Rustic Heart

Hello everyone, I am sharing a Valentine's project with you today, utilising a lovely stamp that is so versatile for both backgrounds and foregrounds alike. I wanted to make a card for my lovely OH, and as he is very fond of texture, this project fitted the bill perfectly. It is unusual for me to be so ahead of the game, but I can put this card away knowing that I have taken care of that job with several weeks to spare.

I used a modern book page to create my background, and so I stained the page with a couple of coats of tea first to age the page and give it a browner appearance. I stamped the Big Bold Background Leafy Background stamp, using Versamark and gold embossing powder. I then coloured the image with Zig Clean Colour markers and a water brush, adding several colours for depth. I painted a wooden heart with Orange and Lime Brushos, and then using Ultra Thick embossing powder, I added three layers of the embossing powder over the top. Using Versafine Onyx Black Ink, I stamped part of the same image into the heart while the powder was still soft from the last heating from the heat gun, and swirled some gold mica powder over the image. Finally, I added some toning ribbon and dark green card to complete the project.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Time Saving Cards

Hello everyone, I have a couple of speedy cards for you today. They form part of a regular feature over on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team Blog- Fifteen Minute Cards. We aim to create cards made in fifteen minutes or less and they can be clean and simple in style, or simply cards that are quick to make. These can be cards aimed at beginner stampers, or for someone who needs to make a card in a hurry, or maybe a batch of cards. We try to show that speedy can still be elegant and stylish, inspirational and have a wow factor. You do not always need to spend all day making a card. I cannot promise that these two cards deliver on everything that I have just written about, but they might give you some ideas to go off and try something quick for yourself.

To create the first card, I used some kraft card, and a stamp that I have not inked up before, which I was surprised about, considering how long I had owned these stamps. I used Versamark and white embossing powder to stamp the image from the Pretty Poppies stamp set, before colouring it with Zig clean colour markers. I chose earthy tones to tie in with the kraft background, and they happen to be my favourite colour palette. I added a sentiment from the same stamp set, using Plum Archival Ink. Finally, I added a plummy coloured card to mat the background, before adding it to a kraft card blank. This will be a handy store cupboard card, as there is always an occasion to send a card like this to someone who needs cheering up.

To create my second card, I found a Brusho background in my scrap box, and stamped the Big Bold Background Leafy Brocade stamp over part of it, using a Versafine Deep Lagoon Ink. I cut another strip of the background, and stamped the large sentiment from the Birthday Words stamp set using the same ink. I edged both pieces of card with Memento Teal Zeal Ink, before attaching them to a white card blank. This card was so quick to make, these Big Bold Backgrounds cover the card so quickly, and the large sentiment finishes the card in an instant. I always have spare Brusho backgrounds left over from previous sessions, but this could just as easily have been created with a gelli plate background.

I hope that I have given you some ideas for some quick cards. I am certainly going to make a few of these to have on hand just in case I need a card in a hurry. There will be another Fifteen Minute blog post at the end of the month, but do pop over to the Design Team Blog, to see what the rest of my team mates have made today.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Loving Hearts

Hello everyone, I have two cards to share with you today using the same stamps, but varying the ideas to give two completely different looks.

For my first card,  I cut a piece of smooth card slightly smaller than my card blank. I stamped and embossed the large lacy border and the small heart image from the Harlequin Rose stamp set, using Versamark and clear embossing powder. I coloured the background using Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Shaded Lilac, Seedless Preserves and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks, blending them where they met, to create a graduated background.

To create a faux batik effect, I ironed the embossing powder off the card using some cheap copy paper underneath the iron to absorb the embossing powder, (remembering to turn off the steam!). I spritzed the background lightly with some water, to create a slightly mottled effect. I stamped the large 'love' from the Words of Love stamp set and added some cream seam binding before attaching the background to the card blank.

To create my second card, I used the same small heart image, and stamped it randomly onto a scrap piece of black card. This time, I used Rudolph's Red Nose embossing powder, for maximun impact. I added some red card as a matting layer behind the background before I attached it to a white card blank. I stamped the large 'love' using Lady Bug Memento ink.

The second card was a very quick card to make, it would qualify for our Fifteen Minute makes category on the Design Team blog! It would make a super Valentine's card for the man in your life, whereas the first card is much more feminine, with the vibrant colours. I hope that I have shown you how versatile these stamps can be. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Pastel Hearts

Hello everyone, this week, it is my turn to provide a bit of inspiration for the current colour challenge over on the Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog. This month's colour swatch is actually based on a card that I made originally, so I should be right at home with the colours!

I decided to use an image from the Harlequin Rose stamp set, stamping the image all over a piece of kraft card, using Versamark Ink. I gently rubbed a variety of Pan Pastels over the background, blending them together where they met.

I stamped the heart image onto a spare piece of kraft card, this time embossing it with an off-white embossing powder, and cutting the image out. I added more of the Pan Pastels to this heart as well. I chose some pretty ribbons to add to the background, and attached the heart, before adding a sentiment from the Words of Love stamp set, using Jet Black Archival Ink.

I used some pale lilac card as a mount for the background before adhering it to a large card blank.

Thanks for stopping by, xx