This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

Friday 28 June 2019

Creative Card Making with Jennie

Hello and welcome to this fourth Friday of the month which means that one of us shares a Creative Card Making tutorial. And this month it is my turn!


I don't think it matters where you live in the world but postage today is very expensive and yet it is lovely to be able to send cards for all different occasions. As a result I have been working hard on my single layer stamping techniques and combining this with my love of the ATC.

So today I am going to share with you how I put this card together which looks extremely effective but is all one layer.  And ..... the best thing is you can have a number of ATC sized pieces all ready to make a card whenever you need to. I know that many of you will probably already use this technique but I am sure there will be some Creative Travellers with us who have not tried it yet!


I like to use a good quality card for the stamping so took an A4 sheet of white cardstock and trimmed it up into nine ATC sized pieces - 2.5" x 3.5".


Having chosen the stamps I wanted to use I then had to think about what order I would be stamping them in to have the most important stamped element sitting on the top. In this instance it is this wonderful flower, with the second layer being the circular post stamp and finally two background stamps, one text and the other more detailed. The stamping will be done from top to bottom with each top layer being masked. I have limited myself to three layers here but you can do many layers ..... !


I have tried lots of different mask products but always come back to the good old post it note! I find the sticky piece at the top of the pad is more than sufficient to adhere to the project and they will last a good few times without disintegrating. (Use a larger post it note pad for larger stamps.) Just ensure that you stamp a largish piece of your stamp onto the sticky layer. Then fussy cut the flower for your mask.


I then stamped my flower onto the ATC.


And masked it with the post it note flower. This flower had alot of "floppy" leaves so it needed a bit of washi tape to hold it in place as well.


Then to stamp my second layer, ensuring that some of the stamp lies over the flower.


I made a mask of this circular stamp and adhered it on top of the area of stamping.


This then allowed me to use my two background stamps to stamp over the whole of the ATC. This time I have used Distress Ink (Vintage Photo) to get a lighter look.


And hey presto! when you take all the masks off everything is layered behind the flower.


I used a few of my stamp sets to create some different designs in the same manner and then had a lovely relaxing time painting them.


I blended a little Distress Ink (Vintage Photo) around the edges of the ATC and added a gold edge with Gold nib style pen. I like to layer the ATC onto a piece of corresponding card just slightly bigger than the ATC (2.5/8"x 3.5/8").


Whenever I need a card I add the layered ATC onto  a plain 6" x 6" card blank with my sentiment stamped in the bottom corner. (Again you can get ahead and stamp a few to have ready!)

It is easy to make up a nice little batch of ATCs using different stamp sets and have them ready to add to card blanks as and when you need them.  It is also a great way to familiarise yourself with some of the stamp sets you might not have used for a while.


It can get a little bit addictive! and don't forget about extending it to the envelope as well.


I hope this tutorial might inspire you to grab some of your stamp sets and see them in new light and go some way to saving you a little money next time you need to send a card.

Thank you for joining me me on the Creative Card Making journey today and don't forget there is still a little time to join in our current challenge which is "Tissue Paper".

Jennie x


12 comments:

  1. What beautiful cards! I love the design with the ATC, it is so effective and those envelopes look amazing too 😁. All those layers of stamping look stunning, I will definitely be trying this technique to make some cards - perfect! Thanks so much for the inspiration! Happy and creative wishes! Hugs, Jo x

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  2. Gorgeous Cards and envelopes too , Jennie . You have really spoiled us today with such beautiful creativity and a really excellent, easy to follow tutorial .
    Tfs x

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  3. With all the various techniques out there, it is easy to forget the oldie but goody ones! Your cards are stunning Jennie and a timely reminder to have another go with this masking technique, it is so effective. Thank you for sharing! Hugs, Anne xx

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  4. Jennie, I so happy you shared this wonderful post! Like Anne said, it reminds us to pull out the old tried and true techniques. Your card and ATC's are beautiful and your tutorial is easy to follow--well done! I'm inspired to give it a go! Hugs! Sara Emily

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  5. The matching envelopes make a perfect combination . Hugs Mrs A. Thank you for the tutorial.

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  6. Oh this is brilliant Jennie!! Super stamping technique and such a great idea for making a batch of cards!! I absolutely adore the envelope too, a stunning set and a great tutorial!!

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  7. Absolutely gorgeous Jennie. A wonderfully thought out card and brilliantly explained. The cards are stunning and would look amazing in a small frame on the wall too. Xx

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  8. These are charming, Jennie - a useful reminder of a really lovely stamping technique, and a great tip about the post-its. The envelope is amazing!
    Alison x

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  9. what beautiful cards you created Jennie! love how you painted the colors and masked the stampings for depth! Love these! xx

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  10. awesome article..
    thanks for sharing and have a beautiful day

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  11. Beautiful card Jennie and a great tutorial. You have demonstrated the masking technique perfectly with the stamps you have chosen. Love that you have extended the images to the envelope too. Looks like you have a lovely collection of ATC's ready to go ! Toni x

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