Monday 19 December 2016

Create & Take: Christmas Jumper Day


Hi bloggers, we have a special Create & Take for you today as this was the card that was designed for Christmas Jumper Day using the wonderful die set from Elizabeth Crafts called Winter Sweater. We have the full list of products and instructions below plus a few extra photos from the day including everyone in their best Christmas Jumpers!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Xcut Seasons' Greetings Die
Bazzill Basics Paper - Kisses, Skylar, Fawn and Bark

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Kisses cardstock and Cheer cardstock to fit the card blank as shown.

2. From Skylar cardstock, die cut one jumper and two snowflakes.

3. Using the Plaid embossing folder, emboss the jumper through a die cutting machine.

4. Die cut one Season's Greetings from Kisses cardstock.

5. Using some Fawn and Bark cardstock, die cut the reindeer head and antlers.

6. Stick elements down using sticky 3D foam pads and glue.

7. Add red adhesive gems to reindeer, above the 'i' in Greetings and on snowflakes.

This was a fantastic design to celebrate Christmas Jumper Day and was perfect card for the day's festivities. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and wore their best knit for the occasion. Check some of them out below:














When 12pm rolled around it was time to announce the winner of the Christmas Jumper competition and we had some wonderful entries, including;








But there could only be one winner who was Pauline Gold and her Christmas house jumper.
Congratulations Pauline!

Once again a big thank you to everyone who came and donated to a wonderful cause, so far we have raised £71 for Save the Children.

Thank you!

Monday 12 December 2016

Create & Take: Elf Chaos


Hi bloggers, it's time for another Create & Take review and this week Caz has used the mischievous elves from Taylored Expressions Elf Grumplings Stamp and die set to create this wonderful card. So let's get started....

Products Used:


Instructions:

1. Die cut elves from white cardstock and then use the co-ordinating elf stamps to stamp onto the die cut pieces. If you have a MISTI, you can use this to help line them up.

2. Colour the elves with watercolour pencils.

3. Die cut the window from white cardstock and then run through the machine again with a rubber mat to emboss the bricks. Die cut another window from white cardstock and then cut the window shape out around the edge.

4. Using the Pumice Stone ink pad and a large dauber, ink around the brick wall of the window.

5. Stick the cut out window on top.

6. Stick a piece of patterned paper behind the window to look like a curtain.

7. Place an elf behind the window peeking out.

8. Die cut the wreath and then cut into three pieces and position on the card.

9. Die cut some Christmas Ornaments from the glittered cardstock and decorate the wreath with these.

10. Add the second elf to the side of the window to finish.

Thursday 8 December 2016

Product Spotlight - Tonic Studios Essentials Stamp sets & Hampton Art Ink Cubes

Hello bloggers and today Caz is here with a few cards that she has made using the Tonic Studios Essentials Flower sets.  We have three different floral sets in stock. 

So let us introduce you to those before we look what Caz has made.

First up is Modern Buttonhole 
Love the fun style on this one.  This is the one
that Caz had chosen to use for today's post.

Traditional Spray is next and you can make some
beautiful blooms with this one.  It feels quite tropical in its style.

And thirdly, Traditional Spray Stamp set 2
which features some gorgeous Roses.  Perfect
for cards for so many occasions.
*********************************************
First up a little description about the stamps and what
Caz loved about using them.

These stamps are Hardened Clear Stamps and make
stamping a pleasure.  Teamed up with a MISTI for perfect placement
or used with a mounting block for manual placement.  Caz loved the
feel of these stamps, the hardness meant they did not "squish" like 
so many other clear stamps do. So the stamped image was clear instead of blurred.

The packaging had nice examples of using the stamps, so often you
buy a stamp set and then are left to inspire yourself and these give
you a starting point.

The three styles of flowers mean there is something for everyone.
Caz loved the quirky feel of the Buttonhole Blooms, but it was hard decision as she saw the potential in all sets. 


This was the first card that Caz made first and you can see
the inkpads that she used too.  This was stamped onto the Elizabeth
Craft Designs Soft Finish cardstock so has some "texture" on the one side
therefore the stamping has texture too.
You can see that Caz has used the packaging example on the front
of the packet for her inspiration.  


A vision in yellow is up next.  These pretty flowers made using the 
Yellow and Orange ink pads from the Hampton Art Cubes
This was added to a small gift bag and tied shut with Tulle.


Lastly Caz got really inky with a bright mustard cardbase that needed toning down a little with some white pigment ink and a stencil.
Caz stamped the sprig in green and then overstamped "off target" in white
to create a shadow effect.

The inkpads were lovely to use.  For the bold/solid stamps you would be best to stamp a couple of times to give a smoother coverage, The MISTI of course would be perfect for this as the placement will be exact.  The colour sets are gorgeous.  Worst part will be choosing which colours to choose!

Pop on over to the website to see the sets and examples that there.
And let us know which set inspires you the most?

Until next time!

Happy Crafting.

Monday 5 December 2016

Create & Take: Season's Greetings Robin


Hi bloggers, it's time for another Create & Take card and we have a beautiful Christmas card today featuring the Overjoyed Penny Black stamp which has been so popular we have now sold out in the shop but other similar robin stamps you may have will certainly do the trick!

So let's get started....

Products Used:

Amy Design Christmas Greetings Die
Stickles Icicle Glitter Glue
Distress Ink Pads - Broken China and Festive Berries

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of Bark cardstock slightly smaller than the card blank and stick down.

2. Cut a piece of Tis the Season paper slightly smaller than the Bark cardstock and stick down.

3. Die cut one smaller frame from Bark cardstock and one smaller from watercolour card.

4. Die cut one Holly and Berry from red and green cardstock.

5. Stamp up the sentiment and robin image onto watercolour cardstock using Vintage Sepia ink pad.

6. Cut a strip of King's Crown glitter card and stick across the centre of the card.

7. Layer the watercolour cardstock on top of the other frame and stick onto the card.

8. Add the holly and berries to the side of the card.

9. Add Stickles to the snow on the image and leave to dry.