Pennant Banner Tutorial

Today, I have a little tutorial for you all, inspired by The Counterfeit Kit Challenge. (I'm Guest Designing for them this month!) This month's Counterfeit Inspiration Kit contained some of Maya Road's Canvas Pennants. They're a little bit too big for my style, so I created my own, much dinkier version using the Bannerific Stamp Set by Lawn Fawn. I can highly recommend purchasing this little lovely. It really is one of my favourite sets because each of the elements is adorable - perfect for cards and scrapbook layouts; and most especially for counterfeiting your own embellishments.

Your first step is to gather up some scraps in a colour combination which will suit your finished project and I chose colours that would compliment September's Counterfeit Kit. I then stamped directly onto my little pieces of patterned paper scraps - sometimes managing to fit on all five of the little pennants, sometimes only one or two. It's doesn't really matter, because you'll be cutting them out individually, so use up as many of those small scraps as possible! Cut out all of your stamped pennant images and arrange them roughly into the order you'd like them to appear in your banner. Now it's time for some machine stitching. (If you're not a confident stitcher, try working your way through my recent series of tutorials Stitching On Paper.)

Start by setting your sewing machine to straight stitch and adjust the speed to it's slowest setting. Now place your first pennant piece under the presser foot, with the needle in place just above the outside edge of the pennant. Sew three or four stitches - aim to leave a little bit of space between your last stitch and the edge of pennant.

Ensure that you leave the needle in the 'down' position - then lift the presser foot and slide the next pennant into place, so that the edges of your pennants are close but not overlapping.

When the pennant is in place, drop the presser foot and continue stitching. Repeat until you have completed your banner - stitching to the very edge of the last pennant piece. Now remove the banner from your sewing machine, pulling on both working threads.

Knot the working threads at each end of your banner - this will stop the pennant pieces moving around - and use a needle or paper piercer to ensure that the knot is tight up against each end. Now display your banner proudly on your cards and layouts!

Maybe you could try this over the weekend? Whatever you do, have a good one! Clair x

Believe.

Over the weekend, I delved into one of my boxes of scraps 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 subconciously 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 simple, sentiment (which is part of the main sentiment from the same set.)

Mini Making With Colour & Pattern

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!

Have good week! Clair x

Notts Weekend Mini Book

For the last couple of weeks, I've been working on turning my photographs from our beautiful Nottingham Weekend into a little mini-book. Lots of cutting, corner chomping, stamping and sticking later and I've finally finished. 

I very much wanted the emphasis to be on the photographs and the journalling - and I've included a lot of space for journalling, as well as adding some smaller page titles to add a bit of texture. 

There's a lot of pages packed into one little mini book, so I've kept my embellishments to a minimum, using my favourite stamps from Lawn Fawn's;Bon Voyage, Bannerific and Say Cheese Too, along with some of the smaller doily shapes from Unity's Blossom Stackers. There's some teeny bits of bling too, just to add some - but not too much - dimension and some continuity between the pages.

Little Gift Tags

In between projects, I always clear my desk of leftovers, but to make tidying feel a little less like a chore, I like to gather up some of my scraps and make something small. I find it helps me to use up those teeny, tiny scraps while I still have the incentive!

Stamps help with this process, because the smaller designs really make the most of those scraps - and there's very little waste. 

During my last desk clean, I decided to make a few little gift tags. I chose my designs and colours based on a few leftover pieces of ribbon which were floating around.

This first tag uses a sentiment from Cruising Through Life, a little cloud from Bon Voyage and a circle element from Blossom Stackers. Doesn't it look like a little sun when it's stamped in yellow?

On this second tag, I've used some leaves and floral elements from Blissful Botanicals and FlutterBy. The two sets compliment each other so perfectly.

And lastly, a simple little tag made with a sentiment from Boob Tubes and an embellished star element from Learning Year By Year.

*** Please note that although the new website for Make The Day Special is now open, Emily is still working on the shop and we're currently unable to link to each stamp set. We'll let you know as soon as everything is re-stocked on the website. ***

Simple Stackers

I finally got my grubby (well, inky) little mitts on the Blossom Stackers Set by Samantha Walker, for Unity. Let me tell you, this set is amazing! There are so many stamps in it - and the photograph over on the website, just does not do it justice.

 Here's just a few of the circle elements, used quite simply, on a layout that I made this weekend. I've stamped each element using Stone Grey Stazon, which gives a slightly softer look than Jet Black. Then, as I don't yet have the co-ordinating die-cuts (or a die-cutter for that matter!) I've cut the elements by hand.

   

The circle elements are interchangeable - meaning that each of the stamps can be used in multiple combinations. Plus, there's an absolute ton of sentiments which can be used with the beautifully ornate frames. Honestly, I haven't had an awful lot of time to play with them all yet, but expect to be seeing a lot of this set!

*** Just a little reminder that our Make The Day Special online store, is currently closed while we give it a little make-over. Hopefully, the store should be back up and ready to ship out those all important stamps by the weekend. ***

Sweet & Swift Good Luck Card

Sometimes I need to rustle up a quick card to send off to a friend - I must admit that I'm one of those people that remembers birthdays and special occasions at the last minute. Other times I'll send a little something for those occasions that can't be planned, like when I hear that someone has an interview for a new job. 

 This cute little card I made over the weekend needed to be sweet, but swift, so I delved into my stamps and settled on the two that I use the most - Lawn Fawn's Blissful Botanicals and Sophie's Sentiments.

I love using a background stamp in an ink that's only subtly different from my cardstock - it reminds me a little of embossing. Then just a little bit of black ink and a co-ordinating flower to finish off. It might not be a work of art, but is does remind someone that you're thinking of them. And sometimes, that's all you need!

Day Trippers, Yeah!

Say Cheese Too! is one of my all time favourite stamp sets from Lawn Fawn because it's absolutely fantastic for scrapbooking. It includes months and numbers - making it perfect for including dates - and it has the most adorable camera stamp I have ever seen!



As soon as I started this layout, I pulled out my stamp set and added one of the sentiment stamps from the set 'A Great Snapshot Warms The Heart'. Couldn't be better for a layout about one of our first dates, right? I also added the little camera to one of my embellishment clusters. I told you it was adorable!

To tie in with the sentiment and the theme of the layout, I also used the teeny, tiny heart stamp from Cruising Through Life. Stamped, coloured and cut-out, it adds a few pops of colour and movement.



Stamps can be something we scrapbookers forget about, so if you're working on some layouts this week, have a little rummage through your Make The Day Special stamps. You might just find the perfect addition!

A Little 'Hi!'

I'm a huge fan of sending a little traditional mail every now and then and what's nicer than receiving a handmade card - especially when it's not for a special occasion? That means someone thinks you're special, right?

And luckily for me, my favourite stamps, from Lawn Fawn's Summer 2011 Release, are full of cute phrases and short sentiments, perfect for a general greeting.

I've made this card using the ticket and balloons from Admit One, a cute flower from Blissful Botanicals and a dinky sentiment from Cruising Through Life.

Why not have an afternoon creating some cards so that you have a little stock on hand? And a bit of ink on your fingers?

Spring Stashbusting Tags

Hello! Hello! It's been a long time, but I'm so pleased to be back with the ladies here at Make The Day Special. I've really missed playing with my lovely stamps - so I was thrilled to have some time this weekend to get stuck in. My fingers are now satisfyingly inky!

First I made a couple of little gift tag backgrounds using some teeny, tiny scraps. It's really simple, just stick them down, then sew them up! I thought the colours would be perfect for spring.

The first tag uses a partial sentiment and balloons from Admit One and a little cloud from Bon Voyage - both sets from Lawn Fawn's Summer 2011 Release. Still one of my favourite stamp collections!



The second tag uses a simple sentiment from Cruising Through Life, another set from Lawn Fawn's Summer 2011 Release, and some pretty stars from Learning Year By Year, one of Unity's Store Kits.



Such super, simple stashbusting projects that will add a little 'something, something' to any gift.

Happy Fall

I have a little autumnal card for you this evening - made with some of my favourite stamp sets from Unity and Lawn Fawn.

As the main focal, I've used a checkered frame stamp and sentiment from Unity's Harvest Of Memories. As an accent, I've stamped and coloured a pretty floral from Unity's Quiet Essence, removing the leaves from the stamp and adding a little leaf frond from Lawn Fawn's Blissful Botanicals instead. I've then added a hand-rolled paper rose, with a little pearl inside. Done!

Clinging To Memories Of Summer

Hello! Hello! I have no idea what kind of weather you're all experiencing at the moment, but I've been surrounded by grey, miserable rainclouds for the last few days - and I must apologise because they're seriously affecting my ability to take a good photograph of my crafty makes!



I've been clinging to my memories of summer for as long as possible by using Admit One from Lawn Fawn's Summer Release. Though if you're hankering for some autumnal projects, may I suggest that you take a peek at the rather delicious Autumn Release now available?



My sentiment is created using the super cute ticket stamp (which is set to be an all time favourite) and I've also used two of the sentiment stamps that came with the set. It's fairly easy to mask of individual words with a couple of Post-It-Notes and you end up with a whole new sentiment!

Here's a picture of the set, so you can see the original sentiments -

To add a little bit of 'pop' to the card, I've also added the larger of the two pinwheel stamps that come with the set, colouring it with Pro-Markers to co-ordinate with the spray ink on my card base.

Et voila!

Nearly, But Not Quite, Autumn

It's nearly autumn. I can feel it in the air and I am so excited. Every year I eagerly anticipate the return of thick tights, scarfs and woolly jumpers. And, of course, the return of slightly colder weather and the odd rain storm that make me feel justified in staying indoors to craft and drink copious amounts of tea!

I busted out one of my autumn stamp sets earlier today, just to start playing around with some ideas that I've had in my head for a little while.

I used just one of my stamp sets from Make The Day Special (Unity's Harvest Of Memories)to create the card, because it comes with so many different little leaf stamps and the perfect sentiments. To make sure that I could easily stamp the leaves in a circle, I actually cut apart one of the longer stamps to make each leaf an individual stamp. Shock! Cutting my stamps.

The resulting card isn't quite what I was expecting. It's one of those projects I think is 'nearly, but not quite' but I'll definitely going to be trying this again with some different colours, techniques and probably a bit more layering. It's good to experiment, right?

*** By the way, if you've not visited Make The Day Special for a little while, be sure to take a peek at Emily's new stock - there's new Zig Pens from Kuretake, Papersmooches Stamps from Kim Hughes and there's some fantastic reductions in the August Sale. ***

A Genuine Genius

Today's teeny tiny card is a little congratulations card with a bit of a difference - I wanted something simple but sweet to tell someone special that I'm proud of them. (You know who you are! Clever clogs!)


I just love this cute label stamp from Unity's Garden Variety set - which is part of Make The Day Special's Amazing August Sale. The label can be stamped with or without the 'Genuine' sentiment, but I left it in and then squeezed in some extra alphas from Lawn Fawn's Jessie's ABCs.

Using a little alpha set and this cute little label, there's plenty of ways you can create your own simple sentiments. So, check out the sale and start making your own genius creations.

Subtle Shades

Just popping by with a quick make for the weekend. This little note card uses one of the longer, background stamps from Beautiful Botanicals, along with one of the sentiment stamps from Sophie's Sentiments.



Using an ink in a similar tone to my cardstock, I simple stamped back and forth to create a subtle background pattern on my base. Then added my sentiment and a handmade ruffled ribbon flower. Done in minutes!

Be Unique

I've been playing around with my inks, mists and colour markers recently - getting a feel for colour combinations and 'practising' for larger projects. So today I'm sharing a little tag that I made using some of the leftovers from a project using my mist inks. Little cards and tags really are a great way to use up all of those scraps you have lying around!



The base of the card was already misted in autumnal colours, so I wanted to create something 'earthy'. I used the corner stamp from Lawn Fawn's Blissful Botanicals and coloured it using Promarkers, then added a suitably nature inspired sentiment from Unity's Naturally You.

Quick, simple and, yet, extremely satisfying!

Loving My Lawn Fawn's

As you have all probably realised by now - I love my Lawn Fawn! This bright and beautiful card uses three of Lawn Fawn's most popular stamp sets - Jessie's ABCs, Blissful Botanicals and Bon Voyage.



Jessie's ABCs is a super set full of letters - upper and lower case - along with numbers and punctuation. It even includes multiples of some letters, making longer words and phrases easy and quick to stamp. I can now stamp my own sentiments whenever I like - versatile and easy on the pocket!



So, to use the sentiment I'd stamped, I then created a card to showcase it a little. The background is created using one of the stamps from BLissful Botanicals - stamped in the 'sing along' colours of the rainbow - and the clouds are from Bon Voyage.

Can you see why I love my Lawn Fawn?

Pretty Pennants

Morning! I have a couple of cute cards to share with you today.

The base of the cards is quite simple - a little patchwork of co-ordinating papers and a bit of stitchery. To create the pennant greetings, I stamped the ticket image from Admit One and used Jessie's ABCs to add the lettering.



I then 'strung' them onto some embroidery thread (by sticking them with double-sided tape) along with some colour co-ordinating beads. And voila!



I've never used the tickets as pennants before, but I feel a lot of cards on this theme coming on, it's hard to stop after just one. Here's the proof!



I think I've turned into a card-making, pennant monster!

Sweet Little Notes

After finishing up a craft project, I often find myself with small leftovers and there is nothing more pleasing than finding a use for them! Yesterday, I ended up with a long piece of stripy kraft cardstock. I decided to cut it down into smaller pieces and create some sweet little notes using the teeny tiny stamps from Sophie's Sentiments and Say Cheese Too.

It can be all too easy to overlook some of the smaller stamps in these sets, but I think they're really versatile - and they're fun too! I also added a couple of small sentiments to the mix, by only inking up part of the larger phrases. You can see that with just a few stamps, some black ink and a little bit of time - five minutes to be exact - I ended up with something I can use in other craft projects, instead of something to add to the scrap pile.

I'm thinking gift tags, tiny journalling spots, or cute card toppers - lots of options. So, make the most of your Make The Day Special stamps by constantly looking for new ways to use them!

And, don't forget that some of the giveaways we featured as part of last week's Get 'Em While You Can Blog Hop are still open - including my own - so now's your chance to make some last minute entries.

Mix & Match Your Stamp Sets

Today's offering uses one of the stamps from Blissful Botanicals - part of Lawn Fawn's 2011 Summer Release - as a background stamp. It adds a little bit of colour and interest! I've also added a beautiful floral element and quote from Unity's Quiet Essence.



They look much better together than I originally thought they might. It's all to do with the colour combinations, I think. So, don't forget to mix and match your stamp sets for a slightly different look!

Clair x