Tuesday Tips - Reflection Technique

Today I created this card using the "reflection technique":

Here's how the "reflection technique" works so you can give it a try!

1.  Stamp image onto cs.  Leave room on the cs for another identical image just below what you stamped.
 

2.  Stamp the image again, but this time onto a window sheet.

3.  Lay the stamped window sheet upside down so it lines up exactly with the image on the cs - it should be like a reflection of the card stock image!  Hold the window sheet firmly so it doesn't move & rub over the image to transfer the ink from the window sheet to the cs.

4.  Here is what your finished reflection image will look like!

5.  Use the reflection image on a card!

This is a really fun technique, isn't messy, and doesn't take very long to do!

Linda

Map It Monday - Farewell Gable Green Pocket Card

The card for today is a pocket card similar to a card I recently created as a birthday invitation for my great niece.

The stamp is from a long retired birthday set (Stampin' Up).  That Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon ups the cute factor on this card, not to mention that cute little turtle!  The card stock is a retiring Gable Green.

Farewell, Gable Green.

Linda

Fast Friday - Scallops & Flowers

I had some punched flower pieces on my desk from another project and so I created this card on the spur of the moment!

The card is Whisper White.  Since it is Fast Friday, I simply adhered two strips of scallop edge punched cs in Chocolate Chip and Pink Passion cs.  I stamped "notes" from the stamp set called Note to Self in Chocolate Chip ink.  Lastly, I layered punched flower pieces, adhering with dimensionals on the bottom and top layer.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that this card is actually a single layer postcard-style card.  It is just the right thing for jotting a quick note to the school, a friend, or even to jot down the grocery list!  If only all my grocery lists were that cute!

Can you believe how fast this card is?

Happy weekend!

Linda

RETIRING PRODUCTS ARE GOING FAST!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that there is much to see on the Stampin' Up website right now.  Some of the retiring products are marked down, and everything that will not be in the new big catalog is currently being sold "until no longer available".  I did place an order this morning.  My routine is to place orders on the 15th and a few days prior to the end of each month.


The next order will be submitted on June 14 or 15; however, if enough orders are gathered prior to that date, I could place another order before that time. 

One more thing, if you have interest in "ribbon sharing", please let me know as soon as possible.  One of my customers is interested in sharing retiring ribbon.  The way a "share" works is that I purchase X number of products (different colors and/or styles of ribbon in this case) & then re-package them so that the number of people cooperating in the "share" get an equal amount of the ribbon.  We often don't need yards and yards of a specific color of ribbon, but a few yards of several colors each is always awesome!  You would get more variety for less money.  It's a great plan & I occasionally offer this service for specific products, such as designer series paper or ribbon.

Have a great day!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Green Galore

In the near future I will be attending a very special one year old's birthday party.  Today I made a card for it.

The colors are:

Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Green Galore

Supplies:
cs: Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Green Galore, Whisper White
stamp sets: Happy Moments, Polka Dots & Paisley
inks: Classic Stampin' Pads - Cameo Coral, Basic Black; Stampin' Write markers - Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Green Galore
other: scallop circle punch, white ribbon, mat pack, dimensionals


How to make this card:
Stamp "happy birthday" from the Happy Moments stamp set repeatedly on the Cameo Coral card front.

Stamp "happy" from the Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set (retired) or any message in Basic Black ink onto Summer Sun cs. Adhere cs to the card front.

Punch two Green Galore scallop circles & pierce holes in each petal. Cut one scallop circle approximately in quarters & adhere one of those partial pieces near the bottom right corner of the summer sun cs. Adhere the full scallop circle with dimensionals above "happy".

Stamp the gifts image from the Happy Moments stamp set in Basic Black ink onto Whisper White cs. Color with Stampin' Write markers. Cut around the image & adhere with dimensionals (tilted) onto the scallop circle.

Tie white ribbon around the card front & make a bow.

Lastly, if the birthday is a special number, cut out a number from Cameo Coral cs & adhere with dimensionals. I tilted the "1" as well.

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - APPLYING CHALK

I have had a few blog posts relating to chalking. Stampin’ Up’s chalks are called Stampin’ Pastels. The best thing about them is that the colors in the palette will match the card stock, inks, ribbons, and anything else you own from Stampin’ Up. Today I will cover the two most basic chalking techniques.  If Stampin' Pastels and chalking techniques appeal to you, hop on over to my prior blog posts for additional ideas:

Chalkboard technique, Chalk Grid Technique, Chalk a Dry Embossed Image.

The basic technique for applying chalk to a project is simple and fun:

1)   Stamp an image onto card stock.

2)   Apply pastel color to card stock or paper with a blender pen, sponge-tip applicator, cotton swab, sponge dauber, or stiff paintbrush.  When using blender pens, just touch the pen directly to the corner of the chalk to pick up color.

3) Continue coloring in the stamped image, scribbling onto scrap paper in between color choices to clear the blender pen tip. 

4) Blend the colors as desired with the applicators or blender pen.

The flowers on this card were chalked with a blender pen with mostly shades of pink, red, and coral. I applied shades of color to different areas.  I also varied the color with the blender pen by either applying a slightly different  color to specific areas of my flower directly on top of the original layer of chalked color, or blending several colors on the chalk cakes themselves before applying the blender pen to the flower.

TIPS:

• To avoid smearing, gently dab the chalk rather than rubbing.
• Don't worry if Stampin' Pastels break.  That is normal & makes it actually easier to draw color up onto your applicator.
• I find that a blender pen is the easiest tool if you want varied shades of color. 
• Optional:  Use a matte fixative to seal chalked images.

Poppin' Pastels  is yet another fun chalking technique.  It can offer a softer, chalkier look, rather than blended colors.  Why not give this one a try?......

1) Stamp the image with a Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad or VersaMark^® ink pad.

2) Use sponge daubers to apply the pastel color directly to the ink.  To avoid smearing, gently dab the chalk rather than rubbing it across the image.

3) Blow off any excess powder.   If I have any unwanted smears, I try to erase them carefully with a good art eraser.

By the way, what do you think of the colors on this card using the Wings of Friendship stamp set?  Several of these colors are a SNEAK PEEK for you at a few of the new Stampin' Up colors!  Hmmmmmm. 

Just in case you were wondering, the first card is stamped using the Itty Bitty Buds stamp set.

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Rockin' and Rollin'

Have you tried the Rock 'n' Roll stamping technique?  I have presented this technique at one or two of my stamp camps in the past, but it has been quite awhile.  You will need two inkpads, with one ideally lighter in color that the other.

The best type of stamp to use for this technique is a bold image stamp, rather than a line image stamp.  Here I am using the Berry Christmas stamp set from the 2009 Holiday Mini Catalog.  This stamp set can be used year round!  I inked the wreath stamp with Pale Plum, and then rolled the edges of the stamp on an Elegant Eggplant inkpad.  The Elegant Eggplant, which is the darker color, shows up only where the rubber touches the inkpad.  Since only the edges of the design had actually been inked, I get a two-toned, outlined effect!

The bird is inked with Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy in the same way that I inked the wreath stamp.

Here are some tips for this Rock 'n Roll stamping technique.

Rock 'n' Roll Stamping Technique:

1. Ink stamp on lighter-colored ink pad.  Using the lighter color ink first avoids getting dark ink on a light ink pad.  That could ruin your inkpad, and we do not want that to happen!
2. Press edges of stamp in a rolling motion onto darker ink pad, being careful not to ink the center of the stamp.  
3. Stamp the image onto card stock.

Linda