When you need basic white card

Do you ever have one of those weeks where there are Gremlins? The Gremlins seem to be in all my IT systems and they seem to have been there for a while. Things have disappeared, that I was sure I had on my phone. And worse of all they seem to have stolen all my spoons.

So todays video is a unboxing video of the items that ‘fell’ into my basket whilst I was ordering my basic white card. I realised that I had completely run out, as I hadn’t remembered to order some for a while. Only joking these are the items that I have wanted for a while, I was so excited to order the Biggest Wish stamp set. I love the font and there are so many gorgeous examples on Pinterest and available on google images.

The other items which I ordered that I am super excited about are the kits, I adore the new Love, Santa kit, I also got the Christmas Whimsy and the expression in colour paper pumpkin kit. I have wanted the expression in colour kit for a while but had to wait for my next order (I try to order once every few months as I am a discount shopper.)

I am hoping to get into the craft room soon to do some crafting. Would you like to see Christmas Whimsy or Love. Santa alternatives?

CASEing the Catalogue - Words of Cheer

In my last video I showed what I did after I had prepped my stamps and dies and where I looked for inspiration. Today I have CASEd (Copied and Selectively Edited, but it can also stand for Copy and Share Everything) a card from the July to December catalogue. I loved this card when I saw it and it was definitely one of the reasons that I fell in love with the bundle (also as I love the happy die as you can tell from the number of videos I have made with it recently). I used most of the items from the original card, however I did not have the corkboard or the felt. I think that the vellum is a nice touch. I also didn’t like the repeated sentiment stamping, so I edited the card to have holly leaves in the background. The cards I created on video used Silver foil as my original used the glimmer paper from Sale-a-Bration.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Vellum piece – 5cm x 13cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Vellum piece - 5cm x 13cm

Imperial

4." x 5.75" (4” by full length scored at 5.75”)

Inside Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

Vellum piece – 5 inches x 1 ½ inches

Tips and tricks

• I used Vellum and card instead of felt

• use detailed glue to add the die cuts [I also used Crafters Companion - Extra Strong Glue Tape Pen (Dots)]

• I stamped in pool party, however you could also use Versa mark ink to achieve the same effect

• I cut out the flowers in Vellum and Silver card and re-added the centre of the card in Silver

• I added glue to the cheer die cut, adding glue to the dots/berry’s did not work

• Using the dots from the dies is easier with a Jewel picker/ take your pick tool

The video below shows how to make this card.

I hope that this helps inspire you to CASE your own card. What card from the catalogue would you like me to CASE next?

Love Santa Kit

Oooooo Stampin’ Up! are spoiling us again. They have released another new kit which creates some stunningly gorgeous tags. The Love, Santa Tag Kit from Stampin’ Up!’s kit collection is another all inclusive kit. All inclusive kits have the embellishments, ink pads, ribbons and block you need to create the gorgeous gorgeous tags. My favourite part is that you can reuse the stamps after the kit has been used up to create more gorgeous items. I have a fabulous collection of kit stamps which make gorgeous cards, I store them all together in an stamp case.

It has been suggested that the tag toppers could be cut off and the tags added to a card. I am not sure about this yet, my kit is still in my box (I am attempting to finish off some cards before I get distracted with new gorgeous items). I will experiment with them when I have the chance, but I do think that the example tags, look amazing!

As with all kits, I recommend that you will need a bone folder, a pair of scissors and some liquid glue. Although liquid glue is not specifically recommended, I use it to ensure that I have a little wriggle room when sticking items together.

The video below shows the Stampin’ Up! CEO Sara Douglass showing how to put together the kit step-by-step.

There are also a collection of gorgeous bags, which would be perfect to wrap up presents or make items for Christmas Eve boxes. I love the car the most, which is your favourite?

Christmas Whimsy Kit

Have you seen the gorgeous card kit from Stampin’ Up!? The Christmas Whimsy kit is only available whilst stocks last, but it is perfect for super cute Christmas cards.

As with most kits it contains virtually everything you need to create 8 cards (and you have a stamp set to create more gorgeous cards.) As well as the stamps, it contains the card bases, elements, ink, bling, stamp block and adhesives (dimensionals and glue dots.) The only thing that you need to add is scissors, I also find a bone folder to burnish the cards is useful as well as liquid glue as this can you wiggle time, to ensure that the elements are in the correct place.

The kit also includes the step by step instructions for putting the cards together.

As an extra bonus to the step by step instructions in the kit, the video above shows the fabulous, Stampin’ Up! CEO Sara Douglass showing you how to put together the gorgeous kit step by step.

The kit is perfect for simple Christmas presents with minimal other supplies required. Its currently one of my favourite kits, which is your favourite?

New stamps and dies - What do I do now?

I often think that sometimes I have a number of hobbies, buying stamps, using my stamps and cleaning/organising my craft room. I am really good at buying stamps, not so good at utilising my stamp collection or organising my room.

I have to admit, that I lack confidence sometimes in what to create. Sometimes I can take up the limited time in my craft room pondering what to create. To overcome my block, I prepare my stamps and dies to show how they stamp and the look of the dies. I look at the combinations of the stamped messages and write out some of the options. For Words of Cheer, I considered just buying the dies, but the sentiments are gorgeous and can be used for inside and outside sentiments

I also look at the catalogue for ideas from the concept artist. As a demonstrator I can access the information which shows what items have been used to create each card and also the basic techniques, this helps as a starting point (you can use the pictures or contact me directly if you have any questions about catalogue samples.) I then tend to create a board on Pinterest to Pin the items that I find using the stamps and dies I am playing with. I am conscious that not all examples and images can be seen on Pinterest so I also tend to do a Google search and look at the images ( I must confess sometimes you get some random images so be careful what you put in the search box!) These images can be saved to Pinterest or can be saved for future reference, I tend to try and Pin them to Pinterest as that is where I tend to look for inspiration. Of course, there is also Facebook and Instagram as well, also its does not have to be the stamp and die set you are using which inspires you, it doesn’t even need to be Stampin’ Up! I tend to pin anything which inspires me .

Pining keeps me quiet when I someone has stolen all my spoons. I love searching for inspiration, I just have to ensure that I remember to craft too. What do you use to find inspiration and to start creating with your new stamps and dies?