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

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Paper Adventures Guest Designer

Welcome to my blog today especially if you haven't been here before but are part of the Paper Adventures Team Blog Hop. I'm honoured to be a guest designer for their February hop and I hope you'll go around the lovely blogs of these talented ladies who are all in the South Pacific. Thanks to Kelly for inviting me to join them today.

We're following this sketch in any way each designer chooses and so I decided I just had to share these beautiful designer series papers and stamp set that are now available as a free bundle, yes you read that right, FREE.  Check off some items on your wish list and you could be in for a bundle which is called Painted Seasons.  It includes the Painted Seasons stamp set and coordinating papers.  There are 4 designs and you get 3 sheets of each double sided design.  As the name suggests there is a design for each season and they are just gorgeous.

I used marker pens to colour the flower and leaves and then used yet another surprise as set of matching dies that you can purchase in March, but you'll need to be quick as this mini suite of products is going to be oh so popular.  I've layered the flower and foliage to create the different 'circles' of the sketch and I've added a little touch of petal pink/whisper white variegated ribbon which I folded in half over a strip of tear and tape to narrow down the ribbon.  There's a touch of gold thread to draw on the gold foil 'happy' which is a die from the Well Said bundle which also has the stamps to give you Mother's Day which is stamped in early espresso.  I love the metallic pearls we have in the annual catalogue as they too bring some subtle, elegant richness to your projects and you need that for sure when making a card for your Mum.  To make the sentiment and die cut pieces pop I layered them onto my main stitched shape circle in whisper white.

Stampin' Up! have got a winner with this beautiful bundle and you're on to a winner today with this blog hop.  Remember to see them all as the sketch is the only constant thing so there's lots of inspiration to be had.  I've always stuck to sketches in the past, that is to say the exact sketch, so go see if the others stick to it or go with a twist like me.

Remember that free gifts are available for qualifying spends during Saleabration which runs through to 31 March with new additions from today.  Some have been so popular they have already sold out so don't be disappointed and get your first choice early.

Enjoy the hop and thank you for stopping by my little Stampin' Up! blog today.

You're now off to the very talented Kelly Kent's blog.

You can see the beautiful Painted Seasons bundle HERE

and you can shop and see all the Saleabration products in my online SHOP

Don't forget to visit everyone on the hop and enjoy all the gorgeous projects. 

#Simplestamping for Totally Techniques

 Welcome back lovely readers. It's been a while but not only has it been Christmas, I've been recovering from surgery on my ankle to turn my big toe muscle into a new Achilles Tendon.  It's improving slowly and my physiotherapy has started in earnest so I'm hoping to be able to spend more time in the room of craft and share the new Spring catalogue with you.

However today along with the fabulous Totally Techniques team I'm sharing a #simplestamping card using just stamps, ink and paper.  We're sharing single layer cards that anyone from a beginner crafter to an avid crafter can do and often has need for.  I've used a new incoming set called Bloom by Bloom which has bold solid stamps, but you can use bold colours or any you prefer. I've used Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Granny Apple Green.  It is indeed a simple stamping card, but I have sneaked in a version of the masking technique.  Using a post it note I've masked a section of each card giving me a 'white space' once I've stamped to add a sentiment.

We all love to make 'special' cards, but at times need quick and easy cards that we might need in bulk, for example thank you cards to send out for all our awesome Christmas gifts or you might be a teacher and want to send a simple birthday card to all your class and need something that is fun and cheerful, but not too time consuming. This stamp set and our note cards and envelopes are perfect for these types of cards. You can see above how I used different shape post it notes or cut them to the size I wanted maintaining as much of the sticky strip as possible to hold the mask in place. 

This is a great way for a beginner to start stamping. I've used just 3 ink pads and a stamp set for the design. I have used another for the thanks sentiment, but you could write in your own and look at growing your stamp collection over time with sentiments being next on your list. 

For this design I used a small square post it and stamped the border from the set over the mask to create a complete 'white' square in which I then stamped the flower and thanks.  It gives depth but is still just a single layered card.

1. Zoe Tant - UK - You're here
2. Shannean Moncrieff - Australia
3. Barbara Meyer - Austria
4. Annette Elias - The Netherlands
5. Kelly Acheson - USA  
6. Marine Wiplier - France

Totally Techniques Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Blog Hop - Polished Stone

Hello all, welcome to November's  Totally Techniques Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Blog hop.  You might have just checked in from my lovely friend Kelly over in the USA.  She's sharing an awesome design, so be sure to right around the hop to see hers (if you started here) and all the other demonstrator designs.    This month we are sharing the Polished Stone technique. It's really simple and you can create your own designs and then die cut or use as a patterned paper.  

For my card I used the shadow/aperture left once I had die cut the largest snowflake from the very very soon to retire  snowfall thin lets as a frame over my polished stone piece.  I've added a galvanised metallic snowflake and one of glimmer paper.   The sentiment is from Stampin' Up! Winter catalogue set Merry Christmas to All and is heat embossed with whisper white on black card.  To add more sparkle I wrapped several rounds of silver thread across the base of the card having 'knicked' the two sides with a 1/8" circle punch.  I've added a matting layer of the galvansied metallic foil card and a snowflake trinket.  

To create the Polished Stone 

1. Soak a cotton wool ball/pad in rubbing alcohol.

2. Add drops of ink to the pad this can be a single colour or two or three. You can experiment with colour mixes, but darker probably needs less drops so as not to over power the lighter tones.

3. Squeeze and dab the pad all over glossy card stock. 

4. Allow to dry a little it doesn't take long as the alchol evaporates.

5. As it dries soak another cotton wool ball with rubbing alcohol and add drops of another colour ink and a drop of shimmer paint.  There are four to choose from in the current Stampin' Up! winter catalogue Bright Copper, Champagne Mist, Frost White, and Vegas Gold.  I used the Champagne Mist for this design. 

6. Gently squeeze, while dabbing to spread the shimmer and additonal colour across your work.  

7. You can revisit with the first colours if you wish or create a lighter version on an additional piece of glossy card stock to create another project. 

To this particular piece I also added some splatter. To do this I put the nib of a Stampin' Marker into carefully into the marker lid and flicked the nib out repeatedly to splatter ink over the polished stone which then gives the impression of more texture within the faux stone. 

I used Pool Party, Balmy Blue inks and Champagne Mist shimmer paint.  The Poppy Parade marker was used for the splatter. 

Enjoy the hop! 

Zoe x

Blog List 

1. 1. Zoe Tant - UK - You're here
2. 2. Shannean Moncrieff - Australia
3. 3. Nadine Weiner - Germany
4. 4. Lynsay Mahon - Canada
5. 5. Barbara Meyer - Austria
6. 6. Kelly Acheson - USA

You can find these products in my online shop

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Stampin' Up! Sneak Peeks

Stampin' Up! has great catalogues with awesome products, but it is always exciting when as a demonstrator you get to see them earlier than everyone else. It was even more exciting for me when I got this new bundle of product loveliness earlier than thousands of other demonstrators across the world as I was one of a very small group who were asked to present this suite called The Needlepoint Nook at the UK recent #Onstage2018 event in Birmingham.  

This is full of bells and whistles as it was one of three cards which differed in the detail they each received. This as you can see was 'the works'.  The papers are just stunning and were created when embroidery patterns designed by Stampin' Up! were embroidered and then photographed to give that fabulous effect of threads and beauty that embroidery has to offer. 

You'll be seeing more of this suite for sure, but I'm pleased that this card of mine has been well received by Stampin' Up! and my fellow demonstrators.  

You'll be able to spy more sneak peeks soon, but also get your hands on our spring catalogue.  If you'd like to be added to the list of recipients of a paper copy to browse at your leisure please contact me at zoetant@live.co.uk

Thanks for stopping by 

Zoe x

My Beautiful Girl with Needlepoint Nook Suite

I was invited some weeks back to be a presenter at the Stampin' Up! UK Onstage event at The Vox, in Birmingham.  I was given a suite of products from the Spring 2019 catalogue to share with over 500 UK demonstrators and a brief about other information to give including my tips for demonstrators for their business and using this suite.

Part of my presentation was to share a project that showed why I loved the Needlepoint Nook Suite of products and I decided that the best way was to share a scrapbook page or two of my amazing children.  This is the page I did for Olivia and you can see the page I created for Charlie on my #onstage2018 30th Stampin' Up! birthday post.

You can see in the bottom right hand corner the stitched image underlying the stamped and die cut flowers and this is a new exciting feature of the new Needlepoint Elements framelits dies.  It adds a stitched pattern.  You need to use it on the Bigshot and so to make this possible I cut the base of my page in half and then used tear and tape to adhere the pieces together on the back  leaving the backing tape in place.  On the front I covered the join with the designer series paper from the suite also called Needlepoint Nook just like the suite.

I've used the Stampin' Up! Celebrate You dies to add part of my journalling, the Make A Difference alphabet stamp set for the 'are' which is embossed with copper powder and also the Friendly Expressions set from the Stampin' Up! annual catalogue for the 'you make me proud'.  You might notice the pretty label punch on which this sentiment is stamped and adhered to has a stitched edge and this is another die in the suite which you can use to add a stitched border to the punched shape or to add a stitched frame on your project.

The Needle and Thread stamp set is a new photopolymer DistINKtive set that means that the actual strands of the embroidery are visible when stamped.  The set was designed by Stampin' Up! who teamed up with an expert embroiderer. Once the design was embroidered it was photographed and the image was recoloured to the Stampin' Up! colours and printed for the DSP.

I hope you like it.  It will be available to order from 3 January 2019.

I'll be sharing more of my projects using it very soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Zoe x

Christmas Card Club - Gifts

Today I'm sharing a card that I made for yesterday's presentation at Stampin' Up! UK Onstage event.  If you missed yesterdays post I shared a scrapbook page for the Stampin' Up! Needlepoint Nook Suite.  Today's card features on stamp from the same set and again uses one of the coordinating punches of the suite the Pretty Label Punch.  It also coordinates with the Label Me Pretty set from the Stampin' Up! annual catalogue and I've used one of the stamps to decorate it.  

The theme for our Christmas Card Club is to share projects with gifts or ornaments on and the label is pretty enough to be an ornament and really makes this sweet little gift pop. Both it and the sentiment are from the At Home with You set.  I used Stampin Blends to get some shading on the gift and although you might not see it here it is covered with Wink of Stella for a subtle sparkle. 

I matted the stamped layer onto a piece of gold foil to make it a little more special.  Just simple stamping and punches to make a pretty card.  

Thanks Rita for a fun challenge.  Don't forget you can visit all the other CC Club ladies blogs via the page at the top to see their take on our challenge.  

Thanks for stopping by and if you like the Pretty Label Punch and/or the Label Me Pretty stamp set you can buy those along with most of the other products featured right now in my shop. 

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Thanks for visiting today.  Hugs and best wishes for the week ahead. 

Zoe xx

#Onstage2018 - Stampin' Up! 30th Birthday Celebrations for Demonstrators

As this posts I will have just sat back in my place having shared these lovely new products coming out in the new year with approximately 560 Stampin' Up! UK demonstrators at our twice yearly conference. Today is a special conference celebrating Stampin' Up! 's 30th birthday and I'm so excited to be part of the presentation team.  I had a suite of products to play with and share some of my top tips for demonstrators to help you my lovely readers get the most from your crafting.  The suite is called Needlepoint Nook and although at first sight is very girly and fabulous for those of you who love embroidery I also wanted to share that it can be linked with other products to produce a perfectly masculine project too. I set a challenge in my presentation which in part was to step outside of your comfort zone and so felt it only fair for me to do the same.  I love scrapbooking, but am always a little bit overwhelmed by the idea of it and it takes me time to actually do it, but when I do I love it.  I also was tasked with sharing a 'why I love this product suite' so what better way to share it than to share pages feature the loves of my life my kids!!  This is the page I made for my son Charlie.  It's a shot from our cabin balcony on the Alaska cruise which was this years Stampin' Up! incentive trip.  I used papers, colours, buttons and stamps from the suite which also coordinates with  the Pretty Label Punch up on the top right banner embellishment.

I used other embellishments like the mini wooden stars and trees that have been a popular part of the Festive Farmhouse Elements from the current winter catalogue, that sadly may have sold out by the time this posts. I coloured them with Stampin' Blends and adhered easily with tombow wet multipurpose glue.  If you put a blob on a silicone mat and then use a cocktail stick to add small amounts you can avoid a splurge when you add the button or laser wood cuts.

As the stamp set is based on embroidery/sewing I used my sewing machine to add some detail to my navy matt layer.  I printed the journaling and used a sponge to add some connecting distressing or smudging for want of a better word.

The sunglasses are stamped from the Stampin Up set Pocketful of Sunshine and die cut with the Pocket Framelits.  I coloured the lenses in with a black stampin blend and then once thoroughly dry added a very thin coat of our fine tip glue to give the shine of glass.



If you like what you see then ask your family to contact me to arrange gift vouchers for you this Christmas to spend with me in the New Year.  Make sure you get the gift you want this Christmas.  

Thanks for checking in and send me good wishes that I got off the stage OK with my crutches. I'll be back with more of my projects very soon.

Hugs Zoe x

Snow is Glistening very popular

It looks like lots of you are liking the Snowflake Showcase that Stampin' Up! has launched for this month of November.  The dies in particular are flying out of the warehouse as has the white velveteen paper which is at the moment SOLD OUT. There is a slight chance that more stock maybe available but I can't confirm this. I used the Snow is Glistening stamp set and the Snowfall dies to create the card above. It's really simple.  I think the black and white with just a touch of red works really well and my sentiment is heat embossed in silver.  You'll see there are two snowflakes that are embossed using our embossing mats with the dies and we're learning about that at my card club next week. If you're in Lincolnshire and would like to join us please do contact me.  

Alternatively I'm offering a class by post.  That means you can buy the stamps and dies and will receive a complimentary class tutorial in the post with pictures to help you and the materials to make 5 of these cards.  Don't forget if you don't have the embossing mats you'll need to add those to your order.  You can order all these products from my online shop.  

SHOP NOW HERE

149692 £36

149742 £20

Big Shot Embossing Mats 146327 £14

Any questions please just email me at zoetant@live.co.uk

Keep warm and dry for the next few days as the weather is not too friendly in the UK. 

Hugs Zoe x

Read more about the Stampin' Up! Snowflake Showcase  

Totally Techniques - Faux Torn Edge Technique

Stampin Up Botanical Bliss for faux torn edge tutorial with zoe tant

Hi and welcome to our September Totally Techniques Blog Hop where this group of International Stampin' Up! demonstrators are sharing inspiration for the Faux Torn Edge technique.  If you're starting here you can find your way around the hop using the next button below and if you've just joined me from Kelly's blog you've already seen a show stopper of design.

 I have a video tutorial but Youtube isn't playing with me right now. So here are a few details of how to do this.
UPDATE
After 3 days !!!! I can now finally share my video with you.



 The bottom line is all you need is a torn piece of copier paper for the top card and a torn piece of scratch card for the one below.  You can use sponge brayers or sponges to add colour above the torn edge using it as a mask.  I used both pieces of torn paper and washi tape to hold them in place leaving a gap for the Happy Birthday card and then added ink with the brayer.  I used Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana for adding the colour band. I used the same colours and Pacific Point to stamp on images in first, second and third generation ink whilst keeping the masks in place.  I also gold heat embossed the flower from Botanical Bliss again with masks in place. Finally I removed the masks and added a no line watercolored flower, sentiment stamped with Berry Burst and added some pearls.

For this second card I used a card mask and gently sponged on colour using the mask, but only so far up my artwork.  I then moved the mask to reflect the bottom sponging and repeated the process leaving some 'white' space in between the two bands.  I stamped the flower in black Staz On ink starting in the middle and moving outwards making sure to stamp off the edge to draw the eye outwards also.  I used a sponge to add Granny Apple Green to the flowers to make them pop leaving odd white spaces.  I've added a handful of the sequin assortment and a sentiment to finish and matted my artwork onto a Coastal Cabana card base.

These are really simple, but impacting techniques and even a beginner stamper can do this with just ink, stamps and paper.

Hopefully I'll have the video up for you soon, but in the meantime all products used are available in my Stampin' Up! Online Shop.  

You're off next to visit talented Barbara in Austria.

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon.

Zoe x

1. Lynsay Mahon - Canada
2. Nadine Weiner - Germany
3. Kelly Acheson - USA
4. Zoe Tant - UK
5. Barbara Meyer - Austria  
6. Annette Elias - The Netherlands
7. Satomi Wellard - Japan
8. Marine Wiplier - France

No Line Watercolouring with a twist

Stampin' Up! shared a no line watercoloring technique in our latest member magazine.  I've not done of lot of it so thought I'd have a go with this stunning ornament stamp from the Beautiful Baubles stamp set.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out for a first serious attempt.

I stamped the bauble on watercolour paper using Smokey Slate ink.  I slowly then added colour to each detail using a couple of aqua painters, one for painting with water first and the second for adding colour to each section.  I cleaned the second between  colours using kitchen towel.

The colours I used included Balmy Blue, Pear Pizzazz and Highland Heather. It takes some time as you need to let each section dry before you revisit it to add deeper shades and get some of the finer details.  Once complete I added some highlights with a white gel pen and some Wink of Stella for the inevitable sparkle that I believe an bauble needs.

Beautiful Baubles includes a 'string' stamp for the hanging of the bauble and a pretty bow stamp.  I embossed these in silver and added basic rhinestones.  The ornament itself I fussy cut and then went around the edge with a Balmy Blue marker pen to just highlight the edge and make it pop from the card base.

The sentiment is from the same Stampin' Up! stamp set and stamped simply in Highland Heather directly onto the card base.

Are you a fan of non traditional Christmas card colour combos?

Zoe x

You can buy all the materials used in on this card from my online shop

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You can shop with me or join my team if you live in the UK, France, Germany, Austria or in The Netherlands

Dandelion Wishes Watercolour Wash Card Tutorial

I shared this card a few posts ago, but have had lots of inquiries as to how I created it and so I've made a video to show you what to do.  

You can also see the original Dandelion Wishes post with all the colour details if you missed them in the video and also a version of the card with no embossing is below for anyone who doesn't have embossing tools yet but would still like to make one of these beautiful cards.  

Enjoy the tutorial and come back and share what you make.  

Happy day

Zoe  x

You can buy all materials used for these cards from my online shop 

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If you find too many things to buy, you might like to join my team and become a discount shopper and enjoy 20% and sometimes more. 

Find more infomation on my JOIN STAMPIN UP page

If you live in the UK, France, Germany, Austria or the Netherlands you can shop with me or join my team.  

Christmas Card Club - Festive Foliage with Winter Woods

Stampin Up Winter Woods stamp set and In the Woods Framelits perfect for Christmas Cards

I've had fun experimenting with ink, sponges and masking to make this card and have enjoyed being able to take the photo outside whilst the weather continues to be pleasant. Although it does seem odd taking photos of Christmas cards in the warm sunshine.  

This one is for our fortnightly Christmas Card Club Challenge and it was my turn to choose the theme. I opted for Foliage and as soon as I saw this new Winter Woods Stampin Up set I knew I'd finally picked a sensible theme rather than those I've selected in the past and struggled to create with. I love this single tree stamp which is perfect for using the masking technique. I stamped it on scratch paper and then cut it out, a little laboriously with scissors, but also very therapeutic.  I stamped the first tree on the left onto Crumb Cake card and used Old Olive and Garden Green inks. The stamp itself is so clever as it's made to give depth to the tree, but if you ink with one colour and then add some darker shade with a dauber it looks even better.  I moved to the right using the mask to cover the previous tree and if there was a gap after stamping I just moved the mask and stamped again. Now how did you do that Zoe to get it in the same place I hear you say! Well I used my stampartus positioning tool to get it where I wanted it.  I'm so glad Stampin' Up! created their version of this tool and that they asked lots of demos for their comments and suggestions it's just perfect for perfect stamp placement.  

Now you may not be a fussy cutter, but I like it and hence the trees were all cut out with scissors just like the  mask.  Then to disguise some of the tricky bits which are tiny I used a dauber to add a gentle covering of Old Olive ink to bits I just couldn't quite fussy cut well.  I sponged it over the whole piece too to just lightly shade the bits of crumb cake showing through.  

My background is with the Stampin Up Buffalo Check Background stamp available to order from Tuesday. Again this is great when used freehand or to build up deeper shades on the stampartus where you can ink the same design multiple times.   I've added some new Suitre Specialty washi tape strips and some striped burlap, I love this as it adds more texture and has more colour to it. 

The sentiment is from the same Stampin Up Winter Woods set and it is heat embossed in black onto some Wood Textures designer paper.  I've stamped and sponged some extra pine pieces to add a little detail. These were die cut with coordinating In the Woods framelits.  Stampin Up have acknowledged that sometimes with itty bitty dies it could take you a lifetime to cut all the pieces you need and so they have tripled and doubled up on some of these small dies in the set so you can cut several at one time. How sensible is that! 

Learn to make Christmas cards with Zoe Tant

I like the vintage feel of this card with all it's smudging and it reminds me of log cabins and ski trips. Not for me this year as fingers crossed my snapped achilles will be repaired very soon, but skiing will be out this winter.  

As you know there are several ladies in our Christmas Card Club so do visit them via the CC Club tab at the top of this page and see their fabulous designs too for more inspiration.  

Here's to a great week ahead. 

Hugs all Zx

This book full of seasonal loveliness is live on Tuesday 5 September.

If you don't have a demonstrator and would like a copy please email me at zoetant@live.co.uk

or shop with Zoe Tant Stampin Up Online Shop

Faux Linen Technique for Totally Techniques Blog Hop

Welcome to August's Totally Techniques Blog Hop.  Hello if you've arrived from Kelly Acheson in the USA.  Welcome to the UK.  

We are a small group of Stampin' Up! demos this month as some lucky folk are still on holiday.  Lovely Lynsay Mahon in Canada chose our theme this time and we are showcasing the Faux Linen technique. One I hadn't done before and one that I think you'll find as you visit the other fab blogs that can be done in different ways.  

For my version I chose to use the So Santa Stampin Up set which will be available from 5 September as one of many fun sets in the Stampin Up autumn winter catalogue.  This one is cute and has some fun sentiments to accompany some very cute outline images which are fab if you like colouring.   

The colours I used for the card above include Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce, Poppy Parade, Black, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Basic Grey, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo.  I've added a matting layer cut with the Layered Squares dies in Granny Apple Green and the sentiment is white embossed onto Poppy Parade Ink.  You will also love the red rhinestones that are just perfect for Festive Projects and any unused will be great for Valentines. 

Here's a link to my video of this fun technique. Faux Linen Technique

This is the card I created in the video.  The colours used are Poppy Parade, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Basic Grey, Black, Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight, Smokey slate, Blushing Bride. 

I used the Layering Square and Stitched Shape dies for the image and matting layer.  The square for the santa 5.5cm square (21/8 ") and the scalloped edge square is 6.3cm square (21/2").  The sentiment banner is 1.5cm x 7cm (5/8" x 23/4").  The sentiment is heat embossed with white embossing powder.   

Pop to my previous post to see another version of this card using the Beautiful Day stamp set, in  particular the butterfly, along with the incoming Buffalo Check background stamp which you have to have as it will change every time you use a different colour. 

From here you are off on a trip down under to see what Shannean has done with this technique. It will be amazing so you're in for a treat. 

Thanks for dropping by and remember if you haven't got a copy of our Autumn/Winter catalogue and you're in the UK, France, Germany, Austria or the The Netherlands then please contact me by email on zoetant@live.co.uk to ask for a complimentary copy. 

More soon Zoe x

Here's the list too of everyone in the hop

1. Lynsay Mahon - Canada

2. Nadine Weiner - Germany

3. Kelly Acheson - USA

4. Zoe Tant - UK You're here

5. Shannean Moncrieff -Australia

6. Barbara Meyer - Austria

It's time for Christmas Card Club today.  I've taken the option of Anything Goes for my theme as opposed to Nativity chosen by Margaret down in Australia.  

I'm sharing some cards I've made using sneak peeks from the winter catalogue coming soon and also this month's limited edition stamp and die bundle from Stampin' Up! Blended Seasons. 

The card above is one we made at card club earlier this month. It's really easy and the beautiful papers do the talking for you.  From one 12 x 12 (30.5cm x 30.5cm) sheet of patterned paper you can make at least 7 cards.  Cut three strips that are 10cm x 30.5cm.  Then cut two matt layers from each strip that are 10cm x 14.3cm.  Keep the off cut ends for a further card that you can see below.  

I then cut a stitched shape using the dies from the Blended Seasons and used the Stampin Up Stamparatus positioning tool to stamp the holly in versa mark and heat embossed with gold powder.  The Stamparatus was also used to stamp Merry Christmas from the same set in Cherry Cobbler ink.  This piece is simply layered onto the designer paper and you have simple but effective cards that are easy to post and quick to make.  If you do each stage of the card and prep several you can have many made in a short time, leaving time for the special family cards we all like to make. 

Remember the off cuts from above this is where I used them.  The beauty of Stampin' Up! papers is that they are double sided and so you can mix and match strips to create a design that suits you.  I've simply stuck them on a thick white card base and added the die cut sentiment from the incoming Merry Christmas Thinlet Dies.  You'll see below that I didn't waste the negative of the sentiment and carefully saved the mini pieces to add to all the letter loops for the card below.  This is champagne foil card on a real red card base.  To make this really easy use double sided adhesive sheets on the reverse of your foil card before die cutting. 

Also before sticking I ran the negative through the big shot with a new embossing folder called Swirls and Curls.  

With this simple approach I'll have fab Christmas cards lined up in no time! That's my plan anyway. 

I hope you'll look around the other ladies in our group for more Christmas card inspiration. You can find them in the CC Club tab above.  

The Colour Your Season products are only available this month and will not appear in a future catalogue with the exception of the watercolour pencils.  You can shop online to buy individual items or you can buy the stamps and dies as a bundle and save 10%.  SHOP NOW

Thanks for dropping by. 

Hugs Zoe x