Ways to add oomph to a card using different items

Card using Coastal Cabana and the Biggest Wish Stamp Set with Artistry Bloom Sequins

In my last few videos I have shown how to make a set of 4x4 thanks cards and a box to hold them and some envelopes. I explained in my original video that I though that this simple card would work for 3x3 cards and maybe notecards but there may be a little too much white space on a normal card (14.8cm x 10.5 or 4.1" x 5.8".) Having made a ‘normal card’ I like it, but there is a bit too much white space and needs a bit of oomph to make it stand out and take away the white space. As this is a sentiment set, you could take another stamp set with mainly images, but I wanted to show that you don’t need another stamp set and that there a number of relatively simple ways to oomph up your cards.

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy ink, with Basic White paper

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set from Stampin Up and Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy ink, with Basic White paper

1. Using the reverse of one of the stamps, stamp a random pattern for the background..

2. Using the smallest stamp in the stamp set to create patterns.

3. Smooshing - using ink and water on plastic to create a watercolour background (please leave to dry before stamping the sentiment otherwise it may not stamp properly)

4. Ink Blending with a Blending brush

5. Ink Blending with a Blending brush and stencil

6. Splattering with Wink of Stella

7. Block stamping with ink and Wink of Stella

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set, Calypso Coral ink, with Basic White paper

A close up of a card using the Biggest Wish Stamp and Calypso Coral ink, with Basic White paper

Measurements

Metric

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

Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm 

Imperial

4 1/8" x  5 7/8" (4 1/8” by full length scored at 5 7/8)

Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and Mango Melody ink, with Basic White paper

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and the smooshing technique with Melon Mambo and Night of Navy ink

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set blending brushes and mask with Melon Mambo and Magenta Madness

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and blending brushes with Melon Mambo and Magenta Madness

A card by using the Biggest Wish Stamp set Wink of Stella and Calypso Coral

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set Wink of Stella and Calypso Coral

My favourite is definitely the Wink of Stella and coloured splatters. Which is yours?

Simple box to fit a set of 4x4 inch (10x10cm) card

On Thursday I showed you how to make a set of some super cute thanks cards. I am planning to use them as thanks cards, but as I have made a few, I also wanted to put them in a box to gift them to friends. The super cute simple box also means that the cards and box are also perfect for craft fairs.

This box is an easy box to make and perfect if you are new to box making, or if you just want a quick easy box for your cards. I created the envelopes using the retired envelope punch board, I will probably but some envelopes as my envelopes are shocking, I have used the board more for boxes rather than envelopes. It is something I need to use more and practice using (apparently it takes 20 hours to be an expert in a new skill, so it may take a while.)

Simple 4x4 inch (10x10cm) box using Rich Razzleberry, Coastal Cabana and the Biggest Wish stamp set

Measurements

Metric

27.5cm x 17.5cm

score on long side (27.5cm) - 1.5cm, 3cm, 14.5cm and 16cm

score on short side (17.5cm) - 1.5cm, 3cm, 14.5cm and 16cm

Imperial

10 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches

score on long side (10 1/2 inches) - 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 5 1/2 inches and 6 inches

score on short side (6 1/2 inches) - 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 5 1/2 and 6 inches

Tips and tricks

• if possible use a score board (i struggle with straight lines on my trimmer)

• ensure all the score lines are all burnished (edges smoothed down to reinforce the crease, normally done using a bonefolder.)

• Lay the box out flat to work out which parts should be removed

• use liquid glue to ensure wiggle room

• rounding the corners will help close the box

• You can remove the tabs if you wish it works with and without the tabs (some people think it looks more professional with the tabs)

• Use your trimmer to remove the long tabs if you are not confident using scissors

Box template for where to cut and how the box should look following cutting before being put together

I think the box is super cute. The Coastal Cabana box was made using the measurements for CMs, rather than converting the measurements directly, I reworked the measurements for CM to avoid the random numbers (my brain works better in CM and half CM. I am still in love with the Rich Razzleberry, which is your favourite?

Simple Thank You Cards

I love getting inspiration from Pinterest and other Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators. I find their cards so beautiful with so many lovely products used. Sometimes though I love to return to simple cards. I find that I can make multiples of the simple cards quickly and also I am less likely to make mistakes if I am tired.

My inspiration for these cards was the stamp set ‘Biggest Wishes.’ this is a gorgeous sentiment set with bold lettering statement stamps and smaller swirly italic stamps for the sentiments which are Happy, Birthday, Hello, Friend and Thanks. I wanted to create simple Thanks card, which also used up some of my embellishments (I discovered that I had two packs of the Artistry Blooms Sequins open and wanted to use them up.)

Simple Thanks cards, using Biggest Wish and Artistry Blooms Sequins from Stampin' Up!

My colour inspiration for the cards came from the Artistry Blooms Sequins, these are Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Mango Melody and Rich Razzleberry. Coastal Cabana has been growing on me recently as I start to have the confidence to use brighter coloures. Rich Razzleberry has always been a favourite it was one of the colours which I fell in love with, when I learnt about the colour combinations and the first ink pad I owned. I have to confess I don’t use Calypso Coral or Mango Melody very often, they are colours which I should use more.

Simple Thanks cards using Biggest Wish and Artistry Blooms Sequins from Stampin' Up!

Measurements

Metric

Card Base - 10cm x 20cm (scored at 10cm)

Insert - 9.5cm x 9.5cm

Imperial

Card Base - 4 inches by 8 inches (scored at 4 inches)

Insert 3 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches

Tips and Tricks

• for the bases use a full sheet of A4 in Basic White

• score the paper at 4 inches (10cm) before cutting the card on the short side

• cut card at 4 inches move card around so uncut side is on measurements and cut again

• ensure to burnish completely

• to make the colours lighter use second or third generation stamping (stamp off on scrap paper once of twice depending on colour wanted)

• if you are unsure on lining up the swirly stamp either stick to the bold or practice lining the stamps up on a scrap piece of paper

• for perfect alignment use the Stamparatus or a stamp platform.

Simple Thanks cards, using the Biggest Wish stamp set, Rich Razzleberry and Artistry Blooms Sequins from Stampin' Up!

These cards can be created, with any stamps, inks, papers and embellishments. I love the Coastal Cabana version, which is your favourite?

Hotel Chocolat Slab Box

Happy New Year! Today’s project is a box to contain one of my favourite chocolates. These slabs from Hotel Chocolat don’t normally last very long in our house and I have to hide them from Tom or they would all be eaten. The bars are perfect for little presents, however after Christmas and Birthdays, in December the thought of wrapping presents scares me. So I decided to create a box to put the slab/block in. I have previously created a thin bag but thought it did not look right.

Box using Flirty Flamingo Card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon colour altered with Flirty Flamingo blends.

Measurements

Metric

Base - 16.5 x 13 cm (score at 2)

Lid - 16cm x 12cm (score at 1 1/2)

Imperial

Base - 6 1/2 x 5 inches (score at 3/4 inch on all 4 sides)

Lid - 6 x 4 1/2 inches (score at 1/2 inch on all 4 sides)

1st box using Flirty Flamingo Card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon colour altered with Flirty Flamingo blends. 2nd box using Basic Black card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using Basic Black Bakers Twine with a sentiment from the Wish for Everything stamp set.

Tips and Tricks

• you can use any card for the base (please do not use DSP as it is not strong enough to hold a weight

• for a snug fit ensure that the lid is slightly larger by adding a shim when scoring the lid (I use a piece of the same card

• windmill the box by making each tab on a different side

• if you are not confident with sticking the tabs down use wet glue as it gives you wiggle room

Box to hold Hotel Chocolat slab using a retired paper and the Highland Heather Grossgrain Ribbon

This is a super simple cute box, which is perfect to practice your box making skills. Pull out your card stash and give it ago. You don’t have to use the Hotel Chocolat slabs, I am sure it will fit lots of different items. What have you managed to fit in yours?

Christmas items for Birthdays with #GDP302

Over the last weeks weeks I have been looking for some inspiration. One of my favourite places to see gorgeous cards is the Global Design Project. Every week there is a new challenge on a rotating schedule which includes colour challenges, sketches, themes and a CASE challenge. I have been admiring the challenges for a while and today have decided to share a card that I have made using #GDP302 sketch challenge.

I love the stripes and I also love the inspiration from the design team. I am super excited that I have finally decided on what I wanted from the July to December Mini Catalogue and the delivery arrived this week. So I had some new goodies to play with. I have used the Happy from the Christmas Cheer dies and the striped mask from the Adorning Designs decorative masks.

Instructions

1. Create a card base

2. Create a frame from a piece of scrap paper -line up card at the 1/2 inch line and used the cutting blade from 1/2 inch point on all four sides creating a frame

3. Add Low Tack Stencil Tape to ensure card base doesn’t move

4. Line up the stripes on the mask to make them vertical using grid paper can help ( see image below)

5. Add more stencil tape, to keep the stencil in place.

6. Add the frame to the stencil

7. Use a blending brush to add Polished Pink ink to the whole of the area

8. Use a sponge dauber to add Fresh Freesia to the larger stripes.

9. Allow time for ink to dry

10. Add card to Stamperatus and line up the birthday stamp

11. Mask off the Happy and add Momento ink to the Birthday, add to card

12. Mask off the Happy and add Momento ink to the Birthday, add to card (repeat until as dark as required)

13. Cut Happy 3 times from Scrap White card

14. Cut Happy from Basic Black

15. Layer the happy die cuts together using detailed glue.

16. Add the Happy die cut to the card

17. Add embellishments (I have used the Subtle Shimmer Sequins)

18. Add sentiment to inside Basic White Layer using Momento ink

19. Add inside layer to card

Card Stock Measurements

My Metric

Card Base -10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (14.5cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Scrap card -10.5 cm x 14.5 cm

Inside Basic White Layer - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

Card Base -10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (14.8cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Scrap card -10.5 cm x 14. 8 cm 

Inside Basic White Layer - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

Card Base -4 1/8 " x 5 ¾" (5 3/4” x 8 ¼” scored at 4 1/8” )

Scrap card -4 1/8 " x 5 ¾"

Inside Basic White Layer - 3 7/8” x 5 1/2”

Thank you to the Global Design Project for the inspiration. I love the Happy from the Christmas Cheer dies, these dies are for all year round and not just for Christmas!