Ahoy Happy Birthday

I love the Lawn Fawn sets as they include lots of stamps, making scene building fun and easy. Today I’m sharing a card using the Ahoy Matey stamp set.

I began by stamping lots of images from the Ahoy Matey stamp set, then colouring them with alcohol markers. I also stamped an image from the Duh Nuh stamp set, as these sets work so well together.

Once all the images were die cut out, I worked on my background. I love to use kraft card with these sets. I created a stamped map style background, using images from the set. I also added the stitched line image from the Avery Elle Bunting stamp set. I stamped all the images in brushed corduroy distress oxide ink, which gives a nice tone on tone look.

I adhered a strip of patterned paper across the centre of the card, then die cut a circle from white card to create my scene. I used some masking tape to mask an area for the sand, then added some salty ocean distress oxide waves and some tumbled glass distress oxide sky. I then removed the mask and blended on some scattered straw for the sand.

I used my alcohol markers to add details to the sky and sand. Once I’d adhered my images to my scene, I also added some shadows in the same way. I used liquid adhesive for all images apart from the pirate and parrot, which I used some foam tape for dimension.

I added the circle scene to my card, then finished by stamping some sentiments from the Ahoy Matey stamp set.

Have a lovely day,
Gemma

Happy Birthday with Alphabet Sets

Although I’m spending most of my crafty time making Christmas cards these days, I still need birthday cards too. Today I’m sharing a simple design that would be easy to create multiples of, if needed.

I began by stamping the large cake image from MFT Happy Hippos. I coloured it some alcohol markers, then cut it out. I used a white gel pen to add some decoration to the cake, just to give some more interest to the image.

On a piece of white card, I draw with pencil lightly around a circle die. This is to help me with placing the letters for my sentiment around the cake image.

I used the MFT Birdie Brown Alphabet & Numbers stamp set to create my sentiment (they have a standalone die set too, if you prefer that to stamping). A stamp positioner really helped me with this step, as I could better space the letters before stamping.

I stamped the images with an embossing ink, then embossed them with gold embossing powder. I also added a couple of gold stars, which I found in the Avery Elle Bunting stamp set.

I adhered the panel to my card base, then attached the cake image to the centre with foam tape.

I love the clean and simple look of this card. The most tricky part was positioning the letters for stamping, but once they are on a stamp positioner, you could quickly and easily make a few cards at the same time.

One last thing to mention, this is another example of how to use the extra images in your stamp sets, which just happens to be the SHC VIPS facebook challenge for November. Don't forget to join in!

Have a lovely day,

Gemma

MFT Happy Hippos

MFT Birdie Brown Alphabet

Avery Elle Bunting

Year of the Dog

I’m ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year with my card today. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, so I got out the cute dog from the Mama Elephant Lunar Animals set, ready for some colouring.

I seem to be reaching for my Zig clean colour real brush pens more lately, as I’m enjoying watercolouring. I stamped the Dog with MFT Extreme Black ink, which is fine for watercolour. I can also recommend their black hybrid ink for using with your zig pens too.

I chose just three colours of markers - beige 72, dark brown 62, and light pink 26. I added a little of the beige colour first, blending out with water. I then dried the image with a heat tool and repeated this step 3 or 4 times to get a nice buildup and blend of colour. I then added a thin line of the dark brown around the edge, blending out with water again. Finally, I added some light pink to the cheeks and blended out with water to soften.

Once the image was dry, I added some black gel pen to the eyes, and some white gel pens dots to the cheeks.

For the background, I die cut a rounded rectangle from red cardstock. I used the MFT chevron stencil with versamark ink, then embossed the chevrons with clear embossing powder. I love the texture and shine this gives to the background. I added this to a white card base.

I stamped, in versamark ink, three of the lanterns from the Avery Elle Bunting stamp set. I embossed these with gold embossing powder. I used coordinating dies to die cut the strings and bows from gold metallic card. Unfortunately, the dies are out of stock currently, but the stamp set does come with string and bow stamps. By stamping and embossing these in gold on the background, it would give a similar look. Alternatively, some gold twine would look lovely too.

The year is die cut from gold metallic card, using the C&9th Double Cut Numbers. 

I added everything to the card, using either foam tape or liquid glue. To help ground the dog on the card, I added a grey oval shadow beneath him.

Thanks for joining me today,

Gemma

Avery Elle Bunting

Mama Elephant Lunar Animals

C&9th Double Cut Numbers

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens

MFT Oval Shadows Dienamics

MFT Chevron Grid Stencil

Cheers to the New Year

This year seems to have gone by so fast! Hard to believe we'll be in 2018 in a few short weeks. With that in mind, I have a New Years card to share today. 

I began with a square card base, then die cut a zig-zag square to go on the top. From that, I die cut a stitched star peek-a-boo window. You could easily turn this into a shaker card, using one of the fabulous MFT shaker pouches.

Next, I reached for one of my favourite stamp sets - Avery Elle Bunting. This was actually the first stamp set I bought when I started making cards again in 2015! I am still finding new ways to use it, too.

I reached for the stars, circles and starburst shapes from this set, and heat embossed them around the star with gold embossing powder.

Before adding the zig-zag square to the card base, I layered a piece of black card behind the star.

I added a gold glitter 'Cheers' word die over the top of the star. The black background really helps it stand out. If I made this again, though, I think I’d layer a few of the word die cuts for some more dimension.

To finish, I added some sequins for extra sparkle.

Thanks for joining me today and throughout the year. 

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Gemma

MFT Stitched Star Peek-a-boo Window

MFT Cheers

Avery Elle Bunting

Lawn Fawn Zig Zag Squares

Ahoy Matey

When I saw the Lawn Fawn Ahoy Matey stamp set, I just knew it was a must have. I love all the images in the set and the sentiment font is fantastic.

I had a lot of fun colouring these images. I used MFT black hybrid ink to stamp them, coloured with alcohol markers, then fussy cut them out. I also added some Wink of Stella glitter to the coins too.

To create the scene, I die cut a rounded circle frame twice from white card and once from kraft card stock. I'll keep the frames to use on other cards, as I just want the inner rectangles this time.

On one white card rectangle, I added a light blue ink at the top for the sky. This is the base layer.

On the other white card rectangle, I blended on blue distress ink, flicking with water for a more textured look, before die cutting two ocean wave borders from it.

From the kraft card rectangle, I die cut a stitched hillside for the beach, then heat embossed a greeting onto it.

Before layering the scene together on a kraft card base, I stamped some images on it with a dark brown ink, to make it look like a map. The stitched line stamp is from an Avery Elle set, which I'll link below. I blended on some dark brown ink on to the card base too, for a more aged look. This doesn't need to be perfectly blended.

Finally I layered the pieces on the card base, mostly with liquid glue but I used foam tape behind the beach for dimension.

I decorated the envelope in a similar way to the card base but in a lighter brown ink and without the added ink blending. 

Thanks for joining me today,

Gemma

Lawn Fawn Ahoy Matey

Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside

Avery Elle Bunting

MFT Rounded Rectangle Frames

MFT Ocean Waves

Party Lights

My card today features a string of white lights, perfect for a New Years party.

On dark blue card stock, I white heat embossed the bunting string and lights from the Avery Elle Bunting stamp set.

To create the illusion that the lights continue in the background, I stamped three sizes of circles from the same set in white pigment ink for a bokeh effect.

To create some more interest on the card, I die cut it with the MFT Inside/Out Stitched Rectangle die-namics. I used foam tape behind the frame to add dimension.

I added a white heat embossed sentiment, also from the bunting set, then adhered the rectangle flat on to the card base. A sprinkling of clear sequins add some sparkle to finish. 

Thanks for joining me today. I'll be back on the blog again in the new year. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Gemma

Avery Elle Bunting

MFT Inside/Out Stitched Rectangles

Hero Arts Unicorn White Pigment Ink

Hero Arts White Embossing Powder

Saying Thanks with Bunting

Today I am sharing cards I made using an older set from Avery Elle. Actually, this was the first set I bought when I started making my own cards again last year, and it's still one of my favourites.

I die cut a stitched square using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Squares die set.  On the die cut square, I heat embossed the bunting in gold. I added a die cut gold glitter bow from the coordinating die set.

Next, I die cut a 'thanks' from gold glitter paper. This is from the Avery Elle Sentimental set, another favourite of mine. I adhered this under the bunting, then stamped a greeting from the set underneath.

I added everything to a 4 inch white notecard and made a coordinating envelope. As this was a simple card to make, I made another in silver colours.

I think a set of these notecards would make a lovely gift.

Have a lovely day.

Avery Elle Bunting Elle-ments

Avery Elle Bunting

Avery Elle Sentimental Elle-ments

Avery Elle Sentimental

Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder

Hero Arts Silver Embossing Powder

Versamark ink pad

Lawn Fawn Stitched Squares