Simple Stencil Shifting

 

I am in love with these colours! I created these cards with the same 3 primary colours (Sauna, Rouge and Daydream) as this card, and a simple stencil shift with the Catherine Pooler Pinwheel stencil.

1. Tape stencil to white cardstock. I'm trying out the 'corner' method with my Waffle Flower Water Media Mat - so far, so good! Blend Sauna ink in a circular motion through 3 of the pinwheels

2. Blend Rouge ink through 3 more pinwheels. The circular motion will ensure a blend between the overlapping pinwheels.

3. Blend Daydream ink through the last 3 pinwheels. 

4. Remove stencil

5. Move cardstock to the left by one row. Turn stencil so that a different colour of ink is in the top corner (this saves you having to clean it). Tape it down to the cardstock (note the stencil is still in the corner, but the cardstock is not.)

6. Blend the inks through in the same places, with the same circular motion.

7. Remove stencil. Ooh and ahh at the beautiful blends!

8. Finish cards.

To finish my cards, I created sentiment circles with 2 layers of white cardstock. I blended the same 3 colours on the larger circles to create frames. The sentiments are from a retired C9 set (Many Mandalas). They are placed over the 'smudgy' areas on each panel! lol!

I chose 3 different 'framing' options - one with the 3 colours, one white and one solid black. Do you have a favourite?

I added some iridescent black pearls from Little things by Lucy.

Stencils 360 Sunflowers

 

Good morning! I was playing with my Stencils 360 Tool the other day to create this fabulous fall sunflower card! (Good news! Now also available at Scrapbook.com and Simon Says Stamp! Affiliate links below).

I started by creating the first sunflower (3:00 on the card) in the centre of an 8x8 piece of white cardstock and the smallest of the Sacred Lotus stencil set. 

I masked some of the petals, then moved my paper to create a second sunflower (at 7:00) and then moved it again (to 11:00). There's only one colour of yellow ink on those petals - all the dimension is created by blending darker at each end of the petals and letting it fade in the centres.

My dark brown sunflower centres were created freehand with Icing on the Cake ink and a sponge dauber. Love those 'fluffy' edges!

Also, if you didn't know already, this fun tool is now available at Scrapbook.com and Simon Says Stamp, so if shipping from Canada has made you hesitate in the past, now is a great time to give it a try!

More Meraki Fun!

 

My latest video shows some easy ways to stretch (and shrink) mini-slim dies to use on different sized cards, and here are a few more ideas.

This time I'm working with the new Starry Night die from Crafty Meraki.

I started by creating a panel of inked blue/green cardstock with my CP Mini ink pads in Mardi Gras, Daydream and Juniper Mist. Then I cut the blue panel as well as a white panel with the die. 

I inlaid the blue 'extra' pieces around the white flowers, but just glued the blue flowers onto another panel of white cardstock. (see top left photo in both collages below).

With the white panel, I created two mini-slim cards by cutting it with one of the Frameworthy mini slim frame dies from a previous release. There are a lot of options!

With the blue, inlaid panel, I used Ellen Hutson Essential Squares die to create a smaller framed inlaid panel for my 4 1/4" square card , and then with the leftovers, created a panel for a white A2 card.

All 4 of the cards got loads of sparkle from the new Emerald and Blue Lagoon gems.

Eat, Sleep, Crafty Retreat!

Die cut inlay is one of my favourite techniques!  I love the smooth look you get, and there are so many different ways to accomplish it, from very basic to advanced.

This card uses dies that make inlaid die cuts so simple because there are outline and solid dies, so you have a base that works perfectly to hold the outline and the inside pieces.

I cut 9 leaf bases, 9 outlines from gold satin cardstock and 9 outline pieces from white (for the leaf-insides). I inkblended the inside pieces with some colours from Catherine's Spa collection.

Then I put glue on top of each base, and laid the gold outline on it, and put the inside piece on each leaf.

If you want to craft LIVE (via Zoom) with me to learn more about inlaid die cuts and other techniques from other teachers, be sure to check out the information for the Eat, Sleep, Crafty Retreat here!

We have 5 fantastic teachers, 7 LIVE classes so you can craft along and ask questions as you need to PLUS open crops, Card Wars and giveaways!

Here's an overview of the schedule:

Hope to see you there!

 

Lego-Inspired Cards for Teen Boys

 Teen. Boys. These two words strike fear into many cardmakers' hearts, mine included. In my extended family I have 3 nephews who have birthdays in late autumn, and when I find a design I like, they often all get the same card (even the twins! lol! I made 2 15 cards and 1 14 card)

We love Lego, and we even watch YouTube videos about the latest sets. This design was inspired by the Lego World Map kit:

I focused on the colours and the dots.

I started by stamping an old MFT background stamp (Simply Circles) onto white cardstock, and then I used Copic markers to colour in the dots. I finished by filling in the white spaces between the dots with a black marker, trimming the panel and gluing it to a black card base.

I made a mistake on my 4th panel and had to cut it down, and made this one:

Crafty Meraki October Release Video Hop & Giveaway!

 

Today, I'm part of a fun YouTube hop (details below) to celebrate the #merakicraftober new release at Crafty Meraki ! This release is sure to make your Mini Slimline loving heart sing! Plus the BRAND NEW gems in this release are going to leave you dazzled!  To celebrate  the #merakicraftober release, we are having a giveaway!  One lucky winner will win $100 worth of Crafty Meraki products!

Watch my video here, and then hop and comment for a chance to win (see details on my YouTube description or below)!

For a chance to win:

1. Subscribe to my channel  and Crafty Meraki - https://youtube.com/c/CraftyMeraki

2. Like my Video

3. Leave a comment on each stop on this Hop (more comments = more chances of winning)

NEXT: 

PREVIOUS: 

One lucky winner will be chosen randomly from the comments left on each participating designer’s channel.  Winner will be announced on September 6th -  on YouTube and on the Crafty Meraki Instagram page - instagram.com/Crafty_meraki 

Open Internationally.

Giveaway accounts do not qualify.  Don’t subscribe to unsubscribe - that’s not cool! This giveaway is not sponsored, administered, or associated with YouTube.  By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, release YouTube of responsibility, and agree to their terms of use.

Happy Birthday!

Congratulations to this week's Featured Stamper, Dagmar (gutsport56).

I chose this card as my inspiration:

LIST: Colours (blue, yellow, purple, red, black, cream), Techniques (, square iris fold with black centre, embossing folder background) Elements (geometric feel, floral embossing, birthday sentiment strip with faux stitching around edges)

INCLUDE: colours (except cream), square, geometry, embossing, birthday sentiment, faux stitching

MODIFY: from fold to inkblending with embossing, die cut sentiment over faux stitching circle, variations within the colours created by splatter rather than patterns in the paper.

EXCLUDE: iris fold, floral element, cream cardstock

SPIN: square card, added holographic cardstock for my sentiment, and tilted the sentiment

I started with a square panel of white cardstock and I blended yellow, blue, purple and pink inks from each corner, allowing the colours to overlap and blend to create a rainbow. Then I used an embossing folder to add a geometric element and splattered the panel with white and black paint.

My sentiment was created with two black circles. One formed the base, and the top circle had the little holes added around the edge with a Ellen Hutson stitching die. Then I die cut and inlaid the white base of my sentiment. Having that second circle as the base allowed me to easily piece the top circle together with the white sentiment shadow and also meant that the stitching holes show black through them, which make them more subtle, like Dagmar's.

Finally I cut the actual sentiment from some holographic cardstock to add some sparkle!