An excess of Christmas Cards - Simple Birthday Cards Using DSP

April 18, 2021 Claire Taylor

Having worked out how many weeks there are till the end of November, I have calculated that by December I will have over 400 Christmas cards so I have decided to tweak Claire’s Creative Christmas Card Challenge to Claire’s Creative Christmas creation challenge to incorporate ideas other than cards. I have also decided to add another challenge - Claire’s Creative Celebration Creation Challenge as I have identified that I also need to be better at making and sending Birthday cards.

I must confess I am pretty awful. the joys of a neurodiverse mind, the only Birthdays I remember really are mine, Toms and ones of my Sisters, everyone else’s, I know the month but not the exact day. I have invested in a card box to remind me of the dates, but need more cards which are ready to go to ensure that everyone gets a card!

In my last video I explained how I choose DSP and what actions I take when I receive it. In my latest video, I show how to make a simple card, using one of my favourite card sketches, the happiest of birthday stamps and also the retired perfect patterns Designer Series Paper. I also used the in the family stamp set for the inside of the card, but you could use any small stamp. I personally think that it is a perfect card for making multiples.

The video below shows how to make a card using the sketch,

I think it is a perfect layout for birthday cards. What is your go to sketch?

Simple Ink blended Snowman Seasons cards

March 11, 2021 Claire Taylor

I decided that I would doesomething slightly different today and use the Snowman Builder Punch. It is a super cute punch which creates the snowman, a hat, a nose and two arms when punched. It makes quick simple cards and tags really easy and multiple card making a dream.

I have also been inspired by a number of butterfly cards recently which has ink blended backgrounds. I am in love with the new blender brushes. I have a collection, from Amazon to make up brushes and even other companies. The new Stampin’ Up! brushes are super soft and amazing at creating gorgeous backgrounds.

My tips for using a blending brush are keep a brush for each colour family, tap off the excess ink before blending the colour on the card and use a light touch, you can add colour but you can not remove excess.

Card Measurements

My Metric

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

Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5cm x 29.6 scored at 14.8cm)

Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8 cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" (4 x 11” scored at 5.5”)

Inside White Panel – 3.5 x 5”

Snow Options

There are a number of ways to add Snowflakes:

Using the Stampin’ Chalk Marker
Using a Blender Pen and the Uninked Pad with white refill
Stamping the snowflakes in the White ink
Any white pen/ gel pen.

I love that you can change the look of the Snowperson on every single card. What is your favourite embellishment?

In good taste masculine cards

August 15, 2020 Claire Taylor

I really struggle with cards with a masculine theme, it is something I am trying to overcome as my mother always asks for masculine birthday cards. I know that there is always a need for masculine cards but I loose my mojo and end up making something that looks awful (awful to me as I am a perfectionist.)

I decided that I wanted to create a simple birthday card for my brother in laws (they are both June babies.)

I loved the in good taste paper as soon as I saw it and though that it would be the perfect DSP to use. It is a stunning combination of photgraphic imagery (mainly tiles, who knew they could make such pretty papers) and gorgeous neutral patterns. I also wanted to utilise the stamps from the Looking Up Card Kit, Happy Birthday is one of my most used sentiments but this layout would also work for Thank You cards.

This card is simple to make and could be made using any combination of card and DSP. I used the Tailored Tag Punch but any punch or die could be used to create the shape. If you do not have shapes or dies, you could also use any shape for the sentiment.