Retro xmas Deck the Halls

Hello crafters,

The STAMPloration release of the Retro Christmas STAMPcuts™ could not be more timely... If you have not seen them before the STAMPcuts™ are ready-to-use die-cut typography pieces that add bold, beautifully layered sentiments to cards, journals, scrapbook pages, and creative projects.

For this card I simply used a card front for a quick make:

I first applied Distress Inks to mute the cool tones of the Quick Cards #15 - Simply Christmas card front and added some stamping to make it my own with the Serene Winter Perfect Pairs.
I used sanded Core'dination cardstock to mat the card and added my chosen typographic sentiment from the Retro Christmas set.

So easy... yet impactful!

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Retro Christmas brings together 16 ready-to-use die-cut typography pieces featuring layered retro lettering in a festive vintage-inspired palette of cranberry red, deep evergreen, antique gold, muted sage, and warm ivory. From classic Christmas greetings to joyful single-word sentiments, this collection makes it easy to add personality and dimension to cards, scrapbook pages, journals, mixed-media projects, gift tags, and more.
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Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield  
     

Crocus Stepper

Hello crafters, 

This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Liz is "More than one fold". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I chose to make a stepper card, as with nearly 10 folds the mission is well and truly fulfilled!

The focal image is from the Crocus set by AALL & Create (#624) stamped with grey ink and coloured with pencils.

I masked the flower and applied Distress Oxide inks to the background and sprayed some water.

The Crocus sentiment is also from the same set.

On the steps are pieces of designer paper (Polkadoodles) and die-cuts made with dies from the Sizzix starter set.

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes, a bundle of craft essentials from Stix2 plus an A5 stamp set pictured below to be won!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield    I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday,  

                                                         Polkadoodles and We Love Stamping challenges

Retro Gratitude Dahlias

Hello crafters,

Today I have a Thanksgiving card using the newly released Retro Gratitude STAMPcuts™ from STAMPlorations.
If you missed my previous post, STAMPcuts™ are ready-to-use die-cut typography pieces that add bold, beautifully layered sentiments to cards, journals, scrapbook pages, and creative projects.  

I stencilled the Peeking Dahlias (actually thought they were sunflowers and coloured them as such 😧) using Distress inks. 
I added my chosen STAMPcuts™ and created a frame to enhance the design.

And...that's it! The stencilling is certainly time consuming but the ready made sentiment saves a lot of time, including in the design as the colour scheme is effectively given....

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The Retro Gratitude set brings together 15 ready-to-use die-cut typography pieces featuring layered retro lettering in warm autumn-inspired colours, plenty to get on with! I haven't got many calls for Thanksgiving cards, seeing as I live on the other side of the Atlantic but gratitude sentiments can be used for simple Thank you cards too... 

AND... whenever you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

 

Retro Gratitude Pumpkin

Happy October crafters,

Today I am trying a new product by STAMPLorations, the STAMPcuts™.
They are ready-to-use big typography die-cut sentiments.
I used the Retro Gratitude set for this card, with 15 ready-to-use die-cuts featuring layered retro lettering in warm, autumn-inspired colours:

I stamped, coloured and masked the pumpkin from the Thankful & Blessed stamp set and applied Pan pastel around them for the background.

I added the sentiment and rounded the corners of my card to finish.

With such a prominent sentiment I decide to keep the card (almost) CAS. 

When mass making cards (think Christmas, Thanksgiving etc..) STAMPcuts™ are the perfect solution if you want to vary the sentiments used without investing in more stamps or dies. 

AND... whenever you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and 

                                                         We Love Stamping challenges

   

Inspired by Autumn

Hello crafters, 

This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by yours truly is "Autumn".  This can be inspired by the season (crops, grape harvest, fallen leaves etc..) or just the warm colours. As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

With Autumn mushrooms are to be found amongst the fallen wet leaves and this is my inspiration for this tag:

The focal image is Counting Toadstools by Crafty Individuals (CI-574) stamped in grey ink and coloured with pencils.

The background is Distress Ink Oxides, splattered with water.

I used the AALL & Create #27 - "Tag It Yourself" Die set to cut both tag shapes.

I am linking to the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Tag-Along (and ATCs) challenges.

My second project is all about the warm colours of Autumn rather than any motif of the season:

I stamped the Sunflower from the Sunflower Bee stamp set (Julie Hickey JH1019) twice and dies-cut it twice with the matching die set (JHD-CUT-007) to create my sunflower. I used an orangey-yellow to stamp on a light yellow piece of card and added colour with pencils to add a 3D effect. I also shaped the flowers with a ball stylus.

The paper background, from the Paper Artsy Chatsworth pack, has some green in it as well as oranges and brown but does look fairly flat in the photo.

Both paper and brown card mat have been cut with the AALL & Create Climbing Woods die set (#77). 

Finally I added the dictionary definition, a piece of honeycomb die-cut and the bees stamped, die-cut and coloured with pencil (all stamps from the same stamp and die set).

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are 2 prizes of Penny Black stamps, stencil and stickers from Buddly Crafts pictured below for lucky winners!

Thanks for coming by,

Craftyfield   Both makes join the  Polkadoodles and Addicted to Stamps  challenges

The writing is on the tree.

Hello crafters, today I have another make with the newly released Perfect Pairs, sets combining a small stamp set and coordinating ephemera cuts, designed to simplify card making.
But... proof you don't need image stamps to create a card and you CAN use just the stamp set (or just the ephemera), I made this Christmas card with Serene Winter:

I first added "white" pearlescent watercolour (Gansai Tambi) on a piece of white cardstock and let it dry.

Next using a hand cut stencil and Distress inks I coloured the inside of the tree with green and the outside with both red and blue. 

With the stencil back in place I stamped the sentiment from the set as if it was a garland.

The dictionary definition stands in for the tree pot.

Finally I double matted the image, added "baubles" and a star brad to finish.

As before the Gansai Tambi colours are so shiny... 

You can find the 4 Perfect Pairs in the collection here, stamp set and ephemera bought together benefit from a 20% discount but can be bought individually.

Thanks for coming by, 
 Craftyfield   I am entering the We Love Stamping challenge

 

Birthday tag

Hello crafters,
Still playing with the newly released Perfect Pairs by STAMPLorations and today I made a Birthday tag/card with the Party and Wishes set:

I used the Shutters Mini stencil to create the background with several shades of Distress inks and hand cut the outside shape to create a tag card.

I stamped the sentiment and added my chosen ephemera (the cake slice) and some heart shaped balloons die cut with the Shaker Balloons #1 Heart from the Ephemeral Edges collage paper.

You can find the 4 Perfect Pairs in the collection here, stamp set and ephemera bought together benefit from a 20% discount but can be bought individually.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

         

Sympathy Card

Hello crafters, 

This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Gail is "Sympathy/Thinking of You". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

The focal image is a Vintage Stamping stamp inked in Versafine Clair, the sentiment is from the Big Sympathy stamp set (Inspired by Stamping).

I cut the base and mat with the AALL & Create #106 Layers of Air.

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Hop over to the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are three die sets plus reflections and paper from  Highlight Crafts pictured below to win!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Monday, and 

                                                          We Love Stamping challenges

Serene Winter Snowflakes and Marshmallows

Hello crafters, 

STAMPlorations has released new products designed to work together, consisting of small stamp set coordinating with ephemera cuts, called Perfect Pairs. I have been using another set today, Serene Winter  in preparation for Christmas... 

To create my background I repeat-stamped the dictionary definition in the set, highlighting one line in a darker blue.

I placed my chosen ephemera from the pack in the centre. 

To finish, I added the sentiment on the bottom right, snowflakes (glue and rock candy glitter) and a snowflake brad also given the Rock Candy treatment.

For my second card I used the appetising cup of coffee with marshmallows... yum!

I created the background with Versafine inks, added my chosen ephemera from the pack which I had stamped and embossed with the sentiment from the set.

I added the dictionary definition stamped on a separate piece of cardstock.

For embellishments I added baker's twine and a wax seal.

One small stamp set and many ephemera for completely different cards! Really useful for Christmas makes...

You can find the 4 Perfect Pairs in the collection here, stamp set and ephemera bought together benefit from a 20% discount but can be bought individually.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the We Love Stamping challenge (snow globe card)

   

Big Birthday Celebrations

Hello crafters, 

STAMPlorations has released new products designed to work together, consisting of a small stamp set coordinating with ephemera cuts, called Perfect Pairs.
I took Party & Wishes for a spin:

 

The design is pared down and the execution quick, I just stamped the sentiment in black and the dictionary definition stamp in blue, leaving plenty of space for the present ephemera and a lot of  "white space".

The background is iridescent watercolour (Gansai Tambi Pear colours) with the addition of liquid watercolours to amp up the strength of the hues. On their own the paints give pastel colours whilst giving a LOT of shine as per this GIF:

The effect is beautiful and unlike with glitter there is no fall out or transfer!

I made a second card, this time using a circle as my base:

I created the background by repeat stamping the background stamp (dictionary definition) from the set diagonally.

I stamped the top of the sentiment and embossed it in white detailed EP on black cardstock and the bottom of the sentiment on the right hand side, one letter at a time, to change it to a vertical position that suited my design. Note that I did not cut the stamp out but it would definitely make that easier!

The focal image, a cupcake ephemera from the Party & Wishes Perfect Pairs set has been backed by black cardstock.   

You can find the 4 Perfect Pairs in the collection here, stamp set and ephemera bought together benefit from a 20% discount but can be bought individually.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

   

Shedding light on the moon

Hello crafters, 

This fortnight, the Allsorts challenge optional theme, chosen by Brenda is "All creatures great and small". As usual, you can also enter with an "anything goes" theme.

I created a scene inspired by the idea that "the moon is made of cheese" according to a famous English proverb, a favourite of Wallace and Gromit.

Obviously the mice are checking this out....

I first stamped the moon and masked  it before applying Distress inks in blues and greens.

Removing the mask I then stamped the mice and leafs before applying ink for the glow of the bulbs.
Fanciful as the electric cables are not plugged in but... 

All stamps are from Lavinia:
- Moon (LAV431)

- Double Trouble (LAV963)

- Berry Leaves (LAV577)

 

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I hope you like this one and will be inspired to join us at the Allsorts challenge blog to see all the DT inspiration and upload your projects. There are two prizes of stamps, stickers and scenescapes from Lavinia Stamps pictured below for a lucky winner!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge

Focus on the sentiment

Hello crafters,

Today I have another make with the newly released 
Simple Expression range from STAMPlorations. Designed for impactful sentiment I created another simple but not quite as CAS as my previous one (here) 

The word Grace is again the main focus of the design, framed by the torn paper, a sheet of the Old Letters Pocket Backdrops. 

I then added 2 of the ephemera, from the Floral Parade Ephemera Cut-Outs, fussy cut to avoid the white border that I personally prefer to leave out.
On a separate piece of vanilla cardstock, I stamped the outline in black and the solid word in pink to match the colour of  the flowers.

This range offers a simple and effective way of making the sentiment the star of the show.

There are 18 word/quotes to choose from in the range for a variety of feelings, specially designed to work with the paper goods released earlier, so Shery is running the promotion below:

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the  Addicted to stamps & more,  and 
                                                         We Love Stamping challenges