Clean and Simple

Let’s Celebrate

Hello there. As I am going to work in a couple of hours, I had some time free to make this clean and simple card. The layout is from the current challenge from CAS Colours and Sketches, as well as current Inkspirational challenge for a one layer card, with the added benefit of using monochrome for the Cardz 4 Galz challenge.

To match the sketch, I did think about Christmas baubles initially, but then decided to go with balloons, as I have quite a few stamp sets with balloons included. The set I used is from Stampin Up – ‘Balloon Adventures’. I knew I wanted to emboss the balloons in gold, so I thought a black background would mean they would be highlighted the best.

I stamped each of the balloons with Ranger Perfect Medium, and heat embossed them with gold embossing powder, then added the string afterwards, again heat embossing.

The sentiment is also from that same stamp set, again heat embossed in gold. I cut the card down to 5.5 inches square – so I knew I would have an envelope to fit.

Does anyone else have a problem when using the anti-static bag on dark card stock? I always seem to have a powder residue when I have done, and have tried several ways to get rid of that – just my fingers, a special piece of cloth (I find that takes the embossing off, though) – what is the best way?

I shall be entering the above three challenges with this card.

 

CAS colours

20170914_212407_001

Hi there. I have a card different to the ones I have posted recently. They have been a riot of colour, almost, so this is the opposite side of the coin. Just three colours.

I was inspired by three challenges with this card – CASology, Cupcake Inspirations, and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge.

I used Altenew ‘Celebrations’ stamp set for the cake, and the sentiment below. Isn’t a piece of cake just absolute contentment? There is almost a deep sigh when I take the first bite of a piece, so I thought the sentiment fitted quite aptly. I think the sentiment is supposed to mean contentment with marriage, and celebrating happiness – but I like it how it is.

I stamped with Versafine black onyx, and coloured with my Zigs. The difficult part was deciding where on the card I wanted the cake and sentiment to go…….the cake moved several times until I settled with this placement.

The challenges I will be entering are:

CASology – cake

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – clean and simple

Cupcake Inspirations – pale yellow, red, green

 

 

Cheers to wine

Isn’t this stamp and die set gorgeous? I have had this stamp set for quite a while, from Honey Doo Crafts, and then bought the matching die several months ago – at yet another local craft show! I have played with it a little before, and have a blog posting from ages ago using this stamp, but I got the inspiration from the ‘Addicted to CAS’ challenge, with the theme of ‘cheers’.

I also have a stamp set with Prosecco and glasses and sayings, but I just love the way this came out. I first stamped the glass, bottle, and small grape bunch with Versafine black onyx, and coloured with my Stampin Up markers. I coloured them actually dotting the colour down, as I didn’t want solid colour on the grapes or leaves, as I thought small white areas within would give some impression of dimension.

I die cut the three images out after colouring them, and then placed them on several different sizes of card base. I thought a square card base would leave too little white space, so I went with this size. Then to decide where the sentiment was to go……all those choices.

I stamped it alongside the glass and bottle, as I thought elsewhere on the card would be cutting down on the white background, and in fact I am quite pleased how it all came together. The added bunch of grapes to the side of the glass just adds a little something, don’t you think?

I also photographed the card in two different areas. One outside in full summer sunshine, and one inside with natural light – but not direct sunshine. I was only experimenting, and quite like the sunshine look with a hanging basket of flowers giving some shade, and of course the card itself giving some shade and dimension.

I shall be entering this card into the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS – cheers

Aud sentiments challenge – bingo and sentiment – die cut/markers/favourite colour (black)

 

 

Still Altenew

Hi everyone. I am still with the same stamp set, and now playing with different colours. I seem to have gained some confidence with layering stamps. I’ll let you look at the blue cards to spot some mistakes – I’ll tell you at the end!

The inspiration for the yellow card is from the ‘Less is More’ challenge to use yellow and grey only, so I thought I’d have a play with the only flower from that set I hadn’t stamped yet. I did initially think of doing the sunflowers stamp set, but as I’m on a roll with this one, I decided to stay with it. Three layers for the flower, and two layers for the leaves at the base of the flower. This particular stamp actually fits together, and is quite easy to match-up – with the correct lighting, anyway.

I tried doing it and found that leaning over created a shadow and I couldn’t really see what I was doing, so in came a light I placed nearer and to the back of my craft table. That seemed to work very well.

I used colours from Altenew inks, so I didn’t even have to try and find colours that worked well and toned well together as it is already done for you with the ink sets.

So, onto the mistakes. Did you spot them?

On the top blue card I couldn’t figure out which way up the flower was supposed to be! So – it’s crooked. I think it was planted into alcohol!

For the second blue card I think I had a stutter with the stamping. I completely misjudged the darkest layer at the bottom of the bud. Well, take about artistic licence. So my blue cards are a drunken flower and a stuttering stamper…….some fun, at least.

I will be entering the yellow card into the following challenges:

Less is More – ‘yellow and grey’

Make My Monday – ‘May flowers’

Incy Wincy Designs – ‘Clean and Simple’

Crafting From The Heart – ‘anything goes’

Colour Crazy Challenge – ‘anything goes’

Crafty Calendar challenge – ‘flowers’