Loving Distressed Damask

Hi Everyone.
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas.
You might have noticed that I changed over from WordPress. Ever since I decided on the move, I had been looking for the Google Friend Connect button and finally found it!!! YAY! Given that it has taken me so long to find the little gadget I am extending the Blog Candy, one of my hand made calendars, deadline until Sunday 4th January 12 noon GMT. I shall be drawing two lucky winners of one calendar each.
This is a quick post from me today coinciding with a Spotlight Feature on the STAMPloratios Blog. I finally got round to ordering two stamp sets I had wanted for a while. They arrived through the post the week before Christmas, and I couldn't help but playing. Here are the two cards I made using the Distressed Damask Background and the Distressed Floral Swirls plus a couple of stamps to keep you looking forward to the New Year.

I wanted to go for all out colourful and used all my little cat eye ColorBox inks for the background.I quite like the mottled effect you get from using them to create a pattern on the stamp whilst inking up. I could have added some more stamping, splashes or ink spritzes to my first card, but I decided to leave it as is given that the random inking adds a lot of interest and depth.

For my second card, I used the second imprint of the stamping and layered a pattern on top using fainter and brighter inks to add more depth.

Both sentiment stamps are from a new range Shery is going to introduce next year: The STAMP LAB! Exciting times ahead ... Watch This Space!

Given that I had so much fun, I couldn't resist making another card to sneak in before the post goes live. This time teaming both sets with our current STAMP CLUB set Sugar Rush.

This time I decided to only ink part of the stamp creating a pattern for my background. It a sort of reminded me of wafers and scoops of ice cream once I stamped hence I turned it into this ice cream themed beauty.

A more detailed description on how to make the cards can be found on the STAMPlorations Blog here.

Hope you feel inspired using the Distressed Damask Background in different ways. I for one am looking forward to seeing your makes using this technique.

Before I go, just a quick note: If you have been sitting on the fence about joining our STAMP CLUB, now is a really good time to do it. With more products being added to the inclusive package next year, joining now will actually save you money. The full details and pre-view of what's new for 2015 can be found here. The After Christmas Sale is still on until 31st December 2014, and as a STAMP CLUB member there will be extra savings for you too, details of which can be found here.

Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR full of crafting magic!

hugs

Monika x

  

Here are the videos for my cards:

1st card

2nd card

3rd card

Hello And Welcome

Hi Everyone,
this is just a quick post to welcome you to my new blog. It is still work in progress whilst I am transferring my blogging from WordPress.
To ease the transition period, I am putting up a Blog Candy, one of my little desktop calendars similar to the one shown below, to be drawn from all my followers on this blog by 10 am GMT on Tuesday 30th December 2014. The winner will be announced later the same day.
Deadline extended ... The draw will now happen Sunday 4th January 2015 at 12 noon. Only just managed to find the Google Friend Connect button today (29th December), hopefully the extension will give you plenty of time to join and follow my site.

In the meantime, have a lovely Christmas!
hugs
Monika xxx
If you are still looking for that special crafty gift ... click here for details

Christmas Block card1

Hi Everybody,
sorry it's been a while since I posted here on TinkerCards.
With the Summer Holidays over, it is time to start thinking about some Christmas crafting hence I am starting a little series on quick cards which can easily be made in a larger batch. These cards will still be full of little details starting with this beauty today:

 As always there is an easy craft-along video to take you through the process of making this card. If you want to craft along, please get the following ready:

Materials
- white base card measuring 10.5 x 14.5 cm when folded
- piece of white card 14.5 x 8 cm and a strip of brown card 14.5 cm long
- post it notes for masking cut to 5.5 x 5.5 cm and two fuzzy cut bell shapes
- VIGNETTE Christmas Block stamp set by STAMPlorations
- pink, green and brown ink (I used pretty in pink, certainly celery and early espresso by Stampin'Up!)
- brown marker pen (used early espresso Stamp'n'Write Marker by Stampin'Up!)
- glossy accents or crystal effects
- sequin, glue/double sided tape and foam pads/tape

Tools
- self healing craft mat, craft knife and steel ruler
- acrylic blocks
- general craft ruler

Here is the video:

Here is another card I made using the same process but with a slight change in colours ...

Hope you feel inspired to get your Christmas crafting underway.
Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!! :-)

Please note the VIGNETTE Christmas Block is one of the new sets by STAMPlorations being released in September. All of the sets below can be bought as a bundle at a reduced price, more details can be found here.

Trees on Kraft

Hi Everybody,
back with my second card for today, a simple one-layer masculine card that only takes about 10 min to make.

Please get the following ready for crafting along to my video tutorial:

Kraft base card measuring 10 x 14.5 cm when folded

Graphic Squares and Tree Silhouettes stamp sets by STAMPlorations

Whisper White Craft Ink plus Smoky Slate and Sahara Sand dye inks by Stampin'Up!

black Memento and black VersaColour inks

Zutter Corner rounder

acrylic blocks

dried baby wipe

piece of scrap paper for masking

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!! :-)

Stamping across multiple Layers

Hi Everyone!
Back again with another tutorial for you. Sorry it's been such a long time, but I started to re-organise the house (still work in progress) especially my crafting bits. Didn't know there was such a lot of it ... LOL
Anyway I've been sorting out, eBay-ing, charity shop-ing and moving stuff upstairs into our second bedroom. In the long run it will make thing much easier.
Today I set up the webcam, finally!, and recorded a couple of short Craft-Along-Tutorials.
This is the first card

and the first video (approx 20 min), and if you want to craft along, you need to prepare the following:

Trendy Feathers and Grunge Floral Strips stamp sets both from the VIGNETTE range by STAMPlorations
black base card to measure 14.5 x 10.5 cm when folded
2 pieces of black card, one measuring 11.8 x 7.8 cm and the other one 9.3 x 5.3 cm
2 pieces of thin white card measuring 14 x 10 cm, one for the fron and one for the inside of your card
2 pieces of thin white card, one measuring 11.5 x 7.5 cm and the other one 9 x 5 cm
3 different colours dye ink, I used Regal Rose, Daffodil Delight and Tempting Turquoise by Stampin'Up!
Back VersaColour or Versafine ink
acrylic blocks
double sided tape and glue
low tack masking tape

TIP: I used Staples own brand white inkjet printer card approx 160 to 180 gms. It works a treat. It is also good for blending with alcohol markers and is of a wight that most printers can take. I use it to print my digi stamps and digi papers on as it is the thickest my printer can take.

Here we go with the video:

For further inspiration here is a cards I made using the same technique, but slightly different measurements.

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!! :-)

Achieving Depth and Texture on die cut flowers

Hello Everybody,
back with another tutorial. Today I will be sharing with you how to make the flowers I used in the following projects:

two more will follow once they've been published on my wordpress blog.

This is the little Craft-Along Video I made using white shapes punched with Stampin'Up! punches, VIGNETTE Tree Silhouettes stamp set by STAMPlorations and pink pearlescent Artiste Pigment Ink by docrafts

Enjoy & Happy Crafting!!! :-D

Faux Apertures for a one-layer card

Hello Everybody,

Welcome back with another 'Craft Along' Tutorial. This time we'll be making this lovely 'Faux Aperture' Tree Card:

Please get the following thins ready, if you want to craft along with my video:

- white base card 14.8 x 10 cm when folded, but leave flat to start with

- VIGNETTE Tree Silhouettes Stamp set by STAMPlorations

- pale yellow, pale pink pale green and a darker green shade inks (I used certainly celery, wild wasabi, pretty in pink and so saffron inks by Stampin'Up!)

- black memento ink to stamp sentiment

- Post-it note punched in the middle using a 1 3/4" circle punch (mine is from Stampin'Up!)

- Scoring board and tool (I used a Hougie Board)

- dried baby wipe or blending tool for ink blending

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!!

Masking - Blending - Stamping for a floral panel

Hi Everybody,
Back again with another tutorial, this time for fresh flowery card.

To create it you need:
- VIGNETTE Eclectic Florals Stamp Set by STAMPlorations
- Flowers Grow Stamp Set by Crafty Roo Designs (sentiment only)
- so saffron, certainly celery, pretty in pink and rose red inks by Stampin'Up!
- rose red Stamp'n'Write Marker by Stampin'Up!
- large post-it notes for masking and to create masks for the blossoms
- dried baby wipe or lending tool for ink blending
- base card blank 10.5 x 14.5 cm when folded

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!!

Blackboard/Chalkboard Technique using Bleach

Hi Everybody,
back again with another tutorial for you. It is easy to follow and craft along.

If you wish to craft along, please get the following ready:
- STAMPlorations Stamps Chevron & Arrows, Retro Mod Shapes or Eclectic Florals all from their Vignette Range
- white card blank measuring 14.5 x 10 cm when folded
- piece of black card approx 12 x 7.5 cm, can be die cut for a fancy border or plain, I used an uneven rectangle shape cut using the Sizzix Eclips Basic Shapes cartridge,deckle cut or anything else will be fine
- Versamark or any other brand of pigment ink
- white embossing powder
- watercolour pencils, I used two shades of green and orange
- black fine liner pen
- white Craft ink, if you got, otherwise use white watercolour pencil
- matching sequins, gems or pearls

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!!
:-)

Dancing Daffodils

Hi Everybody,
back with another video tutorial for you.
This is the Spring Card we'll be making:

You need

yellow tent fold base card 10.5 x 14.5 cm

piece of white card 10 x 14 cm

VIGNETTE Eclectic Florals and VIGNETTE Tree Silhouettes stamp sets by STAMPlorations

Xcut Border punch by docrafts

Daffodil delight and Wild Wasabi ink from Stampin'Up!

black memento ink

lime green organza ribbon

scissors, glue, double sided tape, acrylic blocks for stamps

This is a very quick card and as usual the video is at a pace that makes it easy for you to craft along.

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!!

Envelope Card Tutorial

Hi Everybody,

back with another tutorial for you. This time we're making an inside out envelope card:

you need:
materials:
one piece of card 19.10 x 19.10 cm (7 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches) for envelope
one piece of card 15 x 6 cm (5 9/8 x 3 6/8 inches) for inside pocket, score at 1cm (1/2 inch) on 3 sides as shown in video
one piece of matching card 12.5 x 10 cm (4 9/8 x 3 9/8 inches)
one piece of white card 12.1 x 9.6 cm (4 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches)
piece of ribbon 13.5 cm (5 1/4 inches)
piece of white scrap for stamping fuzzy cut butterfly
VIGNETTE Artful Flutters stamp set by STAMPlorations
SUBWAY ART BUILDER: MOM by STAMPlorations
Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi and Elegant Eggplant ink pads by Stampin'Up!
Elegant Eggplant Stamp'n'Write Marker
small dark pink gems

tools:
Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers
Xcut Border Punch by docrafts
Hougie Board or other scoring board and tool
craft knife, steel ruler, cutting mat
scissors, glue, tweezers, double sided tape, acrylic blocks for stamps

... and here is the video tutorial, as usual relatively slow pace, which means you can craft along as you watch ...

Enjoy and Happy Crafting!!! :-)

Patchwork Cottage

Hello Everybody,

Today I'm inviting you to stamp a little cottage and being creative with the Graphic Pentagons and Graphic Squares stamp sets from STAMPlorations Patchwork Frenzy Range.

To see how I did it, watch the video below

Here is what else I used:
Xcut scalloped hearts nesting dies by docrafts
Xcut border punch by docrafts
so saffron, rose red, wild wasabi, soft suede inks by Stampin'Up!
black memento ink
glitter gel pen (to add some sparkle to roof, not in video)
small pink gems
alphabet stamps, freebie from Papercraft Inspirations magazine
Zutter round it all (corner rounded after video was finished)
white card for die cutting
base card 14.5 x 10.5 cm when folded

and here is the finished card:

Hope you feel inspired ...

Happy Crafting!!! :-)

Stamp Storage Folder

This is the list of materials I used to make the Stamp Storage Folder featured in my YouTube videos:

1 - Stamp Storage Folder part 1

2 - Stamp Storage Folder part 2

For part 1, I used:
materials:
Designer Paper 12 x 12 " by Stampin'Up! - I used a retired one, sorry can't remember the name
matching card stock, chipboard for covers from my stash
5mm (1/4") wide double sided tape

tools:
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board - bought mine through Stampin'Up!, but they are available in any good craft store
Hougie Board or any other scoring board and tool
paper cutter
scissors

you need to cut:
- for the covers
2 pieces of chipboard - 15.5 x 18 cm   approx 7 x 5 1/8"
4 pieces of card to stamp on or pretty paper - 15.5 x 18 cm   approx 7 x 5 1/8"

- for the pockets
6 pieces of designer paper - 15.25 x 30.5 cm   approx 6 x 12"
6 strips of matching card - 15.25 x 6.5 cm   approx 6 x 2.5"

you need to score:
-your designer paper
with the 30.5cm (12") at the top score down at 6.5 and 24 cm (approx 2 5/8 and 9 3/8")
fold both sides in, align and score at 8.5 and 9 cm (approx 3 1/4-3/8 and 3 1/2-5/8")

-your strips of matching card
with the narrow edge at the top score down at 3 and 3.5 cm (approx 1 1/8 and 1 3/8")

For part 2 - stamping the covers and binding - I used:
my 4 pieces of card to stamp on from part 1
River Rock, Always Artichoke, Poppy Parade and Riding Hood Red ink pads from Stampin'Up!
Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Pentagons and Vignette Artful Flutters stamp sets by STAMPlorations
'Keep Calm' stamp by Hobbycraft
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Die, sorry can't remember the number
purple masking tape from Affixit Craft
6 book binding rings 39 mm in diameter (inner ring measurement)
Zutter Bind-It-All
matching ribbons
dried baby wipe

Stamps I used for the covers already prepared:
inner front cover: Vignette Retro Mod Shapes and stitching from Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Squares
inner back cover: Vignette Eclectic Florals stitching from Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Squares
back cover: Patchwork Frenzy Graphic Squares plus my personalised catty 'handmade ... by Monika' stamp
all stamps apart from the personalized one are by STAMPlorations
for the finishing touches I used:
Memory Box Ivy die, gems from my stash plus from Stampin'Up! River Rock and Always Artichoke card stock and flower punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Set

Some pictures of the finished project:

Hope you feel inspired ...
Happy Crafting!!!