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?