Card Making -- from Simple Stamping to Embellished Cards in a few easy steps!

When I tell people what I do as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator I often hear them say, "I could never do that because I'm not creative." I don't see myself as creative, artistic or even talented. That's the genius of stamping . . . you can make something that looks great with just a stamp, ink and paper. In this blog I'll show you how to make a simple card and then step it up to a more embellished card with just a few extra steps.

First choose a stamp set (or two), some cardstock, and one coloured ink pad. I used the Amazing Silhouettes cling stamps for the focal point of my cards and choose the words 'thank you' from another stamp set. For my first cards I simply stamped one image and the words directly on to Basic White cardstock.

Simple Stamping with Amazing Silhouettes stamp set

I was able to quickly create some simple thank you cards in three different sizes -- 3" x 3", notecard and Memories & More small card size. The ink colours I used were Granny Apple Green, Polished Pink and Soft Succulent. By using just one colour on white it created a simple elegant card which anyone can make!

Stepped up cards made with the Amazing Silhouettes stamp set

I then added a few more elements to a basic card to step it up. I used the same image and coloured ink on white but this time I layered it onto a coloured A5 (14.85 x 10.5 cm) card base and added some ribbon. By fussy cutting the sentiment and popping it up using some Mini Stampin' Dimensionals I created a bit of depth to the flat card which made it look completely different than the original, however it didn't take much more time or effort than my original cards.

Embellished cards using the Amazing Silhouettes stamp set along with some die cutting

For my more embellished cards I introduced some die cutting, jewels/pearls, ribbon, and embossing. These cards took a little longer to make but the same starting elements were there -- stamp, ink and paper. I explain how I created of these 'avid crafter' cards under each of the photos below.

Embellished card using Amazing Silhouettes stamps in Granny Apple Green colour

This card started out the same as my 'casual crafter' card but I added more stamped images and then die cut the white layer using the Stitched Greenery die. I used the small label die from the Harvest dies set for the sentiment which is layered on top of Granny Apple Green Sheer Ribbon and White 3/4" (1.9 cm) Frayed Ribbon. I heat embossed a leaf image on Basic White cardstock in White Embossing Powder and and then coloured it in with a Granny Apple Green Stampin' Write pen before fussy cutting it out. I placed the leaf image on top of two circles made from the Layering Circles dies with some white thread sticking out from behind the middle layer. I finished off the card with three Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Embellished card using Amazing Silhouettes stamps in Polished Pink colour

To make the butterfly on the background of my pink card I 'stamped off' the image before stamping it on the Basic White cardstock to create a faded look. I stamped it again on a scrap piece of cardstock and then fussy cut it out, placing it in the centre of the card with some Stampin' Dimensionals to add height. I used the Meadow dies to cut out two butterflies and a shape for the sentiment out of Rose Gold Metallic Specialty Paper. I attached the sentiment to the card front with Polished Pink 3/8" (1 cm) Open Weave Ribbon. Of course I used some Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels to bling up the card!

Embellished card using Amazing Silhouettes stamps in Soft Succulent colour

I really enjoyed making this tree card as it uses a lot of different techniques. I stamped the tree image from the Amazing Silhouettes cling stamps three times on a layer of Basic White cardstock. I used the same tree stamp to create the grass at the bottom of the card by just stamping it multiple times in different spots. I heat embossed the words on Soft Succulent cardstock in White Embossing Powder for the sentiment. I used the Beautiful Trees Dies on Basic White cardstock to cut out the birds and tree trunk. I used the same die set to cut the foliage and sentiment in Soft Succulent cardstock. I added some colour to the foliage by stamping it multiple times with the tree stamp. I layered everything on the front of the cards using Mini Stampin' Dimensionals. I finished the card off with some baker's twine and Pearl Basic Jewels.

Granny Apple Green cards

Polished Pink cards

Soft Succulent cards

Whether you like simple cards or more complicated ones I hope I've inspired you to try stamping. There is always something available for the simple, casual or avid crafters from Stampin' Up! So if there is any way I can help you in your crafting journey, please let me know.

Happy Crafting!

#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #CreativeTherapy #KeepStamping #RubberStamping #CardMaking #SimpleStamping

Brighten someone's day with a rainbow card!

I decided to make several cards to leave in my neighbours' letterboxes to bring a bit of cheer to them during New Zealand's countrywide lockdown. I copied an embossing technique I saw online from a fellow demonstrator in the USA, Connie Tumm.

It's a quick and easy card to make as long as you have six different embossing folders. If you don't have that many folders, or none at all, you can create the card without embossing the coloured cardstock or maybe just emboss a few pieces.

I used cardstock from the five 2018-2020 In Colors plus Gorgeous Grape to make a my 6-colour rainbow cards. I know there are 7 colours in a rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet) but I didn't have enough room on my cards and I think it looks just as good without a second blue colour.

For the base of the cards I used Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes which are 5" x 3-1/2" (12.7 x 8.9 cm) and I cut a Basic Black cardstock mat to 4-1/2" x 3" (11.5 x 7.5 cm). I also used 4" x 2-3/4" (10 x 7 cm) coloured cardstock -- Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, Blueberry Bushel, and Gorgeous Grape.

After embossing each coloured cardstock with a different 3-D Embossing folder (Brick & Mortar, Tin Tile, Hammered Metal, Country Floral, Scripty, Button Button) I cut each piece into 5/8" (1.5 cm) strips which gave me enough to make 6 cards.

I decorated the front of each card with a different sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink using the Stitched So Sweetly dies except for two cards which I fussy cut. Some of the cards were embellished with epoxy shapes or jewels to add a bit of sparkle to them. I even stamped the back of each envelope using my Stamparatus for accurate placement.

Back of envelope stamped with 'Stamping Your Way to the Top' stamp set

Instead of signing the cards and sealing the envelopes, I made up a poem to put inside so that the recipient could share the card with someone else.

This little card was made for you 

to brighten up your day.

If it made you smile then its job is done 

and you should send it on its way.

Please give it to someone you know 

to pass along the cheer.

Since all of us need to know 

there is always someone there! 

Have a look at my video for more details on how to make your own rainbow cards and for lots of tips on using embossing folders.

Brightening someone's day by giving them a handmade card is very satisfying, even if you don't see the recipient's face when they open the envelope.

#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #CraftHappy #Rainbow #ShareSunshine #trysomethingnewchallenge #Embossing

World Card Making Day is Coming!

Saturday, October 5th is World Card Making Day and I decided to offer a Free Christmas Card Making Class here in my home. I've been advertising all over Facebook and other internet sites so I am hopeful that there will be a few people coming to make cards. Today I've been busy making lots of Christmas cards as samples for the class.

I will be using the Night Before Christmas Memories & More cards and envelopes in the class because it is very easy to put together a few elements to make a card quickly. However, since I didn't know what the final cards would look like I decided to spread all my supplies out on my dining table.

I grabbed some retired DSP, threads, stamps and embellishments to bling up the cards as well. Even though it looked like a card shop had thrown up all over my table, it was an organised mess!

My original plan was to create four sample cards for the attendees to choose from but once I started combining my supplies together I created 10 cards and I could have kept going! I even got out last year's Poppy Parade coloured cards and envelopes which worked well with some of the images in the Night Before Christmas card pack. I was trying to create simple cards in case those attending were new to papercrafts, but I couldn't help but add embellishments and die cuts.

So I ended up with 5 samples of beginner cards and 5 samples of more complicated cards. I will let those who show up have a choice of which one they would like to make or they can just create their own card from the supplies I will have on the table -- once I clean up my mess! 😅

I could spend days playing with this set by fussy cutting and punching out all sorts of shapes from the cards since the colours coordinate so well and with just a few extra elements I would have 50 Christmas cards. But I didn't want to make things too difficult since I want to get people interested in card making and not scare them away! I will do some more 'messing' about with the cards that are left over after Saturday to make more Christmas cards for my markets and future classes because for me . . . everyday is Card Making Day! 💟


#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #PaperCraftIdeas #ChristmasCard #MemoriesAndMore