I went BIG for a floating frame card

The Floating Frame technique is very popular right now not least with Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  I wanted to try and the perfect opportunity presented itself this past weekend when hubby and I went to support Olivia with one of her RAG (raising and giving) events took place at her university. Olivia and her team liaised with the local RSPCA (Royal Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals) to organise a dog show and so we took our puppy, Little Miss Naughty, along to join in and support.  We were very excited when she won the award for The dog the judge most wanted to take home! No before you ask Olivia wasn't the judge.  

At the event a lovely lady called Gina took some fantastic pictures of the dogs taking part. She specialises in pet photography.  We couldn't resist this shot and I decided to have my first attempt at one of these frames but decided to go BIG!   

To start I stamped in black Staz On ink all the lovely flowers from the Stampin' Up! Tea Together stamp set featured in the Spring catalogue.  I coloured them simply with marker pens using Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo and Granny Apple Green and then die cut them out. The dies will hopefully be available again possibly in the new Stampin' Up! annual catalogue in June, but there is no reason why you couldn't use another floral set or indeed sit and fussy cut these out.  

 I'm offering a class to make a frame for folk local to me so watch my next newsletter for the details. 

To make the frame I of course had to cut out an aperture for my photograph and that left me a piece to create a lovely card which initially looked like this.  

I've since finished it by adding a sentiment and some rhinestones for the inevitable bling regular readers will know I love.  The 'happy birthday' is from the fabulous Well Said Stampin' Up! bundle and is simply stamped  and heat embossed in white on black card stock.  Downside is white cards are not always easy to photograph, but I think it is clear enough to see the effect you create with this technique.

QUICK TIP
Don't wear man made fleeces or fibres when doing this technique as the static can be challenging!!! That's all I'll say.


Thanks for popping by and do come back soon for more inspiration.

Hugs Zoe x

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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Simple Monotone

I mentioned when I shared my Stampin Up incentive trip swaps that I made different colour versions. Here's another left sentiment free so that I can use it as and when. I stamped the leaves in black and smoky slate and have added a small sprinkle of gold pearls.

I used a thick whisper white card base and then layered whisper white card to give depth and frame my stamping without overpowering it.  The pearls just lift the monotone stamping.

I have to say I was with others on questioning Merry Merlot, Mossy Meadow and Night of Navy as neutrals but I'm now loving the neutrals colour family more and more and suddenly with the addition of some 'colours' to the neutrals they all become more attractive and of course being neutrals they go with so many other colours.

If you missed my original post about my design you can see it on this stamping scene post.

Thanks for dropping in.

If you like Rooted in Nature stamp set or are still thinking about joining Stampin' Up! to benefit from a set of 10 bonus FREE ink pads you can visit my website www.zoetant.stampinup.net for more information.

Hugs Zoe x

Rooted in Nature with Sponge Brayering

I just adore this new Stampin' Up! set, Rooted in Nature.  It's got so so much potential and I'm seeing so many fabulous projects made with it.  You can see another design from me at Rooted in Nature coming soon.

For my card I created a stencil using window sheet and then used a sponge brayer to add three colours starting with the palest of Grapefruit Grove and working through with Melon Mambo and Fresh Fig.  The sponge brayers are great if like me you're not great at using rubber brayers.  It allows gentle, more controlled addition of colour to your card.  I then stamped the tree branch cross section in Fresh Fig directly on top. then added a stamped on vellum and die cut tree, rock and rolled and die cut leaves, burlap and ribbon which were stapled on and just peek out.  I've layered my decorated top layer onto Fresh Fig card and a whisper white card base.  I added the black rhinestones as the top right hand corner one hides a finger Blurp!!! We all do them and usually just as you finish your creation so I didn't want it spoilt lol.

The great news is that by creating your stencil/mask with window sheet you can wipe off the excess ink and keep for future designs.

I'm hosting the next challenge on Moving Along with the Times this week so check back Thursday for my design and the reveal of the challenge.

Thanks for dropping in.

Zoe x