Your Birthday Song - adapt your stamping

Years ago I changed a fun Meerkat stamped image by adding clothing to the Meerkats.  Heres a link to The Gangs All Meer post.  Some 6 years later I had the same thought to 'alter' or should I say 'dress' these Flamingos or Flingos as our daughter used to call them when she was little.  

I started with a Stampin' Up! journalling pen to add skirts, tops and necklaces ant then coloured them in with Stampin' Blends.  I added the feathers using a stamp set that was recently gifted to all demonstrators that registered for a demonstrator only event happening in August.  One of the stamps just said feathers to me and so I stamped it and added some lines to give the feather effect and when the ink was fully dry I used one of our new gel pens to add a little more obvious detail.  I also redid the initial add on outlines with the journalling pen.  

The feathers I used that all purpose die called scissors,  (LOL!! my favourite die), to fussy cut them out.  To fit them around the head of each individual 'flingo' I stamped the top of the head onto the bottom of the feathers and cut the line i stamped so that it wrapped over the top of each bird.  They are all different so you'll need to do it for each one.  

The stamp set called Your Birthday Song was released today as one of our new batch of online exclusive products.  You can see them all on the ONLINE EXCLUSIVES page.  Click on newest to find them.      

I then shared with a friend who suggested putting feathers on them as skirts so I created this additional card.  Which one is your favourite?

Something else that is new is that you can join Stampin' Up! and receive access to demonstrator only events, craft with others and join our team.  You can find out more about how to Join Stampin' Up!. 

Happy stamping

Zoe x 

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Supplies Used

Your Birthday Song 

Gel Pens

Journalling Pens

Product Suggestions 

Christmas Card Club - Nativity Cards

 Welcome to another Christmas Card Club share.  It's Nativity cards this time and I've used the retired stamp set called Peace to You.  I stamped the image onto a piece of card and then fussy cut around the top which looks sort of stable shape and then I hand tore the bottom of the image.  I matted this onto a layer with soft blending brush ink and then onto a deckled rectangle die cut.  

The image itself is stamped in navy and then I used Stampin' Blends to colour the remainder of the image. The sentiment is from the same stamp set and stamped simply onto a piece of card which I snipped at both ends.  Simple, but the message is clear.  

Enjoy touring the other ladies in the Christmas CC and come back to visit again soon. 

Thank you 

Zoe x

SHOP

#simplestamping - New Horizons DSP

 If you need a card at the rush then this one is for you.  I've used watercolour painted, then printed papers to create the misty scene and I've stamped on the trees and birds with black ink.  I added a matt layer of card which I blended tone on tone ink onto to darken it a little and then added a triple wrap of Baker's Twine and and very simply stamped sentiment.  This is all on a card base of Fresh Freesia which I also used a blending brush and tone on tone ink to soften it's shade. 

This type of card would be perfect for some one who literally just needs to stop and take a breath or a sympathy card.  

Some cards are very simple, but the impact can be huge.  

Keep safe and keep stamping

Zoe x

Shopping List

New Horizons 6 x 6 papers

On The Horizon stamp set

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Stampin' Up! Ink Pads

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

Christmas Gleaming Already......

handmade Christmas card using Stampin' Up! Christmas Gleaming stamps and ornament punches

Yes Christmas Gleaming already as it's Christmas Card Club Sunday once again and I've used this fab Stampin' Up! set that is not available at the moment, but will be again later in the year so I'm teasing you with this simple elegant card.

Lovely Kate set our club challenge today and if you haven't guessed already it was to use baubles in some shape or form.  I did another bauble card two challenges ago  as I didn't read ahead on the challenge list but have gone on a different tack today compared to my previous card. 

I love the different baubles in this stamp set and having seen some fabulous cards made last Christmas I've taken on a colour combo that really appealed to me using Merry Merlot and Early Espresso with a  splash of gold and sparkle.

I stamped the central image first then punched a paper mask using the coordinating punch.  I used the mask and my Stamparatus to hold everything in place and position my next bauble exactly where I wanted it.  I repeated this for the second slightly hidden one also.

I stamped the holly several times and used a blender pen to drag colour from the veins of the leaves across the rest of each leaf and also added a little more ink from the ink pad lid using the blender also.   I repeated this for the berries but just used the Merry Merlot ink.  These were all fussy cut and I used different parts to create a garland across the baubles.   I then added some clear Wink of Stella for the sparkle.

The sentiment is heat embossed with gold embossing powder and I added a partial hexagon using the Stitched Nested Labels behind the design in Merry Merlot to frame it.  Also before die cutting the merlot hexagon I stamped in the the holly tone on tone and then embossed using the Swirls and Curls embossing folder.  

It may seem the wrong time with the sun shining and other things going on to think of Christmas cards, but i've seen other posting for supplies and making them to be ready for whatever festive season we may have this year.  If you are ready just think of the other fun you could be having and what a great way to fill time now.  Don't forget also that making and sending cards is a great way to connect right now as well as at Christmas, so be sure to #makeacardsendacard .  

Hope you continue to keep well and safe and see you next time.  I'll be back soon with my next DT card for the Moving Along with the Times May challenge.  

Hugs Zoe x

SHOP ONLINE FOR STAMPIN' UP! 

Remember the Last Chance List of products with some great discounts if you find something that suits is now available under Sales and Specials 

The Gangs All Meer - Stampin' Up! Saleabration

#simplestamping

Every year Stampin' Up! offers some fabulous gift with purchase items during Saleabration and this year is no exception with these cute Meerkats proving to be very popular. It's easy to see why they have appealed to everyone, but sat at the garage waiting to have my car MOT'd/health checked I first filled my time using a card kit called Looking Up and then started doodling on a single stamped image with this Meerkat family.

I had taken some marker pens with me and my journaling pens and decided to alter the Meerkats and add some swim wear.

Once home it was easy to add a sun umbrella and of course a family pet and a seaside scene isn't complete without some seagulls from the Sailing Home stamp set.  Using the markers i added a sandy  floor blending a couple of colours and added some dots to give a grain effect.

The umbrella is from the cute set Under my Umbrella.  I stamped the outline onto patterned paper and used a ruler to add the post.

It was fun to tinker with this cute image and I hope you like my #simplestamping take on The Gangs All Meer which can be your free stamp set with an order of £45 during Saleabration which ends at the end of March.

Check out more SAB gifts in my stampin' up! shop

Thanks for popping by. 

Zoe x

Moving Along with the Times - CAS Challenge

Wendy our lovely organiser at Moving Along with the Times has chosen the theme for the challenge today and you can join in with us over the next two weeks.  All you need to do is share a card that you have made that is a CAS card ie Clean & Simple.  You can join in here.

My card is very simple and perfect for beginners as well as those who've stamped before.  I've used the new Stampin' Up! set called Celebrate with Cake and it's featured in a new booklet put together by Stampin' Up! especially for our new crafters.  It's less overwhelming than looking through a big beautiful catalogue with some great tips on bundles of products to help you get started.  However it's proving to be popular with lots of stampers so everyone can find out more.  If you'd like to see the stamps and kits included please do contact me.  You can see the set in my Stampin Up shop

For this card I stamped the mail box having first put a little piece of washi tape over the outline of the box where the red heart is floating out before inking the stamp. You then need to remember to remove the washi before putting stamp to paper.  I used Memento Tuxedo black ink.  I then stamped the hearts in Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Pineapple Punch, Granny Apple Green, Blueberry Bushel and Gorgeous Grape.  I used the colours to support Pride Month.  I didn't want the whole banner stamp from the set for my sentiment so I stamped it in Gorgeous Grape and cut to what I wanted to use.

This card also fits with Stampin' Up! 's challenge to demonstrators to share #simplestamping cards using just stamps, paper and ink. We are allowed to use a product from the preorder that demonstrators get access to and I've used this set which I actually won in prize patrol at our most recent demonstrator event.    I've layered my stamped piece onto a thick whisper white card base using Stampin' dimensionals.

I hope you'll join us at MAWTT this fortnight.

Happy stamping

Zoe x

#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