Thursday 28 May 2015

Mono Flowers Digi Stamp Card

Hello its Alli here and today I have made a card using the digi stamp challenge theme of mono for my inspiration. This card was so quick and easy to make because there was no colour matching or colouring in, infact I think it is the easiest card I have ever made. I Hope you like it and I hope it makes you want t enter the digi stamp competition.
 



what you will need:
Little Claire digi SW Flower stamp
6" x 6" cream base card
black card
A4 cream fine linen paper 120gsm
black fine tip pen
cream jute ribbon
black button (not a button with a shank)
thank you sentiment
small hole punch
clear nail varnish

Using your graphics program open the SW Flower stamp and re size to  4 3/4" from the top of the flower to the bottom of the stem. Whilst you are setting up  a page to print you can make the words for the sentiment. I use Serif Craft Artist and this program has some pre-set sentiments, so chose one and make it 1 1/4" from side to side.
On cream linen paper print the image.
Colour the stems (not the leaves) of the flowers with the fine tip black pen.
Cut around the image and mat and layer it onto black card and then onto cream linen paper.
Punch two small dots from the black paper and bevel them (I use the rounded end of a small paint brush and the palm of my hand to bevel small things). Stick the two dots onto the topper.

Cut a piece of black card to mat and layer onto the cream base card but do not stick it down onto the base card.

Stick the flower topper onto the black card.

Take the jute ribbon (mine is just over 1" wide and long enough to secure around the back of the black card) and if it isn't frayed on the top and bottom edges then fray it.
Cut another piece of the jute to 3" x 1 1/4" and fray along all the edges. Decide where the jute ribbon will line up with the flower stems and at this point tie on the 3 1/4" piece of jute.
Secure the jute ribbon to the card. Paint the underside of the bow part with clear nail varnish to stop the jute from fraying and leave it to rest on acetate or greaseproof paper till dry.
Tie jute threads onto the black button and then stick the button onto bow part of the ribbon.

Stick the black card topper onto the base card.

Cut the sentiment down to size and stick into position on the card.


Of course you don't have to use black and cream as your colour scheme, I did think about using black and blue or black and pink and those Ombre papers from Little Clare would work really well too.



Saturday 16 May 2015

Dachsunds Outdoors

Today is the launch of the Little Claire Stamp Challenge and the theme for May is "the great outdoors" so I have made this card with the theme "outdoors" in mind. I know it is stretching it a bit but there are flowers and grass in the stamp and with these two charming little Dachshund characters I just couldn't resist using them. Have a look at the Little Claire blog for more inspiring ideas from my crafty team mates and then have a go yourself. This month the prizes are these wonderful stamp sets and some extra bits to get you started.


CT Baking stamps
CT Man stamps
CT Baby stamps
6 x 6 White Dots on Black Paper x 4 sheets
1 metre White Dots on Red Gross Grain Ribbon
1 metre White Dots on Green Gross Grain Ribbon
 
WHAT A FANTASTIC PRIZE 
 
 


what you will need:
6" x 6" white base card
Little Claire Darling Dachshunds stamp
Versa Fine stamp
Nit Wit Collections - Country Meadow paper pad
Tim Holts distress ink - Vintage Photo, Picked Raspberry
Cut n Dry
pink paper
craft card
ring binder hole punch
flower embellishments

Cut the pink card to mat and layer onto the base card and stick into position.
Using the beige flowery paper from the Nit Wit pad cut a piece to mat and layer onto the pink card.
Using the Cut n Dry shade the edges of the patterned paper with the Tim Holts Vintage photo.
Stick the patterned paper onto the pink paper on the base card.

Stamp the two larger Dachshunds from the stamp set onto card and cut to size 14.7cm x 6.2cm (you will lose some of the flowers behind the Dachshund on the right hand side).
Colour in the image with appropriate colours.
Mat and layer the image onto some pink paper (make sure the paper reaches to the edge of the base card).
Stick the image topper onto the base card about 2.6cm up from the bottom of the card.

Cut two strips of the pink spotted Nit Wit paper, One 12.5cm x3.5cm and one 10.5cm x 3.5cm.
Using the Cut n Dry and the Tim Holts distress ink Picked Raspberry shade the edges of the strips.
Cut the longest strip 1.5cm from the bottom and stick onto the card below the topper image. Cut the same strip again 4.6cm down from the top and stick onto the card above the topper and aligning with the strip already stuck into position. Discard the middle piece of leftover paper.
Cut the second strip of paper 7mm from the bottom and stick onto the card below the topper image and to the right of the strip previously stuck down. Cut the same strip again 3.4cm from the top and stick onto the card above the topper image and aligning with the strip already stuck into position, as before discard the unwanted middle piece of paper.

Stamp the "Huge Hugs" sentiment using the Versa Fine ink pad and cut out.
Shade around the outside of the sentiment with the Tim Holts Vintage Photo distress ink and a piece of Cut n Dry.
Colour the heart on the sentiment to match a colour on your image.
Stick the sentiment onto the card.

Attach the flower embellishments. I used two Chloe dies, craft card, pink paper, Glamour Dust glitter, a small hole punch and hand cut leaves from green paper.

Using a ring binder hole punch, punch six dots of craft card.
Bevel the circles of card and glue three to the top right of the image topper and three on the bottom left of the spotty paper.












Friday 15 May 2015

Fabulous Day Card

Today I have made a card with the Little Claire April stamp challenge "using craft card" in mind (even though it ends soon). This card does have a lot going on but for someone special it would be  well worth the effort and once you get started it doesn't take too long to make.



what you will need:
Little Claire Fabulous Day stamp set
Little Claire Postcard Sentiment Stamps
cream 6" x 6" base card
My Craft Studio Elite Summer Rosa & Winter Flora CD
craft card
white card to stamp onto
cream card to stamp onto
good quality print paper about 220gsm
Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies - Labels 17
die cutting machine
lacy corner die
Tim Holtz distress inks - Vintage Photo, Victorian Velvet & cut n Dry
1 1/2" Cream lace ribbon
colouring in implements
various embellishments
needle and cream thread
Memento ink pad - Rich Cocoa
Versa Fine ink pad
emery board

Using your graphics programme select the image background No 1 from the My Craft Studio CD.
Shrink the image till it measures just less than 6" from side to side and then crop the image from the top down to measure 6".
Select the image No45 and turn it 45 degrees and then crop it down to measure 2 7/8" x 5 1/2".
Arrange the two images on your screen to make the most of your paper and then print.
Cut the lager image down to mat and layer onto the cream base card but do not stick it down.

Tear the smaller image No 45 paper (using a ruler) to the desired size but do not tear along the top of the image.
Using the Cut n Dry and the Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink shade the edges of the two pieces of printed paper and then repeat using the Victorian Velvet.

Stick the smaller torn paper in position on the image No 1 paper and cut the top level with the lager paper.
Distress the edges with an emery board.

Stamp the char image from the Fabulous Day stamp set using the Versa Fine ink pad.
Using the 2nd largest die from the Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies - Labels 17 set secure it in place over the stamped image and run through the die cutting machine.
Colour the image in.
Apply the Tim Holtz Vintage Photo using the Cut n Dry to the edge of the die cut to give an aged effect.

Tear some craft card (using a ruler) to a desired size to mat and layer under the image topper.
Shade the edges of the craft card with the Vintage Photo ink using Cut n Dry.
Place the craft card onto the printed papers and mark the points where the card would intersect any sewing line.
Sew around the printed paper (image No 45) where it will not be covered by the craft card.
Stick the craft card into position.
Mat and layer these papers onto the cream base card.

Stamp the Little Claire postcard sentiment onto cream card using the Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad.
Cut around the stamped image and shade the edges using the Vintage Photo ink pad and Cut n Dry.
Stick the sentiment into position.

Stick the stamped image topper onto the craft card.

Using a die cut two small lacy corners from the craft card and stick into position.

Make some leaves from green scrap papers you hve in your stash and stick into place.
Tie the lace into a bow and stick into place.
Using various embellishments of your choice finish off the card.













Wednesday 6 May 2015

Swirly Whirlie Dog

Today Little Claire are launching their May digi stamp challenge and the theme is MONO so that makes it a bit easier because there is no colouring in. The prize for the winner is 5 digi stamps of your choice to download from the Little Caire shop. Take a look at the challenge and all the cards made by the design team to help inspire you and have a go. Good luck.
 
So as part of the design teamI have made this card using the sweetest little zentangle style dog ever. The theme of mono colours made me think of black and white and then when I thought some more I realised that mono can be any two colours, so I went for black and grey just to be different.
 
 


what you will need:
Little Claire Swirly Whirlie Dog digi stamp
6" x 6" base card
black card/paper
A4 grey card/paper
Crafts Too Cherry Blossom embossing folder
Joanna Sheen With Love die
lacy butterfly die about 1 1/2" wide
die cutting machine
Tonic small flower boot punch
grey satin ribbon
Sekura glitter pen
silver glitter glue/Stickles

Import the Swirly Whirlie Dog stamp and re size it to 3 7/16" from side to side.
Print the image onto the grey card/paper (if you keep the image near the top of the card/paper you can use the remainder for the rest of the card).
Cut the image to size (about 3 5/8" x 2 1/2") and mat and layer onto a piece of the black card/paper.

Cut the black paper/card to the size of the base card and stick it onto the base card.
Cut the grey paper/card (I used a thick sugar paper) to mat and layer onto the black base card but do not stick down.
Put the Cherry Blossom embossing folder onto the card so that the design runs down the right hand side of the grey paper/card and then run through the embossing machine (don't worry about the line created by the edge of the embossing folder as this will be covered over with ribbon).
Cut the grey satin ribbon long enough to secure around the back of the grey card/paper and stick into place to cover the line made by the embossing folders edge. Remember to take the ribbon around to the back and secure.
Stick this onto the black base card.

Stick the Swirly Whirlie Dog topper onto the card.

Using the Joanna Sheen With Love die, cut out the sentiment with the die cutting machine.
Cut into the sentiment with your scissors so that you have two words and try to keep one of the intertwined hearts also in the sentiment.
Stick the words onto the card and stick the hearts in the bottom right hand corner.

Punch out 5 flowers from the black card/paper using the Tonic small flower boot punch.
Shape the flowers by pressing down in the centre with a rounded object (small paint brush end) in the palm of your hand.
Dab the silver glitter glue in the centre of each flower and leave to dry.
When dry stick the flowers onto the card.

Cut the lacy butterfly from the black paper/card.
Using the Secura glitter pen glitter up its middle section and leave to dry.
Stick the butterfly onto the card.

Make a bow with the grey satin ribbon and stick onto the card.

Friday 1 May 2015

Little Claire May Club Stamps - Dancers

 
 
The Little Claire May club stamps are a set of four silhouette stamps and here is a card I have made using the Silhouette Dancers stamp. Take a look at the Little Claire website and see the other two stamps in the set and I think you will agree they would be a really usfull set to have in your crafty stash.
 


what you will need:
Little Claire May club stamp - dancers
white card to stamp the image onto
Black Versa Fine ink pad
6" x 6" white base card
black sugar card
blue paper with black spots
chalks and Cut n Dry
corner die from Tattered Lace magazine issue 12
die cutting machine
1" wide white sheer ribbon
1/4" wide white satin ribbon
1cm multi-faceted round gem
3 pearl gems
really small hole punch
hair spray

Cut the sugar card to mat and layer onto the white base card but do not stick it down.
Cut the blue paper with black dots to around 12.3cm square and stick onto the centre of the black card.
Cut the sheer white ribbon to size and stick into place on the black and blue card.
Cut the satin ribbon to size and stick onto the middle of the sheer ribbon.
Stick this to the base card.

Using the Tattered Lace corner die cut 4 lacy corners from the black sugar card and finish each one off by cutting the corner edges as the die will not cut this part.
Put all 4 die cut corners together to form a lacy square and secure in the middle with a piece of tape.

Using the black Versa Fine ink pad stamp the image of the two dancers onto the white card.
With a piece of Cut n Dry shade the edges of the image using blue chalks till the colour matches the blue of the blue and black dots paper.
Cut the image out and stick onto the centre of the lacy die cut square you previously made.
Stick this topper onto the centre of the card.

If you have a graphics program (I use Serif Craft Artist) type the words Live Life and re size them to measure around 2 1/4" x 1/4" and print the sentiment (The font I used was Amaze regular). If you do not have a graphics program then you could stamp a sentiment of a similar size in the normal way.
Cut the sentiment out and chalk around the edges using the same colours that you used on the image.
Stick the sentiment into position at the top of the card by using foam pads in the centre and glue or double sided tape on the ends to make it raised at the centre.
Punch out 2 small dots using the hole punch and stick into place on the sentiment.

Make a bow using the satin ribbon and stick into place.
Once the bow is secure stick the multi-faceted gem in the centre of it.

Stick the 3 pearl gems near the bottom of the card.

Spray the card with the hair spray to protect the colours.



Little Claire May Club Stamps - Sillhouette Cat & Tree

 
This is the second card I have made using the Little Claire May club stamps and this stamp is called Silhouette Cat and Tree.
 
 
what you will need:
Little Claire May club stamp - cat & tree silhouette and "never, never, never give up" sentiment
6" x 6" base card
White card to stamp the image onto
blue pearl card
black sugar card
Versa Fine black ink pad
Versa Mark watermark stamp pad
chalks
Cut n Dry - to blend chalks
random swirls background stamp
ultra fine clear embossing powder
heat gun
1.7cm wide blue ribbon
1cm wide lilac ribbon
hair spray
small black square gems
 
Stick the blue pearl card onto the base card and cut to size.
Cut the black sugar card to mat and layer onto the blue card but do not stick it down.
Using the Versa Mark watermark ink pad randomly stamp the swirls over the black sugar paper to form a background pattern.
Dust the black card with the clear ultra fine embossing powder, shake off excess and heat emboss.
Cut the blue ribbon to the correct length and stick into place on the black card (I always like to take my ribbons round to the back of the card to secure them and make a neat edge).
Cut the lilac ribbon to the correct length and stick over the blue ribbon.
 
Stamp the silhouette image onto the white card using the black Versa Fine ink pad and leave to dry (I like to use stamping foam under my card when stamping large areas but you can try using a magazine if you do not have any stamping foam).
Using a piece of Cut n Dry rub some silver grey chalk onto the moon part of the image and then radiating out from this rub on light blues fading to dark blue at the edges and then go over the dark blue with a dark purple colour (I used a shimmer chalk for the moon and then when I had finished the colours I used the same bit of foam to go over the entire image and blend in all the colours and add a pearly moonlight shimmer).
Cut out the image and mat and layer onto a piece of blue pearl card.
Stick the image topper onto the base card.
 
Colour a piece of white card with the chalks to make a background for the sentiment.
Using the black Versa Fine ink pad stamp the "never, never, never, give up" sentiment (which comes in the stamp set) onto the blue background you have just made and leave o dry.
Cut the sentiment out and using foam pads stick in place (remember to not put the foam pads where the ribbon is or this will create a bump).
 
Stick the black square gems into place at the corners of the topper.
Make a bow using the lilac ribbon and stick into place.
 
Spray the entire card with the hair spray to set the colours.