INKY FINGERS

While getting out my Christmas stamps (ooh-er – scary!!!) I noticed that I have a couple of these Simple Expression plates left, so I thought I’d do a seasonal giveaway :)

it will include the A5 unmounted Simple Expressions plate below, a fab Bradletz pack in Carnival colours (perfect for Christmas and LOTS of brads) and 12 Colorbox Pigment ink Cat’s eyes in the following colours:- Marigold, Chianti, Burnt Copper, Copper, Cocoa, Frost White, Cream White, Dusty Plum, Roussillon, Chestnut, Violet and Midnight. These are, of course all brand new. If you haven’t used pigment ink much, you really should – it’s such a treat because it blends so easily, you can emboss it easily AND – unlike water based dye inks - it’s permanent! PLUS, you’ll also get another surprise gift… a nice one :)

If you’d like the chance to win, just post a comment here on the blog . If you’re a follower, please remind me of it in your comment and you’ll get two entries, instead of one. You can leave comments until the end of November.

IDEA FOR USING ONE OF THE STAMPS

I haven’t had any time to stamp for a while (boohoo!!) so this isn’t a new card but since this image is part of the Blog Candy I thought I’d post instructions for making it. This was pre Cuttlebug folders and I can’t help but imagine how much nicer that plain background would be if it was embossed with the dotty folder….

Card upright

Card flat.

These really and truly ARE the same card - one scanned and one photographed - just goes to show how much difference a bit of light makes - the photo was taken in lots of light!

Before we start, you’ll need two squares (or rectangles) of coloured card to attach the images to, but they must both be exactly the same size. You’ll also need two pieces of card for the image – again, both exactly the same size. If If you’re going to add layers, as I did (it makes the card a little more robust) then you’ll also need two pieces of card which fit inside one side of the card, leaving a border all the way round AND two pieces half their width for behind the image and the inside greeting.

1 Take the two equal sized pieces of white card and stamp the snowman (or any image) as centrally as you can on both pieces. Colour with pens or your favourite colouring method. Don’t forget to add a fine line of pale blue/grey all around the inside of the snowman. It’s barely visible, but it really does make the image ‘pop’ and gives the illusion of snow. Attach one of the images to a square of coloured card.

3 Trim closely around the other image, leaving a fine white border all around. Attach this to the other square of coloured card, positioning carefully until it is in exactly the same position as the other image. Find the centre of the coloured card (top and bottom) and mark with a pencil, then cut around the right hand edges of the front image, leaving the left hand side intact and a fine edge of coloured card visible around the image.

4 This one’s only for the snowman, but if you’re using him or one like him, add Stickles to the hat brim and the bobble, then Glossy Accents to the coal nose and button and set aside to dry.

5 If you’re lucky enough to have a Scor-it, the next bit is really easy – just find the centre of the front of the folded card, score and fold back to the front side edge. If you don’t have a Scor-it, it’s still pretty easy :)

6 If you’re using them, centre one of the larger squares of white card on the inside of the coloured card and attach a white rectangle to the folded back part of the card which can be seen from the front.

8 When you open the card up, there’s now only half a front on the left hand side; stamp the greeting on another white rectangle and attach to this bit.

9 When dry, attach the first image on green card to the centre of the inside of the card. Folding the card, carefully line up the green card behind the cut out image with the one you just attached to the inside, then attach to the folded back front of the card. The image on the front of the card should cover the one on the inside if you do this right. When the card is open, you can see a bit of both images (see above) but it looks like one of those fab 3D cards.

These instructions make it sound really complicated but it isn’t – it’s easy peasy and one of those design ideas you’ll use over and over again once you’ve tried it because it looks as if you’ve spent ages on it, when you really, really haven’t. If anyone needs card measurements, I’ll be happy to provide them to make that first attempt really easy!

The card above was made by my good friend, Lynne – she stamped the snowmen on white Shrink plastic, coloured and heated to shrink. The central image is actually a ‘pin’ or brooch, so it’s a card AND a small gift!