Artline Monday - Mother's Day cards

It is Mother's Day this Sunday but don't worry if you're not prepared for it yet!  Last week we made a Mother's Day gift and today I'm going to show you a couple of simple but sweet card ideas I found on Pinterest.

Card making supplies

For the first card I folded a piece of A4 card in half and attached some green twine around the edges of the front of it, this gives the card a little bit of texture and makes it look more interesting.  If you don't have any twine then you could use some ribbon or washi tape instead or just skip this step altogether.

Making a basic card shape

I used a punch and some patterned scrap paper to make 15 heart shapes, then I wrote the letters for HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY onto the hearts using my black Supreme brush marker.

Writing my message

Once I had my message I played around with how I wanted to space the hearts out on the card, when I was happy with how they looked I glued them into place.

Drawing the strings

The last step for this card was to turn the hearts into a bunch of balloons by drawing strings to hold them together using an Artline 200 fineliner. 

The finished card

For the second card I used another piece of A4 card folded in half.

Card and Artline pens

Starting in the bottom left hand corner and working my way up towards the top right hand corner I wrote "happy Mother's Day" in cursive with my Artline pens

Happy Mother's Day

Then I added a large 3D butterfly sticker to the end of my message, as if it was the path the butterfly had just flown.  The card looked a little plain so I decided to use another couple of small butterfly stickers on it for some extra decoration.

3D butterfly stickers

I'm happy with how both cards turned out, I think they look cute and I would be happy to receive either of them this weekend!

Two cute and easy to make cards

Of course there is still time for you to pop out and buy your mum a card from the shops but I always think that a handmade card is nicer as it shows you've spent time making something to make them happy.  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Artline Monday - Valentine's Day cards

Following on from last week's Valentine's Day gift this week I'm sharing a couple of ideas for making your own cards.  

Card making supplies

My first card is pink and girly but you could change the colours to something you prefer.  I started out with an A4 sheet of card and folded it in half.  Then I glued a smaller piece of patterned card in the centre leaving me with a pink boarder.

Plain and patterned card

I glued an even smaller piece of white card on top of the patterned sheet giving me a nice layered look.

Making layers

Next I added a cute mini envelope and wrote Hugs inside along the bottom of it with my Artline fineliner....

Mini envelope with message

... and then doodled some more messages as if they were coming out of the envelope.

Doodling

I used my fineliner and metallic Artline Supreme marker to draw some hearts and add a couple of finishing touches which you can see in the final photo on this post.

Girly card

I wanted my second card to be a bit more "manly" so I went with darker colours but again you can change them to suit your tastes.

Colouring in the lace

I had some white lace stickers so I stuck a couple of strips of them onto the card to give it a bit of texture and then painted over it with a metallic silver poster marker.

Message on the front

I used an Artline Supreme brush marker to write Happy Valentine's Day on the front of the card.  Then I added some blue highlights to my lettering with a metallic blue poster marker and drew a couple of hearts in the corners too.

My finished designs

Once you have finished making your cards all that is left to do is to write your messages inside them!  I will leave that totally up to you but I always like a cheeky poem that makes me laugh.

See you again soon!

Artline Monday - Thinking of you week

Today is the start of Thinking of you week so there's no better time to grab your pens, paper and greeting cards and spread a little cheer!  If you aren't familiar, Thinking of you week is all about letting people know you care by sending them a card or letter to brighten their day!

Thinking of you

Last year I wrote about different ways you can join in with the fun so if you are looking for some ideas you can check out that post here.  I thought for today's post I would give you some writing prompts in case you want to get involved but have no idea what to actually write!  Sometimes looking at a blank piece of paper makes my mind go blank too, writers block is a real thing!

Favourite memory

What is your favourite memory of the person you are writing too?  Would it make them smile to remember the day you first met or became friends, a holiday you shared together or an event you went to?  Was there something funny that happened when you were together that still makes you laugh whenever you think about it now?  Remind the person you are writing to about these stories.

Compliments

How lovely would it be to receive a note or card in the mail telling you something nice about yourself?  What is the best thing about your friend or family member, are they kind, joyful, strong or brave?  Do they have nice eyes or fantastic hair?  How does having them in your life affect you?  Why are you thankful for them?

Recommendations

Have you found a recipe you think they would like to make, cut it out and add it to your letter.  Have you read a good book or is there a piece art you love or a poem you would like to share?  Have you started watching a TV show you think they would enjoy or taken up a new hobby, let them know about it.

Share why

Out of everyone you could have written to, why did you decide to write to this person?  Do you miss them, do you want to arrange getting together again soon, are they your best friend or favourite family member?  Tell them!

Congratulate

Has something good happened to them recently?  Did they pass an exam or a test?  Have they gotten a new job, home or pet?  Or has something good happened to you?  Share it with them.

Your notes, letters and cards do not have to be overly long so don't feel like you have to write pages and pages, I am sure whatever you choose to write will be appreciated!

Decorating the envelope

If you want to make your envelope look a little special so it will stand out against the leaflets and bills when it is delivered you can decorate it.  I like using kraft colour envelopes and writing on them with my white calligraphy pen.  You can write the recipient's name and address as fancy as you like as long as the door number and postcode are clear so it is easy to deliver.  If you like metallic colours then you should try the Artline Supreme markers as they come in lots of different shades and won't run if they get wet as the ink is permanent.

Treats to add to your letter

You could add a small treat to your letter or card if you like, little things like pocket size notebooks, pens, postcards, bookmarks, tags and stickers will all fit easily through the letterbox and not weigh very much.  You could also add a tea bag or sachet of coffee for the person to enjoy while they read your note or a sweet treat to nibble on.  Think of this as an optional extra though, the main idea is to spread happiness through putting pen to paper so don't feel obliged to add anything else!

I hope you receive something nice in the mail this week!

National Stationery Week - a week in pictures

So National Stationery Week is over again for another year!  Did you have fun, I know I did!  I thought today would be a good time to do a round up of all the days we celebrated together. 

My stationery themed jewellery for the week

In honour of the seven days of stationery I wore my stationery themed jewellery with pride.  The name badge necklace is from Finest Imaginary in collaboration with Onr Shop and my pastel pencils pin is from Ip Dip Design on Etsy.  I love them both and received lots of compliments while wearing them!

Box of supplies from the NatSatWeek team

I was sent a huge box of stationery supplies by the NatStatWeek team and sponsors, it was filled with items which matched the themes for each day of the week.  I used these products to take photos based on the themes and shared them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter daily as well as my post for World Stationery Day. 

Monday - #makeanote

Monday's Make A Note day was sponsored by Nu:notebook and I was given this gorgeous pink Spectrum notebook.  I was out and about that day so I took it with me and snapped this pic in the park.

SNT Thank you cards

Say Nice Things surprised me with this lovely set of Thank You cards, they come in packs of four and are perfect for sharing your gratitude with someone.  I can't pick a favourite but I love the little foil accents on each one!

Tuesday - #penandpencil

Tuesday was Pen And Pencil day, sponsored by Staedtler.  I used a couple of their pigment liners for this shot along with my copy of Stationery Matters. 

Wednesday - #stationerytheworldover

For World Stationery Day I made a paper clip out of felt shaped like the Earth and then surrounded it with lots of stationery goodies!  I have made myself lots of plushie paper clips over the years, all based on this tutorial by the lovely Mrs Brimbles if you are interested in making your own.  #stationerytheworldover was sponsored by the Stationery Show London, I really wish I could have visited this year but the dates just didn't work out *pouts*, maybe next year!

My personalised paper clip

During the week I received this amazing paper clip from Handcrafted by Sheree, she also sent me the die cut of my blog logo that I used in my photo for World Stationery Day.  Aren't they cute?

Thursday - #workhappy

Thursday's Work Happy day was sponsored by Mustard who have the perfect range of products for brightening up your desks!  I love the doggy page markers and rainbow sticky notes so much but the T-Rex highlighter is my favourite, it's just too cool!

T-Rex highlighter in use

I use highlighters a lot in my bullet journal so I tested this one out on Work Happy Day and wrote over the top of it with my Artline calligraphy pen as if it was going to be the header/title for a section in my notebook.  It writes very nicely and is comfortable to use.

Friday - #aplaceforeverything

I think this year was the first time Santoro have been involved with NatStatWeek, they sponsored A Place for Everything day.  I used some of their cute products for this photo but now my eldest daughter has claimed the A4 folder for her art work and my youngest has her eye on the pencil case and Clipboard planner!  Ah the joys of raising stationery addicts!

Saturday - #getcrafty

Saturday was Get Crafty day and Crafters Companion sponsored this one.  They sent me a set of dual tipped Spectrum Noir metallic markers in precious metals and these pens are brilliant for working on coloured cards and paper.  The inks really stand out against darker backgrounds and are very nice to work with. 

Sunday - #signaturesunday

Signature Sunday was sponsored by Cross so I used the super swish Bailey ballpoint pen they sent me to write a quick blog post.  Click on the photo to enlarge it if you want to take a peek.  The Bailey pen also came with it's own leather case so I will be able to pop it in my bag and not have to worry about scratching the black lacquer or chrome areas.

Personalising my notebook

The end of National Stationery Week made me feel sad so I cheered myself up by personalising my new notebook using a couple of the Spectrum Noir markers.  Now every time I use it I will remember what a great time I had during NatstatWeek and look forward to NSW19!

How did you celebrate this special week?

Thanks for stopping by!

Artline Monday - Making Valentines Day cards

Yes!  We made it through January!  February always feels like a much nicer month as it is so short and we have Valentines Day slap bang in the middle of it!  It is a month for love and showing people you care so for today's post I am sharing some ideas about how to make your own Valentines card for that special someone.

Card making supplies

I brought a really pretty book of patterned card recently and a set of chalkboard sticker labels so I thought I would use these to make my cards along with a selection of Artline pens. 

Folding the cards

I removed pieces of card from the book and folded them in half to give me nice size greeting cards to work with.  I added a chalkboard sticker to the front of one of the cards and wrote on it with my chalk marker.

Artline chalk marker & chalkboard sticker

Using a chalk marker on a chalkboard sticker is a great idea if you are worried about making a mistake.  The chalk markers are more vibrant than using regular chalk and provide a better coverage too.  If you do make a mistake or just don't like how your message turns out the marker is easily removed with a slightly damp cloth.  Once it is dry you can try again until you are happy with it!

Artline calligraphy pen

For my next card I wrote a message on a journalling card using one of my Artline calligraphy pens.  Then I glued the journalling card onto the front of my Valentines Day card and added a couple of heart stickers to it as well.

Making one last card

I used another calligraphy pen for my last card and some milk and cookies stickers I have had in my craft supplies for a while now.  Because the stickers weren't very big I cut down the card to make it a bit smaller and then wrote "We go together like...." across the top.  

Here are how my cards turned out, I think they look quite sweet!  

Finished cards

Will you be sending or hoping to receive any Valentines cards this year?  

Artline Monday - Thinking of you week

Have you heard of Thinking of you week?  I can't believe it is in it's fourth year and I have only just learned about it!  The idea behind this special week is to create a wave of love and happiness by sending greeting cards, letters and notes to people to let them know you care.  The good news is you don't have to wait to grab your pens and other stationery bits, the week starts today!

I have always been a fan of letter writing and love it when I see a handwritten envelope arrive through the letter box.  The majority of my post is bills, leaflets and marketing materials so receiving a card or letter always brightens my day!  It is nice to get a text, a message or email from friends but post is extra special, someone has taken the time to put pen to paper and get in touch which leaves me feeling happy and positive.  If you want to spread a little happiness too this week is the perfect time to do it.

Here are some ideas to celebrate Thinking of you week...

Send a card and put a smile on someone's face!

You could send a greeting card to someone special just to let them know you are thinking about them.  If you have some fun stamps like this gold star one you can make plain envelopes look more exciting!

Spread a little happiness with greeting cards and fun stamps

Write a letter to a friend

Why don't you send a letter to one of your friends?  If you are like me then you might be hoarding some lovely writing paper and envelopes, break them out and put them to use!  

Find yourself a penpal

If you like the idea of having a penpal there are lots of groups on Facebook dedicated to helping you find someone to exchange letters with all over the world or hit google and see what website are available.

Send a drawing or postcard

If you have children why not get them to send a picture or postcard to someone they care about?  I'm sure their Nanny, Grandad, Aunt, Uncle or best friend would love a little surprise in the mail from them!

My daughter's seascape drawing for someone special

Write a note

Another idea for children is to pop a little note in their school or lunch bag for them to find later.  It could be a joke, a silly poem or just wishing them a good day at school.  If your note is going in with their lunch make sure you use a waterproof pen like this Artline Supreme permanent marker so it will still be readable if anything leaks or spills!  If you want you can add some stickers or extra decoration with a metallic pen like the Artline 900XF, I love how well pink and silver go together.

My note and Artline pens

Did you already know about Thinking of you week?  Will you be joining in and sending some surprises out in the mail?  Studies have shown that receiving a handwritten card, letter or note has an emotional impact which makes people feel far more special and cared for and I think that is a beautiful thing!  Let's get writing!

Luck and Judgement greeting cards

A few months ago I came across a lovely greeting card company called Luck & Judgement.  They are based in Devon, UK, and have a wonderfully eclectic range of cards for all occasions!  I was instantly drawn towards their sense of fun and humour so I wanted to share their products with you.  

Luck and Judgement cards

The first set of cards I have to show you is the Oink Baa Moo collection.  These bright and cheerful cards are based on the views from Clare and Dan's office window (they are the beautiful brains behind the brand).  The dog, hen and sheep are illustrations of Clare and Dan's own animals and the pig, horse and cow cards picture animals from surrounding farms.

Oink Baa Moo

Clare told me that the illustrations start off as collage – all of the details, both big and small, are cut from paper and stuck together, leaving her desk a menacing collection of glue and scalpels.... yikes! Details are added using acrylics or chalks then the artwork is scanned and any tiny final details are added in photoshop.  

The cards are printed on thick and luxurious card and come with matching envelopes.  The inside is left blank for you to add your own message making them very versatile!

Perfect cards for children and adults

The other set I have to show you is the Famous Five collection.  These are typographical cards with brilliantly British phrases and saying.  I absolutely love them, they are so fun and colourful!  The idea behind them is that they are clean and simple while still being aesthetically pleasing and they help you say exactly what you want to without all the hearts, flowers, sparkles and glitter.  Clare describes the collection as being understated with a tongue-in-cheek retro-ness, sherbet colours and made from lovely quality materials.       

Famous Five

I loved Enid Blyton books as a child, especially the Famous Five stories so finding cards that say "gee whizz!" and "golly gosh!" really brought a smile to my face.  I have a feeling that any of my friends would have the same reaction if I sent them one in the post and isn't that the whole point of a greeting card, to spread a little joy?

Brilliantly British cards designed and printed in Devon

Like the Oink Baa Moo set these cards are also blank so you can choose to use them how you like.  They are made from thick white card and come with classy cream envelopes.  All the cards I have featured in this post are £2.50 each which I think is a bargain!  They are available online and from selected stockists.  

  

Do you have a favourite card from this post?  I think the sheep one is super cute and I really like the whoopsadaisy! and thanks awfully! cards too.

*Disclaimer - these products were provided free of charge for the purpose of this post.  As always all opinions are honest and my own.  I have not been paid to write this post and I am not affiliated with Luck & Judgement.