The Gang’s All Meer Valentine Card

Hello, Crafters.

When I first started playing with The Gang’s All Meer Stamp Set yesterday, I had an idea of what I wanted to do. It meant making masks for the group of meerkats and one for the meerkat on his own. After I stamped both images on Post It Notes, I started cutting out the group. This was the first time I realised that the meerkat on the right-hand side at the end wasn’t joined to the group. That was the moment I forgot about my original idea and had my idea for today’s card!

The first image I stamped of the two meerkats together had one of them almost hiding behind the other, but the second image was spot on. Rather than waste the first one, I fussy cut it and adhered it inside the card. I stamped the single meerkat first and then masked off the four meerkats from the group using regular adhesive tape. Once I had inked the stamp, I removed all the tape and stamped the image over the single meerkat that was covered with the Post It Note mask.

I had used Memento Ink to stamp the images so I could use my Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends to do the colouring. I used the Light Crumb Cake all over the images and then went back over the outside to make it darker and therefore I didn’t need to do any shading. I have to confess I’m not sure which meerkat is the masculine one and which is the feminine one!      If I decide to stamp these two meerkats together again, I’ll be tempted to cut the end meerkat off to save having to mask off four meerkats just to stamp one! The Designer Series Paper I used is called From My Heart and the stamp set is called Heartfelt. The only small sentiment in the set was LOVE, but I didn’t want that and chose FOREVER & ALWAYS which is from the Itty Bitty Greetings. I stamped it in Real Red Ink and punched it out using the Classic Label Punch!

The Heartfelt Stamp Set is available as a bundle with the Heart Punch Pack which consists of two Heart Punches – one straight cut and one scalloped. There’s one sheet in the pack of DSP where the hearts are the right size to be punched out with the punches. After playing with those, I decided to punch a Real Red Cardstock (CS) scalloped heart and I punched the image out using the straight cut die.

Once I had adhered the two hearts together I still felt there was something missing so I decided to add a small heart to the image. I punched a small heart using the Dog Builder Punch which is my current go-to punch when I want a small heart. Altogether I punched three hearts using Real Red CS. I painted some Basic Rhinestone Jewels using the Dark Real Red Stampin’ Blend. These come up darker than our Red Rhinestones and I think are better suited for Real Red CS.

I adhered a layer of the From My Heart DSP to a layer of Real Red CS. Next, I adhered three strands of the retired Real Red Solid Ribbon around the two layers and adhered them at the back. If you don’t have suitable narrow ribbon, you can use three thin strips of Real Red CS. I adhered the Heart over the ribbon with Dimensionals, and then I added the sentiment just below the image, also with Dimensionals. Next, I adhered the layers onto my Whisper White CS card base.

Generally speaking, once I have my card assembled I find it much easier to decide on my final touches! I tried the three hearts in various ways before deciding on the final positions. I also added one of my painted gems in a corner of each heart. After adhering a layer of Real Red CS and Whisper White CS inside my card, I fussy-cut the first stamped image of the meerkats and adhered it in the bottom right-hand corner. I punched another heart and adhered it next to the image!

I often get asked what measurements I use for my card base and layers. Going forward, I am going to try and add the sizes I use, and those I’d use if I was using letter-size cardstock i.e. North American cardstock. When I share a card that has a layer outside the usual I will also include that. I will post this information just below my signature but above PRODUCTS USED.

As today is the first day I’m including American sizes, could someone please check I have used the correct measurements i.e the card base should be half a sheet of cardstock; the first layer should be ¼” shorter on both sides; the top layer should be 1/8″ shorter on both sides! I hope you find this helpful. That’s about it from me today! I hope you have a terrific Tuesday and I look forward to being back with you tomorrow. In the meantime, happy crafting.

JanB. xx

Cardstock Layer Sizes: Europe & South Pacific (A4)                                                                                                                                                                                 Card base 8¼” x 5¾” scored and folded at 4 1/8”                                                                                                                                                                                  First layer: 2 pieces 3 7/8” x 5½”                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Top layer: 2 pieces 3¾” x 5 3/8”

Cardstock Layer Sizes: North America (Letter-size)                                                                                                                                                                                      Card base 8½” x 5½” scored and folded at 4¼”                                                                                                                                                                                          First layer: 2 pieces 4” x 5¼”                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Top layer: 2 pieces 3 7/8” x 5 1/8”

Products used for this project: please click on any link to be taken to my 24/7 online Stampin’ Up! shop. January 2020 Hostess Code is NCFPAHXQ Thank you. xx

Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578] £8.25	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] £9.00	From My Heart Specialty Designer Series Paper [151189] £13.00	The Gang’s All Meer Cling Stamp Set (English) [152294] £0.00	Heartfelt Bundle (English) [153775] £43.00
Itty Bitty Greetings Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151331] £33.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] £5.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Refill [133456] £4.75	Real Red Classic Stampin’ Pad [147084] £7.00	Real Red Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [103287] £3.50
Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] £8.50	Real Red Combo Pack Stampin’ Blends [147935] £8.50	Paper Trimmer [152392] £23.00	Dog Builder Punch [148543] £17.00	Classic Label Punch [141491] £17.00
Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] £4.75	Take Your Pick [144107] £9.00	Paper Snips [103579] £9.25	Grid Paper [130148] £11.75	Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] £5.50
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974] £3.75	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] £3.75	Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals [144108] £3.75