How to use a digital stamp - tutorial using Handmade Harbour stamps with Totally Tutorials

I think it is really important to choose the stamp (I have used one from Handmade Harbour stamps)  that you feel most comfortable with and also how you are going to use it - is it going to be a card focal point or a sentiment? Then you  need to download it and save it to your PC - this is usually self-explanatory but I can help if you need it.

Once downloaded you will also need to decide what size you want your card to be as you will have to adjust the size of the image to fit the card - most of the images from Handmade Harbour fit an C5 card and so you can print 2 of them off on an A4 piece of good quality card - super smooth or even watercolour card is best but you will have to find out what thickness your printer is able to cope with.

Now you will have to decide what medium you are going to colour it in. I have chosen the following images and will be using a mix of Pro-Markers and Spectrum Noir pens as I like working with them - I know some people mention Copic Markers but they are quite expensive and not the easiest to get hold of here in the UK.

Fairy stamp from Handmade Harbour

The fairy image will be coloured in pastel colours but the border will be bright to counter the pale colours and you can also cut the sentiment out so that you can add that to another part of the card.

Off to colour them - be back soon...

Welcome back! I have now coloured the 1st image using Spectrum Noir pens - having thought it would be more pastel shading I decided that I had a purple frame that would fit it so changed the colouring to brighter more vibrant colours. Oranges, reds and purples seemed to go it with it - I am not an expert on these type of pens yet and so have tried to get the shading right - I have left the sky and the bulk of her wings uncoloured as I think I might try and use some pastel chalks on them - but might try that on another one... 

I then decided to add a bit of Rangers White Opal liquid pearl (you can get them from Handy Hippo)  to each corner of the frame and a drop of their Ruby red in the heart. Having left these to dry overnight, I then attached it to a C5 scalloped edged card which I got from Handy Hippo too as they come in a great value pack including envelopes

And here is the result....

I hope you like it... will try another one soon.. Love the designs by Handmade Harbour by the way - full of fun!

My first stall as Handmade Cards Shop - how it went....

A few weeks ago, my daughter suggested that I had a stall at her Summer Carnival selling my handmade cards and gifts as a way of bringing them to a wider audience whilst I continue to design and build my website ( www.handmadecardsshop.com ).

The idea was both exciting and daunting - oh I have had experience with selling things (I used to run the bookshop at the Labour Party taking things to all their conferences etc but that was a few years ago and I wasn't sure how my cards and notebooks would be received. I agreed and then had to decide what items would be suitable - I wanted them to notice my own designs and price them competitively enough that people would like to buy them!

Ladybird meets Art Deco -  range of goods to follow

So, the day came and boy what a scorcher as some people would say - hottest day of the year so far! I had got all the stuff ready as time would be tight - so loaded the car and we were off!  Thankfully the traffic was brilliant and we got there in good time to set up.

Thanks to my daughter and her boyfriend who helped set it up! 

Handmade Cards Shop Cards and gifts

Cards, gifts and decorations ready so would we get any customers given that it was Wimbledon Ladies' final and other sporting events going on? Luckily it was really well attended and quite a few people made their way to the stall - next time I must make sure we maybe have a gazebo or something as the sun was so hot! (and maybe even sell drinks - soft ones of course)!

The afternoon went by - people coming up and looking at what I had to sell - several of them complimenting me on my Ladybird design cards/bookmarks (see above pic for a sample) - this was really great as I had designed it myself and so I am definitely going to expand on what I had and produce a range of various items from cards, bookmarks and tags - have also made my own envelopes to go with some of the cards and would love to produce some wrapping paper on it too!


I was also chuffed that people also liked my other products (not just cards but my notebooks (being added to my website soon) too....

Notebooks - A6 spiral bound - many different designs and colours

Four hours flew by and it was time to pack up and go home - my head full of ideas and how when I next do a stall things can be improved - one down many more to go I hope - thank you to everyone who complimented my designs and showed it even more by buying some!  And a special thank you to my daughter and her boyfriend who helped make it possible!