Clean and simple cardmaking technique

 

Hello lovely visitors.  Welcome to my share for the Totally Techniques blog hop for January 2026.  This month we are sharing CAS cards, clean and simple or as my US friend calls it Clean and Sharp.  I've used a couple of very simple techniques within that theme of ink blending and splattering.  You can make similar with more colours or indeed stick with the gorgeous Secret Sea ( my new Old Olive go with any colour ) and a single colour combo. 

I like the striking outline images of the Natural Botanicals stamp set and it has lent itself really well to this card.  

If you haven't come across our January Product of the Month (POTM) then do take a look at how you can get your hands on it for just £5.  It has a super pair of fonts and sentiments for many, many occasions.  

Enjoy our hop. 

Sending sunshine

Zoe x

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Supplies

In color dsp

Natural Botanicals stamp set

Fabulous Sayings 

Cardstock

In Color Flat Pearls

How to use Emboss Paste for the Totally Techniques blog hop.

Hi everyone I hope you have had a super Christmas if you celebrate it and are ready to see in the new year!  2025 has certainly been very eventful in so many ways and I'm hoping that 2026 will bring more joy that its predecessor.  

Our last Totally Techniques hop theme was rather rashly chosen by me quite some months ago when I had current stecils/masks to use with the paste.  When I came to create my card I was somewhat at a loss. I did consider creating my own stencils, but then struck upon the idea of adding ink to colour the paste and using it as a backdrop for a focal image. 

So with a new bundle which you'll see arrive in early January I settled upon using the Fragrant Layers bundle and the colours of Soft Sea Foam, Lemon Lolly and Fresh Freesia.  Subtle colours, but vibrant and fresh inviting Spring to come as soon as it can as a change from the damp foggy mornings we've had recently.  

You'll see in the video how I went about creating my card and how to add the ink to the paste.  It's only as messy as you want it to be for those who are clean ink free finger folk, but it verges on the mixed media for those who want to be a little more adventurous.  Enjoy and do subscribe if you find it appeals.  

Thanks for popping by and I wish you all good wishes for the remainder of the year and of course the very best for the new year ahead.  

Keep stamping

Zoe x

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Shop  Supplies 

embossing paste

embossing paste

palette knives craft 

Fresh Freesia Re inker 

Lemon Lolly Refill 

Soft Sea Foam Refill

 

How to make a shaker card

Welcome to November's Totally Techniques Blog Hop.  Shaker cards always play tricks on my brain and somehow it doesn't tell me the right order, but here I have it right and have I hope created a simple version of a shaker card for you to try.  I've used the Friendly Foliage stamp and die bundle from Stampin' Up! which will be available to purchase in January.  It's one of the new online exclusive products and is way more user friendly than you might at first think.  

For my card I've used the colours Pool Party, Garden Green and Granny Apple Green inks and Pool Party and white card. The lovely soft chevron ribbon is also a new product coming very soon.  Often shaker cards contain sequins or mini beads, but I decided to use the tiny bee trinkets for my  shaker. You'll see in the tutorial how I added them and kept them in the shake zone with foam adhesive strips and window sheet.  

Shaker Card Tutorial

You'll see I did some tone on tone stamping too, to extend the design across the card.  This works best usually with stronger colours, but here it worked well too as have the Traditional Sparkling Sequins to add a sparkly lift to the design.  Sending cards to friends and family still bring smiles and love to the recipients and when they are handmade they send a strong message of 'I'm thinking of you'

Enjoy our hop via the links below and do follow my youtube channel if you enjoy my tutorial. 

Thanks for visiting 

Happy stamping Zoe x

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Supplies Used

Tiny Bee Trinkets

Window Sheet

small blending brushes

Traditional Sparkling Sequins 

Premium Pool Party cardstock 

 Available January 2026

Set back stamping technique for card making - Try this for your DIY Christmas Cards

 

Welcome to our papercraft technique blog hop for September 2025.  Our theme this month was set by the lovely Fanny Minnie in Austria and it is Set Back Stamping.  You create depth to give the view of your image being set back on your handmade card.  

I have used the popular Traditions of Christmas Suite of products from Stampin' Up! but instead of using the traditional colours of Christmas I've used pinks and greens and you could if you wished use a happy birthday sentiment instead of the ones I've used from the Traditional Labels stamp set.  The floral image is from Christmas Greenery and its coordinating dies.  

It's fun to create this texture to a card and really makes your image pop and can be done with any stamp and die bundle that you have.  I enjoyed colouring the images with my alcohol markers (Stampin' Blends) and as you'll hear in my video tutorial you don't need to be an expert colourer to create super colourful images. 

Colouring is such a great activity for clearing your mind as you focus on the colouring and the stresses of your day will more than likely disappear and so it can be very relaxing.  If you like my tutorial do subscribe to my channel as there are more tutorials on the way.  

Enjoy watching and then return for our tour of blogs showcasing different ideas for this fun technique.  You can find all the products I used in the list at the bottom of this post.  

Thanks for joining me today.

Keep stamping

Zoe x

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Love Stampin' Up! Products and discounts

Join us in October with this amazing deal

contact me for information

Shopping List

Christmas Greenery Bundle

Traditional Labels stamp set

foam adhesive sheets

iridescent faceted gems

How to create custom stencils for cardmaking

 

Hi crafting friends thanks for stopping by today as you click around the Totally Techniques International Stampin' Up! Demonstrator blog hop.  We are sharing ways to create your own custom stencils or masks as my US friends call them for using on your card making or even your scrapbooking and memory keeping projects.  

I have used an upcoming suite of products called the Tradtions of Christmas with two bundles, Christmas Greenery and Traditonal Labels along with Traditional Sparkling Sequins.  There is also a sparkly ribbon and stunning pack of specialty DSP that you will love.   You will see in time that this bundle isn't just for Christmas projects and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have during our preorder period.  The suite and many more Winter Mini products will be available from 3 September.   

My card today is simple, but modern even though the colours and images are very traditional.  It's easy to create and as you'll find in the video does what it says on the title! 

Please do subscribe to my youtube channel for more inspiration and ideas over the coming months. 

A little variation if you want to add a more vintage, traditional sentiment look.

Above is an alternative way to create a similar card with different margins on the layers and a different sentiment and dies from the Traditional Labels Bundle available from 3 September 2025.

 Enjoy our hop and browsing my shop. If you don't have a catalogue please email me for a digital copy or paper copy.

Happy stamping 

Zoe x

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Click here to enter

Supply List

Stampin Write Markers

Available from 3 September

Blending Brushes