Techniques

Tip of the Day (or Technique) Tuesday: Splatters!

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ARoundArray.0513I would call today’s card a generic card.  You could use it for a guy or a gal.  I used the Epic Day Designer Paper as well as the A Round Array stamp set.

This card was kind of fun to make.  Since Stampin’ Up! doesn’t carry the Spritzer Tool anymore I had to find a different way to make splatters on my card.  The Epic Day Designer Paper just screams for splatters since some of the papers are splattered!  Ha!

The easiest way to splatter is to squish the lid of your ink pad to pick up some of the ink.  Then take your Aquapainter, pick up some of the ink and then tap the Aquapainter against your finger.  You do want to make sure that your Aquapainter has a bit of water on it to help the splatters.  That’s it!  Now you can easily splatter away in any color!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

A Secret Garden Birthday

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005 When I saw this card online I knew I had to CASE it!  Isn’t it beautiful?  It’s not a simple card to make but it sure is pretty!

The flowers are from the Secret Garden stamp set.  I stamped them with Whisper White Craft Ink and embossed them with White Embossing Powder.  Then I rubbed Calypso Coral in over them to add a bit of dimension before die-cutting them with the Secret Garden Framelits.  The “Happy Birthday” is a single stamp called “Beautiful Birthday” on page 44 of the catalog ($6.95).  If you like it, you better order it now because it is on the retired list and won’t appear in the new catalog.

I kind of white-washed the embossed background to soften the look a bit and I rubbed Old Olive Ink on the edges of the leaves to add dimension.   I thought this would have made the perfect Mother’s Day card but I couldn’t find the perfect sentiment for it.   I guess that means I’ll be creating cards for the moms this weekend!  I’ll let you know what I come up with!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Lace Tape Masking

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001Hello!  I’m back from Salt Lake City and the regional event.  It was a lot of fun and I learned so much!  Oh yeah….the new catalog is AWESOME!  That’s all I can say about it right now but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!  😀

I copied this card from my wonderful and talented upline Tara.  Isn’t it cute?  It’s one of the cards we’re making in a private class I’m doing today.  A private class is simply an event for you and your friends.  You pick the day, time and the people you want to invite!  Wouldn’t you love to have your own private class?  I’d LOVE to do one for you and your friends!

This card is easy and fun!  I took a piece of the Delicate Details Lace Tape and stuck it to the bottom of the card front.  Then I took a sponge dauber and rubbed Lucky Limeade ink over the tape.  Once you remove the tape you have this great masked image!  FUN!  The designer paper is from the Tea for Two pack and the sentiment is from the Curly Cute stamp set.  Add a flower from the 5/8″ Flower Trim as well as some Rhinestone Jewels and your card is done!

I need to finish up getting ready for today’s private class.  Contact me today and let’s schedule yours!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Swallowtail

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Swallowtail.0313Well, I just discovered that I never actually posted this beautiful card.  Yikes!  I wrote up the post but never published it!  It was suppose to have posted a month ago.  I guess I need to keep better track of things!  Here’s what I wrote back on March 14th that you never got to read:

A beautiful spring card for a beautiful spring day!  The high today is suppose to be in the mid 60’s and it’s only the middle of March!  I LOVE it!  😀

My inspiration for this card is straight out of the Spring Catalog.  I just changed up the colors a little.

I embossed the butterfly with the new Pool Party Embossing Powder and then I “painted” the butterfly with the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and an aquapainter.  Simple and Stunning!   Don’t you love learning new techniques?

It’s time to go enjoy this beautiful day!  Have a great day.  Take care and Happy Stamping!  Ha!  The weather was nicer in the middle of March than the middle of April!  We had more snow this week and it’s been COLD!  Brrr! 

By The Tide Reverse Masking

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002It was a bit chilly here in Colorado yesterday so I thought I needed something that made me think “WARM!  Our BIG snowstorm was kind of a bust but it did get cold.

This “warm” card was made using the “By The Tide” stamp set from the Spring Catalog.  I made this card at a team Shoebox Swap a few months ago.  We used the Reverse Masking technique on it.  We used one of the Oval Framelits and die cut an oval in a piece of card stock.  We laid it over the piece of Whisper White card stock and then sponged Marina Mist ink into the oval.  Then we stamped the seaweed into the sponged oval.  The final touch was to use the Occasions Paper Piercing Pack to pierce holes all around the sponged oval.

It’s not a difficult card but I do have to admit I messed it up big time the night we were making it.  Someone (and I won’t mention any names, Cindy) managed to sponge and pierce her oval right on the card front.  It did look fine but the Marina Mist border does add something to the card and brings out the sponging.

Have a warm day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Rain or Shine

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Rain or Shine.0413Rain or Shine?  What’s your choice?  I do love a sunny day but we do need moisture here in Colorado so I think I need to choose rain.  I said rain….not snow!  It’s April and I’m kind of over snow but of course the weatherman is predicting snow in the next few days.  I guess that’s part of living in beautiful Colorado!  Anyway, enough of the weather!  Let’s take a look at this cute card!

The first thing you should notice is that I could have shown you this card last month during “What Can You Do With A Circle?” month.  I just love the way this technique highlights the stamped image.  Isn’t it fun?  My piece of Real Red Card Stock is only 2 1/4″ wide.  After I ran it through the Big Shot I used the 2 1/2″ Circle Punch to punch the circle.  This way it “cuts” the card stock in two pieces.    I also used another circle technique on this card.  I used the 1 3/8″ Circle Punch to round the two corners.  Gotta love those circle punches!

Have a great day and Happy Stamping!

P.S.  Don’t forget about the FREE Shipping through tomorrow!!!

Embedded Embossing Technique….With Circles!

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Embedded EmbossingYou’ve got to have circles when it’s “What Can You Do With A Circle?” month!  Today I have a fun technique for you and it’s even more fun with CIRCLES!  😀

For this card I punched a bunch of circles with my 1-1/4″, 1″ and 3/4″ circle punches and randomly adhered them to a piece of Basic Black card stock.  I then ran the black card stock through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  That’s it!  Throw some ribbon on it and adhere it to a card!  It’s so festive!

One trick I always do when I use this embossing folder (most others) is that I always cut the card stock larger than I want the final piece to be.  This folder, especially, shrinks when you run it through the Big Shot.  Of course it doesn’t shrink evenly.  It shrinks more in one direction than the other!  This way it will always be the exact size that I want!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Dropped Circles

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009 (2)Spring has sprung but you wouldn’t know it here in Colorado.  We had more snow this past weekend and the past few days have been COLD!  I know, I’m whining….but when the calendar says spring you want to put away all your winter gear and enjoy the warm breeze and sunshine!

This fun technique/template (with circles!) is called Dropped Circles.  I went with the pastels for spring and used the “Spring Sampler” stamp set.  The strips are a little less than 1 1/4″ wide so that you can fit them in a 1 1/4″ Circle Punch to round the bottom edge.  Remember how I showed you how to round corners circle punch in my recent e-mail?  If you missed it and want to know how I did this leave a comment or contact me.  I’d be happy to share!

I did have a little trouble lining up my strips of card stock evenly and having enough room for the punched circles but all in all I think the card turned out pretty cute.  Thanks to LeAnn Greff for the idea!  I’ve seen cards like this where you punch a small image in the strip instead of attaching a circle.  I might have to work on that one to share with you!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Spotlight Technique (with a circle!)

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spotlightingToday’s post show’s you the Spotlight Technique and because it’s “What Can You Do With A Circle?” month I’ve spotlighted with a circle!  🙂  You can do this technique with any shape.

Just stamp your image on your card stock in a neutral color.  Now stamp the image again on scrap paper, color it and punch it out.  On my card I also punched out another circle in black to frame my spotlight.  The frame is optional.  I’ll show you a card on Facebook (www.facebook.com/stampbystamp) tomorrow that doesn’t have a frame for the spotlight so be sure to check it out!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Highlighted Circles With Reverse Masking

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005More circles for the fun “What Can You Do With A Circle Month?”!  There’s probably an official name for this technique but since I’m not sure what it’s called I’m calling it Highlighted Circles.

I first ran the smaller piece of Soft Suede card stock through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  Then I punched the circles with the 1 3/4″ Circle Punch, the 1 3/8″ Circle Punch and the 1″ Circle Punch.

Then I made a template the same size, laid the Soft Suede piece over the template and punched the circles in the same spots on the template.

I then centered the template over the Crumb Cake card stock and stamped my images (I did have to cover some of the circles with a sticky note).  This is called Reverse Masking.

Once the images were all stamped I added the ribbon and adhered the textured Soft Suede card stock to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

A perfect all-occasion card.  I hope you liked it.  Have you signed up for newsletter/e-mail list (sign-up box on the upper left of this page) or LIKED my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/stampbystamp) yet?  You should so you don’t miss any great circle ideas and tips!  😀

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Fun Fold With A Circle!

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Madison Ave Fun Fold.1.0213 Madison Ave Fun Fold.2.0213 Madison Ave Fun Fold.3.0213Wow!  Not only do you get to see a fun new card design but in keeping with “What Can You Do With A Circle?” month…it has a circle!  I know….it’s pretty exciting.  But take a look at this cute card made with the Madison Avenue stamp set from the Sale-a-bration brochure.

Isn’t this a cute design for a card?  Once I saw it online I knew I had to use it.  It’s just so fun and different.  Below you can see the template I used to make the card.

Start with a piece of card stock 4 1/4″ x 11″.  Score at 4 1/4″ and 8 1/2″.  After you have the card stock scored, center your 2 1/2″ Circle Punch on the 8 1/2″ score mark about 3 /8″ from the edge and punch.

Next you want to punch a scallop circle with your 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch.  Now adhere it to the card as shown in the second picture.

That’s it for the tricky parts of the card.  Now, just decorate however you’d like.   Have fun with this card design!

Don’t forget that Sale-a-bration ends in just 10 days!  Don’t miss out on earning your FREE product.  Place that order today!  😀

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!photo (8)

You Are Loved Fancy Fold Card

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You are Loved.1.0113It’s February 1st!  Have you started making your valentines yet?  Lucky for me we made them in classes last week!  This card is made using the “You Are Loved” stamp set.  (Aren’t you glad I didn’t use “Hearts a Flutter” again!)  “You Are Loved”  first made it’s debut in the 2011 Holiday Catalog and can now be found in the current regular catalog.

Fancy folds are a great way to make your cards…well, fancy!  🙂  Ha!  This is a Z-fold card and is pretty easy to make.  Start with a piece of card stock 4 1/4″ x 11″.  Score along the long edge at 2 3/4″ and 5 1/2″.  Fold the card in half at the 5 1/2″ score mark.  Now fold back the small portion on the front at the 2 3/4″ score mark.  Check out the second picture if you’re having trouble figuring out what I’m talking about.  That’s it for your fancy fold.  Decorate to away and you will have a beautiful card!

You are Loved.2.0113

 

Glitz, Glimmer & Glam Evergreen

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Here’s another card from our Glitz, Glimmer and Glam Christmas Card class.  I just love this tree from the Evergreen Stamp Set!  My picture looks a little fuzzy but I think it’s just all of the shimmer and shine on it!

The green tree is stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and the outline is embossed on Vellum Card Stock with Gold Embossing Powder.  I used a neat trick I learned on Pinterest to adhere the vellum to the regular card stock.  Here’s the trick:  “paint” a little bit of Crystal Effects in each corner of the Vellum to use as your adhesive.  It dries clear!  Wow!  I love learning new stuff!  😀

Stay tuned tomorrow for more Glitz, Glimmer and Glam!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Peaceful Ornament

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Thanksgiving is over.  The excitement of my son’s engagement (isn’t) over.  It’s time to start showing you some Christmas cards!  Yes!  I know you’ve been waiting  so let’s get started!

This is my favorite card from the Glitz, Glimmer and Glam class we had about a month ago.  I used a Stampin’ Sponge to sponge the Marina Mist ink on the Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon.  I love being able to make that ribbon whatever color I like!  To make the ornament shimmery I sponged Frost White Shimmer Paint directly onto the stamped ornament.  It’s such a pretty look.  This picture doesn’t do the card justice.

Speaking of Christmas cards I suppose I should consider making some to send out this year…..

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Open House Evergreen

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Good morning!  There’s a little bit of snow on the ground this morning and it made me think of Christmas.  So, when I’m thinking of Christmas, I naturally think of Christmas cards!  Therefore….I have a Christmas card for you today!  😀

We made this card at my Open House way back in August!  It’s a fairly simple card with tons of layers.  I wanted to showcase the new color, Gumball Green, as well as the Core’dinations card stock.

I used the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder on the Gumball Green Core’dinations card stock at my Open House because I didn’t have my new favorite embossing folder, Lacy Brocade.  It looks great with both backgrounds but the Lacy Brocade has a lighter feel to it.  After I embossed the Core’dinations card stock I used the new Stampin’ Up! Sanding Block to distress it.  What a great look!  Just stamp the tree and add some layers and your card is done!  This would make a great and easy card to mass-produce!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!