How to Design a Card with Lesley Croghan {Loving Life!}

Lesley here, and today is my final post as a designer for the Sweet Stamp Shop! These last three months have flown by! Whew! I have had a ball working with Nicole and her diverse images! It was so much fun creating! I am going to miss being on this team! Thank you so much Nicole, for the awesome experience.

Nicole has asked me to share some ideas on how to "start" a card design. For the last three months, I have shared all the ways I have been inspired to create card! Today, I am focusing on this awesome "Sparkle Rainbow" photo which I found on Pinterest! LOVE!

Photo Source

I went into my stash of Sweet Stamp Shop images and pulled out the following stamp sets...

Baby Love

Starts Here

And here is my card! A clean and simple look; using the rainbow image and mix and matching the words from the Starts Here set! I used some clear and sparkly Stickles on the clouds...to achieve the sparkle in the photo!

Here are the measurements:

White Card Base-A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

Red Base (5.25" x 4")

White Piece (3.5" x 4.75")

Black Trim- 1/8th smaller than the white piece

 

Thank you so much for visiting and if you have haven't already, be sure to "Like" our Facebook page...Nicole posts specials, deals and other cool info there! All the time!!!

Click HERE to Like our FB page!

Pin It

How to Design a Card with Lesley Croghan

Lesley here, and I am excited to share how I was inspired to create a card adding texture.

Nicole has asked me to share some ideas on how to "start" a card design. Today I am going to chat about adding texture to your card! I used a burlap sheet and die cut it with a Spellbinder die. I was excited to use the new Dia De Los Muertos and the Baby Love sets.

Dia De Los Muertos

Baby Love

My card is a more feminine take...I used some burlap, a die cut, pearls and some pattern papers to create a fun and feminine vibe. Simple and sweet, this card took almost no time to put together!! I dug out my burlap paper and some pattern paper from my paper "stash" and was inspired to play along with the Use What You Have Challenge!!

Here is a photo of just "some" of my paper stash...yes, I LOVE paper...LOL! 

You need to take a photo of your "stash" to play along with the Use What You Have Challenge.

Now it is your turn to share a project with us and I cannot wait to "see" YOUR stash!!!

Come and play along with the Use What You Have Challenge!!! Dig out some goodies from your stash and join in the fun!!!

AND...

There is a design team call on!!! Woot! Come and join the team! Make sure you send in your application!!! 

>>>>>>>>>>WELL HERE YA GO<<<<<<<<<<

And if you are interested in being a Sweet Stamp Shop designer, there is still time to apply. Check out all the details HERE. You will have until the 15th to apply!

Pin It

How to Design an "Inspired by a Photo" card with Lesley Croghan

Lesley here, and I am excited to share how I was inspired by a photo from Pinterest to make my card for today! (Below I have included the measurements and supply list.)

Nicole has asked me to share some ideas on how to "start" a card design. Today I am going to chat about inspiration! Sometimes, the best way to start a card is to be inspired by a photograph! I am regularly on Pinterest; looking for interesting pictures to inspire my work!

Today I am focusing on this photo below...isn't it sweet!

Photo Source

You could be inspired by the:

Colours

Layout

Theme

The sky is the limit! 

I took my inspiration from the layout and created a card using the Perfect Match stamp set! I found this set while on vacation in San Diego and fell in love with it right away! 

And here is my inspired card!! Clean and simple and fun to make!

To create this card:

1. Arrange the three images on a long, clear stamp block.

2. Ink in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and stamp images all at once onto the white cardstock.

3. Clean off the stamps with a damp cloth and re-position the stamps in a new arrangement.

4. Ink again and stamp the next row of images.

5. Repeat step #3 and 4.

6. When you have done inking your images, colour them with your markers. I used Copics.

7. Add a little bit of twine to the bottom of your card.

8. Stamp the sentiment.

Measurements:

White card front measures 4" x 5.25" (Heavy White Cardstock)

Card Base is A2 or 4.25" x 5.50" (Red Cardstock)

I hope you enjoyed my "Inspiration" theme and that you will get out your Sweet Stamp Shop sets and get inky today, creating your own Inspired Card!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lesley

Pin It

How to Design A Card {Monochromatic Colour Inspiration} with Lesley Croghan

Lesley here, and I am excited to share how I was inspired by two brand new Sweet Shop Stamp sets, to create a Monochromatic set of cards! 

Nicole has asked me to share some ideas on how to "start" a card design. Today I am going to chat about colour! Sometimes, the most effective way to use colour on a card is in monochromatic tones. Monochromatic means using the same colour but in different shades of that colour! Today I am using blues! I LOVE the colour blue!!

I used two Sweet Stamp Shop sets on my card set...Spin Me and Wheely Like You.

Below you can see the work I have done, prepping the pieces for my cards. Simply stamp the images in the two colours onto the white paper and on the dark blue pieces, stamp the background design from Spin Me in the same dark blue colour. The card bases, 4 pearls, some twine, a medium glassine bag and these pieces below are all you will need to make this Monochromatic card set!

White pieces: 2" x 4"

Blue Pieces: 1.5" x 4.25"

Card Bases: 4.25" x 4.25"

Glassine Bag-Medium Size 

(Use a 1.5" x 4.75" piece of dark blue paper for the bag flap, 

round the corners with a corner rounding punch)

I kept my cards fairly simple, adding only a little bit of twine. Then I created a matching glassine bag for my cards to go in; to create a nice gift set I can have on hand to give to a hostess of a party or even to one of my teacher friends, at the end of the school year.

I hope you enjoyed my "Monochromatic" theme today and that you will get out your Sweet Stamp Shop sets and get inky today, creating your own Monochromatic Gift Set!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lesley

Three quick reminders - 

1. Join us with our very own challenge 'Use What You Have' - check out the rules and how easy it is to play along HERE.

2. Our July release is coming around the corner - you'll wanna join us in the facebook event page for all the latest sneak peeks and to keep your eye out for our give-a-way! HERE

3. We've restocked your favorites! Head over and grab em while we still got em! 

Pin It

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July Sweets! 

 

We're so proud to be from the 'Land of the Free - and the Home of the Brave' - both my grandfather and my father served in the Military AND my Great Great Grandfather surveyed a good portion of the Pacific Northwest and we have lots of cool family stuff in museums from coast to coast. My family has roots SO deep here in the states - My great great grandparents traded with the Native Americans and to this day we have hand woven baskets - proof that my family was rugged pioneers who believe in a NEW and better life for their family! They treated everyone with respect and believe in equality (before it was hip) ... lol

Today is a great day to remind myself the sacrifices my family made for us to live in this FREE and amazing country. I am thankful for them - and for all of my fellow American's who have similar stories of sacrifice. 

Happy Fourth Of July To YOU! 

___________________________

Couple 4th of July reminders... 

LAST DAY FOR THE SALE

Today is the LAST DAY to take advantage of our super sale! No coupon code needed! Just head over to the shop and load up your cart - at check out it'll work the sale magic for you! Happy 4th from our Sweet Family to yours!

SWEET FOURTH GIVE-A-WAY

Be sure to head over to the blog post from yesterday to enter to win! 

HERE

- ONE LAST THING -

We've started our July Release Event Group in facebook. We show sneak peeks and we're know to do give-a-ways BEFORE the release. It's just a fun way for us to share our excitement for the new stuff! 

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE HERE

__________________________

Lesley here, and I am excited to share how I was inspired by a brand new Sweet Shop Stamp set, to create a card! 

Nicole has asked me to share some ideas on how to "start" a card design. 

Starting is half the battle and I often don't know where to begin!!

Today I am focusing on using the stamps in the set below, to create a fun background stamping effect!! Forget about using pattern papers! Put your stamps to work for you!!! This set has so many wonderful "little" stamps, just perfect for background stamping!

This is how I started....

Step 1: I used the brand new Wheely Like You set.  

Step 2: I decided to focus on the sentiment stamps in the set and the bullseye!

Step 3: For my design, I decided to do some background stamping. 

How to make this card:

1. Cut your red cardstock to make an A2 card (4.25" x 5.5")

2. Stamp the"love" sentiment on a diecut heart. Use red ink on red paper, for a subtle look.

3. Cut a strip of black cardstock at (2.5" x 5.25")

4. Cut a strip of kraft cardstock at (2.5" x 5.25")

5. Use washi tape, to create a division between the top and bottom of the card and to break up the black "top" of the card!

6. Stamping with clear stamps, it is easy to create a repeated word background on the heart!

7. Stamp the bullseye image with kraft ink, onto the kraft paper, with the arrow and sentiments in black.

7. To tie my card together, I added some red baker's twine.

That is how I made my card for today! I hope you have fun, creating your own background stamped card. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lesley

Pin It

How To Start a Card {Theme Inspiration} with Lesley Croghan

Welcome to the Sweet Stamp Shop!! 

Lesley here, and I am excited to share my first post as a design team member. 

Nicole has asked me to share some ideas on how to "start" a card design. 

Starting is half the battle and I often don't know where to begin!!

For my card today, I based it on a "theme". I am a Grade 3 teacher and it is the end of the school year here in Canada, and so I went to work, creating a fun card for a teaching colleague using the School's Out set and the Distressed Chevron background.

This is how I started....

Step 1: I looked through my Sweet Stamp Shop stamps and found the adorable School's Out set.  

Step 2: I thought about colour-school buses are yellow...and so I went with yellow as my card base.

Step 3: For my design, I decided to use a classic layout. (measurements below)

Step 4: Find some coordinating papers, twine and inks.

Step 5: Get busy!

How to make this card:

1. Cut your yellow cardstock to make an A2 card (4.25" x 5.5")

2. Stamp the Distressed Chevron background in a darker yellow ink onto the card base.

3. Cut a strip of black cardstock at (2.5" x 5.5")

4. Cut some "School Themed" paper in a strip (2.25" x 5.5")-adhere to black strip and then to card base.

5. Cut black rectangle (2.75 x 3.75").

6. Cut white rectangle (2.5" x 3.5") and dry emboss. Adhere to black rectangle.

7. Stamp school bus from the School's Out set, onto yellow paper and fussy cut out.

7. Pop up rectangles onto dimensionals and pop up school bus too.

8. Stamp sentiment on white paper and die cut out with oval shape or punch.

9. Wrap Baker's Twine around bottom of the card and hold in place with small piece of tape. Cover tape with stamped sentiment on oval shape.

That is how I made my card for today! I hope you have fun, creating your own School Themed card. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lesley

Pin It