Old Favourites Revisited (by Judith)

Hello everyone, I have a card to share with you today using some stamps that have been in my stash for a little while. Sometimes it is great to look at your stamps with a fresh viewpoint, and try using them in different ways. I have always used the Snake's Head Fritillary stamped individually as a focal point on a card, but wanted to create a meadow effect with the flowers for this particular card. I have used a combination of black and grey Versafine Ink to create a depth to the flowers, helping some of them fade into the background, and used a grey pencil in some of the colouring to tone down the flowers that appear to be nearer the back of the picture.

I have added some stencilling to the background, using the same palette of colours, and used a couple of butterflies from the Harebell and Thistle butterfly stamp sets. I added a greeting from the Birthday Words stamp set, and mounted the background onto a large black card blank.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Springtime Flowers on Kraft (posted by Judith)

Hello everyone, I have a couple of cards to show you today using the Spring Birds multi-buy stamp set. These stamps are so versatile and you can use them to make cards suitable for occasions across the year, which hopefully my first card will demonstrate.

I hand cut a circle from the front of a kraft card blank, by drawing around a circular die with a pencil as a guide. I then stamped the small motif using Versamark and white embossing powder around the edge. TIP: I stamped the four main points,  top, bottom, left and right, as if I was making a clock, to start. Then I filled the rest of the spaces in afterwards, it was much easier that way.

I stamped the flower image seven times, starting at the bottom, masking them as I went along, so that I did not stamp over the previous one. I then used a couple of sprig stamps from the Briar Rose Butterfly/Harebell Butterfly multi-buy stamp set, which I coloured with water based markers. I stamped these a couple of times, before re-inking so that some of the images are less defined, giving the impression of the images being in the background. I added a couple of butterflies, and coloured all of my images with waterbased markers and a waterbrush. Finally, I stuck the card behind the circle aperture.

My second card uses a piece of scrap card left over from another project. When I was colouring some seam binding recently, I used some watercolour paper to mop up the excess moisture from the ribbon, and the background on this card is the result. It provides a perfect match to the ribbon that I have added to the card.

I stamped the tulips onto the card, masking one set, before adding the second. I then stamped two rows of the small motif along the top and bottom of the background using black ink. I also added a sentiment from the stamp set, before matting the background onto black card. I stamped the tulip images onto spare card, and coloured them using watercolour pencils. I cut them out and added them to the card.

I stamped two rows of another small motif onto orange vellum, using Versamark and white embossing powder to create a lacy border effect. I cut this out, and attached it to my panel, before sticking the panel to a kraft card blank.

I hope that I have given you some inspiration for using these lovely stamps, particularly some of the smaller motifs, which are often overlooked on a stamp plate. They make great borders and edges for your cards. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Garden Fresh Crocus and A Spring Bird (by Asha)

Good morning, fellow Chocoholics! Spring is most definitely in the air and things can only get better now that we have some new stamps to play with. I've got a couple of projects to share with you featuring stamps from the brand new Spring Bird - Crocus DL set.


My first card showcases the beautiful crocuses. I stamped a cluster of the taller ones from the set and coloured them with alcohol markers. Then I coloured and fussy cut the smaller cluster and adhered in in front. And to fill all the gaps I added some die cut grass with coincidentally match the leaves of the crocuses! The greeting is from Butterfly Easter and the butterfly is from Harebell Butterfly.

Here's my second project. This time the spotlight is on the nesting bird. I've moved away from fresh bright colours and used warm neutrals instead. As before the image is coloured with alcohol markers and fussy card before adhering to the card base. I've also used the greeting and the itty bitty accent stamp from the same Spring Bird - Crocus set.

I love how this one set of stamps gives 2 different looks - garden fresh or warm & cosy. I dare say this set will get some use in the Autumn months too.

In the coming days the rest of the Design Team will show lots more projects to inspire you. So make sure you swing by often. I'll post details of how I made this card on my blog tomorrow... it's a little hectic there today! :)

Beijinhos,
Asha

Have a butterfly ball with our August Stamps of the Month

Well here we are at the end of July ready to launch brand new stamps for August and this month we have two gorgeous A5 sets. First there is Thistle Butterfly

then we have Honeysuckle Butterfly,

and, of course, our usual money saving multi-buy.

Both sets are packed with stunning botanical images and fluttery butterflies and will have you grabbing your inkpads and colouring mediums in an instant. Those keen eyed stampers amongst you will notice that these are a wonderful complement to our Briar Rose and Harebell Butterfly stamps. So don't forget to visit this blog regularly as I know you will be blown away by the wonderful samples that the Design Team girls have come up with. And here is some beautiful artwork from Glenda using the Honeysuckle Butterfly

 Aren't those colours dreamy?

We are also releasing two individual clear stamps today. Snowy Cottage and Winter Church are available as singles or a multi-buy

These beautifully detailed stamps are a good size and could easily be the focal point on your Christmas cards, thus allowing quick and easy batch card making. You just need to add a sentiment from our Christmas Magic set and you're done. And the versatility of these stamps means that if you change colours you have images that can be used all year round. That church would be gorgeous for a wedding card wouldn't it? Glenda has produced some more stunning cards with these little beauties, I think the Scottish air is really working on her creative mojo!

To find out how Glenda made all three of these fabulous samples please keep checking out her blog, where she will be giving you more details about them.

Ok folks, have fun and enjoy our new stamps and all the inspiring artwork that is to follow.

Best Wishes (by Doreen)

Hello to you all, I am back sharing another sample using the gorgeous 

Harlequin Fragments

I first inked up my card with Picked Raspberry and Faded Jeans Distress inks then I sprayed my fragment stamp with water and stamped this onto the inked card. This then removes the ink......

Once this was dry I then stamped the Harebell Butterfly image over the top and coloured in with distress inks.  I inked the edge with Black Soot to add depth then mounted onto white card.

Oh Christmas Tree

I am also sharing a Christmas card this time using stamps from the  "Turtle Doves stamp sheet". I first of all clear embossed the stamp with black Versafine then using a mask for the moon blended Faded Jeans and Black Soot distress inks for the sky. The hills in the background were made using some torn card and  more fade jeans on some sponge.The tree has been coloured in with Distress inks and the gorgeous sentiment is from Newly released Christmas Magic stamp sheet .xxx

Blue Butterfly (by Doreen)

Hello to you all, I am back with another sample made from the new  

Harlequin Fragment 

stamps that have just been released for July

This was made by first masking off some of my card before sponging with Faded Jeans Distress ink,then I inked up my stamp with Cornflower Blue Archival Ink and stamped over the top.

I then removed the masking tape and stamp the Birthday Words sentiment. I used a butterfly stamp from the Harebell Butterfly sheet and decoupaged this.

Harlequin Poppy (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope are enjoying the weekend.

I have a card to show today using a fragment from the new Harlequin Fragments Set in the background and a pretty poppy & butterfly from Harebell Butterfly.

The large background was created with Mowed Lawn Distress ink.  I also stamped the harlequin fragment with the same ink.   The smaller background was created by blending distress inks. It's hard to see in the photo but I lightly stamped the harlequin fragment again.   I coloured the main image with Prisma pencils.

If you love our DT blog then keep your eyes open for something new and colourful coming next week.   All will be revealed soon, keep visiting the DT blog to make sure you don’t miss it. Getting excited yet?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!
Shirley

Harebell Butterfly - By Florence

Hi everyone

I hope you are all well and enjoying the weekend.

Thank you to everyone for leaving comments on the previous posts, we always love to hear from you.

Today I wanted to share some cards I made using the beautiful Harebell Butterfly stamps.  A huge congratulations to Sue on another incredible set of stamps.

For my first card I have gone for different layers. A bit of this and a bit of that.  This is a great way to use some of those little bits that you put to one side for...."that might come in" moment.

please click on the image to see the full detail

One of my hot picks to go with the Harebell Butterfly and the Briar Rose Butterfly stamps are the Vintage Tag printable downloads designed by Lesley Wharton.

I stamped my image, using Black Archival Ink onto one of the Vintage Tags I had printed off in preparation.

I colored the image using water color crayons, just applying the color onto the dry surface and then blending it with a lightly damp paint brush.

I trimmed my stamped vintage tag to size and scuffed up the edges with a blade of a knife and sewed it to a piece of blue backing paper.

I then assembled the card as seen. 

Tip: I never apply glue, foam tabs or tape to the very edges of my pieces.  That way I can slot little pieces of ephemera in where I want to and when necessary.

For my next cards I have gone for CAS style cards.

please click on the image to see the detail

For this card I used the little Rose Hip stamp off the sheet.  I did carefully, so that I can still use it, slice the butterfly off this stamp.  No disrespect was intended to Sue.  

I love this little stamp. I know it is one that will come out time and time again.

All I did to make this card was to stamp the image randomly around the edge of a piece of trimmed to size white coated card stock using Black Archival Ink.

  I colored the image in using my jumbo felt pens.  The rose hips reminded me of blue berries hence the color choices.

I assembled the card as seen and adding a stamped Birthday Greetings sentiment to finish it off.

 please click on the image to see the detail

For the final card, I used the same Rose Hip stamp again.  I stamped the Rose Hip image onto white coated card stock using Black Archival Ink.  I masked the image and stamped over it, using dark Blue Archival Ink, with the script from one of my all time favorite sets the Eccentric Edwardian.  I colored the image with some felt pens.

I made a frame using dies, edged it in gold.

I scored the bottom edge of the card using a score board and assembled it as seen, using foam pad to raise the frame.

That's all from me today.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit.

Do check out the other projects made by the wonderful DT.  They are amazing... the DT and the projects.

Take care
Florence x

Pretty Flowers Cards (by Debbie)

Good morning I have a couple of cards to share from the lovely Briar Rose Butterfly

and Harebell Butterfly stamps.

I used dies to cut both cards as lately they have been gathering dust and not been used. So with my thinking cap on here's what I came up with.

 

I coloured the flowers with Coloursoft pencils and was delighted with the strength of colour. I'm still learning to used them.

 

 

The flowers on this card were coloured with Promarkers pens and I used Broken China Distress Ink to highlight the embossing on the base card.

These were quick make cards as the original cards I made were given to friends and I had formatted my camera clearing all the pictures. 

 

Thank you for stopping by

 

Debbie

 

 

 



Just a Note (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.

I have two more designs today using the beautiful Harebell Butterfly and Briar Rose Butterfly sets.

I created the above background by blending Distress Inks and then flicking a little water over top.   The image from Harebell Butterfly was stamped with Coffee Archival Ink and coloured with Prisma pencils.  I stamped it a second time, decoupaged the butterfly, added stickles and poped it up.  I also outlined the sun with a white pen.   

I also have a CAS style design to show you:

The background  above was created by using a circle cut into card stock and sponging Distress Inks over top.  I stamped with a fragment from Texture Fragments.   After removing the 'mask' I stamped the image from Briar Rose Butterfly with Cobalt Archival ink and coloured with Prisma Pencils.  The sentiment is from Mackintosh Sentiments.

Thanks for your visits and have a great day,
Shirley

Favourite Colours (posted by Judith)

Hi Folks, my sample today uses lots of my favourite colours, namely purple and teal. I often try to work outside my comfort zone when I am making samples and do not turn to these colours when making a project. It has been a real pleasure to make a card using this colour palette.

I started my card by creating a wrinkle free background using smooth watercolour paper, using blue and lilac tones. I then created an oval mask, which I placed in the centre of the page. I used a dark blue ink and sponged around the edge of the mask, creating a shadow. This helps create a faux layer. I also added the same colour to the edge of the background. Using a flower stamp from the Harebell Butterfly stamp set, I stamped around the edge of the background, and over the edges of the mask. I used a mixture of teal, navy and purple inks. I removed the mask and stamped the main image using navy ink. I stamped the butterfly from the main image again onto a scrap piece of watercolour paper and also onto sparkly acetate.

I bleached the image, and coloured it with pencils. I coloured the second butterfly, and stuck the acetate butterfly over the top. I added these to the main picture. The sentiment comes from the Amazing Birthday stamp set.

Keep checking back for more amazing samples from my team mates. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Just paint a flower!!! (by Maria)

Hi , dear stamping mates,

Today I want to show you two stamped and painted cards. On the first card you can see, the rose of the new Briar Rose Butterfly and the yellow Iris from the Harebell Butterfly stamp sets. On the second card you can see, the Rose and the two small roses  from the Pretty Birdcage

I took two white papers 15cm x 15cm (5.51 x 5.51 inches) on the first one I stamped the big flower with black archival ink, I also stamped it on mask paper, cut it out and masked the big flower on the white paper with it. I stamped the yellow iris 4 times around the flower, then  the real work began, I took some watercolour paints and did the wet on wet technique. These flower stamps were just ideal for this technique. It was really the first time I did  this technique, and I hope the result is okay? The second card I did the same way. I used yellow, orange and greens, my favorite colours. As a finishing touch I gave some white accents with my white gelly pen. I hope you like my cards and hope that I inspired you to make a really painted work of ART. It's such fun!

As you see I couldn't stop, the small cards in the middle are made with the same technique. The  background I 've made with the sponge technique and distress ink, and I used the stamps from the same stampset. Have a lot of fun, as I did!


Greetings and till soon
Maria

Pretty Meadow Flowers (by Debbie)

It's hard to believe we are half way through June already and the gardens

are coming into full bloom with the flowers of summer.

I decided to dig out my Alcohol Inks and make a few backgrounds

for using with these beautiful flower stamps.

 

 

 

I used a coated card with the Alcohol Inks and blending solution which gives interesting patterns.

I kept the ink colours to earth tones so the colour of the flowers stood out.

 I stamped the Briar Rose with Archival Jet Black and coloured with Tim Holtz Distress Pens.

 

I added a few stencil shapes to this card before I stamped and coloured the flowers

 from Harebell Butterfly stamps.

For the matting I chose a colour of card that features in the coloured flowers.

 

Thank you for visiting

Debbie

A touch of Orange (posted by Judith)

Hello everyone, I have a couple of samples for you today using the Briar Rose Butterfly/Harebell Butterfly stamp sets.

My first card was created by masking the top and bottom of the card, and then colouring the middle of the card with Distress Inks. I stamped the flower sprig across the bottom of the inked area before I removed the paper masks. I stamped two butterflies onto sparkly acetate, and added some coloured vellum behind them. Finally, I added a sentiment from the Amazing Birthday stamp set in the top corner of the card.

 

My second card was created by stamping the Big Bold Background Leafy Trails stamp onto a piece of kraft card with green ink. I cut a small rectangle of kraft card, and stamped the rosehip image using the same ink. I coloured the images with pencils, and edged the pieces of card with Distress Inks. I also decoupaged the butterfly. I matted the layers with dark green card, and added a piece of orange ribbon to finish. 

This little card would be useful for lots of different occasions.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Flowers and butterflies!! (by Maria)

Hi, everyone,

I love flowers and butterflies, so I was very glad with the choice of stamps we could use for our samples. The new sets of stamps "Briar Rose Butterfly" and "Harebell Butterfly" are really gorgeous! Fantastic!

I made two very different cards with these stamps, the first one I made again with my favorite technique, yes I love Dylusions ink for the salt technique. So I spread yellow (Lemon Zest), orange (Pure Sunshine), pink (Bubblegum Pink), green (Dirty Martini) and (Cut Grass) on one page. In the corners I've put some salt, then I spread Dylusions ink on a second paper, (all the bright colours but no greens). Then when all the papers were dry, I used the big flower stamp (Briar Rose Butterfly) and stamped ( I used some black archival ink) it on the first paper, again I stamped it on the second paper, and cut out the flowers. The above flower I stamped another 4 times on the orange-yellow paper, cut out of the paper and placed it on the flowers of the first card to create some depth, and so I did with the butterflies too. Then I've placed it on white, yellow, white again and finally black cardstock, I hope you like it and try it!

The second one,  I took two cards, a big one for the background and a smaller one for the front, I never measure my cards I just see how they fit together and that they fit in an envelope of course! I made this one with distress ink and the stamps from the Harebell Butterfly set.  I think the card shows how I have made it, please try it once too, it's such a fun and  the stamps are so beautiful to use for a lot of occasions, don't you think so?

Have fun and joy in stamping your ART!
Greetings
Maria

Simply Slim (by Lesley)

I'm getting a bit of a reputation for doing blue flowers - it's actually become quite a joke (and possibly one of my signature creations). So as you can imagine I couldn't resist using the Harebell Butterfly stamp set, at least the flowers are meant to be blue this time.

First fold a piece of A5 white card in half and mask off a strip 1.5" wide. TIP - use a wide masking tape as this allows you to colour without the fear of spreading the inks over the rest of your card.

Using Cut 'n Dry foam colour the whole of the strip with Adirondack Pool; then blend Adirondack Clover over the top for two thirds of the strip. Finally, blend Peacock Feathers Distress ink from the bottom to half way up the strip. Heat set to make sure the ink is dry.

Ink up the smaller of the script stamps from the Eccentric Edwardian set with Archival Aquamarine and stamp randomly all the way down the strip. Next ink up the harebell image with Memento Tuxedo Black and stamp at an angle as illustrated. Heat set again and then colour with pencils of your choice.

Using Tuxedo Black stamp the smallest butterfly from the Briar Rose Butterfly set onto a scrap of good quality white paper (I used 160gsm). Heat set, colour with pencils and cut out.

Finally, remove the msking tape and stamp the sentiment Just To Say from the Mackintosh Sentiments clear stamp set. Attach a tiny sliver of Ultra Bond 3mm Tape to the body of the butterfly and position on the card as shown.

As an alternative to creating this design as a card you could take a single piece of card measuring approximately 3" wide, make a bookmark and add a tassle or ribbon to finish.

There's a riot of colourful projects following behind me this month; to make sure you don't miss anything please call back each day.

A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies (by Debbie)

 

I admire Artists who can create beautiful pieces art that can be

that can be hung around the home.

When I saw the butterflies on the Harebell and Briar Rose Butterfly

 stamps sets to and gathered all my scraps of marbled card then stamped them with black ink.

 

  

 

 

I cut out the butterflies and arranged them around a canvas.

My first thought was to have them flying in one direction but was unhappy with the layout. 

I decided to have them sitting in a tree so I lightly sketch a tree design

 onto a canvas that had a coloured green and blue resembling a landscape.

When happy with the shape I painted with black and arranged the butterflies. 

 

 

 

 Here is the canvas hanging proudly in our living room.

 

Here is a small note card coloured with Coloursoft Pencils and a lightly inked edge.

These stamps are so detailed and beautiful to colour.

 

 

Thank you for visiting

Debbie

 

 



Vibrant Flowers and Butterflies (by Shirley)

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.     

My designs today feature vibrant colours with the gorgeous and versatile Briar Rose Butterfly and Harebell Butterfly sets.     

The large background is Ripe Persimmon and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks that I stamped onto my craft mat and spritzed with water.   I dragged the cardstock through the ink and when dry I stamped the branch with both colours.

The smaller background is using the same technique but with Ripe Persimmon and Picked Raspberry Distress Ink.   I used the Harlequin stencil by TCW to add the diamond pattern.

I stamped the gorgeous image from Briar Rose Butterfly with Cobalt Archival Ink and coloured with Prisma Pencils.  I stamped the image a second time to decoupage the butterflies which are popped up over the background.   I added stickles to the butterfly wings.

And below is a CAS style card using the same colours:

The background was created by blending Ripe Persimmon and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks over a circle cut in cardstock.  I stamped a fragment from Textured Fragments with the Picked Rasberry ink.  The flowers from Harebell Butterfly were stamped with black archival ink.  The sentiment is from the fabulous Mackintosh Sentiments.

I hope you are able to visit often as we have lots to show this month, my teammates have created beautiful designs.

If you've missed the previous post today, it announces the May Comments winner. :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Harebell Butterfly

Hello friends! Today it's my turn to show you projects using the our latest June release stamps. I'm showcasing a couple of images from the new Harebell Butterfly stamp sheet.

*********

For my first project I've used some bits of pretty floral background papers and an image from the Harebell Butterfly sheet to create this delicate feminine card. It's a simple project requiring just a few embellishments - some pearls and sheer ribbon.

Here's a closer look at the beautiful sprig of harebells. I coloured it with alcohol markers and cut and layered it using Spellbinders Floral Oval die.

********

For my second project, I made my own background by inking directly on to the card base using Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Bundled Sage and Squeezed Lemonade, and one of the smaller stamps from the Harebell Butterfly sheet. The colours are heavy in the bottom, getting progressively lighter in the top. I did not blend the inks and went with the mottled look. Through the window you can see the stamped the image, which is inside of the card. The fussy cut butterflies are also from the Harebell Butterfly sheet.

Here's a look at the lovely harebells. I coloured the image with alcohol markers and finished the project with beautiful words from Loving Sentiments.

*********

These new stamps are perfect for your summer projects. Over the month the rest of the design team will show you more beautiful projects using the Harebell Butterfly and Briar Rose Butterfly stamp sheets. So, come back often to check these out. And don't forget these new stamps are on offer at a very special price at the moment!

Beijinhos,
Asha