This week I have a series of videos and projects based around a little challenge I set myself. As I tidied my desk I realised that I had a huge stack of pattern paper and cardstock scraps left over from other projects piled up to one side. Feeling a little stuck for inspiration, I decided to create a simple card layout that included both pattern paper and cardstock.
I also chose a stamp set that has been sitting in a different stack (stamps I’ve been wanting to use for ages!), and will be using the one set for the entire series. It’s called Fuzzy Felines, by Hello Sweetums, a great Australian stamp company (they’re adorable … and yes, I do stock these). You know I’m a cat person, so this set really spoke to me, and I’m so happy I’ve finally inked it up!
For this video series, rather than a separate blog post for each day, I’ll add to this one. You’ll see all 5 videos down below, as well as photos of the projects and a summary of the ideas, tips, etc for the day.
Day 1 – Copic colouring
One of the things I love about the Hello Sweetums images is how open they are. There’s plenty of room to create shadow and highlight, or add extra details. You could colour these kitties one single colour for a die-cut look, or get in there with 5 shades of any colour you choose. They would also be adorable stamped onto pattern paper or coloured cardstock, or you could get out your file liners and have fun doodling some zentangle designs.
For this project I stamped the kitties and accessories onto XPress It blending card using Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The colours are listed in the video, and I kept to a limited colour palette.
For this weeks projects I stamped and coloured the following:
Sleeping kitty – 6
Pouncing kitty – 4
Sitting kitty – 9
Playful kitty – 3
Fish – 3
Plain yarn ball – 3
String yarn ball – 2
Mouse (I did colour one, but didn’t end up using it)
Star pole (I did colour one, but didn’t end up using it)
Ingredients for todays project:
Stamps – Fuzzy Felines by Hello Sweetums
Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
Tonic Tim Holtz Travel Stamping Platform
XPress It Blending Card
Copic markers
Sleeping kitty – W0, W1, W2, R42
Pouncing kitty – E50, E51, E53, E57, R42
Sitting kitty – E70 E71, E74, R42
Playful kitty – C0, C1, C2, R42
Yarn – Red R22, R24, R27 … Blue B21, B23, B26
Star Pole – Y23, Y28, E33, E35, E37
Fish – BG0000, BG000, BG01
Mouse – RV10, RV21, RV23
Check out the video below, and colour along with me, keeping it simple 🙂
Day 2 – The Sketch
In todays video I will show you the sketch we’re going to be using all week. The aim of this sketch is to keep it simple, be able to use pattern paper and cardstock, die-cut shapes, pre-coloured images and a sentiment … all basic card-making features.
Find the sketch below, and check out the simple tweaks you can make to create some variety within this sketch. Card sketches are really meant to be a jumping off point … a way to get you making a card without taxing the brain too much when your creativity is eluding you. Sometimes it’s the physical action of actually starting to make something that can stoke the fires of creativity, and once you’ve started, it doesn’t matter if you stray from the sketch or your original concept.
In todays video, which you will find below, you can see how I’ve made small adjustments and alterations to the sketch to give the cards a slightly different look.
Additional Materials
Double sided tape
Ranger Archival Jet Black ink pad
Pattern Paper
Cardstock
Day 3 – Single Layer Cards
In todays video I’m creating 5 single layer card projects based on the card sketch. I appreciate that not everybody is a fan of pattern paper, or a hoarder of it like myself, so these 5 cards are totally pattern paper-free.
Additional Materials
Clear embossing ink pad (Tim Holtz Distress ink or Versamark)
Coloured ink pads
Corner rounder punch
Coloured cardstock
Day 4 – Sketch Rotation
In todays video we are going to turn this sketch on its head. We are literally going to rotate it. We are also going to create 4 CAS mini cards.
Sometimes you don’t need a full sized card, and sometimes you need it fast! You can cut 4 mini card bases from a single sheet of A4 cardstock, which is handy for us today, because this sketch can be turned 4 different ways! By rotating a card sketch, you instantly get a different look. It makes sense to copy a card sketch exactly, but don’t be afraid to turn it on it’s side or on its head. Just because a sketch is portrait (like this one), doesn’t mean you can’t turn it and make a landscape card.
Day 5 – Think Outside the Sketch
It’s the last day, so let’s get a little bit crazy and think outside the box … or in our case … outside the sketch. I have 5 projects for you, yet only 4 of them are cards.
Oh yes, you can use a card sketch to create a scrapbooking layout, a planner page or a bookmark (like I did today). Add heaps more stuff, turn it on it’s head AND change the orientation. Starting thinking of ways you can just run wild with your supplies, like I did in card #4 as I dug into my stash and created an embellishment cluster.
I do hope you have enjoyed this video series, and are inspired to get stuck into your stash this weekend and make a bunch of cards. On the weekend when I filmed this video, I created 28 cards and 1 bookmark. Will you break my record? You can see some of my other creations over on Instagram if you go for a bit of a scroll through my feed.
I really hope you enjoyed this video series, and the challenge to use up those leftover bits of paper and cardstock. If you have a play with this sketch, I would love to see your creations. Tag me on Instagram or Facebook (@DawnLewisImagery), or message me a pic of your handiwork. Mostly, I hope you have fun with it, and see how you can take a single stamp set, a single sketch, and make a stack of cards!
