Teaching a Beginner: Beautiful Baubles

Hello, Crafters.

Today’s card is another attempt at creating a #simplestamping card for the Stampin’ Up! challenge. I just don’t seem to be able to make a card without layers! LOL! But I think a beginner would be delighted to make this as their first card. If I were to use this in a beginner’s class, I’d prepare the pieces of cardstock and Designer Series Paper (DSP), ahead of time; this is my normal procedure for classes anyway. This would leave the beginner free to concentrate on stamping – one ink and one stamp set – and then adhering everything together.

I chose Shaded Spruce for my colour, and the Beautiful Baubles photopolymer stamp set. As the Whisper White Cardstock (CS) pieces were cut to the correct size beforehand, a beginner would find it easy to line up both stamps. In my experience of teaching card making, I have found it’s just as important to teach beginners, not so much how to adhere layers on cards, but more how much adhesive to use. This applies to Tombow, Dimensionals and SNAIL.

It didn’t take me long to learn that some beginners assume it’s necessary to cover every square inch of the back of the cardstock with adhesive. I had made the big mistake of assuming beginners knew exactly how much glue to use! The first time I had a beginner make this mistake, was the day I learned never to assume anything! Teaching beginners was a huge learning curve for me too!

One day I had a card maker who went totally overboard with the amount of Dimensionals she used on her card. I was really caught out on this one, because she wasn’t a beginner! The experience has taught me to make sure I explain to beginners not to be tight with Dimensionals, because if you don’t use enough it’s going to spoil the hardwork put into your creation. At the same time, I explain why you reach a point when there are enough Dimensionals, and any extras are just a waste!

If you’re a beginner reading this, can you relate to what I’m saying? I’d be very interested in hearing about your first class/lesson. ☺ That’s about it from me today. I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s blog post, and until tomorrow, happy crafting.

JanB. xx

Products used: please click on any image to go to my 24/7 Online Stampin’ Up! Shop.

Shaded Spruce A4 Cardstock [147006] £8.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £9.00	Under The Mistletoe Designer Series Paper [146921] £10.25	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin’ Pad [147088] £7.00	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [147165] £3.50
Beautiful Baubles Photopolymer Bundle [149920] £40.50	Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] £5.50	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] £3.75	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] £3.75	Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals [144108] £3.75