#SimpleStamping Saturday – Delivering Cheer. I have a real gem of a set of cards for you this morning. I am sure we all have those times when your card design just ‘works’, and this is one of those for me. As ever, I have taken one basic design to come up with a set of cards that start with #SimpleStamping and progress through a couple of stepped up versions. This time is slightly different because there are 2 colour options to show just how versatile this stamps set can be. Oh, and it’s a SNEEK PEAK!

#SimpleStamping Version

My first version uses colours that can turn this into a non-Christmas card. A pile of presents is perfect for any type of celebration and I see this as more of a Birthday Card. I used the first set of Watercolour Pencils, picking out the brightest colours I could, simply laying down more or less  pigment depending on just how bright I wanted each colour. Doing this extends the range of colours you have available to you. For the skin tone I used a light amount of Calypso Coral to achieve Caucasian skin tone.

For the sample I made on camera, I switched to the second set of watercolour pencils to make a card that has more of a traditional Christmas feeling to it. I picked out Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and Balmy Blue for the main colours, but switched to Cajun Craze for the skin tone to achieve an Asian or Afro-Caribbean skin tone.

For both versions I used a Blender Pen to help move the colour and add more subtle shading. You get 3 in a pack and they last ‘for ever’, although, clearly not literally as during my Video I had to swap pens, only to discover that I don’t have any new ones in stock! Typical me!!

Stepped Up Version #1

My first stepped up version uses the same colours I used for my Birthday Card, but this time I used Stampin’ Blends for the colours and then fussy cut the image out. I ran the Light Smokey Slate pen around the edge of the image, which makes it ‘pop’; such a small addition, but what a difference. I mounted the image, using Dimensionals, to a piece of Daffodil Delight Designer Series Paper, which was on top of a piece of Melon Mambo Designer Series Paper. A few Elegant Faceted Gems and the card is finished.

Stepped Up Version #2

For my most stepped up version I used the colours of the Christmas version of the card, although I substituted Shaded Spruce for the Garden Green of the Watercolour Pencil version. Having coloured the image and fussy cut it out, I then added some Clear Wink of Stella to the skirt and Balmy Blue. This simple touch turns the card into an even more special project. A piece of Expressions in Ink Specialty Designer Series Paper (due back in stock very soon) and an embossed layer of Gold Shimmer Vellum (using one of the Wintry 3D Embossing folders), really help to add the Christmas feel, the Cherry Cobbler and Gold Ribbon and Evening Evergreen InColor Gems cement that feeling.

Top Tip

I have a ‘thing’ about images not being ‘grounded’, especially when they are figures, like this one. Stampin’ Up! have me covered with this set. They have included a small ‘squiggle’ stamp, which is perfect to use as a shadow around the feet. Simply adding this either side of the feet provides the ‘grounding’ I am looking for. On the first stepped up version I added this to the Designer Series Paper, but for the second stepped up version I used the Cherry Cobbler and Gold ribbon to provide the ‘grounding’. In either case, these simple steps help to make your project more ‘finished’.

Ordering Special!

I have an ordering special for qualifying orders placed between 1st and 31st July that use the following Host Code:

33XYRHNW

Orders of AT LEAST £50 (before P&P) will receive a pack of Genial Gems, as a gift from me AND will be entered into a Draw to win a Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine! This is in ADDITION to my usual Thank You Card, Gift and Reward Vouchers. EVERYONE using the Host Code (or placing an order of £150 or more) will receive the July Customer Card Kit. Please note that there is only one Gift Pack per customer per month.

Video Tutorial Time!

Please remember that this list includes ALL the items (other than those not available until 3rd August) used on ALL of the projects.

Product List

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