Technique Blog Hop – Masking

I am starting to get back into some group crafting and sharing, which is exciting, and a bit confronting, after such a long time of crafting on my own.
My first Blog Hop today, is with the Crafty Collaborations group, and we are focusing on the technique of Masking, one of my all time favourite techniques because it can be done in so many ways.
Today, I have decided to keep my card very simple, and I’ve featured the leaf stamp from the Sale-a-Bration set Beautifully Happy.

I have used my Stamparatus to keep everything lined up, and used a one inch strip of scrap paper across a piece of Basic White cardstock, as a mask.

I’ve then inked up my stamps with Soft Seafoam Ink, and using a Sponge Dauber, added some Shaded Spruce and a tiny touch of Cajun Craze ink around the edge of the leaves.

Once I felt I was happy with the leaves, I removed the mask, and stamped a sentiment from the Wildlife Wonder stamp set.

This is such a simple technique, but so effective. I’ve layered this onto some Shaded Spruce to frame the main layer, and then onto a Soft Seafoam card base.

Here is where you will find the other’s taking part in the Blog Hop.
Happy Hopping, and Happy Stamping!
Chris

Tea and Cards

I hoping to make a regular time to go live on my Facebook page, and eventually to link it up to my YouTube channel as well, but one step at a time.

And I’m calling it Tea and Cards. I’m hoping you will make yourself a cup of tea and join me. Here’s what I will be making live on my Facebook business page.

I plan to go Live tomorrow morning, Monday 30th January at 10am Sydney time, for the first of my version of Tea and Cards.
Make yourself a cup of tea (or coffee) and join me for some crafting fun. You can choose to just sit back and watch, or have all your materials ready, and create along with me. Here are the measurements and materials you will need to create this easy fun fold card.
I hope I have the Imperial conversion correct.
The card I am making tomorrow will be in different colours to the one pictured.
I would love to have you join me for some crafting time together.
See you then,
Chris

One piece of Designer Series Paper or other patterned paper of your choice: 30cm x 14.4cm (12 in x 5 3/4in) – I’ll be using the Dandy Designs DSP from the Sale-aBration catalogue.

One piece of matching cardstock: 14.9 x 10.5cm. (5.5 x 4.25 inches),
plus two more pieces of cardctock in the same colour: 11.5 X 8.5cm (4.5 X 3 3/8 inch), these two pieces are to layer under the white Die cut pieces.

Two pieces of white cardstock diecut using the Scallop Contours Dies, using the second largest of those Dies.
Plus some large scraps of white cardstock to fussy cut the flowers.

Beautifully Happy Stamp Set (from the Sale-aBration catalogue, or stamp set of your choice.

Ink pads in colours of your choice, to match or contrast with your patterned paper.

Glue, Dimensionals, scissors, clear blocks and other tools as needed.

Embellishments if your choice.

I hope you will come and join me, so that we can craft together. Here’s the link to my Facebook page, and there’s also a link in the side bar.

https://www.facebook.com/dotdotstamping?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Happy stamping!

Chris

A Special Thank You

Today’s card is a Birthday Card, made for a very special lady, who single handedly allowed my Stampin’ Up! business to stay afloat in 2022.

Not only did she consistently place orders with me, but she collected them from a neighbour as well. Enough orders so that I could continue as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator into 2023 and beyond.

So, Anne, thank you is not enough, thank you with all my heart, for all that you have done to help me in the last year. And Happy Birthday.

Every demonstrator needs an Anne!!

The card I made for Anne uses the Abigail Rose Designer Series paper, this time coloured with Watercolour pencils.

The stamped panel uses stamps from the Sentimental Rose kit. And one of the things I most love about Stampin’ Blends is being able to change the colour of the pearls.

The inside of the card features a fold over of the DSP with a separate pull out card underneath for words.

Happy Stamping everyone,

Chris

It’s been 10 months…??

I can’t believe it has been ten months since I last blogged. Ten months or more really, of being without the slightest bit of inspiration, totally mojo-less, and really struggling with everything creative.

Thankfully the urge to create started returning a few weeks ago, yesterday I started de-stashing my crafting space with the intention of sending out a heap of cards to people, and finally, finally getting back into stamping and creating again.

So, without further ado, here it is….

I started with a piece of the Abigail Rose Designer Series paper from the current Annual catalogue, which I have coloured using Stampin’ Blends, the flowers in Mango Melody. The centres of the flowers were coloured with Real Red and Mango Melody blended over the top to change the colour.

I fussy cut two of the flowers, one raised on Dimensionals on the front, the other on the inside of the card.

I love how vibrant these colours have turned out.

If you are still here, and have been patiently waiting for me to return, thank you, I am very grateful.

Let’s hope this year is one of creativity, love, laughter and fun.

Happy stamping,

Chris

Simple Christmas Tags

I really love the shape of the Elegant Tag punch but I have to admit that it has been sadly neglected, so I pulled it out this morning and used it to make some Christmas tags.

I kept them quite simple but sometimes simple is good!!

The tree is from the Perfectly Plaid stamp set, and the “Merry” is from A Wish For Everything.

I did share my crafting of these Tags this morning on my Facebook page here, where I have been going live most Wed mornings (Sydney time), depending on internet working and no technical hitches.

These are also a great way to use up scraps of cardstock, patterned paper and ribbon. I seem to have a stash of little bits of retired ribbon and twine!!

Happy stamping,

Chris

Designer Series Paper for easy and beautiful cards.

I did a Livestream on my Facebook page this morning, featuring the Whimsy and Wonder Designer Series Paper, to make quick, easy and gorgeous Christmas cards, and to show that you really don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to get going and make some homemade Christmas cards.

These first three cards use exactly the same layout, with different patterns from the same pack of DSP.

I also showed this same layout using a completely different DSP to create a bright and cheerful birthday card, using the Host DSP Pattern Party.

And a couple of different layouts using Whimsy and Wonder DSP.

They were fun to make, and now I have a bigger stash to sell at the markets this week!!

Happy Stamping!

Chris

Quiet Meadow CAS Colour Challenge

I enjoy making all sorts of different styles of cards, in particular, I love making vintage style cards. But sometimes I also love to make Clean and Simple (CAS) cards, and sometimes I like to make them very clean!!

This card is a colour challenge from CAS Colours and Sketches challenges, using the colours below. I used Stampin’ Write markers to colour directly to the stamp, using the three colours on the one stamp. Originally, I had planned to add a sentiment and perhaps a few splotches, but in the end I decided I liked it just like that.

What do you think? Would you have added more to it? Leave me a comment and let me know.
Happy stamping!

Chris