Simple Stencilled Snowflake Card

Change of plan again today to share this gorgeously simple stencil card. My original plan was to share a card I had created using the Pine Embossing folder however, it is currently on backorder. I have changed the card as Stampin’ Up! are changing their back ordered items policy.

Due to extreme difficulties caused by, the global supply chain crisis starting on 1 December 2021, Stampin’ Up! will no longer take orders for products that are not in stock. This means that Stampin’ Up! will no longer accept backorders. This change will help to reduce frustrations from unpredictable product availability and allow you to order products that will be delivered right away, rather than products that may not be delivered for months. If you’d ever like to know if a product is available, please check my online store, the product will show currently unavailable if it is not orderable .My online store is a great resource to browse products, determine availability, and place orders for in-stock items and also to find inspiration for cards.

You may have noticed that I love stencils and ink blending, I think that they are quick easy cards which can be duplicated easily but that create individual cards as no two are the same. Once you have added tape to the stencil and remembered to cover up the parts of the snowflakes which are not needed (I forgot to do that on my first card and have shadow snowflakes, where I do not want them.)

Lately I have been subscribing to the Chloe school of bling (love her cards) and therefore have added more diamantes/rhinestones than I normally would. I think it makes a plain card look better.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.5cm)

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14cm

Metric

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

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

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

Inside Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

Again this is a simple card which could be created with any stencils and corresponding stamps. My favourite part is that you can choose what bling to add and also how much or little is added to your card.

Christmas Cards from Tags

I am a bit bored of gremlins again this week, gremlins have meant that I changed the card I was going to share. But I think that my card is actually ok.

My inspiration this week was a card created by one of the artisan design team, the lovely Helene Den Brujeen from the Netherlands. I loved her card when I saw it. You can find it on Stampin’ Up!’s Facebook page with the other Artisan design team information. The card uses the gorgeous Bright Bauble Bundle., in red and white. The Bright Bauble Bundle was on my wish list as soon as I saw it, but I haven’t had chance to use it and it is is retiring, I am very sad! I was hoping to have a bit more time to play with them. The Bundle is perfect for making super easy tags and also cards.

Measurements

Metric

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

Inside Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

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

Inside Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

Instructions are below but my hints and tips are:

• ensure you use an embossing buddy or anti-static powder tool before heat embossing

• make the snow backgrounds the night/day before to ensure that they are dry

• this card could use any colours, don’t feel restricted to blues and greens (although I love Night of Navy/ Misty Moonlight and Garden Green)

• I have used adhesive foam, you could use layers together to give the tree height, however, paper piercing multiple layers can be difficult

• if you want to create a flat version I would suggest using adhesive sheets, this should help, hold the die cuts together

Instructions

1. Stamp sentiment on inside piece of card in colour of choice

2. Stamp outside sentiment on strip of card with Versamark ink (don’t forget to use your embossing buddy or powder tool to remove static)

3. Add embossing powder (tap and blow off excess) and heat using heat tool

4. Cut sentiment down to size using punch or trimmer

5. Take card base - choose snow background (options can be found here)

6. Cut green card to fit tree

7. Add Green card to foam (keep excess foam for sentiment)

8. Cut tree with die - I run the die through the machine twice

9. Trim the tree to remove the excess foam and card

10. Add Wink Of Stella to tree

11. Cut Star from Gold card (Gold Foil, Glitter Card Mirri Card or yellow card)

12. Add star to tree

13. Remove foam backing (if one bit doesn’t come off don’t worry as long as outside backing is removed)

14. Add tree to card

15. Add strips of foam to add of sentiment

16. Add sentiment to card

17. Glue in inside of card

18. Decorate with bling if you like

Don’t forget, I tend to prefer simple cards, but add more bling if that is your preference. I love both versions but I think I like the splattered background better. Which is your favourite?

Twilight Free as a Bird Card

Sometimes I love going into my craft room with an idea, but no fixed formulation about what I am actually going to make. I have seen some gorgeous cards on Stamp Junkies on Facebook (it is an amazing group, if you have not seen it before, I highly recommend joining the group, the cards are fabulous.) The cards were twilight scenes using some tree stamps, I decided to create my own card using the free as a bird stamp set. I have used a mask and blending brushes using misty moonlight and balmy blue. If you wanted a darker background you could use night of navy,

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (14.5cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Silver Foil - 10cm x 14cm

White layers – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (14.8cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Silver Foil - 10cm x 14.3cm

White layers – 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Imperial

4 1/8 " x 5 ¾" (5.75” x 8 ¼ scored at 4 1/8)

Silver Foil – 3 3/4” x 5 1/2”

White layers – 3 1/2” x5 ¼”

The darkness of the birds depends on the darkness of the blends I used light basic black blend, but it also works with the dark basic black blend or the Basic Black Stampin’ write marker..

For the moon I added texture using the blending brush, but it was too dark so I used a finger dauber with Craft white ink to add texture to the moon and cover my boo boos.

I am planning on trying the technique on the Peaceful; Deer Stamp Set in the new July to December catalogue. Do you prefer the lighter of darker birds.

Simple Perfectly Plaid Trees

Soft Suculent

Last Sunday I said I would share some more cards which I have created using the UNIKO in the forest stencil. I love this stencil and it is one of my collection. I am not sure where the others are, I may need to tidy my craft room, who am I kidding, I always need to tidy my craft room as shown in some of my Facebook pictures and that sometimes I say ‘timber’ in my craft videos as the pile of craft supplies has created an avalanche. Anyhow I digress, todays cards are simple ways to create Christmas cards using paper, ink, stencils, blending brushes, heat embossing and embellishments.

Soft Suculent ink on MInt Macaron card - with copper heat embossing.

Measurements

 Card 1

My Metric

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

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

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

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

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

Inside Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

Card 2 - Layered

My Metric

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

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14cm

 Outside Layer 1 - 10cm x 14cm

 Outside Layer 12- 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Metric

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

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

 Outside Layer 1 - 10cm x 14.3cm

 Outside Layer 2- 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Imperial

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

Inside Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

 Outside Layer 1 - 3.75” x 5.5”

 Outside Layer 2 - 3.5” x 5.25”

Card 2 - Alternative - sketch 8

My Metric

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

Inside Panel - 10cm x 14cm

 Outside Layer 1 - 7cm x 14.5cm

 Outside Layer 12- 9 cm 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

 Outside Layer 1 - 10cm x 14.3cm

 Outside Layer 2- 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Imperial

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

Inside Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

 Outside Layer 1 - 3.75” x 5.5”

 Outside Layer 2 - 3.5” x 5.25”

The video below shows show I made my cards.

Tips and Advice

• ensure the stencil is stuck down properly

• Remove the excess ink before adding it to the stencil

• Don’t rub too hard with the blending brush

• Ensure leave time to dry before adding embossing ink and powder

• Using an embossing buddy/ anti static powder to ensure that the embossing powder only sticks where it should

• Heat the embossing tool off the card, to avoid paper warping

• If the paper warps, heat from the other side and place a heavy item on top to flatten- I use my biggest block - you could also run it through a die cutting machine.

Although I have mainly used traditional colours, I love the pink trees, the colour combination of Blushing Bride, Polished Pink and Misty Moonlight (with the retired but Gorgeous dazzling diamond embossing powder) is inspired by a new paper pack in the August to December catalogue. Are pink trees wrong?