A truly fabulous distressed Inkadink Christmas Card

Isn't it all such hard work!! Christmas I mean, especially for all us Papercrafters. The pressure to send a handmade card ('cause we have so much stash) and we know we ought to take the biggest opportunity of the year and show off our skills and all our friends and family will be expecting something, handmade, spectacular, and really special that we have made ourselves. On top of the fact that we have to shop till we drop, then make a cake, a pudding, mince pies, bread sauce, stuffing etc etc etc. Buy and wrap (sometimes creatively!!), presents, wash, iron and change beds ready for the family. OMG!! do you feel as stressed as we do? Answers on a (handmade) postcard, or better still an ATC please!! So, how impressed are we to receive the card featured here in the post yesterday, with a note from the lovely Jayne of Butterfly Kisses apologising for being so busy and not able to send any samples of silkies (Yet - watch this space). Please girls do not apologise, how did you manage on top of all the other stresses at this time of year? For those who haven't come across Butterfly Kisses, Alison and Jayne have some of the most beautiful samples you will ever see at Craft Shows up and down the country. They work really hard and also produce the clever and original range of Around-2-it, clear stamps.

I keep saying how fabulous the Inkadinks are and you can use them like distress inks and this card illustrate this beautifully. Using such a restricted colour palette is really effective and the Inkadinks sit beautifully on the smooth cream card. Dab some inked up cut n dry foam around the edges of the card to complete the look. Some curled dark blue wire and cream and blue organza ribbon completes the look. Simple, stylish and so effective.

So we are using Jayne's card to wish you all a lovely seasonal time and at least you can really relax in just 48 hours time - YES!!

Big and Juicy Ink Pads and a few techniques!

AT LAST!! They have arrived - so many apologies to everyone who has been waiting for the Big and Juicy Ink Pads. The container was delayed from the US and so we have waited an extra month for the delivery - anyway they are here. Check out the Web Site for colours and availability. The Price is £9.90!! so why not order 2 sets so that you get your free P&P!! Remember we have really limited stocks (should have ordered more!) so make sure you don't miss out. For those of you who are unsure how to use the Big and Juicy Ink Pads, these are the gorgeous fellas that you use with your Brayer. The thing to remember is always roll the Brayer in the direction of the ink (use the lid to remind you!). Check out the price of our Brayers, they are really good value too!
Don't forget that you can use the Big and Juicy Pads for the resist technique. Stamp or roll an image onto glossy card with Versamark, ink up your Brayer roller with Big and Juicy Ink, roll some of the ink off onto some kitchen towel and then roll over the stamped image. Do this 3 or 4 times until you are happy with the effect. Polish over the top with some kitchen towel. The Versamark image will 'pop', through the ink. You can also dye ribbons on the Big and Juicy pad. Lightly dampen white or cream ribbon, then pull the ribbon through the colours you like, do this on both sides of the ribbon. Pull through one colour at a time, back and front. Leave to dry and iron, your ribbon will then have a 'spaced dyed', look and will match your card. It is a really delicate and pretty effect. If you like stamping onto fabric, use the same technique to dye your fabric. As I always tell you at shows, Dye Ink - think - Dylon!! Damp the fabric and then scrumple up and dot and dab onto the colours you want to use. If you want a more controlled, softly marbled effect, iron the fabric straight (or if you want lines in it don't iron it!), place onto some greaseproof paper, use a piece of sponge, take colour from the Big and Juicy and dab onto the fabric until you like the effect. Let it dry, iron, stamp onto the fabric with Versafine or a good craft ink pad. Stitch into the fabric, add beads and couch threads for texture. You can do exactly the same effect on handmade paper or even good quality watercolour paper or card. Sponge on the colour for the background, dry, iron (under kitchen paper), stamp and stitch on top for all the latest effects.