Make Your Own Stencil

It is so easy to make your own stencils using your punches.  So let's start off with a basic shape.

I used a large circle punch on a lightweight card and then taped it to my base card using low tack tape.

 









I roughly tore a scrap of copier paper and held it in place whilst I added my first colour of ink.  I used Cut n Dry foam to apply the ink, swirling it lightly.










You can see that an edge forms where you ink to the torn edge.  

  

  I moved the paper down to apply another colour, and continued to the bottom.  As I was creating a mini scene, in my mind, I started with blue (for the sky), yellow (for the sunshine/daylight), green (for the grass) and brown (for the earth below).  Whilst I had this 'vision' in my mind, you could use three or four random colours, and it would still create a fabulous effect.  It is important to lighlty blend where two colours meet, but take care not to contaminate your blending foam.  When I applied the final colour, which was slightly darker than all the rest, I also lightly continued that colour (brown) around the whole edge, to frame it.

Carefully lift your stencil away, but still leaving one edge attached, so you can put it back in place if you wish to add more colour.

Add your image and voila !!!  You can either stamp directly onto your card front, or onto a mat and then mount on a complimentary mat and add to your card.

I bet you are itching to have a go.
Ta ta for now,
Christine

Creative Collage

 As we were collaging last week, I thought I would share some more....just to keep you in the mood :)


Whilst these aren't from small scraps, it is still a good way of using up some of those papers, perhaps the ones that have got a little raggy at the edges.  It's also a good way of using border punches, and perhaps scraps of material to give another texture.  The first two examples have been made with a pre coloured images, but the latter two, you will recognise as Magnolia stamps.


Whilst the Magnolia examples use the same girl stamp, the colours and papers will give totally different results.  They both have the same design, with a patterned mat on top of a plain coloured mat with a punched border.  The images on the purple one are cut to the edge.

If you don't feel confident in your cutting out skills, leave a narrow border, as in the orange card example below.  It creates a false cutting line that you will identify with more easily and disguises a multitude of sins.  Don't get hung up over the width of the white edge, it really won't make an awful lot of difference.

The cards were also made into easel cards, using matching papers on the inside.

This example clearly shows the narrow white border.  If you don't have suitable greeting stamps, don't forget to make use of your computer.....that way you can write specific sentiments for individual recipients.


So I will leave you to get busy busy busy.

Catch up next week,
Christine

Scrapylicious

 
Continuing on from last week where I challenged you to use up those scraps floating around in your craft space, I thought I would put them to good use by collaging today.  Now we all will have, at one time or another, collaged, most likely in school.  It's a great way to be creative, as anything goes....no limits or restrictions, and is great fun.  Whilst i have used the Julia Nutting stamps as my main focal point, please do not feel limited if you do not have one, as any interesting image will still create a fabulous effect.

 I began by cutting a large tag (but you could just work on a card mat), and randomly layered a variety of papers in both directions.  I inked around the edges and also lightly around the doily I used as an additional layer.

I stamped the doll image onto some script background paper, but you could make your own by stamping onto plain paper using a texture stamps (eg the Kaisercraft ones in the shop)....script, music, etc.  I used Promarkers to add colour to the hair and shoes.  I have in the past also used inktense pencils.


Then using some more papers of different designs, I stamped the various parts of the clothing to be able to cut out.  As I said in the beginning, you don't have to use these particular stamps, but something like a Magnolia girl, providing you can cut individual components out, or for example a teddy bear stamp would work.  Likewise, a flower with large individual petals and perhaps leaves would look stunning.  It gives you the opportunity to use your stamps in a different way.
 

Dressing the doll took me back to my childhood again....you know....the dolls with those tabs on the clothes at the shoulders that you could completely change their wardrobe at a moments notice.  Gosh they were fun.


I then added the girl on top of the doily, and a few more bits that were floating about....a strip with a v cut out (and was obviously a dud the more I look at it !!), a couple of punched leaves and flowers, a bit of card candy and a tag with a verse, attached with a curly clip.   How easy was that !!!!!

For the one on the right, I added a doily between various layers of paper, and trimmed to size.  I also left some of the tag clear as there was script on the background.  Pearls, buttons, gems, ribbon, clocks, frames, clips and other embellishments can help to create completely different effects.  So I won't keep you any longer.....get cracking :) 

Ta ta for now
Christine

Patchwork Possibilities

 Patchwork has been popular in papercrafting for a number of years, and for those of us that aren't sewing goddesses, it gives us the opportunity to create endless possibilities.

 Whilst I have used a Sizzix Bigz die (reference 658316), you could create a stunning patchwork background simply using squares, either in blocks, or rotated in an almost diamond effect (but with equal sides)

I cannot claim credit for this idea as it was something I had seen in a magazine a few years ago.  I cannot remember who the designer was, but I seem to remember she was working for Lili of the Valley at the time.  I have used one of their stamps on my finished card (above).  Make sure you cut plenty of patches in a variety of colours and papers....anything goes !!  It's a great way to use up all those scraps that perhaps aren't useful for anything else.  Sewn patchwork originally was designed to use up the scraps, so we papercrafters can do the same I'm sure.

Select a piece of card to work upon, that is a similar size to your finished card size, as this allows you to be able to trim it to neaten all the edges.  Randomly cover the card butting up all the edges so there are no gaps, and being aware if you have a pattern with a direction.  When it is dry, trim all edges so you create a mat for your base card.  Then using a fine nib black pen, draw small dashes around every patch.  This is time consuming but therapeutic.  Don't get hung up on them all being perfect in size and straightness, it is afterall, just a background, and besides, I can't sew straight ha ha !!!!

I also drew faux stitching around the edge of the patchwork mat and the base card.  Add a picture and a greeting and Voila ! .... a stunner of a card - don't you agree ?

You don't have to completely cover the card, you may just decide to add patchwork to one corner, and don't forget scrapbooking pages....how stunning would they look ?
So come on, get those paper scraps put to good use.
Ta ta for now 
Christine

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy 2016 everyone.  Sorry it's been a few weeks since I last blogged...but hopefully back on track now.

For as long as I can remember, I have doodled.  Any scrap of paper, pen or pencil, and time to pass (probably why I don't do it as often now !!!), I sit and doodle.  It doesn't have to be a work of art, it is purely a therapeutic exercise, which may produce something that is shareable.

 

A few years ago, zentangling hit the craft world and became extremely popular, and subsequently colouring books for adults, so even if you don't feel able to doodle and create your own patterns, you can still de-stress by colouring in pre-drawn patterns.

For this project, I decided to draw around some number templates, overlapping them.  Then I drew around the outline with a black pen and divided the numbers into smaller segments in which to create individual patterns.  You will need to use a pen with a good flow of ink.

You will find lots of inspiration for your patterns on the internet and also Pinterest, the possibilities are endless.
And don't get hung about about 'neatness', it would defeat the object.

When you've filled all your segments with varying patterns, some more solid than others, you may choose to add a little colour, or simply leave monochrome.  Whilst I have drawn in black, on white card, white pen on black card looks stunning.

This card was from a very good friend Christmas 2014.  She has added interest by angling her mats, using some punched snowflakes and of course some sparkle.


These particular stamps are by Woodware, and Stampendous also have a range called Pentangle. 

The lower four examples are currently a work in progress....like many things, I need to make time to finish them off :) 

So, what are you waiting for ?  It's very therapeutic and helps you unwind.  You don't need any specialist equipment, and it can be done anywhere, anytime.  If nothing else, make time for yourself to do the things you enjoy in 2016.

ta ta for now
Christine

Less is more !

It's often said in crafting, "Less is more!"  Sometimes we just don't know when to stop, and want to chuck the kitchen sink at our projects.  The danger is that by over doing it, we can spoil what we have gone to great lengths to produce.  So every now and then, producing something that says 'simplicity' is a refreshing change.

Now, I realised that I hadn't made enough Christmas cards....my list seems endless.......so I decided that I would use this beautiful bauble stamp by Inkylicious to quickly make another 20 or so...keeping it simple.

Keeping to a monochrome theme or red, white and black, I simply stamped the bauble and the bauble top in black Momento ink, onto the same white card I had made my base card out of.  I find it important to use the same card, as colour variations in 'whiteness' can stand out like a sore thumb.  The colour accents on my baubles were determined by the colours of metallic card I had.  I had plenty of the red, so with a fine nib added to a matching red ProMarker, I picked out some of the detail  (not all, just a few accents here and there)  I then used a fine nozzle glue and the DecoArt glamour dust in crystal, to highlight some of the swirls and stems.  The only other thing I added was some festive wording to the front and a verse inside.  So a quick but effective card that can be produced in larger numbers when time is not on your side.
Try something simple...
Christine