Tuesday Tips - Layering Handcut Words for a Multi Colored Message

Don't you just love Stampin' Up's punches?!  How boring our greeting cards would be without them!



Today's card post is one of the cards we will stamp at tomorrow's 7pm June Stamp Camp.  There is still room if you want to attend - text or call me or email asap!

Here's the inside:

So, what is my tip for the week?  There is more than one way to create a multi-colored stamped image.  One of the ways I frequently create an image with more than one color is to color direct to rubber with Stampin' Write markers.  Not today.  Today, I have stamped the image twice, once in Rich Razzleberry classic ink and once in Always Artichoke classic ink.  I then handcut the "heartfelt" words and adhered them directly over the Rich Razzleberry identical words.  Doing this creates not only a dual-colored message, but it also creates texture and dimension. 

Yes, the handcutting can be tedious, but it only takes a minute or two.  It certainly looks nice on this card!

NOTES:

Card - Rich Razzleberry cs
other cs - Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke
stamp set - Hodgepodge Happiness, Apple Blossoms (Hostess Set that will be retiring in only 4 weeks)
inks - Classic Inkpads, Rich Razzleberry & Always Artichoke
punches - Designer Label, 1 3/8 & 1 3/4" circles
die - Top Note Die
ribbon - Polka Dot Rich Razzlebery Grosgrain Ribbon
other - Stampin' Dimensionals

I will miss the Apple Blossom stamp set!

Linda

Fast Friday - Brilliant Bench

The inspiration for this week's "Fast Friday" card comes from an architectural design blog.  A pretty little bench by Nola has such a pretty array of colors and just smiles at me.  Off the top of my head, I think the "hello" stamp is retired, but any stamp will look great on this colorful canvas card!  

inspiration from dezeen magazine blog

Happy Weekend!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Night of Navy, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White

One of my goals for creating cards this year was to design more masculine cards.  It is so automatic for me to create floral or feminine cards.  Here is one of several sailboat cards I recently enjoyed designing. 


NOTES:
card - Whisper White
other cs - Whisper White, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Night of Navy
stamps - Sail Away (Summer Mini 2011 Catalog)
ink - Classic Stampin' Pad - Night of Navy
punches - ticket corner, corner rounder, Crop-o-Dile
ribbon -  1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Night of Navy
The ribbon is cut & some of the threads pulled out to give it a tattered appearance.
some additional tools - crimper, color spritzer tool
other - Clear Bitty Buttons (2010/2011 IB&C - current catty), safety pin, Stampin' Dimensionals


Thanks for visiting my blog!


Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Hybrid Owl Thanks

Good morning!

Today I want to share with you a fantastic thank you note.  What a perfect note to use for "bulk" thank you's - from a teacher to a student or for a child to thank friends or relatives for birthday gifts, for instance.  I would even love to receive this cutie!

NOTES:

Card size - this card is postcard style, meaning that you don't open it up.  All writing is on the front.  I die cut a scallop square with a Scallop Square Stampin' Up Clear Bigz Die.

Hybrid card - The message is computer generated & printed out on Stampin' Up Whisper White cs.  I cut the cs after printing to be slightly smaller than the Old Olive cs scallop square base.

cs - Old Olive card, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Whisper White

dsp - I pulled out the Sale-a-Bration 2011 Designer Series Papers because they are too cute to keep in a drawer

stamp set - Teeny Tiny Wishes

punches used - owl, 3/4" circle, dotted scallop ribbon border

die - Scallop Square Stampin' Up Clear Bigz Die

other - Stampin' Dimensionals

Have a happy, sunny day!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Top Note Mini Scrapbook

Tonight I have a stamp camp to make these cute mini scrapbooks!

We will create a sturdy chipboard cover for durability and load it up with cute, coordinating ribbon ties!

This is a sweet little scrapbook that fits inside your purse.  And, who wouldn't love to receive this little ditty as a gift?  Can you tell I am excited about it?  I have a few extra sets ready if you want to attend tonight - let me know asap if you want "in"!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Freshen Up an Aqua Painter

Here's a sweet baby card that was colored with an Aqua Painter, watercolor paper, and classic inkpads.  The darling little striped baby onesie on a hanger is one of the stamps from the recently retired "A Slice of Life" stamp set (Occasions Mini Catalog 2011).

I discovered some interesting information about the Aqua Painter tool.  If you have an Aqua Painter tool that has developed an uncooperative flow, it might have residue buildup from hard water.  I have not encountered this challenge, though the buildup is more likely to occur in areas with “hard” water.

There is an easy way to freshen up the Aqua Painter if this happens.  Unscrew the water reservoir and soak it in vinegar for a few minutes.  Rinse it well & dry before reassembling.  The Aqua Painter should perform well and cooperate once again!

Linda

Map It Monday - Crimped Envelope Card

This week's card map comes from a card recently created for Mother's Day.  I think this style of card is a great  unique alternative for any occasion.  Father's Day is coming up soon, so wouldn't this style of card look great in masculine colors, with a golfer or fisherman stamped on the front?

Crimped Envelope Card Map

NOTES:

• This style of card can be made with any size envelope.  If you intend to mail it through the USPS, you will want to make sure you have a slightly larger envelope for this 'envelope card" to fit in.
• Insert a sealed envelope into paper cutter & trim about 1.5" off - the part you cut off is the lid.
• The secret to this card is in the crimping - sideways crimping shrinks the width of the envelope enough so that the "lid" fits on.
• The insert card is simply cardstock (layered in this case) cut to be slightly smaller than the envelope.
• Stamp Sets:  Four Frames (Stampin' Up Summer Mini 2011 Catalog), Teeny Tiny Wishes (IB&C 2010/2011)
• Colors:  Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette & Whisper White
• dsp:  Did you purchase the Love Impressions Specialty Designer Series Paper from the Occasion Mini Catty 2011?  If you have some of the "x's & o's" patterned paper left over, you can use it on a card other than Valentine's Day!  Alternatively, ANY dsp to coordinate with your color scheme will do!
• I sponged the little birdy with Pink Pirouette!

Give it a try!

Linda

Fast Friday - Graduation Flags

Happy Friday!

It is graduation season and I have a terrific and bright graduation card today!  This card was one of the cards at my most recent stamp camp.  If you haven't made any flag garlands yet, it is a very trendy and fun technique to do!

NOTES:

Stamp Set:  This card is stamped with the Great Grads stamp set (retired, but still one of my favorite graduation stamp sets!).

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad - Crumb Cake

DSP:  Do you remember the designer series paper that the flags are created from?  If so, you are taking a trip down Stampin' Up' Memory Lane!  That dsp is an oldie but a goodie!  Jersey Shore dsp!  The little Wild Wasabi plaid dsp circles beside the stamped message are punched from Notations No. 2 dsp (retired, 2007 Fall IB&C).  Isn't it awesome that when we purchase Stampin' Up products, we can coordinate with the colors for years?!  Of course, you probably will want to use current designer series paper, so any of the patterns in the Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack in the Brights Collection would be an excellent choice.

Colors:  Card is Crumb Cake.  I like to pair Crumb Cake as a neutral color with bright colors.  Wild Wasabi, a current color, and Brilliant Blue, a retired color.  The flags are cut from both cs and dsp.

Other:  Stampin' Dimensionals "weigh down" the flags, Silver Cord, Crop-o-Dile

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Early Espresso & Crumb Cake

have a seat

I have a neutral color combination today that I like for its peacefulness, earthiness and simplicity.  A wooden bench seemed like the ideal image for such simplicity.  I got a little "wheel happy" with my Stampin' Around wheel, and I like the results!

TODAY'S COLOR COMBO:  Early Espresso & Crumb Cake

NOTES:

Stamps:  Have a Seat Stamp Set, Stampin' Around Wheel - Elegance, "Get Well Soon" stamp (can't recall which stamp set at the moment)
Inks:  Classic Stampin' Pad - Early Espresso
Big Shot:  Top Note Die
Card Stock:  Whisper White card, Crumb Cake
Other:  Stampin' Around handle, Stampin' Dimensionals
Funny:  I just noticed that my Crumb Cake cs wasn't quite totally covering the Top Note die - notice the left side?  There is a point on all sides of my Top Note die cut except the left side.  Did I fool you into thinking it was supposed to be that way?  My humanness shines through once again.  :/

Have a fantastic day!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Jot Spot

Take a look at this cute project we will make at tonight's "May It In May" class.  I call it a "Jot Spot".  What a sweet and purposeful decoration to set on a kitchen counter or desk!  Or, a nice, simple, useful gift to bring to a friend!

Check out the little flower decoration!  I used my new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch!  This is one of two new Stampin' Up punches that are truly unique.  There are 3 different punch settings that allow you to choose three different sizes & styles of flowers!  So cool!

How To Make A "Jot Spot":

PREPARE BASE:

1.      Score a 4 ¼” x 11” cs @ 2 3/4" and 5 1/2"

2.      Crease on score lines with a bone folder.

3.      Adhere a strip of dsp across the small end panel.

4.      Punch a flower with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.

5.      Use mat pack and paper piercer to pierce a hole through the center of the flower and base.

6.      Insert corduroy brad through all layers, including base.

ASSEMBLE  PEN HOLDER TUBE:

1.      Using a scoring blade, score a 2” x 2.5” cs along the longest side @ 1/2", 1", 1 1/2", 2".

2.      Use bone folder to crease on fold lines to create pen holder tube.

3.      Add adhesive to an end panel & fold up, pressing the two end panels together to form a long square tube.

ASSEMBLE JOT SPOT:

1.      Fold base so longest panel lays on a table, as shown.

2.      Apply adhesive to two adjacent panels on the tube.

3.      Nest tube onto base to hold it in place, pressing adhesive on both the bottom panel and the upright panel.

4.      Insert pen.

5.      Apply adhesive to the bottom of a sticky memo pad & adhere to base.

Such an easy, quick project!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Wonderful Window Sheet

Window Sheet Card

I haven't created much using window sheets lately, so today I'm posting a soft, Springlike card that is made from a window sheet.  Shiny window sheet cards are a nice pick-me-up when you need an interest catching change.

NOTES:

• window sheet is cut to 5.5"x8.5", then scored at the halfway mark of 4.25" - a bone folder helps to give the acetate a nice crisp crease & to prevent it from popping open
• the scallop circles can be created using either a Stampin' Up Bigz Die or scallop circle punches, depending on how large you want them to be
• hardware - Filigree Designer brads
• dsp - I've used the Blushing Bride Patterns dsp from Stampin' Up's Level One Hostess paper pack in the IB&C.  With $150 in purchases or if you hostess a workshop of at least $150, you can get this papaer pack FREE!
• stamp set - the friendship message from the All Holidays stamp set in the IB&C is stamped on Whisper White cs prior to creating the scallop circle
• die cuts - "Little Leaves" Sizzlits die is cranked through the Big Shot with Old Olive cs
• other techniques - the scallop circle "flower" is greatly distressed
• small circle punch - Whisper White cs is punched with a small circle punch & the edges are distressed

 Linda

Tuesday Tips - Paper Tearing

Don't you like this handsome sailboat stamp that is in the Summer Mini Catalog?  By the way, it's Summer Mini Catalog time!  This new mini catty is Stampin' Up's current featured mini catalog for the next few months.  This sailboat stamp is just one of many great new products! 

The Paper tearing technique seems to be just the right style for a sailboat card - freeflowing & rough instead of a smooth, perfect cut.  In order for both the black cs and Newsprint dsp to both be torn in the same way, so they flow together, simply stack them both atop each other, hold together as a stack, & tear both at the same time.

NOTES:

• Sail Away Stamp (Summer Mini Catalog 2011) & Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
• Stampin' Write Marker - Bermuda Bay & Color Spritzer Tool
• papers - Basic Black & Very Vanilla cs, Newsprint dsp (IB&C 2010/2011)
• Hemp Twine wrapped around Antique Brad & knot is secured with a glue dot
• Crop-a-dile punched hole for Antique Brad

I think I will be making quite a few masculine birthday cards very soon using this wonderful sailboat stamp!

Linda