Tips, Tricks and Techniques Tuesday...

Gill calls me a sponge.....no she's not being rude! She means that I take in lots of information from all around!

Which is true!

Thats how I was inspired to create the background that I stamped the hibiscus flowers from for today's card. I saw a card on a Stampin Up  demo Facebook page where she kindly shared how she'd created the background.  Sadly I can't find the post and can't remember the demo's name😔. Please if you know who it was please message so that I can give her credit 😊

Right now lets get on with the fun part.

The technique is to add layers of colour onto a coloured card base. Usually I do this technique onto white card .

 The difference in using a coloured card is quite marked .

For this card I started with a piece of Pineapple Punch card stock.

I then applied random patches of Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo and Grapefruit Grove ink with sponge duabers. I layered the colours and blended them to create the background.

I then heat embossed the hibiscus flower with copper powder and die cut them out.

Not wanting to waste the background I die cut some small flowers to use on the inside of my card.

My tip for this is to make sure that you allow the card to dry before doing the heat embossing as the powder will stick to the damp card. I used my heat tool to make sure it was dry.

I am really please with how it turned out 😊 but I couldn't decide if it needed the copper ttim under the sentiment or not.

What do you think?

Make it simple Monday...

Do you find yourself using the same card base/ stamping mat colour time and time again? Well when I started making today's card the thought popped into my head that I always use white or vanilla for my card bases and stamping mats!!
So I recreated the card in 2 other neutrals as well as white. I used sahara sand and grey granite.
 I stamped the hibiscus flower from the Timeless Tropical stamp set in blueberry bushel. The sentiment, also from the stamp set, I stamped in night of navy.
I'm still more drawn to the crispness of the white but the softness of the gray and sand do make for a nice change.
Which do you prefer A white? B Gray Granite ? or C Sahara Sand?

Fun Fold Friday  

Hello on this sunny but cold Friday.
Just a little message first as it's been a very busy time. 2 weeks ago today my new little grandson Theo was born to Jemma and Jonathan. This is my first mention of him on the blog but I hope he will be as keen to craft as his brother and sister, Jayden and Bella. 

Anyway, enough of me looking at this gorgeous little boy to the card....
I had fun making this card for today and I hope you like it.  I have used Stampin' Up! Night of Navy and Whisper White card along with  Night of Navy ink and White Embossing Powder.
I have also made a tutorial for you too at the end of the post.
For information on the stamp set and dies, please follow the link HERE

 

Left hand side

Right sand side

 From below, this shows how it folds really nicely.

The Tutorial. 

I believe this is a double gate fold card but not at all sure, so please don't hold me to it!

Anyway, I have used Gorgeous Grape for the base card and Highland Heather for the mats. Only 1 sheet of each colour. Obviously, you can chose your own colours to make yours.

I started with the Gorgeous Grape and cut it portrait at 14.85cm or 5 7/8".
It then measured 14.85 by  29.7 cm. or 5, 7/8" by 11.3/4"
Then I scored 8.8cm or 3.7/16th", then a further 3cm or 1,3/16th" from each outside edge. I did it from each outer edge so that the sides are completely equal.

Measure 3.8cm or 1,1/2" on both sides of each of the 4 corners. Mark these with a pencil, then Chop them off with a trimmer, guillotine or scissors. You are now ready to cut the mats for the next layer.

The measurements above are for the same for both sides except for the middle as there is only one centre panel.

As I mentioned before, I used Highland Heather for my next layer. Take your alternative colour card and cut it portrait at 14.4 cm or 5,11/16th"
Cut all of the panels out of the 1 piece. First cut 2 pieces 8.4cm or 3, 5/16th". This of course will be along the long length of the card.
Then 2 pieces 2.6cm or 1", this should leave you with enough to cut a piece 5.8cm or 2,3/16th".
There will then be a very narrow strip left which I use mine for the long message on the front.

To angle the corners easier, I laid the Highland Heather beneath the Gorgeous Grape and marked each corner individually to get the exact copy of the angle. Once marked on the 2 outer pieces, cut or snip these corners off.

The next step I made was to emboss the mats using Scripty embossing folder. It adds a lovely subtle texture to the card. Fix all 5 mats onto the card base as below. Obviously, your corners o
n the card base will have been chopped off before this and in my picture, I haven't.

 

The next step is to decorate your card as you wish.
 I used the lovely stamp set called Forever Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms Dies, Scripty embossing folder and the NEW Label Me Fancy punch for the little messages. 
All of the products we use are from Stampin' Up!
That's it for me this week, please stop by next week and see what delights Cary has in store for you. We work so well together as we have both got different styles and tastes. I love her style!
Please, please, please, if you decide to have a go and make a card like this, let us see a picture of it?
You can post it to the blog or Facebook or even email it to us on 2biggirlscrafting@gmail.com
Thank you again and happy crafting,
Gill :)

Throw back Thursday 

Today's card is one that I made several years ago using a different embossing folder.

This one, I have used Tufted embossing folder and the gorgeous set of Parisian Beauty stamps and dies. More information on Parisian Beauty HERE

I embossed the Soft Sea Foam mat, fixed it to a Pear Pizazz card base and then covered all of the quilted spots with Toile Tidings Glitter Enamel Dots. I intentionally used 3 of the different sizes as it gives a clear look of being different. If that makes sense?

The dots came out for last Christmas and it's such a waste to not use them, so I have used them here.

 

                                                                               

Although it took a little time to put the dots on, I was still able to make the card very quickly. 

I die cut the Eiffel Tower and the flourish inside in Silver Foiled card. A simple message on the inside and adding the flourish, completes this one for today.

                                     

Watercolour Wednesday 

Hello and thank you for joining me. Today's card may look fiddly but it really wasn't. 

Using a plastic bag I scribbled 2 colours randomly over it then spritzed water over it.

I used a piece of Shimmery White paper and spritzed that with water too.

 I took the bag and smooshed the very wet ink all over the piece of card. 

My kind of watercolouring!

I used Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker Pens. Brilliant.

You can buy these in sets of 10 or as a whole set of 40. I love THEM!

More information HERE

 Here is my card.

 

 

 

I used the Saleabration stamp set and the NEW release Dies which coordinate with the the stamps called Sending You Thoughts. The Dies are called Sending You Flowers.

For the stamp set, click HERE  

For the Dies, please ask for more information as they will be released very shortly and they'll remain until the end of May.

I used Whisper White and Melon Mambo card stock and Ink Pad.

I die cut the Circle of flowers and the little flowers out using the dies,

Tuesday Tips and Techniques  

As its Tuesday today, I'm supposed to be giving you a tip or techniques.

 Well here goes. I really think I'm preaching to the converted 'cos you all know it all and some!

However, the main one I will tell you is Stamp onto your card mat BEFORE you emboss it!

Don't copy me as this time I messed up! I had fully intended stamping the Lighthouse 

onto the mat and then to emboss it using the Subtle embossing folder.

Well! As you can probably imagine, I didn't!

So I used a separate panel and stamped and washed the ink across that. On reflection, I think I prefer it this way. I like the way it has defined the Lighthouse more specifically.

 

I punched the lovely patterns out of Coastal Cabana card stock using the gorgeous new punch, Braided Border. 

I used the Sailing Home stamp set, more information click HERE

 

The message was also punched out using the 1,1/2" and 2" circle punches. They are a must have tool in your kit in my opinion.

 

As you can see once again I have been very monochromatic with the colours.

It's my favourite way of making any project but saying that, I do use other colours together too.

These last 2 pictures show the message and the image on the inside. Yet another tip to tell you.

I often forget to stamp another image on the inside mat and this one is no exception. However, as you can see from the last image, I placed a post it  note around the edge of the card before stamping the compass. It worked. No mess! 

Make It Monday  

Hello and thank you for stopping by. 

Today I am showing you another #simplestamping card. I used the stamp set called Parcels and Petals from Stampin' Up! More information HERE.

As you can see this is very simple and quick card but I actually made another further down with a little more on. 

I used Daffodil Delight and Granny Apple Green Ink pads for this one. I love those colours!

 

This is the alternative card. It looks a little brighter but is again another very simple to make card.