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 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?

Delicate Baubles Splatter Card

I have been trying to tidy up my craft room as my stash is overwhelming and I keep having avalanches as my piles of items fall. Whilst tidying I found my Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish, which I bought a few months ago to use like gilding wax to use on my Christmas Cards. I had forgotten that I had these. I recently watched a fabulous Facebook live by the fabulous Stacey Marsh which used the Delicate Bauble dies which I have CASEd (copied and selectively edited). I knew I wanted to use the dies but was wandering if I could use the gilding polish to make splatters (and you can you just need to add water and flick with a brush!) I also wanted to add some sparkle without adding foil or mirri card. So I added the gilding polish on to the bauble die cuts as well.

The dies were originally part of a bundle with the Bright Baubles stamps, the stamps have now sold out and have been discontinued. I think that the dies work gorgeously on their own, whilst it is a bonus to be able to colour in the baubles, I don’t think that the stamp set is essential to be able to utilise the dies.

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”

Tips and tricks

• Use adhesive sheets to make sticking down easier

• The sheet lifts well with a take your pick tool

• The bits will come out, but may need help with the take your pick tool or die brush

• I used the end of a paintbrush to move the gilding polish on to block, which I used as a paint palette

• Use the spritzer to add water to the gilding polish and stir well so will splatter without lumps

• Use different scrap papers for ink blending and splatters (Once finished move the card to prevent the back being covered in splatter)

• Tap off the excess ink from the ink blending brush before using them

• Evening Evergreen darkens Night of Navy

• If cutting a mask ensure the ‘sticky’ side is at top (otherwise the wording is upside down

The video below shows how to create the card.

I am not sure if the splatter technique will work with all gilding polish but it works very well with the Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish. I love the Shaded Spruce and Highland Heather examples, which is your favourite?

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?