#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

#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

Eclectic Means Easy

As you know Stampin' Up! has a big, HUGE, promotion every January through to March offering free gifts with purchases and the gifts are always amazing stamp sets, papers or embellishments. Most are never available to buy, but they are all very desirable and one of this year's fab gifts is Eclectic Expressions which to look at as a stamp set image doesn't possibly grab you, but the crafting and stamping possibilities are endless and really simple when you are stuck for a quick card.

All you need are basic supplies stamps, paper and ink and if you have them you can then embellish with ribbon and/or rhinestones, dots or whatever you have in your stash.  Although I haven't used it here white ribbon is a great staple to have as you can always use your Stampin' Blends alcohol markers to colour it to match your project.

In my card today I've used inks in pear pizzazz, bermuda bay and island indigo.  I've added night of navy ribbon and old olive and dapper denim enamel spots.  I used my new Stamparatus which is the best stamp positioning tool to hit the market (coming very soon for ordering)  to stamp my thank yous perfectly on my white card and then I've added the circles which are made in such a way as to appear watercolored. The stamps are textured and therefore give some subtle definition and texture to your stamping.  The stamped piece is then matted onto pear pizzazz and island indigo card.

You could make it even simpler by just tying the ribbon around the stamp white card, but I chose to add a strip of tear and tape (double sided sticky tape) to the card making sure to overlap it top and bottom to tuck the ribbon ends away.  You can then just remove the backing from the sticky and work down pinching the ribbon as you go and pushing it onto the sticky strip.  I've added a bow separately with a glue dot.  If you don't like bows have you tried the 'bunny ears' technique?  Just make two similar size loops in your ribbon and then tie them in a single knot.  It might need a little tweaking but it's by far the quickest and easiest way to tie a bow.

Remember that this stamp set is free with a purchase of £45 from my Stampin' Shop through until 31 March 2018.

Have fun with this abstract set that has all the basic sentiments you need too!

Hugs Zoe x