Use Metallic ink to add shine to your Christmas Tree cards

Delicata Celestial Copper Metallic Ink adds a real shine to stamped images and this fun technique using embossing folders and the Pine Tree Punch make the Christmas Tree really stand out.

Perfectly Plaid Bundle is the stamp set and punch with a 10% discount so well worth considering.

So this card has the tree dangling from a few pine cones to add a different layer to the card.  The copper metallic ink is stamped in the background using the pine cone stamp as well as on the tree which has been embossed first to give extra dimension so the ink really stands out and give a beautiful shine to the tree.

Want to have a go then watch the step by step video tutorial. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel and click the notification bell so you won't miss any up and coming Christmas projects.

Check out my website for special offers, new products and more - https://amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net/ or click the link HERE

Create your own fun backgrounds with Stampin Up Basic Pattern Decorative Masks

I love making backgrounds for my cards and the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks are great fun to use and so versatile. With 4 masks to choose from and at only £5.50 they are to good to miss.

Basic Pattern Decorative Masks

The first card I did in a rainbow and then added the fantastic Pine Tree Punchfor the trees punched out of the Brights dsp.

Here is a requested video from one of my lovely subscribers showing you how to create the backgrounds above with the Basic Pattern Decorative masks.

If you haven't check it out yet my new Stampin Up website it is where you can shop, see the latest products, special offers and much more. Have a look HERE

The website address is https://amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net/

Let's make a box together to hold up to 12 Christmas cards

With Christmas coming making boxes to hold a set of up to 12 cards makes a great gift project. These boxes can hold lots of things for Christmas not just cards.

We made a set of 6 cards using the Wrapped in Plaid patterned paper  

for the Christmas tree,

Feels Like Frost patterned paper. for the blue boxes.  With photographic winter scenes it makes beautiful centre pieces. Use the Pine Tree Punch to punch out the trees quickly.

Measurements - 

Cardstock cut at 11" x 7 1/2" 

scored on long side at 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" and 8 3/4" and 10 1/2"

scored on short side at 1 3/4" and 5 1/4" and 7"

matts are 2 pieces for the front and back at 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 and 4 pieces for the top and sides at 3 1/4" x 1 1/2"

Further matts cut 1/4" smaller for each matt you wish to add.

Follow the step by step video tutorial to see how to make this box and give it a try.

Visit my website for buying products, special offers and much more - HERE

The website is amethystarcrafting.stampinup.net

Make these 6 Christmas cards quickly and simlply - Ho Ho Ho It's Christmas

Christmas is coming and as crafters we try and get ahead of the game by making quick and simple cards which can be made in bulk and packaged ready for giving and sending.  These 6 cards are great to get you started.

Pine Tree Punch makes the trees super easy, one quick punch and you have your trees done. Gold Foil Sheets, Silver foil sheets, Sparkle glimmer paper adds that bit of bling element to the matt of the cards.

Use the Stitched shapes dies circles, ovals and squares ( I used the squares for this projects)

Measurements

Card base 6" x 3" scored at 3" to make notecards
Matt - 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" in gold silver and sparkle papers
Red matt using the square dies
DSP patterned paper layer 2" x 2"  (If you don't have the die just cut each layer at a 1/4" smaller each time)

Wrapped in Plaid dsp, patterned paper has 4 sheets of tree images which fit the punch and the navy snowflake pattern is also in this pack.

I use 12" x 12" cardstock to cut the card bases as you can get 8 out of one sheet.  Use whatever colour you like.  I chose Whisper White for these cards.

Follow my step by step video tutorial to see how to make these cards.  Subscribe to my channel as I will show you how to make a box for the cards to go into in my next video, so hit the notification bell so you don't miss it.

Stampin Up Wrapped in Plaid makes multiple card making so easy.

Wrapped in Plaid Bundle gives you everything to make multiple cards to get ahead of the Christmas rush quickly and simply.

Take some of the lovely Wrapped in Plaid dspgold striped tartan prints on one side and lovely Christmas patterns on the other. Add a sentiment from the stamp set and use the Stamparatus to stamp multiple cards in various colours so then all you need to do is assemble and you have a set of beautiful coordinated cards in minutes.

Watch my step by step video tutorial to see just how simple it is and get a head start in your Christmas card making.

Make Two Tri-Fold Cards From One Sheet Of Cardstock - Joy of Sets Blog Hop

Nature's Beauty stamp set really makes a difference. For every stamp set that is sold £2.50 will be donated to Mental Health organisations. So please look at buying this stamp set and helping others.

Tri-fold cards is the challenge for this month's blog hop with the Joy of Sets and it is something that I make very seldom. I know that there are quite a few newer crafters who haven't tried a tri-fold card before, so I have posted a step by step video tutorial to show you how to make 2 from one sheet of cardstock giving two 4" x 4" cards.

I have made these in tones of grey and black which I think work perfectly.

Follow the step by step video tutorial below - 

The measurements are - 

Cut an A4 sheet of card stock to 11" x 4" (you can get two from the one sheet)

Score on the long side at 2" and 3 3/4" on both ends.

Front Panel matt - 3 3/4" x 3 3/4" and 3" x 3" and 2 3/4" x 2 3/4"

Side panels in dsp 2 pieces 3 3/4" x 1 3/4"

Inside matt - 3 3/4" x 3 1/4" (Watch the video to see how it all goes together)

Join in with the hop and go and see what other Tri-Fold cards have been created to give you lots of inspiration to make your own and give it a go.

Go back Kaylin Krawczyk HERE

Go forward to Tricia Butts HERE

The lovely fox was simply coloured in Smoky Slate with our Aqua Painters

The rabbit again was coloured in Smoky Slate and then put on a stitched shapes die circle.

Pyramid Treat Box using 6" x 6" patterned paper - no glue or cutting.

Wrapped in Plaid 6" x 6" patterned paper is gorgeous tartan and gold lined and makes lovely 3D projects as is really sturdy. These pyramid treat boxes are just folded, no glue, no cutting just one sheet of 6" x 6" dsp.

They are fairly easy to make and once you have had a few goes they will become easier.  I suggest the first one you make with some copy paper or scrap paper and then when you have the folds perfected then make them in any patterned paper you choose.  I love these for Christmas and would have them scattered around the bottom of the tree or in a basket filled with little gifts or sweet treats to give out at Christmas.  They would also work as party favours or wedding favours . The shape is what makes these little boxes so cute.

Here is the step by step video tutorial which will show you how to make these pyramid treat boxes.
* Video Goes live Tuesday 17th September at 7 am

MY NEW SHOP FRONT IS NOW LIVE - CHECK IT OUT HERE

Make a Christmas Ornament using Stampin Up Perfecly Plaid Bundle

The Perfectly Plaid Bundle of stamp set and punch makes the most gorgeous Christmas ornament. Simple to make with this step by step tutorial.

Using the pretty Merry Christmas Ribbonto add the finishing touches to your ornament.  The beautiful copper ink to stamp the image with is called Delicata Celestial Copper and is the most lovely shimmery copper which looks as if you've embossed the image it is that beautiful.

You can step this ornament up by making two and then gluing them back to back to make a complete 3d double sided ornament.

Here is a step by step video tutorial so you can see how to make each of the modules and put them together to create this ornament.  Have fun and do give it a try.

Using stencils to create fun backgrounds with Stampin Up Basic Pattern Decorative Masks

Stampin Up new Basic Pattern Decorative Masks at just £5.50 for four masks are a great way to create fun backgrounds using inks, texture paste or any other medium you choose.

I used the tree for a masculine feel card in Crumb Cake and Soft Suede inks and then mounted on Granny Apple Green cardstock.  The centre panel was mounted using the Brights collection dsp in Granny Apple Green and the Stitched Nested Labels Dies.

The filigree pattern was again sponged with the same inks and then the cardstock and dsp was Flirty Flamingo.

These masks or stencils can be used I any colour combination and with four to choose from the possibilities are endless.

Watch my step by step video tutorial to see these masks in all their glory and give you some ideas.

Stampin Up Snow Front #simplestamping Winter Scene using just 2 coloured ink pads.

SNOW FRONT stamp set is the perfect scene building set and with just two colours of ink pads, Poole Party and Black you can create this wonderful winter scene.

Create a mask using a circle die and then sponge the outline in Pool Party. Build the elements with the Snow Front stamp set and then should you choose add a sentiment of your choice.

Want to know how to make this then watch my YouTube video for a step by step guide.

Artist Trading Coins Swap challenge - Thank You - and New Swap Theme

A big thank you to everyone who took part in the August Artist Trading Coins swap challenge "Anything Goes"

There were six entries from Rebecca, Betty, Fiona, Becky, Sue and Sylvia.
4 entries were from the USA
1 entry from Canada
1 entry from the UK

and a total of 27 coins were sent to me and I sent 27 coins in return to you all.

I hope you have now received my coins (apart from Sylvia who I didn't receive hers until 1st September so mine will still be in transit)

If you could leave me a comment here to say your received them then that would be fantastic.

So going forward, I all know that you really enjoyed this swap as did I, but I need to find a more cost effective way for me.  If this swap escalates and we have more entries then I am faced with a mammoth task of making and posting to you all, which although I would love to do so is going to be very costly and time consuming.

So my thoughts are :-

1. We swap with other swappers from the same country so UK with UK, USA with USA and Canada with Canada? (internal postage will be cheaper and I can collate who swaps with who?)

2. You send me all your swaps for the month and I will make a draw and one lucky winner will receive all the swaps for that month? ( so I have just one postal cost per month?)

I am putting this out to you all so I can here your thoughts so we can continue this swap challenge in a way that will work for us all.  So please leave your comments below as there are probably some other ideas that I haven't thought of?

I will delay the start of this challenge for a week until the 11th September to give you all time to comment so the next swap challenge will run until the end of October 2019.

Thank you all again for taking part and I hope that going forward we can find a way of making this work for all of us.

Make a fun DIY acetate stencil/mask using the polar bear dies from Stampin Up new Snow Globe Scenes

How exciting the new Autumn/Winter catalogue from Stampin Up is now live. Buy all your Christmas crafts now and learn how to make your own acetate stencils/masks using the SNOW GLOBE SCENES DIES.

I have made masks and stencil from cardstock and paper for many years, but for this technique cutting the dies out of acetate gives you a clear see through image to work with and create a lovely polar bear scene as a great background for your Christmas cards.

This is such an easy ad simple technique that works with any die that you may have in your collection.  I used the SPONGE BRAYERS to add some background colour.

Watch my step by step video tutorial to see exactly how I made the stencils and created this background.

It's here! New Stampin Up Autumn/Winter Catalogue - Shop now.

Today is the day! The new Autumn/Winter catalogue from Stampin Up has launched. Buy all your Christmas crafting products from my shop now!

Shop now just click the link HERE

or on the side bar on every post there is a picture of this image and one of the annual catalogue, just click on this and it will take you to my shop.

There are so many lovely stamp sets, patterned paper and so much more for your seasonal crafting. As always Stampin Up always keeps things fresh and new with lot of exciting things to make your Christmas crafting, beautifully coordinated, fun and fresh.

Here is a sample of a few cards I have made recently from this fantastic catalogue. Check back on my blog for video tutorials for each project.

So have a browse and see what you can see. There really is something for everyone.

Joy Of Sets Tic Tac Toe Challenge #JOSTTT009 - Jane Allmark Design Team

Well its that time again and another Tic Tac Toe Challenge Blog.   This month's grid has been chosen by the founder of this challenge Fiona Whitehead as it is her anniversary month and she is celebrating 34 years of wedded bliss. Quite an achievement.

So I chose Die-Cuts - Music and Numbers.

and decided to make a New Year card as 2020 will be upon us before we know it.  I have friends who do not celebrate a traditional Christmas but do however celebrate the turning of the year, so whilst we are all trying to get ahead with our Christmas cards it is always worth making some New Year cards too.

Every I used is Stampin Up retired products and if like me you have lots of retired products which you like to showcase from time to time then The Joy of Sets facebook group is the place for you. Enjoy using your retired Stampin Up products as well as current and if you are not into Stampin Up products and use other makes then there are albums for you to share those too,

Anyways I digress! Back to the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  Here is the grid for this month

Why don't you join in and see what you can create . Enter HERE and if your entry is chosen as the winner you get to be a Guest Designer on the following month. 

Stampin Up The Raven meets Beauty & Joy

The new Stampin Up The Raven stamp set makes a lovely silhouette over a moody atmospheric background simply achieved with the sponge brayer.

The Sponge Brayer is a great buy at just £7.50 for 2 handles and four sponge heads it enables you to create so lovely backgrounds simply and easily.  The sponge heads wash out easily in water so can be used again and again.

The Raven stamp set is new in the Autumn/Winter catalogue which launches on the 4th September and is a Halloween stamp with lots of Halloween sentiments.  However this bird could easily be a crow or any other silhouette bird.  Create a background with the sponge brayers and the leaves to the branch with the Beauty and Joy stamp set and you have a lovely silhouette card suitable for any occasion.

Want to know how? then watch my video tutorial.