Layer your dies for less!

Hi everybody,

Jill here, and this week, I'm trying to create some faux die layering...

...for a whole lot less cash than layering dies cost!

Using Mama Elephant and Lawn Fawn loveliness.

I'm sure we've all seen the very beautiful layering dies featured in a certain Queen of papercraft, Jennifer Mcguire's 'Favourite's of 2016' a while back.  Yes they looked stunning, if not a little limited, but holy macaroni...HOW MUCH??!!!  I did love the layered look they created however, so had an idea to try and make something similar with my own supplies.

I started by cutting three separate panels of card in the colours I wanted to use all to the same size.  I then created a stencil from a piece of extra sturdy card, cut to the same size, by drawing a grid onto it and cutting the largest heart from Lawn Fawns 'Heart Dies', symmetrically across it in the design I desired.  I then used this stencil over the piece of each panel, to know where the next size down heart should be placed to be cut, (does that make sense?  I really should have took progress photos :/ ).

Once all my hearts were cut onto each layer, in descending order, I adhered my panels together so that they 'layered' over each other, creating this design.  I really love how it worked out, it may not be perfect, but it also didn't cost 4 million gazillion pounds like the ones I referred to do!

My card is intended to be for those single friends who can sometimes feel a little left out at Valentine's day so  I cut Mama Elephant's 'Friend' die from black card backed with black foam, and completed my sentiment using Mama Elephant's Friend Indeed set which I stamped onto vellum in black pigment ink, and clear heat embossed.

I added a scattering of gold sequins and mounted my piece onto a pool card base as I thought it made the colours really 'pop' brightly.  Go bright or go home, right?  And that was that.

I'm really happy with how this turned out, and can't wait to see what other sets I have in my stash that will layer nicely...without breaking the bank!

Everything I used is linked below so be sure to have a peek.

see you next week..

Jillx

Definitely not Christmas, dinosaurs!

Hi everybody,

Jill here, and this week I am definitely not doing Christmas (it's inescapable, no?), and instead, I'm re-visiting an old classic...

...Paper Smooches Cuteasaurus.

I made this card for a friend of mine who is dinosaur doolally, and what an absolute pleasure it was to ink this set up again.  This was one of my first ever Paper Smooches sets and the beginning of my journey in this awesome hobby we all share, so will always hold a special place in my heart.  I LOVE re-visiting older designs, there's so many cool releases all the time it's easy to get tied up in lusting after the newest sets, but, like many things in life...you just can't beat the old classics!

I decided I wanted to practise my pencil colouring, and opted for kraft card, because, well, I just love the look of it!

I started by stamping out the main element of my sentiment, this 'friend', from Mama Elephant's Friend Indeed, in black Versafine and clear heat embossing.  I then built up the line around and under it with some sprigs of grass, mostly drawn in by hand.  I then masked off accordingly and stamped out the rest of my scene using Paper Smooches Cuteasaurus and, again, masking as I went.

I then coloured my whole scene using colour pencils, adding white accents to the eyes and teeth using a white gel pen.

 

I finished off my sentiment with this phrase from Mama Elephant's Sunday Sentiments, again stamped in black Versafine and clear heat embossed.  I added a balloon from Mama Elephant's Woodland Gifts, and added it to my little cuteasaurus' hand with a piece of black thread.

I added a slick of Glossy Accents to my balloon, and a wee enamel heart embellishment to finish, and there you have it.

I really hopefully it encourages you to give some of the older sets a glimpse...you might just be missing out on a beautiful old classic :)

See you next week.

Jillx