Blended Tree Card

When choosing a stamp set and punch, I try to use items which can be used again and again and again. I loved the Perfectly Plaid Suite when I first saw it and am so glad I added it to my basket, It has been around for a while but it is still one of my Christmas favourites. I have made a number of cards using the Perfectly Plaid stamp set and have now challenged myself to use the Pine Tree Punch. If you search on Pinterest there are more cards using the punch so there is lots of inspiration available.

Todays card uses the punch to create a stencil in order to add ink blended trees to the card, You can place the trees in lots of different places on the card. The red strip works well to hide any boo boos from the ink blending.

Measurements

My Metric

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

Red Panel - 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)

Red Panel - 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)

Red Panel – 3 3/4” x 5 1/2”

White layers – 3 1/2” x  5 ¼”

The card looks better if you do the trees in order, it is best to work out where you want the trees in the background, blend these first and then add the darker trees, I would start off with a lighter amount of ink, I would ink blend off on a scrap piece of paper and then add the lighter trees. Before adding the darker trees after, ensure to remove the excess to prevent streaking.

For the Misty Moonlight, again ensure that there is only a light amount of ink left on on the blending brush and add colour sparingly.

On the first card the adding of the sequins went a bit wrong, if using the fine tip glue pen, ensure that you do not squeeze too hard, it just needs a slight touch to add a dab of glue to add the sequins.

I added ‘snow’ using the Stampin’ Chalk marker ( you could also use a Gel Pen or Blender pen and White Craft ink.

I am off to my craft room to play with my punches. I have a few more cards to make using the Pine Tree Punch. Do you have a favourite punch?

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?

Perfectly Plaid Present cards

I have been playing with the Perfectly Plaid stamp set again. I had been looking on Pinterest, however, most of the cards use the punch and I wanted to create a few more cards using the Stamp Set. Also I have not ordered any Christmas Designer Series Paper yet, so wanted to delay the punch example cards until I have. I have not ordered yet, as I am a discount shopper rather than a purely business demonstrator, so I split my craft budget throughout the year.

I pulled out one of my favourite stencils called in the forest by a cute English brand called UNIKO and was playing with colour combinations. All the combinations that I have used can be found in the Colour Combinations Gallery.

Gold, Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade and Sahara Sand

Measurements

My Metric

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

Outside and Inside Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

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

Outside and Inside Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

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

Outside and Inside Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Garden Green and Silver

The video below shows how I made these cards.

Tips and tricks

• Ensure that the stencil is stuck down properly

• hold the stencil to ensure minimal movement

• remove the excess ink before using the dauber to ensure no stripy images

• ensure the twine is secure - otherwise will be loose and lines will not be straight

Evening Evergreen, Silver and Soft Succulent.

My favourite colour combination is Evening Evergreen, Silver and Soft Succulent. I can’t wait for my next order to do some more cards using this combination. What is your favourite?

CASED blended Pinecones

I have been watching You tube again, whilst trying to conserve my spoons (I feel like someone stole them all again… ) one of my favourite videos is by Justine Hovey about not copying cards but using them as inspiration. You can find the video here

I have used this inspiration before for one of last years Christmas Cards using the gorgeous Peace and Joy stamps and dies (they are still in my craft room, I loved those dies, so perfect for Christmas.) I actually used Gorgeous Grape on my last card, this time I thought I would be more traditional.

I was struggling to create a card with the pine cones, when I use a stamp set, I try to use every stamp in the set on at least one card. Some stamps are easier than others, I usually use Pinterest, but there are limited ideas most examples use designer series paper and the punch. I therefore thought of this card, as the ink blending added interest to the pine cones. My original test cards were in Poppy Parade (one of my favourite Christmassy reds, for a bright Santa-esque look) and Night of Navy which is one of my favourite Stampin’ Up! colours.

Measurements

My Metric

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

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Outside gold Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Outside layer – 9cm x 13cm

Metric

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

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Outside gold Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Outside layer – 9cm x 13cm

Imperial

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

Inside White Panel - 4” x 5.5”

Outside gold  - 3.75” x 5.25

Outside layer – 3.5 x 5”

My original cards were a bit round as I was being a bit specific with the placing, I am not sure that it works, my Shaded Spruce card was more random. I was trying to avoid the circular placement of the pine cones.

You could use this idea for snowflakes from Snowman Seasons or most other Christmas stamp set. I think I like the Night of Navy and Silver the best. Which is your favourite?

Blended Trees with Perfectly Plaid

Over the last few videos I have been sharing cards with my favourite sketch. It is a gorgeous simple sketch which creates a super pretty card, without too much faff. I like that it is super super simple and that you can add extra bling if you like. I also like that it works with DSP and also plain card.

For todays card I have gone back to using blending brushes to add ink to the Perfectly Plaid stamps. I think that this can make the stamp image pop more and especially with the Tartan tree, make the colour differentiation more obvious. I also love that there are a number of trees and sentiments to choose from.

The sketch is above. The Measurements are:

My Metric

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

Panel – 14.5cm x 9.5cm

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

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

Panel – 14.8cm x 9.5cm

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)

Panel – 5.5” x  3.75”

Inside White Panel - 3.75” x 5.25”

The video of me making the card in Shaded Spruce is above. But I think that it would work in any Christmas colours. You can also change the bling to suit your tastes. I love the holiday rhinestones, as they work perfectly on the trees. I do think I need to dig out some star embellishments or may be my retired star punch or dies.

I think I love the card in Night of Navy. Which is your favourite?