Happy New Year! Welcome to the first Stamptastic Friends Blog Hop of 2025 and we have a theme of New Beginnings. Lots of us start new things for the new year, whether we set them as resolutions or not. It’s a time off out with the old, or simply what we don’t want, and in with the new. New Beginnings of hobbies and habits that bring us joy or closer to that goal.

When I first read our New Beginnings theme, I automatically thought of babies, new life and starting over. I couldn’t decide on what I wanted to create, then I recalled a sentiment from the Something Fancy stamp set that read ‘Here’s To Beautiful Beginnings & Happily Ever After’. How gorgeous is that? Having made my mind up to use this sentiment I decided that I want that to be the focal point of my card and to create a simple but stunning background to mount it on. The coordinating Something Fancy dies contain several labels, perfect for allowing the sentiment to pop. .

Creating A Fun Background For New Beginnings

Cut a layer of Basic White cardstock, measuring 9cm x 11.5cm. Take an acrylic block, I used our E block, and colour over the top half with Dark Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blend. Colour over the bottom half using Dark Summer Splash Stampin’ Blend.

Using a Stampin’ Sprizter filled with rubbing alcohol, spritz over the block. Once happy with the coverage, place your block onto your cardstock, colour side down. Allow the colours to soak into your cardstock and then remove your block. This will leave you with a beautiful background. Allow to dry, which will not take long.

Stamp your New Beginnings sentiment onto Basic White cardstock, using Basic Gray ink. I felt black was too harsh. Die-cut with your chosen label die and a detail die if you wish. This adds extra depth and interest. Adhere to your background panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Using the Bright Skies stamp set and dies, stamp a flower in Petunia Pop and Summer Splash ink. Die-cut using coordinating dies and adhere to background panel. I used a Stampin’ Dimensional for the flower head.

Trim a piece of Summer Splash cardstock to 10cm x 14.4cm and wrap a length of Petunia Pop ribbon around the middle, adhereing in place on the back. Add you background panel over the ribbon and a small length of ribbon with a knot. Use a pokey tool or similar to fray the ends.

Create an A6 card base using Thick Basic White cardstock, measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm. Adhere your Summer Splash layer to the front.

Finish your new beginnings card by adding Wink Of Stella to your flower and several 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems.

You can watch a video of my Facebook Live where I create a variety of background using this technique.

I hope I have inspired you to try creating a background using alcohol. All the products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online store.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more creativity and inspiration for New Beginnings. I can’t wait to see what the other demonstrators have chosen to share with you.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Something Fancy Cling Stamp Set (English) [160416] £22.00	Something Fancy Dies [160424] £27.00	Bright Skies Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [162787] £19.00	Bright Skies Dies [162793] £32.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] £8.50
2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems [163781] £8.00	Petunia Pop 3/8" (1 Cm) Bordered Ribbon [163785] £7.00	Azure Afternoon Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [161672] £10.25	Summer Splash Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [163826] £10.25	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] £8.50
Petunia Pop Classic Stampin Pad [163811] £8.50	Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [163809] £8.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] £13.00	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] £10.50	Summer Splash A4 Cardstock [163798] £10.75
Paper Snips [103579] £11.25	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00	Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [150673] £62.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] £4.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75

The post Using Alcohol To Create A Background For New Beginnings appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello, we are halfway through August, and it is time for the Stamptastic Friends Blog Hop. This month we are sharing colouring techniques. Stampin’ Up! offer many colouring mediums and tools. From inks to watercolour pencils and blending brushes to sponge daubers. There is something for every style of crafter.

I have chosen two simple colouring techniques for my card. The first is using ink, blending brush and a mask to add colour to a certain area on my card. The second uses Stampin’ Blends to add colour and shading to my stamped image. Both of these are easy to learn and can be used to create a variation of finished projects.

Below you will see a sneak peek of new images, sentiment and products coming in September with the release of the Mini Catalogue! The Dear Santa and Falling Snow stamps and the Real Red & White Baker’s Twine.

Two Simple Colouring Techniques

Trim two pieces of Basic White cardstock to 10cm x 14.4cm. Using one of the pieces and a cirle die, I used the third largest from the Spotlight On Nature Dies, die-cut a circle from the lower half. You will use this as a mask to create your ice rink. Place your mask on top of your other piece and tape down. Use a blending brush with Pool Party and Balmy Blue ink, blend through the circle. Add colour until you are happy with the coverage. Remove your mask, you can use this again for another project. Stamp the Falling Snow background onto your card front with Pool Party ink.

Using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, stamp your ice skater image onto Basic White cardstock. Colour your image using Old Olive, Misty Moonlight, Real Red Stampin’ Blends combos. Use the darker of the two to add shade and create depth. I put down my darker shade first then go over with the light until it blends, some people chose to put down the light first and add dark then light again to blend. Practice to find which you feel more comfortable with.

I also used Stampin’ Blends Deep Combo for the hair and Medium Light Combo for the face. Once you are happy with the blending, fussy cut your image and add to your card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Stamp your sentiment on Basic White cardstock, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Die-cut or trim to size, I used the Happy Little Things Dies. Tie a bow with the Real Red & White Baker’s Twine and adhere to the rear of your sentiment with a Mini Glue Dot. Using Stampin’ Dimensions, add your sentiment to your card front.

Create an A6 cardbase, measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm, using Basic White Thick cardstock. Adhere your card front to your cardbase using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Finish your card by adding several Iridescent Pearls Basic Jewels.

I hope I have inspired you to try these simple colouring techniques, all the products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online store.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more creativity and inspiration. I can’t wait to see what the other demos have chosen to share with you.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Dear Santa Cling Stamp Set (English) [164303] £24.00	Spotlight On Nature Dies [163580] £33.00	Happy Little Things Dies [163709] £11.25	Real Red & White Baker's Twine [164051] £4.75	Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels [158130] £7.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £7.50	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105] £8.50	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [147107] £8.50	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154892] £10.25	Misty Moonlight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [153108] £10.25
Real Red Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154899] £10.25	Stampin’ Blends Medium Deep Combo [159461] £10.25	Stampin’ Blends Medium Light Combo Pack [159463] £10.25	Blending Brushes [153611] £14.00	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] £13.00
Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] £10.50	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] £4.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] £6.75	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.75	Paper Snips [103579] £11.25

The post Two Simple Colouring Techniques To Create A Fun Christmas Card. appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello, thank you for stopping by. For this month’s Tech 4 Stampers blog hop we are bringing you everything In-colors. We have been tasked with producing a project using three of the new 2024-2026 In-colors. It really isn’t hard to create with these beautiful In-colors, the hard part is choosing which three.

I have chosen to use Peach Pie, Pretty In Pink and Summer Splash, pairing them with the Bird’s Eye View stamp set. This stamp set is one of my favourites that carried over to the current annual catalogue. The simple images are such fun and easy to colour.

Using three of the 2024-2026 In-colors

Trim a piece of Summer Splash cardstock to 14.4cm x 10cm. Using the leaf image and Summer Splash ink, randomly stamp over your cardstock. This gives you a subtle tone-on-tone background.

Using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, stamp your birds, branch and five sets of leaves onto Basic White cardstock. Add colour using Crumb Cake, Peach Pie, Pretty In Pink and Summer Splash Stampin’ Blends Combos. You may notice that I also, accidently, used Petunia Pop for the little bird’s wing. Sorry, LOL! I am afraid there are no dies for this set, but as the images are quite simple, they are easy to fussy cut. Leaving a small white border makes this even easier.

Add your branch flat to your Summer Splash layer. For added dimension, curve your images using a bone folder or similar. You can then adhere these to your layer using Stampin’ Dimensionals. I have added a double layer to some of the leaves for a bit more perspective.

Stamp your sentiment onto Basic White cardstock and die cut, using a circle from the Stylish Shapes Dies. Fold a piece of Pretty In Pink Bordered Ribbon behind your sentiment and adhere to your card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To finish your card, add Summer Splash 2024-2026 In-colors Shimmer Gems around your leaves.

I do hope you I have given you some inspiration. All products used are listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more inspiration.

Happy Crafting

FREE Tutorial Bundle with ALL orders

When shopping online, receive a free tutorial for 6 cards!

Learn more.

Bird’s Eye View Photopolymer Stamp Set [161436] £19.00	Simply Said Mix & Match Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [163756] £16.00	Stylish Shapes Dies [159183] £28.00	2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems [163781] £8.00	Pretty In Pink 3/8" (1 Cm) Bordered Ribbon [163784] £7.00
Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154882] £10.25	Peach Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [163827] £10.25	Pretty In Pink Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [163824] £10.25	Summer Splash Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [163826] £10.25	Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad [163809] £8.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £7.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] £13.00	Summer Splash A4 Cardstock [163798] £10.75	Paper Snips [103579] £11.25	Paper Trimmer [152392] £27.00

The post Using the 2024-2026 In-colors to Create a Fun Hello Card. appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.

Hello and welcome to Octobers Stamptastic Friends Blog Hop. This month’s theme is Favourite Colouring Method. This one had so many options, Stampin’ Blends, Watercolour Pencils, Stampin’ Write Markers, Blender Pens, Soft Pastels. My favourite must be watercolour and I finally decided to create a Striped Watercolour Background.

Watercolour is my favourite colour method for many reasons. It is simple, very forgiving and makes me feel like an artist! Lol, which of cause, I am not. I love the soft tones that can be creating and variations of one colour. It allows for imprecision and that is what I need.

Creating your striped watercolour background

Cut a piece of Basic White cardstock, measuring 10cm x 14.4cm. Matt, at an angle, on to an A6 Moody Mauve card base, measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm.

Take a piece of Fluid 100 Watercolour Paper and dampen with a Stampin’ Spritzer and water. Add Mood Mauve ink to an acrylic block, either with an ink refill or by pressing the block into your ink pad and add a few drops of water. Using the widest Water Painter, dip into your ink and draw lines across your paper. Repeat with less ink to give variation and leave gaps between some lines.

Once you have finished, allow to dry and choose an area you are happy with and trim to 8cm x 13.4cm. Matt onto a layer of Moody Mauve cardstock, measuring 8.3cm x 13.7cm, and adhere to your card front at an angle.

Stamp your HELLO and typewriter image onto Basic White Cardstock, using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, and fussy cut around all. If you have a circle die or punch in your craft stash, you could us that.

Tie a large bow with the Sweet Sorbet Metallic Woven Ribbon, I think this is a good match and adds a bit of sparkle. Adhere to the back of your typewritter with Tear & Tape adhesive.

Add your stamped elements to your card front, using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

You can watch me recreate this card here.

I hope I have inspired you to get creative. All products used and listed below and available to purchase from my online shop.

Please do continue to hop round for lots more creativity and inspiration.

Happy Crafting

Just My Type Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [161614] £23.00	Sweet Sorbet 1/8'' (3.2 Mm) Metallic Woven Ribbon [159200] £8.50	Stampin' Spritzer [126185] £3.75	Water Painters [151298] £13.00	Moody Mauve Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [161657] £4.75
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £6.25	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612] £8.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228] £10.00	Moody Mauve A4 Cardstock [161732] £9.50	Paper Snips [103579] £10.25
Paper Trimmer [152392] £25.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive [154031] £6.75	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] £4.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £5.25	Clear Block C [118486] £7.50

The post Creating a Striped Watercolour Background appeared first on Leighsa's Loft.