Heart and Hearth Crafts

I’m getting ready for Christmas with Waddy and Wanda digital stamps from Polkadoodles. They go perfectly with First Edition’s White Christmas papers.

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Digital Stamping

I’m using a digital stamp from Polkadoodles, it’s part of their Waddy & Wanda Penguin range.

There are thousands of different digital stamps availible online. Click here to take a look at my favourites.

I get most of my digital stamps from Polkadoodles. I fell in love with their designs many, many years ago. They are a joy to colour and I always really enjoy card making with them. Sign up for their newsletter for weekly deals and money off new releases.

If you’ve not used digital stamps before take a look at this step by step guide to using digital stamps in your card making.

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Printing Digital Stamps

I print my digital stamps onto Ultimate Graphic 160gsm paper. It’s bright white so my colours really pop and it’s super smooth surface makes blending easier.

You don’t need a fancy or expensive printer to print digital stamps. I use a Canon Pixma, any inkjet printer will do.

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Designer Papers

It’s usually a good idea to choose your designer papers before you colour your digital stamp this way you can use the colours of the paper to choose your markers.

This gorgeous White Christmas paper pack from First Edition was the perfect subtle colour combination to make these cute little penguins shine.

I also like to choose some co-ordinating plain paper or card. I use this as a mat to frame my designer papers, it gives my cards a cohesive look.

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Colouring Digital Stamps

I’ve coloured these digital stamps with my Winsor & Newton BrushMarkers. They are much more affordable than other brands of alcohol markers but are still of excellent quality. I prefer the brush nib as it allows me more control over my pen strokes and makes it easier to blend.

I use Winsor & Newton Promarker Brush pens to colour most of my digital stamp card making projects and I highly recommend them.

I tend to choose three shades of each colour, a dark, mid tone and a lighter shade for highlights. I often include a grey or a pale brown shade to deepen a colour and create a shade that I don’t have.

You need to work quite quickly with alcohol markers. So It’s best to tackle one area at a time. I tend to leave each area to dry and work on a different part of the image to avoid the colours mixing.

I usually start with the darkest shade and colour where there would be a shadow or the part furthest from an imaginary light source. Then I go over this with the mid tone, flicking the pen to add more colour into the centre of the shape I’m colouring. Finally I go over the whole area with the lightest tone.

After my image has dried a bit I often find I’ve blended too well and I go over the darkest areas again to deepen the shadow.

You really don’t need a lot of markers. I think I have about 60 different colours. However I would advise you not to skrimp on the greys and muted shades, they are so useful for adjusting other colours. If you click on the image above you can see all of the colours I have in my collection. These are the shades I would recommend investing in to get a good range of colours without buying the full set.

Here’s the shade’s I’ve used:

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Layering the Card

I base my card designs around the main image so that I’m keeping this as the focal point. I start by measuring how big I want the main image to be and cutting it out. Then I cut a mat from plain paper or card that measures 3mm bigger than my main Digi image.

I like to ink the edges of my image with Tim Holtz distress ink pads.

Next I choose what size and shape I’d like my next layer. I cut this out of First Edition White Christmas designer paper and also cut another mat 3mm bigger.

On these cards I’ve also cut mats for the greetings. They’re too small to measure 3mm bigger so I’ve just cut the mats by eye.

I start by gathering all of my colour co-ordinated embellishments and choosing which ones I’d like to use. This sparkly silver adhesive tape was perfect for a little touch of wintery sparkle. I stuck it along the side of my largest layer.

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Assembling the Layers

I like to use 6mm double sided tape for most of my cards. It’s cheaper than the usual 12mm tape but it sticks just as well.

I cut the double sided tape to length and lay it onto the back of my paper. One strip at the top and another at the bottom is usually plenty for a card making project.

I use a pokey tool to remove the backing from the tape. It’s nice and easy and saves my finger nails from getting split.

I place my paper onto the backing mount, starting with one corner and then I gently lower it into place so that the visible border of the backing mount is nice and even.

For teeny tiny little embellishments I generally use silicone glue. I use my pokey tool to roll a little blob of silicone from the end of the tubes and then roll it onto my page.

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Embellishments

These little bows add a lovely feminine touch. I’ve stuck them in place after assembling the rest of the layers.

Cards just don’t look finished to me without a few gems in the corner!! I always use craft tweezers to position them perfectly.

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Take a Peak Inside

I think it’s such a shame to receive a beautifully decorated card only to open it and be faced with a blank page. So I use more of my designer papers to decorate the insides of my cards. I mostly use scraps leftover from the main design and a 10cm square of plain paper to write a nice message onto.

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Shop this Card Making Project

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More Christmas Card Making Projects

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Pin it Now, Craft it Later

I do hope you have enjoyed having a peak at my latest card making project. Please feel free to use my handmade cards to inspire your own creations, pin it to your Pinterest for later.

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