by Tracy | Oct 27, 2017 | Uncategorized
I have another card today using the new, soon to be released, Stampin’ Blends and I’m really having fun playing with them. I used Light & Dark Rich Razzleberry, so pretty, for each of the flowers from the stamp set, Oh So Eclectic. These pens are really juicy, which is a good thing, but I think I saturated my paper a bit too much while coloring my flowers. I’ve learned that you’ll have better results if you use a light hand.
I fussy cut each of the flowers although I did use the Eclectic Layers Thinlits Dies for my leaves which were each stamped in Wild Wasabi. I love the watercolor look of the leaves! The sentiment is also included in this stamp set. The sentiment is actually “Oh Hello Friend” but I put some washi tape over “oh” before inking it up and then removed it before stamping it.
All of the Stampin’ Up! products I used to make my card are listed below. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! I’ll be back on Monday!
Tracy’s Quick Links
Stampin’ Blends Brochure – Click here
Designer Series Paper Sale – Click here
Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin – Click here
View the Holiday Catalog online HERE.
To place an order – Click here
by Tracy | Oct 26, 2017 | Uncategorized
Yesterday while watching the World Series, I played with my Stampin’ Blends and one of the cute birds in the stamp set, Best Birds. If you love to color, I really think you’re going to love these new pens (they’ll be available next week on November 1st). I love them and am so happy that Stampin’ Up! will be releasing them soon!
If you aren’t familiar with alcohol-based pens, they are completely different than coloring with pens such as our Stampin’ Write Markers. These new pens glide over your paper and your coloring is even looking, not choppy. I usually don’t use regular markers for coloring because I don’t care for the harsh brush strokes.
There are other alcohol-based pens out on the market, such as Copics, but they definitely have a learning curve to them. The Stampin’ Blends come in 12 Stampin’ Up! colors which means they match our card stock. I love that coordination! Each color has a light and dark pen which makes blending a breeze. You don’t have to wonder which colors will coordinate because if you just use a dark and light in one color, you know they’ll blend beautifully. If you’re new to these types of pen, just color with them and don’t worry about blending!
On the 1st, you can purchase the pens individually or as combo packs OR buy the entire collection which includes Ivory, Bronze and the Color Lifter. (The Color Lifter pushes color away which is helpful if you’ve gone outside the lines).
I mentioned that if you just use the dark and light in one color, you know they’ll blend well together but play around with them and see what you like! I ventured out and tried two colors together. I stamped my bird onto Thick Whisper White using Memento Ink and colored the entire bird with Light Pool Party and then used Dark Pool Party and Light Bermuda Bay to add shadows. His beak was colored with Dark Daffodil Delight.
I’m so excited for November 1st to arrive so that you’ll have a chance to purchase these wonderful pens!
|
|
|
|
|
Best Birds Photopolymer Bundle
[142315]
$43.00
|
Tracy’s Quick Links
Stampin’ Blends Brochure – Click here
Designer Series Paper Sale – Click here
Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin – Click here
View the Holiday Catalog online HERE.
 .
|
by Tracy | Oct 25, 2017 | Uncategorized
I decided to play around again with the stamp set Lovely Inside and Out. You can see the other card I recently posted by clicking here. This time I decided to do the baby wipe technique using Pacific Point and Bermuda Bay ink.
Lovely Inside & Out
Wood #144008
Clear #144011
If you’ve never tried this technique, you really should give it a try! It’s so easy and whatever you create is always one of a kind! Simply fold 4-5 baby wipes and add drops of Stampin’ Up! refills all over. Apply your stamp to this “stamp pad” and create a masterpiece!
If you give this technique a try, I’d love to see your creation!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! Below you’ll find a list of the Stamping’ Up! supplies I used to create today’s card. To place an order just click any of the products and you’ll be directed to my Stampin’ Up! online store.
Have a great day!
by Tracy | Oct 24, 2017 | Uncategorized
With the release of the brand new alcohol based pens, Stampin’ Blends, on November 1st, I thought this would be a great time to review two of our inks. It can be very confusing wondering which ink to use when. I’ve been there!
I use Memento Ink and it’s the one I reach for all the time when I’m stamping images. It’s a dye based ink and won’t smear or bleed and dries quickly but it isn’t waterproof. If you add water to your stamped image as you might with the Aqua Painter, it will bleed and smear and you’ll be very unhappy with the results.
When using Stampin’ Blends, you’ll want to use the Memento Ink pad. Since the pens are alcohol-based, they require a particular type of ink and Memento won’t react to the solvent in the pens.
If you’re watercoloring, you want to use the Stampin’ Up! Basic Black Archival stamp pad. This is a permanent ink and when you add water to an image, it won’t bleed. But, and this is important, you have to wait a few minutes and let the ink dry. If I know I’m going to be watercoloring, I ink my images ahead of time and then go back to them. Of course, the climate you live in will dictate how long you need to wait. Another product that can be used when you’re watercoloring is Staz-On, a product no longer carried by Stampin’ Up! You should be very careful when using Staz-On with photopolymer stamps because over time it will break down the stamp. If you use it, clean your stamp immediately. The Stampin’ Up! Archival Ink pad works with both rubber and photopolymer stamps.
Stampin’ Up! also carries refills for both the Memento and Archival stamp pads. If you notice that your images aren’t as dark as they once were, just add drops of the refill over the surface of your pad.
If you’ve been confused about these two inks, I hope this has helped!
If you’d like to purchase the Memento Ink or Stampin’ Up! Archival Ink or either of the refills, click below and you’ll head over to my Stampin’ Up! online store! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
by Tracy | Oct 23, 2017 | Uncategorized
Thanks for stopping by today! If you follow my blog regularly, I want to let you know that I’m changing up my posting schedule. I’ll still continue to post at least five days per week but I’ll now be posting Monday – Friday. Let’s get started with today’s card!
I love flowers and the watercolor look, so when the Painted Harvest stamp set was released in the Holiday Catalog, I knew I’d be purchasing it. It’s so easy to use but it looks complicated, doesn’t it?
Painted Harvest is a two step stamp set which means that you need two stamps to create a look! As you can see from the picture of the stamp set below, there are two stamps to create the flower. There are no set rules as to which stamp to use first, just play around with it and see what look you like! 
With that being said, here’s what I did. First, I used Early Espresso and stamped the inside of the sunflower. Then I used the larger stamp (the one on the left which is more filled in), inked it up with Cajun Craze and stamped over the center. These stamps are photopolymer which I personally love because it allows me to see right through them. Then I inked up the smaller stamp (it’s more detailed) with Pumpkin Pie and stamped over the image. Just doing that is a beautiful look but I stamped the larger image again with Cajun Craze. My sentiment was stamped with Early Espresso which is included in the Painted Harvest stamp set. This was my first try with this stamp set and I’m pretty happy with the results.
The stamp set also has some beautiful leaves and new in the Holiday Catalog is a leaf punch which coordinates with these leaves. If you purchase the Painted Harvest Bundle (Painted Harvest stamp set and the leaf punch), you’ll save 10%. I’ll include the bundle in my list of supplies, but please note that I didn’t use the punch on my card.
If you’d like to purchase any of the products I used to make today’s card, they are listed below. Clicking on any of the items will take you directly to my Stampin’ Up! online store. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or email me!
by Tracy | Oct 20, 2017 | Uncategorized
Earlier this week I shared a cute little tote bag and today I have the directions for you! Here’s what you’ll need:
Cardstock
- 3″ x 4″ score @ 3/4″ on all four sides
- (2) 1/2″ x 9-1/4″
- 1/2″ x 8″ (handle)
Designer Series Paper
Score 3″ x 4″ paper and score at 3/4″ on all four sides. Fold on all the score lines and cut as shown below.
Add glue dots on the ends and create the sides of the box.
The picture below shows one end of the box put together.
Add Tear and Tape on both ends of the Designer Series Paper. You are attaching it to the side that will be showing on the outside of your tote bag.
Remove the Tear and Tape and attach the two strips of cardstock. The strips are just a tad longer than the DSP, so just trim it once you’ve attached it.
Add Tear and Tape all around the box you made earlier. Remove the tape.
Attach the DSP to the box starting at the back so that the seam won’t show on the front of the bag. Continue around the box.
Attach another piece of Tear and Tape at the end of the DSP and continue wrapping the paper around the box.
Add glue dots or Tear and Tape to the ends of the handle and attach each end to the inside of the box.
I hope you’ll give this tote bag a try! If you do, I’d love to see your creation!
