When you need basic white card

Do you ever have one of those weeks where there are Gremlins? The Gremlins seem to be in all my IT systems and they seem to have been there for a while. Things have disappeared, that I was sure I had on my phone. And worse of all they seem to have stolen all my spoons.

So todays video is a unboxing video of the items that ‘fell’ into my basket whilst I was ordering my basic white card. I realised that I had completely run out, as I hadn’t remembered to order some for a while. Only joking these are the items that I have wanted for a while, I was so excited to order the Biggest Wish stamp set. I love the font and there are so many gorgeous examples on Pinterest and available on google images.

The other items which I ordered that I am super excited about are the kits, I adore the new Love, Santa kit, I also got the Christmas Whimsy and the expression in colour paper pumpkin kit. I have wanted the expression in colour kit for a while but had to wait for my next order (I try to order once every few months as I am a discount shopper.)

I am hoping to get into the craft room soon to do some crafting. Would you like to see Christmas Whimsy or Love. Santa alternatives?

Love Santa Kit

Oooooo Stampin’ Up! are spoiling us again. They have released another new kit which creates some stunningly gorgeous tags. The Love, Santa Tag Kit from Stampin’ Up!’s kit collection is another all inclusive kit. All inclusive kits have the embellishments, ink pads, ribbons and block you need to create the gorgeous gorgeous tags. My favourite part is that you can reuse the stamps after the kit has been used up to create more gorgeous items. I have a fabulous collection of kit stamps which make gorgeous cards, I store them all together in an stamp case.

It has been suggested that the tag toppers could be cut off and the tags added to a card. I am not sure about this yet, my kit is still in my box (I am attempting to finish off some cards before I get distracted with new gorgeous items). I will experiment with them when I have the chance, but I do think that the example tags, look amazing!

As with all kits, I recommend that you will need a bone folder, a pair of scissors and some liquid glue. Although liquid glue is not specifically recommended, I use it to ensure that I have a little wriggle room when sticking items together.

The video below shows the Stampin’ Up! CEO Sara Douglass showing how to put together the kit step-by-step.

There are also a collection of gorgeous bags, which would be perfect to wrap up presents or make items for Christmas Eve boxes. I love the car the most, which is your favourite?

Christmas Clearance Items

Stampin’ Up! update their clearance rack every now and again. The items are only whilst stocks last and are discounted below the original catalogue price. (It is worth a note that the items may not be the lowest price that they have been on offer in the clearance rack, sometimes last chance lists are lower.) Clearance rack items are items which have been retired by Stampin’ Up! and are no longer available to buy from the catalogue. You can still find alot of inspiration for these items on YouTube, the internet and also Pinterest.

I have been playing with the Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin and the Christmas Traditions Punch Box. I think that they are gorgeous. As with most Paper Pumpkins the box contains stamps, ink, embellishments and items to make 8 cards. The only thing you will need is a block and scissors. I also recommend a bone folder and also liquid glue (they do contain glue dots and dimensionals in the box, but I prefer liquid glue.)

Tips and tricks -

Prime your stamps before stamping, ink up and stamp off checking the image. I normally do this a few times. Also practice stamping on scrap parper before stamping on the pop outs.

I leave any items which are stamped on in the original cut outs before I pop them out, it makes it easier to stamp straight (also you can use the reverse of the card

I recommend adding the twine and then adding a bow rather than tying the bow, as you can then move the bow if you need to when adding the wreath

Don’t be stingy with the dimensionals, it can create a saggy shape, add some to the inner and outer edges

.The video below shows the items and my tips.

I think that the cards created are gorgeous and also you have a fab stamp set to use on other cards (the inside card sentiment is amazing.)

Cardmaking Basics

Todays post is a bit different, I feel a bit like it is the twilight zone, don’t adjust your sets :)

After a large number of awful mistakes culminating in me droping a glass bottle on the floor I decided to film a different video than I was trying to film (it was awful, glue every except where it was supposed to go and ink dropped on cards.)

So I decided to film a new to stamping video.

My favourite item to recommend to a new stamper is a kit. I love the all inclusive kits as they contain all you need. They have card bases, envelopes, stamps, inks, dimensionals and also the embellishments. Another bonus is they have a block so if you are new to stamping you don’t have to buy a block. The only other things that I recommend is glue and also scissors.

If you know stamping is for you, I then recommend note cards, they come with envelopes - no cutting (whcih i think is a bonus,) You can add ink and punch pieces for quick simple cards. I also use the stamps from previous kits I have to make super cute cards (everyone loves a handmade card!) I would recommend getting one ink collection, my first collection was the subtles, but the in-colours come in 5’s rather than 10’s so can be good to play with at a more reasonable price.

I think that any stamp set with a punch is perfect. I am in love with the dragonflies, for birthdays I recommend the Sweet Ice Cream bundle for birthdays and the Snowman Seasons for Christmas.

What do you think are the essentials for crafting? Have I missed something?

Simple Cards using the Looking Up All Inclusive kits

I have probably said a number of times over the years, that I love the all inclusive kits from Stampin’ Up!® Not just because they contain all you need to make the cards shown in the instructions, but also offer items which can be used after all the cards are made. You will see a number of cards on Pinterest and Youtube which use the Looking Up All Inclusive stamps on cards. It is a very versatile stamp set which includes one of my most used sentiments ‘Happy Birthday.’  

I have been playing with the Looking Up All Inclusive card kit using the Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Spot, stamps and leftovers to create cards with different backgrounds. I have added a few items to the kit, but there are a few cards which just use items from the kit. All the cards use Whisper White Notecards.

The instructions are shown in the video below.

Card 1 – Stamped Background

This card uses one of the sentiments in Momento ink and the star stamp used with the Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Spot. I have used 3 generation stamping for the star (using the stamp 3 times without reinking, to create different colours of stars on the papers.) I have added the waste from the metallic stickers to add interest to the stars. I have repeated the sentiment on the insideand repeated the star stamping.

Card 2 – Side Dots

This card uses one of the sentiments in Momento ink and a sponge
dauber. I have added the sentiment to the right hand side in Momento ink and tapped the dauber in the Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Spot and added spots to the left hand side of the card.

Card 3 - Dot card 

This card uses one of the sentiments in Momento ink and a sponge
dauber. I tapped the dauber in the Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Spot added spots all over the front of the card.  I then added the sentiment to the centre of the card in Momento ink.

Card 4 – Blended background

This card uses one of the sentiments in Momento ink and a Blending
brush. I added the Bermuda Bay ink to the brush and added the ink in circles on the front of the card (remembering to add the first few circles on to scrap
paper to remove the excess ink).  I then added the sentiment to the centre of the card in Momento ink.

Card 5 – Smooshing

This card uses one of the sentiments and the smooshing technique. I added ink to a piece of plastic (I used the plastic on the stamp set) using the
Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Spot. I then sprayed the ink with water, I removed the excess water with a piece of kitchen role then smooshed the plastic on to the
front of the card. If the plastic is too wet, it will warp the note card. I added a sentiment to the centre of the card in Bermuda Bay ink. I added the excess
from the metallic stickers, as I thought that they looked like confetti. I added a sentiment to the front using the Bermuda Bay ink.

All of these technics can be used with any colours, I think that the Smooshing card is my favourite. Which is yours?