New stamps and dies - What do I do now?

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I often think that sometimes I have a number of hobbies, buying stamps, using my stamps and cleaning/organising my craft room. I am really good at buying stamps, not so good at utilising my stamp collection or organising my room.

I have to admit, that I lack confidence sometimes in what to create. Sometimes I can take up the limited time in my craft room pondering what to create. To overcome my block, I prepare my stamps and dies to show how they stamp and the look of the dies. I look at the combinations of the stamped messages and write out some of the options. For Words of Cheer, I considered just buying the dies, but the sentiments are gorgeous and can be used for inside and outside sentiments

I also look at the catalogue for ideas from the concept artist. As a demonstrator I can access the information which shows what items have been used to create each card and also the basic techniques, this helps as a starting point (you can use the pictures or contact me directly if you have any questions about catalogue samples.) I then tend to create a board on Pinterest to Pin the items that I find using the stamps and dies I am playing with. I am conscious that not all examples and images can be seen on Pinterest so I also tend to do a Google search and look at the images ( I must confess sometimes you get some random images so be careful what you put in the search box!) These images can be saved to Pinterest or can be saved for future reference, I tend to try and Pin them to Pinterest as that is where I tend to look for inspiration. Of course, there is also Facebook and Instagram as well, also its does not have to be the stamp and die set you are using which inspires you, it doesn’t even need to be Stampin’ Up! I tend to pin anything which inspires me .

Pining keeps me quiet when I someone has stolen all my spoons. I love searching for inspiration, I just have to ensure that I remember to craft too. What do you use to find inspiration and to start creating with your new stamps and dies?

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Circular Acorn Tags

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I thought that I would share some more tags today. I decided that I wanted something different to the previous tags that I have made using the Tag Topper Punch. I also wanted to use the last stamps in the Perfectly Plaid stamp sets, that I haven’t used yet, these are the two stamps which combine to create an acorn. I always try to use every stamp in the stamp set and provide examples with every stamp. I tend to use sentiments more than images but I think that the mini stamps and the Delicata Ink work with a combination of colours and mirri/foil.

I love that you can create the tags using any circles that you may have. I used the retired 2 1/4 inch. 2 inch and 1 1/2 inch circle punch to create the circles. I also made some with dies using the 2nd smallest, the 4th Smallest and the 5th smallest circle from the Layering Circle dies. I have cut out the largest circle twice, once in miri/foil and again in Basic white to ensure that there is a good base to stamp on for the to and from stamp.

This tag will work with any colour and also any small sentiment, the tag above was made using Magenta Madness and part of the sentiment from Perfectly Plaid, It also uses the 2 inch, 1 3/4 and 1 1/2 inch circle punch. Although these are retired they are available from other suppliers. You could also use any circles that you have.

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I love these tags and they are perfect for adding to any presents. You could also make these for Birthdays, if you use a small sentiment. I love the Just Jade tag, I cant seem to put the colour down it is my go to colour, what is yours?

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How to Make Snow Backgrounds

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And now for something completely different….

Over the last few weeks I have been making Christmas cards for my Christmas Card challenge. I have been going through my piles of designer series paper to find paper that I could use for a snowy background. As there is no current June to December catalogue and no Christmassy DSP in the the catalogue, I have been using some random sheets and colours.

I found some in the Artistry Blooms DSP and also the Flowers for Every Season DSP. They are gorgeous patterns but I thought that I would make my own. I have identified a number of ways to create snowy backgrounds.

Some are very simple, some are very messy, some take a while to create, others are super super quick.

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All the techniques have been add to card which is 10.5cm by 29cm

Technique 1

This uses a Stampin’ Chalk marker to create dots, you could also use a white gel pen or the Craft White ink and a blender pen

Technique 2

This uses ‘tone on tone stamping’ this can be seen better on lighter colours, for this technique you use the same coloured ink to add snowflakes to the card.

Technique 3

This uses Versamark ink and embossing powder to create the background. Simply stamp in Versamark, add the embossing powder and heat using your heat gun. Do not forget to use an embossing buddy first, I would suggest that you emboss bit by bit to ensure that the embossing powder stays in place. The added advantage to heat embossing is that you can use the emboss resist technique and use blending brushes to create gorgeous blending on your card.

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Technique 4

This uses White Craft ink and the snowflake stamp to create a snowy background, this needs time to dry or the ink can smudge and the snowflakes will not be as defined.

Technique 5

This uses the craft ink refill, add one drop to a block and spritz with water and use a paintbrush to flick the white water. This technique can get very messy.

Technique 6

This uses the white frost shimmer paint, add one drop to a block and spritz with water and use a paintbrush to flick the shimmery . This technique can also get very messy. you can use the Shimmer paint on its own, it does not create as many spots and I think creates a more abstract background than Snowy background.

I love the ink splatter background the best, even if it the messiest. Which is your favourite?

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Strawberry Swaps for August

So on Friday I got happy mail, I was so excited. I received a parcel of swaps from the Strawberry Stampers (the Strawberry Stampers are a group of demonstrators led by the lovely Sarah Berry.)  Then I realised that I hadn't shown you all the swaps from August.

The cards are a gorgeous collection of fronts and a card, made by the other members of the team. Surprisingly there was only one repeat stamp set and a combination of different colours, I love guessing what colours are used and the stamp set. I often use swaps for inspiration. Whether it is layouts or colour combinations.

They are all gorgeous, one of my favourite is definetly the card by Martin from martinsmayhem.blogspot.com. Which uses the Share what you love' stamp set, I love the colour combination.

I am off to use these colours on a card, today I am playing with the Frosted Floral suite.

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Autumn/Winter Stampin' Up! Catalogue Unboxing/ Haul - Part 2

Whoops my haul/unboxing video had to carried on in to part 2. I love the blends so decided to add the new colours on to my shopping list, I was excited to see new colours in the Annual Catalogue and more excited that there are more colours in the Autumn/Winter catalogue. I love the Basic Black blends and think that they are a necessity for any blends collection. It can be really difficult to decide what to get in every catalogue. I adore the set with alternative to light bulbs, I cant wait to make little penguins! 

The video below shows the rest of my haul, I haven't done a close up on the papers as i am planning to do a close up with the suites over the next few weeks.

I have spent the afternoon stamping with the new sets and exploring different options, I hope to share these with you soon.