One Stamp Event with Oak House Studio

Hello, this weekend is the One Stamp Event from Oak House Studio taking place over Saturday and Sunday. This time the stamp set we are using is the Double Daisy and we are all exploring ways to use the stamp to create with, do pop over to the facebook pages to see the amazing projects, everything from cards, gift wrap and even jewellery have all been created with this versatile stamp set.

I set to work this morning to play with the stamps, inks and embossing powders and have this card to share with you.  I started by stamping one of the large OHS daisy stamps 3 times over a piece of Felt effect cardstock using a versamark embossing inkpad.  I also stanped randomly with the dots texture stamp from the same set, sprinkled with white detail embossing powder and heat set.

Using my largest waterbrush I watercoloured over the stamping using Peacock Green and Paris Pink OHS Colour Chemistry inks, allowing the colours to blend in places to give lilac tones.  The felt texture of the card is very similar to watercolour card and can easily cope with watercolouring.  

Extra detail was added by stamping the dots texture in the lightest blue of the OHS Triple Sky Blues inkpad using a 2nd generation stamping for the background to give a faded look.  I stamped again direct to cntres of the 3 flowers, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and gently heat set to blen in with white embossing.  I also added the texture stamp in blue to the background to add subtle texture.

When dry I then went back in with my waterbrush, this time a smaller one and painted in the petals on each daisy with ink straight from the bottle, 1 in Peacock Green, 1 in Paris Pink and the other in Regal Claret.  When the panel was dry it was trimmed down to approx. 5" square.

The sentiment 'Thinking of you' is also from Oak House Studio and I stamped it in black archival ink onto a scrap of watercoloured card trimmed off the main piece.  Both the daisy panel and the sentiment were matted onto PMD black card.  For the card base another sheet of A4 felt card was scored and folded in half trimming down to create a card of just under 6" square with fold across the top.

I found a sheer black & white polka dot ribbon in my stash and wrapped it around the lower part of the daisy panel, securing ends on reverse with d/s tape before adhering the panel onto my card base.  The sentiment was added on top of the ribbon using 3D foam pads to give height and a little bow from matching ribbon was added to RH side.  To finish I added sequins in pink and teal to the daisy flower centres.

Materials Used:
Double Daisy stamp set - Oak House Studio
Peacock Green, Paris Pink, & Regal Claret - Colour Chemistry Ink in a Bottle - Oak House Studio
Triple Sky Blues - Colour Chemistry Pigment Inkpad - Oak House Studio
Sentiment Stamps - Oak House Studio
 Ivory Felt Embossed Card - Papermilldirect
Black Card - Papermilldirect
Sequins - Dovecraft Serendipity - Trimcraft
Sheer Ribbon
Black Archival Ink, Versamark Embossing Inkpad
White Detail Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder
Double Sided Tape, 3D Foam Pads, Cosmic Shimmer glue

Moustache Heart Valentine Card

Hello, I'm back again with another Moustache themed project for Valentines Day.

I wanted to show that the lovely new First Edition ‘Love Story’ papers from +Trimcraft Ltd  are very versatile and suitable for Modern, Masculine and fun makes too, as well as feminine and romantic makes.

One of my favourite First Edition die sets is the Vintage Gentleman set and so I created this fun Mr. Moustache Heart Valentine card using the Wood Textured canvas effect paper in the Love Story pad and teaming it with black, red and kraft for an easy modern make.

 Step By Step:

1. Cut a sheet of Wood patterned canvas effect paper from the 6x6 Love Story Pad to measure approx. 5 3/8” square.  And Ink around the edges with red ink.  Mat onto a slightly larger square of Dovecraft black card and again onto a 6x6” Kraft card blank (fold along the top) using double sided tape. 
   
2. Using black ink and the Dovecraft ‘Be My Valentine’ clear stamp, stamp the sentiment along the bottom of the woodgrain paper, pressing evenly & firmly to ensure a good print on the textured surface.
   
3. Cut 2 heart shapes from Love Story paper by hand or by using a die, template or your Cricut machine to cut simple hearts.  Ink around edges with red ink and adhere largest heart to card front.  Mat the small heart on top using 3D foam pads to add height.
   
4. Using the FE Vintage Gentleman die set, cut 1 curly moustache shape from Dovecraft black card and attach to heart using 3D foam pads.  Glue 2 googly eyes in place if you have them, if not you can create eyes with circles of black and white card.
   
5. To finish I created black pearls by using a First Edition black marker to colour pearls, when dry I added 1 large and 2 small to either side of the stamped sentiment.
   
    
   Products Used:
   
   
   Dovecraft Kraft 6"x6" Cards & Envelopes DCCE024

   First Edition 6x6 FSC Paper Pad Love story FEPAD115

   Dovecraft A4 Black Card DCBS102

   First Edition Dies - Vintage Gentleman FEDIE003

   Dovecraft Clear Stamp - Valentine DCSTP016

   First Edition Twin Markers - Greys FETMK001

   all materials from +Trimcraft Ltd  and the project can also be seen in the Trimcraft DT Gallery link here http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/projects/121192/moustache-heart-valentine-card-with-first-edition-love-story-papers-dies

Be Mine - Fun Valentine Gift Box Idea

Hello, the Papermilldirect DT have been busy creating all different kinds of gift boxes this week and I'm sharing a fun gift box idea for Valentine’s Day.  Although I have used my Cricut Explore to cut the box for this project, you could easily use the elements to decorate a plain box blank or score and fold a box similar and use heart shapes to decorate.

Cut box shape elements using my Design Space link here: https://uk.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/35853997

I have sized the box to fit A4 card all ready for you but you can easily change the dimensions if you wish.  (For those using earlier Cricut machines the box is from ‘Box It Up’ cartridge and also available free within the subscription images)  Cut the 2 side sections and lid from Papermilldirect White Hammered cardstock and the 5 red panels from Papermilldirect Post Box Red card.  Remember to pop the scorer into the holder if you want your machine to add the score lines for you.

Crease and fold lid along score lines, add glue or tape to inside of lid and adhere the red panel to show through the heart aperture.  Glue tabs to assemble box lid.

Crease and fold along score lines for the 2 box side sections, glue tabs to join panels together.

Slip the 4 red card sections into the side ‘pockets’ to show through the small heart apertures on each side of the box.  You can glue these in place if you prefer.

Fold over tabs at the bottom of box to close it.  If you wish to line the box you can add a square of red card or pattern paper inside.

Apply washi tape around the lid of the box, I have chosen a gold tape with white dots.

Using the First Edition Vintage Gentleman die set cut 1 curly moustache shape from papermilldirect black card and glue onto heart.  Add 2 googly eyes to create a fun face on the lid.

Using a sentiment stamp set and black ink, stamp ‘Be Mine’ onto white hammered card, cut out and glue to box lid.   Cover a small piece of red card with the gold washi tape and die cut into a heart.  Glue heart to box lid as shown.

As the box is a simple 2 part box shape you could easily score and fold your own using Papermilldirect cardstock.  I chose to use hammered card to give texture to the box but you could use Papermilldirect plain white card or even another colour from across the range.  You could also use templates or dies to cut your heart shapes.  Googly eyes add a fun element and come in different sizes, styles and colours so you can add lots of character to your designs, why not make a set of different ones?

Are you making gift boxes for Valentine’s Day?  Why not share your designs over on the Papermilldirect facebook page, we’d love to see them.

Materials Used:
White Hammered Card - Papermilldirect
Post Box Red Card - Papermilldirect
Black Card - Papermilldirect
Vintage Gentleman Die Set - First Edition
Sweet Little Sentiments stamp set - Clearly Besotted
Gold Washi Tape, Googly Eyes
Cosmic Shimmer Clear Drying Glue
Black Archival Ink
Cricut Explore with subscription or older cricut with 'Box it Up' images
Design Space Link:https://uk.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/35853997
 

Papermill Design Team:
if you have a moment, please do pop over and check out the other papermill teamies blogs and see what they got up to this week: 

• Barbara 
• Lisa 
• Ruth 
• Sylvia 
• Sandie
• Nessa 
• Nicole 
• Wendy
• Papermilldirect Inspire Blog  

How Sweet It Is...Rosette Accordion Card

Hello, I have a new +Trimcraft Ltd DT card to share with you today. First play with the new First Edition papers ‘Love Story’ and as always there was a lot of ‘ohhing and ahhing’ as I looked through the pads.  These papers are so pretty, beautiful traditional florals mixed with modern patterns and wood effects, the colours are just right too, soft shades of pink, peach, and creamy beige with sprinklings of soft greens and browns. Perfect for Valentines but also all year round as there is such a nice versatile selection of designs.

I recently made a Rosette Accordion Heart and wanted to create another, so this time it’s a large circular shape as the main focus of the design.

  Step By Step:

1. Take a 6 x 6” Kraft card blank and cut the front in half diagonally to give a card with a half front.
   Take the floral xoxoxo paper from the 6x6 Love Story pad and trim it down just a little (it will be a mat inside the card)  Ink around the edges with red ink and when dry edge around with Dovecraft glitter glue in ‘crystal’  When dry use double sided tape to adhere inside the card.
   
2. Cut 2 triangles of paper (use the off cut from the card front to help you size it) from the Love Story striped paper. Inking around and adding the glitter glue as before.  When dry adhere 1 triangle to cover the inside cover and 1 to the card front.
   
3. To create your Accordion Rosette, take sheets of the ‘with love’ text paper from the Love Story Pad, and cut each sheet at 2” strips  (you will need about 4 strips) score and fold these strips at 1cm intervals and join each together using glue to form a loop.  When dry press down on loop onto a circle of card with glue in the centre, gently push the pleated rosette together so that the centre is small and the rosette is the size you wish.  (Mine is approx. 4 3/8” wide).
   To neaten the back of the rosette, cut a circle from pink Love Story paper, edge with red ink and glitter glue to match the design and glue to the back of rosette. Also do the same to the rosette front with the inking and glitter glue around the edges and along the raised folds.
   
4. Using the first edition alphabet die set, die cut letters to spell ‘LOVE’ in pink paper and Kraft card (use waste from card front).  Glue the letters to a wooden heart shape offsetting them so the pink is on top with the kraft as the shadow.  Ink and glitter glue around the edge of the heart before adding to centre of rosette using 3D foam.
   
5. Using the FE Border dies die cut border from Kraft card (use waste from card front) glue to card front along the bottom.  Die cut a matching piece of border and trim down to a single motif, gluing this inside card at top right.
   
6. Adhere rosette to card front centrally where it will overlap so be sure to only put adhesive on the parts that won’t be seen when the card is opened.
7. From the Love Story papers, cut out the tag ‘How Sweet it is’, ink and glitter glue edges, then glue inside card where it will be hidden by the rosette on the front
   
8. To finish, tie organza ribbon (santoro) in a bow, trim ends and stick in place just above heart.  Add a small adhesive pearl to centre of motif border piece and add 3 adhesive pearls along diagonal front of card.
   
   
   
   
    Products used in this project:
   

   First Edition 6x6 FSC Paper Pad Love story FEPAD115

   Dovecraft Kraft 6"x6" Cards & Envelopes DCCE024

   Me to You Sweet Shop Wooden Shapes MYWDN003

   First Edition Dies - Borders FEDIE002

   First Edition Dies - Script Alphabet FEDIE014

   Santoro 68 Spool Ribbon Box SNCR002

   
    all materials from +Trimcraft Ltd  and the project can also be seen in the Trimcraft DT Gallery link here:http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/projects/121174/how-sweet-it-is-rosette-accordion-card-with-first-edition-love-story-and-dies
   
   
   

Accordion Heart Card

I've made a few bright modern cards recently so this time I thought I would re-visit a more muted, distress, vintage style and the First Edition 'Falling Leaves' are perfect for this style of crafting.  For this project I have distressed, inked, foiled, stamped and heat embossed.

I also quite like paper folding and find accordion folds very relaxing to make with their concertina style, this time I thought I would try making a large heart and found a few templates online, one of  which I have shared with you (hopefully you can understand my notes on it).

I also love the FE Foiling and, as I don't have the machine just yet, I have been experimenting using the other methods like the Foil Transfer Glue which I have used in this project.

Step By Step:

1. Cut a rectangle of pale patterned paper from FE Falling Leaves pad to measure approx. 6 ¾” wide by 4 ¾” high.
   Using the ‘Always in my Heart’ clear stamp (Willow) and a clear embossing pad, stamp the sentiment over the paper randomly.  Sprinkle stamping with clear embossing powder and emboss with a heat gun.
   Distress the edges of the paper using the edge of your scissors or a distressing tool if you have one. 
   Ink around the edges using a pale brown ink allowing some of the ink to blend onto the paper to highlight the stamping in places.
   
2. Next apply FE foil transfer glue in random squiggly lines around the edge of the paper and leave to dry for a few minutes.  When glue goes clear it is ready to add the foil, so take the FE gold foil and press against the raised glue lines, rubbing and smoothing to apply
   
3. Using a red brown ink, stamp the sentiment onto the pale dotted paper (Falling Leaves), sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat emboss with the heat gun.  Cut out sentiment into a rectangle shape and distress, ink and add gold foiling to match the base paper.
   
4. Adhere brown organza ribbon (Willow) across the lower part of paper panel and add lace ribbon on top, securing the ends on the reverse of the paper.
   Take paper doilies (Sweet Paris) and position so that they overlap the paper panel at top left and side right, adhering on the back.
   Attach paper panel to a 5 x 7” Kraft card in landscape position (with the fold along the top)
   
5. Create an Accordion / Rosette heart shape (see template above) using the knit / textile patterned paper from the Falling Leaves pad.  Scoring and folding both strips in a concertina pattern and gluing the ends to form a loop, add glue to a circle of card and press down squeezing the shape together to form a heart shape. 
   Ink around the edges of the heart with the brown ink.  Add FE foil transfer glue randomly to the raised folds of the heart, allow to go clear, then apply FE gold foil as before.
   
6. Attach rosette heart at an angle to card front using 3D foam pads.  Thread a wooden heart button (Sweet Paris) with jute twine and tie in a bow, trim ends and fray the twine, then add button to centre of rosette heart.
   To finish, take 3 square plastic buttons (TTT) and thread with jute twine, trim ends and fray before attaching buttons in a row to bottom of card at RH side.

 

Products used in this project

First Edition 8x8 FSC Paper Pad Falling Leaves FEPAD111

Dovecraft Kraft 5"x7" Cards & Envelopes DCCE023

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Doilies DCDO008

SANTORO®'s Willow Clear Stamp - Sentiment SNCS017

Dovecraft Sweet Paris Wooden Buttons DCWB007

Me to You Tiny Tatty Teddy Boy Plastic Buttons TTTBN001

Santoro 68 Spool Ribbon Box SNCR002

SANTORO®'s Willow Jute SNJU001

First Edition Foil – Gold FEFOL002

First Edition Foil Glue FEACC001

 all materials from +Trimcraft Ltd  and the project can also be seen in the Trimcraft DT Gallery link here: http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/projects/121138/accordion-heart-card-with-first-edition-falling-leaves-stamping-foiling

Me & You Valentines Card - Inking Embossing Folder Technique

Hello, I have a new card design to share with you.  This week the Papermill Design Team are looking at Embossing Techniques and I thought I would show how simply adding ink can make a difference to your embossing. 

For this design I took a ‘Wood Grain’ embossing folder, opened it up and added ink to one side with my inkpad.  I used one of my small dewdrop inkpads in Rich Cocoa colour and simply dabbed and swiped it over one inner side of the plastic embossing folder adding ink to the raised edges.  (If you prefer you could use a larger inkpad and brayer to apply the ink).  I placed a piece of Papermilldirect Buff coloured card inside the folder and ran it through my Big Shot machine, opened the folder and the card has been embossed and inked to resemble wood grain.  (Just clean any excess ink off the folder with a baby wipe).  I trimmed the wood grain panel down to approx. 3 ¾ “wide by 5” high and used double sided tape to mat onto PMD Maroon card to give a small border.

To create the card base I simply scored and folded an A4 sheet of PMD White Hammered card in half and then trimmed down to give me a 4 ½ “ wide by 5 ¾” high card base ( I like the fold across the top for this design but you may prefer it with fold to the left).  The wood grain panel was attached centrally with double sided tape.

I took a small length of Jute Hessian trim from my stash and cut it to just overlap the card edges, fraying the ends,  double sided tape secures the trim along the bottom of the wood grain panel.

Using PMD Pale Turquoise card and the Marianne Design Dove die set, I cut one bird body and 2 wing pieces.  You could leave the pieces with the cut outs as they are or do as I have done and added PMD Baby Pink card to the back so it shows a contrast colour in the cut-outs.  Glue wings to dove body arranging as you wish and then use 3D foam pads to adhere the Dove to the wood grain panel towards the top LH side, allow the wings and tail to overlap the card slightly, this adds extra interest drawing your eyes ‘off the page’ adding to the idea of the bird flying.

 

The sentiment is provided by the ‘Me & You’ sticker from the Forest Friends embellishments, I placed this below the dove and slightly to the right.  To finish a self-adhesive blue gem was added to the eye of the dove and pearls were added to decorate the tail and wings.  3 self-adhesive pearls were also added to the Jute Trim at RH side.

I think the inking of the embossing folder worked really well and along with the embossed surface, raised embellishments and Jute trim, it made for quite a tactile card.  Why not experiment with your own embossing folders and don’t forget to share your makes over on the papermilldirect facebook page, we’d love to see them.

Materials Used:

Buff Card – Papermilldirect

White Hammered Card – Papermilldirect

Pale Turquoise Card – Papermilldirect

Baby Pink Card – Papermilldirect

Maroon Card – Papermilldirect

Wood Grain - Textures Embossing Folder – Crafter’s Companion

Rich Cocoa – Dewdrop Inkpad – Memento

Decorative Dove LR0149 - Creatables Die – Marianne Design

Forest Friends Embellishment Stickers – Grace Taylor

Adhesive gem and pearls, Jute trim

Adhesives: Double Sided Tape, 3D Foam Pads,cosmic shimmer glue

Sending Love...

Hello again, today I am 'Sending Love' and sharing another crafty make with you.  This time I’m using a digital download and printing it onto Papermilldirect Linen card to create a greeting card suitable for Valentine’s Day or just to say hello to that special person in your life.

Now I haven't entered any Challenges for a long time but I saw the January Challenge over at LC Designs (a new name & branding for Little Claires) and thought I'd give it a try.  The Challenge theme is 3,2,1 and so for my design I used 3 different colours of Card, 2 Words and 1 Digi Image. If you'd like to enter too, the link is here: http://www.littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/monthly-digi-stamp-challenge-13-3-2-1.html

The Digi Image is from LC Designs and is called ‘digi birds in squares’ and I printed it out onto A4 Ivory Linen card from Papermilldirect. I set the image to print and adjusted the size to give me 4 images to the A4 sheet. (I’m only using 1 for this project but it’s handy to have extra if you wish to test colours or think you may like to make a batch of cards)

Once the sheet was printed I left all the images intact on the A4 and proceeded to colour the image using a selection of alcohol marker pens from First Edition. I love to colour on linen card as I really like the texture and look it gives to your projects.  After colouring I trimmed the image down to leave a border all around.

I added a few highlights using a white pen to the birds and also used it to colour the dots on the hanging heart and the bird’s wings.

I adhered the image panel to a slightly larger piece of PMD Post Box red card using double sided tape and trimmed to give a small red border, then mounted again onto PMD Buff card to give a larger border.

For the sentiment panel I cut a piece of PMD Ivory Linen card to measure approx.  5 1/8” wide x 5 5/8” high.  Using a ‘Sending Love’ stamp and black Archival ink I stamped the sentiment to the bottom of the card towards the right hand side.

To create the card base I took an A4 sheet of PMD Post Box Red card and scored it in half before trimming down to create a card base measuring approx. 5 ½” wide by just over 6” high.  I used double sided tape to adhere the sentiment panel to the red card base.

I added the coloured image panel to the card front using 3D foam pads to give height and positioned it above the sentiment.  

To finish I added a small red heart adhesive gem to the end of the sentiment.

Digi stamps are an inexpensive way to create the look of stamped images and are useful if you wish to create designs in different sizes or if you are not confident or have dexterity problems with manually stamping.  The image I chose to use is quite versatile as you could also trim to use any of the 4 image squares in insolation or combination as well as in smaller or larger sizes.  If you are new to using your printer and /or printing digital images, LC Designs (Little Claire’s) also  have a couple of free images on their website which are great for testing out if you are unsure. 

Challenges Entered:
3,2,1 Challenge over on LC Designs Blog, link here:

http://www.littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/monthly-digi-stamp-challenge-13-3-2-1.html

Materials Used:

Ivory Linen Card – Papermilldirect

Post Box Red Card – Papermilldirect

Buff Card – Papermilldirect

‘Digi Birds in Squares’ digi stamp – LC Designs (Little Claires)

Alcohol Markers – First Edition

White Pen – Pergamano

Black Archival Ink

‘Sweet Little Sentiments’ clear stamps – Clearly Besotted

Red heart adhesive gem

Double sided tape, 3D foam pads