May 31, 2010 | Tutorials and Techniques |
June 1st is a big day for stampers and scrapbookers!
Tomorrow is the day Stampin’ Up! will release the list of all of the retiring stamp sets and accessories. Make sure you stop back tomorrow to see the list posted here on my blog. Retiring products may sell out quickly.
I don’t know why I don’t use this Upsy Daisy stamp set more often. It is definitely one of my favourites and I love the way the big bold image of the daisies fills the card. The finished size of this card is 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″.
I wanted to have a shadow behind the focal image so I stamped once on a Window Sheet and heat embossed with white embossing powder and stamped a second time on cardstock. I cut both pieces generously so I could line them up and trim a second time. Stampin’ Dimensionals were positioned between the window sheets and the cardstock to let the light get in between the two. A frame of Melon Mambo cardstock was added on top.
This card needed Melon Mambo embellishments so I created my own with the clear buttons. If you don’t own the clear buttons, you should! Simply punch any cardstock or paper and adhere behind the button with a mini glue dot. You can add thread or twine to finish the buttons or use the white gel pen as I did here to add faux thread.
We have had a lot of dark and dreary days here so I needed a bold and colourful card to bright my Monday. Enjoy!
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Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White Craft
Paper: Melon Mambo (textured), Basic Black, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Punches: 1″ Circle, 3/4″ Circle, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)
Other: Clear Buttons (105447), Bitty Buttons (118761), White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Window Sheets Thick (114324)
Upsy Daisy Stamp Set
$24.95, #111710, Set of 4
Page 95 of the Idea Book & Catalogue
Don’t think it, ink it!
May 28, 2010 | Tutorials and Techniques |
If you want to create colorful backgrounds using a minimum of supplies, this is the technique for you.
Follow the simple directions below to make your own Smacking Acetate backgrounds.
Caution: You may not be able to stop – wipe off your window sheets and try a new colour combination.
To make this card, I used Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede markers. Once the background was dry, I stamped an image from Elements of Style in Rich Razzleberry ink on the background piece and the greeting onto Glossy White cardstock. To embellish the card, I added designer series paper from the Thoroughly Modern package and Vintage Brads and Jumbo Eyelets in Antique Brass.
Give this technique a try – I bet you’ll like it. If you have any questions, please let me know.
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You will need assorted markers, a spray bottle, glossy white cardstock and two window sheets of any thickness.
Scribble with the markers onto the window sheets. I like to use three colours of ink. Try not to overlap the inks so the markers do not become contaminated.
Mist generously with water. Place the second window sheet on top of the the first and blend colours together with your fingers or a brayer.
Place two pieces of glossy white cardstock back to back and sandwich between the window sheets. Work out any air bubbles.
Remove glossy cardstock from between the window sheets. Allow to dry.
Stamps: Elements of Style
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Markers: Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede
Paper: Rich Razzlberry, Soft Suede, Glossy White, Thoroughlty Modern DSP
Punches: Large Oval, Scallop Oval
Other: Window Sheets, Soft Suede Polka-Dot Ribbon, Jumbo Eyelets, Vintage Brads
Elements of Style Stamp Set, Set of 5
Clear $26.95, #120045
Wood $36.95, #118611
Page 12 of the Summer Mini Catalogue
Don’t think it, ink it!
May 18, 2010 | Tutorials and Techniques |
Collage stamping is a simple technique that is one of favourites. This technique is the layering of images and inks.
The Sentimental Journey stamp set I used here is perfect for collage stamping. A set of 8, it has a variety of sizes and types of images perfect for layering.
I prefer to start with the largest images and then work my way down to the smaller images. This allows me to fill in white space as I work towards the finished product. I also prefer to use the darkest ink colours with the smaller stamps so the collage is not overwhelmed.
You really can’t go wrong with this technique. Try it today!
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Stamps: Sentimental Journey
Ink: Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Travel Journal Designer Series Paper, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Punches: 1-1/4″ Circle. 1-3/8″ Circle, 1-3/4″ Circle
Big Shot: Square Lattice
Other: Pumpkin Pie 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Night of Navy 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals
Sentimental Journey Stamp Set
Clear $23.95, #120075
Wood $31.95, #118513
Set of 8
Page 22 of the Summer Mini Catalogue
Don’t think it, ink it!
May 13, 2010 | Tutorials and Techniques |
This is an easy although a little bit messy technique that creates great backgrounds. Don’t have the designer paper you need? Make your own.
The instructions are below. Please contact me with any questions.
This technique was explained to me by one of my downline and I have no idea what to call it. I called it cardstock peek-a-boo. Anyone know it by another name?
Once I had created the background piece, I topped it with circles and a scallop circle made using the Big Shot and the Circle Scissor Plus. I threaded the two ribbons between the layers so they didn’t sit too low on the card.
Finally, I added three white flower buttons from the Button Latte package. I am on a real button frenzy right now. You cant go wrong adding a button, can you?
And, a color renovation reminder: the retiring colours are going much faster than expected especially the cardstock. Don’t miss out. Place your order today and don’t forget to order refills for your ink pads.
Using direct to paper, cover the cardstock with craft ink.
Make sure cardstock is completely covered and let dry.
With the Big Shot and a Texturz plate, emboss cardstock.
Any ink that transfers to the plate can be easily removed with water.
Take a sanding block and sand cardstock to remove the ink on the embossed design.
Your sanding block will pick up the colour. I have one I use only for this and other techniques that stain the block with ink.
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Stamps: Wedding Sweet
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Big Shot: Stampin’ Up! Perfect Details Textura Plate, Scallop Circle #2, Circles #2
Other: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Tempting Turquoise 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Button Latte, Circle Scissor Plus, Sanding Block
Wedding Sweet Stamp Set
$34.95, #115466, Set of 7
Page 48 of the Idea Book & Catalogue
Don’t think it, ink it!
May 4, 2010 | Tutorials and Techniques |
An oldie but a goodie!
I don’t think I have used this Retiform technique in a long time. The last time I made a Retiform card I used the Botanicals stamp set which is long retired. But this set, Flores Suaves, reminds me of that old set and this technique came to mind.
I had so much fun creating I couldn’t stop and actually made three cards using this technique. The middle card is a very traditional Retiform or Grid card and the other two cards tweak the technique a bit.
Scroll down this post to see the instructions and close up views of the three cards.
So, which of the three samples is your favourite? Leave a comment and let me know.
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This first Retiform card most closely follows how I learned the technique years ago – Glossy White cardstock, a dark ink for the stamped images and vibrant but not too overwhelming ink colours for the grid.
The stamped images were done with Basic Brown ink.
The grids were created by sponging Cameo Coral and Certainly Celery ink onto the Glossy White. Creamy Caramel ink was sponged on last to blend everything together.
This card needed no embellishments.
Stamps: Flores Suaves
Ink: Basic Brown, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Glossy White, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip
Other: Sponge Daubers
Stamp the focal image into the center of the card. Here I used Basic Brown ink on Glossy White cardstock.
Use a piece of paper to cover the main image. I like to use copy paper as you can faintly see through the paper.
Align the paper over the stamped image at an angle and sponge along the paper. I used Cameo Coral ink and a sponge dauber.
Move the paper to the other side.
Ink the sponge dauber up again in Cameo Coral ink and sponge along the paper on this second side.
Now, place your paper closer to the top so it is intersecting the lines you have already created.
This time I used Certainly Celery ink to create the grid line. Repeat this step again along the bottom.
Next, I removed the papers and used Creamy Caramel ink to fill in the white space on the card avoiding the center which I want to remain white.
Once the grid lines are created, it’s time to add the rest of the stamped images.
Line up the paper a second time and stamp with a darker colour of ink. I used Basic Brown. You may need to use multiple sheets of paper to keep the grid lines covered.
To finish the card, you can colour in the main image if desired.
To create this second Retiform card, I used Very Vanilla cardstock instead of Glossy White.
This grid has more spaces then the first one and the design is random. I had to be sure not to have the same colour up against itself when creating the grid.
The inks I used for the grid were Sahara Sand and Bashful Blue. The images were stamped in Night of Navy ink.
I added an overlay of Vellum Paper and stamped the butterfly a second time onto the Vellum with a Stamp-a-ma-jig to make it stand out against the rest of the card.
The vanilla brads and tag holder are from the Hodgepodge Hardware kit. I used Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon to hold the tag in place.
Finally, I layered the finished Retiform piece onto Sahara Sand and Night of Navy cardstocks.
Stamps: Flores Suaves
Ink: Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue
Paper: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Vellum Paper
Other: Night of Navy 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Sponge Daubers
To make this third Retiform card, I used Basic Gray ink on a Sponge Dauber to create the grid.
The images were stamped with Black Stazon on Glossy White cardstock.
Since I had left a large border along the bottom of the butterfly, I added five black brads from the Vintage Brads assortment to fill in the space.
The Glossy White cardstock was layered onto Basic Black and then Bermuda Bay cardstocks to finish.
Stamps: Flores Suaves
Ink: Basic Stazon, Basic Gray
Paper: Glossy White, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black
Other: Vintage Brads, Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Sponge Dauber
Flores Suaves Stamp Set
$24.95, Set of 4, #112913
Don’t think it, ink it!
Apr 27, 2010 | Tutorials and Techniques |
Time for another Technique Tuesday! Today’s card features the Salt Background which uses an item I bet most, if not all, of us have at home. Different types of salt create different looks – try table salt, coarse salt, sea salt, etc.
My card uses coarse canning salt although I made a similar card with table salt and it looks really neat as well.
After a lot of experimentation (and drinking a lot of water because I had salt everywhere!), I have discovered that the secret is to keep a pretty light hand with the salt. My first umpteen attempts used way too much salt and the individual grains didn’t have opportunity to spread out.
This card also features a Summer Mini catalogue sneak peek. This stamp set is called A Little Bit of Magic and is a set of 4. It includes a second little fairy girl holding a flower and a greeting that says”there’s a bit of magic in everything – Lou Reed”. Don’t you love that sentiment? Finally, there is small stamp with a bunch of stars on it that looks great stamped over the greeting in a lighter colour of ink. The set is $19.95 clear and $24.95 wood. What a fun set!
Scroll down to see a full list of instructions and please let me know if you have any questions on this technique.
To finish the card, I added two different widths of ribbon one on top of the other down the side and adhered three small buttons with paper thread. A very simple card that would be great for a girls birthday card or an invitation. Hope you like it.
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Stamps: A Little Bit of Magic – $19.95 Clear #120033, $24.95 Wood #118613 – Page 21 of the Summer Mini Catalogue
Inks: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Black StazOn
Paper: Glossy White, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy
Other: Brocade Blue 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Night of Navy 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Fresh Favourites II Buttons, Mini Glue Dots
Apply Classic re-inks to glossy cardstock with an aqua painter. If you want, you can stamp and/or heat emboss the cardstock before adding the inks.
Drop salt randomly over the card and allow to dry. Once the salt has been on the paper for a few minutes, you can speed the drying time with a heat tool or blow dryer. Once dry, brush off the salt.
Don’t think it, ink it!
