Happy Arty Days: handmade

Showing posts with label handmade. Show all posts

Spellbinders Guest Designer: Inked Messages Stamp & Die Sets #2

Hi Crafty Friends!

I'm back with my second installment of Guest Designer creations for Spellbinders,

featuring the beautiful Inked Messages Stamp & Die Sets collection by Stephanie Low.

I am just loving these coordinating stamps and dies!

SO many beautiful designs with tons of creative possibilities!

For today's post I am creating with the stunning

SDS-143 Fare Thee Well Stamp & Die Set

I just adore the feather in this set - it really had my heart!

But enough chatter, here's what I created with it......

Oh.my.heart!

Did I mention how much I adore that feather stamp?!

CAS card perfection!

This stamp & die set is just divine!

Let's take a closer look......

How pretty is this?!!

Inspired by all things good luck; horseshoes, peacock feathers, wreaths and dream catchers - this card has it all!

I start with a 5" x 7" white card base, and layer the front with a 4" x 7" sheet of clear vellum.

On smooth white cardstock, I stamp 8 feathers and one lucky horseshoe in black permanent ink. I color them with ink markers, and use their coordinating dies to precisely cut them out.

I arrange 5 of the feathers into a circle (wreath) design, and glue into place.

Next, I position the remaining 3 feathers below the wreath to create a dream catcher look. I place a twine bow over the join, and then foam mount the lucky horseshoe over the bow center.

For finishing touches, I apply white Nuvo Drops on the flowers, and aqua gemstones on the peacock feathers.

Simple, but oh so striking!!!

The second card is totally CAS, and I just love it!

Simplicity at its best!

Beautifully stamped, colored & cut images that are so striking they need very little to embellish them!

Here's a closer look at that tonal coloring for you....

Just beautiful!

Spellbinders Supplies:

SDS-143 Fare Thee Well Stamp & Die Set Inked Messages Collection by Stephanie Low

PE-100 Platinum 6 Die Cutting & Embossing Machine

Other Supplies:

Black Stamping Ink, Color Markers, Smooth White Card, Foam Tape, Aqua Gemstones, Nuvo Drops, Sequins, Twine.

I hope today's cards have inspired you and you'll pop back soon for my final guest post!

I can't wait to share my next projects with you!

Thanks so much for visiting,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Spellbinders Guest Designer: Inked Messages Stamp & Die Sets #1

Hi Crafty Friends!

I am so super excited to be a guest designer for Spellbinders this month!

I hope you will enjoy seeing my card creations over the coming week!

I will be sharing three creative posts as part of my guest role & they all feature the gorgeous

Inked Messages collection designed by Stephanie Low.

For my first post today, I am focusing on two fabulous stamp & die sets,

SDS-136 Rough Waters Stamp & Die Set

Rough Waters Stamp and Die Set Inked Messages Collection by Stephanie Low

Rough Waters Stamp and Die Set Inked Messages Collection by Stephanie Low

&
SDS-138 Grow Newer With Me Stamp & Die Set

Grow Newer With Me Stamp and Die Set Inked Messages Collection by Stephanie Low

I just love encouragement 'hang in there' cards so it was only natural that the first cards I created were from the Rough Waters Set.......

Oh aren't they pretty?!!

The 'calm seas' sentiment combined with that fabulous anchor stamp immediately inspired the waved design, and a sense of being in the ocean.

For both cards, I use black permanent ink to stamp my images, & then fill them using colored pencils. I don't use any particular techniques when coloring, but I am thoughtful with shadow & tone. I use the corresponding dies and my Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting & Embossing Machine to precisely cut the images.

I would like to mention that they cut like butter in only one pass! Perfection!

Here's a closer look at each card....

This card is 5" x 7" and is made with pattern paper.

To keep with my feminine style, and to soften the anchor image, I layer my waved pattern paper with clear vellum. I also include the floral stamp from this set, using it to layer both my sentiment & anchor onto. Florals always add gentleness, and create a more delicate 'feel'.

Both my sentiment & anchor are applied with thick foam tape. This adds dimension to the card, and also ensures that they remain the focal points too!

Between the layers you'll also spy some white tangled threads.

I love the inclusion of textiles, and these threads add both texture and interest.

The attention to tonal detail really creates beautifully colored images.

I darken the colors in the shadow lines of the anchor to add more depth and definition to the stamped image.

A stitched trim & a few white Nuvo Drops complete this pretty, nautical themed, encouragement card!

The second card is 5" x 5" and makes for a sweet lil encouragement note!

For this card, I use a combination of the wave pattern paper & white cardstock. To draw attention the anchor 'bobbing' in the ocean, I cut the pattern paper along the wave line and mount it to the cardstock on the front of the card with thick foam tape. With no flowers to soften this anchor, I decide to color it with warmer tones. I use shades of brown instead of the cool steel gray. I position tangled white threads beneath the anchor, and then attach the anchor with thick foam tape too! The sentiment is also mounted with foam tape. Lots of dimension for this tiny notelet!

For finishing touches, I use the white Nuvo Drops, as well as a few watercolor droplets in blue.

Voila!

Beautiful cards to support a friend in troubled times!

My second set of cards today are created from the Grow Newer With Me Stamp & Die Set and are also very pretty....

Sigh! Totally swooning over this sweet romantic card!

It is also a 5" x 5" note card, and I have stamped the blooms in both the top right and bottom left corners of the white watercolor paper base. I used permanent black ink, so that I could watercolor the images without fear of bleeding. For the leaves I use three different shades of green, and blend them just a little. I use two pink colors for the blooms, and then a pale blue for the background. I stamp & die cut my sentiment, and apply it with foam dots between the two blooms. Tangled threads, enamel dots & tiny pom pom trim complete the card front.

So super pretty! I loved this set so much I whipped up another using both colored pencils and shimmering paint.....

Gor-jus!

Spellbinders Supplies:

SDS-136 RoughWaters Stamp & Die Set Inked Messages Collection by Stephanie Low

SDS-138 Grow Newer With Me Stamp & Die Set Inked Messages Collection by Stephanie Low

PE-100 Platinum 6 Die Cutting & Embossing Machine

Other Supplies:

Permanent Black Stamping Ink, Scrapbook Pattern Paper, White Cardstock, Nuvo Drops, Enamel Dots, Cotton Thread, Ribbon, Sparklets, Coloring Pencils, Watercolor Paints & Foam Tape.

I hope my cards have inspired you to try these fabulous new release Stamp & Die Sets!

Thanks so much for visiting!

Remember to stop by soon to see more of my creations with the Inked Messages collection!

til next time,

Happy Arty Days,

Amanda xo

Paper Issues: November Try It Tuesday!

Hi Papercrafting Friends!

It's time for another super fun edition of

One of my favourite challenges on the Paper Issues calendar,

but hey, I may be bias, lol!

I just love trying new things, and I get really excited by all the wonderful ideas you all share with us!

This month we want you to try....

creating your own embellishments!

(and then use that embellishment/s on your project that you share with us!)

So much fun!

Here's just a few suggestions/ideas of DIY embellishments to get you started:

Make your own flowers from dies, layered cut files or ribbons

Paper rosettes

Layered tags

Feathered arrows from skewer sticks

Stitch die cut ephemera together to create a new look

Banners / bunting & flags from washi tape

The possibilities are endless!

& Remember: This challenge is suitable for all creations; scrapbook layouts, cards, OTPs, planners etc

For my DIY embellishments, I chose to make paper rosettes.

You'll notice that I hot glued puffy stickers over the center joins for a more 'polished' look......

Aren't they gorgeous?!
You'll also spot that I also created my own layered tag from pattern paper, ephemera, stickers and one of my rosettes. I LOVE how this turned out!
Here's how I combined them all into my layout,

"Sweet Girl"

WOW! Happiness is definitely here!

Such a fun and vibrant page of my sweet girl!

I have used the stunning Crate Paper: Maggie Holmes Carousel collection & it's available in the store HERE.

I just love how bright and playful it is!

To keep everything looking beautifully coordinated, I used pattern papers and stickers from this line to make my rosettes and tag too!

Let's take a closer look.....

Oh so gorgeous!!! All the paper pretties!!!

From the 6 x 12 Stcikers to the Puffy & Chipboard Stickers, the Die Cut Ephemera & even those Enamel Pin Stickers - this collection is out to impress!