Fox in Flowers

 

Use digital papers and a digital stamp to create these beautiful fox and flowers cards

Last week I used a pre-coloured digital stamp, but this week I show you how you can use a black and white outline digital stamp to make a beautiful card. I have also bought and downloaded the papers to use for backing papers.

Digital stamps and backing papers are a great option if, like me, you do not have access to a local craft shop. It also allows you to easily store the images and only print what you need. Alot of the time you can re-size the images too, so they can fit your particular project. They do not need to be printed onto fancy papers either. I've used a canon printer and a lightweight card and just selected the standard print quality of the printer.

This week I've made two slightly different cards but using the same image.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Born to shop

 

Make this super simple card by using an already coloured image by Lili of the Valley

Maybe you are new to crafting or you do not have alot of craft stash to hand, or maybe you just need a really quick card. Then pre coloured and downloadable images are the answer. They are normally fairly cheap and you can download it immediately and print, as and when you need them (saves on having to physically store them too!). For the card this week I have used an image I have downloaded from Lili of the Valley:

I have stamped a greeting on the top of the image or you could just add a peel off or write your greeting. It's then just a case of layering onto a base card with another colour of card.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Doggie Dreams of Christmas

 

Lawn Fawn's Christmas Dreams stamp and die set have been used to make this greeting card

Lawn Fawn's stamp and die sets are really cool as they are usually made up of lots of little stamps that can be put together to make a picture for your card. This means you can pick and choose which pieces to use. For example the Christmas Dreams stamp set comes with both cat and dog but as we have a dog, I have chosen to use that stamp to personalise my card.

Last year I made a tag using the same stamp set - if you missed it, click here to see what I did.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Zig Zag Bear Trio Greeting Card

 

Layer up small images into a greeting card to give them presence

Sometimes you have small images that would look lost on a card. This card shows you how just layering them up with several layers of patterned papers really makes them stand out and they no longer look lost on the card. Also using a zigzag card base breaks down a larger card into 3 smaller sections.

I've used an old rubber stamp that I found when sorting out my craft desk, but this card would work with any small round image. If the images you have are square, then just replace the circle dies with square ones.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Circle Trio of Cats

 

Birthday card made with a trio of small circular cat images

Lili of the Valley sell digi stamps through Etsy and this is a great way of getting images for your cards. They sell coloured or black and white images that you can colour yourself. So for this card, I've used a trio of cats image that prints just black outlines and I can then colour to match or coordinate with backing papers. Once downloaded you can keep on your computer and print whenever required. I have made a card previously with one of their pre-coloured images - if you'd like to see it click here)

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Secret Message Gift card

 

Make a card with hidden compartment to hide some money or a message

This cool little card is all made from one die and provides a little pull out tab that you can write a message on, or in my case, I folded a piece of paper money as a gift and hid it in this part.

The bonus of making your own cards, is you can use scraps of decorative papers, old wrapping paper and orientate it to the particular occaision.  I've made this one into a birthday gift but it would be equally cool as a Christmas gift card.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Doodle Rose

 

Use Creative Expressions Doodle Rose Wreath die as a focal point for this pretty birthday card

This card shows how to use different parts of a die set to create the focal points of a card - the rest of the card is fairly plain but your eye is drawn by the white outlined wreath in the centre of the diamond.

 
Just be careful when colouring your green leaves that you do not colour too much into the wreath or your roses may also be green ! I didn't try it - but maybe glue the white outline to the pink wreath, then colour in your leaves.

 
Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Birthday Flower

 

Use Stampin Up's Paper Florist Die set to make a 3d flower to decorate a birthday card

This weeks card is a mixture of my favourite two items - decorative papers and a 3d element. I've used strips of decorative paper from the same paper pack, so they automatically coordinate but because I've used small strips, you can use up your offcuts.

The 3d flower element is made using some dies from Stampin Up's Paper Florist die set. It's quite easy to put together and the 3d element will make your card stand out from the rest of the pack :)

It's not a card to be posted though as it really wouldn't make its way through the postal system. However I am handing it to the recipient in a small gift bag instead of an envelope.

On a seperate note - how tidy is your crafting space?  If you are anything like me I tidy it and then as I make cards, it slowly builds with mess again.  It's got really bad recently so I made a concerted effort to have a thorough clear and clean - this included cleaning my cutting board (click here to be taken to my help page to find out how I did this).  I now have a really clear desk which really helps when you are trying to make cards!🤣   The self healing cutting mat has come up really clean too - got rid of all the gluey marks and ink stains.  I never thought I could clean the mat - I recommend you trying it if your mat was filthy like mine.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Magic Color Slider Birthday Card

 

Use Lawn Fawns Magic Color Slider Die and Critter Consert stamp and die set to create this fab interactive birthday card

I just love interactive cards and this one has been created using Lawn Fawns Magic Color Slider die set. Lawn Fawn makes it so easy to create a fab looking card. Your black and white image suddenly colours itself in when you pull the slider out :)

I have teamed the magic color slider die with Lawn Fawns Critter Concert stamp and die set to make this card but you can use any image as long as it fits within one of the window dies that comes with the set

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Good Luck Cat

 

Make a good luck card with a cat peeking from the inside of the card

My friend is starting a new job soon and I wanted to make her a card to celebrate. That's when I realised I didn't have any job type images! Oh well, she really loves cats so I am hoping she loves this card.

How cute is this card with a little cat peeking from the inside of the card!

The small window is cut using a square die but you do not want to cut the bottom of it.  Therefore you run it only part way through your die cutting machine.  I have an A4 die cutting machine so I can run my open card through the machine across the width of the cutting plate (my card has a left hand folded edge).  However if your machine is smaller than A4, please treat your card as a tent fold card (top folded edge).  Position your square die appropriately (as per below photo) and run through your machine with the back edge of the card first and still stop when the lower edge of the die is under the rollers.

Tent fold card ready to run through cutting machine

Tent fold card with square part cut out

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Gorjuss Cat

 

Use a Sandoro Gorjuss Girl stamp to create this birthday card

The best bit about making cards yourself is that you can adjust them to suit the recipient. So this weeks card is a birthday card for a friends daughter who has beautiful red hair.

She's also a cat lover - so this card is a win, win!

I often get people comment - "I can't colour in". Don't forget it is a hand made card - just try your best. It really doesn't matter - it's come from the heart and the recipient will love it. I personally love promarker pens as they are very forgiving. For example I colour the girls dress in cold grey 2 pen. It doesn't show the pen marks, it just blends into one colour. To make the image look less flat, take the same coloured pen and draw lines where shadows would be. In this image, I drew a line under her arms and around the outside of the cat head on her dress. It leaves a subtle shadow but does make the image look less flat.

(Please excuse the photo's this week - they are a little darker than normal.  I was having to work without a light as the electrician was updating the fuse board ! - how rude!)    

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Birthday Circles

 

Use nested circle dies to create this greeting card from coloured paper or card

I recently got a set of nested circle dies and had an idea of putting random circles onto a greeting card. It didn't quite turn out how I imagined but I am pleased with the result. It's really quite a chirpy card.

It's such a generic style card so could be used as a greeting for anyone. Also if you have square, rectangle or star shaped dies, you can use them to create a similar card.

    

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Woof you anniversary

 

Use a Lili of the Valley downloaded digital image to make this circular anniversary card

I went to a craft fair this week and bought myself some stitched circle nesting dies. I needed to make an anniversary card so decided to use the circle dies to create frames for one central image. This is the card I came up with:

I've made some cards using Lili of the Valley digital downloads before and if you don't like colouring, you can purchase one of their full coloured images. This really makes it an easy card and after you have paid for the image and downloaded it, you can save it to your computer and use it many times.

I like digital images because it means I do not have to store paper decoupage sheets amongst my crafting supplies and can just print them as and when I need them - less storage and less creasing! Quite often you get several sizes or you can alter the size to make it suit what you need.

You can do the same frame idea with square, rectangle or heart nesting dies, just make sure the smaller one is used on the first layer that is glued to the image and the larger one on the second layer - just follow the steps below.

Some of my previous cards made using LOTV (Lili of the Valley) downloaded digital stamps can be found by clicking on these links - Fathers day easel card, Watch the Birdie card and Animal birthday cupcake card.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Potting Shed

 

Make a really cool 3 dimensional card using some images from a crafting magazine

In the Papercraft Essentials magazine out at the moment (issue 225), there is a luxury paper pad called potting shed. I loved the images and needed to make a gardening greeting card, so I bought the magazine and here is my card:

You get lots of different images within this pack which also includes some backing paper, so you can follow my make but adjust it to your tastes by including different images.  I've also got tons of images and papers left to make more cards :)

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Full of Surprises

 

A fun interactive card where the picture magically changes from a wrapped to an open present

Use Lawn Fawns Magic Picture Changer die to make this really cool interactive card. I've matched that with Lawn Fawns Birthday before 'n after stamp set where they have two pictures, one before and the other after. I choose to use the birthday present images.

I will also show you a technique where you can stamp just part of a long greeting.  Just keep reading to find out.

I've made one of these magic picture changing cards before - where a tray of flowers grow.  Click here if you missed this one

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Plant a Succulent

 

Use Lawn Fawns Succulent die set to make this birthday card

This die set by Lawn Fawn is such fun. There are lots of little dies within the set to make up your own plants - just mix and match the cut outs.  You can even add smiley faces to the pots if you wish :)

I needed a card for a gardener this week, so this seemed the perfect die to use.  It's such a versatile die set - for example, the leaves could be cut out of pink card, making it a flower instead of a leaf plant.  You could cut 4 cactus like plants and just stack them on each other making a far larger plant. In my example above, I made a floral/leaf arrangement in the centre of the card which doesn't need a pot.  So use your imagination, don't just follow the examples :)

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Pawsome Birthday

 

Make a cute birthday card for any of those dog lovers out there

I have used Lawn Fawns Furry and Bright stamp and die set to make this card. It's actually meant to be a Christmas themed stamp set but this just shows you, that you can use some of your stamp sets for many occaisions.

My originally version of this card turned out to be just brown and beige so I injected a little colour with some coloured gems and bows on the bones.

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Easter Chicks

 

Use Stampin Up's Basket Bunch stamp and die set to create this chirpy Easter card

I have used stamps from the Basket Bunch Stampin Up stamp set to change plain papers into decorative papers. It's quite easy to do and means you can colour coordinate your papers and you do not have to have a stash of decorative papers to make your own cards.

This technique of stamping your own background papers can be done with any stamps, inks and plain papers/card. So do not limit yourself to this Easter card - you can make backgrounds of flowers, leaves, stars, characters - the list is only limited to the stamps in your stash!

I've used a stamping aid to stamp the lines of eggs that border the central white card. However it can be done without one of these, if you do not have one, just use your normal clear acrylic block and steady your hand!

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Anniversary in Bloom

 

Learn to make an anniversary card using 'Bloom and Grow' stamp set by Stampin Up

The Bloom and Grow stamp set by Stampin Up has 3 large floral stamps to choose from when making this card. I chose the rose one for my card but they would each work equally as well.

The stamps are quite detailed, so I was a little worried how to colour it in. However it was ok, just colour the leaves then work on each type of flower in turn and you'll soon have it coloured in !

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made

Camping, Toast to your BIrthday

 

Use Lawn Fawns camping stamp and die sets to make this greeting card for those who love the outdoors

We bought a campervan last year to get out and explore a little more. This love of the outside can be seen in this really cute card made using some stamp and die sets by Lawn Fawn.

This card does require a few stamp and die sets to make but I can invisage how many other uses the dies will have. The tent can be a childs play tent or for those going to a gig in the forest or maybe a moving away or new house card. The forest background can be used for star gazing cards or maybe scenery for picnic cards. As crafters we have to make sure stamp and die sets are multipurpose!

It was really fun building this scene up and because you make it yourself, you can change any of the colours or characters to reflect the recipients preferences

Follow the below link to find out how the card was made