Christmas card using Loads of Love

YAY! It's Friday! And I'm doubly happy today because I get my youngest son back! He's been away on a school field trip and I have been missing him. Of course he will have had no sleep whatsoever due to extreme excitement, and will be very grumpy when he gets home, so I may have to wait until tomorrow for the full report on his trip!

The weather here has returned to winter mode today, so I'm showing you another Christmas card I made using Loads of Love which will retire in less than a week! The set been reduced by an amazing 50% so it's now only £9.48, and you can also get the accessories set half price at £7.98. There are many other bargains to be had so do click here to have a look at the updated Last Chance List. If you'd like to make an order, or have any questions, I'm always happy to help - just drop me an email here. (Don't forget that I'll send you a new Idea Book and Catalogue when you spend over £30 with me during September!)

Here's the card:

And here's how to make it:

• Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 10.5cm wide x 7cm high.
• Tear a piece of scrap paper and use as a mask for the snow. Sponge the rest of the card stock with Bashful Blue ink (adding just a touch of Creamy Caramel ink near the horizon if you like.)
• Take the mask away and stamp the trees in Always Artichoke. Stamp some of the trees off to vary the colour. Cut the panel into three pieces 3.5cm wide x 7cm high.
• Cut a piece of Bashful Blue card stock 12.5cm x 8cm. Tie a piece of Real Red gingham ribbon around it and finish with a bow. Tuck one of the three panels under the bow and secure with glue. Add the other two panels over the top of the ribbon.
• Mount the resulting single panel onto a 13cm x 8.5cm piece of Always Artichoke card stock and then onto a Whisper White card blank. 
• Stamp the sentiment onto a spare piece of Whisper White card stock and cut out with an oval punch. Sponge the edges with Bashful Blue ink for extra definition and fix to the card front.
• Dot snowflakes onto the trees using the thin end of a versamark pen. Sprinkle with Heat and Stick powder and heat until tacky. Sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds glitter and heat again briefly to set.

Supplies
Stamps: Loads of Love
Ink: Always Artichoke, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel (optional)
Card stock: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue
Other: Real Red gingham ribbon, versamark pen, Heat and Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

While we're here talking about Loads of Love, I thought I'd quickly show you another card I made using the tree from this set and the presents stamp from the accessories set.

I should think anyone would be excited to see that great pile of prezzies under the tree! The sentiment has been added with tags - the Tiny Tags stamp set and punch are really useful for this kind of thing.

Hope you've enjoyed browsing here today and I hope to see you again soon.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Loads of Love Christmas card

I know, I know! You think it's way too early to be thinking about Christmas - but I promise it's not! It's fun to make Christmas cards at any time but - trust me - it's especially fun when you're not under pressure!

I'm showing you a card today using the Loads of Love stamp set, which is being retired this month. By the way, if you haven't already seen the Last Chance List, do take a look as there are some fabulous sets on it as well as inks, card stock and accessories - some at a big discount. I'm happy to help you with your orders - just give me a call on 01280 820 593 or click here to send me an email.

I really enjoyed making this card and what do you think my favourite part was? Yes - the glitter! Used sparingly, I think it can really add the wow factor to a card and when you use Heat and Stick powder with the dazzling diamonds it doesn't come off either - so the people receiving the card don't get a shower of irritating bits when they open the envelope!

Here's how to make this card:

• Stamp the truck in Real Red on a spare piece of Whisper White card stock and colour it in (I used a blender pen and inks, a black marker and a white gel pen for highlights.) Cut the truck out with paper snips and set aside.
• Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 8.5cm x 11cm.
• Use a piece of torn scrap paper to mask of some 'snow' and sponge a sky with Bashful Blue ink.
• Stamp trees using your cut-out truck to help with positioning.
• Stamp a sentiment in the bottom right-hand corner using a stamp-a-majig for placement.
• Adhere the truck to the scene with Tombow.
• Snip the ends of an 18cm length of ribbon into points and stick to the back of the panel using snail, leaving a couple of cm out one side. Fold the other side to reveal the sentiment and secure with snail. Decorate ribbon with a button threaded with linen thread tied in a bow.
• Mount the panel onto a 9cm x 11.5cm piece of Real Red card stock then adhere to a Whisper White card blank.
• Add 'snowflakes' with the thin end of a versamark pen. Add Heat and Stick powder and heat until sticky, then add Dazzling Diamonds glitter and heat again briefly until set.

Supplies
Stamps: Loads of Love
Ink: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, Basic Grey
Card stock: Whisper White, Real Red
Other: Old Olive satin ribbon, red button from Playground designer buttons selection, linen thread, White gel pen, Basic Black marker, Heat and Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

If you like the Christmas cards you've seen on my blog, why not come to my Christmas card classes? The first will take place in Buckingham on Thursday 23rd September, 9.30 am - 12.30 pm. I can promise you a very warm welcome, a relaxed, non-rushed atmosphere and three fabulous, brand new designs to make. The cost is £10 for the morning and I will provide everything you need - just bring yourselves! You will need to book your place so give me a call on 01280 820593 or click here to email me.

Here in Buckingham today, it's looking quite autumnal and it's not difficult to picture the nights drawing in. I do love the autumn - woollies, boots, rosy cheeks and shiny eyes, playing dragons in the chilly mornings (yes still!), cups of steaming hot chocolate, crafting and a new Stampin' Up catalogue... Bring it on!

What shall we do tomorrow? I have another Loads of Love Christmas card to show you but I might give you a rest from christmas! Let's see what the weather's like shall we?!
Thanks for popping in today.
Hope to see you tomorrow.

Loads of Love birthday card

Today I've used another set that you can buy for 20% of its original price this month - Loads of Love. This is a useful set for Christmas and all sorts of other occasions, with a gorgeous old fashioned pick up truck plus hearts and flowers and a tree to put in it. An accessory set is also available so you can put even more items in the truck!

I've used an image from the accessory set today - some cute dogs! Take a look at the birthday card I came up with:

The background was made by sponging a piece of Whisper White card stock with Tempting Turquoise ink to make a sky, then masking the sky off and sponging a road with Basic Grey ink. The truck was stamped onto the background, coloured using ink and a blender pen and tyres added with a Basic Black marker. I used a white gel pen to highlight the truck and add road markings, and brought out my Sandy Speckles wheel to add detail. The wheel was also used to edge the Whisper White card base. I mounted the focal panel onto So Saffron card stock, adding a tab of striped grosgrain ribbon before attaching it to the card base. The sentiment should read 'driving by with a birthday hi!' but by colouring only a part of the stamp with a marker I was able to stamp only the first part and wrote the 'woof!' in by hand.

Here's a close-up of the canine driver and passengers! I stamped the dogs in Chocolate Chip on a scrap of Whisper White card stock, coloured them in and cut the image out. When adhered to the truck it looks as if they're hanging out over the side. For the driver I coloured one dog on the stamp with a marker and stamped it onto my Stamp-a-majig imaging sheet. When the sheet is pressed onto the card the image comes out as a mirror image - clever huh?!

Supplies
Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Grey, Brilliant Blue
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Sandy Speckles wheel, striped grosgrain ribbon, markers, blender pen, white gel pen

My eldest son inspired this doggy card. Whenever we go for walks together he likes to look at all the dogs and make comments about them. I suppose it won't be long before he'll be looking at all the young ladies instead - although certainly not pointing them out to his old mother!

Have a great weekend!
See you soon.