinking about how I wanted it placed on my card.  Obviously the actual 'ring' part was easy to pop back down as it was the positive part of the cut, however, to re-position the 'negative' shape correctly was a little more tricky.  I did it by keeping the hoops in place, whilst adhering all the  fiddly pieces around it - then once everything was in place - removed the rings , and 'au voila', the background was positioned perfectly.

The sentiments on both cards are from the brilliant Paper Smooches set, 'Group hugs', (such a great set, so full of positive sayings, I love it).  I was clearly in the midst of a Paper Smooches fest, as I also used their 'Tiny Hearts' die, cut from black card and clear heat embossed, as my embellishments.

I edged both panels with black card, mounted on to kraft card bases, and there you have it.  Two cards, two ways, using one die, and some little scraps of paper!

As always, everything is linked below so be sure to go have a browse!

See you next week.

jillx

                  

Bright Candles

Hello!

Last week Jill kicked off our DT challenge to use the same set of dies and stamps.  We are all using Echo Park's fab Birthday Celebration Stamp and Die set.  Did you see Jill's cool candle shakers?  So fun!

 

 

I hadn't seen Jill's card when I made mine but I went with the candles too!  I stamped them in a row and combined with the sentiment which I gold embossed.  I added some glossy accents to the candles.  The bright candles needed some coordinating paper so I reached for my favourite paper pad from Avery Elle.  A piece of vellum and arrow paperclip complete the design. 

 

I can't wait to see what the next member of the DT creates with this great stamp and die set.  It is such a cool way to see lots of ways of using the same products :)

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Sarah x

     

True

Hello.

I have two watercolour cards today using more stamps from the recent Winnie and Walter release.

This first card uses the long pattern stripe stamp the from True stamp set . 

I stamped it multiple times in black archival ink before colouring with some watercolour pens.

I added colour only in certain parts before loosening it with a water brush.

I decided to go with a shaker card and have used some neat and tangled sequins.

My next card is clean and simple but the water coloured panel really packs a punch so it doesn't need much more.

I used the multifacetd mini scenery stamp. First i heat embossed it then water coloured.

I went very random and normally i would freak out  a bit at having the same colour next to itself but i just let go and definitely glad i did it doesn't bother me as much now its done lol.

I kept it simple and just added the sentiment from winter woodland stamp set.

 

Thanks for looking.

Spray Tan Stamping?

Hi! Hope you're having a good day?

Actually.. the title is a little misleading. No spray tan, but definitely spray stamping!

Here's how.

Grab a stamp. The clear photopolymer are really great for this technique as you can see exactly which colour & how concentrated the colour is on the stamp.

You can do this with any dye ink, but obviously distress inks are a great choice.

 Once you're happy with the distribution of colour, simply get a spray bottle or mister and spray onto the stamp. Less is more initially- you don't want it so watery that the colours become a big brown mess (unless that's entirely the look you're going for!)

 Now- stamp onto your chosen card. With any luck you'll get a little bleeding of colour but still showing the rainbow of colours.

 You may find there's more colour in one area than you want, so just grab some kitchen towel and dab off until you're happy. Obviously you could add more water at this point if you want a more soft and watercoloured look.

And the finished card?

I've used this great little stamp from Neat & Tangled

For the sentiment and tag, I've added in this 'Gifts For You' set

I have tried the same idea but first dabbing the colours onto a mat and then adding water. It doesn't give as vibrant or clear an image. Oh, and in case you're wondering- it is already mounted onto a thin acrylic block the same size as the stamp!- you'd have a job mounting it after all that inking!

Do have a go.. it's great fun experimenting.

What's the favourite technique that you've discovered recently?

 

Do tell!

 

See you next week

 

Keren xx

 

 



June Colour Challenge Week 1

Our colours this month all share the theme of by the sea but other than that there is little to link them and there are lots of colours for you to play with!   Just pick one image and use 3 of the colours from it and something we sell in store for a chance to be our June winner with £15 to spend in store.

Here's the first of our DT projects to kick start your creative process - we'll be back each week with a reminder until all the DT have played along.

Jenny

using Sugar Rush from Paper Smooches and background stripes are from Brushed by Avery Elle.
Panel cut using the Finished Frames and mounted onto a Grey notecard from the Midnight Collection

Sarah

using Fabulous Flamingos from Reverse Confetti and the Everyday Paper Pad from Avery Elle.

Tara

using Hot Air Balloon Dies from Echo Park;  Mama Elephant Pigment Ink Blended Background; Cloud Border Die from WPlus9;  Sunny Side Up from PaperSmooches, Beachside 6x6 Papers from Lawn Fawn

You have until 10pm on Monday the 22nd June to link up your entries to challenges page - make a card, a scrapbook page or even a 3d project - whatever takes your fancy http://makethedayspecialcards.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenges.html

Embossed Balloons

 

Hello there... pinch and a punch and all that!! it's the first of June :)

Well I've been playing with the fabulous Balloon Stencil by Echo Park for todays blog post and I've used it in two different ways...

As soon as I saw this stencil I knew I wanted to try black glossy embossing paste through it on black card... I think it has such a classy look. I split the panel, placed a strip of red cardstock behind it and used one of the Happy Trio dies to make a glittery sentiment focal point. The Red Balloon from Paper Smooches was an afterthought so I could add the word 'Birthday'.

Just look how those balloons shine :)

After cleaning my stencil I tried dry emboosing it using my Sizzix Big Shot, it gives a much more subtle look than regular dry embossing but I quite like the effect...

It's hard to photograph in bright light so I snapped the shot above on the angle.

I finished this card using the Birthday basics dies which I cut twice, one in black and one in white. I have trimmed away the wording on the white piece and coloured the candles in rainbow shades. For the black piece I embossed the word birthday with glossy clear embossing powder before layering them together.

The rainbow chevrons are from the Stitched Journalling dies set by Lawn Fawn and the sketch I'm following gave me the idea to use them .... I think they balance the design well in rainbow colours too :)

                
                

Thansk for stopping by :)

Jenny x