VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 19

More metal tooling!

Silver Heart by Freyja Lee















Freyja says:

• Stamp: Non Sequitur ‘Memories of Italy‘ stamp plate
• The English Stamp Co.2102 Leaf
• This is the easiest design of all using a small piece of metal foil with a simple print or pattern placed on top, and traced with a stylus.
  
• Take the pattern away and impress the design more deeply.
• It is not difficult to work free had copying a pattern or making your own.
• The leaf is embossed twice onto coloured vellum and cut out.
• The background is from the Memories of Italy plate and silver embossed .
• Two rectangles of sparkle gauze are layered with the other elements as shown.

NOTE: This card is actually monochrome, ie: all shades of the same colour (see Countdown No 16 for an example I made, all in shades of grey using the one colour of ink throughout). This is a great way to ensure that all elements of your card blend together - all lilacs, as here; blues, pinks...

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 18

And now for something completely different again! Metal tooling!


Card by Freyja Lee













Freyja says:

• No stamps are used although the central heart* can be stamped if preferred.
• The metal used here is a red disposable ashtray.
• Emboss and cut out the heart.
• Cover a square of white/cream card with hstrips of double sided sticky tape and apply multi-coloured leafing flakes.
• Press onto the tape and brush off excess.
• Cut heart and layer with decorative paper the red heart plus jewel and mount onto a red main card.

NOTE: This is a superb idea: recycling, antismoking and "green" (all in one project) as this card doesn't even use stamps - it's an ashtray! Which goes to prove you should always keep your eyes open, because you never know what you might find to use in your artwork.

Did you notice the tiny little "jewel" in the centre of the heart (a sticky-back teardrop)? And the self-adhesive copper tape applied as a border to the card.

* If you want to stamp the central heart, use metal sheeting (copper or aluminium, from a stamp store or your local DIY shop) use a permanent ink like Staz-On and stamp on the back of the metal. Emboss shapes into the metal using a scoring tool, blunt knitting needle or even a used-up ballpoint pen (make sure you don't pierce through the metal by placing a mouse mat underneath). Cut out with scissors from the right side, and colour if you wish using a red Staz-On inkpad or metallic pen etc.

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 17

Two cards, one technique! You're sure to find something to inspire those creative juices here.

Italian Lace
by Freyja Lee














Chocolate
by Freyja Lee















Both cards have been created used fluid chalk inks, which give the lovely soft effect. These inks are opaque, so light colours show beautifully on dark card.

Freyja says:

Chocolate Card:

• Stamp: Blade Rubber ‘Leaf’ BR050H
• This card shows the delicious shades produced by brayering Chestnut Roan, Charcoal and Alabaster fluid chalk inks on glossy card.
• Stamp the charcoal with gold ink using the leaf image.
• Cut the various coloured pieces into squares, cut some in half with decorative scissors and arrange into attractive tile patterns

NOTE: The Italian Lace card features photo corners to enhance the main image, and the lace effect is enhanced by careful cutting. There's also a decoupaged butterfly in her hair.

The Chocolate card looks just like a box of chocolates, doesn't it? And who doesn't love chocolates? So if you don't want to send a sentimal card, then this one might just be perfect. What you are seeing is a leaf stamp, and cutting and layering with fancy-edged scissors - genius!

SO - How are you all doing with your Valentine cards? Are they all done, or are you still needing inspiration? We're going to keep on posting more cards etc, right up to the day before Valentine's Day (13th) because if you haven't made one by then, you know you're going to have to throw in the towel and buy one! Aaargh...

If anyone has made a particularly nice one they are very proud of, and so you should be, then why not share and email me a jpg - I'll put it up here for everyone to have a look at. (I don't want you getting bored just looking at stuff by me and Freyja all the time). Either use the link at the top of the blog (via my website) or click on my link in Contributors (at the top of the blog) which takes you to My Profile, where you'll see an email link underneath my picture.

Till tomorrow...

CLASSES at BLADE RUBBER STAMPS

Just thought I'd better let you know the upcoming classes at Blade Rubber Stamps for the next month:


ALCOHOL INKS CLASS
with Susie Jefferson








FABULOUS FAUX FINISHES CLASS
with Freyja Lee

Beginners: Stamping & Papercrafts
31 January- with Susie Jefferson

Alcohol Inks
7 February - with Susie Jefferson

Fabulous Faux Finishes
14 February - with Freyja Lee

Waterfall Card & Scrapbook Page
21 February - with Susie Jefferson

Resist Work: Beyond the Basics
28 Feburary - with Freyja Lee

All classes are on Saturdays in the shop, and all last 2 hours. Email or phone the shop re queries or to book a class, and look here for full details of each class.

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 16

A nice, easy monochrome image.


Copyright Susie Jefferson











How I did it:

• I used just one inkpad throughout: Brilliance ink in Starlite Black.
• The background is the huge trefoil stamp (stamped twice onto white car): Weathered Textiles by Tim Holtz.
• The main image is also stamped onto white card, then torn round 3 of the edges and ink rubbed on straight from the pad.
• I punched two holes at top and bottom left-hand side and threaded fibres through, then used double-sided tape to stick to the background.
• The text is made up from individual unmounted ransom-style letters.

NOTE: This card would work for Father's Day, any birthday, engagement etc etc. And any romantic image or photo would work for the main image.

UPCOMING COMPETITION

SHHH! It's a secret.... next week I'll give you the full details of a competition we'll be holding on the blog.

You might want to put your thinking caps on, and think FLORAL, which will be the theme - for a card, ATC or gift. That's the only clue I'm going to give you!

This luscious card by Freyja is coloured with chalk pastels, and the most gorgeous roses... just to put you in the mood.



Card by Freyja Lee

Meantime, if anyone wants to send in a Valentine's card to me (email address in my Profile section, or at the top of the column on the right) I'll put it on the blog for everyone to enjoy. I think the closer it gets to The Day, the more help with inspiration we need! Panic sets in, the mind goes a blank...

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 15

This romantic card would work for any occasion, not just Valentine's Day.



Copyright Susie Jefferson













Here's how I did it:

BACKGROUND:

• Lady stamped onto dark cream card in permanent black ink, with more black ink rubbed round the edges of the card to distress it.
• Lady coloured in with pencils, then lilac chalk pastels rubbed over with a cottonwool bud.
• This was mounted to vintage sheet music with gold photo corners, layered onto plain black card.
• This was mounted to a folded black card with pop dots, to give dimension, and the background was achieved by randomly stamping with Brilliance ink in Galaxy Gold and Platinum Planet, using Blade Rubber Stamps violin image.
• The finishing touch was a bouquet of 3 paper roses tied together with black organza ribbon, adhered with silicon glue.

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 14

Well, I hang my head in shame - I didn't get yesterday's Countdown posted, so you get No 14 and No 15 today. Sometimes life just gets in the way (husbands!)

This is something a little different - a wall hanging! The piece is mounted on foamcore board, which is light yet strong.


By Freyja Lee














Freyja says:

Chalk ink glides over the surface of foam core board with ease leaving bright, clear colour.

This technique is great for wall hangings or plaques to add to cards or gift boxes. Needle workers and beaders can have fun with decorating their work.

• First stamp an image in light - Alabaster ink - and dry.
  
• Sponge over with one or two colours and watch the light image ‘pop’ through.
  
• Decorate the edges with braid, paint, beads etc to make wall hangings, box tops, plaques, picture frames or add to cards for extra dimension.

Stamps used:
Paper Bag Studios ‘Daisy Trio’ 050D and Rubber Stampede ‘Gerbera’ 2867H

NOTE: Use Stickles glue in the centre of the flowers for extra "pop". Bead danglies etc always look best if odd numbers are used. If you used larger beads and a set of 5 is too much for your project, try using just 3 - maybe with a longer dangly for the middle one.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

As a little change from all things Valentine, here's the most wonderful little video I found on the web, for all you book lovers.


This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

And if you loved this, you will also love Su Blackwell, who is an altered book artist I very much admire.

Don't worry though - I'll be posting another Valentine item later today.

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 13

Today, it's a nice simple one. Don't you love the message? Says it all.

Card by Freyja Lee










Quick and easy, you should be able to make this one in a trice!

Freyja says:

• A small leaf and any word or greetings stamp.
• A quick and easy design that looks good with any colours and centre panel.
• Randomly stamp the cosmos and leaves onto white card.
• Using the ‘Netting’ or ‘Scales’ plate from Fiskars Embossing set no2 and a texture tool emboss the stamped card.
• Cut and embellish as shown adding a centre panel with words or a greeting.

TIP: the embossing plates can be run through most embossing machines for even quicker results.

INKS USED:

Versamagic chalk inks in Aegean Blue, Sierra Vista, Spanish Olive, Niagara Mist

NOTE: Notice the nice little details - flower-shaped brads, echoing the colours of the stamped flowers, and the two long trails of ribbon topped with a bow.
If you don't have a texture plate, why not buy textured white card? Cream card would also work well.

MORE BOXES

I adore pretty boxes - I admit it, it's an addiction.


All samples copyright Susie Jefferson



I can't help decorating cigar boxes for storage, and I love making little boxes for presents, with a pair of earrings or something similar inside.

Making your own box means you can choose the size, the shape, the style... perfect for items which aren't an average size.

Here's a tutorial I wrote, with full directions and step by step pix.

This might be just what you need to package that awkward little giftie!

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 12

Box by Freyja Lee












Q: What makes a gift really special?
A: The box it comes in!

Even if the gift isn't all that wonderful - throw it out and keep that box!

This time, Freyja has created a lovely box with a tile-effect background.

Closeup image




I bet you think they are made from embossed copper or something similar. Wrong! These are done with CHALKS!



Freyja says:

Chalk inks are perfect for these lovely Romanesque tiles.

Intaglio tiles:

• Shrink plastic, roughly cut into tiles, coloured with chalk inks and shrunk.
• Texture stamp pressed into tiles before cooling.

Box:

• The main box was first painted with beige acrylic paint and sponged with mixed Brilliance metallic inks and lightly stamped with Roman images.
• The head was stamped on shrink plastic and coloured as the tiles.
• A flat base added to the box gives a more solid appearance and better balance.
• The embellishment is Fimo with a metal button impression, plus tiny tags and threads.

Isn't this fabulous! Wouldn't you keep this box FOREVER with old love letters and mementos inside? I know I would!

STAMPS USED:

Main image from the Non Sequitur Memories of Italy plate 49C
Background stamps from the Non Sequitur Greco-Roman collage plate 50C

INKS USED:

Versamagic fluid chalk inks in Niagara Mist, Sahara Sand, Oasis Green, Aegean Blue

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 11

Another great card by Freyja using the monoprint technique.




Copyright Freyja Lee






This uses Blade Rubber stamp No 0045 for the main image.

Freyja says:

• This card uses the dye ink method; one pale green and one yellow background.
• Stamp the figures and quotation with Ancient Page ink in Pine Green.
• Layer as shown.

Freyja has written a complete article on monoprinting, which you'll find on the Blade Rubber website. This gives a much more detailed overview than the brief description in our No 10 Countdown (below).

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 10

My word, we've reached double figures with this Countdown!








Card copyright Freyja Lee








To celebrate, Freyja has come up with something a little different - a monoprint background for this truly romantic card. No message or greeting, no embellishments: the image and the background say it all. Very classy.

Freyja says:

• Stamps: Any suitable "head" and frame - there are lots to suit all tastes and preferences
• This card uses the ink palette technique* using Ancient Page grey and black inks.
• Use well-inked pads (don't forget to buy re-inkers) and open and close the acetate pieces several times to produce the fossil effect before inserting the two card pieces.
• Sponge a small piece of card with pinks for the central panel and over-stamp with black ink.
• Stamp a circle on the fossil background, cutting out the centre - or attach a separately stamped frame (as shown) over a cut-out circle.
• Attach the stamped image under the frame and mount as shown.
• TIP: Be creative and design your own creation: use printed or stamped die-cut frames if you have them - there are no rules!

* Ink palette technique

• Take a plastic folder and slit at side and bottom edges so that it can be opened out flat.
• Pat/smear ink pads onto the surface (make it a heavy application of ink).
• Close the plastic folder and smooth with your hand to spread the ink.
• Open and close the folder several times.
• Open the folder and insert two pieces of glossy card back to back, with the glossy sides facing outwards.
• The card should be positioned over the inky surface.
• Close the plastic folder and smooth with your hand.
• Open the folder and take out two pieces of cardstock, each with a random ink patterned all over.

Q: Why Ancient Page ink?

A: Because it's permanent, dries almost immediately on glossy card, and because colours will layer yet still show clearly as it's semi-transparent. This is the best ink for this particular technique.

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 9

An alternative Valentine's Day Fold-out Card






Card sample by Susie Jefferson






As a change from hearts, I thought you might like to see butterflies - in China, these are a symbol of hope and love. This might be why I was influenced to use black cardstock and simple gold embossing - a very Oriental feel.

This is another foldout card, with the large butterfly stamped and embossed on the card first, then I scored a line from the top down to the image, and from under the image down to the bottom of the card (in other words, I stamped first then scored the fold line, missing the image entirely).

I then scored the second line on the card, leaving plenty of space to the right of the wing, allowing this portion to be folded under. I cut around the wing tip, starting and finishing on the original fold line, releasing the wing so it stands free when the card is closed.

Of course, a heart or flower or sentiment would work beautifully too.













Once I did the cutting - I'd recommend decoupage scissors or a craft knife and cutting mat, I then went ahead and randomly stamped the other butterfly images, again embossing in gold.

Working this way, if you made a mistake and had to toss the card, at least you haven't wasted a ton of work.

And for those of you who like the vintage, distressed look, you might like to see my post on my personal blog showing a digital Valentine adapted from a journal page.

VALENTINE ATC

Here's one from me: a Valentine's Day ATC.







Card copyright Susie Jefferson



This is an easy one to do in a hurry:

• Stamp the image onto white card, using permanent black ink (I used Staz-On and the PaperArtsy Wings Plate 4)
  
• Tear round the edges and scuff with a Distress inkpad in Faded Jeans and blend with a barely damp paintbrush.
• Pick up some of the Faded Jeans ink on a cottonwool bud tip and roughly blend on the wings and drapery. Fade out with a damp paintbrush, as before.
• Tear a small strip of lilac handmade paper and layer onto a charcoal card ATC (cut to size at strictly 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches).
• Layer the image on top and fix with pearlised blue eyelets.
• Stick an epoxy letter or similar image at the top (a heart would be good too).
• Stamp "ATC" in Staz-on using PaperArtsy Words .
• Add Stickles glitter on wings, drapes and "ATC" for emphasis (from PaperArtsy Words Plate 2).

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 8

Another trio from Freyja!













Card samples by Freyja Lee

Freyja says:

• Cut or punch your own hearts.

• Add embossed scrolls and punched small hearts, or any suitable embellishment.
• Keep the colours simple and dramatic.

NOTE: Did you notice Freyja used the same punch for the little embossed hearts in the top and bottom cards? Different embossing: totally different effect!

REPRISE - VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 2

RE Freyja's lovely fan-fold card:
You saw this on her Valentine's Day Countdown No 2














Card sample copyright Freyja Lee

Bonnie of The Craftiblog (USA) was inpsired to create her own card, and has created a tutorial she has worked out from seeing this card - it's great to compare the two!

If anyone has created something they'd like to share as well, don't be shy to email me.

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 7

Two more glorious cards by Freyja.

Two variations of the same design, just to give you some ideas on how to get more out of your stamps!


Card samples by Freyja Lee

Freyja says:

Same stamp, same basic design using a double-fold card, stamped fronts scored and folded inwards for a pop-out effect.

• Decorate as you like: one with punched hearts and one with out-out stamped roses.
• A panel with greeting, poem or message can be put inside.
• Embellish simly: peel-off accents are easy and effective - for a truly romantic card.
• This design is also ver good for wedding and engagement cards.

More tomorrow!

VALENTINE'S DAY COUNTDOWN No 6

Another three cards from Freyja!

These are simple and very elegant.



Card samples copyright Freyja Lee








Freyja says:

Hearts and roses are Valentine favourites.
Dimension word stickers add a romantic touch.

















Just a small rose stamp can be tiled, using alternating ink and card colours. Mount attractively, adding a heart for accent.







Add a heart and piece of sheet fabric mount to a delicate heart stamp.

Mount to a double-fold aperture card.