Sketch 12

Side Step and Snowflakes

I have made a side step card as well as what I use to make my snowflake embellishments for the Whiff of Joy Tutorials and Inspirations blog.  This is just a few pics of how I put the card together.

So firstly I designed the template to fit the images. There are lots of templates out there, all very similar but I needed slightly different measurements to fit the images that I wanted to use so made my own (with a ruler, loads of sheets of paper most of which went in the bin and a lot of muttering till I was happy with the sizes). If you want to use this template, click on it to get the full size. This is designed to fit an A4 sheet of card.

Then I decided where I was going to place the designer paper and cut the red mats and DP to fit. I also cut a Spellbinders Fancy Label for the sentiment.

The card taking shape when the papers are added

I chose Wee and reindeer and Wee and Christmastree which I coloured with distress inks and H2O's. I cut the images out and adhered them to smaller die cut Spellbinders Nestibilities Rectangle dies (I did it this way to keep the rectangles small enough not to overwhelm the card). Once I had made the card I decided I wanted a sentiment so cut another couple of rectangles out of red and white card, stamped the sentiment and then adhered this with prepositional tape. This way I can remove the sentiment to write on it and pop it back in place.

Now for the Snowflakes

For the snowflakes I cut several acetate and parchment snowflakes with the Spellbinders Create-a-Flake 1 and I punched out some small snowflakes with a Punch Bunch snowflake punch.

For the acetate snowflakes I coat the acetate die cut with Glossy Accents and then dip it in to a tub of Twinklets (push down on the back of the die cut to make sure it is coated properly). I prefer Glossy Accents as it does not shrink when it dries and is nice and thick to grip the Twinklets. Allow this to dry (I usually place mine on a radiator as I am too impatient to wait for it to dry naturally).

For the Parchment snowflakes, cut and emboss the snowflakes (I use Pergamano parchment paper but any parchment will do). Go around the edge of the snowflakes with a Krylon Silver Leafing pen and allow to dry. Then apply some Stickles Stardust to the raised, embossed parts and allow to dry.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sketch 11

Sketch 10

Sketch 9

Sketch 8

Sketch 7

Sketch 6

And a slightly different version

Sketch 5

Sketch 4

Sketch 3

Oh dear, I can’t remember which card I used for this sketch.  I’ll Update this post when I do find it

Sketch 2

Tutorial - mounting and indexing stamps

Katharina asked her DT for a volunteer to do a tutorial on mounting stamps as Whiff of Joy are now stocking Mounting Foam. I was quick off the mark and offered first so got to do this.

I always mount my stamps onto foam as I get a far better image when stamping with a foam mounted stamp (unless they are clear stamps then don't bother and instead use a foam pad underneath the paper to get a crisp image). I have started to index them as well, this makes it so much easier when masking as you can see exactly where you are placing the image.

Step 1. I use Stazon to index (stamp the image on the back of the foam) and sharp straight scissors to trim around the image.

Step 2. Mounting foam is sticky on one side as has a static surface the other side. Establish which is the sticky side (leave backing on for now), place stamp on top face up and line up. To make it easier to line up later I trim a corner of the image (rubber stamp and foam).

Step 3. Flip foam over, remove backing off the static cling side. Ink up the stamp.

Step 4. Place stamp face down on the cling side of the foam, ensuring that you line up the corner that you cut as close as possible . This will give you the image print on the back exactly where the image will be once the stamp is adhered to the sticky side.

Step 5. The indexed foam ready to be adhered to the rubber

Step 6. Flip foam over so the sticky side is facing up and remove backing paper. Line up the rubber to the foam (again ensuring that you line up the corner that you cut as close as possible) and stick down in place. Apply pressure to get a good bond.

Step 7. Now trim off the excess around the image, using sharp, straight scissors and make straight cuts. Try and avoid making rounded corners as this can undercut the foam.

Step 8. One mounted and indexed stamp. If you are not bothered about indexing your stamps then just follow steps 6 and 7.

Thanks for stopping by,

Punched Flower Tutorial

I have had lots of requests to show how I make my flowers, so here’s how I do it. I must say that I first got the idea off the mega talented Deb, so this is my version - there is probably a very much easier and simpler way to do it but this works for me :)

I use various flower punches but these are my current favourites and what I used to make these flowers

McGill Floriano, Stampin Up 5 Petal (McGill Starflower is my preference but my daughter has claimed it!! – the petals are deeper cut so much easier to work with) and the medium Retro flower punch.

You will also need card (not too thick) in one or two colours and / or a scrap piece of designer paper (reasonably heavy weight if possible), a scroll or text stamp (I used a scroll from the Whiff of Joy Swirls set), ink, a dauber or sponge to apply the ink, 6mm and 3mm embossing tools, a pair of scissors and an embossing mat – my favourite is an off- cut of vinyl flooring, it has just the perfect “give” for embossing paper and prevents wrinkled edges – honest!!

Punch out the largest size and stamp a scroll pattern/text on the front with a matching ink

Ink the edges of the flower and cut into the centre (not all the way through)

Using the 3mm embossing tool emboss a centre line on each petal (front of flower)

Flip flower over and using the 6mm embossing tool emboss around the edge of each petal, then move into the centre but don’t emboss over the line you had previously embossed

Flip the flower back over (face up) and apply pressure with the embossing tool to the centre of the flower, making small circular movements to help cup the flower and lift the petals

For extra “movement” curl the petals over your finger

Your flower should look like this

Repeat this another 2 times, just ink the edges of the DP layer and emboss as before

Now although I love these Tibetan spacers they are the very devil to fix to the flower due to the curve. Soooo, to get rid of all your stress, take a hammer and a piece of wood, place the spacer on the wood face down and give the spacer a good few wallops to flatten it. Aaah that feels much better!

See the difference – so much easier to fix with a brad now.

And there you have it, a pretty flower that matches your card perfectly. :)

And especially for Jacque – here’s the flower with the mulberry roses.

Punch out your flower (I use the medium retro punch for this), ink the edges and emboss the back with a 3mm embossing tool.

After embossing each petal the flower should be cupped like this

Flip the flower over and apply pressure to the centre as the previous flower, moving in tiny circles.

Fix the mulberry rose to the centre of the punched blossom with a strong glue (I use Glossy Accents … for everything lol)

And if you’re still with me – I’ve got the nestie tutorial still to post as soon as I can get round to editing the photo’s.