Tuesday 31 March 2020

Techniques, Tips and Tricks Tuesday.

Hello, today's card is more of a fun fold really but it's one that I like to make a lot of.
It is of course a Double Z Fold card. This one is a larger one in as much as I have used a whole sheet of A4 card. The card when folded is only 14.85 cm squared so not too big.
I have used the DSP and stamp set from the Birthday Bonanza Suite. Click HERE
All of the products within a suite can be bought seperately.
The images of the animals on the lower band were all fussy cut from a piece of DSP. 



  
I used one whole square of DSP for the front and the inside of the card. I cut a piece 14.4 cm by  14.4cm and cut the piece in half. 
That simple!
My tip would be don't worry about folding card differently to what you're used to. 
It really is good fun making cards in a completely different way to what youre used to.








Monday 30 March 2020

Make It Monday or #Simplestamping  

Hello and welcome back. I hope you are all well and staying safe at this difficult time. 
This style of card is all the rage at the moment by using scraps of card or DSP to make it.
My daughter made one many years ago during a class that she came to, She was 8 at the time and her imagination was running wild with her using literally EVERYTHING!
However, I was reminded to do this by Bruno Bertucci but I've added a twist.
I added DSP from the Dinoroar Designer Series Paper on top of the card that I had cut up. 
I used 6 different colours of card and cut them at 0.5cm on one end and 1 cm on the other end. It doesn't have to be those measurements. It can be an mixture of measurements to make it even more different and unique. See the range HERE
I cut a Basic Black card mat at  13.85 cm by 9.5 cm. Then one by one I added the card strips using Tombow glue. Once they were all on, I sliced up the scraps of DSP that I was going to use in a similar way too then added them to show the card below. 
Once I had trimmed down to the card mat size, I added a larger Basic Black mat behind it.
Then Using the Black Dimensionals, I fixed it to a C6 Thick White card base. This card base I made by cutting the card in Portrait style. So it was 29.7 cm by 10.5 cm, then scored at 14.85 cm.
 



The inside was a simple Whisper White mat stamped with the message and the dinosaur to complete it. Believe me when I say that it was really great fun to do and was very quick.
 A perfect way to use up all of the inevitable scraps of card and DSP.

Friday 27 March 2020

Fun fold friday...

Today I have a super simple fun fold to share with you. I thinks it's called a twisted easel card.
It's a great way to showcase beautiful paper as there are lots of visable surfaces which is why I thought it would be a great fold to share this week showcasing the So Lovely Vellum from Stampin Up.
I took a piece of cardstock measuring 10.5cm x 29.7cm ( 4 1/2" x 11" in the US) and score it at 14.85cm ( 5") Next score diagonally from the center to the opposite corner ( see the photo below).
Next I decorated the panels with vellum.  I then folded the card as shown in the photos. I added the decorative panels by only apply adhesive to the left hand side of the so that they move with the fold.
Well that's it from me this week. Please join us next week when Gill will be sharing her inspiration with us.
Have fun
Cary xx







Thursday 26 March 2020

Throwback Thursday..

How do you attach vellum?  It can be tricky as it's so translucent so here are a few way that I use....
Attach it behind and embellishment.
Use brads or eyelets.
Sew it in place.
Or wrap it behind and attatch on the reverse of the project.
Today's sample uses the wrap and secure from behind.
I used a card from 2015 to inspire my sample. I liked the clean cut look of the card and thought it would translate well into using the So Lovely Vellum.
A lovely clean simple card in soft delicate colours that have quite a spring like vibe I think.





Wednesday 25 March 2020

Watercolour Wednesday..

At first glance today's sample doesn't scream watercolour but bear with me I have used a watercolour technique that I think you might enjoy 😁
This card is not my usual style but sometimes you just have to try something different don't you?
The sentiment and die cut layers are a sneak peek from an upcoming suite of product from the upcoming annual catalogue from Stampin Up called Ornate Garden Suite, more information on this in the upcoming weeks 😉
Now back to that elusive watercolouring...
I stamped the floral stamp directly onto the coloured card base in the same colour ink as the card to create a tone on tone look. And then I coloured the flowers using the same colour ink and instead of an aquapainter I used my clear Wink of Stella !!! What you can't see in my photos but you can in real life is see the gorgeous sparkle it has!! Because I've used tone on tone the overall effect is very subtle but the sparkle gives it a bit of zing.
So please dig out you clear Wink of Stella and have a go at using it as a way to watercolour.  Oh and to clean the nib all uoi need to do is wipe it onto a piece of scrap paper or kitchen towel until it runs clear again 😉




Tuesday 24 March 2020

Tips, tricks and techniques Tuesday..

Today's tip is one for all of us who have that little pile of backgrounds and pattern paper that is just...a bit too bright...not quite what we need for a certain project...or just one we really can't quite like!!
One of the great things about vellum is it's opacity. Whilst it's translucent it has a softening defusing effect on what is underneath or behind it.
The So Lovely Vellum I'm using is a coloured vellum and I wondered if it would have the same effect so I had a play and...it does!!
I used Melon Mambo, a bright hot pink, Grapefruit Grove, a bright orange and Pineapple Punch a strong bright yellow, to create a background. I blended the colours from pink to orange to yellow.
I then used a piece of Purple Posy  vellum cut slightly larger to cover the background.  I attatched the vellum behind the embellishment so that it didn't show.
I do hope that you'll dig out those not quite right backgrounds/ paper and try overlaying it with vellum to ensure you make use of all your stash 😁




Monday 23 March 2020

Make it sumple Monday...

This week I'm really getting out of my comfort zone! I'll be sharing projects with you showcasing the  coloured, textured vellum called So Very Vellum that is an exclusive product that you can only get for free from the Stampin Up  Sale-a-bration, which ends at the end on the 31st of March.
The vellum comes in 3 colours Pool Party, Purple Posy and Soft Sea Foam. All the peices are texturwd with a dotted grid pattern.
So for today's inspiration I have used a peice of vellum to create  the card itself.  My big tip when scoring the vellum is to place a piece of copier paper on top of the vellum and score gently so that it doesn't cut the vellum .
I used another  Sale-a-bration offering the Happy Birthday To You  stamp set to create 4 equal sized panels. These panels are place on each side of the card front and back.
Well I hope you're weekend went well and if you're in the UK and a mum that you had a great mother's day 💐💐💐



Thursday 19 March 2020


 



  

Peaceful Poppy Elements Inspiration  

Today's post is a continuation from yesterday's. 
Some more pictures of cards made with some of the elements from a sample pack that Cary sent to our team. We used pieces from a pack of Peaceful Poppies Elements, HERE
The first one is cut from a piece of card which was first scored Horizontally and Vertically before being cut diagonally. Phew! All of those 'ally's!
The Designer Series Paper was cut to a C6 mat size then also cut diagonally.
I used some of the Vellum die cuts and one of the printed die cuts on this one.
Then I added a small die cut of my own to complete this one.  

 






The card above was a straightforward C6 card base and mat. I just love these papers! They really are beautiful!
This one is another of the white poppies coloured in Poppy Parade Ink, one of the black embossed die cut mats and a small strip of die cut that was cut into 4 and placed at the ends of the black banner.
I completed this one with the remainder of a die cut that I had made earlier. I think it makes the Poppy pop from the card. 



The last card above is one of my favourites. A C6 card base again but this time I cut 2 lines. One across and 1 down. I scored between the 2 end points and burnished the fold in both directions to get a crisp edge. I fixed it in position with a glue dot too.  Adding some DSP and messages then another of the Peaceful Poppy Elements, with the printed die cut then completed this one.
Apologies again for missing the last few days. 
Cary will be back next week with some more of her gorgeous creations so please stop by to have a look. 
Please stay safe and well.
Thank you once again, Gill xxx :) 

Inspiration week  

Hello. I must first apologise for the lack of posts here by me. Cary and I held our Retreat at the weekend and we've only just recovered! It has been a very long month!
I will show you some projects this week made using some of the beautiful Peaceful Poppies Elements. Click HERE for more information
Cary sent out to our team members some bits and pieces from the elements pack and a few extra die cuts or punched out pieces. We were to make as many Projects as we could with them and adding other bits and pieces too. They are only £6 for a pack and there is so many pieces included in the bag, it's such great value.
There are 2 sheets of embossed vellum die cuts, 2 sheets of  embossed Black, shiny die cuts, 2 White sheets of embossed Water colour paper with die cuts and 2 sheets of Poppy printed die cuts. Yes, 8 whole sheets full of die cuts, with some ready to colour in with water colour pencils or blends or whatever you have. Bargain!
 Here are some of mine.
This first one is basically a very simple one where I coloured in the reverse of the vellum image.
I did it this way as it gives a more subtle colour. You can of course colour onto the front side too, it will look just as great. The larger Poppy was one of the water colour die cuts coloured in with Stampin' write Marker pen in Poppy Parade. The braided pieces on the side is a piece punched using the Braided Border punch in Calypso Coral.
 

 This next one is a gatefold card which has 2 embossed Poppy Parade panels, embossed card using the Basket Weave embossing Folder. The Gold swirl was also in my pack but it's not with the kit. I coloured in the leaves only and left the vellum plain. Just a simple vellum image pops up off of the card.


I finished it off with some plain die cuts that I had kept from other projects and decorated inside the card.

Friday 13 March 2020

Fun fold Friday...

Well today we're off to the venue for our annual weekend retreat which will be full of Crafting, Laughing and Eating!!! So Gill and I will be shattered by the time Monday arrives but it will be so worth it 😁
Anyway back to today. For todays friday Fun Fold I am sharing another of my simple folds. This one has 2 scores and 4 straight cuts..nothing too difficult promise 😊
Start with a sheet of A4 cardstock  (American measurements will be in brackets and based on letter size, 8 1/2" x 11")
Now score the cardstock in half at 14.85cm ( 5")
Then rotate the card and score at 10.5cm (4 1/4")
Now with the card in a portrait orientation cut the top left hand rectangle out as per the photo below.
Next mark 0.5cm (1/4") in around all 3 open sides of the left hand panel and remove as per the photos.
Fold along the score lines folding the smaller right hand panel on to the left . Then fold the top down and rotate so that the card opens as normal from right to left. ( I hope that make sense 😅😅)
Now the fun begins decorate as desired 😁
I have used the stamps from the Positive Thoughts  set and a very monochromatic colour palette of night of navy and white. I heat embossed with clear embossing powder on the front panel to give  a tone on tone touch of texture.  The white maiden hair fern is heat embossed in white on night of navy the die cut out using the coordinating dies to the stamp set. I create the sentiment by masking parts of the sentiment stamp in the set to ink only the words I wanted to stamp there by creating my own sentiment. A few rhinestones and some basic white bakers twine and the front is done. The inside panels are created the same way but just using ink.
Well that's it from me this week I do hope you'll join us next week to see what inspiration we have to share.
Have fun
Cary xx