Tag Archives: stamping

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #10

Posted in Cards by

Hi and welcome back to the daily sketches from the Annual Catalogue, with Sketch 10.

I am in a purple mood today, and have used heaps of inks to create my background and focal layer.

The cardbase is the usual size (21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm) and today I have used some Highland Heather cardstock for the base.
Over that is some Watercolour Paper which is 10cm x 14cm. I would normally use (and highly recommend) the Fluid 100 Watercolour Paper, it is the best I have ever used. However, I ran out, so had to use some that I already had in my stash.
I used the Stampin’ Up! Glass Mat (fantastic tool, if you don’t have one already), sprayed some water directly onto with a Spritzer, then added some drops of Highland Heather ink, Fresh Freesia ink and Petal Pink ink, swirled the ink around in the water, added a bit more water, generally had a play with it until I was happy, and then laid two pieces of the Watercolour Paper directly into the inky mess!
Once I was happy with the spread of colour, I dried it with a heat tool, distressed the edges with my Paper Snips Scissors, sponged some Highland Heather ink around the edges. Before applying the background layer to the cardbase with adhesive, I heat embossed the sentiment.

With the smaller piece of Watercolour Paper, I stamped the small flower from the Poised Peony stamp set using Versamark ink, sprinkled white Embossing Powder over it, and set with a Heat Tool. After distressing the edges and sponging with ink, I then used a Water Painter Brush to paint colour onto the flower – Lost Lagoon ink for the leaves, and some Highland Heather and Fresh Freesia for the flower.
This smaller piece of Watercolour Paper is 5.5cm x 5.5cm, and the Basic White layer behind it is 6 x 6cm, and sponged with Highland Heather ink.
Behind the focal image layer is another layer of cardstock, again in Highland Heather, measuring 5cm x 10cm, which I have cut at each end with Paper Snips to form the flag ends.
Some Linen Thread and Purple Shimmer Gems finish the card off.
Oh, and I almost forgot the splatters, which are done with the Water Painter with some Highland Heather ink on the brush, and I just knock the brush against a hard object such as a ruler or clear block, and the ink splatters – often in places you don’t want it!!

Hopefully I have inspired someone to try out a different layout for a card.
Stay tuned for the next one.
Happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #8

Posted in Cards by

Hi and welcome back.
Today we have Sketch #8 from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.

I apologise for the slightly wonky sketch, some of my rectangles didn’t quite line up. Still, you get the idea.
I decided to keep this one really simple. Of course, it could be quite a complicated one if you choose, but mine is nice and easy today.

I have taken a piece of the Lily Pond Lane Designer Series Paper (which is currently on sale) and using a ruler and pencil, worked out the measurements to divide it into equal rectangles.
I have a Basic Black card base in the standard size (  21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm).
The piece of Lily Pond Lane DSP is the standard size as a layer over the base – 10cm x 14cm.
It was pretty tricky trying to work out exact meaurements for the lines, however they are approximately 3.3cm apart on the short side, and 4.7cm on the long side. I have used a Black Stampin’ Write Marker and ruler to draw the blace lines directly onto the DSP.

The sentiment is from the Country Birdhouse stamp set, stamped in black ink onto a scrap of white cardstock. And I have simply added a couple of 2024- 2026 In Color Shimmer Gems.

Don’t forget the fabulous DSP Sale on right now here.



Thanks for joining me again today, and happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #7

Posted in Cards by

Hi again, welcome back to the daily posts of Sketches from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.
Here is Sketch #7.

Today’s card is a fairly simple one, with not too many steps and no stamping.

My card base is in Basic Black cardstock (21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm), the first layer in Very Vanilla cardstock is only slightly smaller this time, 10.2cm x 14.2cm, which has been run through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine with the Layered Florals 3D Embossing Folder. So pretty!

The main focal point is simply one element from the Labels and Layers Ephemera pack, and one from the Fully Flowering Ephemera pack.
I have layered the tag over some Basic Black cardstock measured at approximately 4.7cm wide x 7.6cm, and I have then used Paper Snip Scissors to cut the flag to match the one on the tag.
Some Linen Thread around this is the only extra I have added.
You could, of course, add a sentiment, but I liked the look of this without.

The Ephemera Packs are on Page 19 of the Annual Catalogue and make gorgeous papercrafting so easy.

And don’t forget the fantastic discount on Designer Series Papers, but only while stocks last. Check it out in my online store.

Happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #6

Posted in Cards, Sympathy by

Hi and welcome back.
Today we have Sketch #6 from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.

My card today features the Country Woods Designer Series Paper which you can get at a discounted price for the rest of August, while stocks last. And I have combined it with the Country Flowers Bundle to make a Sympathy card.

I have taken a piece of the Country Woods DSP, cut to 10cm x 14cm to lay over the top of my Crumb Cake card base (21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm).
The rectangular elements have been die cut using the Nested Essentials Dies, and the circle from the Spotlight on Nature Dies.
I have stamped the teapot image directly onto some of the Country Woods DSP, then cut using the die, before adding some shading using a Basic Grey Watercolour Pencil. The leaves were done in the same way and again coloured with Watercolour Pencils.

I found this sketch challenging for some reason, but so far I am enjoying creating using different layouts. I have a tendency to use the same or very similar layouts for my cards, so it’s a good challenge to be trying out some different ideas.

Don’t forget that Designer Series Papers are on sale at 15% off between now and the end of August, and you can order simply by going to my Online Store.


Happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #5

Posted in Cards by

Hi and welcome back.
Today we have Sketch #5 from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.

Today’s card has a black card base, again measuring 21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm.
The next layer is a Basic White layer measuring 14cm x 10cm which I have run through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine using the Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder. I have then added some ink to the cardstock by dabbing the ink pad lightly across the raised areas, I have used a touch of Poppy Parade ink and some black Memento ink.

The next layer is flagged at both ends. I have taken a piece of Poppy Parade cardstock cut to 6.5cm x 12 cm, cut approximately 1cm up the centre of the short ends and then cut from the corners into the top of the cut to create the flag ends. Once that was done I have run that through with the Distressed Tile Embossing Folder and this time I have turned it over to use the debossed side.

The focal image is on a piece of Basic White cardstock measuring 7 x 7cm with a layer of Basic Black behind it which measures 7.5 x 7.5cm.
The flowers come from the Inspirational Sketches stamp set, stamped in Memento Black Ink and then coloured using Stampin’ Blends in Old Olive, Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight.

The sentiment comes from the Changing Leaves stamp set and then cut using the Stylish Shapes Dies but you could use any offcut that you have.
And of course we need some of the obligitory bling with some Iridescent Faceted Gems.

I have been busy on Canva recreating the sketches from the catalogue, so they are not exact copies of what is in the catalogue but close enough. And since I have put my time and effort into creating these I would appreciate acknowledgement of where you got them from if you plan on using them.

I would love to know if these posts are helping to inspire anyone, so please leave me a comment if you are liking what I am sharing.

Happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #4

Posted in Cards by

Hi and welcome back.
Today we have Sketch #4 from the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue. Here is the sketch that I copied from the catalogue.

For my card I have chosen a single layer of Thick Basic White cardstock with no other layers.

The card base is 21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm.

I have used some of the Stampin’ Up! Masking Paper to mask off the areas where I didn’t want colour. I didn’t measure it but just worked out approximately how big I want the area to be coloured. It’s approximately 1cm up from the bottom and down from the top and just over 3cm from the left hand side, but you can adjust to what looks right for you.
A quick tip when it comes to using the Masking Paper – it is VERY sticky and can pull up the cardstock when you pull it off. So I stick it onto fabric before I put it onto the cardstock, usually a sleeve of the top I am wearing or jeans. This pulls up some fibres off the cloth onto the masking paper making it less sticky but still sticky enough to be effective.

Once I had the Masking Paper in place, I used a Blending Brush to put down some ink directly onto the card base. I started with some Crushed Curry ink at the bottom, then Peach Pie ink and lastly Pumpkin Pie ink. I then stamped the leaf image from the Changing Leaves stamp set using Memento Black ink, onto the blended area.
The sentiment is again from the Changing Leaves stamp set, and the two sentiment panels were die cut from the Changing Leaves Dies in Basic White and Pumpkin Pie.

The black brads are some of the retired Classic Matt Dots, but I had some left over and they felt just right to add a little extra touch to my card.

I have been busy on Canva recreating the sketches from the catalogue, so they are not exact copies of what is in the catalogue but close enough. And since I have put my time and effort into creating these I would appreciate acknowledgement of where you got them from if you plan on using them.

Happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #3

Posted in Cards by

Hi and welcome back to the August month of sketches, where I am sharing my inspiration on the sketches on Page 22 of the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.
Here is Sketch # 3.

I have chosen to use some of the Lily Pond Lane Designer Series Paper which I have cut into strips measuring 13.5cm x 2.5cm.

The Lily Pond Lane DSP is over my card base of Pretty Peacock cardstock.
For this card I have created a top opening cardbase, the measurements are 10.5cm x 29cm, then scored and folded along the long side at 14.5cm. Again, you can get two card bases out of one sheet of A4 cardstock.
Instead of wrapping ribbon or twine around the whole card front I chose to create a flag out of some Peach Pie Cardstock, with some Linen Thread behind it.
My sentiment is stamped onto a circle of Basic White Cardstock which has been cut using the Spotlight on Nature Dies. The sentiment and flower are from the Country Birdhouse stamp set, the sentiment stamped in Pretty Peacock ink and the flower in Peach Pie ink.
And to add a touch of bling, some Peach Pie coloured 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems.

Make sure you keep an eye out for tomorrow’s sketch #4. Did you know that you can sign up to receive my blog posts by email? If you look on the far right hand side and scroll down until you see “Follow Blog via Email”. Just pop your email address in there and follow the instructions and you will receive all of my posts in your inbox.

Happy stamping,
Chris

Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #2

Posted in Cards by

Welcome back to day 2 of our month of Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue sketches. Below is today’s sketch.
You can find Day 1 of the month of sketches here.

This could be a very simple card or it could be more complex as I have made mine today. My card features the Changing Leaves bundle which is an Online Exclusive, and a very versatile bundle.

For my card base, I cut a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock at 21cm x 14.5cm – you should be able to get two card fronts from one full piece of cardstock. Then along the long side, score at 10.5cm and fold, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm.
I have then used some Pretty Peacock cardstock which is 9cm x 13cm, and have run that through the Changing Leaves embossing folder.
The basic white sentiment has been cut with one of the Changing Leaves Dies and the sentiment itself, also from the Changing Leaves stamp set is stamped in Pretty Peacock ink.
The leaves are in Lost Lagoon, Moody Mauve and Copper Clay cardstock. And of course some Linen Thread tied into a large bow and adhered to the back of the sentiment.
If you wanted to keep it simple though, you could leave off all the leaves, and just use the embossed panel with a sentiment and bow.

Happy stamping,
Chris

August is Sketch Month – Sketch 1

Posted in Cards by

Hi and welcome back.
If you have seen the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue, you may have seen that there are quite a number of card sketches through the catalogue, and on Page 22 there are 22 sketches to use as inspiration for cards.
So I am challenging myself!
I plan to share a blog post every day with the sketches in the order they are in the catalogue, along with a sample of how I made that sketch PLUS the measurements I have used.
I have seen a few different people sharing PDFs of the sketches with measurements in Imperial, but I am in Australia, and we use different size card fronts here. So my measurements will be in centimeters and based on our card size.

I have been busy on Canva recreating the sketches from the catalogue, so they are not exact copies of what is in the catalogue but close enough. And since I have put my time and effort into creating these I would appreciate acknowledgement of where you got them from if you plan on using them.

I hope you enjoy them. Here is the first one!

My card using this sketch features some of the beautiful Designer Series Paper which was only available to Stampin’ Up! demonstrators (but is too beautiful not to share) along with the Poised Peony stamp set.

In Australia our card bases are basically half of an A4 sheet of cardstock.
However, I have found that it is much easier, especially for beginners to measure it slightly differently, and have a small strip left over.
So for my card base, I cut 21cm x 14.5cm – you should be able to get two card fronts from one piece of cardstock. Then along the long side, score at 10.5cm and fold, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm. I have used some Pretty in Pink cardstock for my card base.
I have then taken a piece of Designer Series Paper (patterned paper) the same size – 10.5cm x 14.5cm and adhered it onto the card front.
The next layer of Designer Series Paper (the darker pink) is 8.5cm wide x 9.5cm.
The Basic White focal layer is 7cm x 9.5cm.
I decided not to put my sentiment onto a separate piece but rather to stamp it directly onto the panel with the main image, and also to add some Linen Thread, and some Purple Fine Shimmer Gems.

I hope that these will be helpful to someone, and hopefully I can get through all of them for you.
Please feel free to leave a comment or reach out to me if you have any questions.
Happy stamping,
Chris

Sketch Saturday # 756

Posted in 3D by

Welcome to another Sketch Saturday challenge.
Here is the sketch for this fortnight.

I chose to turn the sketch on it’s side for my project today, and I have used it as inspiration for a covered notebook.

The notebook front and back have been covered with some Country Woods Designer Series Paper, and I have cut the two blue strips from the same paper before using my Paper Snips to cut flag ends into the strips. I have then run them through the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine with the Distressed Tile Embossing Folder and then added some Night of Navy ink along the edges and randomly on the front of the blue panels.

The feature image comes from the Poised Peony stamp set. I have stamped the image in Night of Navy ink, and then coloured it using a Blender Pen and some of the Soft Pastel Assortment. Since the colouring has been done on Basic White Cardstock, I did this very gently in a dabbing motion to ensure the cardstock doesn’t rough up.
I have taken some pieces of Linen Thread, and coloured them using the dark Highland Heather Stampin’ Blend, and then pulled the strands of the thread apart to give it a more whispy look.
Then I’ve added some leaves in Copper Clay, cut using the Online Exclusive Changing Leaves Hybrid Embossing Folder and Dies, along with some leaves from the Stippled Roses Dies in Soft Seafoam and Highland Heather.

Here is the notecard I made to go with the Notebook, using the same elements and techniques.


I hope you will join us and share your take on the sketch, we always love to see what you have been creating.
Happy stamping,
Chris