Hey Crafty People!

Mindfully Creating

One of my favourite ways to kickstart my creativity, and get out of my own head, is to get inky and create some ink swiped backgrounds.
I thought I would film how I make some of these, so I have a quick video to share that process. Then we’ll turn these backgrounds into cards! (Keep scrolling for that!)

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A post shared by Natasha Davies | Cardmaker (@handmadebytasha13)

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Anchoring Elements

When I’m putting together cards using these backgrounds, I really like to use the swipes as a way of ‘grounding’ my elements so that they don’t feel like they are floating away. That’s what I did here, and I find this helps me to continue mindfully. I don’t have to think too much because I have a bit of a formula that I am following, and I know it is tried and true.

1. Stamp images from the Snowrific Birthday stamp set in Midnight ink; this is a great ink for Copic colouring, but you do need to let it dry thoroughly to avoid any nasty smudges. (I actually like to let mine dry overnight.)
2. Choose your colour scheme, and go for something that you are comfortable colouring with. Grab 3-4 shades in each colour; if you have these out and ready, it is much easier to colour in the images as you can just use the markers you have right there.
3. Don’t forget to add some shading to your Snow, this is another simple thing that elevates your colouring beautifully. (I decided to use blue to add the shade to my snow…you don’t always have to go grey!)
4. Die cut the images, and add white gel pen highlights. Also add some Black Glaze pen to the eyes of your Snowmen for even more detail; I love doing this on eyes!
5. Once you have planned out where your images will go, stamp your sentiment onto the background panel with Midnight.
6. Add the Snowmen and their accessories on foam adhesive for extra dimension.
7. Stack up several die cut Snowflakes and emboss them in several layers of sparkly Frosted Jewels Trio powders. (I actually had these ones left over from another card that I’ve created for this release and will be sharing soon!)
8. Trim portions of the snowflakes so that they will sit nicely ‘behind’ your images.
9. Embellish with a mixture of sequins from the Oslo sequin mix.

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Abstract Backdrop

1. Die cut the Super die (earlier release) from navy cardstock and stack it up on white. (Offset it slightly to get a white drop shadow effect.)
2. Stamp the sub sentiments in Juniper Mist, directly onto the background panel and then glue the die cut portion in place.
3. Using foam adhesive, add the Snowman and his juggling snowballs! (This was another of the Snowmen that I coloured with the last card’s Snowmen.)
4. Embellish with more sequins.

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Colour Callbacks

This is definitely my favourite of the three cards that I made with these backgrounds for this release. ?

I swapped the colours that I used for these images for a different feel. This time I went with pinks & purples and a teal combination for the shadows. (I chose these colours to fit well with the purple background I knew I already had!)

1. Stamp, colour, die cut & add highlights to more of the adorable images.
2. Stamp the sentiment, again in Midnight, once you know where you want to put your images.
3. Add images using foam adhesive for dimension.
4. Embellish with a coordinating sequin mix.

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Snowrific Party

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A post shared by Natasha Davies | Cardmaker (@handmadebytasha13)

The brand new collection from Catherine Pooler is out now, and I have lots more inspiration to share throughout the next couple of weeks.

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Please be aware:

As part of my Design Team and Guest Design work I do often receive free products to use, but I only ever recommend products that I genuinely love.

Also, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these opportunities, but you don’t always NEED the newest products or the ‘full set’.
So please don’t feel that you need everything.
I like to show a variety of brands and products; this way; this way there will be something for everybody to enjoy.

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— SUPPLIES —

Affiliate links are used

Snow-Rific Bundle Shop at: CPD	Snow Day Bundle Shop at: CPD	Snow-Rific Party Stamps Shop at: CPD	Snow-Rific Party Dies Shop at: CPD
Snow Many Flakes Die Set Shop at: CPD	Juniper Mist Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Cummerbund Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Oh, Boy! CP Ink Shop at: CPD
Oslo Sequin Mix Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Lilac Shop at: CPD	Crushed Violets Shop at: CPD	Loveladies Sequin Mix Shop at: CPD
CPD Midnight Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Frosted Jewels Shop at: WOW UK | WOW US	WOW Ultra Slow Drying Ink Pad Shop at: WOW UK | WOW US | CS UK	WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Shop at: WOW UK | WOW US | CS UK
Super Star Stamp Set Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Super Word Die Shop at: SBCOM | CPD

Red/Blue/Yellow Snowmen

Affiliate links are used

Copic R05 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic R27 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic E57 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic E25 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD
Copic E15 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic C1 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic C3 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic C5 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD
Copic C7 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic Y02 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic Y11 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic Y08 Shop at: SBP | AMZ
Copic B05 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic YR68 Shop at: SBP | CPD	Copic B04 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic B02 Shop at: SBP | AMZ
B00 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic B000 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic YR15 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic E31 Shop at: SBP | AMZ
Copic C9 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD

Pink/Purple Snowmen

Affiliate links are used

Copic BG10 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic BG23 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic V09 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic V17 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD
Copic RV25 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic B04 Shop at: SBP | AMZ	Copic V15 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic RV09 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD
Copic RV17 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Copic RV19 Shop at: SBP | AMZ | CPD	Coipic RV55 Shop at: SBP | AMZ

— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —

Affiliate links are used

MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP | Trinity	MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP	Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US	Neenah 80lb Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | Craftstash UK
Neenah 110lb Shop at: Alt	Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK	Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Trinity	Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US
Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US	Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity	Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity	Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP
We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom	Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity	Mini Trimmer Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US	9.5 inch Shears Shop at: Craftstash UK | Craftstash US
Bone Folder Shop at: Alt	Self Healing Mat Shop at: Alt | SBC

*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.