Thursday 30 September 2010

Christmas Messages Tutorial 2


This another possible way of using the Christmas Messages clear stamps. I firstly stamped one of the shorter messages, Season's Greetings.


Then I stamped the letter from the Shadow Monograms set using Memento's Summer Sky ink.


Then I used EkSuccess For Sale Sign punch, which is a really lovely tag punch that is just like me, short and fat!


Another idea, stamp a short message -Warm Wishes in Crimson Red Versafine ink- and then punch as before. Then use the scroll included on the Christmas Messages set. 


And stamp a couple more scrolls on the tag.


And here you have some more tags options.


Now, I am off to The Glitter Pot to teach die cutting, yesterday I had a fab time attending a workshop by the super talented Lindsay Mason and Andy Skinner we did bits and pieces using bisque products from Country Love Ceramics. I had so much fun!

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Flowers, lots of flowers


That is what my cardmaking has been about since I started all those years back in Spain. Flowers are pretty and adequate for so many occasions. So even though for the last couple of months I have been making Christmas cards, I really need here and there to make simple everyday cards so when the festive season really arrives I am not over tired.
I used several methods of coloring these Simple flowers, some are by using the similar size solid flower, others by using a Promarker -Lime- and others by using Kuretake Art & Graphic marker pens which are water soluble.
The message is also from the Simple Flowers set. Makes a pretty simple paper ribbon with a message on it.

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Simple Christmas


This is a card that is really different from what I usually do, as I tend to do a lot of layers and patterned papers. And yet, I love it.




The sentiment is from Christmas Messages and the flowers are from Filled with flowers. I used Spanish Moss and Vintage Sepia (small dots) Versafine ink pad and Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink pad.

Monday 27 September 2010

Samples of what I got yesterday


The Crafty Notions Spraypaque from LB Crafts. They are AMAZING. They are much more opaque than traditional mists. I wont have time to actually make a card with the bits I did yesterday until the weekend, but I am so looking forward to that moment.



I also got the Oh La la collection from Craftwork Cards. It is pretty vintage, perfect for my style.
Also I want to share what I got in the post on Friday bellow. 




They are WOW embossing powders. They are such a good quality and the Bright White is a proper white unlike some others that give you more of a off white result.  



But what really impressed me was the variety of colors and finishes as the Puff one. Perfect for snow scenes.

EDITED TO SAY: It was really nice to meet some of you at the show. I just got so excited with my goodies that I forgot to post this bit this morning. But anyway, I really enjoy meeting people in the flesh that read my blog, means the world to me!

A little breather

Yesterday I attended the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking show at Ally Pally. As always got really inspired by Lin  (LB Crafts), by Julie (Craftwork Cards) and by many more. But I forgot the camera so I don't have pictures to share.


Tomorrow, I will be back with more cards and samples of my stamps. 

Sunday 26 September 2010

A Christmas version


The images from the Filled with Flowers set can be easily used for Christmas. following the same steps as yesterday's card but changing the colours and the overall design I did this card.



I used Versafine Spanish Moss and Crimson Red. The Poinsettia type of flower is approx. 1 1/4" which means that fits perfectly inside the Large Christmas sentiment in a Circle.  The stripy paper is from Basic Grey, Jovial collection.

Saturday 25 September 2010

Filled With Flowers Tutorial


Stamp the flower. I used Memento's Lilac Posies.




Stamp the leaves, the ones that on the packet are bottom left corner. I used Bamboo Leaves.




The beauty of the clear stamps -apart from a value and storage point of view- is that you can clearly see where you stamp. So for a two step flower is so much better than traditional red rubber ones.




This flower fits perfectly into a 1 1/4" circle.  I used a punch as it is quick and easy, but you can use an array of products to get a perfect 1 1/4" circle, including Nestabilities, Shape tools and compass cutters.




Now I have taken the largest flower, top left corner, and stamped in the same color.




This time I am stamping inside the flower using one of the little star flowers right beside the large one. There are three of the same shape in different sizes, the one that fits inside is the middle one.




For this larger flower I used a punch that is 1 3/4" in size. Again, there are different ways of achieving a circle that size.




The finished stamped and punched flowers.




If you would like to take the elements further and do some mix and matching, you can use the large circles included in the Large Christmas set and stamped it using one of the colors used.




Then, punch it using a 2" circle punch.




And this is how they look layered. The 1 3/4" flower will only show the outer dot line of the larger circle.




The 1 1/4" will show the message underneath. You can also stamp the flower directly onto the inside of the circle.






And I kept doing this sort of flowers until I got enough for this little card. The message is from the same set and the dots are another option for the 1 1/4" flower.

Friday 24 September 2010

Christmas Essentials Tutorial

To be perfectly honest there is no need for a tutorial for this set. But since I am doing one for each of the new sets, well, it would be rude not to offer a few tips for this clear stamp set.




I first stamped the Snowflake Circle Tag using Versafine Deep Lagoon.




Then I punched it out. This is what it looks on a 1 3/8" circle punch.




This is what it looks on a 1 1/2" circle punch.




This is what it looks on a 1 1/2" circle scallop punch, which is the one I chose.




Then I cut around the inside of the snowflake. It is fairly easy even for a I-can't-use-a-craft-knife person like myself.



Next step is to stamp the solid circle. Now, I have been told that it is hard to stamp well a solid clear stamp, and there is some truth to it. Solid images are much more temperamental. But here is how I do it. First, I choose Versafine or Memento ink pads, preferably the former. Second I only dab the ink into the stamp, I do not put any pressure at all, just a kiss.


Then, I turn a little bit the stamp clockwise and repeat the gentle dabbing of the ink.


And do the same again. Usually I do dab the ink pad against the stamp about four or five times and all the time turning the stamp around so I don't get any streaks of ink. It doesn't take much longer than the usual methods of inking but the results are much better on stamps like these.



You can see by the result, a perfectly solid inked image.




I then punch it out with a 1" punch.




And then I put it on to the snowflake tag, just making the snowflake to sit on top.



Squares, 1 1/8" will get you the white edge around.


They will fit into 1 1/2" scalloped punches.


But most of the square messages will also fit into a 1" square. the only one that doesn't look that good on a 1" is the Christmas wishes.



And this a few options of the Essentials combined with coordinating sets, ie: Christmas Messages, Joyful Bubbles...




And finally, a very simple card. I stamped the message, then the little flower - Filled with Flowers, Memento Lulu Lavender ink pad - and then punched it out using a tag punch. The black paper is embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. This card is not to everyones taste but many on my Christmas card list are not crafters which means that they respond better to simple modern cards than more elaborate crafty ones.

Thursday 23 September 2010

Introducing: Christmas Essentials

This is really my Essential Christmas message set. With it you get the Christmas version of the Mixed Sentiments, Essential Circles, Square essentials and the Circle Tags, all for the price of one. Sixteen messages plus the tag which equals loads of possibilities. 

Now, sizes. The stand alone messages and the solid circles are just under 1" in size, which means that they punch out nicely using a 1" punch. This also means that it can be combined with the Joyful Bubbles as they are exactly the same size.
The tag is the same size as the Circle Tags, which means that punches nicely with either the 1 3/8" or 1 1/2" or even the 1 1/2" scallop circle.
For the full circle punch chart click here.


The square messages can be cut/punched into 1 1/8", but also 1" like in the inside of the card bellow.
For the Square punch chart click here.



Wednesday 22 September 2010

Christmas Messages Tutorial


First, stamp the shadow image, a snowflake from the large Christmas set. I call shadow stamping as soon after I started stamping Hero Arts launched the shadow stamps, solid images to be stamped with lighter coloured ink pads usually dye based. A softer image is stamped behind the main image.

Then stamp the message using Deep Lagoon Versafine.


Some messages allow you to mix and match. So stamp a second line if you wish to do.


And voila, this is the result.


Then I used the same Memento ink to stamp the spotty splatter stamp. I stamped it several times starting at 1 o'clock.




Then, I kept stamping the same splatter image all round using the same ink pad.



Usually I end up with 4 or 5 stamped images of the splatter.




And this is how it looks once complete. The spots are position so you can repeat stamp yet it will still look slightly random.


I was asked recently which white card do I use for stamping. At the minute I use Personal Impressions Premier Quality Smooth White card, which comes either in a 100 pack or in 10 pack. Some of you may remember me raving about Craftwork Cards ultra Smooth Digital Cardstock a few months back. Well, I haven't change my mind about it, the fact is they are pretty identical, same ultra smooth finish, same weight... the only thing that changes is the price and that is some shops you will find one or the other.
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