Watercolour Stamping Tutorial for paper crafting

Hi friends how's your week been?  Here I've been busy enjoying time out with friends,  walking dogs and enjoying son being home for a few days.  I've also been busy creating and really enjoyed tinkering with ink and water to create this month's Totally Technique card.  Annette my lovely dutch friend set the task for us to share watercolour stamping and it is fun. 

I really like the differing looks that just using these mediums can create and add in embossing folders and dies and there's lots you can do. 

The measurements are as follows

Fluid 100 watercolour paper whole sheet

Lost Lagoon card base 29.8 x 10.5 cm scored at 14.85 cm

Lost Lagoon matt layer embossed 9.7cm x 14cm

Lost Lagoon die cut rectangle start with 10.5cm x 14.8cm

All the extra details are included in the video.  If you enjoy watching please do subscribe to my channel and share with friends.  

You can use ribbon, rhinestones and die cut card to embellish or add some tiny bee trinkets and hand torn stamped two-tone cardstock.  Which do you prefer?

Enjoy your weekend

Hugs Zoe x

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Ends tonight

Supplies used

Natural Botanicals stamp set

#164831

Painted Stripes background stamp 

Lost Lagoon cardstock

Ink/water spritzer

Tiny Bee Trinkets

Peace to You at Christmas - Stampin' for Christmas Blog Hop

 

It's been a while since I join this fun blog hop so welcome to my blog and happy countdown to the festive season.  

Today I'm sharing a simple card made using the beautiful stamp set Peace to You.  Peace to all is what we all hope for I'm sure.  

To create the card I have stamped the church image onto basic grey card and heat embossed in white.  I used the stitched rectangle dies to cut out the image and added faux red linen ribbon, bakers twine and a flat jingle bell to showcase the simple sentiment.  This card was very popular at my Christmas card buffet. 

It is easily reproducible so a great one for lots of makes to send out for Christmas.  The stamp set will retire very soon and is available on the last chance list.

I'm also sharing this fun little Robin handmade Christmas card.  For this design I used the Songbird builder punch to create a Robin using kraft card with sponging and a red card for his distinctive red breast.  I've then used the Sweet Songbird stamp set to stamp the branches, musical notes and his feet so that I could then stamp with the holly and berries from the Christmas Banners stamp set retiring soon and reduced in the winter sale. 

This card is easy to make too and requires a little punching with the Songbird punch and then simple stamping.  To create a little detail on the Robin you can use a sponge dauber or blending brush to add a darker shade to the kraft card. I punched the beak out of early espresso card, but you could blend onto the kraft card for this too.  

Use up those papers that we all hoard to add a pretty background matt layer.  

Enjoy the hop and check out the Stampin' Up! sale where there are discounts of up to 60% on stamps and dies.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great December.

Hugs Zoe x

Supply List Shop Link 

Peace to You stamp set

Christmas Banners stamp set

Sweet Songbird Bundle

SHOP LAST CHANCE SALE

Summer Fun - Cocktail anyone?

 Our new challenge at MAWTT - Moving Along With The Times - is Summer Fun or Summer Colours.  This is such a fun and easy challenge I hope you'll join in the fun. 

I used the Stampin' Up! Nothing's Better Than stamp set and spotlighted this tasty looking cocktail to create a Happy Holiday card.   I shaped some Pansy Petals DSP using the Basic Border dies and layered it onto a piece of Granny Apple Green card.  I've embossed a white circle and matted that onto a Magenta Madness die cut scalloped circle and added an untied bow of gold thread.  I've also embossed a design in white to add to the idea of summer foliage although it is actually a Christmas stamp from new set Words of Cheer.  I love to get more than just Christmas use from my seasonal stamp sets.  

I've played about with words from the sentiments in the same set to create a wish for a great holiday with some bling.  

I coloured what I think looks a little like a Tequila Sunrise cocktail with Stampin' Blends and have sat dreaming of a sunny holiday ever since. 

I hope to see your card over on the MAWTT challenge blog at some point this month.  You can visit the blog here.

Keep safe and keep stamping  and best wishes for a fabulous holiday if you are escaping.  

Hugs Zoe xx

Nothing's Better Than stamp set

Love you more than dies

Basic Border Dies

SHOP ALL STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS 

Happy Birthday Mum

Happy birthday to my wonderful Mum.  Our first family birthday out of lockdown so we visited my parents at the weekend to celebrate.

My Mum loves big cards and so this is A5, simple layout, but don't the Blossoms in Bloom pack a punch.  I stamped my own background with the various flower and leaf stamps from the set  and then added a pear pizzazz matt layer and a die cut layer of whisper white using the coordinating Many Layered Blooms dies.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set and stamped on a tag I made using the Lovely Labels punch and more floral stamping. If you do stamp on a sentiment like this be sure to use one of the darker colours for the actual sentiment and then 'stamp off' the first layer of ink on scratch paper before stamping the flowers over the sentiment.  It keeps the words as the focal point with the flowers drifting in the background.

You can see that the MUM is raised and this is done using the cute new Playful Alphabet dies and foam adhesive sheets.  You can use the letters die cut like I have and/or the negative they are cut from.  All you do is add card stock or patterned papers to one side of the sheet and then place the letters on top before passing through your die cutting machine.  Be careful with patterned papers to add the side of paper you want uppermost on the sheet then the letter dies.  

If you don't have a die cutting machine Stampin' Up! has a new machine launching in September.  However if you need it sooner you can join Stampin' Up! and choose the larger of the two machines as part of your starter kit.  You can choose £130 of product and it only costs you £99.  There is no shipping to pay either so a real treat and you will also have access to fun events with my team, the stampin' up! wider family and  discount on your purchases whilst you are an active team member.  If you'd like more information about it please do contact me at zoetant@live.co.uk . The smaller machine will follow later and some of the accessories.

Keep safe everyone and enjoy your craft and garden time.

Hugs Zoe x

Moonlight Sailing

I was playing with ink and sponging and remembered vaguely that I had seen an article, I think in Craft Stamper, about leaving a narrow line to create a difference in texture.  I'm really pleased how this turned out for a first attempt.  

I masked with low tack tape a square on my piece of shimmery white card stock. The shimmery card stock helps with the misty moonlight effect although I've struggled to photograph it for you to see clearly.   I then added a piece of the same tape across the square to separate the sky from what became the sea.    I stamped the boat and used an almost dry aqua painter to draw in colour from the outline of the boat to add colour to the sails and boat hull.  I masked the boat having cut out a thin paper mask to cover the sails and boat but didn't worry about the ropes  being there as in navy they were strong enough to appear through the sponging I was about to add.  Using sponges I gently added colour to give a sultry sky having used a paper circle mask for the moon also.  Once I was happy with the colour blending I removed the moon mask and did a very, very gentle swipe of colour over the moon to keep the misty haze consistent with the rest of the sky.  

Now I moved the horizontal line of low tack tape and put it along the bottom of the sky plus a smidge extra to give a very very narrow line for the distinction between the sky and sea. I'd positioned my boat just about right before any sponging although it could be a little lower. 

For the sea I did the same process of adding different colours with sponges.  I also used a mask from the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks collection from the Stampin' Up! winter catalogue.   I sponged ink through the mask in a random fashion of light and darker depth.  I then used some water splatter to lift some colour to add to the effect of the sea.  To do this I sprayed some water into the palm of my hand and clapped over the inking. I let the droplets sit for a few seconds before drying with paper towel. 

The final touch was to stamp the birds and sentiment again in Night of Navy ink directly onto the design before adding a narrow Night of Navy matt layer and then position the design onto a  Grey Granite card base.  

It makes a card just right for masculine birthdays and more. 

Thanks for popping by. 

Cheers Zoe x

SHOP NOW

Anything goes for me this time!

When Stampin' Up! launched the Daisy Lane Bundle I wonder if they had thought about using it as a Christmas stamp set?  

Our challenge for the Christmas Card Club from Elizabeth was for ornaments this fortnight, but I don't have any ornament stamps at the moment so I've gone for the Anything Goes fail safe option.  I've used the Daisy Lane bundle and turned the beautiful daisy stamps into snowflakes.  I have fallen in love with the new in colour Pretty Peacock and am finding it useful in some many colour combos and here is no exception.  It's simple stamping using one Daisy stamp ontop of the other  to give a snowflake look. By adding some silver and sparkly irredescent sequins it instantly give a Christmas look.  My simple Happy Christmas is done using the carryover Merry Christmas to All stamp set and coordinating Merry Christmas dies. It's a pair of products that you can mix and match to create your sentiment of choice and you can add the happy for example to any birthday that you might already have.  I've cut two happy die cuts one in silver foil card and one in Pretty Peacock.  By just off setting them slightly it creates depth.   The Christmas is heat embossed with silver powder and punched out with the Classic Label punch.

I'm late posting as we are getting Charlie ready for an interview for his next life chapter and also for his school trip to South Africa where he is going to study Elephant migration patterns and learn to scuba dive.  I'm really proud of him as he has worked hard to earn the money to pay for the trip himself by getting his first job and also washing cars at my crafting events for the lovely ladies.  Exciting times for him and us as we watch him grow into a young adult.  

Don't forget you can check out more inspiration from the other ladies in the Christmas CC via the link above.  

The Daisy Lane stamp set or stamp and medium daisy punch bundle is available for purchase along with the Merry Christmas products in my online Stampin' Up! shop.

SHOP NOW

Thanks for popping by.

Happy crafting Zoe x

Celebration Time with easy watercolour wash technique

It's time for me to finally revisit Moving Along with the TImes design team. I'm beginning to get some crafting done as my leg gets stronger.  You can join in our sentiment only card challenge for MAWTT here. 

I've been busy making celebration cards as it's always nice to send a card to someone who has had some success and brighten their day and join in their celebration.  For this particular one I did a watercolour wash background before die cutting the 'celebrate' out and adding a silver foil celebrate in its place.  

I used colours from the Stampin' Up! Brights collection including Melon Mambo, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green and Coastal Cabana.   I let each colour dry or rather dried with my heat tool, before adding the next.  I've also added some sequins from the Stampin' Up! annual catalogue called simply Sequin Assortment and also a little silver glitter which is adhered with dots of fine tip glue.  Just be sure to let these glittery spots dry before you do much else with your card.  

The sentiment is from a Demonstrator only set called Stamping Your Way to the Top. It's great for someone in a new job too!   I just used versa mark and white emboss powder on black card and then fussy cut the banner.

This card has gone with a bundle of goodie to one of my team who recently promoted and so I hope she likes it.

You can try the colour wash with any colours you choose, just be careful that you don't end up with brown.  Use watercolour paper and paint the first part with water using an aqua painter.  Then create a pool of ink in the lid of your ink pad by squeezing your ink pad when closed. If you have the new Stampin' Up! pads then place it face down (while closed!) on your work surface and gently push down with the heel of your hand on it and you'll create a pool of ink.  Using your aqua painter lift some of the ink and put into the water pool on your paper and move it around. When you are happy absord excess water lightly with kitchen paper and then heat set.  Repeat with your chosen colours.


Thanks for popping by and remember you can purchase the products in my online shop anytime.  There's also a selection of free gifts with qualifying purchases available until the end of March , but be quick some have proved super popular and have now gone.

More soon

Zoe x

SHOP NOW

#onstage2018 Team Swaps

When you are a presenter at Stampin' Up! #Onstage2018 events you are very lucky as you receive early access to products that no one else has seen or will have their hands on for a little while after onstage.  This means that it is extra special to share a design with your team. I made this as my team swap for the recent onstage using the Needle Point Nook suite and in particular the Needle and Thread stamp set and coordinating Needlepoint Elements dies.

I love the new dies that offer a stitched design for your projects and it really adds to the overall effect.  The sentiments are simple and suite specific occasions like thanks and get well wishes plus more.

This set also allows you to introduce lots of colour to your design similar to the designer series papers that accompany the stamps and it called Needlepoint Nook just like the suite.

I've used some Share What You Love pearls also.  The colours used include Berry Burst, Old Olive, Highland Heather, Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade and Flirty Flamingo.

For the sentiment I stamped in Memento Black and here's a top tip.  Those strips that you cut off your whisper white to make matting layers, don't throw them away save them for simple sentiments like this. I've just scissor cut the ends.

The base card is one of Stampin' Up! 's whisper white notecards and envelopes so just the right size for thank yous and also you can stamp the envelope too for a little more detail. Brighten the Postman's day hey!

For more NEEDLEPOINT NOOK inspiration from my onstage presentation you can see this Needlepoint Nook post.

Thanks for stopping by.

Zoe x

Christmas Card Challenge meets Moving Along with the Times

Carol is our challenger for this fortnight's Christmas Card Club challenge. She asked for cards with the sentiment as the focus and Christine is the theme Queen for this fortnight's challenge over at Moving Along with the Times with a similar theme of Sentiment Focus with no images, so I'm killing two birds with one stone today.

I've made a very simple, elegant card and there's now doubt that the sentiment is the focus of it.  I've used my new Stampin' Up! Swirly Frames set again to create the silver embossed frame.  I cut an aperture to raise the frame above my sentiment which I stamped on another piece of card using my Stampin' markers to colour the stamp from Snowflake Sentiments and then added the 'filigree' swirl from the same set which I heat embossed in gold.  This gorgeous Stampin' Up! set will still be available in the new annual catalogue from 1 June.  Some enamel shapes are currently on the discounted retiring list so a bargain to be had.

I've added a layer of Mossy Meadow (which looks wonky in my photo) a returning in colour to the Stampin' Up! colour collection in June where it will be a neutral colour!  I've added some Cherry Cobbler enamel shapes to just finish off the design which is all mounted onto a whisper white thick card base.  Simple, but says just what you need for an elegant card.

I'm all for simple at the moment as I've snapped my Achilles tendon and so am sporting a very fetching Storm Trooper boot and am waiting for more appointments to see what happens next.  Posts might be somewhat sporadic or thin on the ground for a while so bear with me please.

Our challenge club is made up of ladies will different styles and techniques so do visit us all for more seasonal inspiration. You can find everyone listed on the page Christmas CC above.  We'd love you to join us at Moving Along with the Times too HERE.

Have a great week all. I'm celebrating my birthday this week with an MRI scan and orthopaedic appointment so it's going to be one to remember.

Hugs Zoe x

SHOP STAMPIN' UP! NOW

Christmas Card Club with a Swirly Frames Wreath

Stampin Up Merry Mistletoe, Swirly Frames and the Stamparatus for simple shaker card

I've often looked at the ladies in our merry band of Christmas Card Challenges and am in awe when they share more than one card each fortnight.  I'm in with the more than one gang now as this time whilst I've made a simple design I've made a 'Foo' as folk say in Lincolnshire.  It's a cute little shaker card that I designed with my prize patrol stamp set from Stampin' Up! Onstage.  The wreath is created with one of the stamps from the in coming Stampin' Up! set Swirly Frames.  It made this so easy and I used my Stamparatus, the new Stampin' Up! stamp positioning tool available with the new catalogue on 1 June,  to add the foliage decoration with stamp set Merry Mistletoe which will sadly retire next month.  It's been a go to set for Christmas cards for me and has met so many of our challenge club themes.  

Quick and Easy Christmas Cards with Stampin' Up! Stamparatus

I've also used the new in colour Call Me Clover for the green which is a lovely  fresh,vibrant  green and coordinates well with our traditional Real Red for festive cards.  I've stamped the wreath ring in Crumb Cake and used used some new narrow solid ribbon in Real Red for the bow.  I used the decorative ribbon border to add a final touch of green on these 9.9cm (apron 4") square cards.  

Remember it's never too early for the festive season!

Have a great Sunday and don't forgot to check out the other lovely blogs in our challenge group for more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by ....

Zoe x