Festive Octopus!

 Hello, hello! Welcome back! It's Laurie with you today to share with you my last Christmas card of 2020! This features a bit of an underwater theme with a very festive octopus :). And yes, I added a winter hat (see previous blog post, haha!)

I really felt the need to do some ink blending today. Also, I've had the Underwater Love Stamp Set forever, and have never used the octopus image. 

I started by using one of the Scalloped Rectangle Dies to trim a piece of white cardstock. I could have just used my trimmer but I really wanted that pretty scalloped edge. I first cut the top section then moved the die to cut the bottom. BUT...it would have been easier to just cut the entire piece and trim off the edges. Live and learn!

Next, I masked off that small portion on the front of a white card base and used Broken China, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot Distress Oxide Inks to create the "sea". I did add some white splatter but should have waited for the Oxides to dry. So my white splatters turned a wee bit blue.

I started by stamping the winter hat from the Made of Snow Stamp Set, created a mask for it, then stamped the octopus. I also added some of the ornaments from the same set around the tentacles, leaving a small space to draw a string.

I coloured and fussy cut all around this little guy. Yes, it took a bit of time but well worth it!  Before putting the card together, I white heat embossed a sentiment from the Tiny Sentiments set directly onto the ink blended portion.

I used foam tape to adhere the two scalloped panels and a combination of foam and liquid glue for the octopus. And no card is complete without a bit of sparkle pen and Glossy Accents!! 

I know fussy cutting can be well, fussy. The best tip I can give for this is...go slow. Take your time. And you don't have to cut all the inner bits like I have but if you do, use a nice, sharp craft knife!

Made of Snow

Underwater Love

Small Sentiments

Scalloped Rectangles

You can get SO MANY different looks and themes just by combining your stamp sets! It's one of my favourite things to do!

Thanks for stopping by! Wishing you a very, merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy 2021!!

Laurie

We dare you to create a smile : December Sketch

Hello everyone

as Christmas is approaching we want to share as much inspiration and ideas with you , so hopefully you will be able to create a lot of Christmas cards .

Also don't forget that by playing along with our challenge you get the chance to win a 25€ gift card to Create a smile store and the chance to be guest designer for our next challenge 

Our guest designer Yvonne made this adorable card using Kugeln am Baum stamp set , Flauschige Weihnachten stamp set  . Thank you for guest designing for our challenge ! Make sure to check Yvonne's social media and leave her some love .

Let's see how our team was inspired by the new challenge

Alexandra made this card using Cool cuts Scalloped Rectangles , Favorite cookie stamp set , Cool cuts Winter Landscape , Oh du fröhliche (Adventskalender)

Anja made this wonderful card using Cool cuts Scalloped rectangles, Stencil Snow Dance  , Cool cuts Winter Landscape  , Kleine Weihnachtsgrüße stamp set Oh du fröhliche (Adventskalender)

Amandine created this cute card using From my nest stamp set

Debby made this adorable card using Cool buddies stamp set, Mouse au Chocolat stamp set

Ella  made this lovely card using Fröhliche Schreiertage stamp set

Fabiola made this cute card using First day of school stamp set, Festive foliage stamp set

Linda made this gorgeous card using Underwater love stamp set

Martina made this adorable card using Cool cuts Scalloped Rectangles Your Favorite Ice cream stamp set , Cart full of treasures stamp set , Oh Christmas tree stamp set

Melanie made this wonderful card using Mesmerizing Mandalas stamp set  , Keine Sorge stamp set , Cool cuts Useful Banners

Melissa made this adorable card using Santa Clumpsy stamp set  , Happy days stamp set , Cool cuts Useful Banners

Nathalie made this beautiful card using Festive foliage stamp set , Christmas surprise stamp set , Cool cuts Double stitched rectangles

Hope you are inspired to play along with us! Please make sure to check the rules before entering your photos to the challenge 

Thank you for stopping by! Until next time!

Alexandra

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Winners from November Mood board challenge

Hello everyone !

It's time again to pick our winners from our Mood board challenge ! Thank you everyone who played along with the November challenge , we hope you enjoyed the mood board as much as we did :)

Also wanted to let you know that by playing along with our challenge you get the chance to win a 25€ gift certificate to Create a smile store and to be guest designer for our next challenge!

The winner of a 25€ gift card is  Lena with this beautiful tags using Oh du Fröhliche stamp set ( Adventskalendar ) Oh Tannenbaum stamp set

Congrats  please send an email to challengeteam@createasmilestamps.com to claim your prize ! Is so well deserved !

Our featured artist from the mood board challenge is Anke with this gorgeous cards using Oh Tannenbaum stamp set, Schöne Bescherung stamp set

Congrats !! You can take the badge and display it on your blog is so well deserved ! if you would like to guest design for our next challenge please send an email to challengeteam@createasmilestamps.com so i can let you know the details.

 Make sure to check the blog for the new challenge and I hope you are inspired to play along with us. 

Until next time have a great day!

Alexandra

Happy holidays....!!

  HAPPY HOLIDAYS....

Hey everyone...

It's Ashlee here today, I hope you are all getting some crafty time in to create those cards ready for the Christmas season!!

I have a card to share with you that I think could easily be used for the Christmas season or for someone going on a holiday....

I thought it would be fun to try and make a card that could be used for multiple occasions so I went with colours that worked for Christmas but could also be used for someone just going away for a holiday.

- Start with a white cardstock base and mask off the bottom half with post it tape

- Ink blend using Distress oxide inks Twisted Citron and Lucky Clover

- Remove the post it tape

- At the lower piece of the inked background add a couple strips of double sided adhesive and then cover in pretty foil

- Add the Happy holidays sentiment at the top with Jet black Archival ink

- Stanp and colour the images from the where your heart is stamp set 

- Finish off with some pretty sequins

Post it tape is super handy for masking off pieces to create blended backgrounds or to mask off images!!

Where your heart is 

Happy holidays 

There is always lots of exciting things to see and inspiration over at the Create a smile stamps facebook page so come on over and join the fun!!

Happy crafting everyone!!

Hugs Ashlee. 

Birthday Flowers

 Hey stampers, Anni here!

Between all the Christmas cards we are seeing on the internet right now I am sharing a birthday card.

I wanted to make a birthday card for a good crafty friend and I was in the mood for watercolouring. My favourite images for watercoöours are föowers. So I went for the Doodle Flowers set.

• I love no line colouring. With this technique you get a totally new look from your stamps.
• Stamp with a very light ink. This way you can not see the lines later.
• Contrast is the key word for no line coloring: Make the shadows really dark and keep some areas really light. Don't be shy - the contrats brings your colouring to life.
• I strt with watercolours but later I love to use coloured pencils for the shadows. With pencils I have way more control than a brush.

Join the Create a Smile Facebook group to get all the news and to see all beautiful projects.