Perfect Pairs - Serene Winter part 2

Hi Crafty Friends!

I'm really loving the Perfect Pairs products which STAMPlorations have recently released. Perfect Pairs are made up of stamps and coordinating Ephemera Cuts. They are perfect for beginners and experienced card makers/papercrafters alike.

Today I'm showcasing the Serene Winter set and how the Serene Winter elements can be combined with treasures from your STAMPstash.

Have a look ... 

Who doesn't love a good stew or hotpot? Well, it's the perfect ephemera for sending warm wishes during the colder time of year.

I went for a retro inspired stencilled background using colours mirroring the ones from the vegetables. The tapestry stencil is perfect for the retro wallpaper look set into the framed oval achieved by using the Ovals Flexi-Template as both mask and stencil by simply using one of the frames as mask and the neighbouring frames as stencil for the frame.

The sentiment is a shortened version of the Warm Winter Wishes die cut. I simply snipped it apart. The die-cut hearts are from the Clustered Hearts Die.

For my second card, I wanted to create a soft nostalgic feel without it being too vintage.

Well, I dug out an old favourite set of mine VIGNETTE Christmas Block to stamp the snowflakes. (A quick Heads Up, there are only 3 left in the shop. Get it before they sell out. It's worth it for the snowflakes alone. They are so useful.)

Winter Wishes need snow flakes especially when ice skating is involved. The background was stamped in old paper Distress Ink using the snowflakes and the 'Winter' stamp diagonally opposite each other.

This provided grounding for my focal point using three elements, the Felicity die-cut, the pine barrel and the ice skates which were popped up for dimension.

The embossed sentiment and red gems brought some warmth to the design and provided the perfect finishing touches.

Rounding up today's post:

Perfect Pairs, as shown with the Serene Winter collection, coordinate well with other STAMPlorations products.

Backgrounds don't always have to cover the whole of your card. The Ovals Flexi-Template in combination with the Tapestry stencil provides enough background to create the retro vibe complementing the pot of stew while two strategically stamped images on my second card provide enough background to help the focal elements to stand out.

Background colour doesn't always have to be contrasting. Picking out the two colours from the vegetables in the stew for the background stencilling helps draw the eyes to the warming stew one otherwise would have just glimpsed.

That's it from me for today. Wishing you a lovely week.

Hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used:

Just a little reminder: I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop

Perfect Pairs - Serene Winter, stamps and coordinating ephemers cuts

 

Ovals Flexi-Template

 

Tapestry Stencil

 

Warm Winter Wishes Phrase Die

Clustered Hearts Die

 

Bloomdala Bliss Felicity Dies

 
VIGNETTE Christmas Block

Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Subscription offers for stencils, paper goods and stickers.

In addition please d check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.

- from my stash

cream card

Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake card stock by Stampin'UP!

Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive inks by Stampin'UP!

old paper Distress Ink

Clear Versamark ink

white embossing powder

red gems

sequins

glue

3D foam pads

Perfect Pairs - Serene Winter part 1

Hi Crafty Friends!

I'm really loving the Perfect Pairs products which STAMPlorations have recently released. Perfect Pairs are made up of stamps and coordinating Ephemera Cuts. They are perfect for beginners and experienced card makers/papercrafters alike.

Today I'm showcasing the Serene Winter set on a couple of cards you can easily make yourself, just a little bit of masking and ink blending skills are needed.

Have a look ... 

I wanted to enhance the natural vintage-y look the Serene Winter Ephemera made me think of. A cream base card lightly blended with old paper Distress ink was a good start.

I then masked a narrow strip at the bottom of my card and repeat stamped the 'Winter' stamp from the set in Glamour Versafine Clair ink down the left hand side of my card.

Two of the ephemera cuts were layered and the 'Winter Wishes' sentiment stamped in Roasted Coffee Prism ink.

Card Candi dots, something I haven't used in ages, highlight the natural look and a sprinkle of glitter on the roof and twig of the ephemera cuts finishes the card off.

The background in my next card uses simple repeat stamping of the 'Winter' stamp rotating the stamp as you go along. Added interest and variation comes from the unevenly masked off border with sloping lines rather than ones in parallel with the card edges.

Coordinating ephemera pieces were clustered to highlight the social aspect of the sentiment. A solitray cup would have looked a little forlorn.

I picked on the red beads to bring warmth into my design by using red card for the embossed sentiment and red card candi as a finishing touch.

Rounding up today's post:

Old paper Distress ink softens the cream of my base card while at the same time enhancing the green found in the pine needles of the bird house and the twig thus creating balance with the red background stamping.

A pop of colour can really add warmth to an otherwise tone-on-tone card.

Last, but not least, picking out some older treasures as embellishments, which I did with the Card Candi, can add a cold finishing statement to your card.

That's it from me for today. I shall soon be back with part 2 of the Perfect Pairs - Serene Winter showcase.

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used:

Just a little reminder: I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop

Perfect Pairs - Serene Winter, stamps and coordinating ephemers cuts

 

Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Subscription offers for stencils, paper goods and stickers.

In addition please d check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.

- from my stash

cream card

Cherry Cobbler card stock by Stampin'UP!

old paper Distress Ink

Glamour Versafine Clair ink

Roasted Coffee and Butterscotch Prism inks by Hunkydory

Clear Versamark ink

white embossing powder

Card Candi by Craftwork Cards

glue

glitter
3D foam pads

Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes part 2

Hi Crafty Friends!

Welcome to part 2 of the Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes showcase. Today I'm combining the Perfect Pairs stamps and coordinating ephemera cuts with a couple of very versatile ARTplorations Stencils, also by STAMPlorations.

Check out what I did ...

My first card uses 3 of the ephemera cuts layered for a big impact on a simply stencilled background using the Dots All Over stencil. The white embossed sentiment, using the 'Celebrate' of the  Celebrate Big sentiment stamp only, and sequin finish the card of perfectly.

The second card uses my all time favourite Confetti #1 Slimline Stencil as celebratory background for the candles ephemera cut. Stars and dots are perfect for party confetti. The sentiment was stamped across layers, something I explained in a previous post here, and the card finished off with the addition of some sequins.

Rounding up today's post...

Layering the Party & Wishes Ephemera Cuts makes for a statement focal point.

Relatively neutral stencils such as the Dots All Over and Confetti #1 stencils I used are perfect for adding interest to the background without overpowering your focal image. In addition they can be used all year round, whatever the season.

You don't always have to use the whole of a sentiment stamp. Sometimes a little bit is all that is needed.

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used:

Just a little reminder: I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop

Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes, stamps and coordinating ephemers cuts

 

Dots All Over Stencil

 

Confetti 1 Slimline Stencil

 

Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Subscription offers for stencils, paper goods and stickers.

In addition please d check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.

- from my stash

white card

Elegant Eggplant ink by Stampin'UP!

Rose and Grenadine Izink inks

Clear Versamark ink

white embossing powder

offcut of matching red card

sequins

Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes part 1

Hi Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations have recently released their Perfect Pairs products consisting of stamps and coordinating Ephemera Cuts. These are perfect for beginners and experienced card makers/papercrafters alike.

Today I'm showcasing the Party & Wishes set on a couple of cards you can easily make yourself. Have a look ... 

My first card uses the arty coloured balloons ephemera with just the 'Celebrate Big' sentiment from the two stamp set. The shape of the balloons reminded me of a hot air balloon (I probably watched 'UP', the film, once too often. 😀) hence I decided to turn the sentiment into the basket by white embossing it on kraft card stock.

A doodled line and sequins finished my card off.

For my second card I wanted to do something a little different. Celebrations often involve party hats, confetti and streamers. This was the vibe I wanted to capture.

I randomly stamped the texture stamp for the background using masking as I went along. Splatters and sequins turned into confetti. Party hats and sentiment were strategically placed to create extra movement and an a joyous atmosphere.

Both cards were really quick to make.

Rounding up today's post:

You don't always need lots of supplies to make beautiful cards of different styles. A few carefully selected pieces such as the Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes set provide the perfect basis for you to add your own personality no matter what your style and bits in your crafting space.

That's it from me for today. I shall soon be back with part 2 of the Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes showcase.

Wishing you a lovely weekend.

Hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used:

Just a little reminder: I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop

Perfect Pairs - Party & Wishes, stamps and coordinating ephemers cuts

 

Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Subscription offers for stencils, paper goods and stickers.

In addition please d check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.

- from my stash

white card

Crumb Cake card stock, Elegant Eggplant ink by Stampin'UP!

Clear Versamark ink

white embossing powder

fine liner pen

Plum Memento ink

Gold Spritzing ink by Heidi Swapp

sequins

Simple Expressions - colourful and retro

Hi Crafty Friends!

Welcome back to my 2nd instalment showcasing STAMPlorations new Simple Expressions - FOCUS stamp set.

Today's offering is rather colourful with a distinct sense of times-gone-by. Let's have a look ...

The jars in the image reminded me of making jams, chutneys and generally preserving food which seems to have had a revival in recent years hence the sentiment of 'Focus on the good life'. It is also a nod to the British sitcom The Good Life taking a humorous look at the challenges of self sufficiency in suburbia. 

The sentiment was made up using the Simple Expressions - FOCUS set in combination with the word 'LIFE' from the Bold Sentiments - Journey set. (I could have handwritten the word 'LIFE', but it wouldn't have looked anywhere near as good. 😀)

The background is partially stamped and ink blended using the solid 'FOCUS' stamp and partially stencilled using the Square Lots Square Stencil as a nod to garden trellis and home grown food. 

To create the layered look, I simply used low tack masking tape to mask off the area I wasn't working on.

This card started off with the pencil coloured ATC and wanting to have a background that wouldn't drown out the softer colouring. While searching through bit of orange card for the best shade to use, I came across this almost square piece which ended up being my background. I rather liked the somewhat irregular frame in combination with the layering I had in mind.

It always pays to play around with what you already got as it opens up different opportunities as you can see in my next card.

This one has a different shape, a more regular frame and bolder colouring of the image.  The bolder coloured image can hold its own against the background stamping. I think the combination of both looks rather striking.

I've been stamping across layers again for today's cards, a technique described in my previous post here.

Summing up today's post:

Masking can be used to create faux layers to add interest/layers without adding bulk to your projects.

Stamping across layers can add interest to either background or sentiments.

Changing the shape and/or colouring medium used can easily transform one idea into different looking cards.

You can use bits of stamps you already have in your stash for custom sentiments. The Simple Expressions - FOCUS sentiment would work well with words such as 'times', 'in life', 'in others', 'days', 'memories', 'possibilities' to name a few. I'm sure you can think of more.

That's it from me for today. I shall be back later this week with some new makes. Until then ...

Hugs

Monika 💕

Here is what I used:

Just a little reminder: I am on the STAMPlorations DT Team. Please be aware that the following links are affiliated links which means should you use them to make a purchase I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

- from the STAMPlorations Shop

Simple Expressions - Focus



Retro People ATC




Bold Sentiments - Journey

Blossom Sprays 3

Bold Sentiments - Believe (retired) for the '& SHINE'

Square Lots Square Stencil

Feel free to check out STAMPlorations Subscription offers for stencils, paper goods and stickers.

In addition please d check out STAMPlorations Freebie of the Month which will automatically be shipped with any order of $25 and over.

- from my stash

white card

Confetti White, Melon Mambo and orange card (sorry, can't remember the exact shade), Coastal Cabana ink by Stampin'UP!

colouring pencils, unbranded

alcohol markers, unbranded

onyx black Versafine ink

Roasted Coffee Prism ink

The Izink ink

sequins