A Spring Card - Step By Step - Papermilldirect DT

Hello, I have a new step-by-step to share with you, this time a Spring card to tie in with the brand new ‘Hello Spring’ craft challenge from Papermilldirect!  My favourite Spring colours are pretty pinks, lilacs and bright spring greens and so I’ve chosen these colours alongside white card to make them pop.

Step By Step:

Start by cutting the ‘flowers’ create a card die from Papermilldirect white card, I am using PMD White Linen as I love the texture. Remove all the waste bits of card and set panel aside for later. (I like to cut the white card first before I get inky fingers!)

Take a piece of PMD white card a bit bigger than the die cut panel, (As I am using watercolour inks I’ve chosen PMD White Hopsack card)  Add random swashes of watercolour ink using water brushes to cover the panel. 

 I am using Oak House Studio Colour Chemistry Inks in Paris Pink, French Lavender, and Bramley Apple colours. Leave the panel to dry naturally, or use a heat gun for speed.

Stamp the sentiment ‘Spring has Sprung’ in black Archival ink onto PMD white card, I’m using the back of a piece of PMD White Linen card.

Use nesting circle dies to cut out the sentiment, then cut the next size up circle from PMD Spring Green Lustre Print Silver card which is a nice match for the ink.

Take die cut panel and place against (dried) inked background, decide where to place it and trim background panel to size of die cut panel.

Create a card base by scoring & folding PMD white card and trimming down to create an approx. 15cm square card base.  (Either adhere background panel now to card front or wait and add the matted panel to card front when it's already layered).

Add 3D foam pads to back of die cut panel, you can place them behind the big flowers too as these will be hidden by gems later.

Carefully place die cut panel onto inked background panel so it lines up before pressing firmly down to secure the foam pads.Glue Spring Green die cut circle into the centre and add the sentiment circle on top using 3D foam pads to give height.

To finish, add adhesive gems to flower centres in clear, light pink and light green colours.  There are also 3 large flowers on the die cut panel that have petals that can be lifted and prised outwards to create extra interest.
This card would work equally well using a different set of Spring Colours, perhaps lemons and blues? Don't forget to share your makes over on the facebook page or why not enter a spring card or papercraft project in the new' Hello Spring' craft challenge?

Materials Used:
White Linen Card - Papermilldirect
Value White Card 300gsm - Papermilldirect
White Hopsack Card 255gsm - Papermilldirect
Spring Green Lustre Print Silver 300gsm - Papermilldirect
Watercolour Inks:  Paris Pink, French Lavender, Bramley Apple – Oak House Studio
Dies: Craft a Card 6x6 Flowers die, Scalloped Circle Dies - First Edition
Stamp: from Blooming Lovely set – Dovecraft
Ink: Jet Black Archival Inkpad - Ranger
Adhesives: D/S Tape, 3D Foam pads, Clear Drying Glue
Embellishments: Adhesive Gems in Clear, light pink, light green – Dovecraft

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

Enjoying the Possibilities - Guest Blogging with Oak House Studio

 

Hello again, I have been Guest Blogging over at Oak House Studio this month and have my 2nd project to share with you. I’ve been thinking about Lynnda’s recent post, about her stamps being not just images, but being possibilities.  I looked at the stamps and realised that they are indeed possibilities, possibilities to be creative however you wish.  

So with this newly realised freedom the Dress Form stamp evolved into an imaginative and colourful dress, with butterfly sleeves and a daisy vellum ruffle hem, using lots of different colours for this week’s theme of ‘rainbows’.  

 (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)

I started by painting a 5” x 7” canvas with Gesso to prime it before applying Colour Chemistry inks in Citrus Lemon, Jubilee Blue and Pumpkin.  Stamping circles and triangles with the Triple Sky Blues inkpad and adding extra highlights by stamping with white acrylic paint and using a baby wipe to blend and distress in places.  

The dress Form and butterfly were stamped in Versamark onto hammered card and then heat embossed using the OHS Gold detail embossing powder.  I used a paintbrush to water colour the dress form using Paris Pink and French Lavender Colour Chemistry inks, with Peacock Green and French Lavender for the butterfly.  I also stamped small circle details to the dress form using Triple Sky Blues inkpad and used a white gel pen to add dots and highlights.

For the ruffle skirt I stamped one of the large Double Daisy stamps onto plain white vellum and heat embossed with the gold detail powder, using a paintbrush to watercolour the petals with orange colour chemistry.  Dress was assembled with glue by cutting butterfly in half and attaching each wing to each shoulder of body form, and the daisy vellum was cut out and added to bottom to create a ruffle skirt.   I shaped the completed dress in my fingers, added a pale pink organza ribbon and heart shaped pin before adding some foam pads behind the body to shape it before attaching to the canvas with glue.

 The ‘Creativity Never Goes Out of Style’ sentiment stamp was stamped onto hammered card, that I’d previously water coloured and over stamped. I  heat embossed with gold and cut it into 3 parts. Inked around edges with blue ink from the Triple Sky Blues and then glued into position onto the canvas.

I had so much fun making this project and felt the sentiment was very apt, the Oak House Studio inks and stamps were a joy to use as always, and I even discovered a new favourite embossing powder along the way.  Lots of future possibilities indeed.  

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

 

Products used:

Dress Form Duo

Creativity never goes out of style

Double Daisy Set Updated

Medium Charming Butterfly

Texture Elements

Gold Detail Embossing Powder

Triple Sky Blues Inkpad

Pure Colour Chemistry Inks

5” x 7” Canvas

Hammered Card - Papermilldirect

Plain Vellum

Glue

If you enjoy stamping and playing with inks, or if you fancy having a dabble for the first time, then don't forget to head on over to the Oak House Studio blog where you will find lots of inspiring projects and makes.

Stampbord Butterfly Card - Guest Blogging with Oak House Studio

Hello, I'm back again with a new post after my little break from blogging. I was so thrilled to be asked by Lynnda at Oak House Studio to contribute to her blog as I do love Oak House Studio products, especially the stamps and Inks.  The theme this month is colours – rainbows and there are certainly plenty of gorgeous vibrant colours to choose from in the Colour Chemistry inks range.  To challenge myself, I thought I would try Stampbord, I’ve seen it, read about it but never tried it before, so today’s project is my very first play. (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)

I started by adding a colour wash of Paris Pink to the surface of the stampbord, then I used a wet brush to flick and tap French Lavender and Pumpkin inks randomly onto the surface, and dragged lines from some of the splashes using a ‘pokey’ tool.

I stamped a butterfly and heat embossed with the fabulous Silver detail powder.  Added extra colour using a paint brush loaded with French lavender ink.   Using the Triple Berry Purples inkpad to stamp ‘Dream’ under the butterfly and some random dottiness with a white pen and the stampbord panel was finished.

 I used both Peacock Green and Jubilee Blue inks to create a colour wash background panel, flicked with water and then used a paper towel to dab and lift colour in places, adding extra texture by stamping with the little dotty textures stamp.  Texture Element stamps were used on 2 corners to ‘frame’ the panel, the Triple Berry Purples inkpad for this and also added ‘Follow Your’ to top corner.  I used a white pen again to highlight some of the stamping in the corner elements. 

To assemble the card, I created a card blank by scoring & folding white leather card, I mounted the background panel onto black card and then to card front.  The stampbord panel has also been matted onto black card before attaching to the card front.  To finish I added a few bright sequins. I love the colours in this card, the way the Peacock Green really makes the Paris Pink ‘pop’, it’s a combination that I find very uplifting.  I think what I really like about Oak House Studio products is that you don’t have to be the world’s best stamper to achieve results you can be happy with, the products are such a great quality that you don’t need the expensive stamping tools to achieve a good stamped impression, the inkpads are juicy and rich and the Colour Chemistry inks give fabulous results. 

Here is what I used:  
From Oakhouse Studio www.oakhousestudio.com
Charming Butterfly

Texture Element Stamps

Textures from updated Double Daisy stamp set

Peacock Green, Jubilee Blue, Paris Pink, French Lavender, Pumpkin

Triple Berry Purples Inkpad

Silver Detail embossing powder

Stampbord

From Papermilldirect  www.papermilldirect.co.uk/paper-card

Black Card
White Card
White Leather Embossed Card

Plus:
d/s tape,glue,sequins

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

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

Inked Gate Fold Card - Step By Step Tutorial

Hello, sorry I'm a little late posting my Papermilldirect DT make.  This week the Design Team are working with the theme of Gatefold Cards, for my version I am using a simple 2 fold design but adding extra interest with a 2 part heart flap and some random inking.  This is a very easy method, no stamping or heat embossing is involved, just simple colour-washing and splashing of water to create a random effect. This simple technique is not only ideal for those who are maybe not confident with stamping but also for those who just want to play with ink!!

Step By Step:

Cut Papermilldirect Plain White cardstock to approx. 28cm long x 14cm.  With long side across scoring board, score at 7cm and 14cm and use a bone folder or scoring tool to fold the card into a gatefold shape.

Die-cut a scallop heart shape from papermilldirect White Linen card using a nesting heart shaped dies, centre a smaller heart die inside the shape and secure using low tack tape before cutting again to give a heart shape frame.  (Keep the inner shape for inside the card later)

Cut 3 panels from PMD White Linen: 1 approx. 13cm x 13cm and 2 panels approx. 6cm x 13cm. (Alternatively start with 1 sheet and cut to size after inking if you prefer).  Apply Oak House Studio Colour Chemistry ink in Peacock Green (if using the pure inks you will need to water it down) using a make-up sponge or craft sponge, just swipe the ink over the surface to colour and add a little water if needed to colour wash.

Add Oak house studio inks in Paris Pink and Regal Claret, swiping randomly across the linen cardstock (again water down the inks if you are using the pure colour versions).  Use a paintbrush or your fingers to splash or sprinkle water onto the panels and then blot with kitchen towel.  (I also inked an extra scrap piece of card with just Peacock Green so I could die cut a sentiment to co-ordinate)

When dry, mat the 3 inked panels onto slightly bigger Papermilldirect Dark Violet card to leave a small even border all around.  Adhere the large panel inside the card and the small panels to the outside using a combination of double sided tape and glue to allow a little ‘wriggle time’ for lining up.

Die cut Hearts to decorate (I’m using Tattered Lace Tuck-ins) from PMD White linen and have snipped into them to cut them down a little (keep waste)  glue to front panels using Cosmic Shimmer clear drying glue.  Take the heart frame and carefully glue to left hand side of Gatefold card, positioning it centrally over the card opening and adding glue only to the LH side where it will attach to the left panel, leave RH side free.

Cut a smaller nesting heart from PMD White Linen and smallest heart from inked scrap card and layer on top using glue.  With the gatefold card closed position this smaller layered heart centrally into the heart frame to check positon, then apply glue carefully only to the RH side where it will adhere to the RH side panel leaving the LH side free.  You will now have a card that opens with a frame on LH side and heart on RH side.  Cut sentiment twice, once from scrap inked card and once from PMD Dark Violet card, I’m using a First Edition sentiment of ‘Be Happy’ and have snipped into it to separate the words.

Take the smaller heart (Waste from Heart Frame) and positon it inside the card using the front heart frame to help line it up if you wish.  Glue in place inside card using clear drying glue.  Layer up the sentiment offsetting the Dark Violet as a shadow and gluing in place on inside heart panel.  To finish add extra heart motifs from the snipped waste or die cut extra to decorate as desired.

I really love the random inking effect and the contrast of the white card and diecuts in this design.  Although I have used nesting hearts you could use any shape nesting dies and different sentiments, experimenting with different coloured inks too.  Have you made gatefold cards recently?  Or perhaps you like inking onto Papermilldirect cardstocks too?

Materials List:
Plain White Card, White Linen Card, & Dark Violet Card - Papermilldirect
Peacock Green, Paris Pink, & Regal Claret - Colour Chemistry Inks - Oak House Studio
Hearts Scallop #657562 -  Framelits Dies - Sizzix
Modern Sentiment Dies #FEDIE038 - First Edition
Tuck In Hearts Dies #ETL173 - Tattered Lace
D/s tape, Cosmic Shimmer glue