Map It Monday - Teal Tango

Today's map is a real easy one. Cut the cs to 4 1/4" x 11" & fold in half so the card becomes 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", yet it opens at the side.

Layer your Tangerine Tango card with Taken with Teal cs, then a Chocolate Chip dry embossed cs. You could also use the preprinted Stampin' Up window sheets over the top of your cs. The dotted window sheet would look great!

Use any round focal point - could be a scallop circle punch, circle punch, stamped image, or a combination of them, and then add a button, brad, or other round embellishment. This particular card has one of the corduroy buttons with hemp twine tied through it.

Stamp a small message on Taken with Teal cs & punch it out with the word window punch.


Tie on some striped Tangerine Tango ribbon!

Have a great day!

Linda :)

Fast Friday - TO BERMUDA WITH LOVE

Today we end our Bermuda Bay tour. I hope you liked the "simple" cards that I made with only one Stampin' Around wheel & the color Bermuda Bay.

The Fast Friday card today is made by adhering a strip of Bermuda Bay cs to a Whisper White card. The inked wheel is run across the card (see last Friday's post for instructions on how I used the Stampin' Around wheel & handle without an ink cartridge).

Lastly, I layered my message piece: Bermuda Bay cs punched with designer label punch, Regal Rose cs punched with 1" circle punch & then distressed, white cs punched with small oval punch. Choose any message and Bermuda Bay ink, of course! The white oval is adhered with dimensionals.

That's all for this week. I am taking tomorrow off for my son's graduation party!

Linda :)

Think About Color Thursday - Bermuda Bay, Orchid Opulence, Regal Rose

NEW CATTY CANDY!!!.....Do you enjoy seeing my blog on a fairly regular basis? If so, send me an email telling me why you like it & I will add your name into a drawing for New Catalog Candy. What's "candy"? Little embellishments that can be added to cards or scrapbook pages (brads, hardware, ribbons, stamped images, etc.) Attendees at the July 9 Stamp Camp will also get a chance at the drawing (you get 2 chances to win if you do both!). We will draw the winner's name at the July 9 Stamp Camp. I will put together a "candy bag" for you during July. You will be notified by email if you are not present at camp. This should be fun!

So how has Bermuda Bay been for you so far?

Today I show you a color combination that mixes Bermuda Bay with Orchid Opulence and Regal Rose.

The inked wheel is run across a strip of Whisper White cs (see last Friday's post for instructions on how I used the Stampin' Around wheel & handle without an ink cartridge). I then colored in the flowers with Regal Rose and Orchid Opulence and Yo Yo Yellow Stampin' Write markers.

The flowered cs is adhered to a strip of Bermuda Bay cs.

Adhere the piece to the card, leaving room to adhere another cs piece in Regal Rose underneath.

Before adhering the Orchid Opulence cs, slide it through the eyelet border punch.

Until tomorrow, enjoy the Bermuda Bay sunshine!

Linda :)

Whatever Wednesday - BERMUDA FLAP

A flap-open card is on our Bermuda Bay cruise today. I think Regal Rose looks so pretty with Bermuda Bay, don't you?

I cut my card longer than usual & scored it in two places to create both flaps - just fold on the score lines. I stamped happy birthday inside using an Bermuda Bay inkpad.

I used a Stampin' Around wheel (retired) called Daisy Fields to stamp both flaps. If you want to know how I ran this Stampin' Around wheel across this card without using an ink cartridge or would like to know what wheels would look just as great as Daisy Fields, see my post from last Friday. Did you know that most Stampin' Around wheels are crazy affordable at only $6.50 or $8.50? It is a good purchase choice when you're on a tight budget!

A Regal Rose Stampin' Write marker is used on the flower centers.

I added some Regal Rose cs across the bottom flap, Bermuda Bay cs across the top flap, and then "tied it all together" (bad joke) with Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Lastly, I rounded some corners with a corner rounder punch.

Linda :)

Tuesday Tips - Bermuda Flower

My Bermuda Bay card for today is, again, simple & easy.

Before I stamped the flowers on this card, I dyed a Pretties Kit flower with just a tinge of Bermuda Bay. It's done in one of several ways. For this flower, I laid the flower on a paper towel & "painted" it with my aqua painter. With each stroke I dipped the aqua painter into a puddle I had created from a drop of Bermuda Bay reinker & several drops of water. I wanted a very soft shade of Bermuda Bay. I then applied Bermuda Bay from the reinker bottle (slightly less diluted) to some of the petal tips - I wanted a little more color there.

The inked wheel is run across the card (see last Friday's post for instructions on how I used the Stampin' Around wheel & handle without an ink cartridge). I colored in the petals with a Stampin' Write marker. Choose any color that you like paired with Bermuda Bay.

Lastly, I added the flower with a brad.

Linda :)

MAP IT MONDAY - Bermuda Bay Filigree

Our Bermuda Bay trip begins! And, remember, these cards are easy peasy, simple - all week - just like being in Bermuda.

Today's card was also in the running for the Fast Friday card this week because I didn't even use a wheel or rubber stamp other than a "happy birthday", although you sure could just use this card as a notecard without any stamping.

Adhere Bermuda Bay cs onto a Whisper White card.

Add a filigree designer brad to a strip of Regal Rose cs & adhere the cs to the card.

Punch a second strip of Regal Rose cs with the scallop border punch & adhere almost to the top edge of the Bermuda Bay cs.
>p>Finally, stamp a message on the front of the card.

Linda :)

Scrapbook Saturday - Classy Bluebird

We all have those "class photos" from our kids classrooms through the elementary years. They sit in a pile, a file, or a "school memories box". What can we do with those photos instead of being forgotten? My June scrapbooking night solved that little problem for those attending. The chipboard, buttons, designer series papers & card stock on this layout are available just for about the next week, while they last, until Stampin' Up's new catalog is introduced.

The colors for this layout are:

Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Real Red, Summer Sun, Only Orange, & Chocolate Chip.

The Designer Series Paper is Good Morning Sunshine.

Chipboard set is On Board So Tweet.

I sponged some of the chipboard, traced & covered some with cs, and used some traced pieces flat to the base without the original chipboard.

The flowers were created with a variety of punches, chipboard & cs. You can get very creative when designing your flowers - anything goes!

Cute, huh? If it looks slightly familiar, that's because this designer series paper & chipboard match a few stamp sets in the same catalog. I've been using one of them called Good Friend.

Linda ;)

Fast Friday - Bermuda Bay Scallops

I am very excited that Stampin' Up is, once again, listening to its customers and demonstrators. There will be Stampin' Write markers in each In Color shade in the new catalog! And there is polka dotted pretty ribbon!

Today I opened up my new In Color inkpads & card stock! What fun! I absolutely fell in love with the color called "Bermuda Bay". I decided that it is time for a "Bermuda Bay Trip". No, I am not going on a vacation to Bermuda. Instead, I will celebrate this new color for the next week in my blog! I have created a series of simple cards using Bermuda Bay and one simple stamp. So, chill, sit back, enjoy the simple life in Bermuda Bay for the next week.

The kickoff card and every card during this Bermuda Bay trip uses a retired standard Stampin' Around wheel called Daisy Field (you can view all of Stampin' Up's regular and jumbo wheels available on pages 204 & 205 of the current catty). If you don't own this wheel, other options to get a similar look might be the following wheels: Perfect Fit, Perfectly Pretty, Fast Flowers, Kindness, or Doodle. If you are not familiar with the wheels, feel free to ask me.

Traditionally, we purchase ink cartridges for Stampin' Around handles, pop on a wheel of choice, then "take it for a ride" over a scrapbook page or card. However, on today's card (& every card next week) I did not use an ink cartridge. Instead, I merely rolled the wheel evenly & thoroughly on a Bermuda Bay inkpad. You can impress a wheel's pattern along the entire width or length of a card using only an inkpad-inked wheel. After you roll the card once, you must re-ink before rolling another swipe, since there is no source of constant ink without the cartridge.

So, on this card I rolled the handled "Daisy Field" wheel across a Bermuda Bay inkpad & then took the wheel for a ride across a strip of Whisper White cs.

Next, I stamped "happy birthday" in different directions randomly on the upper part of a 4" x 4" Bermuda Bay card (cut it to 4" x 8").

Use a scallop border punch on a strip of Regal Rose cs & layer the flowered cs onto it. Adhere it to the card. You can leave the flowers as they are or color them with Stampin' Write markers.

Stay tuned for more of my Bermuda Bay trip!

Linda :)

THINK ABOUT COLOR THURSDAY - Really Rust & Old Olive

Do you remember the stamp set called Wow Flowers? This card uses that stamp set and any curvy message stamp (like Cheep Talk, for instance).

First, stamp the Wow Flowers flower in Old Olive ink onto a piece of Old Olive cs & adhere it to a Really Rust card. Set this aside.

Next, stamp a stem with the curvy message stamp on Whisper White cs & layer the flower, anchoring it onto the cs with a brad. The flower is created by stamping the Wow Flower stamp in Really Rust onto white cs, & using a scallop circle punch & 2 different sizes of circle punches.

Sponge the edges of the white cs with Really Rust ink (or rub the edges along the inkpad). Layer the white cs onto Old Olive cs, then onto a Really Rust card. Add a strip of Old Olive cs at the bottom created with the scallop edge punch. You can sponge the scalloped edges with Old Olive ink if desired.

The leaves can be made with Old Olive cs & either a wavy embossing folder or a stylus that creates score lines onto the cs. The leaves can then be free-hand cut.

Linda :)

Whatever Wednesday - Krafty Seashell & Pail

Here's a great card for a summer birthday or for just about any other reason.

The Life's a Breeze Stamp set is used here. Choose your favorite stamps from the set & stamp them in Gray. The color pallette here is kraft brown, gray, More Mustard, and Groovy Guava.

Punch using the ticket corner punch on the card and the white cs & Groovy Guava cs.

Paper piercing adds a great look to this card. A message goes onto the More Mustard cs. Punch out a small image & adhere with dimensionals (I chose a seashell here). Use a scalloped or other decorative scissors on the front bottom edge of the card.

Linda :)

Tuesday Tips - Ripped Flowers

The tip for the day is: make a ripped flower with a unique look.

On this card I first stamped the grass from the retired "Inspired by Nature" stamp set. If you don't have this set, other stamp sets that might look great are the current "Central Park", "Eastern Blooms", "Embrace Life", or even the "God's Beauty" Level One Hostess set. Be sure to check the Last Chance List if you want any of these sets because retiring stamp sets are only available until the end of the month.

Now for those ripped flowers:

Just choose your favorite card stock color & lightly pencil three or four varied circle sizes. Tear along the pencil lines, making sure you tear from the bottom up so the rough edge of paper layers can be seen. When you tear card stock, you get a different look depending on which direction you tear the paper. Now you should have several circles from small to large.

Gently "roll" the torn edges of the circles forward using your fingertips to create a slightly curled edge. When you layers each circle on top of each other, they kinda look like flower petals! Insert a brad in the center & your flower is done!

I added a strip of card stock in the same color as the flowers & punched it with the scallop edge punch. Add a message of your choice up the side. I cut the words apart for a slightly different look.

Have fun creating your ripped flowers!

Linda :)

Map It Monday - Birthday Tool Kit

This card is a great masculine birthday card with a unique layout map.

Cut a large Chocolate Chip circle with a Coluzzle or large circle cutter, punch a slot & thread Going Gray Taffeta Ribbon around green cs & through slot & tie ribbon. Apply adhesive between circle & green cs. Layer Garden Green cs onto kraft card. Use corner rounder punch on corners of card.

Stamp tiny message on Going Gray cs with Chocolate Chip inkpad. Stamp Happy Birthday onto kraft card and tool box stamp from the For Father stamp set (retired), both with Chocolate Chip Ink. If you don't have this stamp set, other options might be: "Totally Tool", "Loads of Love" stamp set using the truck & hearts, "Boatloads of Love", "Backwoods", or even "Music Expressions" for a musically-minded dad.

For the main image, crumple up kraft cs, open it up again & distress the edges with a distresser tool. Layer the tool box image white cs over it. Color toolbox with Stampin' Pastels.

Linda :)

Scrapbook Saturday - Stitched & Soft

I found some more paper again in my bottomless paper box. The pattern on the background looks so much like the pattern on the patio chair cushions in the pictures. It's funny.

It's the detailing on this layout that I really like. After adhering photos to the coordinating striped scrapbook paper, I pierced 2 rows of holes around all four sides. This was done with a piercing tool. I made the rows wavy - kinda like they were done very fast on a sewing machine. The rows overlap each other in some places. After all holes were pierced, I "faux stitched" both "seams" by drawing from hole to hole with a Basic Brown Journaling marker. The trick to make it look like there are real stitches is to let the journaling marker actually drop down into each pierced hole as you trace the pierced row of holes. When the marker drops into each pierced hole, some brown marker shows inside the hole, so it looks like thread in real stitching.

Another detail that adds to the great look of this page is the journaling element. Punched & distressed circles are adhered onto journaling strips, both in the same card stock color.

Chipboard letters are traced onto black card stock, then adhered to a gray title block. Piercing and "faux stitched rows" are done on one side of the title block.

Linda

Fast Friday - Curly Label Peek-a-Boo

Sometimes I try hard to find the fastest possible card to make. Today's Fast Friday card is in the running. Sometimes you only have a minute to make that spur-of-the-moment card.

Punch through your card front with the Curly Label Punch & add a strip of cs in the same color as the inkpad you will use.

Cut a piece of white cs just 1/4" smaller all around than your card & adhere inside the card. Close the card & stamp whatever you want directly through the punched hole.

Done! You can see your stamped message or image peeking through the front of the card, yet you can see it when the card is open too!

Linda :)

Think About Color Thursday - Old Olive, Rose Red, More Mustard, Bashful Blue

This Old Olive card uses a fun technique of watercoloring with an Aqua Painter & Watercolor Wonder Crayons onto watercolor paper. Make sure the stamping is done with Black Stazon so the ink doesn't smear or streak. Stamp two images on watercolor paper & watercolor both of them. After the watercolor paper is dry, rip around one of the images and cut out just the flower on the other stamped image. Adhere the second flower over the bottom image with dimensionals. If you want to, you could actually stamp and watercolor a third image & layer just the flower's center to make it a 3-layer flower.

Insert brads or eyelets into a Bashful Blue cs strip. Distress a strip of More Mustard cs. The Rose Red cs is crumpled & then opened up again & distressed. Attach each layer to the card.

Stamp additional small messages with black ink, cut around them & adhere directly onto the card.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Fifth Avenue Floral

The floral background on this card is stamped with my new favorite stamp set - Fifth Avenue Floral. This set is so versatile because you can stamp backgrounds with it, as well as individual cameo flowers, or any combination of the two. You can pair any colors when you stamp, so you can make up whatever color combinations you want & just select those colors of cs to put together a pretty card! Good news!....this set is not retiring!

With the current "In Colors" retiring at the end of the month, I got a little sentimental & decided to pull out some "In Colors" from the prior year as my color combination for this card - Soft Sky and Groovy Guava. I had purchased extra card stock & a reinker bottle for both of these colors, so when they retire from Stampin' Up's color selections, they really are not retired from my color selections! You gotta love it when you can "beat the system"! If you didn't get a chance to purchase these two colors, some substitutions could be:

Cameo Coral & Bashful Blue

Apricot Appeal & Almost Amethyst

Blush Blossom & Gable Green

Pretty in Pink & Certainly Celery

Or, how about the upcoming new In Colors of Rich Razzleberry & Melon Mambo? Rich Razzleberry & Pink Pirouette? Bermuda Bay & Melon Mambo? Melon Mambo & Only Orange? The list is endless!

This card measures 5 ¼” x 5 ¼” folded - I cut the Groovy Guava cs to 5 1/4" x 10 ½”. By the way, you can purchase the medium square envelopes on page 157 of the current catalog, as well as some other sizes. It's fun to change from the standard A2 size card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") from time to time.

The polka dotted designer series paper looks like it is stamped over the dots &, obviously, it is the same Soft Sky color!

The message on this card comes with the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set - I stamped it in Groovy Guava. I adhered the white ribbon with a glue dot.
inside optional

Tuesday Tips - Scrapbook Page Pocket

If you are a scrapbooker, from time to time you probably include memorabilia or a treasure, such as a program booklet, on a scrapbook page along with photographs. There is a really easy way to construct a pocket for the souvenir.

The picture here shows what the pocket looks like before the flaps are folded under & adhered to a scrapbook page. It's just a rectangle with 3 scored lines, & then some diagonal cuts are made on the flaps. The square center portion is the only section you will see when the pocket is adhered.

To determine the size, I usually measure the width of the booklet/souvenir that'll go inside the pocket and make the center portion a few inches wider than that. The side flaps & bottom flap are made by scoring across the bottom & both sides with a scoring blade in a paper trimmer. If you cut the angles off as I have done in this example, the bulk is removed from underneath & the flaps won't show.

To adhere the pocket to a scrapbook page, fold the three flaps, apply ds tape to the "right side" of all three flaps, then press onto the page.

The height & width of the pocket can be adjusted according to what is contained in the pocket. Ideally, the souvenir should be taller than the pocket, so the item sticks out from the pocket and can be easily pulled out for viewing. The bottom flap can be taller or shorter, so you can make your pocket from scraps if you want. The side flaps really don't need to be as wide as on this pocket - just make sure each flap is at least one-half to one inch wide.

The pocket can be made of cs or heavy-weight paper and can be decorated, journaled upon, or even used as a title block. It also can be a foundation for a photo.

You can make a big pocket to fit an 8 1/2" x 11" booklet, or a mini pocket to fit movie tickets or a baby hospital bracelet - just measure the dimensions first.

There are variations to this pocket. You can also get creative & invent your own style of pocket! Let me know how your scrapbook pocket turns out!

Linda :)

Map It Monday - Hello Bradded Flower

Every once in awhile I make a card that I absolutely love. This is one of them. The color combination is great too - Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie & Real Red.


I think the stamp set I used here is retired, so I would recommend any of the bold rounded flower sets, such as possibly, but not limited to: Enjoy Every Moment, Petal Pizzazz, Good Friend, Big Flowers, Pick a Petal, Baroque Motifs, Seeing Spots, A Beautiful Thing, Eastern Blooms, or Best Wishes & More.



Stamp flowers across a white cs piece. Add a brad into the middle flower. A fancy brad such as a flower designer brad or styled silver brad from a Hodgepodge hardware set would look nice. Stamp a small message & add two matching brads to white cs punched from the key tag punch (I am sad to see the key tag punch is on the retiring accessories list & it will no longer be available within a few weeks :( - but it's on sale until it sells out for only $11.96 if you need one ). Adhere the key tag with dimensionals.



Punch some Pumpkin Pie Designer Series Patterns Paper with the eyelet border punch & adhere it to an Old Olive card. Layer the stamped white cs onto Real Red cs & adhere to the card below the Designer Series Patterns Paper.

This card might be a good one to make at a stamp camp some time - what do you think? Let me know!


Linda :)

PREVIEW OF NEW IN-COLORS!!!!

It's a sneak peak at the "In Colors" from the upcoming new annual catalog! You know, the exclusive color pallette that Stampin' Up introduces every twelve months. There will be great cards & ideas using these colors on the Stampin' Up website and on my blog, not to mention in the new Big Idea Book & Catalog (it comes out in July)! Aren't they pretty?!?!

I am already thinking of how I can weave these colors in with some of the main color family colors to make amazing combinations!

You'll have to wait a few weeks before these colors are available. In the meantime, I am gearing up to add these gorgeous gals to my cards!

Linda :)

GOING, GOING, GONE : (

We have one last opportunity to order retiring products now (while supplies last).

Dozens of products from the Spring-Summer 2009 Catalog are retiring to make room in our upcoming new catalog for hundreds of new stamps, accessories, and home décor items. If you've been holding off on getting something on your wish list, now is your last chance to get them – “Last Chance” list items (aka “retiring lists”) are only available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST through June 30, 2009. If there’s something you gotta have, make sure to order it now!

Take notice that current “In Colors” are retiring, and all "In Color" products are expected to sell out fast. Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette and Tangerine Tango will no longer be available in the new catalog. That includes all products in those colors, including designer papers, card stock, ink and accessories. Be sure to stock up on your favorites ASAP because these items are expected to sell out fast! If you own “In Color” inkpads, I recommend purchasing a re-inker bottle for them. Each color re-inker only costs about $3, so they are very affordable & can remoisten inkpads whenever they seem dry for years.

You may email or phone me directly if you would like to place an order.

ADD ON THESE TWO PROMOTIONS IN JUNE!

1. GET THE NEW IDEA BOOK & CATALOG FOR FREE!!!!
   Place any order during the month of June & I’ll give you the new catalog FREE OF CHARGE! This upcoming catalog is jam-packed with ideas and inspiration, will be current for a full year & contains brand new gorgeous In Colors, hundreds of new project ideas & never before seen Stamp Sets, Big Shot Dies, Wheels, Designer Series Papers and lots of new Accessories. Just ask & I’ll order one for you.
2. If you want to pass a catalog or the “Last Chance Lists” around to friends in June, or if you plan a workshop or camp with me, or if you plan to get your hands on lots of retiring products before they are unavailable, you can benefit from the Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion:

• 
  Hostesses who hold a $250-$399.99 workshop will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
• 
  Hostesses who hold a $400 or more workshop will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
  

Things to Remember:

• You can use this promotion in your favor to get retiring products in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog or items in the Occasions Mini Catalog.
• A workshop can be any type – “book party” where you show your friends the catalog & you place an order together, “stamp camp” at my home or yours where you invite whomever you wish, a completed “wish list” of your own, etc.

Email me if you have any questions about "last chance" products.

Linda :)

SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY - Tweed Pattern

Today I have traced a diecut curvy page given to me by a friend, curves and points and all, on the reverse side of some herringbone tweed scrapbook paper. (I found it in my bottomless paper box.) The tweed paper is then adhered to a solid background.

The photograph is double matted. I added a title overlapping the matted picture. Journaling is done surrounding the picture on the "mat".

Linda

Fast Friday - Rubons

Black & white cards have such a strikingly bold & elegant look. Rubons are easy to apply & are a quick fix when you don't feel like pulling out an inkpad.

Black cs is the perfect background for white rubons. Remember that quite a few rubons are 50% off until the end of the month (while supplies last). That makes a package of rubons only roughly $5 !!!!

A ticket corner punch is used on each layer & on the card itself. I stamped the champagne glasses in black ink onto Whisper White cs & adhered it with dimensionals to the card.

This card could be made without any stamping at all with the appropriate rubon message. Now that would even be a Faster Friday card!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery & Lavender Lace

Today's Think About Color Combination really mixes it up a bit - colors that wouldn't necessarily come to mind as a great set, yet they work together.

Time to pull out the small and large tag punches - they are fun to use. I punched holes in both the two-layered tag and the card itself. The tag is hung through the hole from the card & adhered at a tilt.

Pumpkin Pie Designer Series Patterns Paper draw the eye to the card & onto the tag. The row of Lavender Lace and paper piercing add a little detail.

The hearts are stamped with the tiny heart from the Goody Goody Gumdrops stamp set. Each color is represented.

Some corner triangles add additional interest.

Linda :)

Whatever Wednesday - LOVE THAT VASE MUCH

Have you read my monthly newsletter yet? If you want any stamp sets or accessories or anything related to the current Stampin' Up "In Colors", you better hurry. Many items are retiring, including those "In Colors" & we will never be able to get our hands on them again. Stampin' Up has published "Last Chance" lists so we can take a look at the lists to see if there is anything on our wish lists that will be retiring. Retiring items are available while supplies last, so if there's something you absolutely must have, let me know as soon as possible. The last day to order anything left in stock is June 30.

The stamp set I have used on today's card will stay around for another year. It's called "Love You Much". I've paired Riding Hood Red & Pink Pirouette (I'm sad to see these two colors get retired, especially Riding Hood Red!) with Close to Cocoa & Very Vanilla.

The Heart to Heart Punch and the Boho Blossoms Punch were used to punch the flower & little hearts. I also used the scallop border punch on the Close to Cocoa cs. To finish it off I colored the "LOVE" with a blender pen & inkpad, added a brad on the flower & adhered the "LOVE" square with dimensionals.

I made cards with this set for Valentine's Day, but I pulled it out again because it is so versatile for just about any occasion. You could add a message inside....happy birthday, happy anniversary, feel better, & so on.

Linda

TUESDAY TIPS - Acrylic Stamps Giving You a Hard Time?

I honestly believe that Stampin’ Up’s wooden stamps are the most sturdy, indestructible & long-lasting stamps available on the market today. I also have learned through experience that stamping with Stampin’ Up stamps enable me to create the most solid, vibrant & well-defined stamped images.

The vast majority of stamps I own are made by Stampin’ Up, but realistically there are occasions when I use an acrylic stamp. Acrylic stamps are the see-thru rubbery ones that are placed on an acrylic block before stamping. If you ever have been dissatisfied with the finished acrylic-stamped image, this blog post is coming to your rescue. Stampin' Up inkpads are tested and manufactured for use on Stampin' Up rubber stamps, and ink behaves differently on an acrylic surface.

I will walk you through several steps I perform when I stamp with an acrylic stamp. Keep in mind that when you open the package, the stamps come directly from the manufacturer with a coating that is not ink-friendly. Below is an image that was stamped with an acrylic stamp directly "out of the package". Notice how the image looks speckled or spongy?

Solution: pretreat or "prime" acrylic stamps to give the acrylic a cling-friendly surface before using them in your projects.

First, clean the stamp with stamp cleaner. Do you see a slight improvement in the image quality below?.........

Though the cleaning creates improvement, the next thing I do is to rub & twist the stamp surface back & forth a few times onto cardstock. Below is the improved quality you would get after this step:



Often, those two steps (cleaning & rubbing the stamp onto cs) are all that is needed for an adequate image. However, I often add a 3rd step - rub a clean soft white art eraser across the acrylic stamp’s surface. Below is a stamped image after doing all 3 priming steps.........

Since I have mentioned stamp cleaner, I'll throw in another tip for today......Stazon stamp cleaner is the most effective cleaner for your stamps when you are stamping with Stazon ink. It can prevent staining & also prevent clogging of tiny spaces in the image design on a rubber stamp.

Back to acrylic stamp images....there have been times when, despite priming, I just could not get a good stamped image. I tried something drastic & got the result I needed. I rubbed a very fine grit sandpaper LIGHTLY over the stamp surface. I tell you this with a grain of salt because I doubt the stamp manufacturer would recommend this for fear that you might harm your stamps. Try it at your own risk! (insert skull & crossbones here) lol.

There are some techniques that will also help to assure a quality stamped image:

• A stamping mat or a mousepad that has some squishiness or cushioning definitely is a useful stamping tool. As you may have noticed at my stamp camps, I often use a stamping mat for background stamps & large image stamps to get even pressure and best results as well.
• I find that applying a bit less pressure on acrylic stamps than I would apply when stamping with wood mounted stamps helps me attain a better image.

In closing today, let me say that you needn't prime Stampin' Up stamps. Our stamps are hassle free! :)

Linda :)

Map It Monday - Bashful 2-Step Vase

Here's a basic map with a layer on the left, but the card has quite a bit of detail and interest. Use any 2-Step Stamping set. If you have a stamp set with a little circle & a "2" inside the circle, the stamps are considered "2-step". You can create a unique look with 2-step stamps. If you look closely, each flower is actually made up of two stamps (an outline stamp & a solid interior stamp). Next time you take a look through one of our catalogs, take a few minutes to notice sets that have the 2 circle located with the stamp set details.

To make the vase, I cut down a punched out large oval & added detail with a strip of So Saffron cs & a mini heart punched from So Saffron with the Heart to Heart punch. I added a second heart next to the message to unify the look of the card.

I used a ticket corner punch on the white cs with the vase & on the card corners.

Both the Certainly Celery ribbon and the designer paper are from Sale-a-Bration scrapbook paper & ribbon bundle, which I got for free from ordering lots of stuff!!!

Linda