How nice it's been this afternoon to actually do some crafting in natural light!
I saw the new challenge at Less is More this morning and the theme is to make a Christmas card with the added proviso to 'Use a Bird'. So off I went to have a rummage through my stamps to see what I could find. I had a few options but decided on this little chap as he's just so cute!
A while ago I purchased a batch of stamp sets on eBay which were all sets the seller had received free with various publications and this little guy was from one of those sets. This set is called Christmas Capers but I'm unsure of the brand. There are some lovely images in this set but I had the same problem with this one as I did with my Hobbycraft stamp the other day, where the ink doesn't cover the stamp sufficiently. It tends to bead on the surface so I ended up using Versamark and then black embossing powder. I will try the suggestion I had from Anita at My Papercraft World which is to wipe the stamp on ultrafine sandpaper beforehand. I've not yet tried this but will certainly give it a go, and any further suggestions would be appreciated.
My initial plan with this card was to curve the sentiment around the circle but it was quite a long stamp and the curve was a bit too steep. It would hold for a few seconds but then as soon as I went to add the ink it kept flinging back...scrap that idea then, I'll have it in a straight line! haha
I simply finished off by rounding off the corners.
Materials used:
- Stamps: Christmas Capers (unknown); Paula Pascual - Christmas Messages
- Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
- Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - Black
- ProMarkers: Tan, Poppy and Grass
- Die: Xcut - Nested Circles
I'm entering this card into the following Challenges:
Less is More - Christmas 'Use a Bird'
Charisma Cardz - Christmas
Dream Valley Challenges - Clean and Simple
Stampin' for the Weekend - Feeling Festive
CAS Colours and Sketches - Colour Challenge
Thanks so much for popping by. Your comments are always appreciated and I love to hear what you think.
I hope to see you soon
He is an absolutely cutie alright!
ReplyDeleteSuper card Anita!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
Less is More
neets this is super cute
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us this week
Jen x
"Less Is More"
Fantastic Neets. Lovely little birdie and perfect for combining all those challenges. Well done. Thanks for your huge encouragement on my blog recently too it's much appreciated. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteLovely LIM project
ReplyDeleteKathyk
Adorably cute! Sometimes I find if ink pools on a stamp I try rubbing an eraser over it. I've never tried fine sandpaper. Hugs Bev x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, Bev. I'll give that a go xx
DeleteLovely contemporary CAS style.
ReplyDeleteVery cute card.I love classic and chic card. Thanks for playing with us at Dream Valley challenge.
ReplyDeleteNathalie
So very adorable!!
ReplyDeleteLove your adorable little bird, Fabulous CAS card!
ReplyDeleteThis is so adorable! Love the layout; great use of the colors! Thanks for joining us at CAS Colours & Sketches!
ReplyDeleteA perfect CAS card.
ReplyDeleteVery cute! Great CAS card.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute CAS card, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card
ReplyDeleteElaine
Scrummy little birdie! Great card
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Anita, so cute! With regards to the ink pooling on the stamp, that usually happens with acrylic stamps and not photopolymer. It happens with my Penny Black clear stamps all the time sadly :0( One way is to use an eraser over the stamp to rough it u a bit, like the sandpaper idea to get the ink to adhere to it. Another way is to first ink up using Versamark and then ink using the ink you want to stamp with. Hope that might help you xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips, hun. Will give those a try. It's really frustrating when I can't use the stamps as I want to xx
DeleteHi Neets, I'm a bit late but have you tried using Versacolour black ink with clear powder? As it's a pigment ink, it's a bit gloopier and seems to sit on the stamp better, regardless of the type. Lovely cute card by the way! I really enjoy your style.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your tip, will have to try this. I have almost every Versacolor shade apart from black, I didn't get it as I have other black inks I like to use. Perhaps I'll get one purely for this purpose! xx
DeleteA gorgeous CAS card. Thank you for joining us at Dream Valley Challenge. Marlene DT
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous CAS Christmas card and I love the adorable robin.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Charisma Cardz this week and good luck.
Sarahx
This is such a cute image, Anita ... I have this little guy too, but never thought to use him for LIM! You've done so beautifully ... and IMHO the straight sentiment is perfect! Thanks for the shoutout ... hope you got loads of tips and at least one of them works for you! Anita :)
ReplyDeletethanks for popping by to comment. this little birdie is sooo cute and the whole card is beautifully designed.
ReplyDeletelinda
I love this! It's a perfect CAS card.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at Dream Valley,
Susan
A lovely Christmas design. Thanks for playing with Charisma.
ReplyDeletexx Vee