Blended Birthday Backgrounds

May 6, 2021 Claire Taylor

I am regularly asked for birthday cards, which means that I need to come up with some different designs, so that nobody gets the same card twice (I try to avoid duplicates). One way to create easy quick different cards which I love, is playing with my blender brushes. Each background is different and can be finished in different ways. Also the colour combinations which can be used are endless as well (well nearly endless.)

I loved the colour combination when I saw it in a colour challenge. I wanted to play with it even though I am not normally a Bermuda Bay fan (I am normally a subtles girl.)

The video below shows how I made the different backgrounds, using these colours adding embossing powders and mirror card.

Measurements:

My Metric

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

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Blended Panel – quarter of A4

Metric

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

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Blended Panel – quarter of A4

Imperial

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

Inside White Panel - 3.75” x 5.25”

Blended Panel – quarter of A4

I love that each one is different and that the card base and the way the sentiment is stamped can change the card. Which is your favourite?

Special Kangaroo Delivery

March 25, 2021 Claire Taylor

I have been playing with my favourite card layout rather than using the snowman, I decided to play with presents.

I loved the Kangaroo the moment I saw it. I love that it can carry flowers, a joey or presents. I have seen some gorgeous gorgeous cards using the different stamps and dies.

I thought that the presents would be perfect for a Christmas card and had decided that the Perfectly Plaid sentiments would work well. I have adored the sentiments since the stamp set was released, I was not sure if I liked the trees, but have used the sentiments previously on cards and tags. The tree stamps were not used on this card, but they will be featured in the next few cards,

Measurements:

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm

Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Snow panel - 10.5 cm x 7.5 cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm

Inside White Panel – 9.5cm x 13.8 cm

Snow panel - 10.5 cm x 7.5 cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5"

Inside White Panel – 3.5 x 5”

Snow panel - 3” x 5.5

I think that the Cinnamon Cider Kangaroo looks the best, which do you prefer?

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?

Snowman Season - simple Stamping

March 5, 2021 Claire Taylor

Another day, another Snowman Seasons simple card. Todays card uses stamp, inks and paper (do Stampin’ Write markers count?)

I saw a gorgeous card with this simple design on Pinterest and thought it was the perfect card for making multiples. I also thought that it was a fabulously gorgeous card.

You could stamp the Merry Christmas in lots of different colours. Also you could use any Stampin’ Write marker to colour the hat. I have seen some gorgeous combinations with Pool Party.

My Metric 10.5 cm x 14.5 cm

Inside Panel - 10 cm x 14.5 cm

Metric 10.5 cm x 14.8 cm

Inside Panel 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial 4." x 5.5"

Inside Panel 3.75” x 5.25”

You could use a Stampin’ Write marker, to draw a wobbly line around the card, or you could trace around a shape to create a interesting pattern.

I love the bright real red Merry Christmas. What is your favourite?

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.