Watercolour Wash Using Colorful Seasons Bundle For #GDP088

Phewww! Finally, some air in the air after a heat wave we experienced lately. Don’t get me wrong: I love summertime. I’m just not a fan of hot weather when you can’t do any activity without gasping for the air. And how funny it may sound, in the UK 26C is hardly bearable. But today I woke up very early to the amazingly fresh breeze. I jumped out of bed (well not literally as I still can hardly walk), fixed some quick breakfast to take my medications, got my Bible study done (book of Judges – loveee) and off I go to my ‘cave’ before the ‘house’ woke up.

Since over a week, I’ve been ‘dying’ to crack open the Colorful Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set and coordinating Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies. And what a better excuse (not that I need one haha) than taking a part in Global Design Project. Especially that this week we are CASE’ing extremely talented, Shawn De Oliveira.

Rose Wonder Stamp Set and Rose Garden Thinlits Dies are one of my favourites from 2016-17 catalogue and I’m really happy that they are staying with us for another year (at least). But for my project today I really wanted to ‘play’ with new products.

What I ‘borrowed from Shawn’s card is the colour combination of soft pink and green with a touch of gold. And because I had all my supplies out I’ve made not one but six cards. Since a couple of months, I belong to amazing facebook group Random Act Of Kindness, where each month we are sending cards to random recipients. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35)

Colorful Seasons card dimensions:

  • Whisper White Thick cardstock card base: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Shimmery White cardstock: 3-1/2″ x 4-1/8″ (8.9 cm x 10.5 cm)
  • Old Olive cardstock two stripes: 4-1/8″ x 7/16″(briefly) and 4-1/8″ x 1″ (10.5 cm x 1.2 cm and 10.5 cm x 2.6 cm)
  • white cardboard from the back of DSP: 4-1/16″ x 2-1/2″ (10.4 cm x 6.3 cm)

I started with creating a scalloped edge to my card base. On the front of the card base, I measured 1″ from the bottom, centred the scallop edge die and secured it with a piece of washi tape (so it won’t shift) and run it through the big shot. Next, using the same die I created a scalloped edge on the wider strip of Old Olive cardstock.

For the watercolour wash, instead of watercolour paper, I’ve used Shimmery White cardstock. It’s beautiful on its own but great for light watercolouring too; plus gives your work delicate shimmery look (hence the name).

Watercolour tip: While your ink pad is closed give the lid a gentle squeeze. It will transfer a little pool of ink from the ink pad into the lid.  Open your ink pad. Now you can pick up the ink with your aqua painter or with the tip of your blender pen.

I took aqua painter and I wet the surface of my panel slightly. I didn’t add the water to the entire piece, just to the centre. I picked some Blushing Bride ink with my aqua painter and I’ve done a quick wash of colour over the panel. Dried it with my heat tool.

When the panel was completely dry I rubbed it with embossing buddy to make sure embossing powder won’t stick where it shouldn’t. I stamped the sentiment and maple leaves with Versamark ink, covered them with gold embossing powder and heat set it.

I adhered Old Olive stripes behind the watercoloured panel with liquid adhesive. And now the #facepalm moment: paper + water = warping! …what was I thinking?! To rescue my watercolour pieces: strengthen and straighten them up, I cut rectangles from the white cardboard (I always save backings from DSP) and adhered them behind the panels, between two Old Olive pieces, with a fast fuse.

I assembled my cards with liquid glue. For a final touch, I decided to add few rhinestones. And that’s my cards done.

As always, I really want to encourage you to visit the Global Design Project challenge blog to see other beautiful projects from all around the world. Just click on their logo below to visit the website

Thanks for visiting my blog today. Have a blessed day

Best Guy Ever Clean & Simple Masculine Card

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Best Guy Ever Clean & Simple Masculine Card

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Thanks for coming to my blog today! We are being highlighted internationally by Kylie Bertucci and you are able to VOTE for my project. The top ten winners will get to be part of an international blog hop so please vote for my project. You can do it here or use a button at the end of my post.

This month we have a theme that, I think, most of cardmakers struggling with – MASCULINE.

I know that for some it’s hard if you can’t use pink, glitter or rhinestones on the card. Not to mention flowers. I even heard that masculine cards are boring! What?! Today I will show you that masculine cards can be fun and not boring at all.

Best Guy Ever card dimensions:

  • Delightful Dijon cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Early Espresso cardstock: 5-6/8″ x 4″ (14.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Delightful Dijon cardstock for sentiment: 1-3/8″ x 2″
  • White Vellum cardstock mat: 1-5/8″ x 2-2/8″
  • Early Espresso, Delightful Dijon and White Vellum scraps for die cutting

To achieve this fun texture on my Early Espresso panel I spritzed it with water to soften the fibre. Next, I dabbed Hexagons Dynamic Embossing folder with Whisper White Craft Ink, put Early Espresso cardstock inside, run it through the Big Shot and let it dry. When it dried I adhered it to the card base.

Next, I die cut various size frames from Delightful Dijon cardstock using squares from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies and Layering Squares Framelits Dies. You can mix and match these as you wish. Glued them to my card with liquid adhesive.

I also die cut three ‘branches’ using one of the dies from Everyday Jars Framelits Dies: one from vellum, one from Delightful Dijon and one from Early Espresso cardstock.

The sentiment I chose for my card is brilliant and can be used for any occasion really. And I love the bold font. I stamped it on a piece of Delightful Dijon in Early Espresso and matted it with a piece of vellum.

I adhered my sentiment to the card with a couple of dimensionals. For a final touch, I added my ‘branches’ to the card. I glued their ends under the sentiment panel. And this is my card done. I hope I inspired you today.

Thanks for visiting my blog today and make sure you head over to Kylie’s blog to check all lovely projects and vote for your favourites. Hope you like my project enough to give it some love ?

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Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Stampin’ Up! Watercolour Wings – Good Things Come In Threes

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Stampin’ Up! Watercolour Wings – Good Things Come In Threes

GDP83

Hello, everyone! I hope you have an amazing Saturday so far. We have such a beautiful weather today down here in Midlands – it doesn’t feel like I live in the UK at all ? And I really hope this weather will stay for a little while. Even just to cheer me up. This past week was one of the toughest in last few months, as the pain is back and it ain’t go anywhere in near future. It laughs at painkillers too. So my days are filled with enormous pain that truly makes my brain freeze and I find it hard to concentrate, let alone create. But I had such a great idea for this week’s challenge over at Global Design Project that I just HAD TO make it happen! Do you have it sometimes? An idea that feels that if you won’t try it you will POP!? hahaha So a couple of nights back, I hid in my cave, despite the pain, and … five hours later I came out not with one but three cards! How that even happen?! As I was creating my initial card, more ideas popped into my head and obviously, I HAD TO TRY them all, haha So just a warning:  this post is long and picture (glitter) heavy ?

So I will start with my first card where it all started: lovely, clean & simple and … pink-ish. Not really something you’ve seen here often. But I actually like it:

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Watercolour Wings Stamp Set - Good Things Come In Three CAS Card - GDP #083 - Flirty Flamingo_Whisper White_Dazzling Diamonds Glitter_heat&stick

Flirty Flamingo card dimensions:

  • Whisper White Thick cardstock card base: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Flirty Flamingo cardstock: 3-6/8″ x 4″ (9.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 3-1/2″ x 3-6/8″ (9 cm x 9.6 cm)
  • Flirty Flamingo Ruched Ribbon: 12″ approx, to tie a bow

This beautiful butterfly from Watercolour Wings Stamp Set is a three step stamping image as you have three stamps to create the look.  I’ve used three different shades of pink: Pink Pirouette for the base, Blushing Bride for the details on the wings and Flirty Flamingo for wings’ edges and the body of the butterfly.

Savvy tip: if you’re just starting your papercraft adventure and don’t have many ink colours (been there, done that) you can use the same ink pad to stamp all the layers. If it’s a light colour ink, you can stamp each layer on top on previous one and it will get slightly darker each time. You can repeat more detailed layers couple of times to get the shade you are happy with. If you have dark colour ink, you can use stamping off technique (also called ghost stamping or second/third generation stamping). You simply stamp off your image couple of times before stamp it on your piece. The rule is: the larger the image like the base here, the lighter the shade.

I also stamped this polka-dot-kind-of image in two opposed corners of my panel. You are probably wondering: OK, but where all that glitter come from? And no, I didn’t use glue for that.

When the image was stamped, I prepared the card with embossing buddy and I stamped the edges of the wings of the butterfly, the body and polka dots once again, but this time using Versamark ink. I sprinkled it with Heat & Stick Powder, heat it till it melts, add Dazzling Diamonds glitter and heat set it again. Heat & Stick Powder once re-heated it melts again, making all that glitter to soak in, so when I send this card out the recipient can enjoy beautiful card and won’t be covered in glitter.

I adhered my panel to a Flirty Flaming mat and next to the card base. Firstly, I wanted to create the banner or a strip of cardstock for a sentiment, but it didn’t look good. So using Stamp-A-Ma-Jig I decided where I want my sentiment to go and stamped it in Flirty Flamingo. Next, to jazz it up a little I stamped it twice more, without re-inking my stamp. It’s called ghost stamping or stampin’ off. A little, dinky bow finish off my card.

Card number 2 (Jazz it up babe ?)

Bermuda Bay & Crumb Cake card dimensions:

  • Crumb Cake cardstock card base: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Bermuda Bay cardstock: 3-6/8″ x 4″ (9.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Crumb Cake cardstock: 3-1/2″ x 3-6/8″ (9 cm x 9.6 cm)
  • Bermuda Bay cardstock strip for a sentiment
  • Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’s Twine two lengths: 16″ and 4″ (approx)

I this card for the butterfly I’ve used Soft Sky for the base, Pool Party for all the details on the wings and Bermuda Bay for the body and edges of its wings. And again I stamped polka dots in the corners. I’ve added gold glitter to my images same way as with my first card, using Heat & Stick Powder.

Using two lengths of Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’s Twine I created simple sailor knot. I added mini glue dot behind the knot and adhered it to the Crumb Cake panel. I secured the twine at the back using Fast Fuse. Next, I mounted my panel to the Bermuda Bay mat using thin (1 mm) foam adhesive tape and adhered them both to the card base.

The sentiment is stamped on a strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock and in Bermuda Bay ink for the subtle, tone on tone effect. I also added a strip of DIY gold glimmer paper behind it. I popped it up with dimensionals but before I adhered it to the card base I stamped few rows of polka dot piece on the card base in Versamark.

Card number 3 (the more the fancier ?)

Elegant Eggplant & Basic Black card dimensions:

  • Basic Black cardstock card base: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • White Vellum cardstock: 3″ x 3-6/8″ (7.7 cm x 9.6 cm) + extra for die-cutting
  • Elegant Eggplant Paper From Regals Designer Series Paper Stack: 5-1/2″ x 3-6/8″ (14 cm x 9.6 cm)
  • Basic Black cardstock for butterfly
  • Whisper White cardstock for sentiment
  • Gold Metallic Thread

To be able to stamp the butterfly in various colours on black cardstock I stamped the base of my butterfly in Whisper White Craft Ink first. When it dried I stamped the base again, but this time in Perfect Plum. For the details on the centre of the wings, I’ve used Rich Razzleberry. The edges of the wings and body of the butterfly are stamped with Elegant Eggplant ink – I could totally skip this step as honestly, you can’t see that even in person, not only on photos. I added glitter as before and die-cut my butterfly using a coordinating die from Bold Butterfly Framelits Dies.

I took a piece of Elegant Eggplant DSP and I tore two strips of paper from the top and from the bottom. I didn’t measure it, just eyeball it, briefly about 1″. I also tore in half the strip of White Vellum cardstock. I adhered both strips of torn DSP behind the main piece, but showing the reverse design and so the torn edges were showing. I also

I adhered both strips of torn DSP behind the main piece with reverse design up and both strips of vellum behind it with jagged edges showing for extra dimension. I rolled up the edges of my DSP slightly and adhered the whole panel to the card base.

I die-cut a circle from White Vellum using the largest circle die from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies. Before I added my butterfly on top I stamped the butterfly antenna in Basic Black on the vellum. I adhered few lengths of Gold Metallic Thread behind the butterfly, glued it to the vellum circle with Fast Fuse and next add it to the card base. The sentiment is stamped in Elegant Eggplant n piece of Whisper White cardstock and adhered to the base with glue dots.

And here are all of the cards together:

I hope you like my cards and that I didn’t bore you with my mouthful-sort-of-directions, haha But this is me: love it or hate it ? Please let me know in comments below which one, which style is your favourite. I would love to hear from you!

As always, I really want to encourage you to visit the Global Design Project challenge blog to see other beautiful projects from all around the world. Just click on their logo below to visit the website.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Roses & Dragonfly No°2 – Inlaid & Partial Die-cutting Birthday Card

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Roses & Dragonfly No°2 – Inlaid & Partial Die-cutting Birthday Card

And here I am again with Rose Wonder and Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies!

My little sister (well not that little, she’s nearly 22 y.o. But hey! she will always be my little sister) came to last week and said she and her friends wanted me to make a birthday card for their girlfriend.

They really liked this card I’ve made a few weeks back…

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-dragonfly-dreams-bundle-and-rose-garden-thinlits-dies-inlaid-partial-die-cutting-technique

…and wanted something similar hence No°2 in the title 🙂

The base colour they wanted was orange with silver details, as these are the colours their friend loves. So fun and challenging as I don’t create much in orange! But I love challenges. I love to sit down and design, create something unusual; not just grab a card, two or three colours one stamp and bah! – five minutes later the card is done! I do clean & simple sometimes but that’s not my concept of creativity 🙂 I am an artist at heart. It have to be a process, it have to be messy and a little bit crazy too; so when I’m done my soul sings…

…and this is exactly how this card came to life

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Roses And Dragonfly Birthday Card using Inlaid Partial Die Cutting_Stampin' Up! Rose Garden Thinlits Dies_Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies

Roses & Dragonfly No°2 card dimensions:

  • Calypso Coral cardstock card base: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 5-6/8″ x 4″ (14.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 2 panels 5-5/8″ x 3-7/8″ each (14.3 cm x 9.8 cm); one for blending and one for die-cutting
  • strips of Calypso Coral and Whisper White cardstock for sentiment

First I adhered panel of Whisper White cardstock to the card base using snail adhesive. Next, I took one of the smaller panels and using ink pads and sponges I created a backing panel for the die-cut piece.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Roses And Dragonfly Birthday Card using Inlaid Partial Die Cutting_Stampin' Up! Rose Garden Thinlits Dies_Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies 4

As first, I blended in my darkest colour, Calypso Coral, followed by Pumpkin Pie and Peekaboo Peach. But you can start with the lightest shade first, it doesn’t really matter. I continued adding more colour until I was happy with the depth. To add more interest I flicked few droplets of water to my panel.

Water react with ink creating this beautiful, distressed look. Bear in mind that for the best results you have to do it when the ink is freshly blended.

I took the second Whisper White panel and arranged the dies how I wanted them to go. Next, I die-cut all elements, one at a time and put them away on a flat surface so I don’t lose any of the small pieces. Once everything been die-cut I adhered what’s left of the panel to the orange background. I’ve added some splatters of ink all over it and inlaid all my die-cut pieces back in. More detailed explanation can be found here ->

I added this panel to the card base with Foam Adhesive Strips for extra dimension.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Roses And Dragonfly Birthday Card using Inlaid Partial Die Cutting_Stampin' Up! Rose Garden Thinlits Dies_Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies 3

The sentiment I’ve used comes from Rose Wonder Stamp Set. I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock with Versamark ink. I heat embossed it in silver, mounted on a slightly wider piece of Calypso Coral cardstock and add it to the card.

To make the card looks even more pretty, I scattered rhinestones all over the panel. To wrap it up, I stamped dragonfly image inside the card and on the envelope. It’s hard to see but I’ve used all three colours of ink on this little creature.

The card has been given already and I know the girl loved it to bits. That is my biggest reward 🙂 But I hope you like it too. Would love to hear your opinion it the comments below.

If you wish to purchase any of products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store and don’t forget to enter the hostess code for the month of April XMAJ4CYX to receive a gift from me.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Just a note: the Dragonfly Dreams as a Bundle at 10% discount is available only until 31 May. After that date, you will be able to purchase Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set and Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies only separately, not as a bundle.

Don’t forget to check:

Stampin’ Up! Spring Summer & Annual Catalogue 2016 2017 Retiring List

Anna' Stampin' Cave Stampin' Up! Retiring Products 2017

It’s that time of the year again, when Stampin’ Up! is getting ready to retire stamps and accessories from both the Annual and Spring Summer catalogues. As sad as it is to see these products go, there’s still time for you to get them before they’re gone. Retiring products will only be available until 31 May, or while supplies last. So if there’s something from retiring products on your wishlist, don’t wait until last day – once they’re gone, they’re gone. And they are selling fast! Click here for more details ->

Global Design Project #082 Sketch Challenge Beautiful Message

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Global Design Project #082 Sketch Challenge Beautiful Message

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Hello, everyone! Today I’m playing again with Global Design Project Sketch Challenge. But before I show you my take on the sketch I want to share with you some exciting news. My cards were among the winners at the last GDP Colour Challenge! Woo hoo! But that’s not all. I have also been chosen to be a Guest Designer in the next colour challenge! How cool and what a privilege?!

Guest_Designer_Winner_Anna

Totally unexpected; I’m still pinching myself 🙂 If you have not seen my winning cards, just click the button above.

But now let’s go back to today’s project.

Today I’ve got for you this beautiful, clean & simple card with an amazing message from the Bible.

Anna' Stampin' Cave_Stampin' Up! Easter Message Stamp Set_Mint Macaron_gold foil_gold heat embossing_clean and simple_Jesus is risen

Beautiful Message card dimensions:

  • Whisper White Thick cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Mint Macaron cardstock: 5-7/8″ x 4″ (14.8 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 4-1/8″ x 2-2/8″ (10.4 cm x 5.7 cm)
  • Gold Foil: 5-7/8″ x 1″ (14.8 cm x 2.5 cm)

I was really eager to put my hands on this beautiful stamp set ‘Easter Message’ the moment I saw it. But I was able to order it only just recently.

Anna' Stampin' Cave_Stampin' Up! Easter Message Stamp Set_Mint Macaron_gold foil_gold heat embossing_Jesus is Risen

To create this beautiful card I first took Mint Macaron panel and randomly stamped palm tree all over it, using Versamark inkpad, and heat embossed it in gold.

To make sure none of the embossing powder sticks to the cardstock where unwanted, I rubbed my embossing buddy across the paper before application.

To slightly ‘dull’ golden embossing I rubbed my piece with a dry cloth. I think it creates unique, dramatic effect.

I adhered Mint Macaron panel to the card base, followed by a piece of gold foil.

Next, I took my piece of regular Whisper White cardstock and I stamped cross image in Mint Macaron on the top of my piece, so I still had a room for a sentiment below the cross.

For the sentiment I chose this beautiful, life-giving verse from a Bible: Matthew 28:6 ‘He is not here; He has risen’. I’m short for words to say how much this little verse mean for me.

Anna' Stampin' Cave_Stampin' Up! Easter Message Stamp Set_Jesus Is Risen_Mint Macaron_gold foil_gold heat embossing_clean and simple

I stamped my sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed using Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder again. To stamp it and not ruin my panel, I’ve used good ole stamp-a-ma-jig, so it’s straight and exactly where it should be.

I mount my piece onto the card base using dimensionals.

I may not be an expert if it comes to clean & simple cards. I’m not good at using a minimal number of supplies either. But I’m working on it, and I have to say I’m really happy how this card came out. I hope you like it too. Gold and mint make such an amazing colour combination.

As always, I really want to encourage you to visit the Global Design Project challenge blog to see other beautiful projects from all around the world. Just click on their logo below to visit the website

If you wish to purchase any of products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store and don’t forget to enter the hostess code for the month of April XMAJ4CYX to receive a gift from me.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Don’t forget to check:

Stampin’ Up! Spring Summer & Annual Catalogue 2016 2017 Retiring List

Anna' Stampin' Cave Stampin' Up! Retiring Products 2017

It’s that time of the year again, when Stampin’ Up! is getting ready to retire stamps and accessories from both the Annual and Spring Summer catalogues. As sad as it is to see these products go, there’s still time for you to get them before they’re gone. Retiring products will only be available until 31 May, or while supplies last. So if there’s something from retiring products on your wishlist, don’t wait until last day – once they’re gone, they’re gone. And they are selling fast! Click here for more details ->