Circles Template

I found this template on the Gourmet Rubber Stamps website and found that I drew quite a lot of inspiration from it:

http://www.gourmetrubberstamps.com/blog/
The first card I made was using the new Boofle range from Do-Crafts:

I reversed the template design around and substituted the smaller circle for an oversized paper flower. I die cut the circle and used a Boofle card stock sticker. I sewed the edge of the circle and outlined the sticker with black fine-liner pen to make it stand out. I also added the sentiment to the strip along the bottom and buttons were used as the finishing touch.

I had made these flowers a few weeks back and wasn't sure what to do with them, when I realised I could follow the same format as the template:

The flowers were made using the clear embossing and acrylic paint technique that I tried a few weeks ago (which I have explained in an earlier blog post) and then layered up in alternating colours.

The background was made using a script stamp from Crafty Individuals, embossed with purple pearlescent WOW embossing powder. It doesn't stand out too well in the picture, but this shines when held in the right light.

I dropped the border down slightly and this time used the flower doily X-Cut border punch. The sentiment was added along with some adhesive pearls.

Then I decided to change the shape of the card blank and try some stamps I hadn't yet used, which are by Kanban:

The main tree image was heat embossed with silver powder. I then stamped the owl in black pigment ink and embossed it with clear powder. This helped for cutting out as it gave a slight ridge for me to follow.

The border was stamped with a 3 tree stamp onto dark brown card and heat embossed with a metallic bronze powder. Three dark brown brads finish off the card in the top right hand corner.

I found this template very easy to use and quite versatile, meaning that it can be adapted to several different layouts and occasions.Why not have a go?

Monotone Card

I found some inspiration for this card and wanted to share it because I am very proud and pleased with how it has turned out:

I scored a square card blank in half and folded it back to create the step. I border punched the edge and added some papermania capsule collection from the black and white pad. You can't see it in the picture but I also added a strip of black card behind the border to make it stand out when folded down flat.

The main image was heat embossed onto grey card using WOW embossing powder in black gilt. I then mounted it onto black card and added some small cream brads for decoration.

The backing paper is from the Papermania bookprint paper pad and I added some black polka dot ribbon. I then heat embossed two butterflies in white powder onto black card and cut round them. A grey adhesive pearl was then added to the top butterfly.

I think it looks very stylish and different and would make a great card for any occasion.

Distressing, clear embossing powder and acrylic paint

I found this new technique in the latest issue of the Do Crafts magazine and I have been meaning to try it for a few weeks. Being as it makes use of my favourite product - clear embossing powder, I couldn't ignore it for long.

Here is a version of the card that was shown in the magazine so you get an idea of what I am talking about:

The technique involves stamping with Versamark clear ink onto coloured card. Make sure this is the colour that you want to show through the paint. Then emboss the image with clear embossing powder.

Then, paint over the whole image with your chosen acrylic paint and leave to dry. When it's completely dry, use a damp cloth (I actually used a face wipe but I think this might have been a bit too wet) to wipe over the stamped image to lift the paint off the embossing to reveal the colour of the underneath card. Then leave it to dry. You might also need to flatten the paper as well as it's prone to curling after heating and painting. Putting it under a heavy book or box will do the trick.

Here is a close up of the card:

On the flowers, once they had dried, I added a bit of turquoise ink to make it slightly darker. I painted on the gold elements in the background and on the flowers centres with sunshine sparkle perfect pearls powder. I then added some jewels.

I then tried a variation on a theme:

For the main image I used red card and the metallic bronze paint. For the background, I used black card and then covered it which Tim Holtz picket fence distress stain as I didn't have any white paint. This didn't work quite as well as the paint, but it did still work. I had to apply quite a bit to get the white you can see in the picture and I rubbed it away before it had dried. Once the background had dried I inked the edges with victorian velvet distress ink and left to dry.

The ribbon was secured to the back of the card and then twisted and fastened on the other side. Two lengths of the same ribbon were tied into a bow and secured to the front using glue dots. Some grey pearls where added to the corners of the main image:

I love this new technique and although the cards aren't perfect, there is plenty of room for experimenting and perfecting the technique. It is a little bit messy and time consuming as you have to wait for each piece to dry, but the effect it creates is certainly worth the wait.

New year, new techniques

I love learning new techniques when it comes to card making and all things paper crafts and when I look back at the cards I first made, I can certainly see how much I have learnt.

At the moment I like making as much of the card as I can without the help of pre-printed papers, peel-offs etc. I bought some stamps before Christmas and didn't have much time to try them out but in the last few days I have been experimenting, with some rather good results I think.

Here is the one card I made with the stamps back in November and everything is created by me:

For the background I stamped the words stamp onto some pink card several times. I then inked up the flowers stamp and took the ink off with my brayer. I then brayered the image over the words in a purple ink. The picture at the forefront was stamped and embossed with clear powder and then cut out. The same was done with the butterflies - first onto pink card with pink ink and then the larger butterfly was embossed with purple ink, cut out and stuck onto the first image. I bent the wings to give a 3D effect and added some pearls. This is my most favourite card so far.


Then I tried my other set of stamps and here is the result:

For this card I stamped the image onto plain white vellum and dried it with a heat gun. I then coloured it on the back with pro markers and heated it to dry again. I then had to flatten it under a book as it had bent slightly. It was mounted onto a scallop square which had been inked with a bronze ink, and secured with red brads. The sentiment and small bird were also heat embossed with bronze metallic powder. The backing paper (which unfortunately I didn't make in this one) was mounted onto core'dinations card and sanded over, which gave the white edge to the paper. Then the ribbon was added.

The other technique that I absolutely love at the moment it painting onto black card. I received some vintage paints for Christmas which I tried out on these cards:

For the main images on both I heat embossed them onto black with black glint embossing powder. I then coloured in the images with the vintage paint. The corners on each card were black peel off's which I stuck to black card and painted in co-ordinating colours. A different take on the monochrome look I think.


And following on the same theme is the last card:

I had already made several calendars using the butterfly stamp but this time, instead of using a white embossing powder, I used the pearlescent green one. Again it was coloured in with the vintage paints and mounted onto mint green pearlescent card. The swirls behind the butterfly have been embossed with the same green pearl powder but because they are on white, the effect is much more subtle. The sentiment was embossed in the same powder and used to prop up the easel card.


Now, back to the craft table as I have lots more ideas in mind to try - watch this space!

Another attempt at a scrapbook page

When looking through some old pictures I came across a really nice one that had been taken at a hotel I used to work at. After studying it for a while I decided on the colours I was going to use and attempted to make up another scrapbook page. I am still new at this and the pages I make are no where near as nice as the ones I have seen in magazines, but it's a start.

Here is the finished page:

The first idea I had was to make something of the blue lights that were in the cigar shack so I matched them with the blue mirri card. I made the lace type border by punching out inverted scallops using a scallop circle punch. I took the off cuts and placed them under the picture to give a scallop type edge.

The cushions in the cigar shack were a red and brown colour so I chose this core'dinations card and scored some lines in a grid pattern onto them. I then sanded them to reveal the core colour and rounded the edges. They reflect the cushions in the shack quite well.

The newspaper cutting was cut out and the edges distressed with an ink pad and a sponge. There is also a slight gold colour that has been sponged onto the cutting too.

For the title I adapted my technique of sticking things on and inking over the top. I had some sticky letters which I de-tacked by sticking them to my clothes a few times so they wouldn't rip the paper when I tore them off. When they were stuck into place I inked over them with the same ink used for the newspaper cutting. I then took each letter off and it left a brilliant outline.

The tags were added for the journaling piece and the brown tag has been outlined and dotted with some platinum liquid pearls. I added the piece of ribbon in the corner and secured it with a brad but I am not sure about it - it seems a bit too random for me!

Anyway, I hope you like it and I'm sure I will find some more pictures to scrapbook soon.

Claire

Cards made with Scenes

I bought these scene stamps from a fair I went to in July and have been getting around to using them. The set is by Hobby Arts and comprises of a sheet with lots of different images on. The idea is that you can build up these images to create your own scene. I tried looking online to find some inspiration on where to start but I couldn't find any pictures, which is why I have been a bit slow to use them. However, I thought I would try today.

The first one I made was this one. This was made using one picture that I did find online which gave me a starting point:

I had to do a bit of masking when it came to leaning the surf board against the wall. I had done this once before but I did have to practice again before doing it on this card. I found it was actually quite easy but you have to do it back to front and stamp the image that will be in the front first. I really love the small people on this card.

The next card was an experiment and I think it turned out quite well for a first attempt on my own:

It only used a few of the stamps on the set but I really like the stamp that has the ripple effect. I added some glitter to these ripples to make them shimmer.

Then I thought I would play it safe and use the camper van stamp to create a male card (or female - it can be for either!).

I stamped the van four times and coloured each one a different colour to reflect the many different camper vans that are around. I mounted each one onto black card stuck them onto a stripy backing paper that was mounted onto a light blue card. The card gives a fresh summery feel.


The next card is an example of when mistakes are made and how they can be rectified. I started stamping a scene but then decided I wanted to add more to it. Here is where it went a bit wrong and the join in the cliffs is quite obvious.

I had already stamped and coloured the image and I didn't want to do it again so I covered it up with a sentiment topper:

I'm not too sure about it - the picture doesn't seem quite in proportion and I am not sure about the sentiment in the centre of the picture, but I will leave it and see if it grows on me. I mounted the image onto yellow core'dinations card and lightly sanded the edge of it which made the picture stand out even more.

I hope you like them - some summery cards to brighten you days.

Claire

Made with peel off's

You may not believe that this first card is made with peel off's - it is, but not in the conventional way, and it's not made with white peel off's either!

I read an article in a magazine about using ink on cards. I love using ink for other uses than just stamping so I thought I would try it out. It involved sticking the peel off's onto a piece of card and then inking over them. When you peel them off the card you are left with a white outline which looks really quite effective.

I then had another idea and using my transfer sheet I picked up all the left over pieces from the butterfly stained glass window peel off and stuck them onto a piece of card. I then inked over that and one by one, peeled off all the left over pieces. this left me with lots of white areas but the ink had taken the place of where the silver peel off lines should have been.

I then mounted it onto purple mirri card and stuck it onto the background. I inked with a dark purple round the edge of the background, embossed a sentiment with clear powder and inked around the edge and this was then placed onto the topper to finish off the card. I am going to try this technique again now with more peel off's and different coloured inks.

The next card I made for my Mum to say thank you and I used a butterfly window peel off from the same sheet as the one used for the above.

I coloured in the peel off with pro markers and then heat embossed with sparkly powder, certain areas of the image. The beautiful backing paper is from a new design by Echo Park - from their Victoria Garden range and I thought the rose on the paper matched the rose on my picture.

I added a butterfly to the top right corner which had been stuck to white card, coloured in, heat embossed with the sparkly powder and then cut out. The sentiment was stamped with pink ink straight onto the card and then embossed with clear powder. She loved it!

Then I made a get well card using some more gorgeous peel off's that I ordered from Little Claire. They are part of their brown and gold range, and using a transfer sheet I picked up the negative image from the sheet and placed it on the card in the middle of the outline:

The scallop circle was cut out of white card and before sticking the peel off on I coloured it with shimmer chalks. To set the chalk I sprayed it with hairspray, so that they don't rub off. After I stuck the peel off on I coloured in the remaining areas. The edge of the scallop circle was painted with gold perfect pearls which gave it a shimmery finish. A perfect card, which is an unusual get well card.

Now off to play with some more peel off's and to get covered in ink again!

Claire