Design team make...Batch Making Christmas cards

Hi everyone...Genny here. As I started making my first card here, I suddenly thought that I needed to make a lot of Christmas cards in a hurry and got to think about batch making some..so I did and here they are. I've already made a lot of Christmas cards but have given little thought to my own. At this time of year I seem to be playing catch up with all the orders and getting ready for Christmas..as I'm sure many of you are. Batch making cards seems to be the way forward. The first step is to find a stamp that you like and then go with it. I began with this wonderful stamp from Stampendous Stamps...which is available from Julie here at JB-Crafting Supplies.

I began by stamping my image using my memento inkpad and I did four of the image. I then coloured them all in using my promarkers but chose different colours. I then found some Christmas papers in my stash...Julie has a wonderful collection and covered some 6x6 cards with the paper.

I then cut out the snowmen into a square..you could use whatever shape you liked..and then added a peeloff border. Finally I added the greeting and there I was with four cards in the same time that it normally took to make one. If, like me are behind with your cards..why not give it a go.

If you are short of any Christmas inspiration..why not take a look round what Julie has for sale. The thing that I love with Stampendous Stamps is how clear the stamped image is and no matter what the size of stamp..they stamp really cleanly. I hope that you all will remember that card making is supposed to be fun..so don't get stressed..just enjoy what you're doing. And with the weather being what it is..there is nothing better but being inside crafting. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes...Christmas Cards

Hello everyone...Genny here. As most of you are, I'm desperately trying to make my Christmas cards. Apart from the orders that I have to complete..I have my own to make. And as I have a litter of kittens taking over the house..it's a bit of a job..lol. As I write, the kittens are causing chaos in the parlour. When it comes to Christmas cards I seem to find it harder to make my own..when I get orders in the customers know what they would like..so it's easy. With my own I have to find something I really like and they have to be easy because normally I leave myself very little time. That's one of the reasons I love the Margaret Tarrent paper pads that have been produced by Joanna Sheen. I was lucky enough last Christmas to have been given one by Julie here at JB Crafting to work with...and have still got some left. The images are fantastic and very nostalgic. They remind of the images in books that I had as a little girl.

On the pads there are the images and greetings, alongside some easy decoupage. I found it a great way to also use some of my huge stash of Christmas papers.

The other thing that I love to do is to find a stamp that I love and batch make a lot using the stamp as the focal point. As Julie stocks  a fantastic range of Stampendous Stamps...I picked this wonderful image of the little House Mouse, drawn by the very talented Ellen Jareckie.

I just love this image of the little mouse balancing the ornaments on his nose. Again it is a perfect way of working through my stash. I have to say that I collect papers..I may never have to buy any more..but I know that I will..lol

I hope that I will have given you a little inspiration. Julie has such a wonderful shop filled with fantastic goodies...an Aladdin's cave of inspiration..so if you are wondering what to do..why not pop in and take a look. I hope that the weather is being kind to you, wherever you are...we have had snow here..so it's a perfect time to stay in and craft. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

Design team make using a Stampendous Stamp

Hello everyone...Genny herewith my design team make for JB-Crafting Supplies. I was lucky enough to e able to work with this fabulous stamp from the Stampendous range. I made this simple card this week to send to a friend of mine who just adores shoes. I stamped the image and simply matted and layered it onto some patterned mirri and some plain black. I then just added the silver bow. It was a great stamp to work with as all the detail stamps so cleanly. The actual amount that they have managed to get onto one stamp is amazing. When you find a stamp company whose stamps work well every time..gives you confidence to use them again and again. And it like that for me with Stampendous stamps. They also have the license to work with all the house mouse range...a range which you must know by now, I love.

For next weeks make, I will show how this stamp can be used alongside a vintage make. The same stamp but used in a totally different way. Oh and to answer a question that was sent to me...for most of my stamping I use a memento inkpad..normally in tuxedo black. That's so I can use my alcohol pens to colour onto it if I want to. I use a Versomark for embossing and a Stazon for stamping onto acetate and glass. For inking backgrounds and for stencil work, I tend to use the Tim Holtz Distress range. There are many different types of inkpad out there but once I've found something that works for me, I tend to stick to it. One more that I have remembered is that I use a Versafine in black if I intend to watercolour. I hope that helps..and as I've said if you have any questions..just ask.

So until next week..I hope that the weather is kind to you all...so until then ..take care and happy crafting.

Design team make featuring Stampendous Stamps

Hello everyone ..Genny here. For this weeks design team makes, I have been lucky enough to work with this stamp of a giraffe from the wonderful team at Stampendous Stamps. I thought that for this weeks makes I would use the stamp as an embellishment on a card. In the next few weeks Iwill work with the stamp as the main feature. What I'm trying to do is to look at the many different ways that you can use a stamp and therefore get more value for your money.

For the first card, I had this amazing image of the two giraffes from Pollyanna Pickerings World of Wildlife cdrom. I thought that the stamp would provide the perfect embellishment. Because the main image has lilac tones, I decided to stamp the giraffe using my distress ink that also has a lilac tone. The great thing about Stampendous stamps is the clear image that you get despite how detailed it is. I have had many stamps in the past that look as if they have lots of detail but that doesn't relate to the stamped image. Some I have never been able to get a clear image no matter what I try. As is the case, many times in life..you really do get what you pay for and with a stampendous stamp..you are buying something that you will be able to use for years.

For my second card I stamped the image using my distress ink..vintage photo and you can clearly see in the photograph just how much detail there is. On this card the photograph is from an old Joanna Sheen cdrom..Animal Antics. It has been retired but I just loved this photo.

You may think that a giraffe stamp is an odd choice but I have found it perfect to add my collection. I have friends who go to feed the giraffes at a local zoo..so they would love this card. It also would be perfect for scrapbooking their day and that's just my first thought. I also have a lot of friends who travel on safaris and again this would be perfect to either send them a bon voyage card or to scrap their holiday photos. And besides everything else..giraffes are just so cute...lol

I hope that the weather is being kind to you where ever you are. Here in the mountains it's pouring down...just the perfect weather to be indoors crafting..lol. So until next time take care and happy crafting

Design team make using a stampendous stamp

Hello everyone...Genny here. For todays card I have again used this wonderful stamp from the Stampendous range. I have also used this amazing embossing folder created by Xcut. I just love the cog design and I can see me use it so many times on cards for men. Anything using machinery and this embossing folder would work so well. I have a gentleman that orders a lot of cards with steam trains on and this would also work well on those cards.

For this card I have stamped the image using a distress ink called faded jeans. I then coloured the image using the same ink pad. I cut an oval out of white card and coloured that with the same. I embossed some blue pearl with the embossing folder. I mounted everything onto some blue mirri which I then mounted onto the a card.In my stash I have a set of dies which cut out cogs in various sizes, which are a perfect embellishment. I have cut the cogs out using some silver holographic card.

I can't quite believe just how quickly that this year is flying by. Next weeks design team makes will be using some really pretty stamps by a range that I have never used before..so I'm really looking forward to sharing my discoveries with you. It's a lovely day here in the mountains today....I hope that the weather is being kind to you, wherever you are. So until next week...take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes using Stampendous Stamps

Hello everyone...Genny here. For today's cards I have been using two fabulous stamps from the Stampendous stamps range. One is the car 'cling toy car' which I used last week and another called 'Luggage Labels'. For this week I decided to make two collage type cards and to use sepia coloured ink. The ink that I used was a distress ink called vintage photo. It is a very handy colour if you want to do a sepia coloured image. I stamped the images with the ink and then stamped some more of the ink onto a glass mat, watering it down and then used that to colour the images as well.On the first card I stamped and embossed the quote using black ink and black embossing powder and then coloured it with the watered down ink.I used an old map as a background paper and mounted that onto some black card. I mounted the luggage stamp onto the same black card. I cut a black circle and then mounted the car onto it. I embellished with some gold ribbon and some gold card candi.

For the second card I mounted an old map onto some blue  and then black card. I mounted all the other images onto the same. I used the luggage stamp and the car stamp coloured again with the distress ink. I then added two other images..one of an old train and one of an old farm building. I put all these together thinking of the gentleman that this card is for, You could change the images depending on what the recipient likes. I added a bow and some orange card candi. I love making this type of card because you can personalise it as much as you like. You are able to bring in lots of random images that you wouldn't normally put together but which can help you personalise the card and make it all the more special for the person it's intended for.

Wherever you are I hope that the weather is being kind to you.We are back to normal here in the mountains with wind, rain and mist. But I always think heyho..it's perfect crafting weather. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes using a Stampendous stamp

Hello everyone...Genny here. I hope that you all had a fabulous Easter. For my design team makes this week I have been lucky enough to work with this fantastic stamp from Stampendous stamps. The whole stamp is the car with the petrol pump. For this weeks cards I have decided to show you the stamp used in two different ways. In the first card above, I have used the stamp as an embellishment to the main picture. The picture is from a Joanna Sheens cdrom and the stamp was perfect to use. I stamped the image with my memento ink pad and coloured it with my promarkers. I then cut it out and added it to the card. I have also added some twine that I have knotted. The reason I did this was many years ago the family owned a petrol station that I used to work at and to close the station off when it wasn't open...we used to put up the ropes across the entrance. It really was back in the day because I can remember serving petrol and it was only 25p a gallon. It seems unbelievable now that it was ever so cheap..lol.

For the second card I have used the stamped image as the focal point of the card.I have stamped the image, cut off the petrol pump and coloured the image again with my promarkers. I have mounted the image onto an oval diecut, which I cut from copper mirri. I have also mounted the backing paper onto some of the same.

Next week I will be working with the same stamp but in a very different way. It is always worth looking at a stamp and trying to image the different ways in which you can use it...giving you more value for your money. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

DT Post for JB Crafting Supplies

Hi everyone! Hope you have all had a great week & weekend. Sorry about the late post this week - totally forgot as have been up & down to hospital as Keith's mum is in again.
So I had to do something quick - but it does show how versatile those papers  from the Forever in Time paper pad are.
I cut out an ATC from card, covered it with a piece from one of the sheets from the pad. I stamped the edges. using the border stamp from the Stampendous Fantasy Tiles stamps onto white card with burgundy ink. Carefully cut around the image & adhered down the sides of the ATC.
ATC'c can be used as toppers too.

I made a 6x6 card, picked out another sheet from the paper pad & adhered this to the front of the card. Attached the ATC using foam pads. Stamped the sentiment onto white card & matted this onto a piece of the paper matching the ATC.
Finished off with a bit of Rub'n'Buff around the ATC & stickles glitter to pick out parts of the design.
Hope you like this week's make.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

DT post

Hi everyone - well it's been a beautiful day here. Lovely to see the sunshine & the lighter nights & mornings. Hope you are all well.
I am really into ATC's at the moment and am busy entering a few swaps. Have been lucky enough to receive ATC's from as far a way as New Zealand, South  Africa, USA & France. Also lots from around the UK. I love seeing other people's take on a theme.
One of the themes at the moment is to use inchies - ideal for the lovely Stampendous stamps that Julie sent me!
After measuring out my ATC ( 21/2" x 31/2") I picked out some papers from the Forever in Time paper pad,Elderberry, to use as a background. I matted & layered these onto the ATC.
Chose one of the images from the Stampendous Fantasy Tiles stamps & stamped using some lovely burgundy ink. Once this was dry I stamped onto it with some clear Versa Mark ink, then covered with thick embossing powder & heated with my heat gu. I repeated this 3 times to give  me a tile effect.
I went around the edge of the tile & ATC with some gold Rub 'n' Buff.
I stamped the sentiment out onto white card with the burgundy ink, cut out the words & going around the edges with the ink. On the word flowers I went over this with some Ranger Sepia Accents.
I arranged everything until I was satisfied with the arrangement, then attached the tile with glue dots & the words with foam pads.
After looking at all my received ATC's I decided it was time to make something to keep them in. I did make a larger holder but I did not have enough of the paper pad left to cover that one, so I have made a smaller one so I could show it on here.
Here is a pic, complete with little envelopes.

You need some card - I used cereal box card - 11" long  by 3"" wide.
Score at 2", 21/2", 61/2" & 7".
Here's a pic showing the measurements.

Now is the time to cover your holder using any papers & embellishments that you have as it is a lot easier now. I covered mine on the inside too, but you could paint it.
A little bit of hook & loop will keep the box closed.

Next for the little pockets that fit inside the holder.
You need some paper - I used sheets from the paper pad - 6" wide by 4" long.
The next stages are easier to show in pics rather than writing it out.

Once you have done this you will have envelopes to store your ATC's in & these will live in the holder.
Hope you have enjoyed this post & will make some ATC's & enter a few swaps.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev x

DT Post

Hi everyone! Sorry about the late post this week -but here it is.
I have used the Stampendous Fantasy Tile stamps & the Forever in Time Paper Collection to make a plain box into something special.
I coated the top with a dark acrylic colour, let it dry then applied some weathered wood medium. Allowed this to dry & then applied a thin coat of white acrylic & watched the magic happen.
I covered the sides & inside of the box with a some of the lovely paper, then covered this with PVA to seal it.
I chose which stamps to use then stamped in various places around the box.
I then went around with my gold Rub 'n' Buff, and some other waxes to give everything an aged feel.
Now I have somewhwere pretty to store my bit 'n' bobs.
As usual I forgot to photograph the box before, but I managed to find a photo on the site where I bought it from. Here it is -

 

Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

DT Post

Hi everyone! Another weekend rolls around - can't believe we are midway through February already!
I have made a card today using the Stampendous Fantasy Tiles & Forever in Time Paper Collection - Elderberry. All sent to me by Julie - thank you.
I picked out a backing paper - with lovely swirls. I matted this onto some white card.
There is a lovely border stamp that comes with the tile stamps. I stamped this onto white card, using a lovely Burgundy ink, to make a frame.
I picked out the tiles & stamped these onto white card with the Burgundy ink. Carefully cut them out. I matted these onto a smaller piece of the patterned paper using foam pads for a bit of dimension. Inked around the edges. I then matted this onto the white card with the frame.
All this was now matted onto the main card.
I stamped the border stamp onto some white card, but stamped on some scrap paper first to give a faded look. Stamped the sentiment onto this & added this to the card with foam pads.
There are some lovely papers in this paper pack - useful for all kinds of projects. I'd better get my thinking cap on for next week.
Hope you like this week's make.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

Dt post

Hi everyone! The snow has just about gone here. Hope you are all well & have had a good weekend.
Julie sent me some new crafty goodies! Fantasy tile stamps from Stampendous. As you can see above there are 12 lovely tile sized stamps & one lacy border stamp.
Here is the ATC I made with 3 of the tiles & the border stamp.

I cut out my ATC from thick card, covered it with white card. I picked out 3 tiles to use & stamped them onto white card using blue Distress Ink & cut them out. I edged the tiles with a dark blue marker.
I stamped down the long edges of the ATC using the border stamp & the blue DI.
Placed the tiles onto the ATC using foam pads for a bit of dimension. Added some blue gems for a bit of bling.
Edged around the ATC with a dark blue marker.
I have made this for a swap where the theme is the colour blue.
Hope you like my make this week.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

DT post

Hi everyone - hope you are all well & didn't get too disrupted by the snow.
For this weeks DT project I decided to make a pin cushion using the Stampendous Teacup Cupcake stamp.
I found some lining material & cut myself a piece large enough for the stamp & with a bi extra for seam allowance.
I inked up the stamp using black Stazon ink & stamped this onto the material. It didn't come out very black, as you can see on the cupcake wrapper on the photo.
I coloured the image using Sharpie pens.
I decided that the main image needed outlining so I sewed around it using some black thread - I didn't go over the wrapper though as I thought this would look too much.
Once I had done the outlining I drew a circle around the image, cut another piece of material for the backing.
I wanted to use the pincushion on  my wrist so I found some elastic to attach to it.
I placed the piece with the image face down onto the backing piece, with the elastic across the middle between the two pieces. I pinned these together  where the elastic was to hold everything in place.
I sewed all around the edge of the circle, leaving a small gap to enable me to turn the piece the right way out.
I snipped around the seam - hopefully to give it a more smooth look.
Turned the piece the right way out, inserted some stuffing then sewed the gap up.
On my wrist when I'm sewing - just to remind me to stop for tea & cake!
I thought it would look good in a proper teacup & saucer as well - might have to have a look around the charity shops next week!
Here it is on my wrist - have managed to crop my gnarly old hand out of the pic! Didn't want to frighten anyone!

Have a good week, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

Design team make...Stampendous stamps

 Hello everyone..Genny here. Today I've been lucky enough to be able to work with this Stampendous stamp again. I just love the way that you can change the colours used for the flowers, as well as the backing paper. I wanted to do a blue and white theme today. Probably because I've just washed one of my teapots and that was blue and white. So I wanted to do a blue and white teapot but keep the background a soft blue. I had a look in my scrap box and found this lovely piece of blue and white patterned paper. I mounted this onto some blue card and also mounted the image and the greeting onto the same blue.

The greeting and the flowery border are peeloffs, They have come on so far in the last few years, with all the colours and styles border  peeloffs are now in a whole new place. I have to admit to having a bit of a thing for the glittery ones..lol. For the stamped image, I have stamped it using my memento inkpad. and for a change coloured it with my promarkers. I always enjoy colouring...I have done since I was a child..and I have a wide range of colouring mediums...copics, promarkers, glaze,  watercolour pencils and paints, intense pencils, H20s, pastels, acrylics...I never know from one day to the next what I'm going to use..but that's half the fun.

Wherever you are I hope that the weather is being kind to you. It is so cold here..my winter socks are on my feet..alongside one of my cats who has taken up residence on my leg blanket..lol. If you fancy having a go at this card or something similar why not pop over to the JB-Crafting shop and see what goodies Julie has to offer. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Dt Post using Stampendous stamp & doilies

Hi everyone! Bev here with this week's DT piece.
I have used the lovely Stampendous stamp - teacup cupcake. I had some doilies & thought that these together with the stamp would make a lovely wall hanging.
I cut the middle from a white doily 7 stamped the image onto this using black Versamark ink. I coloured the image using watercolour pencils - being careful not to tear the doily.
I adhered this to a pink doily - it was a lot larger  so I cut it down so as to make a smaller border.
I used the outer edge of the doily I had cut the centre from to make another border. This doily had some roses & leaves in the pattern so I coloured these using the pencils, to match the image.
I found yet another doily & placed this behind as a base.
Cut a circle of card, adhered this to the back just to give the hanging some strength.
Added some ribbon to hang it with & stamped the sentiment onto white card. Arranged the words around the image.
I hope you like this week's make & it inspires you to have a go!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

Design team makes using a Stampendous stamp

Hello everyone..Genny here. First things first..I would like to wish you all a happy new year and hope that you all had a fabulous christmas.For my first make of the new year I decided to make a little piece of art for my kitchen wall. I had a small piece of canvas board and painted it with acrylic paint..Buttermilk and then I edged the board with some burgundy acrylic. I then stamped the image 5 times. The image is from the Stampendous range and is called Cling teapot Posies. I stamped the image using my memento inkpad and coloured the pieces I wanted using my copics. I kept one whole image and cut 4 pieces using just the roses. I mounted the four groups of roses in the corners of the board, having cut off the rosebuds to space them on the sides. I then added the whole image at the base of the board. I then added the little quote at the top. The only thing that I have left to do is to use a spray varnish to cover all the board.

While I was playing creating the board, I looked at the image and decided that it would be perfect to use for my thankyou cards. I used an embossing folder by Crafters Companion which featured roses and thought it would be perfect to use as a background on the card. I have to admit to the fact that I couldn't decide whether to use the pink or the cream..so in the end I used both. I cut 4 squares and added them to the card and then mounted the image onto some pearlescent card. I edged the squares with a pink glittery peeloff.

  I haven't decided whether or not to add a peeloff greeting.I would like to say just what a pleasure it is to use this stamp...it's so easy to use and stamps perfectly every time. Over the years I must have tried hundreds of different brands and some I have to say have been a pain. Every stampendous stamp I have ever used has been a joy. Lovely detail and a cleanly stamped image every time. I know that Julie has a fabulous range in the shop   and they are well worth a look. I have ordered quite a number for my crafting in this new year. I have to admit that there are a lot of cat images which I just have to have..lol.

If there is anything else that you would like to know about the work that I do for Julie..please do not hesitate to get in touch. I love to share the work I do. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.

DT post using Stapendous stamp

Hi everyone! Bev here with this week's DT post. Hope you all had a great Christmas & are ready to welcome in the new year - 2015 - cant believe it!
Totally forgot it was Sunday yesterday so am a day late with my post.
Looking at the Stampendous stamp - teacup cupcake - I thought it would make a cute thank you card. I have a few of those to send so got straight onto it.
I folded some white card in half - slightly larger than the stamp. I inked the stamp with some black Versamark ink & positioned the stamp so that a small part overlapped the fold of the card. I stamped the cream, rose & leaves again, then the rose & leaves & lastly the rose - all to be used as decoupage.
I carefully cut around the images. On the main image I made sure to straighten off the botto of the saucer so the card would stand up.
Next came the colouring using watercolour pencils. Once that was done I layered up the decoupage pieces with foam pads.
I found a cut little 'Thank You' from the Joanna Sheen paper pad that Julie also sent me. Adhered this just under the rose.
I think it makes a lovely 'Thank You' card & I'm sure whoever receives it will love it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs & Happy New Year!
Bev xxx

DT piece using Stampendous Teacup Cupcake stamp

Hi everyone! Hope your preparations are going well. I just have wrapping up to do.
For my DT piece this week I have been sent a lovely Stampendous cling stamp - teacup cupcake, a Crafter's Companion embossing folder - Flower Garden from the Vintage Floral collection & Joanna Sheen paper pad designed by Janet Kruskamp.
I embossed some white card with the embossing folder, inked using tattered rose Distress Ink. I then matted this onto some white card, then onto a pink card.
Stamped the image onto white card, then stamped again just inking the rose & leaves, then again just inking the rose.
I coloured the images using Inktense watercolour pencils.
Cut out the main images, then layered up the rose part of the image for a bit of depth.
Found a matching border & a sentiment in the paper pad, cut these out & adhered to the card.
A lovely image, embossing folder & paper pad to work with - just come at the right time for me as I have 2 friends who have birthdays just after Christmas, and a nice change from making 'Christmassy' things.
Hope you like it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs,
Bev xx

Stampendous Stamps...Design Team Makes

Hello everyone...Genny here. I hope that you'll all keeping warm..the weather here in the mountains is freezing cold...will be needing my winter socks sometime soon..lol. For todays design team makes I've decided to use some of the fabulous stamps available from Julie here at JB Crafting. All the stamps that I've used today are from the Stampendous range. Two of them feature a House Mouse design and the other is this adorable cat with the santa hat. I know that you can buy cheaper stamps but sometimes, especially with stamps..you get what you pay for. All the stamps that I have used from the Stampendous range have been brilliant. They stamp so clearly first time and the detail is amazing. As most of you know I just adore cats and share my life with 10...so I just had to have the two featuring the kitties..lol.

On all the images I have stamped using a black memento inkpad. I coloured all the images with my copic pens but could have easily coloured them using my promarkers, watercolours or pencils. I decided to colour the cats ginger just because yesterday I spent a lot of time with my ginger cat Icabod. All the papers that I've used were from my christmas stash. All the images I cut into an oval shape and mounted them onto an oval mirri mount.

All the embellishments have come from Julies shop..she has an amazing variety of christmas themed ones and you could use any of your choice to decorate your own cards. I have to say that I just love to colour images...I find it so relaxing..I always liked to colour when I was little and am lucky enough to be able to do it as part of my working life now. The other good thing about using stamps is that you can colour them to match your own ideas or colour schemes. If you fancy using say blue and silver on your christmas cards..this allows you to.
I will be sharing cards all week on the facebook page ...I hope you will enjoy the different cards..they will all be made using a stamped image. So until next time...take care and happy crafting