Saturday 18 November 2023

We Love Stamping November Reminder

Today is the 18th so time for a reminder for the current challenge over at We Love Stamping. The challenge where you can showcase your stamps and your skill at using them.

This month our theme is:

**Anything Stamped or Christmas Characters**
We would love to see all sorts of Christmas Characters, from Gnomes to Robins, Santa to Angels. 

Today I have some elves. I think these are the only elf stamps that I have and they are part of the same Woodware set that I used on my first card for this challenge.


My idea for this card came from the wonderful Therese Calvird . She shared a video (click the link on her name to see) on how to use small stamps. I really liked the look of the diecut circles arranged on a card, so I started out by making 9 circles but couldn't get them to look good when I arranged them on my card. Maybe because I am using a metric A6 card and she used an imperial A2 card. Anyway, in the end I settled for the line of 4. My stamp set has a total of 18 little images which include 4 little elves.

The card below is the one I made first. I foiled the background using an Altenew bebossing plate and glued down my elves and attached the sentiment. I didn't like it - the sentiment was wrong and the line of elves seemed to be missing something, so I made another - the one you see above, except I skipped the foiling on the background. Moving the sentiment and adding the ribbon helped. I pondered how to rescue the first one and decided to try the little twine bows. As luck would have it I had the right coloured twine for each circle (really not sure how that happened!). I then added little gold embellishments and it was done. I am pleased with it now, so much better, although the sentiment is still in the wrong place. The foiling does give it an extra lift though.


You can see the shine on the picture below.


I ended up making 4 of these. Thanks for the inspiration Therese.


I was originally going to heat emboss all the little characters, but decided that was a step too far as it would have been very time consuming.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are three prizes, two dies from Sizzix and stamp from Craft Stash  Why don't you head over to the challenge blog to check it out? The prize winner is selected randomly and in addition the DT will choose one entry to join us as a guest designer for a future challenge.

I hope I have inspired you to join us this month, all you have to do is ensure that there is some stamping (including digi) on your card. It would be great if you could join in with our theme, but anythings goes is always an option if you are out of ideas. The challenge will close at noon (UK time) on Wednesday 29th November.

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Supplies:
Ink: Brusho powders; Catherine Pooler: deck the halls, glam, martini, cranberry fizz, flame; versamark
Stamps: Woodware JGS824 bubble large tops; Tonic Studios stamp club stamp and die set 12 Christmas rose
Dies: Nesting circle and scalloped edge

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

31 comments:

brenda said...

That's a great design to showcase smaller stamps Hilary and very effective how you have graduated the colours.

B x

Pauline C said...

Love this design Hilary, the graduated colours and fouling on the elves is fabulous
Pauline xx

Lisa said...

I love when I can be inspired to make more than one card with a great layout and just the right papers and imagery. These are fantastic.

Mervi said...

Great idea,so lovely card;-))m

crafty-stamper said...

Great CAS cards and love the design with the images in the circles.
Carol x

Dotty Jo said...

What a fun way to showcase those little elves! this works so well, Hilary, Jo x

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Darling quartet of elves featured in their scalloped circles, Hilary! Love your design with the sentiment up one row - you were right, I think, to move it :) Love the little twine bows though!!

Liz said...

Great card, Hilary. I love the little elves and the background is just beautiful. xx

Cat Craig said...

Love your elves, the line of them is very pleasing to the eye.

I Card Everyone said...

Why stop at one, when it's just as easy to keep stamping? Hilary, they are all so darling and sweetly aligned in a row - I love the added ribbon! There's my favorite debossing again - I never tire of it!
Therese happens to be my favorite person on that continent! Maybe the whole southern hemisphere!
=] Michele

Rainey's Craft Room said...

These little elves make such sweet embellishments for your cards. I love the colours you have used and the simple design is very effective too.
Lorraine

Leslie Miller said...

You've got 4 really darling cards here, including the first with the matching twine bows. I love the elves. That's something that's mostly missing from my collection, too. The crisply stamped images look perfect as is, sans embossing. That is a very time consuming process.

GerJanne said...

Very clever to make 4 cards of these. They are very nice with the little characters! Tomorrow I've plenty of time to craft and not yet ready with the Christmascards...so maybe there is a chance that I can join you in the challenge!

GerJanne said...

testing

GerJanne said...

Ah.... shoot! My previous comment wasn't published...
Your cards are very clever. I mean to make 4 of them and the different characters are lovely! Tomorrow i'll have plenty of time to craft, so I hope I can join you in this challenge.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

It's a wonderful design Hilary, really inspiring! Thanks for the link to the video.I have to try this way to use little stamps, it's great also for use snippets! The rows of elves look really great and how lucky you have the right shades of twine! Love so much this first card! The foiling adds a festive touch and elegance, well done!

aussie aNNie said...

This is so lovely the design and image make a gorgeous card ♥

Ashwini Rao said...

I think it's a gorgeous idea to use small sized stamps like this - a keeper of an idea for me as well! I actually liked both designs that you've created. And how lucky you had the right colors of twine for all of them! Yay for both the cards!

Linby said...

What a great way to use smaller stamps, they look so lovely too.

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Hilary this is beautiful in its simplicity the little elf stamps work perfectly I think this is top notch
hugs
lolo x

KraftyKoolKat said...

These cards are really gorgeous, the elves are set off nicely with the embossed backdrop.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Bonnie said...

I'm loving these dancing elves, Hilary! They are so fun and I agree that the sentiment placed higher gives a better balance. Good save with the bows!

Christine Alexander said...

your little elves are so cute, and the foiled sentiment is perfect ♥

Loll said...

All four cards are wonderful and each has it's own personality. Those elves are so fun as they dance their way across the page!! :) Great card Hilary! xx

papierelle said...

Really cute your little elves!! And I love the idea and design of your cards!!!

Jules said...

Hi Hilary

Great use of those small images!

Love all the different designs you have come up with and the foiling looks great too.

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Love Jules xx

kiwimeskreations said...

Great use of the wee images, Hilary, and I love how you 'saved' the first card, and then was inspired to make three more - well done
Blessings
Maxine -

Rajani Rehana said...

Great blog

baileyrosy.com said...

What an amazing card love the gorgeous background it's perfect for those cute little stamps.Therese is always a source of inspiration.

Marie

Maria said...

A great collection of cards with all the wonderful images and in different colors, so cute!!

Greta said...

What a great design! These are darling & I need to case you!