CAS-ual Fridays New Releases: Pear Tree Fri-Dies

It's time for the brand new releases from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - and I'm so excited to share them! Over the last week, we've shared all of the new releases over on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, along with some amazing projects from the Ink Squad!

The last of the new releases is the fantastic set of Pear Tree Fri-Dies, which co-ordinates with the Partridge In A Pear Tree Stamp Set.

To start, I embossed the main illustration in black, then hefted out my watercolours. I used a combination of colours on the tree, then used a silver colour to fill in that adorable little birdie! 

I had a little leftover section of watercolour, with a blue and silver splatter, and decided to make the most of it by turning it into a cute little tag. I used the main die to cut the water-coloured illustration, then moved it around on the base until I decided on where I liked it best. 

As it's a fairly small 'canvas' I didn't have a lot of room to add a sentiment, so I sectioned off one of the sentiments to read 'with love' and added it to the corner. 

You can see that I only used smaller sections of the sets, but I love that it almost feels like a different set! 

If you can't handle the excitement, you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see all of the new sets. Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and have a little sneak at the New Releases. 

CAS-ual Fridays New Releases: Naughty'isms Stamp Set & Naughty Fri-Dies

It's time for the brand new releases from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - and I'm so excited to share them! You can see more projects from the Ink Squad over on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog.

Can we have a little chat about how cute the Naughty'isms Stamp Set & Naughty Fri-Dies are? I love them so much. Just a little bit of snark :)

I wanted to make a nice, but neutral card, so started with a white card base and black ink. In the test run, it looked a little flat, so in this version, I added some scored lines - and I love the subtle effect. I used a combination of the sentiments from the Naughty'isms Stamp Set, then added some twine - with a cute, little bell! A few, little white sparkles finish off the card nicely! 

If you can't handle the excitement, you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see all of the new sets. Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and have a little sneak at the New Releases. 

CAS-ual Fridays New Releases: Merry Christmas Fri-Dies & Happy Hanukkah Fri-Dies

It's time for more of the brand new releases from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. If you haven't been to visit the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, then you are missing out on some inspirational projects - and some amazing prizes!

Next in the fantastic new releases are the Merry Christmas Fri-Dies & Happy Hanukkah Fri-Dies. I love the font on these dies. It's so pretty and the sentiments turn even the most basic cards into something really special!

For the first of my cards, I've used the Merry Christmas Fri-Dies to create a cut-out sentiment in some cardstock (it reminds me a little bit of a blizzard!) and then backed it with some Rinea Gold Foiled Paper. It so shiny!

I left a little strip of the Gold Foil on show at the top edge, then layered some more cardstock behind it, to add some colour. Finally, I added some cute little heart stickers that have been in my stash *forever* and I'm so happy that I waited for that one 'Perfect Project' to use them on!

My second card shows how fantastic the dies look with even the most basic techniques! I used some matt black cardstock, backed with Rinea Gold Foiled Paper to set off the Happy Hanukkah die, then mounted it onto a white card base. The addition of some black, shiny sequins and a few little sparkly dots finished it off wonderfully!

If you can't handle the excitement, you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see all of the new sets. Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and have a little sneak at the New Releases. 

Killing Kits: Mix & Match Cards

Hello lovelies! It's time for a new video for the Killing Kits Series and today, I've used the leftovers from my Wild Hare Kit from May 2018. It was full cardstock and embellishments from the Be You Collection by Pinkfresh Studios and I didn't have a lot of it left!

I've made the most of all my little leftovers by combining them with the Chevron Mat Die from Avery Elle, but it's really easy to adapt my 'mix and match' method - and, as a bonus, you could use up some extra washi, ribbon or trim!

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over in the Counterfeit Kit Facebook Community. I would love to hear from you!

CAS-ual Fridays New Releases: Mistletoe Fri-Dies

It's Day 3 of the brand new releases from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. Over on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, we're sharing all of the new releases, along with some inspirational projects from the Ink Squad!

Our next release is the Mistletoe Fri-Dies, which co-ordinate with the 'old favourite', Mistletoe & Holly Stamp Set.

This is such a lovely little illustration and, happily, it's really easy to combine the stamp and the die, so no need for fussy-cutting! Fussy cutting really is not my favourite! 

First I embossed the mistletoe onto some white cardstock, then coloured it with some of my favourite watercolours. It's a new technique for me, but I am starting to enjoy the way that the colours combine. Whilst the mistletoe dried, I used the same watercolours to create a wash, then used that to back a section of my teeny, tiny card.

Inside the card, I've stamped the 'Merry Kiss-Mas' sentiment.

Finally, I mounted the mistletoe to the front of the card and added some little sequins!

If you can't handle the excitement, you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see all of the new sets. Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and have a little sneak at the New Releases. 

CAS-ual Fridays New Releases: Dashing Stamp Set & Snow Fri-Dies

The second of the brand new releases from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. Over on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, we're sharing all of the new releases, along with some inspirational projects from the Ink Squad!

Next up, the new Dashing Stamps and coordinated Snow Fri-Dies. I know that I'll have lots of fun with these sets - I love how the sentiments in the stamp set combine - and can't wait to use them in my December Daily album!

Inspired by the idea of falling snow, I used a few different shades of blue watercolours, to create a splattered effect on some cardstock. Then, once the watercolours had dried, I added an embossed sentiment in a silver tone, to create a little shine! 

If you can't handle the excitement, you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see all of the new sets. Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and have a little sneak at the New Releases. 

CAS-ual Fridays New Releases: Big Hope Fri-Die

It's time for the brand new releases from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps - and I'm so excited to share them! Over the next few days, we'll share all of the new releases over on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, along with some amazing projects from the Ink Squad!

The first of the New Releases is the Big Hope Fri-Die. I love this die so, so much. It's such a beautiful sentiment that I wanted to make sure that it was the focus of my card, so I went with a classic colour combination and a 'chilled out' easy, layered look. 

To make the sentiment stand out a little more, I cut the die three times, then layered it to create a bit of extra dimension. A few little sequins finished off the card nicely!

If you can't handle the excitement, you don't have to wait until the end of the week to see all of the new sets. Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and have a little sneak at the New Releases. 

'The Best Of The Best' Card

Hello lovelies! I'm back with my usual 'end of the month card' that I've made with the last little bits of my Wild Hare Kit! I loved the selection of cardstocks from Amy Tan's 'Shine On' collection that were included in my Deluxe Kit for September, but I still had a fairly substantial section of the 'Three Sides' cardstock leftover from earlier layouts - and I wanted to use it! (If I file the last bits of my kit away, it could be a really long time before they come back our for my Killing Kits Series!)

I combined the cardstock with my own Chevron Mat Die from Avery Elle to 'tone down' the cardstock a little and leave me with an area for embellishment. I love how the cardstock 'shines' out from behind the die-cut. I made a little bow from the same cardstock. I decided where I wanted the bow to sit, then chose one of the small phrase stamps from the Heidi Swapp 'Hawthorne' set that was included with my kit - it's a really versatile set!

Once I'd added the sentiment and adhered the bow, I finished the card off with some enamel dots from the Simple and Sweet collection by Pinkfresh Studios. I love the little bit of colour that it adds!  

You Are Wonderful Layout {Killing Kits Series}

Hello lovelies! It's Clair with the latest video in the Killing Kits Series and I'm thrilled, because in this video, I combined the leftovers from two kits to make one, fantastic layout!

Both of my Wild Hare Kits from August 2017 and September 2017 featured the Carousel Collection from Crate Paper (as well as lots of co-ordiated loveliness) but I was left with a selection of cardstock that featured bold colours, carnival/animal cut-outs and some embellishments!

I've been asked a lot, since I started the Killing Kits Series, what I do with leftover items that feature bold colours, cute animals, and otherwise 'awkward' to use bits and bobs! So, in this video, I show how I 'reduce' the awkwardness - and reduce my leftovers!

I used the Heart Board Fri-Die from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps to die-cut all of the cardstock that remained from both kits into a selection of hearts in different sizes. Then added them in 'stacks' to a white 8x5 x 11 sheet.

Please feel free to leave comments here, on YouTube, or find me over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. I would love to hear from you!

CAS-ual Fridays: ATC Vellum Shaker Card Tutorial

Hello lovelies! I have a video tutorial on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog today, with an overview of how to make these ATC (Artist Trading Card) sized shakers!

I've used a wide selection of CAS-ual Fridays stamps and dies to make a little set, so head on over for more details! 

CAS-ual Fridays: Thinking Of You Card

Hello lovelies! I'm over on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog, with a little card for all occasions. I love to have some cheerful cards on hand, in case I need to send a friend a little note to let them know that I'm thinking of them; or to offer some encouragement when times are tough! 

To make this floral themed card, I've used the  beautiful Peaceful Garden and Garden Fri-dies sets, both available from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. Head on over to see more details!

You're welcome to use the code CLAIRSENTME to save 15% on all stamps and dies - at all times!!!

CAS-ual Fridays: Clean & Simple Watercoloured Splattering

Hello! I'm excited to share my first make as a member of the CAS-ual Fridays 'Ink Squad' and, a little later in the month, I'll share my first tutorial so be sure to follow the CAS-ual Fridays Blog!

For today's make, I've used the Best Day Ever Fri-Die to full effect to create a little card with a big wow! It may look clean and simple, but I became a little messy with my watercolours while I made it! (There's a co-ordinating Best Day Ever stamp set too, so don't forget to check that out too!)

First, I took a standard, white C6 card base and created a splattered effect with three colours of Pentel Watercolours (Prussian Blue, Viridian and Yellow Green) and a little bit of Windsor & Newton's Gold Gouache. (You can create a similar effect with inks and a little bit of water, if you don't have any watercolours!)

Once dried, I centred the Best Day Ever Fri-Die on the front of the card base and then ran it through my die-cutter. It cuts like a dream - no little burrs or fluffs!

I backed the die-cut with a little Rinea Gold Foiled Paper to add some shine; then, I added all of the little 'inners' from the die to the centre of the letters. It really makes the sentiment stand out. For the finishing touch, I added a few sequins and a little bit of bling for a bit of texture. All done!

Please check us out on Instagram & Pinterest, and share your CAS-ual Friday creations with us (@casfridays and #casfridays) we love seeing what you have created! Have a lovely day!