Since I started the stamp company, creating time is stretched and just gets thinner as time goes on. That's the one drawback. I find I'm in stamp drawing mode and then I want to make a few cards and the mojo needs warming up a bit! lol
Anyhow, something I want to start doing for myself is to make a 5 min card every day!!
Admittedly this took more than 5 mins, maybe got as far as 15 but it was quick for me, I usually take eons to produce a card. I can spend a whole evening making one card...lol
So I'm challenging myself to produce something fast every day! this'll be interesting...you may or may not get to see! lol!
I used one of the dotty frames from Vintage Labels No.4 to make the panel. I trimmed it with the co-ordintaing Spellbinders die. I stamped my sentiment in the blank space and then stamped a flourish from Seasons of love Tags over the top - I inked up my stamp in pure poppy, then cleaned it off! then inked it in versamark and stamped to get this lovely muted, distressed flourish image, in a very pale shade of the red, love that wee trick!
Holly leaves and heat berry from the Sewing Box Christmas set, I stamped the holly berries on the cosmo cricket paper and cut out the inside image, discarding the outside line, I love how the Sewing box images can be used in this way. Little bit of glossy accents on the berry.
Used a cuttle bug embossing border twice on the background panel, not crazy about the resulting crease that the edge of the embossing folder leaves but it was too late to try to come up with a solution...another time...
Anyhow I leave you with a couple of pics of the forest park we visited yesterday. It's a fab time of year to go for a walk, so long as you have wellies! - It's Glenariff Forest Park in Antrim.
Had to take the opportunity to have dinner at the restaurant at the foot of the hills, you can watch the waterfalls while dining! I think it's my favourite spot in NI!!
Hope it tickles!
Lovely card Claire! I think the line you spoke of adds a little something to the card so I wouldn't give it a thought! The colors are so rich and cozy. Your photos are gorgeous too! Hope you had a great day!
ReplyDeleteHi Claire
ReplyDeleteJust love your card so beautifull!
Holly .
Love this card Claire, I have the same problem with my cuttlebug too, glad it's not just me!! I love the Sewing Bpx Christmas set, it's so cute. Pauline xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous card!! The crease from the embossing folders drives me nuts too.
ReplyDeleteI'm just loving your stamps and can't wait to get working with the *secret* set :)
This card is gorgeous Claire! I love all the flourishes! And those waterfalls are beautiful--sounds like a nice time!
ReplyDeleteLovely card. So simple yet beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love the paper pieced holly and the pretty heart 'berry' on this Claire! and the embossing just sets it all off so nicely! That must have been a wonderful restaurant with such a super view!! Good luck with your 5 minute card a day plan!! LOL!!! I bet you can do it!
ReplyDeleteDid not notice the crease til you mentioned it. But it probably looks like a big red herring IRL to you. I think it is a beautiful card. BTW, what is a "wellie"? I have the same inspiration as you, a card a day--it's work. finding the time, squeezing the time, getting off the computer looking at your creations time, to get in that mind space and work space and--DO IT! I like your 5 minute idea, even if it takes fifteen that's alot better than the half a day process.
ReplyDeleteWe must think alike, you and me. Gotta stop rambling, see ya tomorrow. Thanks for the pics.
I look at this card and I smell hot cocoa, whipped cream and cinnamon...
ReplyDeleteThe stamped label and the embossed flourish are absolutely elegant, and the leaves and heart... um... berry give a fresh and cozy touch!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Claire, this is a gorgeous card! I love the way you did the embossing. And thanks for the pictures of your lovely scenery.
ReplyDeleteLove the card! - I can take a whole evening to make a card while duplicating would be a 5-10 minute job. Sometimes too much choice is not a good thing.
ReplyDeleteGot to agree that Glenariff is beautiful and with all the rain lately the water would have been in full force. Great photos.
I love your simple card! The embossing certainly packs a punch. I also love it when you share your photos - it looks like you had a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteA lovely card as usual Claire. I didn't know about that trick with the Versamark. Thank you for sharing. As for the edge creases from those border folders. Get a piece of bass wood from a hobby store the same thickness as the cutting plate from whatever machine you are using to do your embossing. Cut strips from the bass wood the same sizes as your border folders and use those instead of a full cutting plate. Creased edges will be gone. If this is as clear as mud I can take some photos and post to my blog.
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty, Claire! I love the colors and simple design!
ReplyDeleteFabulous card, Claire! Love your color palette, and the embossing is the perfect touch. I think the Labels stamp sets are my very favorite, and it's perfect here paired with the sewing set.
ReplyDeleteI can attest to the fact that owning and running a business DEFINITELY gets in the way of stamping time. :(
Claire, try laying your tan embossing matt over your folders when sending it through your machine. I also made a shim of several layers of paper and set it right next to the cb folders so there was no edge...if that makes sense.Good luck..very lovely!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Claire (and lovely pic of Glenariff...makes me homesick...). As for the lines, I've made my own shims for all my skinny embossing folders - a strip of cardboard wider than the design, but narrower than the folder itself. When you put it through the CB using the shim, the only part that gets squished is the design. Hope that makes sense!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE LOVE LOVE this card!! Now I know that I MUST have your labels nestie sets as well as what is currently in my cart! Claire, you are such an enabler and I am loving every minute. It is always such a thrill to see a card on your blog! I tend to take oodles of time for one card and I think your challenge to yourself is something I will try also. I remember in college we would "warm up" with 20 second gesture drawings of the subject just to loosen up and get the mojo going, and then when everyone was loose we would start the two hour figure study!
ReplyDeleteBetsy Veldman of Papertrey Ink fame has a fabulous solution to avoid the lines at the edges of the skinny embossing folders. She adheres a piece of fun foam that is slightly smaller than the folder to one side with scor-tape, and uses a different sandwich because the folder is now thicker - A plate, a cardstock shim (3 sheets), folder with the cardstock inside, C plate. This results in pressure on the design and no pressure on the folder edges! She is a genius, and you can see the picture on her Q&A post here. The really brilliant thing is you do it one time per folder and then they are ready to use any time!
Another beautiful card Claire.
ReplyDeleteThe best "fix" I have found for those creases caused by embossing folders is to adhere a piece of craft foam (some come with adhesive already on one side) cut larger than the design but smaller than the size of the folder.
LOVE your gorgeous card.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are wonderful. I am SO happy I was finally able to get 3 set's of 'Wellies' for my kids here in the US...woohooo It's not a walk unless you get muddy wellies :-)
Gosh. Claire, it's gorgeous! Takes me hours, too, to make one card the hospital gives me a dollar for, lol lol lol! I love the embossing on the card, can't see any ines from over here!!
ReplyDeleteYour 5 minute cards look like something that would take me a week...you're amazing Claire. Not only are your cards and stamps just precious, but your photography skills are amazing. Love these photos that you have shared. Just stunning!
ReplyDeleteSweet simplicity... with your own special flair! I love it! And I love seeing pictures of your beautiful country. I can't wait to see it all for myself some day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulously lovely card! I really appreciate the versamark stamping tip to get the pale red color, but doesn't the red that is left on the stamp stain the Versamark pad when you ink it?
ReplyDeleteAndrea McCulley
Oh Claire, I love this! Genius! Its perfect, I can see no lines! And your Ireland pictures? GORGEOUS! Why do I not live in Ireland, its so lovely!
ReplyDeletewow that is beautiful! maybe sometime you can make a tutorial on how to cuttlebug just one part of a card?
ReplyDeleteI can't figure out how your cards get that glow. Beautiful. Must be how you ink up those edges!! Gorgeous job.
ReplyDeleteClaire, your card is beautiful and so soft! Love looking at your photos too. Although I am from Scotland, they make me homesick just the same. It could be the time of year too. Anyway, thanks for sharing!:) I look forward to seeing more of your 15 minute cards as I just love your style!:)
ReplyDeleteLove the card - and you're honesty about taking all evening to make a card!! Thank goodness I was feeling like a failure for not getting my cards done quicker!!
ReplyDeleteBeautful photos of Ireland too :)
Hi Claire
ReplyDeleteI have just found your wonderful blog (and your beautiful stamps) through a blogging friend of mine (Gini) who is always on the look-out for blogs which she thinks I might like - she's very thoughtful like that, and she knows I have just bought the Nestie Labels 4. I have now become a follower of yours, and hope to buy some of your stamps in the near future.
Absolutely love your cards, and the photographs are beautiful.
Sylvia xx
Beautiful card--I love the soft colors and embossing! And your photos are stunning. We hope to visit Ireland sometime now that we are retired. Looks like there is a lot of beautiful scenery to see.
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous card and a gorgeous park Clare! Love it all!
ReplyDeleteFabulous card, Claire! And what a wonderful view while dining, you lucky girl!!! Can surely see why it's your favorite spot!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry for my english i am italian!
ReplyDeleteBut your stamps are realy realy lovely!!!! ciao Lory