'Last Minute' Cards & Process Video

Hello lovelies! I'm on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog today with a tutorial for an easy way to make last minute cards, without too much time, effort or mess!

You can make these in a few minutes and it's easy to 'batch make' the bases (so all that's needed later on is the sentiment.) Use different colours and/or sentiments to vary the look! The tutorial covers basic blends and my method for 'sectioning off' areas of the card base!

You can use my discount code CLAIRSENTME in the CAS-ual Fridays Store at anytime, for a 15% discount! Enjoy!

Find Yourself {May's Counterfeit Kit}

After successfully using my Counterfeit Kit For April while working on the Southern Adventure Album, I was incredibly keen to see which kit the Counterfeit Kit Challenge had chosen as inspiration for May. I wasn't disappointed! The Master Forgers had chosen a selection of kits from Paper Camellia, all of which had a travel theme. Perfect!

As usual I was inspired by the colours and theme of the kit, but I found that I was also keen to incorporate some of the smaller details - the banners, the uplifting phrases and, suprisingly, the buttons. (I never use buttons!) So, after putting together a selection of papers from Bazill, Echo Park, American Crafts, Dear Lizzy and Sodalicious, I decided to add a few personal touches!

I started by breaking out some of my stamps and using some of the leftovers from my Counterfeit Kit For April to make some embellishments. I included my favourite 'Life Is Amazing' sentiment; included some large, banner style elements; and broke out my tiny stamps and my sewing machine to make one of my favourite, little banners! (I wrote a Pennant Banner Tutorial a while back, if you want to take a peek!)

The best thing 'killing my kit' in this way is that, aside from making the most of my pretty paper, I'll have co-ordinating embellishments to spread throughout my album - tying it all together nicely.

I also included a sheet of 'handmade' patterned paper which was made, quite simply, using the 'leftover' from a sticker sheet and some Cosmic Shimmer Mists. (Again, I have a handy tutorial, already written on Using Mists To Make Your Own Paper in case you want to try it!)

I'm not sure exactly how much time I'll have to spend using my Counterfit Kit this month - it's shaping up to be a busy month - but at least I know that, when I have the time, everything is ready and waiting! Hurrah!

It's Autumn. Believe.

Over the weekend, I delved into one of my boxes of scraps (the large one full of long, thin strips of patterned paper) to make a sweet and simple card. The combination of colours that I chose reminded me instantly of autumn - although I could, of course, have been thinking about it subconsciously when I chose the colours. Who knows?

To decorate my card, I've used some of the teeny, tiny leaves and flowers from Lawn Fawn's Flutterby set; finishing off with a cute sentiment (which is part of the main sentiment from the same set.) Quite simple really. 

I'm thinking that I might just sit down and make a whole batch of cards, all with little strips, stitching and some stamping. It could be the perfect way to whittle down my box of scraps, while wasting away a happy, little autumn afternoon.

Learning Something New - Mini Album

I'm eagerly anticipating the start of Shimelle's Learn Something New Every Day at the weekend.I've taken part in this annual class many times and there is something wonderfully about revisiting an old favourite. One lesson that I have learnt the hard way though, is that if I don't prepare for the class, I never finish my album!

Using August's Counterfeit Kit has made it fairly easy to get started. I cut down a lot of cardstock and patterned papers to 3 x 5 inches, 'chomped' all of the corners and punched a hole in one end of each piece. To start making the base album feel a little bit more 'lived in', I've decorated the front using a little spritz of Mister Huey's Calico Shine; added a patterned paper effect with the camera stamp from Lawn Fawn's Say Cheese Too; and added a title with some Sassafras Alphas.

Inside the album, I've started to add some additional pattern with the chevron stamp from Papersmooches Geographic - it stamps wonderfully and, because it's a clear stamp, it's so easy to build up the pattern to create a fuller effect - and some extra embellishment with some of the smaller stamps from Papersmooches Teen Routine.

It's shaping up to be a fun album, full of colour and pattern - which is one reason why I love mini-albums, they really give you a chance to experiment with new ideas, products and techniques. Looks like I've started learning already!

Is anyone else planning on taking part this year? Have you done your preparation? Please let me know so that I can come and take a look. You see the best thing about starting class, is all the new friends!

Stitching On Paper - Inspired By Stamping

Morning! Ready for some more Stitching On Paper? We've learnt the basics of hand and machine stitching, but now we're going to start looking at how our stitching can be inspired by some more familiar crafts like stamping, embroidery and cross stitch. 

In today's part of the class, Stitching On Paper - Inspired By Stamping, I'm joined by Guest Designers Julie Kirk and Mel H. We've all interpreted our use of stamping and stitching a little differently, so there's plenty of inspiration. 

Remember that if you've been inspired by the class, I'd love to see what you've created. You could win a little something! Have a lovely weekend! x

PS Last week's Guest Designer, Jennifer Grace, has a little stitching template available on her blog. It's the cute cloud from last week's layout. Go get it!