Bee Happy Glazed Tile Effect Card - Trimcraft DT

Hello, I recently experimented with a glazed tile effect for a magazine commission and thought I would re-visit the technique with the new Dovecraft Bee Happy stamp set.  The clear stamps are a great addition to your craft stash and very versatile, easy to create lots of different scenes or use them alone.  Teaming the stamps with other elements in the collection makes it easy to create a coordinated look.

How To:

I started by stamping a scene using the individual stamps in the set using black ink.  I worked to a rough idea of the size I wanted to end up with, so my stamped area was about 100mm wide x 90mm and I bore in mind the hexagon shape I wanted to achieve at the end.  So I stamped the flowers along the bottom and the leaves to ‘frame’ either side of the top.  I left enough room to stamp the large bumble bee in the centre (alternatively, you may prefer to stamp the bee first and then build the scene around it).

I used shimmery watercolour paints to colour the scene, these do not need to be precise.  I used a wash of blues and greens for the background, so that all the area was coloured and left it to dry.

When dry I die cut the scene into a rectangle and then patted it all over with an embossing inkpad, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat set.  I repeated this process 3 times, allowing the embossing to cool before patting over again with the embossing inkpad.  Just build it up as many layers as you wish.

When tile scene is completed, mat onto a slightly larger hexagon of cream card, if it stands to bend, then just add a little heat from the heat tool from back and it should flatten out again.

Cut a 135mm square of cream card and add 2 different pattern papers from the Bee Happy Pad.  I used a yellow paper for the left and green for the right.  Add 2 strips of the honeycomb pattern washi tape across the join. 

Wrap ‘Bee happy’cotton ribbon across the lower part of the panel before adhering it to the front of a 6x6 Kraft card base using 3D foam pads to raise it a little.

To finish, thread a little golden metal bumble bee charm onto thin cream twine or thread and attach to ribbon at right hand side.  Top with a gold button threaded with matching twine or thread.

This Project can also be found over at the Trimcraft Gallery link here:

Products Used:

Dovecraft Bee Happy Paper Pad – DCPAP072

Dovecraft Bee Happy Clear Stamps – DCSTP129

Dovecraft Bee Happy Cotton Ribbons – DCRBN031

Dovecraft Bee Happy Washi Tapes – DCWST008

Dovecraft Bee Happy Charms – DCMTL011

Dovecraft Bee Happy Buttons – DCBTN023

Dovecraft 6x6 Kraft Card Blank –

Plus:

Black Ink to stamp images

Shimmer watercolour paints or other colouring medium

Embossing Ink Pad

Clear Embossing Powder

Cream Card

Hexagon Dies

Thin Cream Twine

A Papercut Style Heart Wedding Card - Papermilldirect DT

Hello, today I'm going to share a recent Wedding card design idea with you.  I love to use Papermilldirect White Linen card not only for it’s lovely texture and the luxury look it gives, but also because it cuts beautifully on my Cricut Explore.  I needed to make a Wedding card with a lemon and white combo so I choose the PMD Pastel Canary card to partner the linen card centrepiece.

Step By Step.  

The design of the card is based around a papercut style heart, I used a heart shape from Design Space and adapted it by welding in some shapes to close some of the open spaces and make it easier to mount onto it’s backing. (The Design Space images I've used are shown at the end of this post)

Mount the White Linen papercut heart onto it’s Pastel Canary backing shape using 3D foam pads and decorate with adhesive pearls and clear gems.  Prepare an 8x8 white card base by adding a mat and layer of embossed white card onto Pastel Canary using d/s tape.  Affix decorative heart to card front using d/s tape and clear drying glue.

Attach a panel of Pastel Canary card inside the card and add a panel for the greeting.  I have cut another heart from smooth white card and used my Cricut to write ‘On Your Wedding Day’ upon it.  I have also added a die cut Wedding Cake and 2 Champagne Flutes using die sets.

Cut the centrepiece heart panel from White Linen card and add to it’s Pastel Canary backing shape using 3D foam pads.  (I have personalised the centre heart by slicing the words into the shape using a Cricut Font, you could use the write function if you prefer?) Decorate heart with small adhesive gems and then add to card front.

Add other decoration to card front if desired, I have added a bride and groom die cut from White Linen card using a FE Wedding Die set and mounted using 3D foam pads.

Add personalised layered hearts to bottom left and bottom right. I have used my Cricut to write ‘Mr&Mrs’ on one and the Wedding date on the other. To finish, add a trio of paper flowers using sticky dots, twirl the wire stems if they have and arrange as desired.  I used a ready-made white box to hold the card and decorated it with a personalised layered heart and a paper flower to match,

Angela x

Products Used:
White Linen Card – Papermilldirect
Pastel Canary 160gsm – Papermilldirect
Smooth White Card – Papermilldirect
Wedding Die Set – FEDIE042 - First Edition
Congratulations Die Set – DCDIE038 – Dovecraft
6mm Adhesive Pearls – SCDOT045 – Simply Creative
3mm Adhesive Clear Gems – SCDOT017 – Simply Creative
Adhesives: D/S Tape, Clear Drying Glue, 3D Foam Pads
Design Space Images used:

 

Flower Pot Card with hidden greeting - Trimcraft DT

Hello, over at +Trimcraft Ltd we have a brand new card shape of the month to play with and it’s perfect for Mother’s Day.  I have used the lovely Painted Blooms papers and the First Edition nesting blooms dies to create the flowers.  The flowers lift out to reveal the message.

Step By Step:

1. Follow the Trimcraft Card Shape of the Month instructions (by Maxine) here: https://www.trimcraft.co.uk/blog/march-2017/card-shape-of-the-month-flower-pot-card-tutorial which includes the template to create the flower pot card base.
2. Use Painted Blooms paper to cover the front of the plant pot and ink around with a brown ink to define the shape.
3. Stamp the Dovecraft clear stamp ‘To the World you are a Mother…’onto the stalk tab section using black ink and allow to dry.
4. Create flowers from Painted Blooms papers in the 6x6 pad by diecutting with the FE Nesting Blooms shapes.  Snip into each flower shape and glue 1 petal on top of 1 other to create a shaped flower with 5 petals instead of 6.  Layer up some flowers using 3D foam pads.
5. Add extra detail to flower centres by cutting them from white glitter card and adding fringe paper to them. 
6. Cut leaves from green FE Textured card using the FE Nesting Blooms dies and cutting into individual petals.  Score a line down each, ink edges and shape using a pokey tool or pencil.  Snip some leaves in half to create smaller ones.
7. Arrange flowers and leaves as desired and glue into place on the circle top of the sentiment tab, leave to dry.
8. Add ‘with love’ ribbon to front of plant pot.  Die cut 2 tag shapes using FE tags dies and stamp ‘Best Mum’ on to white tag using Dovecraft clear stamp.  Add tags to plant pot along with a pink adhesive gem.
9. To finish, add pink adhesive gems to flower centres and slide sentiment stem / flowers into plant pot.

Painted Blooms Collection:
6x6 Paper Pad – DCPAP051
Satin Ribbon – DCRBB010
Adhesive Gems – DCDOT021
Plus:
First Edition Nesting Bloom Dies – FEDIE163
First Edition Tag Dies – FEDIE016
First Edition 12x12 Textured Card – FEPAD062
Dovecraft Clear Stamp – DCSTP094
Dovecraft Clear Stamp – DCSTP010
Dovecraft Fringe Paper – DCTOP040
Dovecraft White Glitter Card – DCGC02
Black Ink, Brown Ink
Adhesives: D/STape, 3D Foam Squares, Clear Drying Glue

Eek! Rolling Eyeball Halloween Card

Hello, today I'm sharing this fun card idea with you. I don’t often get chance to play with printable papers so when I saw the Free Halloween ones from Trimcraft I thought they would be fun to play with and test out my new printer at the same time. The papers are Modern, fun and bright and print beautifully and the striped paper is not just for Halloween.
I also made a little video to show the card in action : https://youtu.be/Mb8i-TE8jF0

 Step By Step:

1. Take a Dovecraft 6x6 Kraft card blank to use with fold across the top.  Cut a slightly smaller square of the orange paper from the Simply Creative ‘Play Days’ pad and adhere to card front using d/s tape.  Download the Free Halloween papers link here: http://www.trimcraft.co.uk/articles/free-halloween-printable-papers
   
2. Cut a piece of Kraft card approx. 5 ½” square and measure out a long rectangle approx. 4” long by about 5/8” using a pencil to mark the lines.  Carefully cut the rectangle out using a craft knife.  Test the cut out is wide enough by joining two 2p coins together using 3D foam, cut the foam so it’s in the centre of the coin only with space all around (see pics), slip the joined coins into the cut out by sliding 1 coin through and move the panel to check the coins move freely backward and forward when the panel is tipped.
   
   
3. Cover front of panel with the striped paper from the Trimcraft Halloween download papers, turn over and cut away the paper covering the cut out channel.  Add panel centrally to card front with cut out to the top, using double height of 3D foam tape.
4. Cut a large eyeball from the download papers, I did this by using my computers ‘snipping’ tool to select an area of the paper onscreen and then sending it to print. (you may have a preferred method). The size can be adjusted on the print screen, size doesn’t need to be exact as long as it covers the 2P coin.  I have adhered the eyeball to cardstock and then cut out to give it more strength.  Glue the large eyeball on top of the 2p coin and you should now have a rolling eye element.
   
   
   
   
5. To finish, cut 2 strips of the Eyeball patterned download paper and adhere across card front.  Cut out an ‘Eek! Sentiment and mat onto kraft card before adhering to card front using d/s tape.
6. I made a little video to show the card in action : https://youtu.be/Mb8i-TE8jF0

Products Used: 

Dovecraft Kraft 6"x6" Cards & Envelopes

DCCE024

Dovecraft Double Sided Tape (12mm) DCBS05

Simply Creative FSC Paper Pad 6x6 Play Days

SCPAD028

Twist Turn Card - Step By Step Tutorial

Hello, I have a new Step By Step Tutorial to share with you.  This week the Papermilldirect Design Team are working on the theme of ‘Twist Turn’ cards, these are great little cards to make adding an extra fun element to your designs.  There is also a new Special Offer card:  Natural White Matt 260gsm which I am using to make my Twist Turn card this week:

Step By Step:

There are lots of videos and instructions online for Twist Turn cards, (this version is adapted from the June Issue of Quick Cards magazine) Trim an A4 sheet of PMD Natural White Matt (special offer card) to measure approx. 21.5cm x 14cm.  Daw a central line across the sheet, then mark a line down at 7cm and another at 10cm.  Draw the diagonal lines from 7cm to centre line at 10cm and do the same in reverse for the bottom diagonal.  Score and fold all lines: the 7cm line down will be a mountain fold, the 10cm line down will be a valley fold. The small diagonals will be mountain fold. And the centre score will be mountain fold to create the card base.  Crease folds firmly using a crease mouse or flat scoring tool.

Take a pieces of PMD Natural White Matt card and watercolour, I’m using Peacock Green Colour Chemistry inks and a water brush.  Add random spatters of Jubilee Blue and Vintage Sepia inks by flicking them from the end of a brush.  Blot with a paper towel, then leave to dry or use a heat gun for speed.

Stamp text onto 1 piece of the water coloured card using Triple Blue Skies inkpad to give an ombre effect.  I am using the OHS ‘English Garden Words stamp’ as it is a nice size to fit the card panels.  Leave to dry or speed up using a heat gun.

Using versamark ink, stamp a medium sunflower image onto scrap PMD Natural White Matt card and sprinkle with gold detail embossing powder.

Tip off excess embossing powder and pour back into pot for next time.  Use a heat gun to heat emboss the image until all the powder has melted and it has turned a lovely gold colour.  Colour the sunflower with shades of yellow and orange, I’m using the Triple Sunshine Yellows inkpad, along with Citrus Yellow, and Juicy Orange inks.

Continue adding as much detail to the sunflower as you wish with the inks, I have used a reddish brown colour ink to make the centre darker and add more shading to the petals.  Add a colour wash around the outside edges and when dry cut around the sunflower using scissors or craft knife.

Ink around the card base edges and outer folds using orange inks to add definition.  Trim the text stamped panel to approx. 10.5cm x 6.5cm and adhere to card front, add a matching panel (without text) to the back, adhere using d/s tape and /or glue.  Add 6.5cm squares of water-coloured card to the 2 square panels and small triangles to the LH inner folds if desired.

Diecut a ‘Thanks’ sentiment from PMD Black Card and add to text panel using glue to adhere.  Add 3D foam pads to back of sunflower and add to the front square of the twist turn card.

I was really impressed with how the Papermilldirect Natural White Matt card takes the watercolour inks and the heat embossing with no pilling or warping,  it scores and folds beautifully and is a perfect weight for these card styles, so it’s a versatile all round card to have in your stash.

Have you made any Twist Turn cards using papermilldirect cardstocks?, don’t forget to post your makes over on the PMD facebook page, so we can take a peek, Angela x

Materials Used:

Natural White Matt Finish Card - Papermilldirect

Smooth Black Card - Papermilldirect

English Garden Words Stamp - Oak House Studio

Medium Sunflower Stamp - Oakhouse Studio

Triple Pigment Ink Pads, Pure Colour / Colour Chemistry Inks - Oak House Studio

Gold Detail Embossing Powder - Oak House Studio

Thanks Word Die - Clearly Besotted

Plus: Versmark Inkpad (or embossing inkpad), D/S Tape, Glue, 3D foam pads

You Colour My World - Guest Blogging with Oak House Studio

Hello, I'm back again to share a simple card design step by step created with Oak House Studio products. I was invited to Guest Blog for OHS and this is my 3rd project.  

 (I would also like to enter this card into the July Make It Take it Challenge over at Craft Stamper Magazine, which is an 'Anything Goes' theme this month)

As the theme this month is Rainbow Colours I thought I would make use of those fabulous Triple Ink pads, there are enough to cover the whole rainbow.  I started by stamping circles onto white card, using the lightest 2 colours in each of the triple colour ink pads.  (The circle stamp I have used is from the Flowers & Circles stamp set but I notice that a brand new set of Circle College stamps has just appeared in the Oak House Studio Shop, perfect timing!!)  I stamped a butterfly onto each circle using the darkest shade from each of the 5 triple ink pads so that each circle was colour coordinated and when dry I used a circle die to cut out which also left a little white border all around.

 The card base is simply an A4 sheet of Papermilldirect White Linen card, one of my favourite card textures, scored, folded and trimmed to approx. 7” x 5” card base.  I chose the sentiment stamp ‘You Colour my world’ stamping the words in black Memento ink along the bottom of the card base, apart from the word ‘Colour’ which was fun to stamp using the triple inkpads to give a rainbow effect to the word.

To coordinate with the black ink and add definition to the circles I cut an extra panel of white linen card approx. 3” x 7” and matted onto black card to give a small black border top and bottom, adding to card front using d/s tape and trimming edges flush with card.

To create extra interest with a raised effect I added 3D foam pads to the back of each circle.

Position circles onto card front panel with butterflies in different positions and circles overlapping slightly, when happy with positioning remove backing from foam pads and press into place. I found it easier to stick down the first circle and the last one before adding the others.

 I’ve tried to keep this card CAS (clean & simple) with lots of white space and confining the colour to circles, it can easily be adapted using other stamps such as flowers in place of the butterflies or by using some of the other sentiments in the stamp set. 

Products used:

Flowers & Circles Stamp Set

You Are My Rainbow Stamp Set

Three Butterflies Stamp Set or Butterfly Bundle

Colour Chemistry Triple Inkpads (fruity reds, sunshine yellows, meadow greens, sky blues, berry purples)

Also, Plain White Card, black card, & White Lineneffect card – Papermilldirect

Black memento ink

d/s tape, 3D foam pads

 

 Challenges Entered:
July Make It Take it Challenge 'Anything Goes' at Craft Stamper Magazine

Heartfelt Thanks Card - Step By Step Tutorial

Hello, I'm back again to share another Step by Step card tutorial.  This week the +Papermilldirect Design Team are working on the theme of ‘Pinterest Inspired’ and I’m using this card pinned here as my inspiration.  From this design I decided to choose the trio of embossed shapes on bright backgrounds and bird as elements for my own card.

Step-by-Step:

Using nesting circle dies, cut 3 from Papermilldirect White Linen card and 3 larger ones from papermilldirect coloured cardstocks (Mandarin Orange, Dark Violet and Marine Blue).  Emboss the white linen circles using 3 different effect embossing folders.

Cut a panel of PMD White Linen approx. 4 5/8” x 6 5/8” and stamp sentiment of ‘Heartfelt Thanks’ in bottom Right corner using black Archival ink, mat onto slighter larger panel of PMD Black card.  Glue embossed white circles onto coloured card circles and then arrange onto card front as shown.  When happy with layout, glue top circle to card base and then add the other circles using 3D foam pads, allowing each circle to overlap the previous one.

Take a woodgrain embossing folder and add memento rich cocoa ink to one side of the inside, use to emboss a small piece of PMD Buff cardstock.  Trim into a small branch shape approx. 3” long.  Die cut some small individual leaves from PMD Apple green cardstock.

Die cut a bird shape from PMD Teal and buff card and add to card front using 3D foam pads, positioning across the overlapping circles.  Add 3D foam  pads to back of branch.

Adhere branch onto card front, positioning it so the bird looks to be perching on it.  Add small pieces of 3D foam to the back of each leaf and add to branch in pairs.  A small dab of clear drying glue on the stalks to adhere them under the branch.  Score & Fold and A4 sheet of Papermilldirect plain White cardstock, trim down to create a standard 5” x 7” card base and attach completed panel using a combination of double sided tape and glue.

This is a great way to make use of those scraps of gorgeous bright papermilldrect cardstocks and the embossing adds lots of extra interest, the use of white linen gives a lovely texture and plenty of white space which adds impact to those bright colours.  I felt my design needed a 'sentiment' to finish it off, but you could make this card for all occasions simply by changing the sentiment and / or centre element.

Materials Used:
White Linen Card, Plain White Card – Papermilldirect
Black, Mandarin Orange, Dark Violet, Marine Blue, Teal, Buff, Apple Green coloured card – Papermilldirect
Swiss Dots, Divine Swirls, & Tiny Mosaic Embossing Folders – Cuttlebug
Woodgrain Textures Embossing Folder – Crafters Companion
Circles #65755 Die set – Sizzix
Wildlife Dies set #FEDIE053 – First Edition
Foliage Die Set #FEDIE019 – First Edition
Sentiment Stamp – Clearly Besotted
Inks: Jet Black Archival Inkpad, Rich Cocoa Memento Inkpad
Adhesives: D/S Tape, 3D Foam Pads, Cosmic Shimmer glue

Fathers Day Card - Step By Step Tutorial

Hello, sorry I'm running a little late with another blog update for you.  This week the Papermilldirect Design Team are working on ideas for Father’s Day cards and I have been playing with ink and dies again for this cog themed make.

Step by Step:
Take Papermilldirect Plain White cardstock and apply Vintage Sepia & Juicy Orange Colour Chemistry inks.  I used a foam make up sponge and also a water brush to randomly apply the inks to give a mottled effect.  Leave to dry or use a heat gun

Die cut a variety of cog shapes from the inked card.  Using a spray bottle to spray the cogs with Glorious Gold Colour Chemistry Ink or use a brush if you don’t have a spray.

Ink up another piece of Papermilldirect Plain White card as before, but this time applying Jubilee Blue & Tempting Teal Colour Chemistry Inks.  Dry fully before die-cutting 2 geometric trims and letters to spell out ‘DAD’.  Also cut the ‘DAD’ letters from Papermilldirect Navy Blue card.

Cut a piece of PMD Plain white card approx. 4 ¾” square and mat onto a piece of PMD Navy Blue card approx. 5” square, using double sided tape to adhere.  Glue the 2 blue inked geometric trims to card front using cosmic shimmer clear drying glue.

Work out your desired positioning of the cogs, with the DAD sentiment running across the centre.  When you’re happy with position, glue in place with clear drying glue.  Create a card base by scoring and folding an A4 sheet of PMD Plain White card in half, then trim down to just under 6” square.  With card fold across the top, add the completed panel using 3D foam pads to give height.

I really liked the fresh look of the Papermilldirect Plain White card against the inked elements and thought the cogs and geometric die cuts would be great for a masculine make. The gold spray added a subtle metallic element to the cogs and I really like the mix of blues and oranges together for a modern look.  I haven’t used ‘Father’s Day wording on the front as I wanted this card to be suitable for other occasions such as birthdays too and an extra sentiment could be added inside if required.

Materials Used:
Plain White Card – Papermilldirect
Navy Blue Card – Papermilldirect
Vintage Sepia, Juicy Orange, Jubilee Blue, Tempting Teal, & Glorious Gold – Colour Chemistry Inks – Oak House Studio
Cog Dies #FEDIE009 – First Edition
Alphabet Dies #FEDIE007 – First Edition
Tuck In Geometric Dies #ETL172 – Tattered Lace
Adhesives Used: Cosmic Shimmer glue, D/S Tape, 3D Foam Pads