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Monday 7 September 2009

...did somebody say Plaid?


ED - the leaves I saved from windfalls last year and, once they were dry, I coated them in PVA glue (modge podge type stuff) looks like they last pretty well this way.

It has to be said. I am rusty. I need to send a few days making more cards to get back on form. So I am kicking off with a few very simple cards.

The other thing that you may not know about me is that, while I pride myself on having the patience of a stone, when it comes to new stamps, it evaporates, patience of a flea. I can't help it. While this is not the official start of the next launch I HAD to use one of he new stamps from a set that I am going to release during the next launch. It was just sitting there looking at me, I was itching to play with it and then Cath Edvalson at moxiefabworld announced to the stamping community that Plaid is hot!

I love plaid. That's why I designed this stamp as part of a set of stamps for making backgrounds. The set is called Off Beat Backgrounds and will be available during my next release. I will set the date for this release later this week. It won't be long - I am practically popping at the seams to launch the new webstore and sets!!!

So - I've been good - I've only used one stamp from the set on these cards. It is a very nifty little, well, big long, stamp that lets you make stripes and plaid that actually looks like the real fabric article!!! Using this one stamp you can make lots of different versions of plaid.

You can make plaid in one colour or multi colour!! it's up to you.


Do you like the holly leaves in this christmas card? - I made a tone on tone plaid using Versamark and Ripe Avocado cardstock, and then I cut out holly leaf shapes. The border down the left hand side of the card is one impression of the stamp, stamped in versamark. You can see the two components of the stamp the thick and thin borders here, in the photo below - they are inked in two different colours.




For this wee birthday card I made a two colour plaid for a patterned background panel. I also stamped the plaid strip using versamark on the blue cardstock to add detail to the background.


With the plaid strip it's a cinch to make interesting stripe combinations - I love dark blue and plum together as in the pic above. The stamp is a combination of a thick border made up of a multitude of tiny diagonal lines, a gap and then a thin border made up of the same little diagonal lines. This gap allows you to do two main things - ink up each border individually to produce a two colour impression. And, stamp an impression 'within' another impression - like the plum and navy above.

I love the way it gives the impression of that old ticking cotton fabric used for lining quilts and mattresses in years gone by. Check out the stripes on the thank you card at the top of this post.

I found that by using small, separate diagonal lines it allowed the stamp to make a 'true' plaid when I stamped the colours over one another.

In the photo below you can see how the green bars become a darker tone of green where they cross over each other. This is exactly what happens in a piece of woven plaid - I was so excited by the way this worked that I may well spend the rest of the week stamping plaid!! lol.


Even if you only ink up the stamp in one colour it is easy to get at least two styles of plaid. In the green photo below I stamped the plaid border in the same direction thick/thin, thick/thin, thick/thin, right across the card. And then in the same way, down the page, across the original impressions.


On this orange sample I stamped the plaid border thick/thin and then turned it around and stamped thin/thick. I repeated this across the page so that I had stripes as follows - thick, thick, thin, thin, and so on. I repeated the same pattern down the page to get a different plaid.

Just think of all of the combinations you will be able to get using two or more colours!! EEK!




So Hope this tickles!!


Stuff:
All other stamps - Waltzingmouse Stamps - Merry Christmas and Thank You from Say it with Style and Happy Birthday, embossed in white from Earth Angel

Flower from Prima coloured with copic orange, no idea what shade, email if you have to know! lol.
Oak leaves - preserved from last years windfall by drying out and then coating in pva glue. Modge podge does the same thing.

Die thingy - Ace wee cookie cutter nesting labes die I saw on Julie Tilman's blog and had to have. Quickcutz.

Inks - Enchanted evening and scarlet Jewel - PTI, Antique linen, Ranger distress ink. Versamark - Tsukineko
Plum, green and turquise - all versacolour chalk inks - dew drops I think.
Cardstock from Papermillshop and Papertreyink

33 comments:

  1. Wow--these are beautiful. My favorite is the first one. How did you make those leaves?

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  2. Claire, that is one awesome stamp set! I have seen some great things out there with your stamps. Glad you are having such great success. This one might just have to be mine. I will look forward to the release.

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  3. I MUST have those plaid stamps. Please let me know the minute you have them for sale!!

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  4. Unbelievable -- I don't even normally care that much about plaid, and your creations have me oohing and aahing, thinking that I'd really enjoy working with these goodies! Your work is just lovely, and your samples are so inspiring. You put so much heart into these sets, and it jumps right off the screen. Thank you.

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  5. Claire - my goodness this is awesome!! I adore how you made the lines not solid but more like a ticking - truly genius!!! Great great job! :)

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  6. You are just trying to kill me!! Now I TOTALLY understand how the European Papertreyink fans feel!! I have to just bite the bullet and pay the shipping:(

    those plaid stamps are fabulous!

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  7. ACK! I was really, honestly thinking today that there should be a stripe building set where the impressions can be in between each other. And here they are! I love the fabric feel of these stamps. You've made magic again!

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  8. So fantastic Claire! Your cards are just beautiful - I *love* plaid and cannot wait to see more!

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  9. Oh, Claire! I've been admiring your stamp sets from afar, but now you may be pushing me over the edge to make a purchase -- or two, or three, or... The plaid is fabulous. Wonderful concept!

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  10. Tickles! Its brilliant Claire! I LOVE the way the stamps make card look like fabric. It will look gorgeous on "rustic" cardstock - can't wait to try it.

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  11. Absolutely fabulous!! Honestly I want to be that rusty!!

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  12. Love this plaid bg. Can't wait to see more! You are a very clever lady.

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  13. I am sure this set is going to be mine :D I love making my own backgrounds instead of using patterned paper. I can't wait to see the whole set!

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  14. Great stamp Clair. Really impressed by the way you can almost feel the texture, all because of small diagonal lines. The possibilities are endless. No wonder you're excited. I see another sell out.

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  15. Man, that ROCKS. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your sneak peeks !!!

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  16. I just love this one , i can't even begin to think of all the possibility's this set will offer.

    I hope that the release will be soon.

    Hugs Yvon.

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  17. I love these stamps! The fabric look is perfect. It will be so much fun to make plaid and stripe backgrounds! Your cards are great as always Claire!!

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  18. Oh I love your plaid stamp, what a fantastic idea, the endless possibilities, can't wait to see the new set.

    Jan x

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  19. These are fantastic! I love plaid! You are such a clever cookie. I hope your Christmas set is back in stock with the new release. Can't wait to see more.

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  20. So happy to see cards here today Claire!!! I've been waiting patiently!!! love these stamps that magically make plaid - your samples are wonderful!!

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  21. Awesome! I want the it now! Please order tons, I can see this is going to be extremely popular!

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  22. Love the fun ticking of the lines. Very cool! Love all the cards you created too! Are we gonna get sneak peeks of the other sets soon? :D

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  23. Love the plaid, Claire!! You are on my "watch" list now for new stamps ~ my first order came today and they are beautiful!! Congratulations on your success and I can't wait to see more releases ;)

    Nancy
    (shady tree studio)

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  24. Oh Claire, I love love love plaid. What beautiful cards. Alice R.

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  25. I love this so so much! I've been making lots of plaidish backgrounds lately, but I LOVE the texture on your new set!! Can't wait!

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  26. Claire, I absolutely love your plaid! What a wonderful design--you are amazing! I love background stamps and can't wait to see the whole set! You are coming up the best creations...

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  27. Claire!! I think this is the BEST plaid set I've ever seen (okay, so I haven't seen the set yet....so maybe the best set I've seen peaked & demo'd with!!)!!!! Love the texture (little lines) of the plaid making for some realistic looking paper fabric! Can't wait to see more!

    Oh yea................thanks for such a great tip for really capturing fall in our crafting! Now I get to save leaves too.....AND use them! :>

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  28. These are so clever Claire! I love the material look, amazing! Donna x

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  29. I just got up from when I fainted on the floor...this set is just IT for me!

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  30. giggling with joy !! I love plaid! Something about it is so homey and cozy. FAB creations too! keep up the great work. I'm already saving my pennies for the next release :)

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Thanks for taking the time to comment, :) I read them all and I appreciate you taking time to visit!