Fun with T-shirts

Ok so this stamp set is now retired but it's still one of my go to sets for a masculine card...

Happy birthday Dad

Another birthday today... Happy Birthday Dad!

My Dad is a keen DIY'er, although perhaps that is largely down to the amount of DIY'ing I create for him everytime I move lol!

For this card I've used a Sahara Sand card base with a strip of DSP in the centre, to which I have adhered lettering cut from Chocolate Chip card, with the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet dies.  For the centre panel I've used the 'hammer' stamp from the Every Little Bit stamp set on Whisper White card, punched out with the Curly Label punch and then raised up with dimensionals onto a couple of Labels Collection Framelits dies cut from Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue.

Have a great birthday Dad x

Happy Birthday Derek

Not sure if he will be reading my blog... but 'Uncle' Derek is a big fan of my cards, so I had to make him something that has a lot on it :).

This card is the same as the one that I made at the Make and Take stand at the Bracknell craft show last month, designed by the lovely Fiona.  I liked it so much I have been making quite a few using the Old Olive and Night of Navy colour combo.



The card uses the Open Sea stamp set which is currently available in the Summer Mini catalogue but only until the end of August!

DIY themed card

As the weather apparently starts to turn back into Summer, the days indoors are expected to come to an end... and perhaps so will the time for DIY also stop.  Not that I actually do much DIY myself, but there are plenty who do and this card was designed with someone in mind, who is pretty handy around the house.



I've used a Baha Breeze card base and adhered a piece of the 'striped' DSP from the Neutrals designer series paper pack.  The image is from the Every Little Bit stamp set, which caters for many occasions and themes, and I have inked this in Chocolate Chip ink onto Whisper White card and then punched out with the Curly Label punch.  To create the frame I have then punched out 2 Curly Labels from Chocolate chip and cut these in half vertically and diagonally and glued to the back.  I've mounted the image panel onto one of the Labels Collection Framelits dies (also Baha Breeze), which I have embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

The sentiment is of course, from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, inked in Chocolate Chip and punched out with the Word Window punch.

I hope the Summer really does arrive soon ... and I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Quick shirt card

I had a go at making a origami shirt a while ago, but just found it a bit too fiddly.  This card was much more straight forward and less stressful to create as it's a simple A6 card base folded from Elegant Eggplant card stock.  To create the collar I have cut a strip of card and folded it down and attached to the top of the card...

This style of card would be suitable for a working professional, and you can change the colour(s) of the shirt and the tie to suit the recipient.  I've used papers from the Cheerful Treat 'hostess' DSP pack, and then added a couple of Candi (non Stampin' Up!) pieces as faux buttons.

Now I just need to find an envelope that will fit lol

Travelling at sea?

This is one of the cards that we made at my last class.  It features the Open Sea stamp set from the Summer mini catalogue.  I just love the background stamp, which could be used for all sorts of cards to create a background on a base card like I have done here...

The card base is Baha Breeze, and I have inked the background stamp with Pacific Point ink and stamped twice on the right hand side.  The 'boat' image has also been stamped with the same ink pad onto Whisper White and then I've used an embellishments box (buttons or brads will do) to draw a circle round and then cut this out.  For the outer circle I have stamped a piece of Crumbcake card stock with the Wood stamp in Chocolate Chip ink and then drawn round the inside of a reel of red sticky tape which fits nicely round the central panel.

It just goes to show you don't need lots of tools all the time...

For the wheel 'cogs' I have punch out pieces of the Wood stamped card with the Word Window punch and then adhered these to the back of the circular panel and then raised it up with dimensional sticky pads.

The sentiment is of course Teeny Tiny Wishes inked in Pacific Point onto Whisper White and punched out with the Word Window punch.

Here's a slight variation that I made for Father's Day...

Needing something quick

Need a quick card for a man...

I've used Sahara Sand card stock for the base and the co-ordinating DSP in the background.  The stamp is from the Need for Speed stamp set which I have punched out with the Perfect Postage punch which was in the Spring mini catalogue and you can't get currently, but I'm hoping it will feature in the new catalogue in October.  You can easily use a Square punch instead.

I've mounted the squares onto Island Indigo squares and then coloured in the image with the co-ordinating Stampin' Write marker.  Finally a sentiment from my go to stamp set - Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Rugby theme

Stampin' Up! doesn't always have a stamp set for a particular theme... but it always has something that can be adapted to suit!

The card I have to share with you today is my attempt as creating a rugby theme for a commission.



I've used the All in the Family stamp set and created a rugby player and then added rugby ball drawn by hand...  what a great little stamp set, although I recommend using a Stamp-a-ma-jig to get all the body parts in the right places :)!

Materials:

Card stock - Whisper White (base and image panel) and Soft Suede (matting and border strip);
DSP - Brights collection.  I've used a stripy piece on the left hand side of the card and a piece with 'word' on behind the image panel.
Accessories - Brights brads, Stampin' Write markers, Stamp-a-ma-jig;
Punches - Scalloped Trim Border, Word Window;
Sentiment - Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Varying layouts

There are so many different layouts possible when making a card, I thought today I would show you just how easy it is to create a few different cards using the same materials.

I've used the cute tortoise stamp from the Natures Nest stamp set from the main catalogue for these birthday cards and coloured it with Stampin' Write markers.

The first card is a Old Olive base onto which I have created a Soft Suede panel and punched the edge with the Scalloped Trim border punch, before mounting the Whisper White image panel.



On the card base I have added 2 lengths of Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon and then a sentiment from the Perfect Pairs stamp set, inked with Early Espresso onto Whisper White and then punched out with the 1 3/8' circle punch before mounting onto a Scalloped circle punch and raising up with dimensionals.

For the second card I've used a Whisper White card base to create a 13.5cm square and then added a strip of Soft Suede card stock in the centre and then a piece of DSP from the Beau Chateau paper pack. 

Onto this I added the 2 circular shapes from the Perfect Pennants die, cut from Soft Suede and More Mustard and then in the centre I have added 1 1/4' circle punched from Whisper White which has been run through the Square Lattice embossing folder, before finally adding the tortoise.

And finally, another Old Olive base and paper from the Well Worn paper pack, with a central panel cut from Soft Suede and the image stamped onto Whisper White.

I could go on creating layouts like this, so why not have a go yourself and see what you can come up with.

Ideas with an airplane

I'm afraid I am back in Cambridge today so had to fleetingly prepare this scheduled post before I left last night...  and as promised something a little more masculine themed, although these could work for a lady with an interest in airplanes too, and of course a change in sentiment.

Don't forget Father's Day is Sunday 17th June this year... so in preparation I am already creating commissions.  The first card uses the airplane stamp from the Need for Speed stamp set... all very Top Gun and one of my all time favourite films.

I've teamed Old Olive with Early Espresso and mounted a piece of the Pumpkin Pie DSP from the Brights pack to create the background panel.  The image has been coloured with Stampin' Write markers using a blender pen and then I have raised this up along with the sentiment (Teeny Tiny Wishes) and then added a couple of brads.

And of course the second card uses the same stamp... but more in duplicate and to create a sort of background.  I've inked the stamp in Basic Gray and stamped 3 separate times across a piece of Bashful Blue which I have then torn and mounted onto a Soft Suede card base and added an Old Olive strip and brads.  The sentiment is from the For My Family stamp set, also inked in Basic Gray.

Wherever you are

Happy Saturday!

Today I have a card for someone very special... although he's travelling somewhere and out of contact I hope this card has gone some way towards letting him know that I am thinking of him.  Happy birthday, Phill x.

This card features one of the stamps from the Natures Nest set, ideal for nature lovers, and those getting on a bit ;)!  I've inked the tortoise in Early Espresso and then coloured in with blender pens using Stampin' Write markers.  The background panel was created using the Top Note die twice to create a symmetrical shape cut from Whisper White and then cut out and run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and then another cut from Early Espresso card stock to create the frame.

I had to use a retired punch to create the squares, but there are several other square punches in the current main catalogue which would work just as well or you can just cut them on your trimmer and then run through the Square Lattice embossing folder as I have done.  The colours are Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Pumpkin Pie...

For those of you who enjoy a bit of walking or Geocaching, as I do, will recognise the colours ;).  I've finished the card with a sentiment from the Hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.  Oh and I almost forgot to mention that the base is Crumbcake.

Speedy car card

This is the first time I have used the Need for Speed stamp set, and now I really wish I had purchased this sooner...

I do struggle with creating cards for men sometimes, but this stamp set does all the hard work and the images are really detailed, you just need to leave them as they are or colour them with Stampin' Write marker pens as I have done with the car image on this card.

The base is Early Espresso and I have cut a strip of the 'Bright' collection DSP and placed this in the centre of the card and then created a panel measuring 5 x 7cm of Whisper White for the image and matted this onto a 5.5 x 7.5cm piece of Real Red.

I've inked and stamped the image in Early Espresso and then stamped a further image onto a separate piece of Whisper White card and cut this one out after colouring with a Real Red marker pen.  Then I have layered this using dimensional sticky pads, and then finished with a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.

Do you struggle with cards for men, it seems I am not the only one as I have already had requests for male cards to be made during my next class on 16th June.  We will be making 4 cards for a variety of occasions using a number of techniques and I will definitely be including a male card in the selection... just need to decide which one :).  I only have a couple of places left for this class which is getting booked up fast, so contact me to book you place - full details can be found on my Classes page.

Relaxing birthday fishes?

I made today's card for my friend Andy, who celebrates being another year older today.  Men are always hard to make cards for, so I went with something a little different... mainly because I know he has fish and although he has lots of other interests including DIY, I thought it was a good way to remind him that he should relax for a change on his birthday.  I'm not sure the message will get through however but it's worth a try - Happy Birthday mate!



The base is crumbcake and I have placed a piece of DSP from the Brights paper pack along the bottom and then added a strip of Chocolate Chip punched with the Scallop Trim border punch .  The base of the fish bowl was created with the Word Window punch and then I inked and stamped the fishtank and fishes from the Something Sweet stamp set - yes I know the stamp set tends to be used for making sweet related cards... but you can created other items too :).  I finished the card off by adding some of the leaves from the Bird Builder punch and the sentiment, along with a couple of brads.  The only thing missing is a sentiment saying relax... but hopefully he will get the message.



Wanting to Sail Away

Well, I had a wonderful bank holiday weekend and with just a 3 day working week (and only 2 of those left by the time this posts) I can't really complain... or can I!

I think today's card sums up just how I'm really feeling...



Clearly this isn't necessary a stamp just for when you feel like taking off and escaping from reality.  It's actually a great stamp for male cards in particular and is very reasonably priced at just £8.95.

I couldn't decide what sentiment to use for the finished card, but the colour scheme is Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White.  Just some straight forward stamping and matting of card stock and DSP and a border punched with the Scallop Trim border punch to complete.

Animal friends

It's possible I'm in Bratislava today, or that may have been yesterday, a bit undecided when scheduling this post ;). 

Whilst I'm off enjoying the bank holiday, here's a cute card that I made with the Fox and Friends stamp set and DSP from the Neutrals collection.

I've used Wild Wasabi and Chocolate Chip ink for the turtle image and then cut him out and layered him up onto a Curly Label punched shape using dimensional sticky pads.  I've then punched 2 Curly Label shapes from the Wild Wasabi card stock and cut each into half (one vertically and one horizontally) to create a frame around the image.  A quick punch along a strip with the Scalloped Trim border punch and some DSP, I've finished off with a simple sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and a couple of brads.

Oh and here is another, slightly adapted version using the same stamp set and layout, but completely different... although I couldn't decide on a sentiment...

As you can see I used the 'paw' stamp from the Patterned Pets stamp set to embellish this card created from Tangerine Tango card stock with Cajun Craze DSP from the Halloween paper pack and Chocolate Chip cardstock too.

Anyway, I'm back in the UK first thing tomorrow and straight back to work too - eek!

Well Worn ideas

I have another couple of ideas using Designer Series Papers for you today...

The papers used are from the Well Worn pack on page 99 of the main catalogue. 

The first card was a commission for a friend of mine, who wanted a card featuring one of the characters from Doctor Who.  I don't watch it so can't really tell you anymore than that but I believe it went down well with the recipient.

The image is printed off the web and then I have layered up part of the picture to make it stand out.  I have then mounted the panel onto Early Espresso card stock.  The sentiment is from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set (available in exchange for hostess pounds only), stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and punched out with the Curly Label punch.  I have then punched 2 shapes from the Early Espressor card to co-ordinate and make the sentiment stand out.  A piece of grosgrain ribbon across the centre of the card finishes this off but still maintains a masculine feel.

And for the other card, something nice and quick.....

I've taped the DSP to a Whisper White card base and then punched out a window using the 1 3/8" circle punch.

Inside I've stuck an owl created with the Owl Punch, and then finished it off with a sentiment from the Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set punched out with the Word Window punch.

 

Perfect Postage punch

I've shared a few cards with you that features punched shapes using the Perfect Postage punch which is available in the current Spring Mini Catalogue until the end of April.  As well as the co-ordinating stamp set this is a great punch for creating panel or for sentiments.

Here I have used it to create background panels in DSP and the sentiment panel used to prop up the card.

The colours are Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip and the stamp is the lovely Motorcycle which can be found in the individual stamps near the front of the main catalogue.

Tomorrow is my crafty get together so check back then for my project and hopefully some of the others in the coming week.

60 year old beer monster

I had a great day yesterday out in the fresh air, meeting new people and generally relaxing from another hard working week :)!

And then last night I went along to my very old (as in time) friend, Graham's birthday... I haven't seen him for a few years actually but used to hang out at the pub with him and a few others in my more youthful days when I lived in Kent...

Anyway, 60th birthday celebrations meant another opportunity for a handmade card - so I made good use of the Make a Monster set that I have been playing with of late.  I have to confess that the beer mug is from a retired stamp set, but it was too suitable to not use it.



The card base is Crumbcake and I have coupled Pacific Point with Old Olive and then incorporated some of the papers from the SAB Elementary Elegance DSP pack.

Other materials:
Stripes embossing folder - Background/base panel.
Curly label punch - Elementary Elegance DSP punched twice and then Whisper White punched and layered for the numbers.
Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set - Sentiment.
Timeless Type Junior Alphabet - Numbering.

A super hero and how to get FREE DSP

Sometimes I wish I was a Super Hero... or at least able to be in 2 places at once!

Anyway, here's a quick commission featuring the one and only Spiderman, probably one of my fav super hero's...

If you don't have a stamp set for a particular card theme than just search for colouring pictures on the web and there is usually everything you could possibly want at your finger tips.  I've coloured and layered up 3 of these images to create a 3D effect/decoupage card and matted this on Real Red and Marina Mist card stock before mounting over a strip of DSP from the 'birghts' paper pack.

The Designer Series Papers (DSP's) are almost endless - I actually still have a large proportion of the one I purchased when I signed up as a demonstrator back in August and I've used lots for demo's and plenty of cards.  There are 2 sheets of each of 2 double sided (4 different patterns) pieces in each pack in each of the different colour collections - that's 40 sheets!  The packs are ideal for splitting with a friend as you still getting a piece of everything.  RRP £19.50.

Why not check out the other DSP's on pages 96-101 of the main catalogue, which come in smaller packs.  Or better still buy £45 of products and get the Sale-A-Bration DSP pack - Everyday Enchantment FREE.  I think has a very Cath Kidston feel... it's stunning!

Contact me to find out more or place your order.

Mini

The good news is that I now have heating and hot water... woohoo!  The bad news is that I somehow forgot to bring all the bits and pieces that I cut up to prep for my coffee morning this Saturday, however at least I will be home on Wednesday night with time to make amends.  If you want to come along and haven't booked your place, just let me know via email at jadedcrafter@gmail.com.

Today I have a quick card commission to share with you.  It's simply an image from the web which I have printed out and coloured with Real Red and Basic Black markers using blender pens. 

The card base is of course Whisper White to keep it simple and I've added a strip of the striped Real Red DSP from the brights pack along the bottom and then used the Scallop Trim Border punch on a strip of Basic Black across the top.

Other bits:

Real Red and Basic Black card stock - matted panels behind the image;

Real Red/Curly Label punch.

Whisper White/Perfect Postage punch - the number was printed on my pc.

Sentiment - Teeny Tiny Wishes.